One Tail at a Time

Zhen Zhen

Shifu is talking to his Disciples again and I am on the cushion beside him, only this time I think he might be telling them something important because they all look very interested in what he's saying.  So I listen for a while, but I still don't get what has them all grinning like fools.  Shanhu too looks super excited about a sword move called The dancing Crane.  I don't understand whats so exciting about cutting up dancing cranes but they all look as if they're close to peeing themselves, the excitement is high.

"You can make your way to the armoury where I want you to all select a weapon of your choosing.  This move can be used with any weapon so long as you are competent in it." Shifu says as he quietly rises to his feet.

"Eh?...  where are you going?" I ask the tuft of blue robe that swishes about my face as he finds his feet.

"Rest here for a while Xiaobai, I won't be long." he replies with a firm look on his face.

"Xiaobai?" I ask at the unusual name he has just given me.  Even though I am an all white fox and little, it still sounds like an odd name seeing as I am so used to Zhen Zhen calling me Xiaowu.  

Zhen Zhen said that because I am the youngest of five children and a girl, I get the honour of being called Xiaowu which means little fifth.   But the two words Xiao and Wu have other meanings.  'Xiao' also means dawn, which was when I arrived in the world while 'Wu' also means Gateway to Heaven.  So he calls me Xiaowu for little fifth as well as Xiaowu for Heavenly Dawn.

Only this Shifu doesn't seem to appreciate my loveliness otherwise he would have come up with something a little more original and befitting the Princess of Qing  Qiu.  Though I shouldn't really expect much from a man who thinks dicing dancing cranes with a sword is exciting.  Still, to be called Xiaobai is kind of insulting.

Though I really do wonder what he is a master of, because obviously everyone calls him Shifu, but personally, I don't think he's all that smart to be honest.  He still hasn't found my mother, he still hasn't learned a single fox word even though I have now been here for two weeks, and he is now calling me Xiaobai!  pfft!  

Though Zhen Zhen said that not everyone is as bright as me, some have the intelligence of a peach left out in the sun too long, so I should be more tolerant and patient with him seeing as he is now running his fingers through the downy hair between my ears.  I like it when he does that, it reminds me of Zhen Zhen, and so I lie back and purr contentedly while forgiving him for being simple minded.

Fu Yu is rushing out the door after the boys to watch the cranes getting cut up.  He's a worry that Sprite, but since our arrival to this place, he has been a constant source of intormation.  He tells me everything those boys get up to and though I don't think he understands everything that is going on, he has fun sharing their antics when Shifu isn't watching.

My back legs are healing well.  I still cant walk on them, but they dont hurt as much anymore thanks to the vast amount of energy that Shifu has been giving me.  Hes still there lightly patting my downy fur with a far away look in his eyes as if hes thinking.  I want to tell him not to think too hard, because simple minded people who think too hard only end up with brain sore and the intense look on his face soon has me flicking my tongue up at his hand to stop him.

Smiling down at me, he pats my head before straightening himself up.  "Xiaobai.  If I don't find your parents soon, then I might have to make a few changes to Kunlun in order to accommodate you." he says softly down at my now wide eyes.

"Kunlun?" I have a vague recollection of Zhen Zhen talking about Kunlun.  He had wanted to come here but mama cried so hard that he decided not to.  Im not sure why he wanted to come here.   The boys are alright, they are nice enough now that I have gotten used to them, and this man Shifu is kindly but other than spending most of their time sword training, or sitting about this platform listening to Shifu talk, I really cant see what the big deal is.