A week passed as Viper sadly slithered to the Training Hall. Right up the stairs, she ran into Crane. "Oh, Crane. What are you doing here?"
"I was actually uh... doing some aerial exercises. But I saw you. What's the matter? I could see your frown a mile away."
"Hehe, it must be a big frown," Viper joked. The bird didn't laugh. Her smile disappeared under her sigh.
"The wolf?" Crane guessed. Viper nodded. "Don't worry, I'm sure he'll be fine."
"Those guards were very close to him, Crane. Imagine if you lost someone close to you." Crane stared at her and took a long breath. Now, now more than ever, he knew her worry and pain.
"Yeah... I think I can relate."
"Oh, Crane. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you feel-"
"No, It's just..." His eyes looked long at Viper and whispered, "I was imagining losing someone close to me. It does hurt."
"I'm sorry, Crane. I didn't mean to depress you."
"It's alright. I'll get over it." Though the words came out of his mouth, Crane couldn't handle the thought of actually going through the situation Wolf was going through. To lose someone you loved? Was it even safe to start a relationship with people, then? A waste of time. Tigress's words rang in his mind and pulled at his frown.
"Do you think Wolf is innocent?" Viper asked, desperate to change topics. Crane made a loud sigh, resting against the wooden wall of the Training Hall door.
"I... I think he is, but I'm not sure. Shifu's been going crazy about hearing small laughs and hum at every corner of that dungeon. Even Mantis is a little edgy. Well, Mantis's edginess isn't really news. But something is going on involving the wolf."
"Yes, but what?" Viper asked. Neither of them could answer the question. Meanwhile, in the dark airy dungeon where the criminal lived, Shifu stood watch over the canine who sadly looked through the guarded window. Wolf was always on the small stool looking out the window, but Shifu's patience was thin, and not because of his captive's window watching. The red panda sighed loudly.
"Eat." A plate of food had been placed in front of Wolf an hour ago, but he left it there cold and forgotten. "Do I need to get Tigress or Po?" The wolf glanced at the red panda, frowning.
"Hrm."
"You must eat. I promised Platon that we would take care of you," Shifu muttered. The very mention of the lion's name made Wolf growl. "So if I have to use shrewd tactics to ensure your health, I will." The wolf huffed. He grabbed the plate of food and slowly munched it down, still looking out the window. Shifu sat, watching him; his arms were crossed, and his brushy eyebrows netted together. His mind toiled a few things.
1. The wolf hadn't tried to escape at all in his six-month stay.
2. He cares about people.
3. He likes doing menial labor.
4. He doesn't seem to be interested in killing or hurting anyone.
5. Po hasn't made any effort to vouch for his innocence, yet the Furious Five and Tigress had come to the conclusion that this wolf was innocent WITHOUT Po's interference or influence.
6. And he cared deeply about the people around him. A bunny child, a servant duck, and two guards that were as close as brothers to him.
"Hmmm," Shifu mumbled as the wolf finished his plate. Things weren't adding up. First, Po showed no interest in proving the wolf's innocence. In fact, he acted as if he wasn't important. Po knew something about the wolf that the others didn't know, but what was it? Shifu had no idea. There had to be a reason why Po hadn't bothered about the wolf, and why the wolf seemed to never mind.
YOU ARE READING
Strong
AvventuraWhat is strength, and what is power? As a new criminal surfaces, Po has to figure out what the answer is while struggling to keep his friends, and loved ones, safe from either this new criminal or some other dark force that has yet to rear itself.
