February 27th: I'm found!
Dear Diary,
I know that I should be happier that I was found, but I don't know. It is like I am shocked in a state that I can't shake off. It is hard to breathe at times and sleep without nightmares. It hurts so much with all the memories. I just want them to stop. I want only the good ones back.
When my family found me, I was out hunting with George and Thomas. Thea and the other little ones were gathering berries. They saw Crane and ran to get Nainai and Naoko. I ushered them all into a tent and Naoko thrust me in there with them to protect me. I refused to be protected like a child but from the look in his eyes, I let him. Crane landed and asked Nainai about me. She shot Naoko a look and slowly nodded. Naoko looked so horrified but Nainai just shot him one of those looks that said, "You'll see her again. It has to be this way. The stars have foretold this." He looked down and tears began to fall silently down his furry cheeks.
Crane flew off and within a few hours the rest of my family came. Well, only Po, Tigress, Viper, and Crane were there. It made sense, though. The rest were needed to protect the valley. My friends gathered around me and finished the touches on my hanfu. Nainai made it for me for Naoko's and my wedding day. I wore it with pride as I walked out of the tent.
We had carried Amethyst's body with us after she died and we had to move. I made my way over to her grave and murmured a few words of goodbye. By then everyone in my new family made their way to me and said their goodbyes. I hugged my little friends tightly before approaching Naoko and Nainai. Nainai hugged me tightly and kissed my cheek. I looked into her wise eyes for answers and saw only the one she gave Naoko. Turning to him, I saw all the feelings I was feeling. He grabbed me in a passionate kiss and I held him close to my heart before letting him go. He pressed a small locket in my hand. It was the one that Amethyst always wore before her death. I hung the chain around my neck before casting one final tearful glance around the friends and people I began to call home.
I sat in the caravan that Baba packed. It was silent. Tigress kept staring at me as if she was starving. Viper and Crane looked back and forth before sighing silently. I looked outside to where Baba was pulling the caravan. I still wore the hanfu that Nainai made for me. I softly fingered the beads that Lily, Rose, Thea, Thomas, and George put on there. Viper finally broke the silence.
"It is so good to see you, Mei Xiang!" I smiled weakly towards her. "It is nice to see you all too." She frowned at my quieter voice. Crane gently touched my shoulder. "Is there something you would like to tell us about what happened?" Tigress's eyes slowly narrowed and steeled. Viper shot her a stern look. I looked at him and nodded. "I witnessed many things and some things can never be erased from my mind. It hurts to think about all of the things that have happened but they keep coming. I can't keep the memories from stopping. Shushu Crane, can we talk about things other than what happened? I don't want to remember. Not everything. Some things were nice that happened, but I want to move on. Please understand." I broke off with tears welling in my eyes as I gave everyone a tearful glance. Guma Viper softly wiped a stray tear from my cheek. Of course sweetie. We understand perfectly. No one will try to push you to do anything you don't want to. Just talk when you are ready." Tigress glanced out the window with a grief stricken look on her maw and I slowly turned my eyes to look at the rest of my family.
Baba's back was to me, but I could see that he was crying silently by the way his shoulders were moving. Shushu Crane was looking out the window on high alert for bandits and other bad guys but his feathers would gently brush me and Tigress in comfort. I shot a quick glance at Guma Viper. She was going from stern looks at Mama, concerned and relieved looks at me, sympathetic looks to Baba, watching for robbers, to grateful looks at Shushu Crane. I inwardly sighed and turned my head to look outside the little window. The haunting memories of the past few years soon came back to visit me.