"There are no seven wonders of the world in the eyes of a child. There are seven million."
Episode 13: Puppy days.
The holoscreen powered up and emitted a light blue glow as its user booted up its system, ready to report his findings. The leopard man fixed his tie, making sure to look his best for his commanding officer. After a few minutes, the signal reached through and the display of the contact spreaded light in the dark alleyway in the ocean town. On the screen was a female cheetah in a uniform of white with light blue trims.
The leopard cleared his throat and begun his debriefing. "Commander, I've completed my mission."
"Agent Wilson, what findings have you discovered?" The cheetah woman asked.
"I arrived at this New Jersey town called Ocean paw. And I investigated the anomaly detected in this time frame. During my mission, I encountered two teenage boys; one of native American decent, and the other, from ancient China." The leopard explained.
"How did the boy from the past arrive in the twenty first century?" The officer on the screen queried.
"Apparently the boy from 2018 found a time device that washed up on the beach. Then he, probably unknowingly, used it to travel to the past, and he brought the boy from the past here." The field agent continued. "I gave the boy from ancient China one of our L. (Language Translation Pills)."
"And why did you give him such an item?" The cheetah sternly questioned.
The leopard tugged his suit's collar and answered "Because I wished to see if he could figure out how to get back home on his own."
"Agent Wilson that's enough! Your mission was to observe, not to interfere!" The commander shouted.
"I know commander, I- It won't happen again." Agent Wilson said.
Although the commander was furious at him for his reckless actions again, she stayed focused on the task at hand. "Were you able to identify the boy from the past?"
"Yes, his name is Erdan." Wilson answered.
Suddenly the commander bared a face of surprise, one she didn't make often. Wilson became puzzled as the commander asked one of her other agents to check something for her.
When she returned Wilson asked "C-commander what is it?"
She then asked "Wilson, was the boy named Erdan, wearing a red bandana?"
"Yes Ma'am." Wilson answered.
"Return to base time immediately!" The commander ordered.
"Commander what-" Wilson asked before his C.O interrupted him.
"We will explain everything when you return. This is much more dire then you know Wilson." She ordered.
The agent then switched off the holoscreen, took his time piece and was gone in a flash.
((()-()))
It was early morning, Shu prepared breakfast for his son, whipping up a nice egg and veggie meal. She saw that the food for the two of them was almost ready, sizzling over her stove and creating an aroma that pleased her nose and made her mouth water.
"Erdan, breakfast is ready!" Shu shouted.
"O-ok mo-om." Erdan replied.
But Shu heard her son's voice wasn't the same like always. Erdan then walked down stairs and into the kitchen. But Shu noticed that her boy was only wearing pants, he didn't even bother to put on a shirt. It was still winter, and even though he would be fine bare chested, with his warm and thick wolf coat, Erdan always fully dressed for breakfast. Except in summer of course when the heat is too much to bare.
Erdan then sneezed loudly, and had a bad cough. "Honey are you alright?" Shu asked.
"I-I don't know mom." Erdan said before sneezing again.
Shu then took his temperature and found he had a fever. So she took him back to his room, tucked him back in bed and went to the kitchen to get some medicine for her son. Aferwards she returned with a tea that had grounded herbs in it. Erdan swallowed it, even though he hated the taste, and Shu stayed with him while he was under the weather. But seeing his foster mother care for him, reminded Erdan o fhis birth mother. And memories of her from years ago flooded back into the boy's mind.
((()-()))
A very young boy played on the front porch of his house. The little pup was of only five years old. But unlike all the other children in the village, he didn't have any brothers or sisters. He was the only child his mother and father had, but he was all they needed.
The puppy played with his wooden toys when he heard voices from nearby. He saw a group of children playing ball a ways over. They were all kicking or tossing the round object to each other. Tired with playing alone, the little pup decided to go join them in their fun.
The group of wolf children were enjoying themselves, when a much younger boy and running to them. But they quickly realized who he was, that weird boy. On the outside he seemed normal, he only wore pants like every other male in the village. Since wolves already had thick warm fur coats, there was little need for boys and men to wear shirts or vests, as a way of saving materials for clothing. However some things about that young puppy were strange in the eyes and minds of the other villagers. Like how he enjoyed eating plants more than meat, and was a single child despite he was a wolf, and should have had at least one sibling. For these reasons he was secretly called and oddity amongst the other children. And the same thing was called to his parents.
