Hey readers! Sorry for the delay, I've been working 7 days a week with 2 jobs and writing other books. I'm back with a new update, please enjoy it!

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Chapter 23: The Tether

H-how does Master Wolf know my name!? W-what is going on here!? I must have heard that wrong!

No, I didn't, for the gray wolf (dressed in a greenish tunic with red armored plates) stepped forward…being eye level with me she stared into my eyes, "it really is you…look at you…how much you've grown!"

My face was a mesh of confusion…I just stood there: frozen in place, with a pure fight or flight response. If this were a hunt I would be her prey…completely at her mercy. She soon gave an almost equal face to mine when I didn't follow, "don't you recognize me?"

I remained still…

I mean, you're Master Wolf, but…I'm supposed to KNOW you!? How!?

She shook her head soon enough, "you forgot, didn't you…"

I shrugged slightly, forgot…I mean, I must have! I woke up in that alleyway in Juniper City the day I got to this world…with no memory of how I got there or what happened before!

Sure enough, the wolf sighed…ushering me to sit down against the concrete ledge of the decaying balcony…as if she's about to explain everything. The world around me slowed…I could feel my legs shake…my breathing tremble as if I were cold. I prepared myself for the inevitable revelation…

"Mia…you and me…we were separated. I was supposed to take you from your world to my world…to Gongmen City…where you would have been safe with its leaders."

Safe? What for? W-what happened in Hu-Man City…I don't understand…

She read my mute expressions and understood immediately what I was conveying…stepping closer with a stern grin on her muzzle.

"Mia…do you…remember why your parents gave you to me?" She moved her narrow head closer to me…her wolf ears pulling back as I slowly shook my head to her. The wolf's auburn eyes pierced deep into mine.

"Hu-Man City was attacked. Your parents wanted to save you."

I pulled away…letting that sink in.

M-my parents…are…so I am an orphan after all…

A tear fell from my eye soon after I heard this. I felt myself quiver in melancholy from hearing the news…

"Uh Mia…they're okay."

I snapped my head back at her and pushed her (which barely did a thing…she's stronger than she looks!) She laughed haughtily at my reaction. I snorted at her angrily before I looked away and crossed my arms, NOT COOL!

Master Wolf stood up and walked toward me as I had my back to her, "I saved them too. They're safe as far as I know. I dunno, it's been a while."

I turned toward her, demanding to know what exactly happened. I guess from the desperation running down my fur-less façade she could tell, "our worlds are connected. Humans in your world are spiritually connected with us…it carries over into the Spirit Realm."

She picked up my hand and brought it up to our faces…then she placed her paw against the palm of my raised hand as they connected. I looked at the canine with a confused look as she smiled lightheartedly, "we're bonded, Mia. You're my spiritual half!"

She moved away…leaving me with further confusion…soon jumping to stand on the ledge above me. Master Wolf made a confident and "heroic" pose. The toothy smile on her face ran across her long snout as she looked down at me, " I'm your tether!"

That's when I realized what she meant: it makes sense I guess. I subconsciously adored wolves my whole life…I took a BIG inspiration from Master Wolf…it was always there…hidden in my mind and my spirit! Her mannerisms, the way she carries herself…it does remind me of myself! S-so, does that mean, I'm the mirror image of Master Wolf…I'm her! A-and…she's me!

OH THIS IS TOO MUCH! S-so you're telling me…that there is technically a human Po and a human Zhen somewhere out there, maybe!? Oh, that's too good, ha!

I laughed, I gave such a delirious chuckle back as it all fell into place and the Mongolian Wolf couldn't help but chuckle back nervously.

"It's pretty much why I went to save you back then…some of us…wasted our lives…" Master Wolf said…ears suddenly drooping as she sighed…moving away to look at the red night sky, "all the bad things I did when I was alive…I tried to fix it. And even when I tried to make things right I couldn't even get you safe…"

I joined her by the balcony ledge…we crossed our arms against the pavement.

B-but why send me here? What happened back home that my parents felt the need to send me to Zhen's world?

"I tried coming to the mortal realm after we separated to get you. Despite my best attempts, I couldn't…I guess I have this Chameleon to thank for finally getting me here, huh?"

I nodded vigorously to her as she examined me…soon scoffing back and looking away, "I guess everything turned out fine with you then?"

I remained silent (not that I could answer as much as I wanted to.)

Then, she moved away and finally looked at my outfit (my torn grayish tunic and brownish trousers) "What are you even wearing, girl? I mean, have some dig-ni-ty at least!"

I rolled my eyes back as she chuckled.

Very shortly after, it started raining.

"Well, now that we're together again, you can come back with me!" The gray wolf suggested…kinda.

I stared at the scene below us…Chameleon: she's still siphoning the Masters. Zhen, how could I leave her. H-how could we even return to Hu-Man City in a time like this!?

