Strength In Unity

Chapter 17: Locking Up

Having departed his last villager to the palace, Tyan hiked down the stairs once more to regather the pack and head back up. His thoughts a wild blur he walked in shock merely numb to everything around him, his mind trying ever so to stop thinking of the poor snake in the medical wing!

*Slap*

"I've got to get off this pity thing, it's blinding me!" He growled trying to clear his senses aside once more as he ran down in search of his pack. Tyan sheathed his sword to his back and took off running as his uncle sometimes would, just to be out front, to be prepared for anything down the road. He skid to a stop as he saw a pair of wolves dragging a fox with them. Running up to their muzzles he demanded information. "What happened?" The taller one grabbed the back of the fox's neck and lifted him up.

"Found em in a hole in a shed."

"In a BASEMENT!" The shorter one snarled,

"Basement whatever." Dismissing the short one's response, a growl following-

"Okay well take him down to the cells downstairs."

"Isn't it getting a bit crowded down there?" The tall wolf inquired. Tyan exhaled out his nose and turned his attention down at the fox laying at his feet. Narrowing his eyes at the fox's body, the young wolf looked over at the open palace doors.

"...Take him out and toss him off the cliff."

"But what about The Dragon Warrior, won't he-"

"I DON'T CARE! If there's no room for him then he's gotta go." Tyan barked, wanting to be out of the palace, away from everything for the moment. Two two standing before him looked at each other shrugging their shoulders and headed on out the doors, Tyan bit his lower lip watching them as they left. He hoped he'd made the right decision.

As the two cleared the doors, the fox started to stir, his vision somewhat blurry.

"Where..am The short pack member turned around.

"He's waking up."

"I know keep moving." The fox regained his sight and looked around frantically. he was being dragged by his arms, out of a palace? Looking behind him in the direction they were heading.

The edge of the cliffs.

"What are you- what are you doing!" He thrashed against the wolves grip, his now frantic wrenching motions doing nothing to aid his situation. They were dragging to the cliff, they're planning to throw him off.

"Don't!" His plea fell on deaf ears as both made no hesitation as they neared the edge of the cliff. Lifting him up to his feet an off the ground, the fox yelled at the top of his lungs as he covered his eyes.

"STOOOOP!"

"HEY! FREEZE!" The two wolves gulped as the familiar sound of the dragon warrior's voice called out directly to them. Hesitating for the moment as the bear ran over to them still holding the panicking prisoner.

"What are you two doing?" He asked, the disbelief in his voice making both canines nearly look down in shame at what they'd attempted to do. The panda's eyes practically begging them for an explanation, the shorter wolf spoke up.

"The prison is full." His tone cool, almost icy. The panda stood back and massaged his forehead, trying to push back his frustration.

"Okay, and you couldn't just come to me first why?"

"Well do you have a suggestion?" He asked impatiently, smacking the fox on the back of the head knocking him out again.

"Take him...hmm." The panda thought for a sec, space was becoming more and more scarce around the palace, what other spot could house this prisoner? Shifting his eyes side to side, Po snapped his fingers together.

"Master Shifu! He knows every inch of this place! Take him to Shifu now and next time COME TO ME FIRST!" He ordered, the two wolves groaned and dragged the fox into the palace towards the grand master's quarters. Po huffed a breath of fresh air, Monkey's scent wavering nearby. Looking over to his left, he saw the master approaching him.

"Monkey! Is there anything you needed?"

"Yeah, the villagers are blocking off the entrance, they need more assistance though." Po nodded, he wanted to keep an eye on as many villagers as he could and because there was only one real entrance to the valley, blocking it would be a definite start to securing the valley. Walking beside Monkey they headed down to the entrance to the valley.

"Po! Son I need you for a second!" The panda's "father" called down to him from the upstairs room of his shop.

"Ok give me one sec Monkey." He apologized to the furious five member who nodded and headed back to the entrance beside Crane and Mantis.

Of the first villagers to see them return,

It was the children.

A game of chase had been incited amongst the kids of the village, everyone spread out in different directions until three small foxes saw tattered and ripped white robes blowing in the wind through the dense forest growth. Limping and breathing raggedly, the group of foxes continued on, right into the heart of the village. It was now for the first time they would allow their own village to see them in the daylight. curious young eyes watched in a still form as the spirits of the village, those who'd saved them from endless peril many times in the past drag their battered bodies into the village. The female Alpha stepping into the light in the middle of the street called out to those around her.

"Citizens, we have returned." She said in a pant before dropping to his knees in exhaustion. Several light colored foxes ran out toward her, bringing water and blankets. Many questions nervously flew through the air amongst the white robed guardians from the villagers who came to their aid, both curious and cautious.

"Where-where did you go that caused such devastation? How many of you came back?"

"Who did this?"

"Are they following you?"

All the questions were a bit too much for the vixen who covered her lowered ears and backed away.

"One at a time please, I'm not..not used to being around you." She said nervously, trying to keep her emotions in check. The village foxes looked about at one another and began offering first chances to ask the full blood form spirits anything. One stood up amongst the first and looked the vixen in the eyes.

"Do you need us?" The vixen limped forward her hurt paw tucked back with her elbow. Through a tired breath she replied while laying a paw on her shoulder.

"Yes, yes we do."