Update on 2/23/2021: A major update has been made the decision as I put up one in the latest chapter in my new book, The Trinity, last month. So, I want to make this update to be shared for this completed book, A New Prophecy, which needs to be edited to clear what's left of the mess. This important topic is for two original characters to change their appearances. My characters, Chen Xing and Chen Ming, are no longer "white tigers." They are now golden hues and black strip felines like our old friend Tigress. So, the rest of the chapters will go for a part-time work in progress, while I have schedules writing my sequel book and work as well.


Episode One: The Prince of Darkness (1 - 5)


Chapter III

Fellowship of the Nine

In a small city about ten miles west of the Valley of Peace was a pleasant village where many people occupied numerous vegetable and crop products in restaurants near the rim. On every block, clothing stores stocked fashionable robes for any size of villagers, including the Masters in this town everywhere. The Tea Restaurant delivered evergreen shrubs of green and red teas as any villager fancied, only sweet and unsweetened, which any man, woman, and child desired for sustenance. This village had no bandits conquering or stealing belongings within the people's homes.

Near the Prosper Valley's rim was a small temple known as Shuǐ Palace towards the riverside. The temple's owner, a stripped feline master, trained nine warriors using one of the most excellent martial arts techniques of defensive skills, Wing Chun. They called themselves, Fellowship of the Nine, the other for a short-term known as, The Nine. Each animal forms in different lifetimes, the cities or villages they resided formerly. Not knowingly, they became famous but had been hidden sight from enemies and became a secret of martial arts. Master Chen Ming, the elder feline and a great grandmaster of Wing Chun and secretly Kung Fu, observed her nine students outside the most extensive training land for all combat weapons, including many dummies everywhere.

She comforted her cobalt silk hanfu with a black ribbon sash and navy pants. Master Ming stood before the Nine's Arena, observing her grandson, the Nine's Leader, Chen Xing. He wore a blue robe with a first-degree black sash and navy trousers, including a Yin-Yang symbol on the back of his robe. Xing used his claws in front of a wooden dummy with force combinations to enhance attack and defense. Ming and Xing survived the ambush threat from an unknown attack near Xinglin Senlin, their original houses of Tiger villagers. Xing had lost his whole family except his grandmother in his cub years. Xing was the only student to train Wing Chun with Master Ming in his fifth year.

Beside the young tiger in the Nine's Arena, the white peacock ran through the training land while he summoned feather blades in his long blue robe. Soaring into the breeze and spinning his whole body, the peafowl tossed most of the knives onto dummies that all stood on roofs and plenty near him. As the bird landed, the peacock drew his guandao, extending his white and cobalt train and slashing wooden enemies surrounding him. This talented student who united with the Nine was named Lao.

The peacock student's inception as what Fellowship merely knew their friend used to occupy with Lao's mother at the Summit Village, where many birds held. Lao only recalled his past when he moved with his mother to Master Ming's Shui Palace to be safely away from terrible incursion. Lao's peahen mother feared that her husband could search for their son to become cruel and one day become royalty. Lao never recalled his father before, and neither Fellowship members knew their brother's parents.

On the right side of the Nine's Arena beside Lao, a she-wolf student wore her midnight blue vest with black tribal leaves and the mountain background and black short trousers with a red sash around her waist. She taunted a moving dummy, then swayed her wooden stick onto the floor as the she-wolf leaped over the enemies. With a first swipe and downward spin, she attacked many models around the wolf (her grin was the ability with patience). The dancer, Lotus, united with her closest friends, the tiger, and peacock. She-wolf's origin was one of the ten wolf cubs who survived the aftermath of Wolves Village with the cause of Boar gangs' assault.

The crocodile near the river floated underwater and leaped off the surface, kicking the moving dummies that carry axes, snatching its blade after he spun his tail around the models. He dove through the long grass from the model. It nearly swept him using a sword and ambushed it using a silent prey, leaping into the stream. The ferocious name was Zhao. He wore metallic navy armor around his waist and an azure hooded cape.

Immediately after Zhao spotted the bunny in front, the crocodile trained Remedy of the Nine in a sword battle. A bunny who wore a bluish ocean robe with tree plants dodged complex attacks. The tiny warrior strengthened speed attacks where a fearless warrior desired to defend herself using sai blades. Hong adored her unique skills of Wing Chun combat with Lao and any insects, willing to prefer fighting by one side with Mantis, one of the Furious Five members.

