As Always, Review! Enjoy this chapter too! I wanted to put a little bit of softness on Mei Xiang so that you guys can really see how much she really changed from not really showing her feelings to more openly showing them.
Dear Diary,
I found some time to write this. We are staying here for a few days until Cobra, Owlet, and Xiao Dan heal from the fight. You'll never guess who Cobra's aunt is. It's Master Viper! I was so shocked to find out when he told me. We were making camp when I was helping him make the fire. "Mei Xiang, I haven't told anyone who my aunt is yet. But I figured, I could trust you to not treat me any differently." I looked over at him. He looked down and made a spark against the dry wood. "Who is your aunt?" I leaned over and blew on the tiny flicker of life, coaxing it into a full flame. "You know Master Viper?" I nodded as we gathered leaves to add to the fire. "Well," He chuckled "She's my aunt." I looked up startled. "No way. That is like so cool!" There was a new glimmer of respect in my eyes for this creature and he blushed slightly. "Don't tell anyone else, please?" I placed my paw on his back and gave him a pat. "Of course, I won't. I give you my promise."
We shared a smile. "So, does she know that you are coming?" I asked softly. We were at a quiet stream, resting before dinner. "Yes and no," he admitted. I looked up at him from my position on the ground. He flattened himself so that our faces were inches apart. "She sent me a letter after Kai was defeated. Aunt Viper learned about my parents' deaths. She invited me to go visit her. Of course, She doesn't know that my orphanage burned down, or that I'm bringing some friends along with me. " "Well I told a couple several years ago that I actually had family in the valley who was going to take us in so at least now it might not be a total lie." I whispered. "yeah," he whispered back.
We just laid like that for a while before I broke the silence again. "How is Viper your aunt? I mean, you are a cobra and she is a viper." He looked at me and grinned slyly. "You'll never believe that I'm half cobra half viper." I dropped my jaw in mock disbelief. He whacked me on the face playful with his tail. " Aunt Viper is my mom's sister and my dad was a cobra. They knew that they could have kids, but they didn't know that because of my markings, I would be in danger from all sorts of people." I pressed my head affectionately against his and said, "If anyone tries to hurt you because of your markings while I'm around. I will totally kick their sorry butt all the way back to their mommies." He threw his head back and started to roar with laughter. I joined in and frankly, I couldn't help myself. It felt so good to just hangout and laugh with someone who is close to your age. I know that Cobra is almost 13. Owlet and Bingwen came walking over while we were laughing our butts off. "If we didn't know any better, then we would've said that you two are a couple." Bingwen said grinning mischievously.
Owlet rolled her eyes. "Don't mind him. Dinner is ready though and a certain panda is wanting her mama to tuck her in and sing her to sleep tonight." "We're coming" Cobra and I said in unison. Walking behind Owlet and Bingwen, I felt very happy. Happier than I have been in a long, long time. Cobra turned to me right before we joined the others and gave me a sweet grin. He mouthed, "We'll get Bingwen, later?" I nodded and grinned back. Agreed. At that moment I knew that Cobra and I would become great friends
Right now, I can't help but feel sorry for Cobra. I'm definitely happy for him, but also sad. I told him that he should write her a letter telling her that he is on his way to visit her. He agreed. So at least we know that she probably told the town folk to keep an eye out for her nephew. He confided this to me before we went to bed. He wants a new family and one for everyone else in our little family. I promised to help him the best I could. I'm going to write down the way my group works. I'm the leader, and Bingwen is my second in command. Cobra, Naomi, Xiao Dan, and Bingwen are the Guards. Naomi of course is also a mother helper. Chun Hua is learning Kung Fu and Bingwen is her master. Owlet is our cook and healer She decided that fighting for her is a last resort. So she comes with Naomi for lessons on healing and cooking. The children who is also my babies is Chun Hua and Mao Xiang. I'm their mommy just like I am Naomi's.