A DIFFERENT HUMAN
The big day had arrived! He ran fast through the corridors of the building, his bare feet making little noise on the cold marble, necessary to prevent anyone from hearing and stopping it. Whenever new animals arrived her father forbade her to enter the reserve to play with her brothers because she still considered them too wild to leave them free, especially near her! No sense for Rose! In the end she had managed to elude the guards and now she was running fast towards the great gate that separated her kingdom from that wonderful world. It took him longer than expected to open the iron door simply because his hands were shaking with emotion and he had momentarily forgotten which was the right key ... Once inside he saw the young Yong and Hong run towards her. "Hi Rose!" Said the first. "It's been five days since you showed up! Are you punished? "The second asked. "No, I just had a lot of things to do, excuse me!" The young woman lied. She had promised never to report the malicious rumors that revolved around them in the realm of humans. She didn't want to be the one to make them suffer! "We've run out of color!" Hong protested. Bright red, please! "Yong explained. The girl laughed. She had been punished more than once for helping the two young peacocks with their jokes, but since one in particular had succeeded, she had been unable to stop!
The story he thought of went back to when the two peacocks were eight and she was only five. They had taken a barrel full of ink and placed it in precarious balance on the beam of the reserve entrance door. The first guard who had even touched the handle would have become an artistic masterpiece! Too bad the victim was his father! Derek was not stupid, he knew that the animals had managed to do such a thing only thanks to the help of their daughter, since they possessed the bare minimum to live and the ink was not of vital importance, especially such a quantity! Spending a week in the dungeons of the castle had not been a good experience at all, but the joy and enjoyment of such a success had completely conquered Rose, who since then has not missed an opportunity to plot with the two young peacocks. For this he winked at his friends, which in their secret language meant yes. Perhaps it was not so unique their ways of communicating since, many times, the older animals had managed to sabotage absolutely perfect plans just because they had caught those signals! "So where is he?" Rose asked impatiently. "I was going to ask you the same question, but for the ink!" Yong replied, looking at the human with curiosity. Perhaps he already knew the answer ... "The new peacock! I wish I could meet him! "Her friend explained. Full center! Yong led her to her father's house.
Anyone who met greeted the young human with respect and happiness and she returned with equally affection. Perhaps her fellow men thought her strange, but it was for the simple fact that among her animal friends she felt at home! They stopped behind a bush not far from the entrance to the house to study the situation. A white peacock and a leopard were arguing animatedly about something ... the three were too far away to understand a single word! "Wait! That's Sheng! Where is the newcomer? "Rose asked impatiently. "You are spying on my friend! That's Shen! He comes from a distant place called Cuno! "Said Hong" What are you saying! It was Cita! "Yong protested" Yes ... sure, like no! The word city without double and accent! "Hong scoffed." If anything, it is your brain that has no memory! "His brother accused him. "Guys! Don't help me if you start the first Punic war on the mainland! "Rose said trying to appease the two litigants. "Sometimes you say nonsense!" Yong observed. "You are the one who is ignorant! Now come forward and introduce me! "The human said, pushing the peacock slightly to encourage him. "But if you want to meet him, go there and introduce yourself!" Hong complained. "Yes, but you already know it, so you are the best one to introduce it to me!" Rose insisted. "If we talk in these terms, it is our father who spent more time together, so it's his turn!" He challenged Yong as he pointed his paws on the ground, resisting.
"Guys!" All three jumped at hearing that voice. "What are you doing there? You know it's not okay to eavesdrop on others' speeches! "Zhuang said that he had noticed them from the window and had come down to check on that suspicious behavior. Shen approached the green peacock and waited with him for the two young men to come out into the open, while Mei, terrified by a possible joke by the twins, wisely decided to leave. "We were not eavesdropping!" Of Hong defenses coming out of the bush. "We were in the middle of a conflict of interest!" Yong pointed out as he stood beside his brother. "What interests?" Zhuang asked curiously. "Only my own to the newcomers!" Rose said coming out of the closet. Shen jumped and pulled away abruptly. A human was there in front of him! Maybe he could have killed her to show that he didn't bend to anyone, but seeing how close he was to the twins he knew he couldn't do it! "Nice to Shen, I'm Rose!" She said as she did what she thought was a reverence, but in Shen's eyes it seemed to be a clumsy demonstration. When Rose realized that the white peacock was not going to utter a word, she tried to start a speech "How are you? ... you know, m-I'm sorry how they treated you during the trip!" But both you and the others see that you are recovering quickly! ... "the girl said putting both hands in her pockets and raising her shoulders in obvious embarrassment. "Congratulations Rose! Remind him of the nightmare journey he did without you doing anything to help him!" His conscience always made itself felt too late!
