Chapter 4: Caves
When Dai finally reached her pack again, they didn't receive her with the attitude she thought they would. Two of them pushed her up against the wall of the cave and her father walked up to them, a glare on his face. "Why did you lead them here?" asked her father.
"Father, let me explain-" she pleaded.
"No, Daiyu. It is over. You are no longer welcome in our midst. You have been betraying us for far too long."
"I just want what's best for you."
"Would you care to see your family rot in prison?!"
"I would care to see my family making amends for the wrongs they have committed. I want you to be in the public's favor… for all our sakes."
"You say that because you have been too often hurt and offended by the others who share our existence."
"Perhaps… I just want us to live in harmony."
"There is no harmony between us. There is the common folk: the bunnies, the pigs, the geese; the do-gooders; the rich and the poor; the criminals; and finally, there's us: the outcasts and we are in a category of our own. No one will associate with us now nor in the future. It is time to accept this and stop trying. Perhaps, then, we won't have to kill you… or them." He looked out of the cave and the two wolves restraining Daiyu brought her over to look.
"Po…" It was true. Po had followed her. What have I brought upon myself… upon others?
"You will not know peace. Not ever. They have made sure of that."
"No, father, it was us."
"Who maintains the stereotype?"
"Who commits the crime that helps them maintain the stereotype?"
Her father growled harshly at her. "Leave us… and if you know what is right, you will not interfere."
"If legend be true, I won't have to." They had heard some of the legends of the Dragon Warrior. They hadn't heard about who it was until they reached the Valley of Peace, but they knew of the stories.
Daiyu was released and she stopped Po before he got to the caves. The Qidan were not far from there. "We have to get out of here," said Daiyu.
"I'm not letting anything bad happen," said Po.
"I have no more responsibility with the Clan; my father has kicked me out."
"Doesn't that mean you're in danger?"
"If I get in their way, yes. If I run, no. Of course, history can say which I'm best at." Dai reflected on the times she had run and those very few times where she had even uttered a word of rebuttal. Running happened much more frequently.
"Have you always run?"
"That was usually my escape… but they're my family. As much as I hate to get in their way, I want to do it to help them."
"Look, Dai, sometimes, you just need to let go. If there are people in your life who are taking you down a bad path, you need to stay away from them."
"Then, perhaps, Dragon Warrior, it would be in your best interest to stay away from me. I can bring you nothing but shame and scorn."
"Temutai! If you have come for your relic, you have come in vain!" shouted out Dai's father from the caves.
"You will return it or we will take it from you!" said Temutai.
"What exactly was it that they took?" asked Po to Dai.
"If I had to guess, it would probably be-" said Dai but was interrupted.
"The Horn of Cheung shall be used by us, for us, and for no one else. Perhaps, with a little luck, the fates may change in our favor. Wolves might become well-revered, rich, or perhaps I might even win back my daughter's approval," said Dai's father.
"We do not care! Cheung was one of our ancestors and it was promised to him that it would be protected from all outsiders," said Temutai. It was strange to see Temutai like this. Usually, he would use an object like this to try to gain control or be a bully. Seeing him wanting to protect the object meant that it held significant value with the Qidan. It might be more dangerous than anyone would dare to say.
"Come and get it, then." Dai's father sniggered.
"Very well. Prepare to be vanquished!" The Clan and the Qidan struck swords and it occurred to Dai and Po that they should probably do something.
"We need to stop them from killing each other," said Dai.
"I'll distract them while you grab the horn," said Po.
"You trust me to do that?"
Po shrugged. "Have you done this type of thing before?"
"Thought about it… let's do it." Po then joined the brawl. Wolves and water buffalo went flying everywhere.
Then, Dai came up to her father and grabbed the horn. He pulled back, refusing to let go. "What are you doing, daughter?" he asked.
"I am trying to do something that which you refuse to do, no matter how hard I plead," said Dai.
Her father growled, "I am trying to help our clan, our people. I am trying to do what's right by them."
"But is that what's right for anyone else? Face it, father, you only think of yourself." Her father let go in shock, causing Dai to fall to the ground, horn in hand.
"Don't you dare imply that I'm selfish. You do not know your own father. You have assumed incorrectly and disgraced me."
"Then, perhaps, it would be better if we never spoke again."
"Perhaps it would be best, daughter, if this was the last time we see each other."
"If that's the way it has to be, then so be it." Dai ran off.
"Stop her!" shouted her father. The Clan pursued her as she tried to shake them off.
She soon came up to Temutai and he knocked her pursuers off their feet. With a simple melody, she put any remaining pursuers to sleep. Her father, angered, called the retreat. Any men left standing picked up the sleepers and they were off into the night.
"We shall have our revenge, Daiyu! I swear, you shall never have peace among them nor among us for the rest of your days!" These were her father's last words before he vanished into the distance.
Daiyu sighed and handed the horn to Temutai. "I am sorry for everything my father and his people have put you and your people through. I hope this can, in some small way, make amends."
"Your help was appreciated, but we are far from forgiveness. Upon our honor though, we owe you a debt," said Temutai.
"I hope I shall never need to call in that favor," said Dai. She bowed respectfully and Temutai, likewise, bent his large frame.
"Come on, we should head back," said Po.
"I do not think it would be best if I returned with you," said Dai.
Po thought about this a moment before offering a suggestion. "What if I take you someplace else?"
"Where did you have in mind?" Po smiled in response.
That's all for now. If you have any ideas for me, just let me know. Please keep reading and reviewing, thanks.
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