Strength In Unity

Chapter 15: A past that no longer binds

As the sun broke through the clouds after the daily gong sounded, several of the jade palace found great difficulty in getting up.

Inside the Wolf Dorm, several groans and tired whines were uttered as the pack awoke and got ready for the morning. Tyan grumbled in his sleep as one of his pack mates rocked his shoulder.

"Come on ya gotta get up."

"I disagree!"

"Come on please? I don't wanna be the one to wake Boss, he's always mad after we play that game in the morning, come on." The other wolf whined as he tried to ruse the stubborn teenager.

"He's mad because he's hungover don't be such a cub go away."

"Yeah but he's scary..." The wolf trailed off in a very unmasculine tone, the sleeping wolf couldn't help but frown and grin at his stupid friend.

Tyan growled and sunk his teeth into his pillow as he glared around the room. Half the pack was up getting their armor on just as there was a knock at the door, The Boss Wolf's nephew hopped up and got to the door, looking through the new peephole.

"Who is it?"

"Master Viper and Malsa the shop owner. You're new uniforms are in." This got the attention of the rest of the pack. Everyone got up and curiously snuck over like blood hounds at chow time, several whispers grunting through. Tyan pulled back the door and gave a small wave to the serpent master, seeing her giggle slightly.

"Did we come at a bad time? She asked with a chuckle, the wolf raised an eyebrow when he looked into the side of an axe head and saw his reflection.

"It would seem you have." He said with a tired chuckle, sheepishly brushing at his fur with his paws, straightening it out. He looked behind the masters, noticing several large boxes all stacked up. Without trying to imagine how they got them up all the dreaded stairs in this place he whistled to the others to come out and grab their new gear. He laughed as he saw the boxes literally disappear from sight within all of two minutes, every one of the troops now donned new protective outer jackets, including his own. The young wolf slipped the long sleeve black and silver bolted jacket, feeling it hug his body just enough to still be just as fast as they had been with their previous shreds of cloth and leather shoulder pads. Walking over to the already crowded mirror, he looked at himself, he liked it, no longer would he and the others have to fuss over the infernal wrappings, not mention losing their old uniforms felt a bit liberating, as if they could go on with a new chapter in their life. Not having to be constantly reminded of what they'd done every time they looked at one another.

Kirscher grumbled as he finally awoke, noticing everyone else was up and was dressed differently? The lead wolf stood and stretched as Tyan came over.

"I had these done up for us all, Master Viper wanted us to get more into a new look since we live here now." He said showing off the red outlined yin and yang patch that rested on his shoulder over his armor. Kirscher gave an interested sound as he looked over the wolf's new outfit.

"Looks good, I like it." He said with a tired smile patting Tyan on the shoulder. The teen gave a small toothy grin and opened both the doors to the outside, leading the freshly woken pack outside to meet with the five for their assignments and the dragon warrior's breakfast.

Po's POV

After his late night pleasantry with Tigress, the panda found himself unable to get to sleep so as soon as he'd let Tigress go back to her room, he'd snuck down into the kitchen and began working on his breakfast routine he'd planned. Because the village was under such duress and worry, the panda had spoken with the grandmaster Shifu about scheduling a large village meal together, in means of keeping those he sough to protect in good spirits. Po headed out of the Jade Palace to find the wolves already awake and,