Strength In Unity

Chapter 19: Saving Them

"THEY BROUGHT THIS ON US ALL IT THIS!"

"WHERE WERE THEY FOR MY HUSBAND? WHY SHOULD I PROTECT THEM WHEN THEY COULDN'T DO THE SAME FOR US!"

Tigress felt the heat of the harsh outcries of the public wash over her and her teammates. She saw Tyan out of the corner of her eye beginning to tense up, his paws squeezing into fists and he stood silent, his eyes shut tightly, this was blame he felt was somehow his own and it was taking a toll on his emotions. Kirscher laid a paw on his nephew's back, trying to ease his growing frustration. The wolves beside him could be seen with their heads slowly lowering in shame, ears dropping. The feline master's eyes turned to slits as she felt her muzzle curl back in a dangerous snarl. Without warning the feline master stepped forward, past her teacher staring down the faces of the scoffers.

"Enough!" Her command within half a millisecond drew silence from everyone. Composing herself, she continued.

"You have no right to put what we've all experienced on them! They have suffered and been mistreated for long enough! You who stand in the back and scoff HOW DARE YOU!"

"Tigress!" Shifu attempted to silence his pupil yet something had triggered her and she was far from letting it go.

"You have no idea what they're up against! Be thankful your head isn't on the chopping block!" She yelled, allowing her outrage to overwhelm her. Po cautiously wrapped her up in a traditional bear hug and held her in place, hoping she wouldn't lash out at him. The red panda eyed the black and white bear as he kept her from marching directly up to the loud mouths and doing something she would later regret. Growling under her breath she tensed for a minute and then finally softened, her expression going from rage to what appeared to be sadness, a rare thing for the villagers to see firstpaw. Feeling the heat both rising in her face and her torso from Po's thick furry arms, she sighed a breath and bowed her head. Po looked up and glared at the villagers who'd caused the outburst.

"HEY! If any of you wanna place the blame on someone then put it on me! I brought the wolves here because I knew they would be killed in Gongman, I wanted to save them because as horrible as it sounds I KNEW no one else would! Oogway always sought peace before war and this is NO DIFFERENT! They deserve a safe place to live just like each one of us do so unless you are suddenly better than all of us then open your eyes!" He snapped, something of which was unseen by all of those who'd grown up beside the bear. Po even in his newly anointed Dragon Warrior position, he had always been someone of peaceful and laid back nature. Rubbing the back of his neck after letting go of Tigress he coughed into his fist.

"I...apologize for the outburst." The scoffers went from wide eyed in shock to begrudgingly relaxed, remaining silent. Shifu put a firm grasp on his walking mentor's walking staff and watched as his two students regained their composure. With the uncomfortable air drifting away, Master Shifu continued.

"As we can all see this is our time to band together, as one valley, one family. Each of us must see the good in one another if we are to make our stand in history. For your loved ones sake let this be done and aid all of us together and return our valley to it's name. Now will those of you whom have volunteered please step forward and select who you wish to bring into your homes?"

Mantis, sitting atop Monkey's shoulder watched with wide eyes at the sight of what appeared to be nearly the entire village move as a whole to aid the wolves. "This is intense." He whispered to the primate who nodded in agreement. Viper could feel her heart rise as she watched villager after villager approach each of the wolves who stood silent yet visibly breathless at this act of kindness shown to them. Several of the children strode past their parents and took a hold of the gloved paws of the wolf they sought, laughing and leading the each one in front of their friends while the dogs themselves looked at one another in disbelief.

Was this really happening?

Dust and bits of rock and dirt flew past the red, black and white faces as they worked tirelessly in the dimly lit and quite crowded space. Several of the villagers had collapsed from exhaustion, fearing what might happen to them for failing, the fox villagers kept each other hoisted up and leaning against the walls. This worked for the first few hours but soon enough the work was becoming merely too much to keep up pace with. Falling to her knees, one white fox broke down crying, her paws beyond hurt, her body screamed in pleas of rest yet nothing was as bad as her feeling of weakness in front of the gaurdians. As she sobbed one of the white masked appeared at her side, causing her to shiver and turn her head away fearing the worst.

A paw came through the long sleeve of the white robe, she braced herself for a strike...

It instead gently cradled her her cheek, pulling her face to meet it's deathly gaze. dropping down to one knee, the white robed fox took his other paw holding a jug of water and slowly brought it to her lips.

"It is not your fault. You have been working harder than you have ever been asked, do not think we don't understand." a voice sounded right above her. She looked up to see the lead guardian, the Vixen standing beside the one holding her. The female fox sniffled and nodded, she felt the paw on her cheek softly caress her fur along her jaw bone. Standing up fully, the Vixen looked around to the rest of her village, many of which were in the same state.

"You all have worked very hard, beyond what we have expected. Please, rest now and share this meal with us." On que several robed foxes climbed down ladders, clutching trays of food in the other paw as they descended. the villagers eyes widened at the feast laid out for them and the guardians, sitting beside each other, the hungry and exhausted felt new energy as they dug into the spoils of their reward." The Vixen smiled as she looked around to see her clan well fed and sharing as much as they could with everyone in the small crowded space.

"Once we have reached the end, you all will be able to return home to live out the rest of your days in comfort after this is all over." She toasted, watching everyone raise a small makeshift cup. According to her scouts, they were nearly within reach of her goal, only days left until they could implement the final phase of their plan.

It was almost over, all they had to do for the time being was keep their villagers morale up until the end.

As the red rain flows the pools gather amongst the wicked, drowning them in their weakness