Hong immediately defeated Zhao to her practical advantage. A snarling cobra who crawled behind the grass slid through the crocodile's body. Fǎnshè, the Venomous of the Nine, struck Hong's sai using his tail to snap. Hong defended herself from the cobra's tail and abilities. Fǎnshè became Master Ming's excellent serpent student of the Fellowship, knowing the serpent studied Master Viper's slither skills using kung fu. Fǎnshè had his intention of Master Viper, craving one day to spend some time with her.

Three heavyweight Fellowship members, the Ox, the Gorilla, and the Bovine, named Niu, Bao, and Shòu.

The Ox Defender of the Nine conveyed his preference for using his ax in a challenging situation. Niu fought the gorilla on the vast square surrounding, swinging both sides and deflecting Bao's bamboo pole. Niu was also trained in kung fu by Master Storming Ox in his teenage years after Gongmen City announced the death of Master Thundering Rhino and the battle. Before the son of Master Ox accompanied Master Ming's palace, Niu could not handle his father's temper during the days, months, and three years of Master Ox's loss of his colleague. He craved to feel the flow of contentment and the principle of inner peace.

Bao wielded his bamboo stick as his favorite the most. The Nine's Heaver shielded himself against Niu's combinations in his studies. He thrust his pole onto Niu's ax, averting below young Ox's feet when the Defender leaped and swung his weapon to the gorilla's neck. Bao diverted the shaft, rolling across the stance area, and he opposed his partner with a swing reflection. In his inception, Bao's uncle used to work with a noble peacock lord to lift massive cannons and followed the Lord of Gongmen's orders. Bao confronted his uncle after his seventeenth year. The young gorilla revealed that his uncle was a criminal in the most wanted picture. Bao was born in the south Gorilla Village, close to the North where Master Viper's father resided. He merely aspired not to become a fugitive to follow his uncle but desired to learn kung fu and even Wing Chun.

The yak peered at the Ox and Gorilla fencing each other on an enormous training square. Shòu can duel his weapons; however, he mastered sword skills and many combination interventions like Niu attacking Bao. In his origin before joining the Fellowship, he was once a pirate member in his fifteenth year, following his father's orders during his dark time. Shòu was part of the Pirates for over five years fighting with his father against the royal ships, including other pirate ships that were not allies. Shòu was concerned about how his father became a sickness of the foundations of gold treasures near the East of China. The young pirate found a letter from his long-lost family member in his father's office and read about the madness of pirates. After being deported from the banishment by Shòu's dad, the yak swum through a horrific storm across the ocean. Shou landed in Gongmen City without being caught and journeyed through the west instead of becoming mad to go greedy and dangerous.

All three wore their trousers as Niu had navy blue armor, chains linking over his body, including his back, similar to Master Storming Ox. Niu's right shoulder had a tattoo in Mandarin, Defender. Bao used iron blue armor over his waist, including mini spikes like a belt. Shòu frankly wore pirate pants, including a large helmet beside his horns.

After extended training for hours, Master Ming concluded her students using her long, metal bell. All students swiftly stood in their positions as beginners to advanced ranks from left to right.

"Bow," Master Ming conversed with her students.

Nine students clashed their hands, bowing respectfully to their grandmaster. Master Ming observed her students breathing heavily on their concentrations, ridding their weaknesses precisely after excellent training. She surveyed every student over her ocean eyes, and everyone accomplished their training.

"Very good! Well-fought training, my students. Your water expressed the next step of your path through goals," Master Ming proved them, repeatedly roaming in front of her students on both left and right. She surveyed her students' sharp eyes; most of the Nine peered at their master. "Remember your training; you have to discover your instinct. Remember how you soothe your feelings as you will defend yourself from enemies. The matter you calm your instinct, the stronger you are to defeat against any size opponent."

Master Ming palmed her grandson's shoulder; Xing nodded to her while the peacock smirked at his teacher. "I received great news from the goose earlier while nine of you were training," she clarified, roaming between the middle of the line. Ming looked in front of her students. "The Emperor of China offered his makers to forge the tournament at Kong Bao Stadium. He will tour through every class of martial arts to critique his experience. The Emperor will choose the top three martial arts to test skills to claim the trophy."

The Nine muttered shortly. Xing turned to Lao by giving another nod.

"Now," Master Ming began. "There are thirty classes to the Emperor's interest. The Fellowship is one of thirty on the list."

