Frostbane

Chapter 7: The shadow strikes

Author's note: Hey guys. I'm back in school again! And you know what that means? New password on my laptop that I don't know nothing about! YAY! Now, with this major roadblock on my way, my days of staying up at night late to write fics for you guys are pretty much over. So I'll try as much as I can, ok? So sorry guys.

Disclaimer: I do not own KFP, only my OCs and stories and plots and brain.

" Urh." Po groaned. He winced at the breaking of sunlight through the window. He clumsily pulled up the blanket to cover his face.

Tigress signed. Po had attended the meeting till the very night. He needed his rest. And of course, she needed to check on the others. Unofficial leader stuffs.

Tigress strode down the corridor, passing a series of doors. She reached a special guess's quarter. There were 6 rooms: one for Shifu, one for Viper and Shen, one for Sun Mei, one for Monkey, one for Mantis, one for Crane.

Sun Mei's room was situated on the outer rear, so, Tigress came and knocked on it first.

" Come in!" The tiger called out. Tigress opened the door slowly, she stepped in, seeing Sun Mei with her purple outfit sharpening her swords.

" What can I do for you Tigress?" Sun Mei asked, looking up from her position by the balcony.

" Would you mind if I sit down?" Tigress asked.

" Sure, just make yourself as home." Sun Mei replied, not looking up, still busy with the sharpening stone.

" Okay, this is awkward." Tigress mumbled to herself, " So um I want to ask you this."

" Yes Tigress?"

" I know previously you was a street assassin and all, so you must have a lot of acquaintances?" Tigress asked.

" Yes, can you get to the point?" Sun Mei rushed, but kindly, with a soothing tone.

" So can you ask for some people to grab info on my son? I'm worried, and this is the first time I've been so far away from him." Tigress asked, her voice sad.

" Oh, okay. If that's what's this all about then, I'll ask for some friends to collect your son's status." Sun Mei looked up and smiled reassuringly to the worried mom.

" Thanks. Oh and do you know any place here that sells food with a good taste?" Tigress changed the subject.

" Hm, I think I know a few place. I'll give you the address then." Sun Mei answered, setting down her swords and stone.

" Thanks, Mei." Tigress then stood up, retreating herself slowly through the door, " So maybe I'll see you in the training ground?"

" Yeah." Sun Mei replied, " The food, it was for Po, wasn't it?" Then she suddenly asked.

" Hm? Oh, um, yeah. How do you know?" Tigress stopped midway through the door and asked.

" You will always worry for your love ones. I've, *experienced* the urges." Sun Mei replied, almost as she was talking to herself.

Tigress nodded understandingly "Take go to the training ground if you need me." Tigress said, then quickly exited and closed the door.

The tigress did the same thing with the others, asking them about things, making sure that none of her team was feeling anything particularly troublesome. A leader she was.

Finally, she came at Shifu's room. Tigress exhaled slowly then knocked at the door.

" Come in." Shifu called out, calmly.

Tigress pushed the door, walked in, bowed to her master. The red panda was meditating when he caught the sound of Tigress's pace outside his room.

" No need to be like that Tigress. We're not in training you know." Shifu said, still sitting with his eyes closed, " So, is there anything you would like to tell me?"

" I was wondering if there's any significant details about the meeting that we need to know of?" Tigress asked.

" Well, Po knows." Shifu replied.

" He, um, he's sleeping." Tigress excused.

Shifu lifted an eyebrow, " Ok, alright. Come, sit with me." Shifu offered a spot next to him.

" Thanks." Tigress replied, sitting down next to him.

After settling herself beside him, Shifu spoke:

" Marron came." Simply as that.

" Really?" Tigress raised an eyebrow, surprised, but still kept her composure.

" Just after dust. The old wolf was accompanied by two of his elites if I remember correctly." Shifu slowly replied.

" So what happened?" Tigress urged onward.

" Um, some generals got overly active, and met his deserving reply." Shifu said, recalling the brutal yet swift events last night.

" And Kann, have you heard anything from him?" Tigress asked.

" No, still no words of the wolf. It's been ten years." Shifu sighed, " Now the chance of seeing him again are very slim. Many even believed that he is dead."

Tigress tried to hide her emotions, but she was really saddened to hear that. Kann was, well, a true friend to her, as to the rest of the Five. Though his time with them wasn't long, he had already carved out a spot for himself among the masters and the Jade Palace.

" I don't think he's dead at all. He survived worse." Tigress

" I couldn't imagine anything worse than what of his fate, Tigress my dear. But, I should keep my attitude optimistic. Now, with a bunch of trouble accompanying our steps, it's critical to not give them any advantages physical or mental."

