The huge Siberian tiger sat on a ledge high above the Valley of peace watching as the Panda sent Tai Lung soaring through the golden mist. Watching as one of the three snow leopards darted off in the direction he flew. He looked back to the panda as the villagers surrounded him their cries of praise echoing far from where they were.
Su Wu sat with her remaining sister staring at the figure before her. He sat on the ledge like a predator watching his prey, his black vest fluttered open behind him,the sun glinted off the revealed dai dao that was sheathed beneath the worn fabric. Nearly as long as he was tall, it was an imposing weapon its red hue nearly matching the torn shorts he wore.
Taking a calming breath she spoke. "Gore are you sure it's safe to be here I know you wanted to see the new Dragon Warrior but maybe we should leave?"
He looked at her his red eyes standing out like fiery orbs against his grey and black fur. "What of Wan?"
Su face palmed and shook her head. "She should be fine. I don't know what's gotten into her about Ti Lug he's strong sure but a bit obsessive for my tastes."
This brought a laugh from the tiger making her stand indignantly the black dress and sheath belts the sisters wore showing off her curves. He grinned at her. "I never took you as much of a lover but more of a fighter."
Giving him an annoyed look, she and her sister turned and ran in the same direction Wan had gone with Gore behind them. The Three dark figures were nearly invisible to any who may have looked at the mountain pass as they ran into the bamboo forest below.
Far ahead of the others Wan had found Tai Lung amongst a pile of broken bamboo where he had landed. Looking at him with concern and worry she stroked the now bloodied fur on the side of his face before gathering bamboo together to make an improvised stretcher. Tying off the last bit of bamboo she looked up just as Su stepped into the clearing. "He's still alive sister, though barely." Su nodded walking up to his bruised and broken form looking at the mangled remains of his right hand. Gore walked around not bothering to look at the leopard. He drew his sword and began cutting a wide path through the bamboo as Wing and Wan picked up Tai Lung and followed with Su on their heels. It didn't take them long to reach the cave entrance that lead to An Chu.
Walking down the cave with memorized steps the group made their way into the large hollow mountain where the secret city of criminals was built. In this place where only the light of the many fires illuminated the dark abyss, the walls and floor of the cavern covered in various styles of buildings and their occupants. Though the law of the place was survival of the fittest, many of those below were fugitives or outcasts of some kind. Seeking a peaceful retirement or reprieve from their lines of work.
Turning to the right almost immediately after entering they made their way up the side of the wall to a three story house carved into the side of the mountain. It wasn't ornate or complex on the outside but upon stepping through the door the dark expanse seemed to swallow them. Soundlessly going over to the fire place the others heard the sound of the striker as the large fire place was filled with flame. Picking up an oil lamp from the mantle Gore lit it before making his way around the house lighting various lamps. As light spread across the ground floor the beauty of the room was revealed. The walls covered in expensive hangings, the furniture all gorgeously crafted.
Grabbing a lamp Gore had just lit, Su led her sisters up the stairs to the second floor where the door from the stairs was marked with their personal emblem. Inside, their room was similarly decorated only with separate rooms for each. Going into a fourth room that was obviously a small infirmary they laid the still unconscious leopard down on one of the beds and began bandaging up what they could. Leaving his unrecognizable right hand as it was till they could have it checked out. After managing to get some water in him Su and Wing went down stairs where Gore was now sitting and sharpening his sword, occasionally stopping to look into the dancing flames. Going to the kitchen the sisters began fixing dinner silently. Wing looked back into the living room where the sounds of stone on metal still rang. He had invited them into his home years ago when he found them trapped where the three masters of Gongmen had left them.
Since then they had transformed the once sparsely furnished place into a home they were proud of. Gore had given them permission to do so and from what they could tell, he didn't really care what they did. He only saw them from time to time between jobs and even then he said little. They figured out from snooping and asking around he was a mercenary of sorts. Though they never could find any of his clients and he was rarely gone for more than a couple of months at a time. Of the three he only really spoke to Su even if she usually got aggravated by what he said. Wing smiled over at her sister. "So do you ever plan on saying anything to him?" Her smile grew as red tinged Su's features.
