One Tail at a Time

My Shifu, My Teacher

It takes a little time for me to awaken because my head feels groggy and heavy as if I have been hit over the head with something.  Only Fu Yus excited chirping and tugging on my hair, soon has my eyes opening where he finally comes into view.

"Qian Qian, are you alright?" he asks ug eyed and crazy excited which slowly has the memory of the race coming back to me.

"I think so, what happened?" I ask shaking away the drowsiness to look around.

"It's just as well Shifu was there when you fell, he caught you just in time." he is telling me, only I have no recollection of falling much less into his arms.

"That explains nothing." I tell him trying to sit up only to find my head being forced back down and not by Fu Yu.

"Seventeen, do remember anything at all." Shifus soft voice asks from behind me.

About to answer, my paw in front of my face suddenly comes into view, and it is then that I realize I am in fox form.  Being in beast form is forbidden so for a second I think I'm in trouble again which is why Shifu is there with me, only the moment I turn my head to peer back at him, then my tails also come into view and Shifu is holding them up in the air!

I want to die!  Seriously, the embarrassment is so powerful that I immediately begin to squirm.  I don't care if Im hurt down there, but the sight of Shifu once again holding my tails up so he can get a look at my butt, has my white furry face turning beet red, I know it is!  He's killing me right now, I can actually feel the lungs in my body exploding from holding my breath!

"Qian Qian, calm down.  You got a new tail." Fu Yu is squealing and clapping his hands in front of my face.

"Shifu....  do you really need to inspect it?" I whimper into my paws being too embarrassed to even look at him again.

"Of course I do.  Gaining a new tail can be quite traumatic Seventeen, I need to ensure there are no anomalies and going by the strength ...." he says lightly pulling on the new stub and making me groan.......  "This one will be just as strong as the rest."

"That's 6 tails Qian Qian....." Fu Yu belts out loudly...... "Quick!  Tell her how she got a new tail!" he says laughing and poking madly at my snout seeing as that is the only part of my face not covered by my two paws.

Shifu is chuckling softly and I feel him lightly place my tails back down before moving towards my face, only I feel too shy to look at him.

"Giving up the the prize to an enemy even though they used underhanded tactics to win, takes great compassion Seventeen, but what you probably don't realize is, you used strategy for further future gain by making a stronger bond with them in the end.  You not only gained your next tail for being generous even though they were not so kind towards you, but Chang Shan and Ling Yu will never forget it, so you can be sure to have their extra support in the future." he says most kindly before ordering Fu Yu out so I can rest.

Waiting until the sprite sulkily leaves us be seeing as he is more excited than I am right now, I wait to address my tail and my butt in particular, but Shifu is still talking, which means I cannot talk until he done. 

 Aiish, I think a bit of Chang Shan rubbed off on me, because I'm actually waiting!

"Even though your need to see your family is just as important as Ling Yus desire to see his mother, you gave them both the opportunity to negotiate, even after they used underhand tactics to keep you out of the race.  Still, you also ensured that they did not just take what they wanted from you, you made them pay for it by negotiating your chores for the tablet, and you allowed great compassion and reason to govern in the end.  So compassion, compromise and a little payback is why you gained your next tail." Shifu is informing me and though I am still super embarrassed I can't help but look at him in awe for a moment.