Chapter 3: Prejudice

It was a long trek down the stairs into the village below. Po panted heavily from the trip. Dai followed him dutifully and had even helped him down the stairs when the trek was getting too long or difficult. Perhaps it was honor or maybe Dai just felt sorry for just how hard he was taking it. Nonetheless, they had made it.

"All right! I am starving. Let's head over to my dad's place and we can get some lunch," said Po.

"You have your father cook for you?" asked Dai.

"Well, he cooks for everybody. He owns a restaurant: Ping's Noodle Shop," explained Po.

"Oh," said Dai in realization.

As they walked through the town, the villagers would give glares to Dai as she passed them. They'd say hi to Po when he said hi to them, but there was nothing but silence given to Dai. It wasn't like she wasn't used to such treatment, but it still made her sad.

When they arrived at Ping's, a small grey goose (small in comparison to Po) greeted the panda affectionately. "Dad, this is Daiyu. She's going to be staying here for a while," Po introduced.

"An honor to meet you, Mr. Ping," said Dai respectfully.

"Of course, of course, just make yourself at home," said Mr. Ping. Dai bowed again. "Uh, son, may I speak with you for a moment?"

"Sure, Dad," said Po.

"In the kitchen?"

"Uh, sure."

The two left and Dai found herself alone. She seated herself at a table and it wasn't long before customers either migrated out of the restaurant or as far away from her as possible. Mr. Ping watched all of this through his window and looked at Po reproachfully.

"What?" asked Po.

"I think you know what, Po," said Mr. Ping.

"Dad, there's nothing wrong with her, she's not a criminal," said Po.

"Yes, of course, Po. Every time someone trusts a wolf, they wind up in trouble. Wolves steal, lie, murder, and destroy everything around them."

"She's not like that, Dad."

"Perhaps not now, but she will get you into trouble and I don't want to see anything bad happen to you."

"There's something different about her, Dad. I don't know what it is, but-"

"Son, I love you. I also love how open you are with other people and how much you want to see the good in people, but trust me when I say there is no good in Daiyu. Wolves are bound to do what they do in nature." They both looked at Dai from the window and saw her looking sad in the corner. "I'll get you some food, but please get her out of here as soon as you can. You're scaring away the customers."

Po was angry, but he loved and respected his father too much to argue… at least, not yet. So, Mr. Ping got him some soup and dumplings and Po took Dai out of the restaurant. It didn't get any better from there either. All over town, people threw tomatoes at her, called her names, spit at her, hid from her, did everything they could to either scorn her or avoid her. By the time they had gathered half of the groceries for dinner, Dai's ears drooped low, her tail dragged on the ground, and she stared at the ground as she walked.

Po sighed. "Master Shifu never should have allowed this," he said under his breath.

"Do you resent my presence?" asked Dai.

"Dai, I may not always get the right answer, but I'm sure that you're not who they think you are."

"The only people who truly know me have exploited what I am for evil purposes. I'm tired, Po, of everything."

A scream emitted from the other side of the village and they both turned around quickly. The ground shook as a giant water buffalo approached, followed by a few smaller ones. It was Temutai, warrior king of the Qidan.

"Not this again," said Po. He approached Temutai and said, "What is it now, Temutai? Do you want me to kick your butt again?"

"As much as I would like to prove how easy it would be for me to defeat you, I come with a different purpose," said Temutai. Upon seeing Dai, he picked her up by her clothes and venomously said, "You."

"I- I'm sorry, I've offended a lot of people in the past. Could you remind me what my crime was toward you?" asked Dai.

"You work for the Black Jade Wolf Clan. They HAVE STOLEN FROM ME!" Temutai screamed.

"I am not responsible for their actions," said Dai.

"This is not the first time they have stolen from me. The first time I came to know your clan, you were there. Your voice put my men out of their senses, leaving the wolves to take. Now, they have stolen a priceless artifact, one of our most prized possessions. I followed their trail here. Now, where are they?"

"I don't know. They wander all throughout China. I can never be sure where they'll be."

"Do you think I AM STUPID?!"

"Look, Temutai, I'm sorry for what happened in the past, but believe me when I say that I was just as much a puppet to them as your men were to my voice."

Temutai laughed. "I don't believe you."

"What would you do, Temutai? How far would you go for your family?" She paused and Temutai almost looked thoughtful. "They may be criminals, but I cannot deny the fact that in them, I have a blood brother and father and the rest of the clan I knew since I was a child. They are all family to me and I care as much, if not more, about what happens to them than myself. I cannot go against them, but I also cannot help them always. This… this wouldn't be the first time I spent time away from them."

"You must know where they are."

"I don't know." Temutai threw her against a wall and she cried out in pain. She tried to get up, but felt a hoof pick her up again.

"Where are they?"

"I don't know." Temutai threw her again and Po stepped in.

"Hey! That's enough!" said Po.

"Do not involve yourself, Dragon Warrior," said Temutai. "If the artifact is not found, it shall be war upon you. That wolf is my only link to where they could have gone."

"Even if I knew where they were, I wouldn't betray them for the sake of an object," said Dai.

Temutai picked her up again, this time by the throat. "I think you know where they are. If you do not tell me, I will SNAP YOUR NECK!"

Dai struggled against the grip, but nothing could release her from the iron grip. Po was about to intervene again when Dai finally said, "North. I would try going north. If you see a mountain with multiple caves upon its side, you are close."

"Perhaps I don't have to kill you after all… but if I get there and find that you have lied to me, you will PERISH!" Temutai dropped her and she struggled for air as they left the village.

Po went over to her, but she put a hand up. "I don't need your help," she said.

"Dai, I'm sorry, I-" said Po.

"Do not be sorry for me. Ever. I don't need to be lied to anymore. I will accept the consequences my people have brought upon themselves, even if I am not involved."

"You shouldn't have to."

"But I must." Dai finally stood up and began walking out of the village. "I have to go."

"Where?"

"I need to try, Po. I need to try to make up for everything my people have done. I must catch up with them before the Qidan."

"I'll go with you then."

"No. You stay here. You're needed with your people. Besides, I have already done enough damage here. I don't need your blood on my hands to add to my list." Dai walked away, but Po decided not to let her go, not without his help. He found Zeng and told him to deliver the groceries and a message to Shifu. He didn't care what everyone else thought. His heart told him this was the right thing to do… and he was sure, so sure, that he wasn't wrong.

Tell me what you think of it so far! If you have any ideas for the next chapter, please let me know and please keep reading and reviewing, thanks! :)