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Literature Text
“No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man.”
Heraclitus
The river is streaming its way down to the south. It is not clean. Rubble and bodies float along it. Some blood is found although not much. In the north is seen the burning and smoking city, while in the west the sun is setting. The battle has ended.
“Wahhh…!” the appearing avian gasps, while breaking through the water surface. Youtian pants, while starting to look around. Banks…banks…need to reach the banks…is crossing his mind, before he sees the sandy banks. He starts to swim there, after repositioning the body on his back: Master Iaso Geng. Behind him a line of blood is creating a trace. One moment later another “Wahh….!” is heard, when Tai Lung emerges from the water. After seeing the young avian he swims to the same banks: the western.
Youtian has carried his master on the sandy beach and starts giving first aid. Pressing against the chest, breathing into the mouth…the master wakes up fast and starts to pant heavily. First the young falcon smiles, but then he remembers the other problem: he examines his master’s body and can find several small wounds spread over his body, but the worst is one bigger wound close to the belly. The falcon instantly rips apart parts of his rob to use it as a bandage, while the weakened feline reaches the banks. He pants more heavily he wants to, while watching the treatment of the older avian.
“Youtian…are you well?” the old master whispers almost too quiet to hear. “I am fine, Master. Don’t move…” the young falcon replies, but the old master has lost his conscience again. Youtian instantly checks the pulse…it is beating, weak, but constantly. The young falcon sighs relieved.
Tai Lung, who has stood up again, looks at the two avians for a while, before turning south. “We need to leave, before their soldiers come to us.” he states hiding what he feels right now. Youtian, panting for a while, nods finally, knowing that this is true. While getting up, he repositions both swords on his back so that he can carry them better and they don’t trouble his master. Finally he hefts the old eagle on his shoulder and starts walking south.
The night has set already and the three have settled in a niche in the middle of the dusty plains of the Red Sand province. Northern of them is found the river now, while the silhouette of the city Iei is found in even further in the north and partially west.
Tai Lung is looking up to the stars, while trying to warm himself with his arms: no fire, which would betray their position. He looks back down to see how the falcon rubs his master to get him warm, while sitting there only in black pants.
Suddenly the old master opens his eyes and breathes the air in deeply. “Master.”, Youtian says relieved a bit, while the old master keeps silent. His eyes move fast, realizing the situation slowly. “It is night already…” he whispers, before looking to the exhausted Youtian, “You look tired, Youtian.” he adds with a grin. The falcon returns the grin.”I am…” he smiles warmly now, while his master nods. “Get me into a sitting position, Youtian…I don’t think I am able to do it myself right now…” he whispers, before the young falcon does exactly that: he positions his master carefully with the back on the walls of this niche. Iaso Geng starts to pant more heavily, but it normalizes once he is in the position to see their niche now: the wet clothes of Youtian are found close to the wetted bags as well the two swords. After this he looks down at his body. The robe bandaged around his belly is soaked with blood and it starts to smell.
“I am sorry, I don’t have the possibility to treat you probably…” Youtian apologizes, but the eagle raises his wing to stop him. “Not important…how far away from the city are we?” he whispers. “Not as far as I wished…” Youtian informs the old master, while looking at the wound, “I am heading south…to the province frontier…I hope to find a doctor there so that you can be treated properly, Master.”
Iaso Geng nods. “We have no supplies anymore or not?” he asks the question which can be answered only in one way. The falcon nods sadly. “We need to travel along the river so that we have at least water.” the master suggests, “…but first you need to rest Youtian. Saving me and Carrying this far has exhausted you obviously.”
“Yes saving you after you saved us.” the young falcon says, glaring to Tai Lung. The feline clenches his fists, glaring back. Iaso Geng, obviously noticing these glances decides to ignore them and instead answers: “Nothing worth mentioning now…go to sleep Youtian.” The falcon nods, before positioning himself to sleep. It doesn’t take much time for the exhausted falcon to fall asleep. The master sighs.
“Why…why have done this?” suddenly the broken voice of Tai Lung is heard and the master turns his head to him carefully. “What?” the master asks knowing pretty well what the topic is. The feline gnashes his teeth, before replying: “Saving me….and even against the protests of you disciple…”
The head of the master looks back forwards. “Apprentice…” he corrects first, “…do you believe in second chances, Tai Lung?” The feline’s ears rise, before he answers: “Second chances?”
The master nods. “A Second chance for changing your life…”
The leopard thinks about this. “I think I had my second chance….”
