One Tail at a Time

Growing Pains

40,000 Years of Age (13 - 14)

Time is moving again, it feels as if I'm going to be an old granny before I've even begun to create bean sprout eggs, because my bones are creaky and achy.   Shifu said this was normal, because I am still growing and because I am nearing forty thousand years of age, then I am also nearing my next trial, though he did say it should have hit a while back.  

Zhen Zhen also said that one of his trials gave him the same body aches and pains not long before it hit, so I am being super careful with my body.  Especially with my training which Shifu has increased in order to get me ready for when I move to Kunlun Mountain, which seems to be nearing the worse the pains get.  

He also has me meditating which I am really struggling with because my mind is far too active.  Its just too easy for me to start thinking when there should be nothing going on in my head, and right now, I am under a tree with Shifu and Zi Lan who is helping me to relax my body which is in pain.

"But my legs hurt...." I whimper softly and with tears in my eyes.

"Did you put on the balm that High God Zhe Yan gave you?" he asks concerned.

Nodding my head, the tears slip off my lashes.  "It doesn't work, they're still so sore." I say while also holding out my arms which are also aching.  In fact, they haven't stopped hurting since the night before and so not only am I in pain, but I'm exhausted having had so little sleep, only Shifu is too busy with his empty mind to even care, which is making me whimper louder to get his attention.

"Seventeen, I know it's painful, but it's part of your growth, you must go through it, we all do.  And you must also learn to overcome the pain, that is what meditation can do for you." Zi Lan says most kindly only I don't care for his advice, its my body aching not his, so I push his hands away when he tries to help me to sit a little more comfortably.

"Don't touch me, my legs will fall off!" I cry loudly and  pitifully and making Shifu lose his concentration because now his eyes are open and he's not looking at all pleased with me.

"Crying only increases the pain because you are too focused on it." Shifu says in that annoying 'I told you so' voice that I am beginning to hate!  And it also seems as if he's losing patience with me, because his eyes are now wide open and staring hard as if my pain is something I myself caused.

"But Shifu, I can't concentrate, my whole body hurts!" I yell loudly and to Zi Lan, insolently, but I just don't care because I really am in a lot of pain.  My legs especially because they feel as if they are being pulled from my body one teeny tiny bit at a time.

"Seventeen!  Lower your tone!" Zi Lan growls me which Shifu is almost about to do only he turns his mean eyes on him instead.

"I suggest you also lower yours!" he berates him sharply and forcing his head down into a deep apologetic bow.

He's bowing because only Shifu is allowed to growl at me and only Shifu is allowed to discipline me.  That is a rule that has stood since I was a little kit and new to his mountain and ways.  Back then, Senior Die Feng had tried to disciline me, only Shifu sent him into the corner instead and now he is loooking most kindly at me while gently lifting me into his lap while Zi Lan rolls his eyes at the flowers his nose is pressed into.

"Xiaobai, I know it hurts, but this is a pain that cannot be completely taken away, it is one that you must overcome, it is required if you are going to get your next trial." he informs me which I already know because Zhen Zhen said that the more tails I get the harder the next one will be and so far, Im thinking its hard enough, so just give me my trial already!

My heartbeat is racing so fast, because the pain is gaining in intensity the longer I have to sit here overcoming it, and I would have screamed in frustration, only Shifus arms are now around my shoulders and the warmth from his hands is very gently easing the pain to a dull throb.  Its not enough to take it completely, but it definitely helps me to settle into the tears as the back of my head falls onto his shoulder.