Canku sat on the throne of Kun. It felt good to be on it. Nothing was more satisfying than seeing an enemy fall and then taking their spot. He sat back. This was the true life of a ruler. Not a stone fortress. No, a true ruler needed a palace with servants at his disposal. He had them now! He rang a bell. A nervous looking sheep came to his side.

"What can I get for you, Your Lordship?" asked the sheep, her voice wavering.

"Some of that wonderful peach tea that you brought me a while back," said Canku. "Better yet, bring two."

The sheep bowed and backed away.

"Oh, and sheep?"

The sheep stopped and looked at her new ruler. The wolf warlord showed his claws.

"And make it fast."

The sheep's face went as white and it scurried away. Canku laughed. This victory was as sweet as the tea he was about to get. Nothing could compare. No, there was one thing that could compare. The whole of China at his foot paws waiting on his every command. Xisong came in, a cape billowing out behind her, and sat at Sun Nushi's throne.

"Isn't this wonderful?" asked Canku. "We could stop right now and enjoy this life of luxury."

"Why stop here? When the luxuries of China wait for us," Xisong shot back.

"Funny you mention that, 'cause I was just thinking that," said Canku nonchalantly.

"That is good; otherwise I would have feared you lost your mind."

"Oh, it isn't gone yet. How are our guests doing?"

"They refuse to talk to us as usual. You would think being raised properly the royal family would at least talk to their conquerors. Maybe begging us to spare their lives?" The female wolf cackled.

"Family…" mused Canku.

"Yes, family, isn't that what I just said? Do we need to get your ears checked or are you ignoring me?"

The end of the sentence came out as a growl. Canku waved a paw.

"I am not ignoring you, I am thinking. Why does that word bother me so much right now?"

"Are you saying you want a family? A pup to raise as well as conquer China?"

"A pup would be nice, a strong son to follow in my footsteps on emperor of China."

"And or a daughter," added in Xisong.

"Of course. But that isn't what I was thinking of. Why can I not remember?"

At that moment, Kar came into the throne room. He bowed at Canku and Xisong.

"What is it now? More riots from whatever is left of the Guard?"

The snow leopard snorted.

"Sir, you underestimate me if you think I would bother you with such pitiful requests. No, I am talking about the tiger prince. The squad sent to retrieve him has yet to return."

The sheep came in with the tea and placed it on the table next to Canku, not noticing the look of rage in his eyes. He picked up one of the tea cups and poured the scalding liquid into the sheep's eye. The sheep screamed in pain. Canku shattered the cup and jammed the serrated pieces of clay into the sheep's head. He finished the sheep off by snapping its neck. Kar and Xisong seemed unmoved by the act of sudden, brutal violence.

"Clean this up," said the snow leopard to a group horrified servants that had been passing by. They did so swiftly, not wanting for the Canku's anger to turn on them.

Xisong got up and put her paw on her mate's stomach.

"Control yourself!"

Canku took a deep breath in and then sat down, paw on his forehead as he thought.

"The plans are ruined!" Canku breathed.

"They are not, the prince doesn't know of our future ambitions. Remember too that the prince wasn't told what was really past his home in his valley thanks to Ru's son. He scared the prince into staying indoors. He is a weakling. Even if he did know of them, he could do nothing!"

Canku sat up.

"True. To be sure, we must move the royal couple. In the improbable event that he did come to their rescue, he would find them gone and we would have him as well."

Xisong nodded. She started to speak, but Kar spoke first.

"I will have the royal couple moved ahead of the army about a half a day's march with a battalion of soldiers. After the City is truly secure and the governor for the City is set up, you can meet us there."

"I am glad that you are willing to take them, send Ru with them. I'm sure he would relish to opportunity to rule those who ruled over him. We will be here for a bit longer. Resting, readying ourselves for the coming storm."

Xisong turned to her mate.

"We should act fast, already I find myself bored."

"I will, my dearest. As soon as it is set up, we can return to our conquest. It will be hard waiting for the Valley of Peace Betrayal, but it will be all the more worth it."

Canku grinned. It would be a glorious day defeating the legendary Furious Five and the Dragon Warrior.

