Chapter 2

Jia was surprised to open her eyes to sunshine the next morning (though, if she was any judge, it had already technically been 'morning' when she was confronted by that dreaded wolf last night.) She didn't think she would have gotten even a full minute of sleep, and so was surprised to wake up to stiff limbs and groggy eyes. The stress, and her previous lack of any rest must have finally compelled her tired body to enter the world of slumber. Gently rubbing her eyes, she flexed her muscles and yawned - and suddenly remembered the presence (or lack thereof) that had been there the night before and wasn't there now. She stood up and raced to the door, but paused immediately. Gathering her courage, she opened the door to her room and was met with the last face she wanted to see.

"Surprised to see me?" the wolf said.

"Where are my sisters?" Jia demanded in what she hoped was a forceful voice. But she only succeeded in looking fearful and helpless, at least to the wolf.

"They're safe," he said disinterestedly. "Don't worry, I have no interest in harming you or your sisters. I told you that last night."

"Then what do you want?" She was now backed against the wall, as he stepped into the room, observing it as if he were considering moving in.

"I told you that, too. I need a place to stay."

She shut her eyes tight, dreading the answer to her next question. "How long do you need to stay here?"

"As long as I need to figure out what to do next."

She almost questioned him further, but thought better of it, and kept her inquiries to herself. Though she surely didn't appreciate being intimidated in her own house, she trusted this wolf about as far as she could throw him, and knew it was best if she bided her time until she could figure out how to either get the guards here, or to get him out of the house some other way.

She swallowed and ventured to speak again. "My sisters won't be very happy when they realize we have a wolf as a house guest."

He chuckled. "No, they won't, will they? I expect I'll receive as warm a reception as I did from you, Jia."

She froze, before remembering that he had known her name...or rather, had guessed it, all those months ago. A sudden thought came to her, and her boldness came as a surprise, both to her and to the wolf. "What's your name?"

He gazed at her with narrowed eyes. But at last he said, "Renshu."

"Really?" She folded her arms, looking slightly skeptical.

"Really. You're not so scary that I have to hide my identity from you."

She wasn't sure whether or not to take this as an insult, but held her tongue nevertheless. One thing she certainly didn't want to be doing the whole time he was here - however long that would be - was to be walking on eggshells. Wolf or not, this was still her and her sisters' home. She huffed and stared at the floor for a minute before directing her winsome gaze back at him. "I suppose you'll be wanting something to eat."

"Well, now that you mention it -"

She cut him off, "We take our meals at exactly the same times each day. If you miss it, you have to wait until next time. We don't go out of our way to prepare someone a meal if they haven't taken the time to show up for it." She rattled the rules off like a drill sergeant, straightening her back and walking primly toward the door to her room, as if any and all fear she had for the wolf had suddenly vanished. "If you want something to eat, I suggest you don't show up late." Without so much as a glance backward, she left for the kitchen.

Renshu, in turn, was left standing in the room, feeling a bit confused and not a little taken aback at her sudden change in demeanor. He rubbed the back of his neck, glancing around the room once more, and decided to follow her to the kitchen.

"Well done," she heard him say as he emerged and sat down, watching her as she prepared breakfast. "I didn't think you had it in you."

"Had what in me?" she asked mildly, keeping her eyes on the task at hand.

"The gall to stand up to me, that's what, kiddo."

She sighed. "You will address me as Jia, while you're here." In truth, she didn't mind nicknames now and then, but she wasn't on friendly terms with this wolf, and didn't want him to feel at liberty to give her pet names.

"And there it is again." He laughed, rubbing his muzzle with a bandaged hand. "Alright, Jia. Suites you much better than 'kiddo' anyway."

Her shoulders stiffened. There it was again, that unusual aspect to his humor. She didn't understand this guy. Hardly thirty minutes into the day, and she already found him unbearable. It wasn't that he was annoying, it was just...he made her uncomfortable in a way that went beyond just his aggressive nature.

Wanting to change the subject, she said, "Lihua and Shu will be down any minute. Try not to scare them." She left the kitchen and headed back up to her room, closing the door behind her.

