Chapter 2: Reuniting With Old Friends
Po, Angela, and NightWing reached Club's village by dawn and the villagers awoke and went about their business. Some folks stared at the strangers and whispered. NightWing stuck close to Angela and Angela stuck close to Po. They did not look at the villagers but remained focused on who they were looking for. Finally in the back they saw a Blacksmith's shop and heard someone banging metal and putting it in the fire. Standing before them was huge black wolf with a very muscular build and long powerful legs. He had midnight blue eyes and on his forehead was a patch of white fur in the shape of a crescent moon. On his body was a pair of brown pants but not else as he went about his work until he saw three familiar shadows before him. "I know those shadows anywhere", the wolf said in a deep but gently voice. He looked up and smiled as he saw his old friends. "Hello Angela, NightWing, and Po what brings you here?" he asked gently.
"Hello Moon you know why we are here", Po said gently offering his friend a small smile. Moon's face fell and he let out a sigh.
"I was hoping this was just a regular visit but I guess I was wrong", he said sadly.
"Sorry to disappoint you brother but we need your help will you come with us?" Angela asked.
"You know I will I took the same oath you all did just let me get my things and close up shop", Moon said and within minutes he was walking out with them carrying a pack on his back and a dagger at his hip.
"Sorry about this Moon you must have loved it here", Po said feeling sorry for taking Moon away from his home". Once they were out Moon replied.
"Don't worry Heart this place was like any other but I do hope to see it again it was starting to feel like home. But I could never look myself in the face again if I let you all fight without me for now I get one last shot at glory", Moon said smiling.
"Thank you Moon I appreciate this", Po said.
"Call me Club", Moon said smiling and Po smiled back. They began walking farther down to another village in search of Diamond according to Angela or Ace who seemed to have kept track of the others made a living as a school teacher. They saw a female lynx standing around a big red school house as the children all went home. She went inside to grade papers when the four entered the schoolhouse. Diamond or Madison as that was her real name had a soft tan and grayish fur with a bit of black fur on her pointed ears. She was about five foot with a slender figure and deep hazel eyes. She wore a blue dress and her ears twitched at the sound of footsteps. Looking up as her old instincts kicked in she prepared herself for an attack.
"Whose there?" she asked in a smooth but firm voice.
"Easy Maddie is it us", Po said holding his paws up in defense. Madison's eyes went wide with joy and she leapt out of her chair and hugged Po tightly.
"Oh my goodness Po I have missed you so much I haven't seen you in years and I got a letter from you about a year ago what have you been up too?" she asked as tears fell from her face. Then she saw the others and ran to hug them. "Oh Moon is that you man you really bulked up how have you been last time I heard you was a blacksmith how is that going for you. And Angela you look great last time I saw you and NightWing it was about five months ago. How is the bounty hunting going did you guys ever catch those buffalo thieves?" she asked.
"Glad to see you haven't changed Madison", Po said with a smile. He really missed her and was kicking himself for not staying in touch. But Moon was kicking himself the most for long ago when they were young Madison was his girlfriend but after the team broke up they had to go their separate ways and he thought she could do better than a roughneck like him. When Moon saw her and felt her hug him. All those old emotions returned to him. For when he left the group he never dated anyone for no one could compare to his Madison.
"Wait if you all are here then that means only one thing", Madison said as the realization hit her and her smile vanished.
"Sorry Maddie but you are right he has broken out of jail and we need your help in stopping him before he kills all of us or any innocents", Po said.
"But I can't I am a teacher now my kids they need me", Madison argued.
"If he finds you then your children will be in danger", Angela told her.
"No, I will not allow that as much as I like my new life I did make the oath just let me get everything together", Madison said firmly. She went to the mayor of the town and said she had to go on a trip with some friends and the mayor would appoint a new teacher until she could return. Madison thanked the mayor kindly and went to her house and grabbed some old things she had not seen in years. When she met her friends outside she was wearing a blue tunic and carrying a bow and arrows with a pack around her back. "Let's go find Joker", she said with a smile. While they walked down the road Moon began to talk to Madison.
"So, Madison who did you leave your kids with?" he asked as his heart broke knowing someone else got to marry Madison and have kids with her and lived the life he wanted to have with her.
"The only kids I had are the ones I teach I have no children of my own and I am single", Madison said knowing what Moon was implying.
"Surely you dated someone?" Moon asked.
"There was no one but you", she said and gave him a wink. Moon smiled and continued to walk alongside her. The next village they went to Po noticed all of his friends lived close but far. Far enough where no one knew them but close enough where the others could find them. They found Joker in the middle of a joke shop wearing crazy hair and googly eye glasses. He was a hyena with golden brown fur covered in black spots with pointed ears and was wearing a brown vest and pants.
"Come one come all to Daniel's amazing joke shop! I have whoopee cushions, fake vomit and anything for a good prank come one come all!" he cackled in a high pitched voice as he was laughing for that is what he did. When he saw the others they didn't even need to tell him anything for his face grew serious and in a flash he was in his shop. He closed and locked it up and came out with a pack on his back and was holding a walking staff. "Let's go", he said and they silently left the village. They camped outside the village when the moon came up. Po began cooking a pot of soup thankfully Angela always had a small pot handy and a few ingredients and Daniel brought bowls and Madison brought spoons. They sat under the stars as they began to talk.
"I should feel happy to see you all again but part of me is scared to death for I know what we have to do", Madison said.
"Yeah it feels like the good old days but at the same time this is literally our last stand", NightWing said sadly.
"Hey who says we are going to die? Come on we are the Secret Six and we can handle anything as long as we stick together remember", Daniel said in his laughing voice.
"Joker is right we can handle anything but we must be extra careful for we all know how powerful he is and what he is capable of", Po reminded him.
"Well if that stupid gator thinks he can kill me so easily he is wrong for I am not going down without a fight", Angela stated firmly.
"Neither am I", NightWing said.
"He will not harm any innocents while I am around", Madison said and Moon nodded in agreement.
"Well let's get some sleep we leave at dawn and begin searching for him", Po said and everyone cleaned up and fell asleep. Po looked at the moon hoping his friends and family were okay and not too worried about him. Even though he was the leader of the Secret Six he was plenty scared. For tomorrow they were all going after Frostbite a cold hearted alligator that was a thief and stone cold killer. He was also the most dangerous and most powerful villain the Secret Six ever faced and tomorrow the hunter was going to become the hunted.
Author's Note: Hope you all enjoyed this chapter and please review.