The female wolf dismissed Kar. She sat down beside Canku.

"May I have the tea?"

Canku handed her the one cup.

"Get my husband a tea also," she said to the servant who had taken the place of the sheep. The rabbit hurried off. Canku stared at Xisong. What was she up to? The rabbit brought the tea to Canku. He took it roughly out of the rabbit's paws and kicked him away.

"Are you serious about that pup?" asked Xisong seriously. Canku realized he had struck something deep within Xisong. She did want children.

"I wouldn't mind it," he said warmly, trying to earn him that one thing he hoped for tonight.

"You know it's not like a soldier or a servant. Not even close to a slave."

Canku looked deep into Xisong's eyes. He actually thought he saw them soften and he thought he saw a yearning for something. What was his mate up to? He shook his head, clearing his thoughts. How could he be a father?

"I know it's not the same," he said without even hearing himself speak. "But some could hurt us if we had another foothold on us. They could take the child."

Xisong's eyes went dark once more.

"They would suffer the wrath of you and I. I would tear out their hearts and make them eat it. They would bathe in a lake of their own blood."

"What has caused this sudden mood change? First, we are talking about our plans for conquering China and now you have changed it to children? Pups!"

Xisong shook her head.

I still want children, she thought.

Xisong had always wanted to raise pups. She didn't know why. It had always been a distracting thought, popping up whenever she didn't want it: an image of her offspring running beside her as she walked through the camp or a picture of a strong young wolf in the Officer's uniform. She cursed herself for it, knowing it to be a weakness that she wanted children.

"No reason. I am just wondering," she stammered out.

"Hell, I actually think a pup would be good idea," said Canku, hoping that maybe he would get what he wanted today or tonight. He didn't really want pups at all. One more thing to look out for and to bother him.

Xisong smiled mischievously. A plan formed in her head. She would get what she wanted.

"Have you ever seen the royal couple's bedroom?"

A group of farmers waited outside Mengyou City. They had been forced to continue to sell their produce in the City. They had tried to stop coming all together, but the swords and spears of the Army in Black had said otherwise. They stood at the doors waiting. The entrance wouldn't open until the sun had fully risen from behind the mountains but they had been ordered to be there thirty minutes before. A carrot farmer looked up from his wares and saw three tall figures walking to the gates. He shouted in surprise. Each farmer looked up at the sound of the rabbit's voice. Murmurs ran through the crowd as the figures got closer. A tiger, Golden cat, and clouded leopard dressed in black and white were coming close to them. They couldn't see any of their faces fully, as they were obscured by a mask, a scarf, or a hood. The crowd parted as they got closer, letting the notorious looking trio. Tai smiled as heard many of the farmers start to whisper among themselves.

"Who are they?"

"Never seen 'em in my life."

"Course you wouldn't, moron, they ain't from around here!"

"Are they crimin'ls?"

"T'ey sure do look like 'em, why else wud they dress like that?"

"I dunno, just sayin'."

It was funny to hear the same farmers that had bowed in respect to him not a day ago now called him a criminal.

It is true that looks can be deceiving, thought Tai.

Shang snarled at a few pig farmers and they shrank back. The murmurs stopped. Tai caught up with Shang, who had been leading the three.

"Why did you do that?" he whispered.

"To silence them. I don't want rumors going around Mengyou City."

"Ahhhhh."

Tai went back to his position behind Shang on his left. The stood at the gates for a little bit before they opened.

The massive entrance doors started to open.

"Brace yourselves," warned Mei. They didn't know what horrors would lie on the other side.

The doors opened all the way. They were met with a saddening sight. Bodies still covered the streets. A rotten smell permeated the air. Blood still drained from the corpses to form grotesque puddles. Patches of dried blood covered the once clean streets. A group of workers were going through cleaning up the mess. Though they had been cleaning for a full twenty-four hours, there was still much to finish.

Tai felt his stomach churn. He rushed for a barrel and pulled down his half-mask. He vomited. Shaking his head, he wiped his mouth and put his the half-mask back in its place so it hid his mouth and nose.

"Told you to brace yourself," said Mei as Tai rejoined the other two.

"I wasn't expecting that," replied Tai, still looking around in shock.