Renshu sat there by himself, and leaned an elbow on the table. He wouldn't have liked to admit it, but he hoped that Jia would be back down sooner than her sisters. If they showed up and saw him sitting there, they'd go into conniptions - if he was lucky. He needed her to explain the situation to them. Mulling this over, he idly picked up a pair of chopsticks that were left on the table and started tapping them. He heard a door open and felt a slight sense of relief as Jia came down dressed in her usual attire. He stared at her as she focused her attention back on the cooking.

"I have to attend to my business today, so I'll be gone." This time she did turn to look at him. "I don't want you doing anything bad to my sisters."

He glared at her. "I -"

" - said you wouldn't harm them, I know." She gazed at him for a moment longer before heaving another restrained sigh and turning back to her preparations.

Renshu continued to gaze at her with his trademark sneer. This sheep wasn't really what he had expected her to be. Well, she was...but she was more, as well.

His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of movement upstairs. He squeezed his eyes shut and sat calmly at the table, awaiting what was to come. Jia had also turned away from her cooking and kept her eyes fixed on the stairs, as Shu and Lihua entered the room. Lihua didn't even make it to the last step before she froze and stared at the wolf sitting at her table.

"Lihua, it's ok," Jia immediately reassured her.

Shu had taken in the sight before her as well, and had actually taken a step back up the stairs.

"...Jia..." Lihua said in barely-restrained bafflement, "is there something you would like to tell me?" Her voice trembled. "Who is this? Who ARE you?" She demanded, her terrified eyes darting from her sister to Renshu.

To everyone's surprise, it was Renshu who spoke up. "You two nanny-goats can relax, for crying out loud. I'm not here to hurt anyone."

Jia glanced at him, almost hating herself for doing this, but she said, "You two come and sit down. There's nothing to fear, ok? We'll explain everything."

After much convincing on both Jia and Renshu's part, the two sisters eventually managed to sit at table without blowing a gasket - they even managed to swallow some tea without rattling the fine porcelain cups. Renshu then begrudgingly explained to them his situation, and how Jia had "kindly" allowed him a stay at their abode. Jia's head snapped up and her eyes shot out at Renshu at this unexpected claim, but she was met with a particularly hostile stare, and decided that it was best to keep her mouth shut.

It wasn't all flowers and sunshine for Renshu, though. Even though he was grateful for a place to be staying at, he didn't like being at the "mercy" of these fearful women, and certainly wouldn't even have granted them an explanation, if the situation hadn't deemed it necessary. He may be aggressive and impulsive at times, but he also knew the value of being strategic when circumstances called for it. He knew that if he didn't at least pretend to be disarming toward these sheep, it would make his stay there that much more difficult. If there was a possibility of keeping them on low alert, it was a chance he'd have to take, even if it meant a little self-sacrifice.

"I didn't know it at the time, but the caravan was actually headed for this city," he continued. "If I'd known, I wouldn't have hopped on." He suppressed clenching a fist at the memory of Zhong stupidly walking up to the caravan and joining them without even consulting him first. If it was Renshu's fault that the three of them had been stranded in the middle of nowhere, then it was certainly Zhong's fault that they were now back where they started and in danger of being found out.

Lihua folded her arms and glared at Renshu. "May I ask where your friends are at now?"

He lifted an eye to her. "...I don't know. We kinda went our separate ways when the caravan arrived here last night. They could be in jail for all I know...or care," he added under his breath.

This time, Jia was the only one paying any attention to her breakfast. Lihua and Shu were too busy staring at their new guest to think about food. Jia was actually surprised that her older sister hadn't yet brought up the fact that she was right about this wolf returning. Either she hadn't yet thought of it, or she did, and just didn't want to bring it up in front of Renshu.

'I'll never hear the end of it, if she remembers,' Jia thought.

Actually, she was surprised that her sister had taken the situation so well. Though, perhaps that was because she had no choice. She didn't know what Renshu would do to them if they refused to comply with his wishes. She didn't want to know. With a slight cringe, she recalled the first day she had met him, how he had threatened to eat her, but in actuality what he really would have done was punch her. Would he go so far as to kill them? The thought had been swirling around in her mind ever since he had returned. Although she knew it was really no fault of hers, Jia felt somewhat responsible for the wolf being in their house. Never mind that he had chosen to confront her. Maybe it was just bad luck that she had been outside that night.

