SHADO-PAN MONASTERY

EVENING OF THE SEVENTH DAY

MASTER SNOWDRIFT

Wan Snowdrift parried the efforts of Blackguard Battlemaster Khagara Jiang, and the sting of the approaching night air was bizarrely welcome against his fur. The combined grunts and shouts as they exchanged attacks and shifted defenses filled the air of the Monastery. A small crowd of Blackguard students stood about, observing every move and shouting words of encouragement for the Master of the Blackguard Discipline and the Blackguard Battlemaster. Small flurries of snow, little more than diamond dust, swept through the air. Snowdrift was in his element, and Jiang knew it. There was something akin to regret on her face, but given she wore the helmet and facial scarf of the Shado-Pan, Wan could only tell that when the two locked their eyes. Khagara had chosen her environment, but she had chosen poorly.

"You can handle him, Master Jiang!" A young male Blackguard Disciple, probably two years away from being found worthy to serve in the field, yelled.

"Master Snowdrift won't lose this!" Chao the Voice, one of Khagara's former apprentices and one of the best, boomed out in response.

Another woman, whose voice he did not recognize, yelled to Chao, "Bet you a keg that Khagara takes him down!"

"You're on!" Chao responded.

He ignored them for the most part. As it was, Khagara Jiang was always a tough opponent, and any encouragement was welcome. Khagara had answered Snowdrift's challenge in the traditional manner; she'd declared her acceptance of Snowdrift's challenge and chosen her weapon. They had faced off, Khagara using a long wooden training sword while Snowdrift chose a quarterstaff. Snowdrift actually couldn't recall what happened next after their initial blows, their battle had been such a blur in both his vision and his mind...a wild fracas resulted. Eventually, the fight was taken out of his own dojo and, and it now raged in the open air of the Monastery ground. Swirling winds whipped about as Snowdrift smacked Jiang's hands with one end of the staff. She grunted, and Snowdrift swept away her heavy wooden sword a moment later using the other end of the staff. Before he could take advantage of his opponent's lack of a weapon, however, Khagara's open palm strike slammed against his chest and drove him backwards. It was as though she'd imbued her attack with the power of a driving gale...which was smart. She hastily grasped the wooden sword and attempted to take advantage of Snowdrift's extended stagger, and swung hard. The deafening crack as wooden weapons collided silenced the crowd momentarily. Snowdrift stepped back, evading two quick thrusts, and saluted with the staff, taunting Khagara into making the first move. I will not be defeated, even by this master of the fighting arts.

Khagara's next strike was unconventional, almost like a fisherman's cast, and Snowdrift was just a second too late to realize that he'd been wrong-footed. He staggered backwards, partially of his own volition, partially to shrug off her attack. His eyes narrowed as Khagara Jiang stepped in for the offensive...and her attack missed entirely. Snowdrift stepped in towards her, and with a hefty smack with the upper end of the staff, knocked Khagara flat on her back. Gasping for breath, she shook her head furiously and tried to regain her senses. The crowd roared with applause, only for Snowdrift to silence them by planting his staff hard and clapping both hands together. "ENOUGH! She has proven her worth." He helped her to her feet graciously, and the Battlemaster bowed. "Learn from this." He said to her. "You are one of our best hand-to-hand fighters and I will see where you can be put to best use."

Khagara bowed. She was not the sort of person who stewed over this sort of thing, and the fact that Snowdrift had found her worthy in defeat meant quite a bit. "Thank you, Master Snowdrift. I will prepare myself."

"You are indeed worthy of fighting among our best, Khagara Jiang of the Blackguard." Snowdrift bowed to her in turn. "Return your weapon to the dojo for now, and then speak with Yalia." Khagara Jiang, Blackguard Battlemaster, bowed once more. She made her way through the dispersing crowd of students, some of whom realized they'd be in for a browbeating from Snowdrift if they didn't return to their own duties. Some offered her encouragement, but Khagara Jiang held her head high as she headed off towards the Snowdrift Dojo.