“Really?” the eagle chuckles, but needs to press a wing against his wound right after this, “…did you have it?” he looks to the leopard, who thinks about this warily. Then he concludes: “You like to talk in riddles like an old turtle I knew.” he replies a little bit angry, but the old eagle smiles broader that’s why only. “I take this as a compliment being compared to Master Oogway.”, he repositions his head back to look at Youtian, “So you have not noticed it?”
“Noticed what?” the feline asks angrily. “That you have changed.” the eagle states, before looking back to the feline. His eyes yank open surprised, when he sees a weakly shaking hand of Tai Lung. The feline notices this glance and looks down as well, before stopping the shaking with his other hand. “I thought…the treatment is over…” the feline states angrily. The eagle looks sadly, before starting to look up to the stars. “It is. I can’t do anything else for you.”
“But, my hand…”, Tai Lung wants to protest, but gets interrupted by the quiet voice of the eagle: “It was to be expected, although I hoped it would take longer…probably cause of the kind of our departure it accelerated.”, he makes a break, “You will never again lose these ‘Attacks’, Tai Lung. Your Flow of Ki was too disturbed for that, …but when you would meditate more often and doesn’t fall into rage like you like to do, it can be controlled. Even as much that you would be able to do Kung Fu properly again.”
“How properly?” Tai Lung asks instantly, feeling angry and disbelieving in the same moment. The eagle looks to him. “As good as before, but only when you start treating yourself like I said right now.”
“When you have not noticed: this isn’t actually the place, where I could meditate.” Tai Lung growls. The old master nods, while looking back up to the stars. “I know…hopefully when all this is over…till then you need to control yourself in the normal way…” suddenly he sees something, “…what is this?”
Tai Lung looks up and thanks to his night vision he can see it more properly. “Birds…messengers…” he answers, before looking back to the eagle. “Messengers for what?” this one asks.
“Father I can’t bear with…him.” I say loud. I am sitting in a white training robe beside an older eagle in the same clothes…father…
“Master, Iaso. Master Gao. How often I need to tell you that you should call me this way, while being at training?” he answers…you needed to do it pretty often and I have never learned from it. We sit at a verandah of our house built with wood and silk. A typical Chinese building.
“…Master Gao…I still can’t bear him…” I reply promising for the nth time to remember this, while looking forward.
“And why is that so?” he asks. Straight to the point, like always. “I….I….I simply dislike him.” I reply answering like a child instead of my 17 years. He starts to chuckle – he loved to do it, when he knew the answer. “Is it maybe because Xiu likes him?” he suggests amused. “No…no! It is not because of Xiu….” I reply a little bit too panicky, “…I don’t interfere to who she decides to befriend with…it is her life after all.”
“A very adult approach, not fitting to the answer of one moment ago…” he puts his wing on my back, “Tell me, Iaso, what is bothering you?”
I sigh. “It is…because of his past…he did….did…”; “…bad things, I know.” he completes my sentence. From the amused face nothing is seen anymore. “You know?” I ask very surprised. “I checked his past, before taking him as my apprentice.”
“But why have you done this?” I ask shocked, “When you knew it….he has done horrible things…” He nods. “Yes he has…but I believe in second chances.”
The old eagle opens his eyes. The day has started already hours ago and he gets carried by Youtian, who pants in a constant rhythm. “How…far…” he croaks, noticing how dry his throat is. “Master…” Youtian says, before stopping. The sun is shining strongly down on the red plains, where from time to time bushes are seen. It is pretty hot, but Youtian needs to put his master on a red rock not far away from their position.
“Master drink this…” the exhausted falcon says, while leading a waterskin to the beak of the eagle. The old master drinks from it, right before the pain in his belly shoots back into his brain. He still continues drinking. Tai Lung, who was ahead, comes back to the two: he also looks thirsty. After drinking Master Iaso gives the waterskin to the feline, who starts to drink as well instantly. “How…far we got?” Master Iaso asks, looking back to Youtian. “The city is not seen anymore, Master…” the falcon replies, hiding something obviously. “But?” the eagle asks with a raised eyebrow. The falcon looks at his master, before starting to grin. “I have not expected that going this distance instead of flying is such a difference.” he chuckles a little bit and his master grins. Suddenly the waterskin flies at the falcon, who catches it easily. “We need new water.” Tai Lung demands. One can see that he is more exhausted than the falcon despite that this one needs to carry his master additionally. The months in the cell show their result. This is probably the reason why Youtian doesn’t counter something, but instead takes off to go for some water. The river is streaming in a canyon already on this side of it.
