Creatures of darkness Chapter 10
The pair burst into the training hall with a bang.
They immediately noticed that everyone was crowded around Crane who was shaking uncontrollably.
Po was in his tiger form with his arm around the bird's shoulder.
"Breath Crane. Just breath." He said.
"What happened?" asked Shifu, very startled.
"Dream training. Everyone goes into shock the first time." Said Po.
"First for what?" asked Tigress.
"Getting stabbed." Replied Po. "Crane? Buddy? Can you stand?"
Crane nodded and jerkily got to his feet.
"I think that's enough for today." Said Po, leading his student to the kitchen.
"Continue your training." Said Shifu, following the assassins.
Shifu came into the kitchen and sat next to Crane who was eating some of Po's famous soup.
"Are you alright, Crane?" asked the master.
"I…I think I'm okay." Said Crane.
"No you're not." Said Po (tiger), walking in and sitting across from them. "But you will be."
"Are you sure this is necessary?" asked Shifu.
"It is necessary. I remember my first time in dream training." Said Po smiling. "I woke up and kicked my father so hard that I sent him through three buildings."
"That's impressive." Said Shifu.
"Not as impressive as the punishment he put me through for it." Said Po. "Fixing all the walls with nothing but my tail. Do you know how hard it is to hammer a nail with your tail? Crazy hard."
Crane looked worried.
"Don't worry I'm not going to do that to you." Said Po.
Po left leaving Shifu with the bird.
He walked to the training hall and called Viper over.
"What is it Po?" she asked.
"Would you go and comfort Crane? Also make sure he doesn't do anything stupid?" said Po.
"Of course, but why me?" asked the snake.
"I have my reasons." Said Po.
She slithered out quickly.
Po also left.
Tigress sneaked after him, curious as to his destination.
She followed him closely, but not close enough to be detected.
She realized he was heading for the sacred peach tree.
Just when they got within sight of the tree he changed course.
Tigress immediately knew he was going to the pool of sacred tears.
She wondered why.
As he went into a patch of bamboo Tigress lost sight of him.
She continued on thinking that she had been too slow.
The tiger suddenly encountered a knife.
Po stepped out from the bushes and sheathed the knife.
"You really think you could stalk a master assassin?" he asked.
Tigress didn't answer.
"Why were you following me?" he asked.
Tigress still didn't answer.
Po took a few moments then decided she might take a while.
"Walk with me."
They went to the pool where Po sat to meditate.
"Why did you follow me?" he asked again.
Thankfully she did answer this time.
"I wanted to ask you something." Said Tigress.
"Ask away then." Said Po.
"Why didn't you kill me?" she asked.
"Why didn't I kill you? When?" he asked, avoiding the question.
"Eleven years ago." She said.
"Oh then. Well you scratched me." He said.
"Po, you hesitated and you know it. Why?" she asked.
Po stood and walked up to her.
"I didn't because, I couldn't. I looked at you and….."
"And what?"
"And I saw your eyes."
That was good enough for Tigress.
"I…" Po never finished the sentence.
Tigress suddenly grabbed him and pulled him into a rough kiss.
He pushed her away and ran from the scene.
"Po wait!" said Tigress.
Po didn't look back as he launched himself off the edge of the mountain.
Tigress fell to her knees and began to cry.
She sat in a corner and hugged her knees to her chest, her eyes becoming red and puffy.
"Tigress, are you here?" It was Shifu.
Tigress didn't respond, hoping he would leave.
Shifu saw his daughter in the corner and rushed to her side.
"Tigress what happened?" Shifu asked, putting his arms on her shoulder.
Tigress shook her head, still sobbing uncontrollably.
"I saw Po fly from here. Does this have to do with him?" asked the red panda.
Tigress nodded, keeping her eyes closed.
She turned and spoke.
"We…..we were talking…*sniff*…and…*sniff*…..I kissed him and…..*sniff* *sniff*…he…and he." Tigress sobbed herder than ever for it hurt her so.
She could not continue telling him what happened, but he surmised the rest.
"Oh my daughter, I'm so sorry."
Tigress grabbed him in a hug.
"Oh father…father."
Shifu stroked the fur on the back of the tiger's head.
"Shh, it's going to be ok. I'm here. Why don't you come to the palace. We can have a cup of tea." Said the master.