With the duel over, the crowd dispersed about the Monastery. Yalia Sagewhisper, who had viewed the proceedings from atop a nearby wall with a disapproving eye, now descended with incredible grace and strode up to Wan, her eyes glinting in the twilight. "You know her tendencies. And she still managed an impressive performance that took you out of your own dojo..." She smiled slightly. "Yet she put you into your element. A mistake on her part, and one she will be careful not to repeat."

"I know. Khagara threw some improvised techniques at me and I will have to adapt to them." Snowdrift nodded, sitting down where he stood and gripping the staff he'd used earlier to lower himself. "I hope she can inspire some of those at Rensai's Watchpost. They've been getting a tad sloppy..." He let out a long breath. "And failure to perform is not something we need at this time."

Sagewhisper joined him on the lawn of the Monastery. "Aniria's condition has recovered to the point I feel comfortable discharging her." She did not smile as she observed, "Her assailant remains confined to his quarters."

"His name is Zarai." Snowdrift stated coldly. "And yes, Gu has come down on him severely for his failings."

"The punishment is appropriate for his crime." Yalia admitted after a brief, extremely uncomfortable pause. "He'll be scrubbing pots for at least three months."

"Are you satisfied?" Wan Snowdrift asked in a quiet voice.

Yalia let out a long sigh. Another pause settled between them. "I am not sure what to think. I felt anger when I saw how badly Aniria had been beaten...but my anger accomplishes nothing if it is blind. Zarai has been stripped of his position as a Warden, and will be forced to begin from the ground up." She shrugged. "I will have to consider the matter more and calm my mind before I do so. Pointless anger accomplishes nothing."

"Indeed." Wan stated. There was a sudden commotion, followed by a loud yell of alarm. Wan Snowdrift's eyes opened wide. "What could this be?" Snowdrift murmured aloud, standing to his feet. Something was very clearly wrong.

"Could that have come from the Sealed Chambers?" Yalia asked, her voice calm, but her tone reflecting the urgency.

"I think it must have." Snowdrift was less than thrilled by this prospect. He stood at once. "Come, let's see what is going on..."

They hurried towards the building as quickly as they could. But long before they arrived, there was a massive roaring noise that filled the air, and suddenly, a black form hurtled from the Sealed Chambers. Upwards it went, soaring ominously over the Monastery walls. Snowdrift felt every hair stand on end as the dark cloud vanished into the swirling clouds of the evening sky. A solid stream of flame leapt after it, but it was too little, too late. Snowdrift shook his head disgustedly as he realized what had happened in that moment as the distant clouds seemed to cackle.

Yalia Sagewhisper's face was filled with horror. "That was the Sha of Anger, Snowdrift."

"Fleeing the scene," Snowdrift growled, "and that's all we needed. One of Xuen's charges breaking away from here and causing chaos elsewhere..."

Several Omnia mages scrambled about the outside of the Sealed Chambers, their conversations escalating into an indistinct babble. Yalia silenced them be slamming a pillar of chi that she summoned with her bare hands into the ground. The Master of Omnia asked loudly, "What happened within the Chambers, Omnia?!"

One of her more promising students knelt at her feet, his hands folded over each other helplessly. "Master Sagewhisper, the Sha of Anger escaped confinement. It looked like a Warden-Commander and demanded we respect it."

Another Omnia student shook her head. "I don't know who that was, but it was clearly someone disguised as a Shado-Pan. Their speech was strange..."

Other voices spoke up, and Yalia Sagewhisper silenced them once more with a loud clap of her hands, lifting the student who bowed at her feet to a standing position. "Panicking will solve nothing!" She snapped, her normally calm veneer falling away in the face of the sudden disaster that had just occurred. "Who was on duty here this night?" Yalia asked firmly.

