"Once again. From the beginning. And can you try and concentrate Po." Shifu said sternly looking at the Furious Five and Dragon Warrior. Po just looked at Shifu and nodded. He sighed nodding. "Then begin." The Five went back into their training as did Po. They had been going for the past four hours and they were beginning to tire from it. "I am going to go down to the village for a few things. You stay here and train. Understand Po?" He said looking at Po half glaring. "Why would you think I'd do anything else?!" Po said innocently. Shifu didn't reply. He just turned walking out of the training hall. Monkey ran over to the door peering out of the door to see Shifu disappear down the path. "He's gone!" Monkey said turning around. As soon as he said it they all collapsed on the ground panting softly…except for Tigress who just stood there looking at them. "What are you doing?" She asked. "We're having a break. We've been at this for four hours straight. We need a break." Crane said. "We're supposed to be training." Tigress reminded them. "We need a break. Aren't you tired?" Viper said looking up at her friend. "No." Tigress said crossing her arms. "C'mon. Just rest." Monkey said waving his hand as if he was dismissing the subject. Tigress huffed a sigh. "I'd expect this from Po but not you guys." She said bluntly before returning to her training. "Just ignore her Po." Monkey said patting Po on the back. "Let's go get something to eat." Mantis suggested and they agreed heading out.
They went into the dining room making up some dumplings. "Do you think Tigress is okay?" Crane said thoughtfully. "She seems a bit edgy. Like, more so than normal." Monkey shrugged. "I don't know. Now that you mention it. She has been a bit odd lately." "I know. She's got a temper normally but it's worse lately." Po said resting his head on one hand. "Do you know Viper? I mean, you are her best friend." Mantis said and they all looked at her. Viper just looked at them. "I know but she told me not to say anything because she doesn't want anyone knowing." She said. Crane frowned. "Why would that be? Is she leaving the Five?" he asked. "No! It's nothing like that. She's staying here! It's just…something else." Po looked at Monkey confused and Monkey was just as confused. "Then why is she so crabby?" Mantis asked. Viper just sighed. "I think I'm going to go back to training." She said before quickly slithering out of the room. The four boys looked at each other. "That was weird." Mantis said finishing off his dumplings. Po had eaten all four bowls of his. "Well we should probably join them." Crane said and they headed back to the training room.
Shifu got back with some food and other bits and pieces. He went by the training room to check on the six of them. They were busy training still when he came in. They saw him and stopped. "Good to see you training still." He said. "I trust you had something to eat to keep you going?" He asked. "Well, the thing is…." Po started before Monkey elbowed him. "Yes. We all ate." Monkey said and Shifu nodded. "Well you may stop now." He said walking out. "What was that for Monkey?!" Po asked looking at Monkey. "You can't tell him that we stopped for a break and that Tigress didn't!" He said. "Shifu would punish us!" Po crossed his arms. "I thought you said I had to be honest?" Po said walking off with Monkey. "Oh never mind Po." Monkey muttered. Tigress and Viper headed off for their rooms.
"Hey Tigress?" Viper said looking at her. "What?" Tigress asked. "The others are worried about you. They were asking what was wrong." She said. "You didn't tell them did you?" Tigress asked looking at Viper. "No! I said that you told me I couldn't say anything but their still worried." She said. "Well it doesn't matter. Just don't say anything to anyone." Tigress said before going into her room. "You can't hide from this forever Tigress." Viper said before going into hers. Tigress sat down on her bed pulling out a letter from under her pillow reading over it again. She sighed lying down on her bed closing her eyes falling asleep.
Tigress woke up late that afternoon. She got up walking out of her room and outside where the others were. She walked past them heading out the gates. "Hey Tigress! Where you going?" Monkey asked. "Just out for a walk." She said. "We'll come with you." Crane said following her with the others close behind. "I don't need you guys to follow." She said. "We'll enjoy it Tigress." Viper said as they left the Jade Palace. Tigress sighed not in the mood to start an argument she probably wasn't going to win. She was just hoping for a bit of peace and quiet but with the others now with her and Po…..that wasn't something she was likely to get while they were out together. Viper looked up at her friend worried. She knew that this wasn't Tigress's normal behaviour and she felt that she should tell the others but she had specifically told her otherwise. They walked into the forest heading down the path. Tigress stayed behind the others hoping to slip away from the group when they weren't looking. She took her chance a minute later heading away from them. She sighed softly sitting down under a tree leaning back against the trunk. Finally! Some peace at last! She thought to herself. "Tigress!" she heard someone call out. She looked up seeing Shifu walking over. "Master? What's wrong?" She asked getting up. "I'm going down to the village again to pick up a guest. You might want to come." He said. Tigress stared at him for a minute. "No thanks. I think I'll just stay here." She said. "It is a family member of yours Tigress. I gave you the letter remember?" He said. "I know." She said. Shifu nodded walking off.
"You have a family member that's still around?" She heard Monkey ask. She looked up to see the five of them there looking at her. She just stared at them before walking over to them. "It doesn't matter." She said before looking back at where Shifu was heading. She then ran off back to the palace. "C'mon! Let's follow her. Something's wrong." Crane said as they ran off after their friend all the way back to the palace. Tigress disappeared into her room putting a set of drawers against her door and then a book case. "Tigress? Let me in." Viper said with the others behind her. "Go away. I'm not coming out." She said sitting on her bed. "Tigress please. I know it's hard but you have to see them." Tigress didn't reply. Viper sighed looking at the others. "Let's just leave her be for now." She said slithering off with the others following. Po looked back at Tigress's room wondering why she didn't want to see this member other family. Family was everything to them all. They were like family now…but he knew something was upsetting her and it annoyed him he didn't know what. All of them felt helpless to her and it wasn't normal to feel that. All they could do was wait and see what happened.