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Chapter 2 - An old life.

How do you tell a child its ok when the world burns around you?...

The Leangs moved to the edge of the forest where Bai found a secluded spot amongst the trees.

"We will make camp here for the night. Tomorrow we will..." Bai cringed saying this "We will go say our final goodbyes to Mom."

It was getting late so Bai went to go gather some fire wood. He was on high alert the entire time, treading very lightly, watching his surroundings constantly for any sign of a threat. It was only when he had picked up a few sticks did he realise he should not be building a fire. The attackers could still be in the area and if they saw a fire they would immediately come track him and his family down. Not that they had not already managed to get one of them.

Bai sighed and rubbed his eyes. He started mumbling "Well at least the Jade Warrior side of me is returning, whether that is a good thing or not I am not sure yet." He looked up at the orange rays piercing the forest. "Hmm almost sunset, I need to get back to my kids."

Bai silently made his way back to camp, not letting his guard down for a single moment. Thankfully nothing seemed to be around for the moment. He returned to two little cubs who were overjoyed to see their father return. Immediately Jumping on him for hugs.

Not much was there to be said that night so the father and cubs just sat around silence. Ling and Chen lay down either side of him. Bai sat there caressing their fur to help keep them calm. Eventually one by one they all fell asleep, too exhausted to carry on from the day's events.

AAAAAAAAH! Bai save me.... SAVE ME!!

"GAH!" Bai shot up and grabbed his chest in an effort to calm his heart down. "Shit."

He rubbed his eyes. Bai looked left and right to see two little balls of fur lying next to him. Thank the Dragons he thought. At least they are still here. Bai closed his eyes but the light of new dawn cruelly dragged the chance of anymore sleep away from him.

Reluctantly he got up and stretched. This of course this woke up Chen and Ling. They got up slowly and immediately looked to Bai. He could see that they were lost. Then again so was he but he had to do something, survive first I guess. Bais mouth was dry, after a moment he realised they should get water and that will be their first order of survival. At least it was something to do, it beats moping around.

"Right come one little ones, let's get some water from the stream. We will then go salvage anything from the house and..." Bai paused for a moment getting a bit choked up. A glance back at his kids reminded him that he needed to be strong "Say goodbye to your mother."

The trio moved in silence as they made their way to the stream. Everything was eerily calm. Everyone says there's calm before a storm but this time the silence spoke volumes of events that had already happened. An unwelcome silence, devoid of life that once rolled through the plains of the village.

Bai looked back at the two pups. They looked defeated. He hated that, defeat as a Jade warrior meant clear as day that you had failed in your duties. Dishonoured. Bai Did not want that to happen, He could not let that happen...

Bai stopped turned around and lowered himself down. He looked at his cubs "We will be fine ok, come we are going to the stream, you two love the stream." Bai gave them both a quick hug pulling them into his arms. "Let's put on our Brave Faces like when you fight the forest monsters in your games." He put his paws under their chin's lifting up their faces so they could see him and smiled.

Two little reluctant smiles appeared. "There's the two warriors I know!" He held out his paws and they grabbed them "Off to the stream! On an adventure we go!". Chens voice hesitantly broke the silence "Can we go to the waterfall dad?".

Bai responded "Of course!"

The stream was a large one, borderline being the size of a river. Further up the stream towards the mountain side was a small waterfall. The trio arrived at the streams edge and Bai immediately dunked his muzzle into the water. Drinking up gulp fulls of water. He took scoop fulls of water and splashed it on his face. The Cubs had also joined in, slurping up water greedily

Bai took all his gear off down to his shorts and walked into the stream. As soon as he found a deep enough spot he submerged himself. The water flowing through his fur was pure bliss. To get all the soot and dirt out of his fur felt amazing. It didn't take long for the cubs to join in. "Woah hold on, take your clothes of first or they will take ages to dry!" Warned Bai.

The Cubs and Bai spent a short amount of time washing before Bai had an idea to cheer up the cubs. "Chen! Ling! Race you to the waterfall!". Ling and Chen looked up surprised and saw their Dad starting to move. They immediately shot a look towards Bai and he knew that meant it was on!

Within seconds they were all scrambling to run up the stream.

Bai wanted to run full pelt up the stream but he knew that would be unfair on the cubs. Infact he found himself already ahead of the cubs. As they got close to the waterfall Bai slowed his pace, pretending to run out of breath. His little ones passed him at the last moment and beat him.

Laughter was heard as two sets of feet zipped past. "Aah no! you beat me!" Bai walked up to the waterfall a little of breath. The water was not too deep. It came up to about his belly so he was able to wade in to get to the waterfall. He cupped his hands and took another drink from the waterfall.

Chen and ling started splashing water at each other. Chen wanted to get one up on his sister who splashed first. So he quickly found a rock, climbed up and then jumped into the water. Soaking Ling. "Chen! Stop it!", Chen giggled. Looks like he got his revenge. Ling knew she couldn't be beat so she quickly grabbed his tail and pulled him underwater.

Bai was tempted to stop them. But they were having so much fun. The first Joy he had seen from them. He decided to let them have this one as they sorely needed it.

Bai stepped under the waterfall to rinse himself getting any remaining dirt that he missed.

He closed his eyes, tilted his head up and stood under the waterfall letting the water cascade over him.

He kept his mind blank and just stood there. It was as if the water was washing away his thoughts.

It was peaceful.

After a little bit Bai got out and went to dry off. He sat on the shore and watched his kids play. Aaah if only Jaolee (pronounced shao lee) could see this, he thought. Wait a minute Jao! He can help.

Bai's face lit up a bit as he remembered an old friend who would gladly help him.