“You look worse than me, Tai Lung.”, the master states the obvious.
“I am not accustomed to these plains….” Tai Lung answers, breathing out deeply.
“You had more ‘Attacks’?”, the master figures it out instantly. Tai Lung doesn’t react on it first, but then he nods. “Three times since we started our march…” he replies. “Has Youtian noticed it?” Master Iaso asks. “Don’t know, don’t care…” Tai Lung answers still not looking to the eagle. “That’s how you look like…” the eagle whispers sarcastically, “You need to mediate when we rest this night or it could happen that my whole treatment would have been a waste of time.” Tai Lung nods slowly after some time, while Youtian returns with a full waterskin.
“Second Chance?” I ask. Father nods, still looking forward to Xiu and him, while they both spare. “He has done horrible things, yeah…but he will never do them again.”
“Why do you think that? What stops him?” I ask disbelievingly.
“He himself.” he answers. He himself? What….? “What do you mean?” I ask.
He turns to me, looking at me with a sad smile….first time I see this. “He has chosen to be my apprentice himself, I didn’t force him…he decided to be my apprentice to change things.”
“Change things?” He nods. “He knows what he has done and he regrets it. He wants to make it better.”
I look back to him and her…they seem to dance with their swords in the hands. “But shouldn’t he be punished for his crimes?”
Father lowers his head. “In a way he is punished…constantly…”, I don’t need to state the question, which get answered, “…remembering what he has done, reminds him not to do it ever again…controlling himself…regretting it every moment of his life…feeling this shame and guilt which can’t be paid back…it is a worse punishment than everything I could think off.”
“So….in a way you punish him…” I ask unsure. He shakes his head. “No, he punishes himself…I give him only a possibility to live again….so that maybe he can forgive himself one day…that is what giving a second chance is…a chance to be happy again….I have forgiven him already…”
“Forgiven?” He nods. “When you are not able to forgive, you are not able to give second chances for people like him.”
I look back at him….Xiu and he fit together there somehow… “Is he worth being forgiven?” I ask not letting my eyes leave their dance. I feel like he eyes me. “What do you think?”
The eagle opens his eyes when it is night already. He looks around seeing that they have built a camp close to some rocks. He feels the pain again, only to notice that he has given a new bandage by the robe Youtian is not wearing anymore, while standing guard.
“Where is Tai Lung?” the old eagle asks his apprentice, who notices him. “He meditates….somewhere there.” the falcon answers, pointing in a direction, “He said he doesn’t want to be disturbed.”
“I see…” the old eagle nods, still looking at his apprentice. After a while he states: “You hate him, do you?” The falcon turns around slowly, looking only with one eye at his master. “Yes…” he admits. “And why?” the master asks, while Youtian comes closer to his master. “Because…of what he is…” the falcon replies. “And what is he?” the eagle continues asking, guessing the answer already. “Isn’t it obvious? A criminal. A monster. A guy who has betrayed everything what he and we represent. And for what? A scroll…”
“And this is all? No other reason?” the master presses on this topic. The falcon lowers his head. “And because what he did to his master…”
Master Iaso nods. “I know it is hard, not to hate him…but everyone has earned a second chance, Youtian.” Youtian looks to his master. “He had one. And how has he used it? He attacked the Jade Palace once again and has almost killed Master Shifu during this…probably he would have destroyed the whole palace and village, when the Dragon Warrior wouldn’t have come…”
“Back then he was still the person, you have described…” the old master replies looking away. Youtian looks back, seeming surprised. “What you mean, Master?” Master Iaso keeps silent first, before answering: “In the eyes of the person you can see what person he or she is. This is something I learned from my father and master. I saw the eyes of him three times in my life. Once before all this happened more than twenty years ago. Pride, but the seed of his future was seen back there already: Rage. Big Rage controlled. The second time I have seen them was when I visited him in the prison. It has not changed much, only that the Rage was seen more obvious than before. And the third time was in the cell….I am quite sure that he hadn’t these eyes before the Dragon Warrior has beaten him. His actions prove that…the eyes of a broken person…”
“So he is broken mentally and physically…does that change something...?” Youtian counters. The eagle looks to his apprentice. “You don’t understand…back then in the prison he was not able to see what mistakes he had made…but now he had…seemingly his defeat has changed the kind of how he looks at his world…he knows something needs to change so it can become better, but his old self stops him still…”
Youtian starts looking in the direction where Tai Lung is. “So what?” he asks. Iaso grins. “We need to show him the right way…lead him, so that the change happens…but for this we need to forgive him first…”
“Forgive, huh?” Youtian says, “So differently said: we need to play the babysitter for an adult leopard, who is infamous for being a criminal?”