"Can I play?" The young pup asked.
The other kids looked at each other and an older boy said "Don't you have baby toys to play with?"
"But I'm five now." The pup protested.
"We aren't letting a baby join our game." An eight year old girl said, towering over the young puppy.
"Please, can I play with you?" The pup asked.
The older kids huddled together, muttering of what to do. Then after a minute, they turned and the older boy said "Ok, we'll let you play ball with us."
And then the puppy's face lit up. They all formed a circle and tossed the ball to each other. But the whole time they threw the play toy too hard at the puppy, making him fall to the snowy ground again and again. The other kids were secretly enjoying it, fooling around and such. Then the puppy tried his best to catch the ball, and he did. But just a few seconds later all of the ball's air blew out until it became a sack of its former self.
"What did you do?!" The older boy yelled.
The pup then realized his claws pierced holes in the ball when he caught it. "I-I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
"That was our last ball!" The girl shouted.
"I-I didn't mean too, I'm sorry." The puppy apologized.
Then the group of older kids circled around the pup and the oldest boy said "Oh you'll be sorry."
Then some of the kids held the pup down while the other three punched and tormented the pup best they could. The little boy yelled for help, then his mother heard her son's pleas and went outside to see what was happening. Only a second later she rushed to stop the kids, even going so far as smacking the oldest boy in the face twice.
"Leave my son alone!" The mother wolf shouted. And all the kids ran off, knowing they were in trouble now.
"Mommy." The puppy said along with wimpering.
"It's ok, mommy's here now." She said as she wrapped her arms around her little boy.
"They were so mean, and I only wanted to play and." The puppy said before his mom comforted him.
"Shh, shh, it's ok, ok I'm here." The mother said as she rubbed his head and back to calm him.
The little boy cried into his mother's shoulder, and it pained her to see the little puppy she was blessed with in pain. She knew it was hard for him to make friends, being a social outcast for him being an only child. It was said that true wolf women are success from the clans they make, but this boy's mother only had him. However she brushed off those thoughts and got an idea to cheer her son up.
"Do you want a snack?" She asked.
The puppy nodded and she brought him in for his favorite.
"Here you go, veggie surprise." She said while handing the snack to her son.
Immediately the young boy's face lit up and begun eating his snack. He savored every bite and taste and said "Thank you mommy." With a smile as warm as the sun.
"You're welcome, my little Erdan." The mother replied, happy to see her son joyful again. And the mother played with her son for the rest of the afternoon, giving him company on lonely days.
((()-()))
As Erdan laid in his bed, he remembered all the nice things his birth parents did for him. And all the times they protected him from bullies who mocked him. Then Zhong came into the room, coming to see his son who was ill.
"Hi dad." Erdan said before coughing again.
"Erdan are you ok? How long have you been feeling like this? Did you take medicine yet?" ZHong frantically asked.
"Dad I'm fine. It's just a cold." Erdna replied. Although his throat felt scratchy and sore.
Then Shifu and Po came in the room as well. "What are you two doing here?" Erdan asked.
"Shu sent Fang to tell us you're no feeling well." Shifu explained.
"The second your dad heard you were ill he rushed down so fast he was gone in a second." Po said.
Erdan laughed a bit and said "Aw thanks dad."
"Well, I'm just glad it's nothing serious." Zhong said with relief.
Erdan smiled at seeing the lengths his foster father would go though for his son.
"Zhong, if you wish, you're allowed to stay with you son for the day." Shifu said to his one eyed student.
Zhong nodded and then Po asked "Can I stay with Erdan as well, master?"
But Shifu raised an eyebrow and said "But you have training and leaning to do, its your turn panda. Now come on."
But Po then put his paw to his forehead and said "Ooh, I think I'm coming down with something too."
But Shifu lightly slapped Po with his cane and said "Nice try panda, now come on!" and a disappointed panda walked back to the Jade Palace.
Erdan however found Po's little attempt funny, seeing a grown man having the brain of a child was funny in his mind.
"Dad." Erdan asked.
"Yeah?" Zhong replied.
"I think I'll take a nap." Erdan said.
