CHAPTER 4: How I met Master Viper

Flashback 5 years ago.

Me, Kate and Lilly just recently moved to China after our relocation to Marshall. We decided to spend time in a local village 30 miles south of the base.

Kate and Lilly went into the local music store whilst me and Zildjian were walking through the village when she just noticed some of the plushies in one of the shop windows. She immediately rushed over and pulled me along.

"Woah, easy girl easy." I said trying to calm her down. She was so intrigued by the variety of plushies. So naturally I walked into the store.

I was amazed by the sheer amount of collectables, action figures and other nerdy stuff that were situated in the store. I barely had enough time to react when Zildjian pulled her leash towards a certain section of the store. When we got there I noticed it was an aisle filled with memorabilia of these 5 different people. However she was interested in this tiger plushie. She starts whining and gives a little bark saying that she wanted it badly.

"Oh, I see your friend really loves Tigress." a voice said behind me. I turned immediately and saw this green viper positioned right behind us.

"I can see that. She really wants the plushy" I laugh. I then noticed something when I looked back at the aisle. The same snake that I'm talking to has plushies and action figures of her in the same section of the store. At least it looked like her.

"Um, I don't mean to sound weird but is this you by any chance?" I asked while pointing at one of the plushies.

"Actually yeah it is. My name's Master Viper." She replied.

"I'm John, John Dunn. Nice to meet you." I said shaking her tail.

"Say are you new? I've never seen you before."

"Yep, I just moved here along with my 2 sisters who I believe are in the music store just down the street. We just got here 2 weeks ago from Dallas Texas. That's in the United States."

"Oh well then allow me to be the first to welcome you to the Valley of Peace."

"Thank you very much. Say lemme just pay for this and we can go meet my sisters."

"Of course." Viper replies.

After getting Zildjian her new toy we walked out of the store and headed off to meet with my sisters.

"Say, why does your dog have a vest on saying 'Service Dog'?"

"Oh...That's because she is my service dog. You see a year ago I was diagnosed with PTSD {Post Traumatic Stress Disorder} and I got her so that she can help me manage the symptoms of PTSD. For example when I feel like I'm about to have a flashback or an anxiety attack whether being panic or rage induced, I can give her a signal by tapping my knee with my knuckles 3 times. That way she sees I'm in distress and she comes to me. Essentially she jumps in my lap to say 'Hey it's okay, I'm here for you.' She comes with me pretty much everywhere I go so that if something like that happens in public, she can intervene at any time needed."

Viper gives me this look of concern after telling her this.

"If you don't mind me asking, what was the purpose of the diagnosis?" She asks rather timidly.

"It's a pretty emotional thing for me to talk about. So as much as I wouldn't mind telling you, I don't want to dive down that road just yet since it's still pretty fresh in my mind."

"Oh I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to-"

"It's alright Viper. You just didn't know. Can't blame yourself for that." I say giving a reassuring smile letting her know there were no ill feelings. She gave a sigh of relief.

After that we met up with my sisters who were talking to 3 individuals who happened to know Viper rather well. She introduced me to them.

They were a group which consisted of a chinese mountain cat named Mei-Ling, a snow leopard named Song and a black panther named Roman. We ended up talking to each other, getting to know one another for over an hour and it was the start of a friendship that continued on after that day.

One thing that stuck from that day was Viper talking to me about the group that she's a part of. Called the Furious 5. A group of kung fu masters who guard the village and the Valley of Peace for many years now. I was so intrigued about the group that for 5 years I studied, read and researched the history of not only the 5 but also the Palace itself. From the people who lived in it, to the backstories and lives of the 5.

Viper and I became really good friends from that day moving forward. I saw as an older sister since she's 5 years older than me and she even became friends with my family. I would invite her over to see them when they either visited me and my sisters in Marshall or when we flew over back to Dallas. I'm glad to call her a friend and I know this will sound like a fanboy statement but she's even become somewhat of a role model for me.

I knew I had to add a little side story about how John met Viper. So this was it. I hope I was able to make it work.