Iaso chuckles. “In a way, this describes it.”; Youtian looks back to his master. “Really? What is with our mission?” Iaso’s glance gets serious again. “Not forgotten, but we can’t ignore this chance we have neither.” Youtian looks forward again. “I hope he is worth it…” he says and Iaso needs to smile unconsciously. “Yeah, I hope so too…”
The next day has started and the sun is shining once again strongly down at the three travelers. The banks, they are going on, have risen to a height already, that a whole tower could fit in. The river is still streaming so far away from them, while they reach a cliff, which indicates a splitting to two rivers. “The Cloudy River…finally.” Youtian states, while letting his master down carefully. “From here on we need to go only south and we will leave this province.” the old eagle says, while everyone starts to use the rest. “Yes, and there we find a doctor for you master.” Youtian states happily, while turning to his master – and stopping in the track. Iaso Geng recognizes this face and tries to turn around – what he achieves only partially, but he can see what Youtian sees: A smoke of dust.
“Natural?” Iaso asks. “No, this is a group of people.” Youtian replies, seeing better than his master with his falcon eyes. Tai Lung doesn’t see anything. “Soldiers, who have followed us?” Iaso asks not able to see the details. “Wait a moment…” Youtian states, trying to recognize the banners, “Soldiers, yes, but this is the banner of the golden bridge…”
“Golden Bridge…The Province of the Golden Plains has a golden bridge in their banners…it lies exactly southwards of the Red Sand Province.”, Iaso informs the others. “So those are allies?” Youtian asks, while putting his master’s sword beside him. “Not sure…you know how servants of the Emperor react to Independent Kung Fu Warriors…” Master Iaso objects. “Yeah…but we have no choice. These are soldiers, so maybe they have a doctor there and you need one…” Youtian replies concerned. Iaso is not showing it, but he knows that the wound is killing him slowly. Youtian prepares to take off after these words, while Iaso still says: “Be careful…”
Youtian nods and then takes off. Cause of the missing food of the last days his flight is not stable, but still enough so that he doesn’t fall to the ground. Fortunately the distance to the group is not long. He can see them from the height. Not big group….all of them boars…I hope there is a doctor…he thinks, while getting to land close to the group.
“Hold!” a military voice yells, when seeing the falcon: the boar is wearing a rich decorated golden armor with a helmet having a yellow ponytail, “Who are you, avian?” the boar adds. His soldiers, wearing similar armors but without a decoration stop and eye the young avian wearing only black pants and a sword. “My name is Youtian and I am looking for a doctor.” Youtian answers to the obvious officer of this unit consisting out of a dozen boars. “A doctor? For what? Are you injured?” the boar officer asks eyeing the falcon curiously. “No, but my Master. He is in this direction.” Master Youtian points in the direction, “Have you a doctor with you?”
The boar officer looks at the avian warily now. “Why is your master wounded?” Suddenly the boars, wearing spears, start to surround the avian, who steps back not liking this. Soldiers…they are here cause of the invasion…he reminds himself, before answering fast: “We are not on the side of the invaders. We are fleeing from them.”
The boar officer is showing a surprised face – before it darkens. “Too bad, but we are.” he answers, “Attack!”
Heraclitus
Crossing the Rubicon
Episode V: Escaping South
10. Chapter: Along the River
The river is streaming its way down to the south. It is not clean. Rubble and bodies float along it. Some blood is found although not much. In the north is seen the burning and smoking city, while in the west the sun is setting. The battle has ended.
“Wahhh…!” the appearing avian gasps, while breaking through the water surface. Youtian pants, while starting to look around. Banks…banks…need to reach the banks…is crossing his mind, before he sees the sandy banks. He starts to swim there, after repositioning the body on his back: Master Iaso Geng. Behind him a line of blood is creating a trace. One moment later another “Wahh….!” is heard, when Tai Lung emerges from the water. After seeing the young avian he swims to the same banks: the western.