Shen kept looking at her badly, so she tried again "Your house was beautiful! Are you of noble lineage? "He asked repenting immediately when the peacock replied shouting" YOU ARE NOT YOUR BUSINESS! ". Rose took three steps back, discouraged. Some of the animals had shown themselves hostile to him at the beginning, but over time he had managed to create a bond of friendship with each of them. There had to be a meeting ground even with Shen or she was no longer called Rose! "I think the visit ends now!" Zhuang said, standing in front of the girl with a look that didn't allow for replies. She nodded and started for the exit followed by the twins. As the human disappeared from view the green peacock turned to Shen. "Try to control yourself next time!" He said sternly "Should I pretend nothing happened?" The white peacock asked furiously "She's a child! It is certainly not his fault that his father caught us! "Zhuang insisted" No child is innocent because of his father's faults! " "It also applies to your ... that didn't educate you properly!" Thundered Zhuang. Shen winced, but recovered almost immediately "Do you think I still care about him? They have wronged me and I will remedy it! ". "How?" Asked Zhuang curious "It's none of your business!" Shen said. The green peacock found nothing to respond to and stared at it. After an infinite time he spoke "My parents abandoned me in an orphanage!" Shen's eyes widened and his beak cracked open. "I'll never know why! Didn't they want me? Did they have no way to breed me? ... maybe your parents really abandoned you, but don't deny them! They will always be part of you! And remember you will never be alone here! We help each other and protect each other! "Zhuang said putting a wing on the young man's shoulder.
"... I didn't want to seem indelicate! I didn't know your story and ... I spoke inappropriately, driven by anger! Master Rino has always told me to act and speak lucidly without letting feelings take over, but it's easier said than done! "Shen said, finding himself in difficulty in the face of so many confidence. He barely knew him and had already started talking about his past! Perhaps it was an attempt to get more confidence with him, but obviously the green peacock had not yet understood who he was dealing with! "Who is the Master Rino?" Zhuang asked, distracted by the original conversation at the mention of that name. "The one who taught me to fight! A great Kung Fu Master! "Shen replied, unable not to smile when she saw the astonished expression of the other. Zhuang couldn't hold back a grimace "Do you really have it with anyone who knows any kind of martial arts? Or just against the Kung Fu? "Shen demanded piqued. "I don't like soldiers! And for good reason: the only warrior who has been here has wounded many people for no good reason! "The green peacock explained. "You don't want to fight! It's normal that he got the better of me! Whoever turns his back on the battle deserves defeat! "Shen said. "The weapons are dangerous!" Zhuang replied nervously "If you don't know how to use them! But they could become an excellent defense! "The white peacock insisted" No! Fighting is too dangerous! "The other admitted. "You can't defend yourself much more!" Shen protested. "Until we stay in the reserve nothing will happen to us!" Zhuang ended the conversation. Shen decided not to retaliate. He had to find a more effective way of screaming at himself, to convince that peacock.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"I behaved like a fool, didn't I?" Asked Rose to Yong, who had been trying to reassure her for several minutes. "No! It's just because he doesn't know you behaved like that! "He replied. "Give it time! Even Lang Min at the beginning was grumpy and cold towards you, remember? "Hong asked, trying to give his friend some hope. "Lang Min ... ah yes! The peacock right? "Rose asked," All right! "Yong replied. "What do you say if we go to the other two?" The girl asked excitedly. "Better not!" Hong advised. "And don't forget the paint! It's very important! "Yong said, changing the subject completely. "Who's the target?" Rose asked curiously. "Apparently Syaoran is courting Shu ..." Hong began to explain to be interrupted immediately "No! No! Absolutely not! "The girl said raising both hands. "It's the first time you've pulled back!" Yong observed "Yeah!" Hong confirmed. "If you hope I hit a couple, you're wrong!" Said Rose opposed to the idea of attacking two lovers. "But they are not still together!" Hong protested. "What's on it? Where's the rip-off? "The girl who knew her two friends too well asked. "No rip-offs!" The twins replied in chorus "Only ... Shu continues to make jokes!" He surrendered to the end Yong "He surprises us by making us take shots! We must return the favor, we are not so rude as not to do it, do you think? "Hong said. "It's bad to be on the other side, isn't it?" Rose asked, grinning "However, my answer remains unchanged! I will not take this joke, so forget about the paint until you have found a target that is up to the risk! "The girl said before closing the gate behind her and turning the key and then running as fast as she could toward the its rooms. His father would be back soon! As he left he heard Yong's voice saying "Let's beat a retreat if you don't want to risk, a good spanking on the part of someone who can punish you!" "This time the alternate rhyme didn't look good on you!" Hong pointed out. "But what do you say ... if it was perfect ?!" Yong complained "It wasn't very catchy!" His brother admitted. Rose laughed "In a second, they cause the end of the world!" He thought before he reached his rooms and shut himself up inside them.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
He had been walking for a while in the thick vegetation when hasty steps made him turn around abruptly. Mei stopped beside him "Do you feel like talking?" He asked uncertainly. "Sure! You know your presence doesn't bother me! "Shen replied that he was obviously in a bad mood. "Well! So ... what happened with the human? "" Except when you hang some business that is not yours! "He thought of the white peacock when he was asked this question. "Nothing!" Shen said nervously. "Anything? You looked at her like she was the devil herself! A horrible creature! An abomination! A bit like ordinary people looked at us! Or how the visitors look at us when we are put in "exposure" ... "Mei said hinting with her paws at the quotation marks of the last word said. "Are you finished?" Asked an impatient Shen "I just wanted you to understand the situation by listing as many examples as possible!" The feline answered with absolute calm. "What exposition were you talking about?" The white peacock asked, puzzled "Don't change the subject!" Mei scolded him "You just did it!" Shen accused her "Isn't that so?" exposure "?" The peacock insisted. "The only real reason why we're here!" Mei began to explain. "Last night I talked to a buffalo named Pei and he informed me that every week they take us out to lock us up in big cages, to allow humans to admire us ". "I don't understand!" Shen said confused "The other humans have to pay to see us! It's just the greed that drives humans to risk losing their precious commodity! "Mei said, shaking her tail nervously. "Get to the point!" Shen grew impatient. "Well ... if I wanted to escape ... I would choose just an opportunity like this! Humans take us to the center of their village and with a little confusion it might be easy to disappear! "The feline said hopefully that she had devised a good plan. "You forgot we would be in a cage, most likely surrounded by guards!" Shen said decidedly more cautious than the girl. "We still have to define the details, but running away from the reserve seems a lot more complicated!" Mei said.
