Pengyou's Visit

"Now Tigress," I said, trying to calm her down, "I can explain. I just... I wanted to tell you AND bring you, but... I wanted to make sure you could-"

"I'm not upset," She finally replied. To be honest, I was kind of disappointed. I had a whole list of excuses to use.

"Oh, then... why do you look upset?" I asked.

"I... I understand why you couldn't tell me. I read your concern for my strength," Tigress explained with a sad tone. I suddenly remembered what I wrote.

"Tigress, I meant back then," I clarified, walking closer to her. "Look at you now! You're much stronger than any tiger I've seen there. You can lift me up with one hand and juggle me like a ball." She actually did one time to keep me out of harm's way. "I'm sorry I was so blunt in my journal."

"It's not your fault. I invaded your privacy. By comparison, I was weak," Tigress sighed, looking at the floor with a tiny smile. I rested my hands on her shoulders, calling her attention me.

"But you're not anymore," I reiterated, "I'm sorry that I didn't tell you though." She smirked a bit.

"It's okay. From what I read, the female tigers seemed to like you," She smirked as she started walking out of the door. I rubbed the back of my neck skittishly as I followed.

"Yeah, well, that was a journey. They've never seen a big panda like me before," I shyly smiled.

"I can imagine," She said cooly. "I remember the first time I saw a panda." My ears perked up. I along with everyone else in the village thought I was the only panda alive.

"When was that?"

"When you landed in front of me," She smirked. I shrunk a bit. It seemed like Tigress could always make me stumble so easily and I don't know why. "I just can't believe you thought I was a clown."

"You always love teasing me about that," I grumbled at her smug smile. "I was young. What did you think of pandas before you first met me?" She smiled a bit wider.

"I thought you were some kind of walking beach ball," she said honestly.

"A beach ball, really?!" I exclaimed. Tigress continued to smile at my expression. "But Tigress," I said in all seriousness as we entered the courtyard. "I am sorry we didn't bring you with us."

"I understand, Po. It was for my training," She said with a genuine smile. It's only a few times I see that smile, but it has become a great treasure for me somehow. Suddenly, Zeng, the messenger for the Jade Palace, flew in bowing before me.

"What is it, Zeng?"

"Dragon Warrior, a friend of yours is here to visit you," Zeng said, rubbing his neck. "And she's a major hugger." My eyes widened.

"Uh no," I muttered as the doors to the courtyard burst open to the sight of a stout stoked tiger. She ran up to me and nearly tackled me to the ground.

"PO! It's so good to see you," Pengyou excitedly cried out.

"Air! AIR!" I wheezed as she released me from her death grip hug. "Pengyou," I forced a smile, "What are you doing here? So early?! You're not supposed to be here for another 48 hours!" I said through my teeth and smile, trying to contain my nervousness and frustration. That's when Master Shifu came up.

"That's what I was trying to tell you before you left," Shifu said, quite humorously, "Zeng said there was a two-day delay in the message." I glared at Shifu who emitted a short chuckle at my situation. Oh, I wish Pengyou had brought some of the tiger kids to chase him around as revenge. Today, just seemed to be a bad day for me. Then Pengyou hugged me, more gently this time. But then... she sniffed me.

"OH!" She said, jumping away from me. Did I not smell good? "I'm sorry, I didn't know you... um... anyway, it's so good to see you."

"Good to see you too," I carefully said. The change in attitude was... a bit concerning. "Pengyou, let me introduce you to Master Tigress." Pengyou's eyes widened as she looked up at the taller female Tiger. Tigress's face seemed just as shocked as mine. Pengyou bowed. She sniffed again and then smirked at me.

"Oh, so this is the tiger you were talking about?" She teased.

"Uh... I didn't say anything bad about her," I said to everyone listening.

"Of course not, he just wouldn't stop talking about you," Pengyou teased, "Tigress this, Tigress that, Tigress, oh how I-"

"Okay, that's enough!" I shouted, clamping Pengyou's muzzle shut. She giggled at my embarrassed face.

"I'm sorry, I normally don't act this way," She grinned after I released her mouth. "It's just fun to tease Po a bit."

"I can relate," Tigress said with a hint of mischief. Great, there were two of them. "How well do you know Po?"

"Well, obviously not as well as you do," Pengyou said as a matter-of-fact. Tigress's eyebrow rose. "I mean, he's mentioned being around you for years now. I would think-" Then Pengyou just realized something. "Wait, you've never been around another Tiger, right?" Tigress nodded. "Oh... that would explain why Po smells like that."

"What! I smell?!" I shouted, sniffing myself.

"No, no, no, not in that way. You remember that... thing... that tigers do to show... umm-"

"Yes, I remember," I muttered, catching on to what she was saying. She was talking about the chuffing and the rubbing, "What about it?"

"Well, when they do... that... they give off a kind of scent that says to other tigers, 'that's mine'," She said with a smirk. Then it dawned on me.

"Pengyou, you need to leave," I said emotionlessly. She just giggled as Tigress stood there quite confused.

"Pengyou, why don't I show you where you'll be sleeping for the night," Shifu offered. The two went away, leaving Tigress with me. I gulped, waiting for some kind of glare or disapproving growl.

"She seems... nice," Tigress said, looking at where the tiger went to.

"Yeah, she's a bit... much... but she's very kind and loving."

"I can imagine," She said very emotionlessly. It was silent for a moment. "Do you... know her well?"

"I mean, I only stayed in the village for a week or two so no. Why?"

"No reason," Tigress answered. "How is she... as a person?"

"Good, why are you asking me these questions?" I asked curiously.

"Nothing, nothing," Tigress dismissively said as she walked back to the Jade Palace. That was... strange.

Throughout the day Pengyou was here, Tigress seemed to call my attention more often. Was she doing this kick right? What was the right angle for this attack? Did her form look good? Finally, I had to call her out on it. "Okay, Tigress, what's going on?" I asked firmly.

"What do you mean?" She asked innocently.

"Ever since Pengyou came, you've been acting strange," I said, trying to put two and two together in my head. There had to be a reason why she was doing this.

"I don't know what you mean." She promptly replied.

"Does Pengyou bother you?"

"No," She muttered. "It's... I just needed some help that's all." I knew she was lying, but I didn't have the energy to figure out why. I simply threw my hands up in defense as I backed away.

"Well, I was just wondering if you were okay," I muttered, "Sorry to be a bother." With that, I walked away. "What is with her?" I grumbled to myself as I walked the barrack hallways, "She's just been dodgy AND needy all day." Something was off, but I couldn't figure out what.

"You really don't know, do you?" Said a voice behind me. I spun around and saw Pengyou with her arms crossed and a knowing grin on her face.

"Know what?"

"You and Tigress are close friends, right?" I nodded. "For how long?"

"About five years, why?"

"You don't think that she might be acting this way for a... certain reason?" Pengyou hinted. I had no idea what she was talking about. Pengyou sighed in disbelief but then she smirked. "Well, maybe you'll understand when Wang comes." My eyes widened. That's right, another striped cat was going to be here. Pengyou knew that irritated me more than the trouble I was going through with Tigress. But why on earth would I understand better when Wang came?

Continued...