"It's nasty isn't it? Try narrowing your eyes. You'll look grim, like a criminal, and it will block out some of the sights," offered Mei.

Tai did so. It helped, but not that much. Shang led them to the noodle shop they had originally gone to the first time when they had met the Liulan family.

As they ate the soup, they talked about what they needed to do.

"First, we need to find how to get into the Palace, rescue your parents maybe. That's our first priority. Tai, you'll have to do that by yourself. You know the Palace better than anyone of us here, I think."

"I'm not doing it. Animals might recognize me. If they did, we would be killed or captured, ruining any chances of rescuing my parents. Not to mention saving Mei's parents also. Mei should do it."

Mei looked at Shang.

"I'll do it."

"Okay. I will see if I can find out about our enemies. Tai, what should we have you do? We have the Palace and the enemies covered. What would you like to do?"

"Something that I can do, how about we start with that."

Shang rolled his eyes.

"That's a great idea, Your Majesty. Seriously, what should you do?"

"He can just collect random pieces of information and walk around. That way, it won't look as if our so 'bounty hunter group' is mainly staying around the Palace. It will look as if we are here to do other things."

"I can walk around and look inconspicuous," Tai said dryly.

Shang nodded quickly and got up.

"Let's go before they ask for the coins."

"That's stealing though!"

"We are bounty hunters right now, okay? We kinda do what we want."

Tai looked upwards and dropped a coin in his bowl, still feeling bad about stealing from people like that.

"I saw that. Whatever, lets go."

Mei walked around the Palace, looking at both sides of it. She noted the windows and the walkways that lead from one high place to another high place. The clouded leopard took mental note of everything. Guard's stared at her. She winked back at them. A few blushed, other's stood there stoic as ever, other's grinned boyishly back at her.

How could she get into the Palace? An idea formed. Weren't they pretending to be bounty hunter's anyways? She walked to a guard.

"How can I see Lord Kun? My group and I are looking for work and we were wondering if the Lord Kun has any nuisances he wants rid of."

"Listen, lady, I don't see any group of yours," the guard sneered back.

"They are out also looking for work in other places. My guess would be that work could be found easily here," said Mei smoothly.

"Well good luck I doubt you'll get to see the Lord Kun though."

"Why not?"

"He's not in office anymore, let's say that, shall we," said the guard, snickering.

"Under new management? Not in the City anymore? Vacation maybe?"

"You could say that…"

Mei stood up straight. So Tai's parents had been moved. What of her own?

"What about anybody else in the Palace? Maybe they could have some work for us?"

"Honey, just forget about the Palace. Anybody of use there is dead."

"Everyone?"

"Everyone."

"Are you sure. I remember I had a run in with a group of clouded leopards that had an important message for Kun heading to this city. We attacked them. Who knows, we could get something valuable from them. They were able to fend us off and escape with something we needed to prove we had succeeded in a mission for a rather important client. There were two of them. They most likely came to the Palace. Were they killed also?"

"I do recall rememberin' two clouded leopard bodies bein' thrown out. Blood everywhere. If you wanted them dead in a most horrific fashion, you got your wish. Their mangled corpses were thrown out."

Mei chocked back the tears. Shang had been right. The soldier had used almost the exact words he had: mangled corpses. Her family had been the only clouded leopard family in the Palace. Her parents had been killed by whoever was in there.

"I guess I'll have to find someone else to get work from."

The guard grinned and winked.

"You know, you could come and work for me."

Mei ran her tail around the torso of the guard and smiled.

"Maybe later."

Mei walked off.

Try maybe never! She fumed to herself.

Shang had been able to start talking with a drunken soldier at a bar. Shang had got the wolf to talk about the number of soldiers in the conquering army and the number of officers. He was able to find out the gossip among the soldiers and find out who liked who, who backstabbed who, who cheated who out of a bottle of the finest wine. Mostly little stuff like that, but it told Shang what type of army with truly was.

"So, this ruler, this Canku and Xisong? Right? Yes? Good. Anyways, they defeated those pussy cats? Haha! How so?"

The wolf laughed and took a swig of his beer. The intoxicated wolf's speech was slurred.