Shen started to think, then surrendered "All right! Now that we have decided the place we must think about how to implement the plan with a good chance of success ". "It will take some time! And I was hoping to be out of here before spring! "Mei complained. "To be able to escape, we cannot leave out any details! We need to learn more about these humans and their movements during these village festivals. It will take time, but in the end we will be free, trust us! "Shen said, placing a wing on her friend's shoulder. "I would never doubt you!" Mei said sincerely "Who did you meet last night?" She asked, full of curiosity.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Rose was finishing downloading the latest photos on the computer undecided whether to change the desktop image or not! Yet the picture of that tall tower seen from afar was breathtaking! Already! In each of their journeys the photographic report was always there! He sighed heartily! Too bad it had to keep all that technology a secret, because a selfie with her friends would have liked it! But her father's speech had convinced her fully. It was perhaps the only time he had decided to listen to it and obey a simple rule! If his friends had discovered their technology, especially with regards to the arsenal of weapons they kept in the cellar, they could have become dangerous. Not for her, of course! But not wanting to be the cause of some Rose death in the end, he had decided to keep his mouth shut. "Rose!" A voice averted her thoughts and turned toward the open window. An albino Barn Owl perched on the windowsill. "Hi Fa! Discovered something? "He asked curiously. "It seems that those two peacocks we saw are the rulers of that city, called GongMing, and by chance Shen's parents too. The palace guard, formed by a large pack of wolves, mobilized in search of the missing Prince, only sailing in the opposite direction from our position! "He told the owl in one breath. Fa, a birthday present a few years earlier, was his personal informant. Not even his father knew that she sent the bird on espionage missions! "So he has some living relatives looking for him!" Rose said, jumping up from her chair. "Should we not inform your father? They could pose a serious danger if they found our kingdom! "He said Fa expressing his concern fully. "If they move by sea they will be intercepted by the lookouts scattered around the coast before they can set foot on land ... so, there is no problem! Only ... that I am afraid of hurting him if I start talking about his parents! "The girl complained referring to Shen. "If you want to become his friend there is a way!" Said the owl rubbing its wings against each other in an attempt to make the snow fall on them.
"Don't keep me on your toes!" She protested. "Shen's parents invented fireworks! It is their primary reason for living! I believe that if you give the peacock the chance to work with the family legacy, he will have to show some gratitude, will he not? "The owl asked. "Thank you! Thank you! Thanks! "Rose said enthusiastically as she embraced her friend in gratitude. "Thank you ... but I can't breathe!" The owl protested. "Apologizes! Did you discover anything about others? "He asked, interrupting this overwhelming show of affection. "Bo lived alone from what I understand! While Syaoran had recently moved to the village from which he was taken, so everyone knew him very little! "Fa said before lying down on a small bed prepared especially for him. "Well! Thank you so much for all this information! Now rest, you'll be tired! "Rose said before heading to the bathroom to finish getting ready. She had promised never to separate families, but most of the time, the animals that came to the reserve had been abandoned or sold by those who were supposed to protect them. It was just that she had activated herself from this point of view and had only managed to bring two brothers together: Li, the white tiger, with Lim the tiger ... normal! Without thinking that his father's most recent purchases had not been puppies, but adult animals, which could then deal with the situation differently than a puppy torn from the loving care of their parents! He could have done more, but his father had opened the reserve even before his birth and initially, given his young age, he had simply made the new arrivals feel at ease, who were mostly puppies of a few years old. with some adults who were highly ignorant. Soon they would serve lunch and his father did not like latecomers for that he hastily tied his shoes before locking the door, not to let anyone disturb Fa, and ran to the dining room.
The story was originally in Italian, so there are no rhymes in English! I'm sorry! However, I hope this doesn't hurt the chapter too much! I introduced a new character that will play a very important role in the story! Rose is twelve and has grown up surrounded by animals!
Let me know what you think!
See you soon,
Laura