She opened her eyes and nodded, standing up shakily.
They walked back to the kitchen and Shifu sat Tigress down before starting to make some oolong tea, Tigress's favorite.
After it cooled Tigress sipped it lightly.
"Why father?" she asked, her eyes still puffy and red. "Why does he not like me?"
"Tigress I'm sure he likes you. He's just scared. He'll come 'round. I promise." Said Shifu.
"*sniff* re-really?" asked Tigress, lifting her head up.
"Really really." Said Shifu. "Give him some time."
"But what if he really doesn't like me?" asked Tigress.
"Why didn't he kill you that night? He should've." Said Shifu. "I'll be back. I want a word with him."
Shifu left for Po's room.
He saw Po shuffling around in his Tiger form.
Shifu entered and closed the door behind him.
"Po, please sit down."
Po looked at him and knew better than to disobey.
"Explain yourself." Said Shifu.
"Explain what?" asked Po.
"Why did you hurt my daughter? Do you not love her?" asked Shifu angrily.
Po sighed.
"I do love her, but we cannot be together." Said Po.
"Why not?" shouted Shifu.
"Do not ask me to explain!" yelled Po.
The five had come out of their rooms to listen.
Tigress came as well.
"Oh you will explain." Said Shifu. "Or so help me I will beat it out of you."
"Don't make me kill you." Said Po.
"You wouldn't." said Shifu.
There was a moment of silence.
Tigress held her breath.
"You're right I wouldn't." said Po. "Fine, if you really want to know."
"Many years ago the assassin families were at war with each other. Many attacks took place and many people died." Said Po. "I was once part of a raid on the tiger assassin clan about twenty years ago. It was my first mission."
"We attacked silently and killed everyone in the village except for a pair of tigers who ran when they saw us." Said Po, who sounded as if he was crying. "We chased them far and eventually one of use managed to land an arrow on the male's back, killing him instantly."
"The woman kept running. I realized she was holding something, it was a child." Said Po. "She ran until she couldn't run anymore. She fell and my partner ran his sword through her chest. When she fell she grabbed my pant leg and wouldn't let go. I noticed she was holding up the child. She kept mouthing the word please. I took her in my arms as the woman bled to death and I shielded the child's eyes."
"Just as I was about to stab the child as well I stopped. I couldn't. I wouldn't." said Po. "So I ran. I hid the child in the folds of black fabric in my shirt and ran to a place called Bao Gu. I gave the child to the goat and she asked me for a name for the child." Said Po. "I didn't know the name of the child, so I named her myself. I named her Tigress."
Tigress gasped outside, but Po didn't hear her.
The five crowded around her supportively.
Po kept talking.
"Don't you see? I watched as her father and mother died and did nothing. NOTHING!"
Po put his head in his hands as he became a dragon.
"You see. Look at what I have done." Said Po, his voice cracking. "I'm a monster."
At this point Tigress pushed her way through the double doors.
She saw that Po looked horrible.
He immediately looked away from her, looking ashamed.
"Po, look at me." He did not turn his head.
Tigress placed her paw gently on his jaw and pulled his head to face her.
She then brought her lips to his.
She separated to look him in the eyes.
"But…why?" asked Po.
"Po, you are not the man who killed my parents. I know it was war. I know you did what you had to. I know you have changed. I don't love the man who killed my parents. I love you Po." Said Tigress, kissing him once again.
"Master Shifu." Said Tigress turning to him. "I'd like to take the rest of the evening to instruct Po personally."
"Granted." Said Shifu walking out and closing the door behind him.
"But I…" said Po.
"Po, if you feel so bad about what you did, then make me happy now. I don't care what you have done. I can't live without you."
Tigress pushed the dragon against the wall of the room and latched her mouth onto his.
Her tongue ran over his teeth, begging for entry.
It was soon granted as Po let go of all thought and focused on his lover.
Tigress's tongue battled with Po's as the kiss became more heated.
All guilt was cleansed from his mind as Po took hold of the tiger and pulled her close to him.
Tigress broke from the kiss and turned around, digging herself closer to Po's chest.
She pulled his arms around her and held them there.
"Stay with me tonight." Said Tigress.
Po said nothing, but held her tightly.
Tigress purred, nuzzling Po's chin with her head, memorizing the feel of his scales on her fur.
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