"It wash right down black-hearted that thoshe two planned."

Shang shook his head. The wolf's sentences were getting harder to follow.

"What was the plan?"

He pretended to take a quaff of whatever the wolf had bought for him.

"The two wolfsh had shtarted the plan a whilshe back. They placed shpiesh through the City. Then, one night. Boom! We come in, axshesh shwinging and catch 'em by shurprishe."

"Your leaders must be very clever to think of such plan. Are they going to stop at Mengyou City?"

"Hell no! Thoshe two don't really give a damn about thish City. It'sh jusht a step in their plan. Firsht this city. Next it is going to be the Peaceful Valley or shomething like that. After that. Gongmen City! What a day it will be for our Army in Black! Who knowsh, we might get to the capitol!"

"And cheers to you. Victory should yours on the final day!"

"Cheersh! Hey, let me introdush me to my matesh back at the barracks. One of 'em as always wanted to meet a bounty hunter. Heehee!"

The wolf staggered up and walked a few steps before fainting on the floor from the amount of alcohol he had consumed. The tavern laughed at the drunken wolf. Shang shrugged.

"Stupid wolf," he growled, trying to sound like a scornful bounty hunter. He walked out of the tavern. The bartender called out at Shang.

"You forgot to pay!"

Shang whirled and glared at the pig bartender. The pig's gaze didn't waver. Shang walked forward, taking his time looking at the chairs and the tables. He got to the bar.

"My apologies. Let me get it for you."

Shang didn't have the coin. Tai had all the money with him right now. He hated what he was going to have to do next, but he did it anyways. Shang reached into his cloak. He pulled out a bag filled with rocks to mimic coins. He started to reach in but his paw was suddenly at the pig's throat, knife in hand.

Shang's easy going expression didn't change. The whole bar went silent as they looked at the events that were unfolding. Shang looked around and then said in a voice loud enough for the room to hear.

"You know, pig, I once had a assistant like you. Strong and bold, he was. That pig was one to have at your back. Only, it turned out that I kept him at my back too much. One night he turned on me, trying to get the money that we had just collected. I bloodied my fangs that day, let me tell you. Unfortunately he wounded me up in that mountain pass. I couldn't move without anything hurting. I lay there for a week, trying my hardest to stay alive. My supplies ran out. I looked at the fallen pig. I hadn't moved him from the spot I had killed him at. And you know what; I will always remember the taste of pig's flesh. It was delicious! Sadly, most animals looked down on eating others."

The pig shrank back.

"Begone. Don't come back!"

Shang laughed as evilly as he could and started leaving.

"I might never come back. But I might."

Shang walked through the doors of the tavern back onto the streets that were still brightly lit by the overhead sun. He shuddered at what he just said. He didn't like doing that to the folks he had once protected, but if it meant his life and his rulers, he would do so without hesitation. He walked around the streets looking for Mei and Tai. It was Mei who spotted him first. She scared him by sneaking up behind him and then pouncing on him. He had started to growl and turn to attack, but then stopped when he saw it was her.

"Do you know where Tai is?" he asked. They couldn't loose Tai.

"I don't know. Though I do know that Kun and Sun have been moved. They aren't in Mengyou City anymore. Whoever is leading this has moved them. I wasn't able to learn were."

Mei's eyes suddenly filled with tears when she remember the words from the guard about her parents. Shang noticed it and moved Mei to an alleyway. He looked her in the eye.

"Just hold it together till we get back to the tree, okay?"

Mei nodded and they continued their search for Tai. They searched for hours until the sun started setting.

"Where could he be?" Shang asked himself out loud. "We checked the library, the Training school – what was left, and the Scholar's Hall. Nothing. None of the shops…Shops!"

Shang turned to Mei, his face white.

"Mr. Jingli!"

Tai sat at the table, staring at a completely set up chess board. The old crane sat on the other side of the table, not moving. A cup of cold tea sat next to Jingli. Tai waited for the crane to make a move. The old crane still didn't.

"C'mon, Jingli, make your move. Make it, please!" Tai pleaded. He began to feel hot tears run down his cheeks.