"Ok, I'll stay with you a bit." Zhong replied.
Erdan then got comfy and snuggled in his sheets. Ad he tried to fall asleep, he thought about the lengths Zhong went though, and the boy remembered of his birth father, and memories of his past childhood came rushing back again.
((()-()))
Wolf men worked on logs and trees, acquiring the material needed for firewood, home repairs, and other needs for their village. These men were the providers of homes, while the village women were caretakers of children and the earth, a much more important and respected role in their community. One man took a lunch break from the work he had done for the morning. He sat on a log, reached into his bag and pulled out some fish caught at the stream earlier. He and the other men started a fire and cooked their catch, ever thankful for the gifts given to them by the Great Creator.
But as they were getting ready to chow down, a group of cubs of various ages came, eager to have lunch with their fathers. The men greeted and hugged their sons and daughters, a sight that was just as warm as the fire cooking the now nice smelling fish.
One young pup ran up to his father with a bright smile. "Daddy!"
"H-hey Erdan." The father said and picked up his son and held him. "Are you hungry?"
The young puppy, Erdan, then nodded and the father and son sat down on the log and ate, just like all the other fathers. Each family sat on a log, with all the pups taking up seats with their fathers, however the log of one father and son was almost empty, since that man had only one son.
"Here you go." The man said as he gave his little boy a piece of the fish.
But after a few minutes of eating, he noticed his son only ate his veggies. "What's wrong son?"
"I don't like fish." The puppy answered.
"C'mon, you need meat." The father said to his son.
Although he didn't like it, the little boy ate his meal. Unlike other wolves he didn't like eating somrthing that was once alive. After the lunch was done, all the kids went to the creak to wash up from eating the greasy meal. While the men talked.
"You know, there's something wrong with a boy if he don't want to eat meat." One man said to another.
"Maybe he's not right in the head or something." Another man said.
"You think he was dropped or something?" A third man commented.
Finally the father had enough and yelled "There's nothing wrong with my son."
"Are you sure? He's not like the other children." One of the fellow worker men asked.
Then the father punched the rude man in the face. "Say that to my son, and I'll make you regret it."
Before a fight could start the other fathers held the angry men back, keeping them from hurting each other more. The father got frustrated and walked off to find his little boy, who was sitting alone at the creak. The boy's father walked up and sat with his son.
Erdan was looking at his reflection in the water and asked "Why am I different?"
"What?" His daddy questioned.
"Daddy, why am I different from the other boys?" The little puppy asked.
The father thought about it for a moment and answered "That's just the way you were bone, it's who you are. But you know what?"
"What?" The pup asked.
"That's what your mom and me love about you, son, you perfect just the way you are." The father said.
"Really?" The boy replied.
"Really." The father said.
"Thanks dad." Erdan said with a smile that warmed his father's heart. "And I'm sorry."
"For what?" The father questioned.
Then suddenly Erdan flick some water into his dad's face. "For that." And the kid giggled.
But then the father smiled and threw some water back, and the two played in the stream together. After a few minutes they returned and all the children went back to the village. Erdan gave a friendly wave to his father and the two went back to their daily lives.
((()-()))
Erdan remembered his birth father and the fun they had together. After Erdan woke up from his nap, Fang the little gray bunny came to visit his best friend, as did the two goat brothers Kenny and James. And their father, JImbo as well.
"Wow, you look terrible." Fang said, seeing his wolf friend ill and in bed.
"Is it that obvious?" Erdan said with a hint of sarcasm.
"We brought some soup from Mr. Ping's for you." Kenny said showing a bag of wooden tubs with the goose's famed noodle soup.
"Wait, does mister Ping know I'm sick?" Erdan asked urgently.
"Don't worry, your mom asked me to tell him the news and he gave you off time until you're better." JImbo explained.
It wasn't like himself for Mr. Ping to be so willing to let an employee have a day off. Maybe he's getting a little soft for the boy, Erdan thought.
After some talking, Jimbo wanted to learn more about Erdan's people and how they lived.
"So, what kind of beliefs did you're village have?" Jimbo asked.
"Well" Erdna said before coughing in the middle. "My parents, my birth parents, explained it to me like this."
((()-()))
The little puppy woke up from his bed, he then felt hungry and went looking for his parents. After a few minutes of searching in his wooden home, he found his parents in their room, they were sitting on their bed with their eyes closed.