Kann took off his mask, setting it on a table that survived last night's assault. He stripped out his armor, left him only with his black pants and black silk vest. He stretched, yawning to shoo away the drowsiness of last night's shift. Around him, the elite guards were still asleep, but fully clad in armor, and weapons in hands. Marron slowly stepped out from his room, accompanied with a guard, who Kann assumed to be still sleeping when Marron woke him up.

" How's the night, Kann?" Marron asked, fully awake.

" Well, as quiet as the North itself! After the whoop-ass, Nothing happened! Kinda bored." Kann mischievously replied.

" You never changed do you?" Marron joked.

" Hah, hardly old friend." Kann relied, taking a glass of water and gulped it all down his throat.

" Alright then. Enough with the morning greetings." Marron cleared his throat, " Could you get me something to eat Kann? I could just get my breakfast in the palace's quarter but I highly regard the risk that they would poison me. It's not like I'm ordering you or anything but-"

" Very well." Kann replied, then turned to two frost guards who were sleeping on the floor, " Tony, Tyrion, wake up boys, we have some food to pick up." And Kann lightly kicked one lying on the floor with his feet. The two guards clumsily stood up, yawning, rubbing their eyes.

" Awake yet?" Kann asked the two guards.

" Yes sir." They said in unison.

" Good. So now I don't have to spray snow at your face!" Kann broke a mischievous half smile, " Come now, to the market."

The masked frost guards strode the market, gracefully passing civilians in the busy streets. Some eyed them curiously, but most ignored. There were shouts and loud arguments in every corner, and occasionally, fights broke out.

" Geesh! Has it been always like this?" Kann whispered to his companions.

" Yes, sir. There were a few looser laws released in those ten years you were asleep. Now every where's a mess." A frost guard explained.

" Now what's his favorite dish?" Kann asked, kept on walking.

" Since Po cooked for him, once, sir, he always wants a nice bowl of noodles."

" Okay." Kann simply replied, then proceeded towards the noodle stand in a corner.

(And, for your information, how will they bring the bowl back right? So I was thinking of noodle delivery? Nowadays in Asian countries they pour it in a plastic bag, back in those days, no plastic, so you'll have to deliver the whole package, bowl, noodles and soup, ok? Ok. Back to the story!)

" One noodles extra vegetables please." Kann ordered politely.

" You wanna have it here or what?" Replied the small pig cooking noodles, not bother to look up.
" Just bring it to the Palace. The guards will show you the way." Kann calmly said.

" The Palace?" The pig quickly looked up, eyes wide.

" Yeah yeah, and the name's K. Just K. ok? K of the Frostguards." Kann whispered.

" Alright, you got it sir!" The pig wiped a single strand of sweat from his forehead, then proceeded to his cooking and mincing.

" Thanks." Kann simply replied, then turned around to walk away. But, to his own surprise, he was met with a black and white forehead, right in the head. The impact knocked him and his untimely bumper to the ground. The other frostguards was taken aback also.

As he fell, he heard a clinging sound, like something metal just hit the ground. Quickly he checked his face with his palms. The mask was gone!

" Urh, sorry, oh I'm so sorry sir!" Came a familiar voice. The dazing wolf blinked more than twice, then once the images before his eyes were cleared, he recognized the face. Po.

" Kann?" Po exclaimed, the panda was in shock, "KA-" but before he could shout it out loud, Kann shoved a hand at his mouth, silencing the big guy.

" Not here Po, please don't give my identity away! Meet me at Marron's stay and I'll explain." Kann whispered into the panda's ears. Po nodded furiously. Then Kann let go, the panda silently stood up, wiped his clothes clean, as so did Kann. The collision gathered a few eyes, but none sticked around to watch the outcome.

" Are you ok sir?" Po acted, of course he was smart enough to know that Kann's enemies got spies everywhere, that was why Kann was hiding in the first place.

" No worries, mister. Good day to you!" Kann replied nicely, then came down to pick up his mask, put it on, and departed in the direction from where he came.

" Po tried to normally walked back, then turned at a deserted corner. He broke his composure and screamed out, in silence.

" I can't believe it was Kann!" Po whispered to himself, " Gonna go tell the others!" Po was on the verge of going, but then stopped suddenly, " But, it would be safe if I keep it for myself, it's a reason why he kept it a secret." Po talked to himself again, " But he trusted them, didn't he?" " Well, a little information couldn't hurt." " Yeah, yeah that's a great idea, I'll just tell them quietly." With that, along with a giggling grin, Po dashed towards the Palace. Still the same old Po in heart.

Kann walked inside the Palace's door, along with his companions. I headed straight for the guest room, speeding up, but he didn't run. Once he reached the room, the wolf closed the door behind him, then checked all the windows to make sure he was not spied.