Shu blinked her large golden-brown eyes and finally decided to give some attention to her meal. "So, Renshu..." she said after taking a bite, "if you don't know how long you're going to be here, what are you planning on doing?"

"Yes - wouldn't it be easier for you to go out the same way you came in?" Jia asked. "If you'd like some help escaping the city without being caught, I'd be honored to offer my services, believe me."

Renshu eyed her. "That's awfully sweet of you, but I'd prefer to find my way out of the city without the assistance of the guards."

Jia frowned. "If you think I'd betray you -"

"I think you want me out of your house and that you'd do anything to be rid of me."

She gave an impatient sigh. "That's no secret, believe me. Of course I want you gone. That's why I offered to help you. By helping you, I'd be helping myself and my sisters, don't you see?"

Lihua glanced back and forth between the two, then stood up and said, "Well, with any luck, Renshu, you'll be gone before Jia gets home today. As for me, I have a few deliveries to make, and Shu's coming with me."

Shu would normally have groaned at this, but she thought that going with her sister would be a better idea than staying alone in the house with a wolf.

"Actually..." Jia said slowly, thoughtfully, as if the idea was coming to her even as she said the words, "...Renshu...will be coming with me."

Three pairs of eyes stared at her.

"What?" they said simultaneously.

"That's right. You see," she leaned forward, appealing to her audience with eager eyes, "we can't have him staying here by himself. He might steal something, or break something. Someone needs to keep an eye on him, and it would be easier if he came with me, because you can only keep track of one child at a time, Lihua."

Her older sister chuckled, but Renshu growled.

"That's true..." Lihua said thoughtfully.

Renshu, however, still gaped at Jia as if she had suggested he go apply for a job at Gongmen Jail. "You can't be serious," he growled. "I can't show myself in public you crazy girl!"

"Oh, you won't have to," she said with more than a little mischief gleaming in her eyes. "Don't worry. I have an idea that'll keep you safe and hidden from public view, while still being within my view."

He frowned and made a fist. "Whatever it is, I don't want to hear it! I don't care what you think of me, I'm not leaving this house and putting myself at risk after everything I've already been through!"

Jia was shuffling through the storage bin, the upper half of her body entirely hidden inside the wooden crate. A few muffled murmurs were heard from inside as she struggled to find what she was looking for. Then, "Aha! Here it is!" she leaned up and presented the most ridiculous-looking festival mask anyone could have imagined. It was a dragon with two long, yellow snakelike whiskers protruding from the sides of its face. Its' eyes were glaring wide, and its fangs stuck out every which way as if it had been punched in the mouth.

Renshu paused for a full five seconds before taking the mask from her with two fingers, and said, "If I wear this out in public, I'll definitely be arrested."

She giggled and took the mask from him. "It's not what it once was, I admit. Shu made it a few years ago for a festival." She gazed at it, then back at Renshu. "But it'll do nicely. Suites you rather well, I must say," she said under her breath as she stood up and left him to bond with this new fashion accessory.

He barely caught her last phrase, and his ear twitched. He growled.

Later that morning found Renshu and Jia at her usual spot. As she prepared her mobile kitchen, Renshu dragged out a little stool and positioned it behind the food cart, sitting crouched over with his head in his paw.

Jia tried to hide a smile. "Sitting like that is bad for your back," she said matter-of-factly.

"Don't care," he grumbled.

"You will when you get older." She bent down and retrieved a bowl, paused, and then regarded him pensively. Sitting there hunched over with that silly mask on his face sure was a far cry from the ferocious canid she had met the night before. He looked almost...pathetic...withdrawn. She turned her gentle gaze away and started up a small fire. "Would you like to try some soup?" she asked.

He raised his eyes, but said, "No."

"Are you sure?"

"Sure."

She shrugged a shoulder and rolled up her sleeves. "Well, you'll change your mind come lunchtime. You know, my soup may not be the best in the city, but it's getting there." She added in a more subdued tone, "I make a nice bowl of rice, too..."

Having nothing better to do, he chose to humor her and proceeded with this pointless conversation. "I never got a chance to try it."

"...No..."