What? The Fellowship exchanged their glances while murmuring. Xing and Lao widened their eyes; a she-wolf beside the peacock grinned with her sharp teeth. Lotus could perceive the tournament interestingly. "The Emperor interests one of the classes he has not seen for years, including centuries, along with his bloodline," Ming explained. "First, however, Wing Chun."

Ooh! Impressed, Lotus dazzled her ocean eyes as if she was thrilled to meet the Emperor. "So the Emperor is coming, Master?" Lotus inquired her master.

Master Ming peered into the eyes of her students and her wolf student. "Not quite, Lotus," Ming jiggled her head. "He will saunter with his followers by heading to one of my close friend's monasteries at the Valley of Peace."

Wings flapped from the air next to the Nine near Shui Palace. The Nine's goose messenger in a cobalt silk robe soared next to Master Ming, landing at the Arena. "Good morning, Kong," Ming greeted the goose with a smile on her ears. She stood next to Kong. "Do you have a letter with you, my dear?"

"Indeed, Master Ming," Kong nodded in a fruity voice, summoning a scrolled letter from his robe. "Your companion seems fluffy on his cheek and deeply misses you." He handed the message over to Ming's paws. Ming drew the green tie that tightened around it, perceiving the knot's color as that reminded of someone who chose the feline's preference. She opened the paper and began reading.

Come to Jade Palace, my sister. We should talk.

- Master Shifu

Oh, my dear brother. My lips bless Oogway and Shifu. She rolled the paper as Ming gazed forward at her students. "For now, we will train more on the next day until the Emperor meets us one day, either tomorrow or a few weeks from now before the Tournament."

The peacock with a blue train flicked his crests upward. "When is the tournament, master?" Lao asked.

"Next month, Lao," Master Ming replied. The Nine muttered, glancing at themselves interestingly.


Around dusk, Ming dismissed the class as the Nine informed about the Emperor's presence; the next one as the student discerned top training priorities before his arrival and the tournament soon. Within the apartment of Elder Tigress's Rice and Dumplings near Shui Palace, Ming and Xing cooked white rice grains, radishes with vegetables on sides, and dumplings as the Prosper Valley's favorite food restaurant. Both wore different robes, including light brown aprons with lantern lights in detail. Ming sliced carrots on the working table using a chef's knife; Xing peered at the iron pot filled with water that continuously boiled rice grains. He sensed the steam of water and radishes that you feel the heat from the container, gently swirling the wooden spoon on it.

Xing's grandmother taught him how to cook rice and dumplings since five years old. He desired Ming's unusual ingredients; many villagers, including the Nine, cherished vegetables more like radishes. Once Xing placed one of the radishes in the pot, the tiger mentioned the scroll that had preoccupied him and the rest of the Nine earlier.

"Nana," Xing respectfully called his grandmother for life except for the class.

"Yes, my Sunzi?" Ming turned after she chopped the carrots. "What is it, my dear?"

"Does the Grandmaster of Furious Five know that you are coming to Jade Palace?" Xing inquired.

"Absolutely," Ming said. She snatched pieces of carrots and placed them into the pot. "My old friend has not seen me for years, my sunzi. Shifu and I were great friends back before you were born. You remember asking me if we could see the Furious Five and Master Shifu?"

"Yes," Xing nodded.

"My time of reuniting with my dear brother is just the beginning," Ming palmed her grandson's paw. "Tonight, I will travel with the boatman to head to Jade Palace and see my old friend. I will be back by morning. Nine of you must train and exercise tomorrow. You and Lao are in charge."

"Yes, Nana," Xing agreed to his grandmother. Next, Ming sniffed at one of the cooking pots closer. Her gifted scent was detecting with such spirit.

"The rice is ready," Ming notified; both stripped tigers grabbed white bowls, including three large dishes for Heavyweight students. All plates filled with rice and veggies on the main plates and sides and dumplings on their sides were placed on a large tray. "Give these to the Nine, my dear. It's almost nighttime before dusk ends."

Xing strolled with a large tray once entering the Shuǐ Palace; he infiltrated a large dining room with a circular table. The extent was part of the Nine's Meeting Room, having students gather and discuss training, speak of the Prosper Valley, and read written messages from all of China. The room dazzled with five orange lanterns with children's paintings — the table forged with mahogany and nearly stone. By part of the open spaces behind Xing, as he placed nine bowls across the circular table, you could see outside the Arena loaded with dummies and lethal weapons stashed together.

