Woo sat on his turtle as he and the army of Big Green made their way deeper into the jungles. He had sent out a messenger the day before to negotiate with the Monkey King. He wasn't surprised to wake up to Gen limping into his room, a long cut on his face and rejection in his green eyes. He had bowed low.

"Most honorable Woo," he began, and Woo laughed.

"Just Woo, Gen," he said, tossing aside his blankets.

"Woo, then. Severne has… severely said no. He will meet us in the plains of the Monkey gods. He said that we will end this."

"I expected no less," Woo said. "But I'd hoped he wouldn't hit you. Go and see Rahim. He'll patch you up. We march in three hours."

And three hours later, they began to march. Most of the Animals that had strong fighting teams sent them along. Only a few species, like the Sharks and Octopi, who were more comfortable fighting underwater or other terrain, didn't send warriors. Woo understood, but they had not left them empty-handed. Instead of fighters, they sent good luck talismans and food to keep them up on the journey. The small Human had never been prouder of the Animals of Big Green.

Hardwin was up front with Woo, his Monkeys grim and determined. There was no happy chatter, no giggling and laughing, and it disturbed the Humans who had grown used to the jokes and free-spirited nature of the simians. But now, there was tension, a tension that had built up over years of civil war, of seeing friends and families shattered by the Monkey in charge, the Monkey whose ancestors had done things that were just as bad, and who wanted to snuff out the one hope they had for freedom and peace.

They all marched throughout the day, winding through dense jungles and wading through streams. By the time they got to the plains, the sun was setting. There was no sign of the Monkeys, so Woo ordered camp to be set up within the boughs of the trees. He refused to let them out on the plains, and fires were lit among the Human soldiers.

First Squad set up camp near the Monkeys. They set out their sleeping bags and lit a fire. As soon as the wood crackled, the Monkeys glances at them. And as he usually did, Jumpy backed up and shivered. Across the way, Second Squad was lighting a fire. And just like Jumpy, Golden-Eye Husky backed up, wariness in his eyes. They all recalled the fear of the Monkeys in Woo's memory when the fire had blazed forth from the man's quick hands.

Rahim and Althea came up beside First Squad, eyeing the fire as they stared at them. Mystique Sonia glanced over.

"Can we help you?"

"Fang He," Rahim said.

There was a pause then Lin Chung turned his head. "Yes, Bàba?"

Silence from his friends greeted those words, and they stared blankly at Lin Chung. Second Squad glanced over with interest.

"May we set up near you?" Rahim asked.

"Of course, Bàba."

Rahim turned and made a noise, summoning his warriors. They began to make their nests, and Lin Chung turned back to the fire, his face hot from more than the flickering flames. Mighty Ray squinted at him.

"Wait…" he said slowly.

But before he could say anything else, Kowloon was there.

"No way," he said sternly. "You can't be."

Lin Chung glanced at him then blinked. In that blink, his form changed, and everybody jumped back in surprise. His hair was charcoal gray instead of sandy, and his eyes were just as green as the Panthers. His skin was pale, and freckles stood out dark on his cheeks. He tilted his head, grinning and revealing sharp teeth.

"Can't I?" Lin Chung replied.

"Bào-haizi?" Jumpy asked hesitantly.

"Yes," Lin Chung replied.

Woo watched with a smile, and he walked over to nudge Lin Chung and spoke in Panther.

"That was very brave."

"Thank you," Lin Chung muttered.

"Is everything okay?" Woo asked the others.

"Yes," Mystique Sonia said after a moment.

"It's a lot to take in," Woo said, seating himself beside the Panther child.

"You knew?" Kowloon asked.

"Sit," Woo said, and Second Squad approached and sat down hesitantly. "Of course I knew. It's obvious."

"Is it?" Lin Chung asked.

"Not so much now that you've spent so much time with Humans," Woo said then laughed. "But you definitely had some quirks that showed that you weren't exactly raised by Human parents for the majority of your life."

"Like what?" Lin Chung asked.

"Constantly picking at your clothes like you were uncomfortable. Misunderstanding common Human metaphors. Not comprehending certain Human customs. Talking as if you were an Animal instead of a Human." Woo paused. "I could go on. But you've resolved most of that now."

Lin Chung blushed, but he laughed. "I guess you've got a point, Woo. But is that all?"

Woo shook his head. "No. Before you were recruited, Blayze was summoned by your father to discuss things. Rahim conceded that you needed to grow up and approved of us bringing you in."

Lin Chung glanced back at the Panther King, who flicked his ear as he smiled. His serene face held a hint of mischief.

"I thought you gave in too easily," Lin Chung said.

"Like I would let my son be with just any Humans," Rahim said. "After what that beast did to you, I was very careful."

"Beast?" Kowloon asked.

Lin Chung's jaw clenched. "My Human father nearly killed me. Bàba found me and adopted me."

Kowloon's expression softened. "My parents left me at a monastery. No note. No, 'we'll come back later.' They just left me there. I had no choice."

"I thought it was a big deal to be a monk," Mighty Ray said.

"I wouldn't have chosen that path," Kowloon said quietly. "The monks were… inappropriate toward such a young boy. I have my own secrets."

Lin Chung studied him. "I'm sorry."

Kowloon shrugged. "It's in the past. Commander ApeTrully helped me get past what they did to me. One reason that I don't care he's a Monkey. He's the nicest man I've ever met."