" What is it Kann?" Marron asked, a little startled by Kann's actions.

" I must be sure that we're safe from other ears." Kann replied, eyes scanning through the window. Once he was satisfied, Kann closed the window, " Po recognized me." He simply said.

" What? How? Did anyone else recognize you?" Marron pushed forward.

" No, most of them are civilians, they don't even know my face. And the street was very much crowded, I doubt anyone would." Kann reassured his mentor.

" That is still not safe enough! Kann now we must be more careful!" Marron said worriedly, " But what is done, is done. We can't do anything about it now. Let's just pray that none saw you."

" Yes, dear old friend." Kann gulped lightly, " Oh and Po's going to come, better check all the spots, the Dragon Warrior's presence is gonna draw a lot of unwanted attentions." Kann informed.

" Alright then. Boys!" Marron called out the frostguards.

" Yes sir?" A frostguard replied, representing the others.

" You and the others position yourselves on top of those critical rooftops. We need these coming conversations to be strictly secretive." Marron ordered.

The frostguards nodded in unison, then grabbed their masks and moved out.

" Let's go!" One shouted, seemingly to be the group's leader. The elites hopped out of the room through the windows, and quickly maneuvered towards their ordered positions.

" Now when did he say he would be coming?" Marron turned to Kann.

" Right about-" Kann stopped, leaning his head towards the door, waiting. And exactly as he had planned, someone knocked on the door, "Now."

Kann walked to the door, alongside Marron. He grabbed the doorknob, gave Marron an assuring look, before swinging it open. And he didn't even bother to look at the *guest*, for he thought he knew exactly who it was.

" Delivery for mister….. K?" A pig fused his brows, trying to read out the confusing lines on a small piece of paper handed to him by his employer, then glanced up, suddenly startled by the sight of a big white wolf.

Kann grinned awkwardly, embarrassed of his over-confidence. He banished his grin, turned to the pig and politely took the bowl of noodles.

" Here you go pal!" He said friendlily, giving the pig a few gold coins with was more than enough to cover the cost for the bowl.

" Tha-thanks sir!" The pig accepted the coins with great gratitude, then bowed politely and quickly exited the building with his tips.

" Here you go." Kann gave the bowl to Marron, " Your break fast." Marron took the bowl from Kann with a cheeky smile, then proceeded towards a table and sat down, began eating his break fast.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK. Someone knocked again. Maybe it was the delivery boy, sent back by his employer to return the huge tip he received. Kann rolled his eyes, not even bother to come and open the door, shouted out loud: " KEEP THE CHANGE!"

" It's Po." Came the voice behind the door. Marron almost spat all of the noodles in his mouth outside. Kann almost fell over. Regaining his composure, the wolf quickly opened the door. " Come in." Kann said.

Well, the reunion was rather, awkward, Po wasn't really keeping it cool at the time. He asked a bunch of questions, and Kann was on the passive side of the conversation the whole time. Marron just sat there, chowing down his break fast, occationally gave a few comments, but stayed silent most of the time.

" Oh yeah, so where's Mitch? I don't see him with you?" Po asked.

" Oh yeah, I was wondering that too! Marron where's Mitch?" Kann turned to ask his mentor.

" He told me that he left early to take care of some business. Haven't seen him since." Marron replied, wiping his mouth with a piece and handkerchief .

" Hm, well he'll be back soon right?" Kann responded.

" I don't know. That was all he told me." Marron said.

" Well, isn't it late?" Kann referring to the falling sun, " Time for you to return my friend!"

" Oh, yeah yeah. Hey should I tell the others?" Po asked, standing up from his seat.

" If you want, yeah. But don't let anyone know. I'm not gonna end up being chase around again after ten years under the ice!" Kann replied.

" Alright! No one except for the group! And should we meet again? I mean the whole group?" Po asked.

" Not now I suppose, but when we departed from this city, maybe we'll meet, without any eyes on our necks."

" Ok. Nice to finally see you again Kann." Po said, stepping out of the room with his hand on the doorknob.

" My pleasure as well." Kann replied, then Po closed the door, and turned to return to his stay.

" The panda hasn't change much, I see." Marron commented, opening the windows, signaling all the frostguards to give up their protective positions.

" Yeah. Hasn't change one bit." Kann replied.

Author's note: And here you go! Chapter 7! This was pretty tame I suppose, yet took a long time to finish. Guess that I'm only good with fights and stuffs. So sorry for the wait, I almost forgot to put Mitch in here, that's why he's on some business alone, so sorry! Almost 3k words, not bad right? Hehe, I'll try to work harder on the next chapter. And if there's anything wrong with Po, Ti or any of the character's personalities, please tell me. Frozentongue out.