WE ARE HAPPY
There was a festive air in the reserve. The various animals, after cooking for most of the afternoon, were heading towards the main square where large events were usually held and where they were far enough from the eyes of the guards who guarded the borders, to give them a little sensation of privacy. Mei had spent most of her time at Hua's house. Her presence had not been very helpful since, not knowing the recipe for owl sweets, she had failed to help her much with the preparation. But in spite of everything he could have known her better, as well as finding something that would pass the time faster in view of the party that would take place that evening. Hua was young and despite everything they were similar enough to make the feline think she could establish a long and lasting friendship with her. Moreover, the owl had clarified many doubts and explained some of the rules of the reserve, as well as telling her about some extraordinary facts, or rather ... that they considered such! From what he had understood it was a custom to celebrate the arrival of new animals. And it could also be years between one arrival and another, in fact, she and the others were the first to be captured after so many years during which not even one arrival was recorded! It would have been better if the time had continued to increase for poor Mei, while she was thinking about her family, but since she did not intend to be overwhelmed by the disastrous events of the last few months she had decided to try, at least, to settle down and make new friends. While waiting patiently for Hua to finish tidying up all the sweets on the cart with which he would transport them, Mei realized the large number of felines in the reserve. Lions, pumas, servals, tigers ... there was even another leopard! Indeed, two if you really wanted to be fussy. But what struck her most was the learning of the disproportionately high number of peacocks in the reserve! Surely Shen wouldn't be bored!
Unfortunately the preparations made sure that everyone ran from one side of the forest to the other to better organize the party. So the feline had not yet spoken to any of them, apart from Ning, but it would soon be redone as soon as evening came. Hopeful of having a pleasant evening, Mei entered Hua's house, wishing to be able to help at least in the transport of sweets.
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It was dark in that country soon. Or Shen had slept more than expected. Zhuang and Wei had given him clean clothes, and even though cotton didn't drive him crazy, he had finally decided to change. The infection had passed, and even though the wound still hurt, it was quite bearable. He stood for several minutes staring at his weapons, undecided whether to take them with him or not. Finally he put the metal gloves on his feet and placed the blades in a bag hanging on his belt tied to his waist, leaving only the guan dao in the house. The precaution was never too much for a place that still did not know well! Kang was waiting for him outside and at his side there was a beautiful peacock. "Shen, I am pleased to introduce you to my wife Lu-Chu!" Kang said with a warm smile. "It is a pleasure to meet you my lady! I am ... Shen! "The white peacock said with a bow. He had decided to keep his true identity secret, but he wouldn't forget his manners! "Shen bow is not needed! Even for me it is nice to know you and above all to see that you are recovering! Once in the reserve the humans don't touch us anymore, so you can feel comfortable! "Lu-Chu said before walking towards the meeting point. "Now that you are back in strength, we have decided to organize a dinner together to give you the chance to meet as many people as possible and make sure that others also know you!" Kang said after a while that they were walking. "I will try to get to know as many people as possible!" Shen said, trying to mask the curiosity that was devouring him. "I don't think you will succeed! We are so many! "Lu-Chu said, laughing. There! The dear little wife had given the coup de grace! Shen had to use all his self-control not to start running towards the clearing where everyone had gathered as soon as he saw her in the distance. He was no longer a child, but it was the first time in a long time that excitement took over!