Fei-Li, whom Snowdrift recognized on sight, stood forward, along with seven other Omnia mages. There was shame in their stances. "We were, Master Sagewhisper." Fei-Li said in a quiet voice. Normally she was more boisterous, but considering what had just happened, Snowdrift understood her cowed state completely.

Yalia's implacable expression returned. "I see. Fei-Li, you are the oldest of these young ones. What do you remember?"

"It was hotter than usual, Master. I remember that the chamber containing the Sha of Anger suddenly seemed to...shift." Fei-Li paused for lack of a better word. "There was a loud crashing noise, and suddenly there was another Shado-Pan in that room..." She shook her head. "But not really. He wore the uniform of a Warden, but the face was...strange. Like two people melded into one..."

Snowdrift caught on. "The Sha must have disguised itself using those it had drawn much power from."

Fei-Li nodded at once. "I didn't recognize them, but they said that they needed to be freed from this place. Then the person ran over Raika and transformed into a full-blown Sha..." She shuddered. "I don't know what would have happened if it hadn't been so determined to just leave."

Master Sagewhisper shook her head now. "You probably wouldn't be alive...not just you, Fei-Li, but any of you, for that matter." She sighed. "We must inform Lord Zhu upon his return."

"The warning has to go out to the rest of Kun-Lai." Snowdrift decided then. "We were fortunate in that the Sha of Anger didn't kill any of the ones on duty in the Chambers, but we can't allow something that powerful to go on the loose." He shook his great head. "Chaos would result, that much is for certain."

Yalia looked about the Omnia. "We will discuss what happened later, Omnia. You are all fortunate to be alive. I will change the guard in the Chambers. You will meditate on what happened this night, so as to make sure that it does not happen again. Steel yourself against Violence and Hatred." She clapped her hands together in the Shado-Pan salute. "Discipline is the only way we will get through this."

"Of course, Master Sagewhisper." Twelve voices spoke as one, the eight that had been on duty and the four Omnia that had been nearby. Yalia looked to Snowdrift and sighed again. She seemed to be asking him, how will Lord Zhu respond to this?

Snowdrift was at a loss for words. He thought to himself, we have no choice but to move on from this...If we don't, we are in for an inconceivably great deal of trouble. After a moment, he found his voice once more. "Yalia, I will assemble a team of Blackguard to hunt that thing down. We will need the help of your Omnia if we are to bring it down."

Yalia Sagewhisper nodded, but pointed at the still-falling snow of the now-descended night. "Given conditions tonight, it may take us a few days to get the team ready, but we shall do so regardless, Wan." She bowed to her students. "We shall not falter in the face of evil, Shado-Pan." The Omnia bowed back to her.

There was a monumental creaking and groaning on the other side of the Monastery. "The Cloudstrike Dojo..." Snowdrift had lived here long enough to know the sounds of the Monastery doors the instant they reached his ears.

"Perhaps Ling or Nurong have returned." Yalia suggested.

"We'll find out soon enough." Snowdrift began walking towards the great gates of the Monastery. He passed many students who discussed the commotion that had occurred barely a few minutes beforehand. He sighed inwardly; he'd have to address the Shado-Pan collected here sooner rather than later, to make sure that the setback of the Sha of Anger's escape did not become a complete disaster.

He arrived at the Cloudstrike Dojo, only to nearly get run over by Hawkmaster Nurong, who emerged from within hastily. Only Snowdrift's ability to sense sudden motion kept him from getting run over by the burly Hawkmaster. Nurong, normally an affable soul with a smile on his face, was instead morose and his good eye shrouded by grief. He met Snowdrift's eyes and apologized at once. "My deepest apologies, Wan. Taoshi and I have returned from the Valley of the Four Winds."

Snowdrift nodded. "Apology accepted, Nurong. What news do you bring?"

"Very little of it is good." Taoshi stepped out of the Cloudstrike Dojo now and into the night air. "We met up with Che Wildwalker of the Golden Lotus, who assisted us in our investigation of the missing patrol. With his help, we managed to find our missing patrol."