I shook my head to her, giving a determined expression, pointing my finger to the carnage below.

Master Wolf, studied both scenes: and she barely gave a smile of approval, "I guess we can kick butt first."

I rolled my eyes at that, that's not what I meant at all…and you're supposed to be my mirror image, Wolf…

She stepped closer, giving a toothy grin to me, "okay then, Mia…how do you suggest we go on about this?" Master Wolf put her paws on her hips, tail lightly wagging behind her as she awaited a response.

I shrugged, how DO we stop the Chameleon? Even with the both of us, she could just sap our Chi before we could retaliate…

*Scrape*

Master Wolf and I snapped our heads behind us to see two figures on another rooftop across from us. They were shrouded by darkness and the heavy rain didn't make it easy to make out who they were.

I squinted my eyes…focusing hard on the two subjects, and as soon as one of them stepped closer to the edge (moving down their hood so I could see their face) my eyes widened.

I gasped: it's Zhen and Po!

T-they're alive!

"Mei…" Zhen gasped for air, both she and the Dragon Warrior must have run quite a bit to get here. Master Wolf was cautious, but she soon sniffed the traces of relief and joy I had in my scent and the canine softened.

"I'm so glad you're okay…" she jumped over, hugging me tightly as I did the same…feeling her damp clothes and fur against me. We pulled away and I placed my hand against the side of her muzzle. Not long after the brief formalities, the corsac fox moved her head slightly sideways to catch the wolf (with the thin golden spiritual aura radiating all over their body) across from her, "is-is that…"

"Master Wolf! Haha, no way! Awesome!" Po smiled brightly, quickly joining us.

"Uh…hello." The Mongolian wolf waved to them before looking at me, "friends, Mia?" I nodded back.

"Master Wolf, big fan! You totally got to show us your Fangs of Fury!" The panda walked up and jumped up and down.

"Po" Zhen interrupted, stopping him, "w-what happened while we were gone?"

"Mia here saved me from that lady in the square." This is the moment the deceased fighter examines the similarities between Zhen and I's outfits, "how do you know Mia?"

"I've known her since she was little, what's it to you, hound?" Zhen snapped back slightly with a bit of sass.

Sure enough, Master Wolf provided the same revelation she gave me earlier, albeit abridged of course. Zhen couldn't believe it at first but I pretty much convinced her by supporting the wolf's descriptions.

"You must be real bad at your job if you lost Mei here so easily" the fox grinned mischievously, paws on hips as she leaned toward the wolf.

The latter scoffed in retaliation, snarling at my best friend in response. Zhen jumped back a bit in fright before the wolf chuckled at the reaction.

Then, Po managed to jump in between them (completely oblivious to their confrontation) and he squealed in excitement…punching the air "Alright, this is so cool! We have our own little team up to take the Chameleon down!"

Zhen looked to the canine who proceeded to look at me and then to Po. We all rotated our glances toward each other until the four of us finally laid our eyes on the destruction down below. Zhen loved the idea, Master Wolf was more than willing to just get this over with, and Po was like a child who just got a present and couldn't contain themselves. It surprised me, I guess he's not mad at me for what I did to him earlier. Man, he really does have a heart. Either way, that just left me…

Everyone, for some reason, looked to me…as if I was the one to decide our next move. I gave the animals a confused frown, and then Zhen walked up to me, "Mei…can't do this without you, 'ya know?" The vixen stated, tail wagging mildly behind her in anticipation.

I sighed, looking away…thinking to myself…

I mean, not too long ago I thought I would be the only one who could stop the sorceress, but now with our little group of Kung Fu warriors…maybe we have a chance?

It has to be done…we have to save what's left of the city…save the world…

As for Master Wolf, I'll have to learn more about my past later, we have to attend to more pressing matters.

And so, I finally nodded…looking up to see their faces brighten (especially Zhen and Po) and I gave a light grin back, let's end this.

"Alright!" Po did an upper cut, giving such an adorable smile while he did it (I'll admit it).

Zhen nodded back and hopped on the balcony ledge, gesturing us to follow, "last one there has to clean up the square afterwards!"

The gray fox jumped off, soon joined by Master Wolf, who looked back at me once and nodded before I did the same. Before Po could go too, I stopped him with a hand. He looked down at me and saw I had both my pale, human, hands resting on his one furry paw. The panda looked into my pleading eyes…knowing I was trying to tell him how sorry I was for taking him to the Chameleon.

The Dragon Warrior didn't even need to read my mind or read into it much, he knew. His smile seemed to confirm my suspicions, he didn't even need to say anything back: Po understood.

Zhen called out to us and we broke away from our moment before he gestured for me to follow. I nodded confidently, joining our group.

This is it…this would be our moment.

Lady Chameleon…we're coming for you!