a/n: So, the last chapter took way longer than it should have to come out, so to make up for it, I'm going to try to get this chapter out within a day or two. I do want to say, even though there will be a tiny bit of romance in a few chapters, this story is not at all focused on it :p :) This chapter might be a little sad, but it's part of the plot. It will get happy again soon! This chapter has another Hunger Games music reference (I was going to maybe call them the Bengal Games instead, but in this chapter there's another 'Bengal', so it might have been redundant.) and another Meowzart pun, but as of now, I don't know of any other way to convey the message in the dream! If you think of one, tell me and I will probably use it.
Chapter Seven, Warnings at Night
Ten months of training proved the Five's ability to fight was superb. Alone, any one of them was as skilled as an advanced learner even though they were technically still at basics. But together, they were truly formidable. Practice continued, most of the time inside the arena, but often leading out into the forest.
The wake up call bell sounded at six in the morning, but Tigress was already awake, puzzling over her latest dream. The odd dreams had become more frequent as life went on, and recently they had revolved around a strange scene:
Two cloaked figures, one tall and youthful, the other slightly hunched, walked swiftly through the street, under the cover of darkness. The shorter one seemed to be trying to convince the taller one of something, but couldn't. When they arrived at a building that Tigress almost recognized, the shorter one knocked on the door, and an ewe answered.
"Master Oogway! You're here-" She started,
"Shh, Madam Ren, we don't want to wake her," Oogway whispered, and looked at the tall figure beside him.
"Wo , it is time. I once more beg you, do not leave her. You will regret it."
The other figure shook her head.
"Master, I cannot keep her. It would be a dishonor on my family if I were to raise a child without her father,"
Oogway shook his head sadly. The female figure handed a small bundle wrapped tenderly in a quilt to Madam Ren, who smiled down at the baby.
"Master Oogway, if you leave her here, I might just keep her for myself, she's so cute," Madam Ren joked.
"Indeed, she is beautiful. But two old men and few palace attendants can't take care of an infant as small as her. Even Tai was older than she is when we found him," Oogway smiled as he remembered the joyous cub.
Madam Ren took the baby into the building Tigress now realized was the Bao Gu Orphanage.
The scene then turned to a sea port, where a young tigress with very gentle facial features was boarding a ship.
"ALL ABOARD FOR THE BAY OF BENGAL! ALL ABOARD!" Was being called out by the cabin boy, a crocodile who was clearly enjoying the novelty of shouting.
The tigress hurried up the plank, and a mongoose took her luggage below deck.
"So, Miss, where're you headed?" The mongoose asked.
"Orissa, then a monistary." She responded.
The mongoose nodded and headed off, going about his duty.
Again, the scene changed, and as in all dreams, she was at the Peach Tree of Heavenly Wisdom, where two songs playing softly, one familiar from a previous dream, the other new.
This time, Tigress could clearly distinguish the lyrics to the new song, The Hanging Tree from her favorite book, the Hunger Games:
'Strange things did happen there,
No stranger would it be,
If we met up at midnight at the hanging tree'
The phrase, 'met up' was emphasized, and the song's chorus was sung again and again.
The other song, the one by Meowzart, began with its sweet, airy notes, and this time, Tigress knew the song's title, having found a list of the artist's songs in the documents in the palace library.
The song was titled, 'Come to the Place Where I Was Born'.
And that was how the dream ended, leaving Tigress more confused than before.
But for now, Tigress stopped stressing about her dream and prepared for the day. At 6:05 sharp, she was outside her door, along with the other four students.
"Good morning, Master," they all said as the red panda walked down the hallway.
"Good morning indeed, my students. After breakfast, instead of training, go down to the village and patrol the outside edge. Today you all will begin putting your skills to use, protecting the valley of peace." Shifu said.
Later that morning, Tigress was at the western edge of the town, supposed to be guarding it but drifting off in thought. Was the tigress in the dream her? No, Wo Dey wasn't her name,obviously, and she was pretty sure Oogway wasn't going to call her his 'lady'. Why would the mother tigress abandoning her cub? This whole thing had something to do with Tai Lung, but what? But for now, there was someone coming along the path to the town. A rhino, and in a bad mood it would seem.
"Hello?" Tigress called, trying to be friendly.
"Has there been some kind of attack?!" The rhino demanded.
"N-no! I'm a student at the Jade Palace, and I'm on duty today," explained.
"Then you'll know how to take me there. I am here to see Shifu, with a message from Chor Gom prison."
"...Ok, I'll escort you to the Palace, please follow me..."
She began walking towards the jade mountain.
Apon reaching the top of the thousand stairs, Tigress lead the rhino messenger into the Hall of Wonders.
"Wait here," she said, and went to get Shifu.
"Master, there's a rhino in the hall wanting to see you, but he looks...?" Ti told her meditating master.
"Hmm? Oh, Cu Lei is here. Send him in at once," Shifu said pleasantly.
Tigress, relieved, brought in the rhino messenger, who bowed politely to Shifu.
" Lei! Good to see you. How was the trip?" Shifu inquired.
"Not bad, thank you. But you would not believe how annoying pannuceum wasps are when you accidentally hit their nest with the tip of your head. Kept going on and on about unprovoked attack. I was stuck there for close to an hour apologizing. And then your student here eyes me like I'm gonna destroy the valley or something." Lei responded casually.
Tigress flicked her ears back in embarrassment. She hadn't trusted the rhino, but he had just been delivering a message.
"Ah, Tigress, you can go back to your duty, and maybe let one of the other students take the perimeter. Now, my friend. What news do you bring from Chor Gom?"
Swiftly heading to the back door, Tigress was stopped by a voice.
"A little jumpy, aren't you?" Oogway chuckled.
"Huh?"
"True, Cu Lei is a bit rough on the outside, but he's a very nice person," Oogway said.
"Oh, yes... I guess I kind of judged him before I met him. I'm sorry..."
"Don't apologize to me! He'll be out in a while, apologize to him."
"Right. I'll do that." Tigress finished.
a/n: ok, this chapter is just tying things together between major events, and I have always been curious as to how one of the Five would respond to a character that would be less heroic and cool. The next chapter is likely going to skip over a couple years, giving an overview of the years between 'now' and the first KFP movie. until next time, thanks for reading! :)