"Wing, don't even get started on that again. We had one sparing session." A slight tone of embarrassment and annoyance in her voice. Sighing Wing went back to chopping vegetables.
Gore silently went upstairs to his room which unlike the rest of the house was furnished for function and comfort. A large table covered in weapons and tools lay in the middle of the room. The table next to it had various sized tool and weapon wraps. Making his way between them to the large bed near the fire place he took the oil lamp he had brought with him and lit the fire spreading warmth and light across the room. Straightening up he stretched making joints pop before removing his clothes and climbing into his bed, pulling the silk covers around him before falling to sleep.
He woke to the sounds of muffled yells from the floor below. Jumping from the bed he pulled a sickle and short single edged knife from the weapons table. Opening the door he leapt down to where the Wu sisters' door to their floor stood open. Jumping in, he found them struggling to hold down the large feline as a doctor was trying to amputate the demolished hand. Sticking the tip of the sickle into the door frame he walked over to where the old goat was struggling with the others to restrain him. A bone saw lay on the small table beside him. Reaching over him he grabbed Tai Lung's arm. "Where do you want to cut?" The old goat gulped before drawing a line with his hoof right were the wrist met the hand. In one quick motion brought the knife down making a clean cut. Wide eyed the doctor quickly bout the stump as Tai Lung shivered then passed out. Releasing him Gore stood back and watched as the man cauterized the wound and rebound it before giving instructions to Wan Wu on how to care of him till he heals.
The sisters had been so preoccupied with trying to take care of Tai Lung they didn't notice Gore leave until Su came down and found a bag of money and a note on the kitchen table. Picking it up she quickly read the sort line of characters. 'This should be enough to hold till the end of the month. I'm not sure when I'll be back but I don't want him in my room.' Smiling at his note she went up to her room and put them in the chest at the foot of her bed with others like it.
For next two months Wan and Wing took turns watching Tai Lung while Su went and did some small jobs to earn food money. A week into the third month he woke to a sharp pain where his right hand was supposed to be. Groaning, he sat up and noticed a weight on his lap. Managing to get his eyes in to focus he saw a gorgeous snow leopard wearing a loose pink night gown sound asleep in her chair using his lap as a pillow. Confused he started to rub his eyes with his right hand and was met with a bandaged stump. Staring at it he undid the bandage and found his hand had been removed at the wrist. The scaring was still an angry red but was cauterized correctly. Trying to calm himself he though back to his last memory which was Po using the Wushi Finger hold. Smiling to himself he silently thanked the gods that the panda hadn't learned to do it correctly or he would have died. Looking back down to the sleeping female he nudged her shoulder with his good hand.
Blinking a few times Wan Wu saw Tai Lung looking down at her, a confused look on his face. Siting up quickly she squeaked blushing slightly. "I'll go get you some clothes." After she rushed out, he realized he was in fact wearing nothing at all. Slightly mortified he was glad when she came back in with a set of brand new navy pants. Waiting to put them on till after she left, he found he was week and stiff. Stepping out of the room into a posh sitting area he found his hostess sitting on one of the couches patiently waiting. She smiled up at him and playfully gestured for him to follow. Doing so they went to the kitchen where she gave him a few rolls while she started getting things out to cook.
Watching her silent fluid motions he knew she wasn't just a common woman. As she caught the jar of noodles she had just tossed out of a cupboard so she could scoop the spices up in her arms he asked. "So how long have I been asleep."
Wan gave him a shy smile almost dropping some of the spices. "Almost three months now."
Blinking in recognition he now understood the reason for his stiffness, looking at her with cold eyes he politely asked. "Where am I and who are you?"
She stiffened noticeably at this. An internal conflict playing out in her head. She was about to speak when the door opened roughly as Su walked in obviously in a sour mood. Grumbling she walked in to the kitchen. Noticing her sister near the sink she pulled her face mask off tossing it on the counter then reached for the bowl of hot water intended to soften the noodles and started pouring it over a set of cuts on her arm. "I swear if one more person hires me without giving me all the information I will take their life as payment to compensate."