Strength In Unity

Chapter 12: What I've Done

"What, you saved me?" Po asked with growing agitation in his voice.

"I ignored you at best Dragon Warrior, I did nothing notable that evening, we both know that."

The dragon warrior took in a deep breath covering his face with his arms and exhaling slowly, he wanted to stop but his need to know overrode his emotions.

"Was it fast?" The wolf sighed and nodded again.

"Shen forced her to turn around and drop to her knees. I saw him take out his lance, I didn't witness him doing it but I know he only moved once...so I guess it was instant at least..if that..helps." Kirscher said uneasily, feeling every last bit of his anger fade away watching it replace itself with regret. It had been the one thing but obvious thing he'd hoped the panda would not make him relive, with him standing where he was currently, the recollection filled with dog with shame and regret. Po slowed his breathing and closed his eyes, clearly attempting to get a grip on his personal feelings. Groaning he rubbed his face for a sec before looking out toward the wall facing him.

"I though all this inner peace stuff was supposed to make what happened easy to handle." Kirscher shook his head,

"There's nothing easy about this." He said still watching the bear. The Dragon Warrior took a few slow steps back, bracing himself along the wall. His breathing went up a notch and he began to feel weakness in his legs, his balance was going...

"Po!" Kirscher yelped as he dove for the bear who started falling sideways and showed no signs of stopping. Quickly sliding under and hoisting the bear back to his feet, he dusted himself off and stepped away.

"Panda you should probably be sitting." Silently agreeing the bear slowly slid down onto his rear, sighing again once more he looked up at the one eyed wolf. Kirscher's face softened, he fiddled with his ropes around his waist with one paw as he watched the panda attempt to regain his composure. Po looked at him for a second, turning his head away and closing his eyes. As they sat for a moment, not looking at each other, Po suddenly reached out toward the wolf, Kirscher didn't move, unsure of what the panda's intentions but with how he'd felt at that moment, he would accept this punishment. No complaints, no resistance. The paw grew closer to him, the wolf gulped, accepting his fate. Feeling the digits of the large bear curl around his shoulder plate the bear pulled him into-

A...hug?

Granted it was suffocating, as the wolf's face was pressed into the panda's chubby neck fat, Po wrapped his other paw around the old dog and pulled him into a true bear hug. Afraid to move, he went limp in the panda's arms, his single eye looking around slowly. Po said not a word as he continued to embrace the wolf, even going as far as to allow several tears to drop from his eyes onto the back of Kirscher's neck. The wolf boss could feel the bear shaking, as if he were stuck in a dark place with all hope and love lifting away from his grasp. Trying to ease his mind of the terrible memories, the canine pushed his face into the bear's big arms deeper, wrapping his own around Po's arm.

When he felt his moment with the canine had subsided the bear released the wolf, leaning back up against the wall, looking away from him. Kirscher got to his feet once more and panted as he caught his breath.

"I..sorry Kirscher I just-" Kirscher raised his paw, shaking his head.

"It's okay don't apologize panda...If its alright with you I'm going to leave now." Po nodded his head in agreement. Kirscher stood in the doorway one final time looking at the bear before turning away and heading down the hall, not making it more then several feet when he felt himself stop, as if walking straight into a wall. His chest felt tight, his breathing shallow and shaky. Feeling his legs start to lose their balance the wolf steadied himself with a paw on the wall beside him until he was able to regain his balance.