Youtian has carried his master on the sandy beach and starts giving first aid. Pressing against the chest, breathing into the mouth…the master wakes up fast and starts to pant heavily. First the young falcon smiles, but then he remembers the other problem: he examines his master’s body and can find several small wounds spread over his body, but the worst is one bigger wound close to the belly. The falcon instantly rips apart parts of his rob to use it as a bandage, while the weakened feline reaches the banks. He pants more heavily he wants to, while watching the treatment of the older avian.
“Youtian…are you well?” the old master whispers almost too quiet to hear. “I am fine, Master. Don’t move…” the young falcon replies, but the old master has lost his conscience again. Youtian instantly checks the pulse…it is beating, weak, but constantly. The young falcon sighs relieved.
Tai Lung, who has stood up again, looks at the two avians for a while, before turning south. “We need to leave, before their soldiers come to us.” he states hiding what he feels right now. Youtian, panting for a while, nods finally, knowing that this is true. While getting up, he repositions both swords on his back so that he can carry them better and they don’t trouble his master. Finally he hefts the old eagle on his shoulder and starts walking south.
The night has set already and the three have settled in a niche in the middle of the dusty plains of the Red Sand province. Northern of them is found the river now, while the silhouette of the city Iei is found in even further in the north and partially west.
Tai Lung is looking up to the stars, while trying to warm himself with his arms: no fire, which would betray their position. He looks back down to see how the falcon rubs his master to get him warm, while sitting there only in black pants.
Suddenly the old master opens his eyes and breathes the air in deeply. “Master.”, Youtian says relieved a bit, while the old master keeps silent. His eyes move fast, realizing the situation slowly. “It is night already…” he whispers, before looking to the exhausted Youtian, “You look tired, Youtian.” he adds with a grin. The falcon returns the grin.”I am…” he smiles warmly now, while his master nods. “Get me into a sitting position, Youtian…I don’t think I am able to do it myself right now…” he whispers, before the young falcon does exactly that: he positions his master carefully with the back on the walls of this niche. Iaso Geng starts to pant more heavily, but it normalizes once he is in the position to see their niche now: the wet clothes of Youtian are found close to the wetted bags as well the two swords. After this he looks down at his body. The robe bandaged around his belly is soaked with blood and it starts to smell.
“I am sorry, I don’t have the possibility to treat you probably…” Youtian apologizes, but the eagle raises his wing to stop him. “Not important…how far away from the city are we?” he whispers. “Not as far as I wished…” Youtian informs the old master, while looking at the wound, “I am heading south…to the province frontier…I hope to find a doctor there so that you can be treated properly, Master.”
Iaso Geng nods. “We have no supplies anymore or not?” he asks the question which can be answered only in one way. The falcon nods sadly. “We need to travel along the river so that we have at least water.” the master suggests, “…but first you need to rest Youtian. Saving me and Carrying this far has exhausted you obviously.”
“Yes saving you after you saved us.” the young falcon says, glaring to Tai Lung. The feline clenches his fists, glaring back. Iaso Geng, obviously noticing these glances decides to ignore them and instead answers: “Nothing worth mentioning now…go to sleep Youtian.” The falcon nods, before positioning himself to sleep. It doesn’t take much time for the exhausted falcon to fall asleep. The master sighs.
“Why…why have done this?” suddenly the broken voice of Tai Lung is heard and the master turns his head to him carefully. “What?” the master asks knowing pretty well what the topic is. The feline gnashes his teeth, before replying: “Saving me….and even against the protests of you disciple…”
The head of the master looks back forwards. “Apprentice…” he corrects first, “…do you believe in second chances, Tai Lung?” The feline’s ears rise, before he answers: “Second chances?”
The master nods. “A Second chance for changing your life…”
The leopard thinks about this. “I think I had my second chance….”
“Really?” the eagle chuckles, but needs to press a wing against his wound right after this, “…did you have it?” he looks to the leopard, who thinks about this warily. Then he concludes: “You like to talk in riddles like an old turtle I knew.” he replies a little bit angry, but the old eagle smiles broader that’s why only. “I take this as a compliment being compared to Master Oogway.”, he repositions his head back to look at Youtian, “So you have not noticed it?”
“Noticed what?” the feline asks angrily. “That you have changed.” the eagle states, before looking back to the feline. His eyes yank open surprised, when he sees a weakly shaking hand of Tai Lung. The feline notices this glance and looks down as well, before stopping the shaking with his other hand. “I thought…the treatment is over…” the feline states angrily. The eagle looks sadly, before starting to look up to the stars. “It is. I can’t do anything else for you.”