Tai had found the crane dead on his bed, his throat slit. Numbness went over Tai. He barely remembered trying to fix the mortal wound on the throat. He had bandaged it up and wrapped it. He had then sat the dead crane on at seat and got tea ready. He set up the table with tea and chess. A deranged Tai then moved the dead Jingli to his normal spot on the table and proceeded to sit there. He had been sitting there for an hour just staring at the lifeless eyes.

Tai had originally been wondering around the City. He picked up pieces of information here and there. He had inspected the farmers produce, the farmers remembering him from the morning. Tai went to the library and read up on whatever scrolls had been left there. From there Tai just moseyed around the City for hours. His mind was blank as he walked, seeing the destruction that was laid out before him like a misshapen nightmare – only it was real. Tai's stomach growled and he was hungry. He thought of his old friend Jingli.

I haven't seen him in a while, he thought. He turned down Jingli's street and noticed that most of the shops had been burned or where boarded up. Panic flooded into Tai. Had Jingli been able to survive the slaughter? He ran to the shop, not caring if his crooked tail showed from beneath the billowing cape. Thankfully, nobody that knew what to look for noticed. He reached the nailed up doors and pried the nails out with his claws. He thanked his ancestors that whoever had done the job had done it poorly. Tai opened the door and heard nothing. No breathing or sweeping of the brush that was familiar to Jingli's shop. He walked around, calling the old crane's name softly.

"I'm here the visit an old friend of mine," he whispered to the nothingness, hoping for an answer. None came. Tai finally found Jingli in his room at the back of the shop with the slit throat.

Tai waited for the crane to make a move. Still nothing.

"You shouldn't have died," he whispered. He buried his head into his arms on the table. He cried openly at the loss for the poor crane that had done nothing but shown him kindness. His face was soaking by the time that Shang and Mei opened the door. Tai's usually bright eyes were dry and dull. Mei's expression softened and she rubbed Tai's back. Shang didn't know what to do, but he saw a slightly different look in Tai's eyes. Something had changed, but he didn't know what.

"There are some cruel creatures out there Tai. We need to be strong and fight back for those who are weak. To make their name proud is a much nobler act than mourning them. If you don't do something about it, who will let Jingli rest in peace?"

Tai looked up, the tear stained face burning into Mei's. She too saw something change in Tai. She also didn't know what.

"I will."

Tai struggled up and put his half-mask back on, to hide his tear streaked face as well. He narrowed his eyes like Mei had suggested he do.

"Let's go."

The three left the building, Tai was the last out. He turned and in a soft voice promised,

"I will make you proud. Rest in peace old one, you will not die in vain."

The three reached the tree by dark. The stars were shining bright and the moon was full giving the forest a light blue tint. The trees stood over them like solemn sentinels, watching over them.

Why? Tai thought in anguish at Jingli's death. He didn't deserve it! Why did you let this happen ancestors?

The stars seemed to twinkle back sadly at Tai. He shook his head and held back his tears. Mei also held back tears. The visit to the fallen City had scarred them. Anyone they had held close in their lives was either dead or captive, they had nothing except what was on their backs. The tired trio climbed the tree slowly, not feeling any energy to continue on. They painfully reached the branches they had left their other equipment on and stopped. Mei collapsed into Shang's arms and cried. Shang looked grim as he comforted the female clouded leopard. She buried her face into Shang's face and shut herself out from the world, mourning her parents. Her words of courage to Tai lost to herself. Tai had his back turn to the two and looked out at his old home. A light wind ruffled his fur. He didn't care. The one who had cared for him regardless was dead, his parents gone – captured. He felt a soft wooden surface beneath his paws. It wasn't the rough bark of the tree. He looked down and saw the scabbard of the silver knife. He picked it up and looked at it. He got up and tapped Shang with it. Shang turned to see the scabbard. His face was one of thankfulness.

"Mei, I know how much you are hurting and nothing could heal you except having your parents back. But I'll try my best. I would like to give this to you."

Mei pulled her face off of Shang's chest and looked at the polished cherry wood scabbard. She took it in her paws and undid the delicate lock. She opened the lid to reveal the knife that she had looked a little more than a month before. The knife gleamed in the moonlight as Mei took it from the soft velvet inside. She was astonished.

