Chapter 22: Wolf Style

Dai, Po, and Mr. Ping began their journey back to the Valley the following morning after breakfast. Po wasn't sure how to bring up these new feelings with Dai. He instinctively knew telling his dad would yield no good result. The thought of bringing it up with Dai though… it put butterflies in Po's stomach.

Dai was ahead, scouting a path. This left Po with his dad. "Po, you've hardly said two words since we left. Is there something wrong?" asked Mr. Ping.

"Huh? Oh, I've just been thinkin', that's all," replied Po.

"About what?" asked Mr. Ping.

Po was about to make an excuse when Dai came running up to them. She stood on two legs and said, "It might be a good idea to make camp. There's a storm coming. There's a cave not far from here where we can take shelter."

"Good work, Daiyu," said Mr. Ping.

They started walking to the cave, but the storm came sooner than Dai had expected. It was getting pretty bad and there was still a trek to the cave. Dai stopped. "Po, why don't I take your dad ahead? It's not far from here to the cave, but I wouldn't want him to freeze. You can follow my footprints until I come back for you," she said.

"All right," said Po.

"Are you going to be okay on your own for a little bit?" she asked.

"Are you kidding me? I'm the Dragon Warrior. It's gonna take more than a little snow to stop me."

"All right. I'll be back as soon as I can." She got down on all-fours and bade Mr. Ping to climb on her back. Within a moment, Dai was off.

Dai was able to find the cave fairly easily, despite the storm. The smell was memorable enough to find it. Mr. Ping got off her back and they both shook off the excess snow. Dai removed her blanket from her pack and wrapped it around Mr. Ping.

"I'll be back with Po and firewood," said Dai. She ran back out into the snow to sniff out Po. She found him nearby picking up logs. "How did you get firewood so quickly?" Dai asked.

"I knocked down the tree with a kung fu kick," replied Po.

"And how did you get them cut into logs?" she asked, smiling.

"With my axe." They both laughed at that.

"Well, at least let me help you carry it. I have tinder and flint in my pack, so no worries there."

"All right," said Po. When they both had an armful of wood, Po commented, "You know, we make a pretty good team."

"I think so too. We should definitely train together like we talked about. I'd like to learn how to be more like you."

"Why's that? I think you're awesome as you are."

"I think the same way about you. There's always room to better one's self though. I mean, look at how far you've come."

"I wouldn't sell you short either though. You could've been like your dad and been against all other people, but you followed your mom's footsteps."

"That wasn't easy. Not for her or me. A wolf trying to get along with other peoples is like a panda deciding to bite someone's face off: it won't happen. If it does, it takes discipline. Going against one's nature and upbringing requires a special kind of willpower," said Dai.

"Are you saying that's something I should do?" asked Po.

"No, I want you to be true to yourself, even if no one else likes it." She paused. "Which that wouldn't happen with you because you've got so many people behind you."

"It'll be like that for you one day too, Dai. I'll be there with you until then."

"Thanks, Po. It's good to have someone so supportive in my life. It's almost easy to forget the family I lost."

"I could be your family."

"You already are." At this point, they had reached the cave. Dai took up the duty of starting the fire while Po and Mr. Ping got an early dinner prepared. They ate in relative silence.

When they were done eating, Dai said, "I'll take first watch. I'll keep the fire going."

"Dai, can I talk with you?" asked Po.

"Sure, what's on your mind?"

"Well, I had a dream the night before we left and it made me feel things I don't remember feeling before."

"Okay?" Dai wasn't sure where Po was going with this. "If it would make you feel better to talk about it, I'm here for you."

"I appreciate that, Dai." Po grabbed Dai's hand and began, "Well, the dream started with us in the hut, you were in your bed and I was in mine. You seemed sad, so I wanted to hold you until you felt better. Then, you started walking toward my bed in all-fours and you were talking and behaving like you wanted me to be scared of you. You put your claws on my chest and I felt them get tangled in my fur. I could see everything as clearly as if it were actually happening. I woke up after you bit my neck. Ever since then, when I see you on all-fours, I think about that dream."

"And… how does the dream make you feel about me?"

"I don't really know. When I woke up, my heart was racing and I felt disappointed that it hadn't actually happened."

Dai didn't want to jump to conclusions, but she wanted Po to admit how it made him actually feel. "Do you see me as a threat?" she asked, pulling away.

"No! No, that's not it."

"Po, I need to be sure of what you're saying. Did the dream make you feel… excited?" Dai's voice changed as if the words were hard to say and her face was hot with a blush.

Po wasn't sure why this embarrassed Dai so much. Was this a culture thing or a wolf thing he didn't know anything about? Yet that did feel like a good description of his feelings when he felt Dai on him. Her power, savageness, grace… her wolf behavior, directed at him, made him feel excited.

"Yeah. Is that okay?" Po probed. "Is that weird?"

Dai was blushing like mad at this point, but she quickly answered, "No! I'm surprised that I inspire those feelings in you."

"Did I offend you at all or make things weird?"

"No, I'm flattered. My pack doesn't usually talk about their feelings. We demonstrate or gesture if we love each other or hate each other." Dai remembered then just how demonstrative her pack was in expressing their feelings. There were many things she walked in on that may have shocked most, but to her, they became commonplace.

Po didn't reply right away since he was thinking about what she said. They both seemed lost in thought. Maybe this is a mistake, but... what if he WANTS to be demonstrative? Does he want me to be more forward? Ugh, but I've seen so many other peoples take SO LONG with their relationships. Dai was thinking this all through and her blush only intensified the more she thought about it. She had forgotten how forward her people were and how conservative others were. If nothing else, she wanted to test the waters and see what was okay. She didn't want to go straight to... things... like Po's dream seemed to have implied. Yet, she really did want to. She wanted to tackle him to the ground and take him. She took a shaky breath. One thing at a time, she thought.

"Dai? Are you okay?" asked Po.

Now or never, Dai. Do it, she thought. She replied, "Tell me how this makes you feel." Then, she kissed him on the lips.

Well, it looks like Dai's being the dominant one and Po doesn't mind it at all. I hope you are enjoying the story so far. Please keep reading and reviewing, thanks :)