Chapter Seven: Encounter Two
Tigress was still fuming about the fight.
"I think we should just get the relic back and forget about the entire thing!"
"Here, here!" Crane chorused. The others just nodded or agreed quietly.
They were all in the kitchen, about to have dinner. This time, however, Po was sure not to let the soup out of his sight until after he served everyone up.
"I hope I never see that stupid fox again," Tigress growled.
"She did do us some good," Shifu told her. "Now we have an idea of what area that warehouse is. The sooner we find it, the sooner we will have the relic."
Tigress gave up her argument and was about to have some of her soup.
"WAIT!"
Tigress froze and looked up at Vixey, who stood in the doorway and had a panicked look on her face.
"Don't eat it!" the fox yipped.
Tigress began to growl.
"What? Is it drugged?" Po asked, a little upset at Vixey. "Because I know it isn't-!"
"They could have drugged the veggies."
Po looked as panicked as she did. Vixey ran over to Tigress.
"They might be after you next!" she said quickly.
"What makes you so sure?" Tigress demanded, glaring at her.
"Evidence and good co-workers," she said, bringing out a small vial of clear liquid. "This will tell me if I'm right or wrong."
"And you're going to put that in my soup?"
"Yes, but don't worry! It isn't poison! If you still don't trust me, you can just get another bowl of soup! Now, if I'm wrong, you can just slap me upside the head and I'll shut up."
Tigress leaned over to Monkey.
"Let's hope she's wrong."
"If the soup is just fine, this won't do anything to it," Vixey said, pouring the liquid into the soup. "If it bubbles, it's poisoned."
The soup turned blue.
"And if it does that?" Tigress asked, losing her anger.
Vixey looked up at her.
"It's drugged."
Her ear twitched. Quickly, she shoved Tigress over and jumped backward. An arrow imbedded itself into the wall behind them. Everyone jumped to their feet.
"They were already here!" Mantis cried.
Within seconds, several Polecats sped into the room. Tui Dong crossed the room.
"We meet again, Kitty," she said coolly, "no thanks to you, Girl."
"It's my pleasure," Vixey snarled.
The two forces collided. Instantly, several Polecats were thrown against the walls behind them. Vixey was knocked backward, but she held herself up on her hands, kicked two Polecats into their comrades, and jumped back up. Tigress found herself face-to-face with Tui Dong. The graying-faced Polecat struck at her, but the tiger continued to dodge. Po belly-bumped five Polecats at the same time, Shifu grabbing one of the airborne thieves to slam down on another. Viper slashed at three Polecats, sending them in Crane's direction. The bird then jumped out of the way, the three Polecats colliding with those he was trying to fight. Monkey dove over and around the Polecats until many were running into each other trying to attack him. He jumped onto many of them (they being small in stature), causing them to collapse. He landed on a Polecat-free area and turned to face a lone thief. The Polecat didn't know there was a bug on his shoulder and tried to strike Monkey, but suddenly froze up and fell forward. Mantis jumped onto Monkey's shoulder and they went to rejoin the fighting.
Everyone had finished fighting the Polecats except for Tigress. Tui Dong continued to try to hit Tigress and tried to dodge the tiger's attack. The result was five searing cuts across her face. The Polecat stumbled backward, toward the door.
"We'll be back!" she hissed. "Come! We leave!"
She and her defeated minions departed as quickly as they appeared.
Everyone but Shifu, Tigress, and Vixey cheered.
Vixey turned to Shifu.
"Master," she said, bowing, "because of the Polecats, I request that I stay here temporarily."
"Granted."
Tigress was shocked.
"What?" she cried. "But, Master!"
Shifu turned to her.
"This is the second time the Polecats caught us off-guard," he told his student. "If it weren't for Vixey, they'd have you as well."
Tigress was about to argue, but she knew better. She threw one last glare at Vixey and left the room.
"I must apologize for her," Shifu told Vixey. "Although, it did take her some time to get used to Po. It shouldn't take as long for you."
"I completely understand, Master," Vixey said. "Serious people don't usually take a liking to happy-happy people as quickly as one would hope."
The others were picking up the mess behind the two.
"I know how to make friends with people like Tigress. Everyone has a weakness to friendship. I just have to find out what Tigress's is."