"How did you get it?"

Shang looked at Tai, then back at Mei. She got the message and bowed to Tai.

"Thank you for the gift."

"It was Shang's doing. I just helped him."

Mei smiled weakly and placed the knife back into the ceremonial scabbard.

"I will treasure this always. Just wait until I show my father…."

Mei choked up again, hot tears spilling out once again at the memories of her parents cut through her like a knife.

It was Tai who spoke to comfort her, repeating the words she told him not but a couple hours before.

"To make their name proud is a much nobler act than mourning them."

Mei gasped.

"And right you are. Let's make them proud."

Shang took the opportunity to ask what they had learned.

"Kun and Sun are no longer here, they have been moved. I don't know where," said Mei, avoiding the subject of her family.

Shang nodded,

"What about you Tai?"

"I overheard something about a robin, but nothing else."

"That's okay. I found something much more valuable." Shang leaned in closer. "They plan to strike at the Valley of Peace next. We must go and warn them!"

"Where is the Valley of Peace, anyways?" asked Tai. He frowned. The tiger prince had studied the maps but he couldn't tell where it was.

Shang pointed to were the River Yisan disappeared behind the mountains.

"All I know is that we need to go that way. If we follow the river, we can find a village that will be able to direct us that way."

"You know that the river Yisan passes through those mountain's over there. The Zuzhou. It always snows and the chances of us finding our way through the blizzards are small," pointed out Tai.

"That is why we follow the river," said Shang flatly. "Look, that river will lead us to a village that we can then ask for directions and be pointed on to the right direction!"

Tai still didn't look convinced, but he gave in.

"Okay, we will follow the River Yisan."

Shang smiled triumphantly.

"When do we leave?" asked Mei.

"We should go now. Bring whatever you need and let's good."

"What about food?" pointed out Tai. "We need provisions!"

"We take what we need while we pass through the farmlands."

Tai deflated, dreading the trek that lay before him.

"Let's go," he said unenthusiastically.

Three dark figures made their way across the moonlit rows of radish, cabbage, wheat, and other vegetables. The flowing capes and cloaks of their disguises made them look like criminals. Along the way they picked up whatever they could get and put it into the bags they had appropriated from the first farmhouse they got to. With the vegetables and bread products stolen from the wares of a bakery they made their way following the River Yisan. They were silent most of the way, looking for enemies in the shadows. The three felines moved at a fast pace, wanting to get as far away from Mengyou City as they possibly could that night.

The valley the City had been built in was a good size. It had the room for a full city and many farms around it. That also meant that it would take a while until Tai, Shang, and Mei got to the safety of the mountains that surrounded the valley. Those mountains were safe, not usually covered in snow and not too steep. What they truly dreaded was the mountains after these. Those soared into the air with jagged peaks weathered from the countless snow storms. Little lived in those mountains other than the wandering groups of bandits. A few tough plants thrived around the River Yisan whose warmth from the valley became as ice cold as the tips of the mountains itself. The river flowed down the mountains to what was unknown.

Shang looked from side to side as his surroundings became less and less familiar. They had reached the last farm, at the farthest reaches of the valley and started reaching the beginning of the mountains. They needed to move fast, otherwise it would take forever to reach the Valley of Peace and by then, it would be too late to warn them.

"Anybody want a boat?" said Mei in a auctioneer style voice. "It's a fine vessel with a single mast and enough room for three and bags of vegetables! What do you say?"

Shang turned to see what Mei was talking about. There was a boat in the water next to a makeshift dock. It was a flat wooden craft with a long deck and a small cabin at the back. A single mast with a white canvas sail sat just behind the center of the craft. Two pairs of oars were in front of the sail with benches for the workers to row when they were travelling up stream. Small logs rested at the bow of the ship. A curious indent in front of the cabin was the only other thing in the boat that they could see.

"That will do," said Shang and he hugged Mei.

"Thank your ancestors for you good eyesight," said Tai. "Otherwise we would be walking all the way. That would be terrible."

They loaded their equipment and provisions into the boat and cast off.

They let the river carry them through the mountain pass and what lay beyond.