Once there, Kang invited him to stand next to Mei and the other two newcomers on a large boulder so they could see the others and be seen. "Brothers and friends of mine, they have recently joined our great family! Let me introduce you: Shen, Mei, Syaoran and Bo! "The peacock said, indicating the four newcomers. "Let's try to welcome them the best!" A peacock said between the green and the brown, coming forward "I am Tai, the specifying peacock. I welcome you! And I toast in your honor so you can start a new, happy and long life! "Tai said raising a glass. Everyone imitated him and was delighted. "Do they have alcohol?" Mei asked Shen. "You'll find that not all humans are as wicked as those you traveled with!" One of them has sympathy with us. It is only thanks to him that we have been granted things that we could not even remotely think of before! "A black peacock explained as he approached. "He is Fai! One of Tai's sons! "Mei said. Shen greeted him but concentrated on all the others present. There were numerous cats, birds, reptiles and cattle! If they weren't albinos like him they were still one of a kind! But the thing that struck him most was seeing so many white peacocks! Now he understood why humans called Derek "the collector"! Anyone would have laughed at receiving the news of the existence of so many albino peacocks, because it was unthinkable that a large number existed since they were extremely rare. "So you would be the new one!" Tai said approaching Shen with a big smile on his beak. "Yes, but apparently I'm not the only white peacock in existence ..." Shen replied, not knowing whether to be friendly or hostile. "No, you are unique only in spirit! I met your friend, she told me you are a warrior! "Tai said from whose eyes only a great curiosity shone through." If I may ask, who were you before you came here? ". Shen trembled at that question, but tried to come up with an answer quickly so as not to make the peacock suspicious. "Just a mercenary looking for some fruitful work to allow me to get by. Fighting has allowed me to get by in all these years ... Until now! "Said Shen, trying to look as casual as possible in an attempt to mask his lie. "I don't think you've ever met humans before! I also have to admit that Derek proved very smart in catching his prey! This is why nobody in China is aware of the existence of his race! My name is Chao and I am Tai's younger brother! "A green peacock said, however, with most of the eyes of the large tail feathers, white. "And he is Feng!" Tai added, pointing to a black peacock with the same characteristic of Chao for when it concerned his long rump-like coverts. "Enchanted!" Shen said with a sail of sarcasm that the others didn't guess. Because he really was! They weren't white, but something "strange" they had too! "We apologize, this evening was organized to allow you and other newcomers to make new friends. There are many other boys your age, go and meet them, we will have time to talk, "Tai said as he headed towards the large buffet that was in the center of the square. Shen made to reach Mei but was blocked by two white peacocks "Pleasure Shen! I am Xian and she is my elder sister Xing! " The peacock smiled "And there is also Lang Min!" He added pointing to another female with bright colors, in stark contrast to his own. Shen turned and remained speechless in front of Lang Min, a young lady whose youth accentuated the feminine features of the body and the bright colors of her plumage. "I can't be bought, but I can be stolen at a glance. They are worthless for one, but priceless for two. What are they? "Sheng asked, coming up from practically nothing. "I hate riddles!" Shen said, looking badly at his twin. "The love! Can I ask you why you can always do riddles that have nothing to do with the speech ?! "Xian asked. "You believe it!" Sheng insisted. "You heard Chu!" "Certainly Zhi!" Two peacocks ... partially white. The first having a blue spot on the neck as well as for the tail, but green and being white for the rest. The second one, on the other hand, was only slightly blue in color on the neck, with beautiful snow white coverts. "Arrogance is an obvious weakness in you!" Zhi said. "It is clear that Shen does not have much experience with females, otherwise he would not be so rigid!" "Shut up!" Sheng said, very tempted to make the two young people eat their own words again.
"Congratulations! You are the tops in putting people at ease! "Xing reproached them. "It's an innate gift!" Chu said proudly. "Already! Also don't understand the sarcasm ... apparently! "Xian said, barely holding back the laughter. "Jiang, Jun! Come here to meet Shen! "Sheng shouted, calling two other white peacocks. "They are brothers! Jiang is one year older than Jun! "Zhi said presenting the two newcomers to Shen. "Pleasure!" The brothers said in chorus. Jiang barely had a few green feathers, as well as Jun, whose color, however, was black. "Thank you for this warm welcome. I hope our friendships can do nothing but get stronger before we get out of here! "Shen said. "Get out?" Xian asked confused. "Impossible!" Chu admitted. "Nothing is impossible!" Shen contradicted him. "You have something in mind!" Jun said, looking at the newcomer so deeply that he was uncomfortable. "You can be an investigator when you grow up!" Jiang scoffed. "If you have it you can share it, if you share it you don't have it. Said Shuang. "Please don't answer!" Xian said, praying to everyone present. "The food!" Xing answered, completely ignoring his brother. "Any object!" Jun said. "But are you serious?" Jiang asked his brother, looking at him wrong. "Was I wrong?" He asked confused. "It's the secret! Geni! "Xian replied that he always managed to get the prompt answer to Sheng's puzzles. "Hey! It is not our fault that his riddles are complicated! "Jun protested. "You should be more patient with their brother!" Xing scolded him. "But I don't have it with them! Only with Sheng's puzzles! "Xian complained. "When they are too light, nobody accepts them!" Sheng said before starting to run through the trees chased by a furious Xian. "Those two live a relationship that oscillates between love and hate, even if the second one gets the upper hand most of the time!" Chu said before starting to eat a dumpling. "Xing, Jun, Jiang and Zhi!" Chu called them. The respondents turned around. "I would say we have to explain something vital to Shen, don't you think?" The peacock asked with an extremely serious air to make Shen worry. "What is it?" He asked more anxiously than the latter. Despite suspicions, Shen eventually followed his new friends to a destination that only they seemed to know.
