One Tail at a Time

Teaching

Another week has passed and my legs are now healed enough for me to walk on properly but my tail is a constant concern.  Some days the pain is unbearable and other days like today, its not so bad so I am left to wander about the mountain so long as I stay in view of any of the boys that I learned are called Disciples.

That means Shifu is their teacher and I am slowly beginning to understand why because what he teaches them is stuff that I dont think even Zhen Zhen knows.  In fact my earlier assessment of him is changing though he is still the same Shifu with me.  He still cuddles me when I cry over my tail and he still pats my downy hair with his chin and he still says and does things that makes me think hes not all that bright, but theres something else he does and I dont think he even realizes it.  He won't let anyone else cuddle me because I think he likes me all to himself.

But sometimes when he's not looking, I go to Shanhu and curl up on his lap for a little while.  I like the stories Shanhu tells me and because they all think Im just a baby and dont understand, he even tells me things that not even Shifu knows, things they're not supposed to be doing.  Like sneaking out at night having found a way to breach his barriers without getting caught and even sneaking friends into the low valleys for a night of fun.  

And it just so happens that on this night, Shanhu and Cheng Bao, the youngest of the senior boys are going to bring their friends again and he thinks that because I keep Shifu busy at night with my tail, that they won't get caught.

Well I know mischief better than anyone, and the thought that they do too, makes me real happy so I lick all over his chin and make him laugh.  I like it when he laughs, his sound is much softer than Shifus,  its not as warm as his laugh, but more mellow like mamas so I laugh too because he makes me happy.  Only I cant help but worry about their night time activities.  

Shanhu says that Senior Die Feng is really strict and being the second in command to Shifu, he can also punish his juniors so they really dont want him to find out about what they're doing down there.  He says it will more than likely be Die Feng who catches them and not only will they be punished, but then he will tattle on them to Shifu and they'll be punished again.  Which only has me wondering just what mischief they're getting themselves into that could see them punished two times.

"I think it would be best if I keep an eye on you Shanhu.  I can't preotect you if I don't know what you're doing." I tell him as he gently runs his fingers through my fur with a far away look on his face.

And it was at that exact moment that Shifu enters with a look that says he isn't happy to see me being patted by Shanhu and that makes me wonder just how safe I am among these boys seeing as Fu Yu is still insisting that I remain in fox form at all costs.  If anything, that look on Shifus face makes me scared again.  Its not the firest time I've seen him look like that at Shanhu when hes petting me, and as Zhen Zhens warning about being a girl among boys comes back to me,  I jump down off the warm lap and run to my Shifu whose arms are out to catch me as I dash straight into them.

"Its time for our next lesson." he informs me as his beardy chin does its thing all over my head again.  It tickles and makes me laugh which takes the frown off his face as he carries me out of the hall and this time into the corridors.

"Where are we going?" I ask as I peer over his arm to look around.  

I haven't really had a chance to look around yet, because Shifu and the boys keep a close eye on me, though Fu Yu is never far away, and no sooner are we entering a big library filled from floor to ceiling with books, then he lets out a squeal and begins to dash about in excitement.  I really don't know why because he can't read but I guess going by the way he flitters about the pictures on the walls, he's found something to occupy himself.