As Shang and Mei got set up for the journey, Tai looked around the cabin. He found a few candles and some extra canvas in case the sail ripped. He found a bed in the cabin as well as a few blankets.

"At least we won't freeze to death," he said, chuckling. He continued around the craft. A small bump made Tai fall to the ground. He would have to get used to being on a boat. He started to get up but noticed a small metal chest underneath the bed alongside another thin chest. Tai pulled them both out and brought the wooden one out first. Mei bounded over and opened the first one.

"Look. Two flutes! We won't be bored throughout the entire way! I know how to play the flute." She leaned back to look at Shang. "You learn this kinda stuff when you travel constantly and don't have anything to keep your mind occupied on."

A thud stopped Mei from putting the flute to her mouth. Tai could be seen struggling trying to drag a metal chest from the cabin. Shang went over to help Tai. Both the Golden cat and tiger struggled to get the heavy metal box out into the open. They finally got it out and stood panting.

"Try putting it in that little hole right there," said Mei, motioning to the square indent.

Tai groaned. He was beginning to hate the box. Finally, the chest was in the indent. It sat there smartly, doing nothing but filling the hole. The felines just stared at it.

"What does it do?"

Shang hunkered down on his knees to get a closer look at it. He tried opening the lid. Nothing happened. Tai bent down and took the top off the chest.

"It doesn't open like the scabbard."

Shang's face was red with embarrassment. He looked down into the chest to avoid the gazes of Mei and Tai.

"I knew that, I was just testing you," he mumbled.

"I passed then."

Mei got down on all fours and peered into it. She looked around at the bottom and saw ashes. Then she looked at the top that lay next to it. She flipped the top over to reveal some flint and steel. Mei looked at the logs at the bow.

"You know how you're not supposed to light a fire in a boat?"

Shang snorted,

"I do. Who wouldn't know?"

"Well I think these people have found a safe way to do so."

Shang looked at the clouded leopard with confusion and disbelief. Tai looked around, trying to see if her theory was plausible. He pieced together what Mei was proposing.

"I believe you," he stated. "The metal box stopped the fire from spreading to the deck. If you look closely you'll noticed a fine metal mesh on the top. The sparks were stopped there most likely. The small logs fit in nicely and you lit it. The metal wouldn't melt and it wouldn't get hot enough to light the wood surrounding it. They certainly thought this through."

Shang's face widened.

"Let's light the fire! I am freezing!"

Tai got the wood. After he placed them in, they took some paper that had been lying around and lit that. Once it was burning fiercely, they threw it in the metal box with some logs. Minutes later they had a fire big enough to warm them and cast light around the dark boat but small enough to keep it from setting the boat on fire. Mei snuggled close to Shang. Tai leaned against the mast opposite from the couple looking up at the stars. Maybe things wouldn't be too bad.

Shang and Mei had fallen asleep next to each other and Tai decided to watch the craft for the first third of the night. He took the long pole that helped direct the boat and leaned against the front side of the mast. Tai heard one of his friends move in their sleep. A mutter rose from one of them and then all was silent again.

Tai spent his watch looking out at the stars. They twinkled back at him like before. Some seemed brighter than other. Others were bigger, while some were just pinpoints of light. He studied them, wondering which of them represented his ancestors. A shooting star flashed across the night. Had he really just seen that? Very few of those every appeared over the night sky where he had lived. Tai looked around, searching for more of the streaks of light. None came. He looked back down at the floor of the boat. The ilex wood was rough on pads of his feet. He looked around at the vegetation, nothing the trees and grass that started to change into other flora he had never seen before but read about. The river started to move a bit faster. He looked ahead, the moon giving light to the surroundings. A shimmer on the left bank of the river caught his eye. He looked where he thought he saw the glow of light. A group of three old tigers, two male, one female, stood there. A faint halo surrounded them and their eyes were closed. Each one turned and, in unison, bowed to Tai before turning away and disappearing into a mist. Tai blinked over and over again. He rubbed his eyes. Had he really just seen that? He shook his head. He must be more exhausted than he thought. He looked up at the stars and could have sworn he saw three new bright ones appear. They twinkled back at him.

Or maybe he had seen what he thought he saw.