She seemed suddenly withdrawn herself. The two of them remained silent for a while, Jia busy with her cooking and Renshu with...well, his thoughts. The morning seemed to drag on slowly, but already Jia was receiving a healthy dose of customers. Some of them stared at Renshu. Others (particularly children, except for one kid who screamed and ran) laughed and made silly remarks. But most of them just gave a quick, curious glance and paid little more heed.

"I like your new mascot, Jia," said an antelope woman that had just purchased a bowl of rice with vegetables.

The sheep laughed and thanked the woman, then turned to Renshu and said, "I'm glad I brought you along with me. You're bringing in a lot of business!"

"Well, I'm glad one of us is having a good time," he said angrily, peeking at her through the mask. "When are we going back?"

She looked over her shoulder, eyes wide. "I stay here until evening some days. It depends on how business goes, really. Some days are better than others."

He heaved an exasperated sigh and stood up. "I'm not going to sit here all day."

She looked at him again. "What do you plan on doing, then?"

"I don't know, but anything's better than sitting here in a stupid dragon mask and being made fun of."

She smiled softly, giving her attention to the cutting of some vegetables. "It's not all that bad, Renshu. You get worked up so easily."

After another hour or so, Renshu's stomach began to growl.

She smiled; it took every ounce of willpower she had not to say, "I told you so!" to the wolf. But instead she just prepared a bowl of rice and other condiments and handed it to him.

He didn't even glance at her as he accepted the bowl. She made some for herself as well, and they both ate in silence.

He didn't want to admit it, but he thought that the food she prepared was excellent. Though she must have guessed his opinion, because he had eaten it so fast, and didn't leave a single grain of rice left. She quietly reached her hand out for the bowl, which he gave to her, and she stood up and went back to her cart. After a few minutes of looting around in her supplies, she looked at him with uncertainty.

"I...have to go and get a few things at the market for my kitchen," she said, hooves held together. "Can I ask you to watch this place until I return?" Even as she said the words, she had a gut feeling that asking the wolf for a favor would turn out to be a grave mistake. Even so, she had little choice in the matter. The market was only a few blocks away, so although she didn't trust him to act morally while she was gone, she figured it couldn't possibly do any harm to zip over and back in a few minutes.

But he merely nodded, as carelessly as ever, and said, "No problem. But what am I supposed to do if someone shows up?"

"Just serve them what they want, and accept the money." She briefed him on where to find everything, where to put the money should a customer come and pay for something, and how not to frighten them away. "I'll be back as soon as I can," were her last words before heading down the street and away from her stand.

Although he was less than enthusiastic about his task, his momentary misery was interrupted by the revelation that he had found himself in a more awkward position than he thought he would. More than once, he wondered whether or not it would have been better to have traveled with Tao and the other wolves to their homeland. But each time he thought of it, he'd shake his head and tell himself no, that it wasn't a mistake to have stayed behind. Even having accidentally traveled back to Gongmen City and being forced to hide from the public by taking shelter in the house of a civilian, and having to help that civilian run a food stand while wearing a goofy dragon mask...even that beat having to go back to his former home and living a life devoid of freedom, of choices, and of any semblance of happiness. Not that he had much in the way of choices currently...but still. He intended to find a way out of the city, but he needed to figure out how to do it without getting caught. He and all of the other wolves had been banished from Gongmen City, so by rights, he wasn't allowed to be there.

Presently, a pig had walked up to the stand and requested a bowl of rice. Renshu ducked behind the stand to retrieve the food.

"Here," was all he said when he handed the pig his order.

The pig looked at him with amusement - no doubt due to the mask - and handed him the money. Renshu took it and placed it exactly where Jia had told him to...

...And did a double-take...

'What am I thinking?' he scolded himself, and slipped the money into a small pouch at his side. He blamed the 'blunder' on his distracted mind. He hadn't been himself lately, which was probably why he had agreed to help the pathetic sheep and to wear her dumb mask and serve her dumb customers. But, he had to admit that she had a point when she said it could be worse. It was just hard to imagine anything worse at the moment, when it seemed like hours before she finally came back, even though it really could only have been several minutes.

"What took you so long?" he said when she returned with some ingredients for her miniature restaurant.

