Hello ! Boy, am I excited to finally start writing again! I'm hoping that the last chapter, "Realizations," didn't feel too short. From here on out most of the chapters will be short, but don't worry: none of them will be as short as the last one. I felt I had to apologize because I didn't want anyone to think I was being a jerk. Or something. Anywho, I'm proud to present the next exciting chapter of "The Silver Lining!"
Chapter 3 – The Market
Tigress was glad to be outside the Palace grounds.
The usually peaceful atmosphere of the Jade Palace had turned to one of claustrophobia and pain, and it had gotten to such a point that she felt she could hardly breath anymore. Viper, however, had given Tigress a way out, and for that she was thankful.
That cot was getting uncomfortable anyway.
She was on a mission now, tasked with searching for "medicinal herbs," and that meant the always-delightful trip to the market. The salty aroma of noodles, mixed with the sharp scents of spice and sweat, made anyone feel right at home among the constant hustle-and-bustle of the market. With its bright banners and constant roar of crafty merchants and haggling customers, it was easy for someone to get lost here, and that's exactly what Tigress most wanted right now.
(except, no matter how lost you are, you'll still have me)
She sighed, already having decided it was useless to try and shut the voice up, and continued trying to find what the reptile had written on the small tear of paper grasped firmly in her paw.
One obvious disadvantage to going out in public was the inevitable "fan sighting," and if you weren't careful, you might just end up spending your afternoon signing autographs.
Tigress smiled at the thought, and was even more delighted that such thoughts could still come to her at a time like this.
Tigress, being a feline, was extremely cautious and so, using her cunning, devised a perfect crowd-dodging strategy: she hid under a dark, oversized and rather ratty hooded cloak.
Just another poor beggar for you all to ignore.
Yes, it was terrible, but the sad truth was that nobody cared about the Valley's many vagrants and vagabonds, and as sad as it was, it was still the-
"Hey, watch where you're going!"
Apparently, Tigress had gotten a little too "lost" and she quickly apologized to the old rabbit and her child that had crossed her path.
"I'm so sorry, madam, please forgive me-"
"You practically knocked my kid flat! What the hell's wrong with you?"
Tigress was about to reply that she wasn't paying attention, that it had been her fault, that she would be much more careful next time, when she stopped dead.
The young rabbit, who looked no more than four and seemed hardly phased by the collision, was holding a small paper doll of
(who else)
Master Tigress of the Furious Five.
Too late to pull back now.
Might as well just take it.
"My kid" looked directly into the "beggar's" eyes, then at her doll, then back at the "beggar" once more. Her look of curiosity quickly changed to one of suspicion to one of joy.
"Look, mommy! Tigwess!"
Tigress looked into the face of the young girl's mother and saw something she hadn't expected: a look of dawning horror.
Without taking her eyes off Tigress: "Com'on sweetie, we need to go. Now."
Tigress stared after the rabbits, her jaw hanging open. Others nearby heard the young girl and regarded the Master with something that resembled disgust. Like the old woman, however, there was also terror in their eyes.
What the hell's going on?
(two words: they know)
It took a few seconds for her mind to register what the rages meant by that, and then a memory floated back to her from what felt like eons ago, something she had said to Viper during the reptile's first week at the Jade Palace.
"Be careful what you say and who you say it to because words and rumors spread quickly in the village"
Words spread quickly.
Now, Tigress looked down and could actually see the crowd moving around her, nearly a yard of empty space between her and the nearest spectator. She could hear whispers
(I heard she went berserk)
among them, whispers
(knocked him out with the first blow)
that seemed to come from everywhere at once, old women gossiping
(beat him when he was helpless)
and little children laughing
(bunch o' broken bones)
about what the rages had done, what Tigress had done.
She was a monster in their eyes.
A monster.
She was frightened.
She was confused.
And then they spoke.
The rages spoke.
(do you hear what they're saying? I know you do, because I hear what they're saying)
No.
(and they need to be punished, like children)
No!
(the insolent fucks)
NO!
Tigress was fighting a battle on two fronts, one outside and one within.
She was consciously aware that she had fallen on her knees and was clenching her fists rapidly.
Open and close.
Open and close.
The air felt hot and heavy in her lungs, every breath seeming to be made of lead
(the insolent fucks)
and the worst part was that she felt like she was drowning
(the insolent fucks)
(the insolent fucks)
(the insolent fucks)
(the insolent f-)
A single image.
Crane, battered, bloodied.
Very bloodied.
It was gone.
She opened her eyes slowly and her muscles began to relax.
Her lungs began to pump air once again and her heart-rate began to slow.
Saliva began to moisten her dry mouth.
It was
(for now)
gone.
Sleepily, she looked at the crumpled remains of her shopping list.
Crane could live without some stupid plant.
Master Tigress of the Furious Five had had enough of the local market.
In fact, a nap in her cot was what Master Tigress really wanted right now.
Exhausted, she began the long trip home.
Like I said, short but not too short. I'm really hoping that the rages are becoming their own character in a way, but it's hard to tell what you're thinking when you don't tell me! Are they confusing? Do I need more than parentheses to let you know when they're speaking?
Also, the next chapter will go more in depth about what Monkey and Mantis were talking about in Chapter One – "The Injury." What did Shifu tell them? What was meant by it? And what will it mean for Tigress? Oooooohh, I'm getting myself all giddy just thinking about it!
Will update soon!
Read N' Review!