Xing ranged the bell with a small sash. The Nine apprehended the sound of a ringing bell; they exited their rooms when communing and recombining their strengths after long hours of training. The Nine entered the dining room; however, one of the Nine was not inside the chamber to join. Before dismissal, the peacock informed Ming earlier that Lao preferred to educate himself by training alone at the Nine's Arena. Xing attended to his family around the circle while guzzling rice and chopped radishes using his chopsticks.

"So here comes the snake I knew from my kung fu master, he once told me," the cobra Fanshe embarked on his memory as the Nine contemplated Fǎnshè. "Viper grabbed the ribbon using her tail and attacked one of Bao's uncles. Before Viper concluded him as she returned to her father's palace, Master Viper had lost his venomous teeth. He bit the wicked gorilla's impenetrable body shield all around him. Once Viper defeated him, her father made her proud. She defended the palace, the village, and many people around them."

The gorilla took his giant wooden spoon and dug white rice with soy sauce, and he tasted it with his mouth. Chewing and imagining rice that created him, including his heart, went warmer than eating a vegetable dumpling. "Bao, hungry," the gorilla beside Fanshe spoke after swallowing rice filled with soy sauce. "Bao, Fǎnshè, and Viper."

"HA! Our special companion here reveals you shade your cheek into pink!" The bunny grins, sipping a brown mug of green tea. "You know, I thought snakes could infect anyone who's bitten. My mother once said reptiles, except crocodiles, summon fangs for a death wish."

"Not many will do unless serpents use the kind of death wish, Hong," Fǎnshè pointed. He grasped the spoon with his tail. "Not every snake like me will poison them after their defeat."

The young yak dipped his spoon into vegetable soup on the bowl, sniffing soft carrots as he contemplated the cobra's address. "My father advised me not to trust serpents back then," Shou spoke. "Not to be offensive, I encountered one Python who esteemed in front of the pirate lords at the island from the southeast of China's sea. He never intoxicated pirates or villagers once I perceived him. My dad visioned that reptile as the worst adversary. To me, Python was not."

The cobra hummed. "Well," Fǎnshè began, digging his spoon into the bowl. "Pythons do not have a poisonous bite; however, they smother anyone using their lengthy body, crushing your lungs around your whole body. I do not wish to keep intimidating anyone for a reason at all. Even then, I am friendly and trustworthy instead of becoming your enemy."

"Seems you have a point," the pirate affirmed. "Whatever my dad mentioned disgusting words about his past, he is the only one who despises serpents. Not just going to unsettle your clarification, Fǎnshè."

"Most importantly for the Nine, we study and swear citizens of the Prosper Valley," Lotus pawed both from one side to the other on Fǎnshè's reptile skin and Shou's big arm. "We got each other, and that's all that matters. By uniting together in this part of friendship, we are family as-" She-wolf sniffed and detected the aroma of sweets in the Nine's dining room. Lotus peered at the yellow jar above the large counter. "I smell cookies," she widened her yellow eyes.

The crocodile chuckled. "Oh, boy. There she goes again," Zhao shook his head, placing his spoon next to the bowl.

"Is Master Ming still here?" Lotus questioned the Nine, craning her neck over the dining room and ducking below the table like a cub doing hide-and-seek. "I do not want to get caught three times again."

"I don't know," Zhao answered, pointing to the next apartment of Shui Palace near the Arena outside. "Maybe in her bedroom. She's not hungry, Xing? Is she coming?"

The tiger guzzled the white rice as his tongue in his mouth melted with broiled soy sauce. He watched the ferocious crocodile while swallowing rice in his throat and placing chopsticks beside the bowl. "No," Xing replied, caressing a hardened plate to one side. "She has to go pay a visit to her friend. I believe Nana ate her food before she left in time."

"So..." Lotus tiptoed slowly when her tongue and white, grinning with her sharp teeth. She reached her arm to the highest counter. "Can I have cookies?"

"If I were you, then I should not steal many cookies from everyone," Xing beamed.

"We're not the only ones who ate cookies in a jar," Zhao said after inhaling his nostrils. "Especially..." The crocodile explored the dining room. Zhao looked keenly at the rest of the Nine, as only eight students occupied. The crocodile peered at the empty seat beside Xing as a bowl of rice and dumplings was on the table. "Where's Lao?"