"Funny!" Jumpy laughed.

Kowloon looked offended, so Woo jumped in. "I believe that Jumpy is not calling what happened to you funny," he said quickly. "He thinks that it's funny that you said that a Monkey is the nicest man you've ever met."

Kowloon paused then sat back. "Yeah. I know it sounds stupid. But it's true."

"Blayze would like that," Woo said softly. When everybody glanced at him, he chuckled. "He would like that you think he's nice. He has issues with that. Sometimes he doesn't want to be harsh because of his father. I have to encourage him to stand up to certain things."

"Like what?" Alpha Girl asked.

"Like with us?" Hurricane Lee asked.

"Yes," Woo said. "Like with you. He was afraid to punish you after that massacre. But you needed to be punished."

Archer Lee chewed on his tongue for a moment then nodded "It was for the best. Didn't like it though."

"Massacre?" Mystique Sonia asked.

"We were chased out of our village after we killed somebody," Archer said.

"He shoulda kept his hands to himself," Hurricane growled.

"Be that as it may," Woo said sternly. "You had no right to take the law into your own hands. You saw the damage that caused. Because you did that, they came after you. Because they did that, you had to defend yourselves. Seven good men died that day, and it's all your fault."

There was a pause then the two men nodded. "It was our fault," Archer said. "And you made sure we learned our lesson. And ApeTrully has kept us in line ever since."

Lin Chung nodded, and he didn't even flinch as Rahim slipped up behind him and licked his cheek. Mighty Ray snorted, Mystique Sonia smiled, and Mr. No-Hands made a strange noise in his throat. Second Squad watched with interest as Lin Chung nuzzled Rahim's head before turning back to the conversation.

"All the cats are affectionate with their families," Kowloon surmised. "I saw Cheetah King and Queen doing that."

Lin Chung shrugged uncomfortably. "It's part of their culture."

"Monkeys groom each other," Woo said. "They are also very expressive with their tails."

There was a pause, and the Humans searched for a topic to move on to. But it was Jumpy that broke the awkward silence.

"How Woo have not scars?"

Woo blinked. "What?" He pulled his sleeve down. "No, it's going to scar."

"No. On hand. From fire. In memory."

"Oh!" Woo exclaimed. "Rahim healed me."

Lin Chung turned, tilting his head in a very cat-like fashion. "You did? Why did we never meet? Was it before you found me?"

"No, little treasure," Rahim said, wrapping his tail around Lin Chung's waist. "That happened when Woo was 14. You were 12. I sent you away with your Mama."

"Why?"

"Because there were lots of Monkeys. It was before I was friends with Blayze and his rebels. I didn't know the Monkey Prince then, and I did not want you or Althea near so many Monkeys. But he implored me on his hands and knees to help a friend of his who had terrible burns. So I prepared my warriors and sent you away. Then I took care of him."

Woo held up his left hand. "He did so well that it didn't even scar. And he became our friend while he tended to us."

"Woo?"

They turned to see Hardwin. Woo smiled.

"Yes?"

"We should assign guards. I don't trust Severne to leave us alone if he should arrive in the night."

Woo nodded. "Agreed. Excuse me."

He stood and walked away to confer with the Monkeys. The members of Big Green pulled out food and ate a sparse dinner before getting ready for bed. Woo was busy making sure everything was settled then he came to Second Squad and asked to speak to Archer Lee. The man was surprised, but he followed Woo to a secluded place. He was given a packet and told what was in it, then Woo instructed him very seriously on what he was to do.

"Do you understand?" Woo asked.

"Won't people get hurt?" Archer asked.

"No," Woo said. "We've got the Elephants to help us deal with it. I've thought this through. But it's not a guarantee that you'll have to do it. Only if I signal you. It's a failsafe in case the Monkeys are too much for us. Their warriors are impressive fighters, and they have so many of them that we might be overwhelmed. This is a backup plan, a contingency. I will order it only if necessary."

"Do you think it will be necessary, Woo?"

Woo frowned, turning to look across the plains. They were just inside the tree line, hidden by leafy boughs. He could see, in the dying light, a flash of shadows moving across the way. He knew then that the Monkeys were there, waiting. He closed his eyes and breathed out. The battle would begin early, and his heart quivered inside of him. He knew things were going to be confusing in a matter of hours. With a heavy heart, he turned to face Archer Lee again.

"I do," he finally said. "Severne is cruel, but he's clever. He'll try and surround us tonight, drive us out of our beds, put out our fires. He's terrified of fire. All Animals are." He paused. "All except for Blayze. Spread the word amongst the Humans. One Human per fire to make sure it doesn't go out. I mean it. We sleep in shifts. This is not High Roller that we're dealing with. This enemy is worse."

Archer Lee's eyes dashed down to the covered right arm of Woo, and he swallowed. "Yes, sir. I understand everything you've told me. You will set everything up tonight?"

"The Turtles will. I do not fear for them. They are slow but efficient. They have their shells to protect them, and their lack of speed will keep Severne from paying much attention. He'll be looking for quick movements, not slow and steady. Go and spread the word."

"Yes, Commander," Archer Lee said, bowing low.

He turned and disappeared, leaving Woo with a sense of fear and anxiety for what the coming day would bring.