Wan Snowdrift sucked in a breath. He had his worries ever since he'd heard of that missing patrol. "What did you find, Taoshi and Nurong?"

Nurong's good eye locked with Snowdrift's gaze. He reported solemnly, "The mogu kidnapped them from atop the wall, and then hauled them away in the late evening hours without making a sound. They then took the patrol to a ritual cave in the jungle, where they drove their spirits from their bodies and captured them. They left the bodies behind." Nurong looked down, and then met Snowdrift's eye.

Taoshi spoke up. "Wherever the mogu went afterwards, we do not know. They concealed their tracks too well, but they left a quilen in the area...which Che Wildwalker killed." There was a strange, grim satisfaction in her voice, and Nurong gave her a quick glance as he recognized that at the same time Snowdrift did.

The Blackguard Master nodded somberly. "I am sorry to hear about the loss of the patrol. I worried that since Loon Mai's report of their disappearance made it to the Monastery that those unfortunate three might have been killed by the damnable mantid..." He held a hand to his brow. "But the mogu...that was not something I foresaw happening. I wonder what Lord Zhu will have to say." He met Nurong's gaze. "It is good to see you return in health, Hawkmaster. The Sha of Anger has fled the Monastery." Bitterness crept into his voice. It had been his responsibility, hadn't it?

Taoshi's eyes widened with shock. Worry crept onto her normally implacable features. "The Sha of Anger is gone, Snowdrift?" She sighed wearily. Snowdrift confirmed this with a tight nod, and Taoshi straightened up. "I will be glad to assist in that foul being's destruction."

Nurong gave Taoshi a quick shake of his head, before looking to Snowdrift. "That evil thing has fled from here, and Taran Zhu is not here?" Nurong asked, worry evident in his voice.

"No, he isn't." Snowdrift said after a moment. He turned to see that Yalia Sagewhisper had arrived at last, with Fei-Li following not far behind her.

"Thank the Celestials you're both in good health." Yalia shook her head. "Has Master Snowdrift told you what happened, Nurong?"

"Yes, he has, Yalia." Nurong replied.

Taoshi spoke up, "I would be honored to lead the team tasked to defeat the Sha of Anger, Masters."

Yalia gave her a severe glance. "If you intend to leave for such a duty this very night, it would be foolish." Taoshi met her gaze before Snowdrift held up a hand.

Snowdrift met Nurong's gaze, then Taoshi's. "We will need to discuss recent events with you now that you've returned, Hawkmaster."

"I look forward to hearing of them." Nurong nodded at once, his topknot bobbing in the falling snowflakes. Some settled in the Hawkmaster's hair, but others twirled to the ground...none joined together. Snowdrift was heartened by Nurong's return, even if the news he brought was unfortunate. The Shado-Pan would surely need a combined offensive of Blackguard, Wu Kao, Omnia, and Stormbringers...especially if they were to succeed in their efforts to defeat the Sha of Anger.

ON THE ROAD TO TIAN MONASTERY

JANSHO GHOSTPAW

Despite their best efforts to arrive at Tian before mid-afternoon, Taran Zhu and Jansho Ghostpaw were again frustrated by the close of a quick day. Night had closed upon them so suddenly that it hardly seemed the sun had set before deep darkness swept over them both. However, the good news was that the twinkling lights of Tian were drawing closer to them as they walked down the path, both Shado-Pan giving their tigers a break for about a half-mile. The great cats were grateful for the opportunity and Qagaora rubbed her nose against Jansho's leg. The Wu Kao rogue smiled and patted the tiger on the forehead in return.

"Jansho..." Taran said suddenly in a low voice. "If you do not mind my asking, were you able to find out any more about your son?"

Jansho's breath caught in his chest. There it was. The unvoiced concern could not be stuffed back into the virmen hole so easily. "The Jade Serpent didn't give me a great deal to go on, but she did give me three clues, Lord Zhu." Taran nodded, and Jansho shrugged. "She said that he was still alive, he walked amidst a distant temple, and that Chi-Ji was far from his usual haunts. But there wasn't much else to go on. I'm sure Yu'lon has her reasons for not giving more information, or giving me none at all."