"Yeah, where's my boyfriend?" Hong demanded the Nine with squinted eyes.

"Lao is probably in a room resting," the young Ox beside the yak considered, pointing his hooves on the Nine's hallway and the next behind Xing. "If not, then he's outside training himself alone."

Xing heard pouncing woods from outside the palace once the eight of the Nine questioned themselves about the peacock's whereabouts. Xing concluded his food within a minute as the tiger stashed his plate on the dining table, grabbing Lao's rice and dumplings before reaching outside the Arena. Xing strolled to the stream that the Nine had practiced there earlier, as Zhao practiced swimming and ambushed other models.

At the Shui Palace arena, the tiger watched the peacock separating his talons using a three-step horse stance (chin stance). Lao attained momentum toward the dummy's arm as his blue eyes focused on the model — multiple straight punches, Chi Sao blocks, then a front kick to its leg. The peacock spread his train, flipping backward, and hurled dagger knives to the target mark near the dummies below. Lao drew his guandao on the weapon stash next to him, swinging against one that opposed him using axes, diverting blades on all sides. Lao finished the action model with a slash to the wood. For his expert combat against enemies' swords and daggers, the peacock ordinarily exercised with Shou for years when the yak began after exiling from pirates. The Nine's Pirate Shou demonstrated the Nine using swords to resist and engage.

While panting, Lao wobbled his feathers with warm sweat that absorbed his robe. His concern by having self-training after the dismissal class for long hours, the peacock preferred being alone in such a reasonable way. He craved disciplining his feeling and no mind during the fight. As the sweat spread within his elegant garment, Lao inhaled gently, becoming water in his intellect while shutting his eyes.

"Well fought," Lao heard the voice behind him. The peacock sensed rice behind him, seeking his best friend and a brother carrying a bowl and chopsticks. Lao's breath harshened from him, hot and significantly cold. Xing closely inspected his brother's robe, which was so saturated that he could see sweat drenching under his armpits and neck.

"I was wondering how long you forgot your rice to eat, brother," Xing pondered.

The peacock calmed his breath, placing his guandao in the weapon stash next to Lao.

"Your rice is quite cold now," Xing told the peacock. "And your feathers are messy on your sleeves."

The peacock glanced at his feathers, trembling gently. Bending and hardened over his arms. "Oh," Lao swept his feathers gently, pulling his draped sleeves.

"You know, you don't have to use your feathers for welting against your opponents," Xing advised his brother. "You'll ruin your wings. But, your feet will manage the kick and most of your wings to deflect only."

"As I should have," Lao nodded, tugging his sleeves back calmly. "I did not notice my rice was ready. My apologies, brother."

"It's okay, Lao," Xing affirmed the peacock's apology. "You've done well long enough on your busy timing. I can reheat your rice."

"You may do so," Lao nodded. "I despise the cold food, after all."

A moment later, Xing set the rice on one of the small pans and reheated the food within a few minutes in the kitchen. Lao comprehended his best friend about Xing's grandmother meeting the Furious Five's grandmaster before cooking rice. Just then, Lao and Xing strolled into the dining room with the Nine conversing with each other about Shou's pirate days with his father.

The Nine, except Xing and Lao, sauntered to their bedrooms within an hour later. The Fellowship apprehended Master Ming's return in the morning and must practice tomorrow. Xing stood beside the doorway, embracing Lotus around her; she-wolf licked the tiger's cheek. Lotus headed to the Nine's hallway and opened her bedroom to the left side, dazzling her eyes with the last grin with her teeth.

The tiger and peacock conversed in a dining room after the Nine left.

"You okay, Lao?" Xing inquired, laying his back beside the doorway after crossing his arms.

Lao placed his plate with a spoon next to the bowls in the middle of the dining table. "I'm alright," Lao replied. He stood from the chair and tugged his feathers in his sleeves. Xing perceived something about his best friend not speaking with the Nine. Lao raised his eyebrows. "Why do you ask?"

"You have been alone training outside for the past few months, something disturbing that made you misfortune," Xing figured. "Is there something bothering you?"

"No," Lao wobbled his head. Xing could glimpse his brother's eyes slightly blinking, sighing before answering. "Nothing bothers me from anyone or anything. I always go outside alone and must prepare my newest rank. I still wonder if I accomplish my final red sash test, I will hopefully become a black sash like you."