“But, my hand…”, Tai Lung wants to protest, but gets interrupted by the quiet voice of the eagle: “It was to be expected, although I hoped it would take longer…probably cause of the kind of our departure it accelerated.”, he makes a break, “You will never again lose these ‘Attacks’, Tai Lung. Your Flow of Ki was too disturbed for that, …but when you would meditate more often and doesn’t fall into rage like you like to do, it can be controlled. Even as much that you would be able to do Kung Fu properly again.”
“How properly?” Tai Lung asks instantly, feeling angry and disbelieving in the same moment. The eagle looks to him. “As good as before, but only when you start treating yourself like I said right now.”
“When you have not noticed: this isn’t actually the place, where I could meditate.” Tai Lung growls. The old master nods, while looking back up to the stars. “I know…hopefully when all this is over…till then you need to control yourself in the normal way…” suddenly he sees something, “…what is this?”
Tai Lung looks up and thanks to his night vision he can see it more properly. “Birds…messengers…” he answers, before looking back to the eagle. “Messengers for what?” this one asks.
“Father I can’t bear with…him.” I say loud. I am sitting in a white training robe beside an older eagle in the same clothes…father…
“Master, Iaso. Master Gao. How often I need to tell you that you should call me this way, while being at training?” he answers…you needed to do it pretty often and I have never learned from it. We sit at a verandah of our house built with wood and silk. A typical Chinese building.
“…Master Gao…I still can’t bear him…” I reply promising for the nth time to remember this, while looking forward.
“And why is that so?” he asks. Straight to the point, like always. “I….I….I simply dislike him.” I reply answering like a child instead of my 17 years. He starts to chuckle – he loved to do it, when he knew the answer. “Is it maybe because Xiu likes him?” he suggests amused. “No…no! It is not because of Xiu….” I reply a little bit too panicky, “…I don’t interfere to who she decides to befriend with…it is her life after all.”
“A very adult approach, not fitting to the answer of one moment ago…” he puts his wing on my back, “Tell me, Iaso, what is bothering you?”
I sigh. “It is…because of his past…he did….did…”; “…bad things, I know.” he completes my sentence. From the amused face nothing is seen anymore. “You know?” I ask very surprised. “I checked his past, before taking him as my apprentice.”
“But why have you done this?” I ask shocked, “When you knew it….he has done horrible things…” He nods. “Yes he has…but I believe in second chances.”
The old eagle opens his eyes. The day has started already hours ago and he gets carried by Youtian, who pants in a constant rhythm. “How…far…” he croaks, noticing how dry his throat is. “Master…” Youtian says, before stopping. The sun is shining strongly down on the red plains, where from time to time bushes are seen. It is pretty hot, but Youtian needs to put his master on a red rock not far away from their position.
“Master drink this…” the exhausted falcon says, while leading a waterskin to the beak of the eagle. The old master drinks from it, right before the pain in his belly shoots back into his brain. He still continues drinking. Tai Lung, who was ahead, comes back to the two: he also looks thirsty. After drinking Master Iaso gives the waterskin to the feline, who starts to drink as well instantly. “How…far we got?” Master Iaso asks, looking back to Youtian. “The city is not seen anymore, Master…” the falcon replies, hiding something obviously. “But?” the eagle asks with a raised eyebrow. The falcon looks at his master, before starting to grin. “I have not expected that going this distance instead of flying is such a difference.” he chuckles a little bit and his master grins. Suddenly the waterskin flies at the falcon, who catches it easily. “We need new water.” Tai Lung demands. One can see that he is more exhausted than the falcon despite that this one needs to carry his master additionally. The months in the cell show their result. This is probably the reason why Youtian doesn’t counter something, but instead takes off to go for some water. The river is streaming in a canyon already on this side of it.
“You look worse than me, Tai Lung.”, the master states the obvious.
“I am not accustomed to these plains….” Tai Lung answers, breathing out deeply.
“You had more ‘Attacks’?”, the master figures it out instantly. Tai Lung doesn’t react on it first, but then he nods. “Three times since we started our march…” he replies. “Has Youtian noticed it?” Master Iaso asks. “Don’t know, don’t care…” Tai Lung answers still not looking to the eagle. “That’s how you look like…” the eagle whispers sarcastically, “You need to mediate when we rest this night or it could happen that my whole treatment would have been a waste of time.” Tai Lung nods slowly after some time, while Youtian returns with a full waterskin.