"The Red Crane..." Taran held a hand to his chin. "She wanted you to ultimately succeed in your aims."

Jansho nodded. "I must admit...I am most uncertain of what to do, Lord Zhu."

Taran let out a long breath and then asked calmly, "Jansho, what does your intuition say?"

Jansho made no immediate answer. "I haven't been there as a father for Ruun for a long time. Partly because of my duties, partly because of my own damned stubbornness..." He sighed. "And while I have a rough idea of where he is, considering everything that is happening in Pandaria of late, it would be beyond irresponsible for me to pursue Ruun on a hunch." Jansho gave Taran a quick glance. "Lord Zhu, do you understand what I am saying?"

Taran's answer was reluctant. "You are one of the best rogues of the Wu Kao, Jansho, behind only Taoshi." He stopped suddenly, and Jansho did as well. Putting a hand on Jansho's shoulder, Taran asked, "If you knew exactly where Ruun Ghostpaw was, would you go to him now?"

"If there were no mission, I would go to his side without any hesitation." Jansho answered.

Taran's heavy sigh escaped his lips. "That is not the answer to my question."

"But it is an answer, Lord Zhu." Jansho shook his head. "I cannot falter now on the path that I walk...and Ruun is an adult."

"That isn't an answer either. It's a voiced hope, and one that you have your own doubts of. Your son is only slightly more than twenty years old." Taran said firmly. "If I gave you the choice to look all over Krasarang for him, and promised that there would be no consequence...would you seek out your son?"

Jansho was quiet. Then he looked the head of his order in those golden eyes and said, "You cannot say there would be no consequence, Lord Zhu. If I were to up and leave the Shado-Pan a second time, even with your express permission..." He shook his head resolutely. "I am torn between my duty as a father and my duty as a member of the Shado-Pan. I thought, and I may have been wrong to think, that I had left the duties of fatherhood was because it was necessary... Now...I am uncertain."

Taran nodded, his helmet dipping up and down. Tian was ever closer. "I would ask you to meditate on the matter. The doubts of your own heart can seem valid one moment, and foolish when you have considered them more." Giving a look to the monastery, Taran then said contemplatively, "The Jade Serpent gave you a handful of clues to point you in the right direction. Perhaps you can receive others from those who trained your son...and find the correct path in this matter."

"I am most hopeful for that outcome, Lord Zhu." Jansho's brow furrowed thoughtfully. The tiger at his side growled, and Jansho scratched Qagaora's chin. They exchanged a glance, and moments later, both Shado-Pan re-mounted the Riding Tigers. The feet of the great cats soon pounded along the road to Tian Monastery.

TIAN MONASTERY

NIGHT OF THE SEVENTH DAY

TARAN ZHU

The lights of Tian Monastery began to quiver as blackest night descended. Low clouds swept in from sea, muffling out the eastern stars. There was something in the air that told Taran Zhu it would rain soon, but it would not matter now; they had arrived in safety. Two rather bored looking guards stood at attention, both stiffening in their poses as they recognized the two Shado-Pan riding tigers, if not their riders. Both Shado-Pan dismounted their riding tigers, taking them gently by the reins and leading them on. The guardswoman on the left bowed briskly as the Shado-Pan approached on foot, and asked in a solemn tone, "Honored Shado-Pan, welcome to Tian Monastery. Is all well?"

Taran inclined his head respectfully. "It is. We had hoped to spend the night before we returned to Kun-Lai tomorrow." With a bow, he introduced himself. "I am Taran Zhu, Lord of the Shado-Pan, and this is Jansho Ghostpaw of the Wu Kao."

The guardswoman gulped hastily and bowed even lower. "Lord Zhu! I will inform High Elder Cloudfall that you have come here immediately." With a look to her companion, she bounded away into the Monastery grounds.

