Chapter 2: Daylight

Dai's ear twitched in her sleep. She was a light sleeper from experience. When the rays of the dawning sun peeked through the shades, her eyes, though closed, became aware of it. She hadn't gotten much sleep in the previous night. She was far too used to being ambushed for various reasons.

Now, she might have ignored the sun for a few more minutes, like she usually did in the mornings, had it not been for a blunt interruption. A loud snoring broke out from the panda sleeping on the floor, nearly making Dai jump out of bed. It occurred to her that she might not have noticed it before since she was in a deeper sleep than she had thought… or perhaps his position had changed? Dai knew snoring was all about how the person was positioned and what kind of life they led.

Dai turned to her side and looked at the panda, assessing him. Extra fat, but not out of the ordinary for a panda. On the contrary, this might actually be healthy, by the standards of the species. Sleeping on one's back does not help the snoring either, it merely amplifies it. Then she considered what kind of life he must lead. A kung fu master, being trained by a higher master, must receive a lot of stress upon his body and mind. Meditation can help with this and a sense of inner peace, but perhaps there is something more?

The panda began snorting before smacking his lips and slowly opening his eyelids. Not wanting to be caught watching the master sleep, Dai turned over quickly and tried to find something interesting within her closed eyelids.

She heard the panda get up and yawn deeply and instantly became aware of a strong morning breath. She sensed eyes on her back for a moment before the panda rose, opened the slide, and closed it as he left. Dai turned back over and looked at the vacant spot. With a sigh, she got up and decided to see where he went.

Before she could catch up with the panda, she was pounced on from behind. Craning her eyes to see who it was, she caught yellow orbs looking into her white ones. Feline, tiger, Master Tigress! Dai gasped and tried to get up, but was restrained.

"What are you doing here, wolf?" asked Master Tigress.

"Please, Master Tigress, I don't want to fight," said Dai.

"Good, I don't want to have to clean up any blood either," replied the tiger. The sarcasm came as a surprise to Dai and made her shiver.

"Tigress!" came a voice. Dai looked to where the voice had come. It was Po, the panda, and he didn't look like he agreed with anything that was going on.

"Stay out of this, Po," said Tigress.

"Let her go, she isn't going to hurt anyone. Besides, Shifu put me in charge of her and I'm going to do what I was told. Now, let her up," said Po. His look was determined, but there was an underlying friendliness there that only the wise and the people close to him would be able to detect.

Tigress swished her tail back and forth, considering. She then got up and let Dai get up. Po and Tigress had a quick stare-down before Po went back to wherever it was he had come. Dai was about to follow him before Tigress stepped into her path.

"If you do anything to harm anyone in the Valley of Peace or the Jade Palace, you will regret ever coming here," said Tigress.

"Respectfully, Master Tigress, if you touch me again, you'll wish you'd never known me," replied Dai. The two snarled at each other, but Tigress was the first to walk away. Dai snorted unapprovingly before going in the direction Po had gone.

Dai found Po in the kitchen. He was making breakfast, it appeared, and the rest of the Furious Five were already gathered at the table, along with Shifu. She was met with a cold reception. They all stared at her as if evil incarnate had just walked into the room. Well, Dai reasoned with in herself, I cannot blame them. Most of my species carries that bad reputation. Without a word, Dai sat down at the table, well within everyone's view. While her defiance was silent in words, it was not silent in any other respect.

Po seemed to be talking about noodles, or something along those lines, before he turned around and went silent. "Guys, this is Daiyu; Daiyu, this is Masters Mantis, Viper, Shifu, Crane, Monkey… and Tigress," Po introduced. It was shortly before the last introduction that Master Tigress entered the room and took a seat. Despite the introduction, the room was still quite cold. "Well, anyway, here's breakfast." Po poured some soup into some bowls and handed one to everyone seated.

Now, the others had silently scooted farther away from Daiyu, leaving the only chair remaining the one beside her on her left. Po took that seat without question nor the slightest emotion indicating how he felt about the placement. Daiyu was a little surprised, especially when he personally handed her a bowl instead of placing it on the table in front of her. The meal went by rather normally after that, but never once during the meal did Daiyu forget the coldness emanating from all of the group excepting Po. The Dragon Warrior radiated a warmness in his friendly manners and openness toward others.

After breakfast, everyone went to the training hall. As Po and the five trained, Shifu made Daiyu sit near him. From the glances she received from the small master, she might as well have been sitting there in the nude. His knowing eyes were laying her bare, searching for a secret motive or, well, anything secret. Shifu was renowned for his wisdom and ability to handle a situation quickly and efficiently. So, Daiyu began focusing on the others training.

The moves were familiar to her. She had, in her mind, only received enough training to get by on, but her family would tell her time and again how remarkable her skills were. Yeah, right, remarkable for helping you hurt people. She looked sad then and hugged her knees to her chest. She was lost in thought and jumped a little when Shifu tapped his staff authoritatively, causing the training to stop.

Daiyu looked up and noticed it was high noon already. She instantly became aware of her body once again and made to get up, but was stopped by Shifu's staff. "Yes, Master Shifu?" she asked.

"Why don't you show us what you can do?" asked the small master.

"Why? So you can use it against me if I turn out to be evil?" she asked warily. Shifu's ear made a twitch, a signature thing for him to do when he was agitated or slightly amused. If Daiyu had to choose between one or the other, she would probably choose the former. "All right," she said.

She went through the obstacle course and, in areas of grace and balance she did better at than strength. When she made it back to the other side, Shifu's ear twitched again. He looked at her, assessing her. He then waved a hand and everyone followed him outside.

Once out there, he took a spear and threw it at Daiyu. Without really thinking, she dodged it and caught it. "What was that for? You nearly killed me!" she exclaimed. She was panting from the quick adrenaline rush.

"The next time I ask you to do something, do not hold back," said Shifu.

"One, it's kind of hard to think clearly with the eyes of judgment on your back; Two, you are not my master and you do not have the authority to order me around as you see fit," said Daiyu.

"On the contrary, Daiyu, you are now living under my rules and as such-"

"Let me stop you right there." Everyone gasped at the audacity. No one interrupted Shifu, not even when he was droning on and on about something. "You said so yourself that I am under Po's care. As such, I listen to what he tells me. Even though he does what you say, that does not mean I have to as well." Shifu looked as if he were containing his anger, willing himself not to explode.

"You're quite right." He turned to Po and said, "Po, I want you to take Daiyu into town for some supplies. Be back in time for dinner."

"Yes, Master Shifu," said Po respectfully. He looked to Daiyu and she followed.

As they went down the steps, Shifu and the five looked on. "What are you looking for, Master?" asked Viper.

"If she wants to speak out against me, I will merely have to remind her where she is and where we are," said Master Shifu. He went back inside and most of them followed. Viper remained a moment, still looking on. Something in her heart told her this wasn't right and resolved to do what she could to fix it. After all, she had been hated once too.

Well, nothing much to say here except, please keep reading and reviewing, thanks :)

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