“Second Chance?” I ask. Father nods, still looking forward to Xiu and him, while they both spare. “He has done horrible things, yeah…but he will never do them again.”
“Why do you think that? What stops him?” I ask disbelievingly.
“He himself.” he answers. He himself? What….? “What do you mean?” I ask.
He turns to me, looking at me with a sad smile….first time I see this. “He has chosen to be my apprentice himself, I didn’t force him…he decided to be my apprentice to change things.”
“Change things?” He nods. “He knows what he has done and he regrets it. He wants to make it better.”
I look back to him and her…they seem to dance with their swords in the hands. “But shouldn’t he be punished for his crimes?”
Father lowers his head. “In a way he is punished…constantly…”, I don’t need to state the question, which get answered, “…remembering what he has done, reminds him not to do it ever again…controlling himself…regretting it every moment of his life…feeling this shame and guilt which can’t be paid back…it is a worse punishment than everything I could think off.”
“So….in a way you punish him…” I ask unsure. He shakes his head. “No, he punishes himself…I give him only a possibility to live again….so that maybe he can forgive himself one day…that is what giving a second chance is…a chance to be happy again….I have forgiven him already…”
“Forgiven?” He nods. “When you are not able to forgive, you are not able to give second chances for people like him.”
I look back at him….Xiu and he fit together there somehow… “Is he worth being forgiven?” I ask not letting my eyes leave their dance. I feel like he eyes me. “What do you think?”
The eagle opens his eyes when it is night already. He looks around seeing that they have built a camp close to some rocks. He feels the pain again, only to notice that he has given a new bandage by the robe Youtian is not wearing anymore, while standing guard.
“Where is Tai Lung?” the old eagle asks his apprentice, who notices him. “He meditates….somewhere there.” the falcon answers, pointing in a direction, “He said he doesn’t want to be disturbed.”
“I see…” the old eagle nods, still looking at his apprentice. After a while he states: “You hate him, do you?” The falcon turns around slowly, looking only with one eye at his master. “Yes…” he admits. “And why?” the master asks, while Youtian comes closer to his master. “Because…of what he is…” the falcon replies. “And what is he?” the eagle continues asking, guessing the answer already. “Isn’t it obvious? A criminal. A monster. A guy who has betrayed everything what he and we represent. And for what? A scroll…”
“And this is all? No other reason?” the master presses on this topic. The falcon lowers his head. “And because what he did to his master…”
Master Iaso nods. “I know it is hard, not to hate him…but everyone has earned a second chance, Youtian.” Youtian looks to his master. “He had one. And how has he used it? He attacked the Jade Palace once again and has almost killed Master Shifu during this…probably he would have destroyed the whole palace and village, when the Dragon Warrior wouldn’t have come…”
“Back then he was still the person, you have described…” the old master replies looking away. Youtian looks back, seeming surprised. “What you mean, Master?” Master Iaso keeps silent first, before answering: “In the eyes of the person you can see what person he or she is. This is something I learned from my father and master. I saw the eyes of him three times in my life. Once before all this happened more than twenty years ago. Pride, but the seed of his future was seen back there already: Rage. Big Rage controlled. The second time I have seen them was when I visited him in the prison. It has not changed much, only that the Rage was seen more obvious than before. And the third time was in the cell….I am quite sure that he hadn’t these eyes before the Dragon Warrior has beaten him. His actions prove that…the eyes of a broken person…”
“So he is broken mentally and physically…does that change something...?” Youtian counters. The eagle looks to his apprentice. “You don’t understand…back then in the prison he was not able to see what mistakes he had made…but now he had…seemingly his defeat has changed the kind of how he looks at his world…he knows something needs to change so it can become better, but his old self stops him still…”
Youtian starts looking in the direction where Tai Lung is. “So what?” he asks. Iaso grins. “We need to show him the right way…lead him, so that the change happens…but for this we need to forgive him first…”
“Forgive, huh?” Youtian says, “So differently said: we need to play the babysitter for an adult leopard, who is infamous for being a criminal?”