"I was only gone for a few minutes," she said calmly. "Did any customers show up?"

"...No."

"Really?" She seemed a bit surprised, but after staring at him for a second, said, "It's probably the mask...I think the customers were fine with me serving them. But they might feel a little uncomfortable around you."

"If you're going to make this 'Bring Your Wolf to Work Day' thing a habit, I'm going to find a different mask."

She ignored his comment and busied herself with heating some water.

When the day finally came to an end - earlier than dusk, much to Renshu's relief - Jia cleaned her work station and packed all of her things up. She didn't ask for his help even once, and toiled with the cart that carried her supplies. Renshu was itching to get back to his temporary domicile and take off the mask, but she was going ever so slowly with her supplies. He couldn't stand it any longer; he walked back to where she was still pushing her cart. "Let me do that," he grumbled and took the handles without waiting for an answer.

She was taken aback by this gesture, but certainly welcomed it, as it was a very tiring thing to be standing all day outside serving food to people. She rubbed her arms as he pushed the cart along at a much greater speed than she had been going at.

"...Thank you..." she said meekly, knowing full well that he had not done it out of kindness.

"This dragon mask is bothering me," he dismissed her gratitude. "I want to get back as soon as possible."

She nodded. "Of course."

When they made it back to her house, Lihua and Shu were nowhere to be seen. Renshu tore off the mask and flung it aside. Jia walked over and picked it up. She studied it for a moment. "I guess it really is done for. After all, it's only made of paper...I don't think Shu will mind..."

He rubbed his face with his paws. "Are you going to make me do this tomorrow?"

She regarded him sternly. "I still don't trust you, Renshu. I don't feel right leaving you in this house alone."

"Maybe not, but after today, I'm willing to make any agreement not to steal anything or wreaking havoc if it'll get me out of being your mascot."

She said nothing, but instead stared at him for what seemed a long time. "Was it really that bad being out there today? I would almost think you'd welcome the chance to be outside instead of cooped up in the house like a prisoner. Given your circumstances…" She let the rest speak for itself.

He returned her stare, almost answering right away...but...memories of long days spent inside solid, dark walls without hope of reprieve came to him. The agonizing hours spent lamenting the freedom to take a simple breath of fresh air, or to feel the sun on one's fur. Such was the life he and his kind had spent in their homeland. So many hearts had failed down in those iron dungeons, and how they reeked of death - the death of hopes and dreams, and of ever being free.
His day spent sitting outside doing nothing more than sitting on a bench and donning a mask was suddenly thrown into sharp relief by older recollections. "No."

A pause. "So...you would be willing to do the same thing tomorrow?"

He rubbed his arm, painfully conscious of how uncomfortable he had become. "I...guess so."

The sheep allowed herself a slight smile. "Good."

Silence again, only this time it seemed misplaced to the both of them. They weren't comfortable looking at each other, so they looked around the room instead, until she said, "Well, I'll prepare us all some dinner before Lihua and Shu get home. They must have had a successful day if they're still gone. Usually, I get home before they do. Oh..." she stopped, then turned to him. "If you're really going to be staying here...I guess you need a place to sleep. I can't have you staying in my room like you did last night." She beckoned him to follow her upstairs. "You can have the guest room. Well, it's not really a guest room, more of a storage room. But we can put you up there for the time being, until you find a way out of the city."

She led him to an extra room that he had not noticed before. "I'd have told you about it sooner, but...I didn't feel inclined to talk much during our encounter, if you know what I mean."

He stepped in without a word. The prospect of having his own room, albeit temporarily, was some comfort to him. Still, he wouldn't allow himself to be penetrated with kindness or generosity; letting his guard down was never an option, and certainly wouldn't be now. His only response was to nod and say, a bit stiffly, "This'll do."

Expecting, by now, to receive neither manners nor courtesy from this wolf, Jia simply nodded. "I'll be down in the kitchen in a few minutes." She retreated into her own room to change her attire.

While she was busy, Renshu stepped downstairs into the kitchen, took the coins from his pouch, and placed them on the table. He retreated to his guest room before she came down and found them lying there.

A/N: I want to thank those of you that reviewed. Reviews are always appreciated, as well as advice and suggestions. :)