Afternoon
Grov sits sorrowfully beneath a tree, his shoulders heavy with silence. In his hands rests a small wooden turtle totem. He gazes at it the way a child clutches a fragile treasure, holding it gently in his palm.
(FLASHBACK — 50 years earlier)
A young Grov, only seven years old, sits by the edge of a vast lake. With tiny hands he tosses stones across the water's surface. The lake glimmers brilliantly, the sunlight scattering in golden ripples where each stone strikes.
Grov chuckles mockingly as he hurls stones into the lake.
Beneath the rippling surface, a curved piece of wood seems to float aimlessly.
With a smirk, Grov tosses another stone—this time striking the object.
The sound is not of water, but of something hard… like wood.
Suddenly, the strange curved shape rises.
From beneath the shimmering surface emerges a turtle—no ordinary one, but a ten-year-old with cold, piercing eyes fixed on Grov.
—Sifu—
"What do you think you're doing, owl?"
Startled, Grov stumbles back.
—Grov—
"What… what are you?!"
—Sifu—
"Can't you see, owl? I'm a turtle. Haven't you ever seen one before?"
—Grov—
"I have… but never such an ugly one."
Sifu's eyes narrow with irritation, his face twisted in disgust.
With a sharp inhale, he gulps a mouthful of lake water—
and spits it straight into Grov's face.
Grov scowls, shaking the water off his face.
—Grov—
"You're disgusting."
Sifu bursts into mocking laughter, pointing straight at him.
—Sifu—
"Hahahaha! Did you like that, owl?"
Grov's face twists into a cartoonish grimace. He grabs a stone and hurls it at Sifu.
The rock smacks right against Sifu's green forehead—bonk!—leaving a huge lump swelling up.
Sifu clutches his head in pain.
Grov collapses to the ground, laughing sarcastically.
—Grov—
"Hahaha! A green bump!"
Infuriated, Sifu emerges from the lake, gripping his staff. Without hesitation, he brings it down hard onto Grov's head.
Grov topples over, holding his skull as he glares up at the turtle.
—Grov—
"Damn it, that hurts!"
Sifu stares back with a bored, unimpressed expression.
—Sifu—
"Of course it hurts. It's wood, owl."
He raises his staff and points it directly at Grov's face.
—Sifu—
"What's your name, fool?"
—Grov—
"I'm no fool… sour-faced turtle."
Suddenly, two tall hares—around Sifu's age—approach the lake.
One is brown, wearing a red shirt with green shorts.
The other is white, dressed in a black shirt with white shorts.
The brown hare steps closer to Grov, smirking mockingly.
—Brown Hare—
"Well, well… what's this, princess? Came to take a swim in the lake?"
—Grov—
"Stop calling me that!"
—Brown Hare—
"Oh? Or what? Are you going to cry, little princess?"
The white hare joins in, sneering.
—White Hare—
"Don't tease the princess too much—she might call for her mommy… the old owl!"
—Grov—
"Shut up!"
The brown hare's grin fades, his eyes narrowing.
—Brown Hare—
"…What did you say?"
He seizes Grov by the shirt, lifting him into the air with ease.
—Brown Hare—
"Who are you telling to shut up, huh?"
His fist draws back, ready to strike.
But before the punch lands, a splash erupts—
The white hare tumbles into the lake, shouting in shock.
Sifu calmly retrieves his staff, expression flat.
—Sifu—
"Oops… sorry. Didn't see you passing by."
The white hare bursts from the lake, water streaming off his fur, his eyes blazing with fury.
Clenching one fist, he presses it with the other hand, then spits to the ground.
—White Hare—
"Stupid turtle… you're going to die!"
He lunges forward, ready to strike Sifu.
But Sifu remains calm, his gaze steady.
With a relaxed motion, he raises his staff—
and in a single swift strike, he drives it into the hare's stomach.
CRACK!
The white hare gasps, folding over in pain, before splashing back into the lake.
The brown hare glares, rage boiling in his eyes, still holding Grov up by his clothes.
Suddenly, Grov snaps forward—biting down hard on the hare's hand with his beak.
The brown hare roars in pain, dropping Grov.
Grov tumbles to the ground, hitting his head.
—Brown Hare—
"My hand! Damn it, now you'll pay!"
He reels back, fist ready to crush Grov—
but before he can strike, WHAM!
Sifu's staff crashes against him, sending the brown hare flying into the lake beside his companion.
Soaked and defeated, both hares thrash in the water.
Grov, still rubbing his head, looks up at Sifu—
his eyes wide, filled with awe.
The two hares crawl out of the lake, dripping wet.
The brown hare bursts into tears.
—Brown Hare—
"I'm telling my mom!"
The white hare snarls, clutching his side.
—White Hare—
"You'll see what happens to you!"
And with that, the two of them stumble off, crying like little babies.
Sifu looks at Grov with a mocking laugh.
—Sifu—
"Don't worry… you'll live, owl."
—Grov—
"Oh, is that so?"
—Sifu—
"What's your name, fool?"
—Grov—
"My name's Grov, not fool… stupid turtle."
—Sifu—
"And mine's Sifu."
Sifu extends his hand toward Grov, offering to help him up.
Grov pauses for a moment, then smiles—reaching out his own hand.
Their hands clasp, and with a firm pull, Grov rises to his feet.
PRESENT DAY
Grov weeps beneath the tree, sorrowful and alone, his eyes fixed on the turtle totem in his hands.
—Grov—
"I'm sorry, old friend… for not being there."