Iaso chuckles. “In a way, this describes it.”; Youtian looks back to his master. “Really? What is with our mission?” Iaso’s glance gets serious again. “Not forgotten, but we can’t ignore this chance we have neither.” Youtian looks forward again. “I hope he is worth it…” he says and Iaso needs to smile unconsciously. “Yeah, I hope so too…”
The next day has started and the sun is shining once again strongly down at the three travelers. The banks, they are going on, have risen to a height already, that a whole tower could fit in. The river is still streaming so far away from them, while they reach a cliff, which indicates a splitting to two rivers. “The Cloudy River…finally.” Youtian states, while letting his master down carefully. “From here on we need to go only south and we will leave this province.” the old eagle says, while everyone starts to use the rest. “Yes, and there we find a doctor for you master.” Youtian states happily, while turning to his master – and stopping in the track. Iaso Geng recognizes this face and tries to turn around – what he achieves only partially, but he can see what Youtian sees: A smoke of dust.
“Natural?” Iaso asks. “No, this is a group of people.” Youtian replies, seeing better than his master with his falcon eyes. Tai Lung doesn’t see anything. “Soldiers, who have followed us?” Iaso asks not able to see the details. “Wait a moment…” Youtian states, trying to recognize the banners, “Soldiers, yes, but this is the banner of the golden bridge…”
“Golden Bridge…The Province of the Golden Plains has a golden bridge in their banners…it lies exactly southwards of the Red Sand Province.”, Iaso informs the others. “So those are allies?” Youtian asks, while putting his master’s sword beside him. “Not sure…you know how servants of the Emperor react to Independent Kung Fu Warriors…” Master Iaso objects. “Yeah…but we have no choice. These are soldiers, so maybe they have a doctor there and you need one…” Youtian replies concerned. Iaso is not showing it, but he knows that the wound is killing him slowly. Youtian prepares to take off after these words, while Iaso still says: “Be careful…”
Youtian nods and then takes off. Cause of the missing food of the last days his flight is not stable, but still enough so that he doesn’t fall to the ground. Fortunately the distance to the group is not long. He can see them from the height. Not big group….all of them boars…I hope there is a doctor…he thinks, while getting to land close to the group.
“Hold!” a military voice yells, when seeing the falcon: the boar is wearing a rich decorated golden armor with a helmet having a yellow ponytail, “Who are you, avian?” the boar adds. His soldiers, wearing similar armors but without a decoration stop and eye the young avian wearing only black pants and a sword. “My name is Youtian and I am looking for a doctor.” Youtian answers to the obvious officer of this unit consisting out of a dozen boars. “A doctor? For what? Are you injured?” the boar officer asks eyeing the falcon curiously. “No, but my Master. He is in this direction.” Master Youtian points in the direction, “Have you a doctor with you?”
The boar officer looks at the avian warily now. “Why is your master wounded?” Suddenly the boars, wearing spears, start to surround the avian, who steps back not liking this. Soldiers…they are here cause of the invasion…he reminds himself, before answering fast: “We are not on the side of the invaders. We are fleeing from them.”
The boar officer is showing a surprised face – before it darkens. “Too bad, but we are.” he answers, “Attack!”
Well and here comes Chapter 10 
A little bit more about Tai Lung and the two avian masters ^2^
Hope you enjoyed the chapters I would be glad to hear your opinion.
Like always: Kung Fu Panda and its characters belong to Dreamworks. This story is mine.
Crossing the Rubicon - Chapter I: Fishing Tigers
Chapter IX: Ruckus
Chapter XI: In Process
P.S. Like mentioned in Space Panda II already, I try to do update alternating from now on So next week Kung Fu Panda: The Long Night , then Space Panda II and once again Crossing the Rubicon I hope I can achieve this 
P.P.S. I am quite curious actually: Do you like this quotation thing I do actually? Or do you think the quotations fit or not fit to the Chapters?
P.P.P.S. a third thing What would you think when I would insert also titles for songs, which can be found on Youtube then? So as musical accompaniment 
A little bit more about Tai Lung and the two avian masters ^2^Hope you enjoyed the chapters
I would be glad to hear your opinion. Like always: Kung Fu Panda and its characters belong to Dreamworks. This story is mine.
Crossing the Rubicon - Chapter I: Fishing Tigers
Chapter IX: Ruckus
Chapter XI: In Process
P.S. Like mentioned in Space Panda II already, I try to do update alternating from now on
So next week Kung Fu Panda: The Long Night , then Space Panda II and once again Crossing the Rubicon I hope I can achieve this P.P.S. I am quite curious actually: Do you like this quotation thing I do actually?
Or do you think the quotations fit or not fit to the Chapters? P.P.P.S. a third thing
What would you think when I would insert also titles for songs, which can be found on Youtube then? So as musical accompaniment © 2013 - 2024 Rabenkopf
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