Crack! Bai's ears perked up and his nose started twitching as he heard a branch break from a nearby tree. A false alarm but it did remind him that he was still in quite big danger and needed to move off. He wanted to watch the kids carry on but he knew he was only delaying the inevitable. He had to go say goodbye. They all did.

Bai ran his paws over his head and sighed. Dragons help me he thought. He really did not want to do this but he knew the longer they stayed the more danger they were in, so he got up. The cubs noticed him get up and knew that serious expression all too well, it was time to stop. "We need to go." The cubs slouched over a bit and started walking to Bai. Reluctantly leaving the stream.

This made Bai smile slightly as it meant that they had fun. He held it his paws and they grabbed them. Sadness brewed in Bai "It's time to go say goodbye to Mom."

Ling looked up at Bai "Will we See Mommy again?"

Bai was hit full force with the question. He could barely answer. "w...one more time."

Bai got his gear before he Led them away from the stream. They walked in silence back to the village. The trio soon arrived at the remains of what used to be civilization. Everything had calmed since yesterday, it wasn't right though. All the flames and noise had all died out. Leaving nothing left but the husk of what was once a lively village.

"Daddy look." Bai followed where Chen was pointing. There it was "huh..."

The Beauty of the Shathras breath shines through every storm.

Shathra is the Dragon of life, the dragon that represents and allows all things to live according to legend.

There in the middle of the village was the florists house. The house had burn damage but still stood, but even more miraculous is that all the flowers seemed to be almost unharmed... actually almost shining in the sunlight.

Bai spotted a flower and picked it up. A Drake tulip, he stared at it for a moment before they made their way off. He kept the flower, he would use it for Lee.

They drew very close to his house now, every step he took filled him with dread and sorrow. Feeling physically more sick with every thud of his foot. He almost stopped when he saw her, a part of him telling him to turn around and run. But a Jade warrior is strong. They finish what they start. There she was... Lying on the ground completely undisturbed. A sure sign of the lack of life in the village.

Chen and ling had feared the worst. They were young but they understood what death was. Their fountain of hope within them kept saying that well "Everything will be alright", a voice that echoed in their heads. However, it hit them that this was a story with no happy ending. Ling wanted to scream but nothing came out. Chen was frozen, not able to comprehend fully what was happening.

They were spurred on by the gentle pull of Dad.

Bai walked over to the body of the person he loved. Tears filling his eyes, he slowly bent down to pick her up. With her in his arms, he started talking to her in some vain hope that she was there listening...

"Why now? Is this punishment from the dragons for my past life? Why you. Wh... Why not me." He said starting to cry. "It's all my fault.... WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME DRAGONS! Are you happy now?!"

He looked up and around at his house. "We spent so long, so much time on this place to get it to give life. Maybe we took too much? Is that it?"

Bai Sniffed and looked back his wife, trying to force back tears "We started it all here, spent all our time here, Made new life here... It's, it's only right that we end it here."

Bai put Lee back Down and started searching for a shovel.

Chen and Ling looked on, watching the sorrow of their Dad as he put her back down and got up. Ling walked up to Lee "Mommy...? M.. M.. mom?". Chen came to her too "Please wake up mommy."

The cubs slowly hugged her and snuggled up to her crying.

Bai returned with a shovel and saw his kids. He reached into the balls of teary fur and grabbed their paws, gently helping them up. "It's time to lay her to rest."

Bai took Lee to the middle of their first field where it all started and started to dig. He lay her body in the newly created Hole.

"We will miss you dearly Lee, you lived for the sake of creating life. You bought life back into me and then together w.. we bought life into this world. It will be hard for me to bring more life to this world without you b.. but I will try my best... for you." Bai looked at his kids "Ling, Chen, It's time to say your last g...goodbyes."

Chen sat on the edge of the hole and took Lee's Hand "Goodbye Mommy.... I... I love you."

Ling got in the hole and hugged Lee "I wish you were still here mommy. Why did you have to go?"

She buried her heard in lee's chest "Why did you have to go mommy, please come back."

Bai put his hand on Lings shoulder. "I love you mommy."

Bai helped them both get out the hole.

He took one last look at her. "We all love you Lee and may you rest in peace."

He took a shovel full and started to bury her. When the hole was filled. He Planted the Drake Tulip in her grave. "Please guide us on the right path.... Goodbye my love, I will miss you."

Bai's face was streaming tears, his fur starting to matt. Ling and Chen held his legs as they stared teary eyed at her grave.

Bai took a deep laboured breath and wiped away his tears. "We need to go."

Ling looked up at Bai "But what about the others Daddy?". Bai had not even considered that, it would be a lot of work but Lee was right, they deserved something too. Chen Looked at Bai "Can we give them a flower too Dad?

Bai looked around "Yes, we must respect the dead. Let's gather some flowers, we will put one by each house to represent their families." They went around to each house in the village planting one of the flowers from the florist by each house. Bai said a little speech for every one as he planted the flower. "From Death comes Life, you sacrifice was not in vain. May the Dragons guide you to the spirit world and let you rest in peace."

It took a while but they eventually paid their respects to everyone. "Come we need to go, it is not safe here, we will go find somewhere else to go."

Chen tugged Bai's arm "Where dad?"

Bai looked at them with a small smile "Why uncle Jao of course!"

This lit up their faces "Uncle Jao!" Ling exclaimed. "Yes, Come let's go."

The Trio left. Bai gave one last glance back at the village before they moved off to get to his friend.

"Goodbye Maiel, Goodbye Lee, Rest in Peace."

... You clear a path or Put out the fire.

Ugh I finally found some scraps of time to be able to continue my story. Work has been killing me.

But its here! And I hope you enjoyed it!

If you did enjoy it please share it as that does help me out. Will make a start on chapter 3 when I can.

Thanks.

-Wolfmantom.