Despite the darkness the full moon shining in the sky made the ground visible so that none of the group fell badly to the ground. Shen saw a huge stone building appear in front of them after about twenty minutes of walking. Chu waved him down and followed him and he obeyed. At the base of that wall there was a large iron gate that most likely served as an entrance for those who came from the outside world. Shen felt cold when he saw two humans with large spears in their hands guarding. "They are Fred and Mike, the twins' favorite targets!" Zhi said as he lurked close to Chu and Shen, hiding in a large bush a few feet away from the guards. "Targets?" Shen asked perplexed "Did you hear about Xian !?" Chu asked. Shen nodded. "Well, those two know well what happened to Hong and Yong! They are the humans who spend more time in the reserve than all the others, it was enough for the twins to memorize their movements to be able to make a joke! "Zhi explained. "You males always get lost in chatter!" Xing complained reaching them "This is a valuable lesson for newcomers! Watch carefully! "He then said to Shen. He obeyed and saw Jun and Jiang approach the humans with all the calm of the world. "What are we starting with?" Asked the first one. "Do not panic! It's just a demonstration! "The second replied. The guards immediately stood at attention, scanning the two birds as if they were extremely dangerous. For their part, the peacocks kept a safe distance. Humans had spears, better not risk it. They began to speak out loud "Where does salmon reproduce?" Asked Jun "In the river where he was born!" Replied Jiang and then burst out laughing with his brother. "Wait!" Jun said. "I don't move!" Jiang took him around. "The evil that no bird can suffer!" The child said. "I know! I know! ... "the major seemed to have the answer, but he couldn't catch it! "Of course! Toothache! "Jiang finally said with enthusiasm to start laughing with his brother again. While the two peacocks were told of cooked and raw Shen heard the humans making bizarre comments "How come we ended up here?" He asked who was called Fred "To guard the birds?" Mike asked stroking the thick beard.
"Exactly!" Fred confirmed. "A divine punishment, it seems!" The other distraught replied. "Not only during the day, but even at night these nuisances have to squawk like crazy!" Fred complained. "Do you understand?" Chun asked Shen. He asked a question to confirm his suspicions "They don't understand us?" You can tease them, insult them as much as you like and they will never react! "Zhi said as if it were the most beautiful thing in the world, which apparently was ... "But Derek ... he spoke ... with me!" Shen said, not fully understanding. "He doesn't even understand a single word! There is only one human who has this ability and who thanks to it has become a friend of ours! "Chu explained, Shen grimaced at the mention of the word "friend". "Yes, a friend who locked you up in a huge cage!" He reluctantly thought of making such a relationship with those hairless and featherless beings!
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What do you notice immediately? Certainly not the absence of some white peacocks! Especially from Shen! But Mei tried not to give himself too much thought, convincing himself that it was much better for him to make new friends. It was an attempt to be brave to talk to someone ... anyone! Before now he had never had to interact with anyone outside his family! Right, there had been the journey in the company of Shen, but apart from that nothing else! Mei had always avoided the crowded places so as not to clash with the malevolent voices on her singular mantle and in the surprised looks of passers-by. But now things had changed completely! Most probably most of the animals, since they had grown up in that place, had never lived through his experiences and maybe they didn't even know what a prejudice was because they seemed to be united among themselves! On the one hand it was nice to think that they had never been called monsters by other people, but on the other hand it was sad to think that they had lived all their lives in the reserve! A large place, with friends and loved ones, but still a cage! She was distracted by her thoughts from an extremely familiar voice "Hi!" There! As usual, the others took the first step! Mei mentally cursed herself. "Ning! What a pleasure to be able to meet you again! "The feline said contentedly, only to feel frightened finding herself in front of a buffalo slightly smaller than the enormous bison. "Nice to meet you, I'm Pei! While she is you! A rare specimen of Golden Tiger incapable of hiding or camouflaging itself with the environment, since I perceived its presence without even having to turn around! "The bovine said, pointing to a tail that emerged from behind him. "I hate you!" The cat said, coming out of her hiding place and crossing her arms over her chest. "I too have problems camouflaging myself!" Mei admitted pointing to her white coat "But not to let me notice!" She said before tipping a glass full of wine over poor Pei. "I told you it was cheeky! Do you have to pay? "Ning said enthusiastically. Mei asked a silent question to her with a look, which she understood and immediately replied: "Bets! It's one of our ways of spending time! In addition to breaking each other's boxes! " "Two minds are better than one right !?" he asked, grinning. "We will become great friends! I feel it! "She said with euphoria.
And here are the new chapters! In this I started presenting many new characters and I hope you don't get confused!
See you soon,
Laura