"You still have much to learn, brother," Xing advocated, gesturing his neck to the door. Both the tiger and peacock walked out of the dining room as the cold sweat drenched Lao's robe over him, strolling to the path side of the Arena. They went to a small temple near the Nine's Barrack. "You did great on a private tournament back ten months ago. You see, I desire my experience to visualize and learn Kung Fu with the Furious Five one day. And eventually will become the greatest grandmaster in the future. We all have many things we do not know around this world, Lao. Nature is filled with dangerous places, and the Nine must watch ourselves when we're ready to go on our own."

"You're right," Lao agreed to Xing's explanation. Both Xing and Lao arrived at the small temple. Dark blue roof tiles, visually linked with four columns in front and two large windows beside the black door with circular tribal detail. The sign above the door Steam / Bathroom was where the Nine bathed to eradicate the smell of sweat and oozy. During cold months, the Nine comforted the steam as you sense the smoke that drizzles around your body, making it soft and warm, and close your eyes.

Lao removed his robe and trousers before getting in the twelve-by-twelve rectangular tub, which dazzled with blue on the surface. Chen Xing carried Lao's garment that was absorbed with sweat, submerging it in the black basket with water and soaping the robe with a gentle rub on all sides. Lao washed the soap on his feathers, neck, and train. The peacock wielded the wooden bucket next to him, pouring water around him; Xing draped Lao's robe and pants on the long rope with pinchers lined with the Nine's clothes. Armors merely stashed beside the wardrobe.

Shortly, both peacock and tiger infiltrated back to the Nine's Barrack. After drying himself with a large towel, Lao wore his gray robe and trousers. "Have you taken a bath, Xing?" Lao asked while strolling into the corridor with his feline brother.

"I did earlier after practice," Xing replied, heading to the bedroom covered with cultural mountains. "We need good sleep to practice early in the morning before Nana's return. Just to let you know what we must do exactly. We'll do our meditation for all of us."

"Okay."

Xing continued walking through the corridor as his bedroom was near Lotus's interior. Lao moved the moving door with his feathers, considering one word his brother once replied to him. His eyes brightened as Lao desired to talk more, glancing at Xing before his brother opened the door. "Xing," the peacock called him. The tiger turned to peacock right before he infiltrated his bedroom. "I need to inform you about a word misfortune you once mentioned."

"What is it, Lao?" Xing asked with care.

"Do you remember when my mother and I met you with your Nana for the first time?"

"Yeah?" the tiger nodded.

"Visions of mine have been lurking for quite a while, which I do not recognize. Possibly a dream," Lao clarified, shutting his eyes to peer at his vision. "Every day, I saw dark, snowy mountains in the forest. My mother was there, carrying me through streams of pitch-black surroundings and over snow meadows while I peered orange fire above the mountain behind us. For that purpose, my mother was frightened while sprinting within the vast. Not for long before I suddenly awake, I heard a wolf growl. That was why I was distressed while training on my own."

"You experienced either nightmare or memory," Xing pondered, approaching his brother. He regarded Lao's vision could be. "Was someone going after you and your mom?"

Lao sighed. "I do not know. Somehow, that dream has some dark secrets that I cannot prove. I want to know why."

Xing observed the peacock's distressed thoughts in him. Something that a nightmarish memory could endure peacock's presence as if Lao foresaw the disturbance.

"Nana and I will see what we can do for you tomorrow, brother," Xing strengthened him, patting the peacock's shoulder. "Ming experiences flow from the universe. She will show you one of her master's final teachings to stream your memories unflustered."

"I accept your convenience," Lao admitted.

"If you have some concerns, Lao, the Nine are here to help you," advised Chen Xing. "You're not alone, brother. We all stick together with the Nine until the end." The peacock nodded again, realizing that Lao could never be alone in his life, as he had his feline brother as a brother-in-arms. "Goodnight, Lao," Xing said once entering his room.

"Goodnight, brother," Lao said, closing his bedroom door.

Lao sprawled on his bed, reflecting a brief snarl from a wolf, and he and his mother sprinted away in forest shadows from someone trying to capture both.

The revelation increased Lao's confusion and similarity of impatience.

Lao queried himself in his mind. What is the meaning of the hallucination? What was all about that nonsense?


Who do you think of the bandit's growl that Lao described from his trance? Something familiar with what everyone loves wolves. There can be only one person who all of us like. Strike that review if you figure it out easily! Peace!