"Mommy, Daddy, I'm hungry." The young boy said in a cute childish voice.
"In a minute Erdan." The mother said.
"What are you doing?" The pup asked.
"Praying to the creator." The father said.
"Why?" The pup asked.
The two adults looked at each other, and then held their son to talk to him.
"Have we told you about The Great Creator?" The mother asked her son.
The child simply shook his head sideways.
"Well, he's this great being, who made everything in the world. Including us." The mother said.
"He made us?" The puppy asked.
"Yes." The father answered.
"Why?" Their son asked once again.
"Because he wanted to be loved, like how we love you Erdan. And praying in the morning is how we thank and love him." The father explained.
"What does he look like?" Erdan asked while on his father's lap.
"Well, we don't know what he looks like." The mother answered.
"What does he sound like?" Erdan asked.
"No one knows that either." The pup's father said.
"Then how do you know if he's real?" Erdna sked.
The two parents looked at each other, thinking of how to respond to their son's question?
"Well, that's what we believe in. That's what faith is; believing in something greater then yourself." The mother said.
After a minute of pause, the little boy asked "Does the Great Creator love me too?"
Both parents smiled and the father answered "He loves all people, especially puppies." He then tickled his son, and the little boy laughed.
Then his little stomach grumbled. And the family then made breakfast, beginning their start of a new day.
((()-()))
"Huh, so that's what your people believed in?" JImbo asked.
"Yep." Erdan replied.
"How come you have different beliefs then us, you grew up in China right?" The goat father asked.
"Well, I remember my parents saying that our village was a nomadic tribe once, traveling from place to place, looking for a place to settle down. I guess they brought their beliefs with them." Erdan answered.
Jimbo thought about it for a minute, clearly understanding that wolf culture was vastly different then his own.
Then Jimbo let Erdan take a nap. But as he was snoozing, Erdan relived a memory from his past in his dreams.
((()-()))
Dark storm clouds hovered over the mountains, sending lightning and thunder through the atmosphere. One large and loud thunder roared, and woke up the little puppy in a state of fear. He rose from his bed and heard loud bangs and lightning flash. He begun wimpering, and he ran to his parents room.
The mother was sleeping peacefully with her husband, but then they both were taken out of their slumber when a loud thunder sounded. Then their son came into the room.
With a fearful tone the little boy said "Mommy, Daddy, I'm scared."
Seeing their little boy in such fear brought pain to the parents hearts. Then the mother asked "Do you want to stay with us?"
The puppy nodded and climbed onto the bed. His parents snuggled him in, with his mother to his left and his father at his right. More thunder sounded loudly, and immediately the five year old boy hid under the blanket. But the parents wrapped their arms around their son and comforted him.
"Shhh, shhh it's ok, we're here." The mother said.
"It's ok Erdan, we'll be with you all night." The father said.
Little Erdan then rose from the blanket and smiled. Then the two parents snuggled with their puppy. And then Erdan said "I love you Mommy, I love you Daddy."
"We love you two, Erdan." Both parents replied.
And with his parents cuddling him, the little puppy was able to sleep peacefully for the rest of the night.
((()-()))
Erdan woke up, returning to reality. He saw his family was in the room with him, and his foster mother Shu woke him.
"Good news Erdan, your looking better." Shu said.
"Really?" Erdan asked.
"Yep, you might be all better I a day or two." Zhong said.
"That's good." Erdan replied.
Soon he'll be able to return to his part time job, and his kung fu training. Not to mention once again being able to hang out with his friends, whether they're village kids or kung fu legends. But then Erdan got an idea, one to pass the time with his family until dinner.
"Hey, Is it alright if I share some stories with you two, about my birth parents?" Erdan asked, in a much clearer tone.
Zhong and Shu looked at each other and the one eyed wolf asked "Will you be alright with that?"
Erdan the smiled and answered 'Yeah, I'll be just fine." And the whole afternoon was spend with memories. Erdan sharing his love for his birth parents with his foster parents. Together they laughed and and enjoyed Erdan's stories of his puppyhood. All these stories didn't make Erdan sad, but instead happy and thankful for all the people he had, and does have that love him, the people who are his family.
