3 Back Home

     As they returned home and entered the valley all the villagers screamed in terror calling Mei Feng a monster some mistaking her for her brother and others thinking she was the same as her brother, as the children scurried away from her the villagers yelled for her to get out and threw whatever they could find at her. She blocked the objects holding up her arms blocking her face as she ran to the Mount Emei in tears. Lei was about to chase after her but was stopped by Bingwen who placed his gentle hand on his shoulder. Lei looked to him as Bingwen shook his head. Lei watched as his daughter ran to the palace in tears, as she reached the Emei Temple. She quickly pushed opened the door and just as quickly slammed it shut behind her. In despair, she leaned against it and slid down the door sitting on the ground hugging her knees close to her face as she cried she never felt so alone before not only was her brother in prison but now everyone in the valley the people she knew since she was small saw her as a monster.

     As she lifted her head up from her knees she looked around the room of the happy place she called home was filled with an eerie silence that was unsettling. It wasn't until now that her brother was truly gone did she ever wonder 'Has the Temple always been this quiet' wiping the last of the tears from her eyes she got up and walked to her room wanting the whole day to be behind her, she opened her door as entered her room closing it behind her she sighed. She walked over to her bed as she laid down she hugged her pillow she stared at the empty bed next to her before turning her back to it hiding under the covers closing her eyes and falling into a dreamless sleep. The days went on she trained to keep herself busy but she also distanced herself from her Father/Master Lei and Grandfather/Master Bingwen abit. She felt bad for doing so but at the same time she couldn't help feel a pang of anger she felt whenever she saw them.

     Lei would secretly watch his daughters practice as did Bingwen, in doing so they noticed some changes in her behavior and fighting style. In her training sessions she seems more unnecessarily aggressive, less precise and more wild with her attacks, more lethal, less elegant and more brutal as if she was trying to mimic her brother in what she lacked. As for her behavior she had become secluded to the temple, and nearly impossible to find until the night rolls in she is usually found on the hill that was home to one tree she would sit there for hours watching the night sky before falling asleep. She would also be quick to the point with Master Lei and Bingwen not disrespecting but in a way where she didn't want to be around them anymore than she had to and would not speak a word to them about anything than what she or Master Lei or Bingwen to needed discuss. She would also not speak of anything concerning her brother and if brought up she would not show it but one could tell by looking at her eyes or paying close attention to her body language she would become extremely angry and leave. Lei could see the pain and anger in her eyes as Bingwen did, but he believed that she would not turn into her brother but Lei had his doubts he feared of losing her. A few days passed however and it put Lei's mind at ease, he was concerned that his daughter would stop seeing him and Bingwen as family but she did not every now and then she would have dinner with them, talking and smiling like she use too. To Lei and Bingwen the simple things they all did together whether it was training or just meditating was enjoyable.

     Years went by and Mei did not leave the palace grounds, not wanting to see anyone from the valley she meditated under the lone tree on the rock that Grandpa Bingwen dubbed the Peach Tree of Heavenly Wisdom but she couldn't fully concentrate she had noticed her father leaving the temple in the morning and coming home just as the sun began to set she wondered about what he has been doing that would take up so much of his time. She had decided that she would ask him about it when he returned home. She stood up and headed back to the temple to continue her daily training, as hours passed the sun began to set Master Lei began his walk back to the temple with someone by his side, as they walked they reached the temple before night fell on the entire valley. As they opened the doors Lei not seeing his daughter he could only assume that she is training, he told the young one to follow him as he began to walk to the training grounds. The young girl followed Master Lei wondering where he was taking her, when they got there she saw someone training on what seemed to be impossible obstacles for her but for the girl training she seemed to get through it with ease. The young girl stood in awe as the leopard girl finished the obstacles with ease as she jumped in the air to finish the final obstacle she lands right in front of her and Master Lei. He made his way over to her with a proud smile on his face "Excellent as always daughter" she didn't say anything to him but bowed in respect the young girl was shocked this was his daughter she had never heard of him having one. Mei turned her attention to the young girl standing next to Lei she spoke "Who is the little one that you have brought with you father" Lei knew that this was gonna be an adjustment for her but he needed to begin training new warriors to protect the valley "This is my new student her name is Peiling she has a knack for Kung Fu..just like you" Mei clenched her paw into a fist she couldn't help feel a pang of anger wash over her for a moment she closed her eyes and began to calmly breathe, Master Lei knew she'd react this way but he couldn't just let what happened hold him back. Mei calmed herself unclenching her paw as she knelt down to Peiling's eye level she gives Peiling a small smile "Welcome to your new home Peiling" In Mei's mind she knew that it wasn't Peiling's fault but she couldn't do anything about it after all this time she just couldn't let go of what happened to her brother. Peiling smiled back at her, Master Lei told Mei that they would be sharing rooms and instructed her to show Peiling where it is Mei nodded her head as she stood up holding out her paw to Peiling "Come on Peiling I'll show you around the temple" Peiling took her hand eagerly to see the entire Emei Temple, Mei chuckled at her excitement as they walked out of the room leaving Master Lei behind. Unknowing to them Lei smiled he had never seen his daughter truly laugh in a long time maybe this just what she needed.