"I am Jiao Ming." The guardsman introduced himself. "It is truly an honor to meet you, Lord Zhu."

"I am honored to meet you as well, Jiao Ming." Taran Zhu inclined his head. "Have you had many visitors?"

"We have." Jaio nodded, his thick beard bobbing up and down, the braids within it dancing in the torchlight. "Earlier today, some strange people from outside the mists showed up. There were a few Pandaren from the Isle with them!" His voice grew excited. "Can you imagine that, Lord Zhu?"

"I certainly can." Taran answered readily, but his voice low. It had been about four days since they'd left Hui Chang and the Horde in the northern reaches of the Jade Forest. What had they been up to in the meantime? For his part, Jansho Ghostpaw said nothing but offered a small smile with only his lips when Taran turned to him. The Wu Kao Rogue usually talked when he found something interesting or had something to say. Given how he had neither at the moment, he was quieter than a phantasm.

"Brewmaster Lei Kanglei hasn't had so much business in years." Jiao shook his head with a smile. "He offered to pick up my tab at Paur's Pub! He never does that..." His voice trailed off considerably. "Naturally, I couldn't turn down an offer like that." Jiao admitted with a helpless smile.

"How interesting," Jansho murmured, breaking his self-imposed silence. "Bolo the Elder still runs the place, doesn't he?" He asked in a louder voice.

"He does." Jiao nodded immediately. "As good-tempered as ever, to boot!" He burst out laughing. "Bolo the Elder's title is Keg Keeper. Yet I believe his son's title is the Keg Mender..."

"What does a Keg Mender do in Pandaria?" Jansho asked with a whimsical tone to his voice. "'Inspect' the barrels to make sure there isn't a drop left in them?"

Taran, normally reserved, chuckled at the old joke. Jiao burst out laughing immediately. "You see, you do understand us after all!"

The guardswoman returned, with a burly bare-chested Pandaren wearing strange shoulderpads following not too far behind her. "High Elder Cloudfall." She introduced him. "Taran Zhu." She gestured to the Shado-Pan Lord for Cloudfall's benefit.

Cloudfall smiled from ear to ear and bowed with utmost respect. "Lord Taran Zhu! This is a most unexpected pleasure. We are having a banquet to celebrate our guests, but we would be happy to have you attend as well."

Taran smiled and stated aloud, "I hope they have treated you well, High Elder."

"They have." Cloudfall looked back towards the Monastery. "Of course, we're going to have to finish the banquet soon. Rain's coming..." He shuddered. "I can feel it in my bones, and as drunk as some of my guests are, I don't think anyone would enjoy sleeping in the rain." He gave Jansho Ghostpaw a quick glance, turned to Taran, and then did a double take. "Jansho Ghostpaw, father of one of our best students, I am so sorry that I did not greet you at once!" He offered his hand, and the Wu Kao Rogue shook it.

"High Elder, no apology is necessary." Jansho assured him.

"In fact, we are the ones who should apologize for imposing on your hospitality." Taran nodded in agreement. "We would spend the night before the rain comes. We've spent several on the road thus far."

Cloudfall nodded immediately, "Of course. We will arrange for your tigers to be kept dry, and for lodgings to be provided for you at once." He snapped his fingers. "Jiao, arrange their quarters. If they have any belongings to be taken there..." He offered the Shado-Pan a questioning glance.

Taran answered him, "We do not, but a bed under a dry roof will be most appreciated." Jiao bowed low and headed off at once.

"Good, good." Cloudfall sighed. "For now, I invite you to our banquet, good Shado-Pan, and even if you don't imbibe...I'm sure we'll enjoy your company until the rain comes!" Laughing enthusiastically, the High Elder led the Shado-Pan through the Monastery grounds of Tian to the rowdy noises of music, brew, and good food being enjoyed by many distinct voices.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Wow, that took me far longer to put together than I had hoped. The first of the Sha has broken free...

Let me know what you think of this section.