Chapter Seventeen: Enemies No More
The Masters sat around a campfire in silence. It was dark out now. Many of the refugees were settling down to sleep.
"So what do we do now?" Monkey asked.
No one answered for a while. Worn down by the excitement of the day, they could only think.
"There's no real use staying here," Mantis said. "We're just biding our time."
Something in Mantis's words struck a chord to Tigress. She realized something just as Shifu spoke up.
"No, we're not," he said. "These people have escaped Ruili's rampage and are suffering still."
"They can help us," Tigress added.
The others lit up with realization. Jin nodded.
"If we can recruit them, we'll have our army," he said.
Vixey looked hurt and slumped over again.
"Recruit everyone?" Po asked with slight worry. "Even...?"
"Even our old enemies," Tigress finished for him.
The rest of the Five looked startled. Jin only looked confused.
"Shen's wolves and the Polecats are here, too," Tigress continued. "Po told me what happened with them. Both groups seem to be on the brink of helping us fight."
"Why should we ask the Polecats?" Vixey grumbled sourly. "They're nothing but a bunch of murdering thieves."
Tigress stood up and walked over to her.
"Stop dwelling on the past, Vixey," she told her sternly. "That won't get you anywhere."
"They killed my friends!" Vixey snapped suddenly. "They don't deserve our help!"
The other Masters were about to say something, but Tigress, without taking her eyes off the fox, held up her hand to stop them.
"I thought that was part of the risk of the job," Tigress continued. "We've faced possible death in every mission. You should be used to this. And you know they have it much worse than you."
Vixey glared at Tigress with tears in her eyes and in a childish rage. Then she buried her face into her hands.
"Now is the time to let go of old rivalries," Tigress said. "If you can let this go, you'll be much stronger than you've ever been. And they may even let go of their jobs as hired thieves."
The other Masters, with the exception of Shifu, exchanged bewildered glances with each other.
"All criminals have one thing in common," Tigress continued, "they get a thrill out of getting away with something. The Polecats may have never won an honorable battle, and now they might. They could realize they'll get the same thrill as before, only by remaining on the good side of the law."
She knelt to look Vixey in the eye.
"Don't you want to give them that chance?"
Vixey fell completely silent. Tigress stood up and returned to her seat. The others were now thinking about this plan. They grew hopeful. It might just work.
"That is exactly what I was hoping for when we found these people," Shifu said. "These people look willing to take their homes back, no matter the cost."
"Now we just need to attract their attention and tell them our plan," Jin said.
"I nominate Tigress as our speaker," Po immediately said, catching her attention.
Tigress shrugged.
"I guess I can't refuse, can I?" she asked simply.
Whispering filled the old village. Word passed from campsite to campsite, warranting surprised looks and excited reactions. Some refugees didn't seem very interested in the whispers, but decided to find out anyway. Very few remained in the tents, due to the need to watch over sleeping children and elders, but a mass of refugees walked to the area surrounding a large stone slab that had two torches lit on either side of it.
The Masters stood on top of it, waiting for the crowd to gather. Tigress walked forward.
"We understand you're all curious about the word that has been drifting around," she began.
"You can help us get our homes back?!" came a cry.
The crowd seemed a little excited.
"Yes," Tigress answered. "Please listen to what we have to say. We, too, were chased from our home and have been running ever since. We need help to defeat Ruili, which help you can grant us, if you are willing."
The crowd started murmuring. They all seemed worried and reluctant.
"Those cats are too powerful for any of us!" came Taopa's voice. "We'll all be slaughtered!"
Tigress shook her head.
"We know the lionesses' weaknesses," she said, "and we will tell everyone about them whether you help us or not. But knowing the weaknesses is not enough. We need an army to defeat her army. This entire camp has been the only thing close to that that we have seen so far."
"Many of us are farmers," an elderly pig shouted. "We aren't warriors!"
"No, but you can be," Tigress said. "You are all strong from your professions and capable to defend yourselves. In the time it would take for us to reach the Valley of Peace, we could teach you several simple, yet powerful, techniques."
The crowd now seemed more interested.
"Taking part in this final battle will strengthen us all," Tigress continued. "Win or lose, all defenders will receive great honors, as well as the chance to atone for past mistakes."
All wolves and Polecats seemed to stir at the last words. Boss Wolf seemed hopeful, while Taopa seemed to be lost in memory, about to cry.
"Hear, hear!" Boss Wolf shouted.
"But what about those who can't fight?" a young goose, likely a young mother, shouted.
"We can't just leave them here!" a rabbit added.
Tigress sensed a stir behind her, as if the others had forgotten that crucial part. But she hadn't forgotten it.
"Anyone who can't fight can head straight for Cheng Guang," she said. "Tell Lord Jian Kang what has happened and he will give everyone temporary shelter. This battle shouldn't last very long, with everyone's help. It may even only be a few days before everyone can return to their homes."
Now a majority of the crowd, if not all of it, was getting excited to the point of cheering.
"Who all will help us fight?" Tigress asked.
Almost every hand shot into the air.
"When do we leave?" asked a pig.
"If we are ready, at dawn," Tigress answered.
No one seemed to be upset at the abruptness of the departure time. Tigress bowed to the crowd, which started to disperse immediately, rushing to get to sleep to be ready for the morning.
Tigress turned to walk toward the others. She saw Shifu was pleased with the outcome, as were the others. But Vixey still seemed to linger on her previous thoughts.
"They'll be more worried about avenging their lost," she mumbled. "But... I..."
She jumped to the present when she felt everyone looking at her. She only lowered her head in shame.
"Don't worry, Vixey," Tigress said as she walked by.
"We now need to get some sleep," Shifu said. "It will be a long walk back home."
The Masters walked back to their camp and settled down for the night. Tigress looked up at the stars, not really feeling that tired. Truth to be told, she felt a little anxious.
Then her eyes strayed to her bag. She got up and searched it, withdrawing the small box with the Bajiao candle. She set the small candle on the box and lit it before laying down. The scent filled the air, setting her at ease. She closed her eyes, receiving the feeling that her parents were there, watching over her.
Things are getting real!