Sorry for the short updates and the long long wait. Was in Breckenridge, Colorado for the 4th, but was there for about a week or so. Been a very busy time. Hopefully I can keep doing these little updates as we catch Tigress back up to the rest of the group. Thank you all for the patience.
Mr. Ping dropped a small bag on the counter in front of Tigress, spilling its contents out across the counter. Tigress stared in wonder, as it was none other than small round gold coins, shining in the light of the setting sun.
"Not only can I handle wolves, I can make them pay DOUBLE!" Mr. Ping smiled as he waddled past Tigress, who was still in shock. "That large one there, very much a gentlemen. Apologized for scaring off the customers, paid extra to cover losses." Hu flapped onto the counter and began stirring some extra herbs and spices into the mix. Looking over his shoulder, he eyed Tigress quizzically. "What are you doing, young one?"
"This symbol, on the coin. It's strange. Like I've seen it before. And it's on his armor too."
"Bah, just some clan thing. It's not uncommon for them to mark their gold like that. Very selfish people they are." Tigress suddenly found a plate of warm bean buns in her paws, replacing the coin. "Now, why don't you go and bring their table some bean buns." Tigress nodded and walked out of the kitchen, still trying to process how her father could move fast enough to switch the coin with a hefty plate of buns.
She didn't expect to ever really figure it out.
Her walk slowed as she approached the table. The big ones back was to her, and she almost froze when one of the smaller wolves peered over the big ones shoulder. "Finally! I haven't eaten all day!"
Tigress came to a stop to the big wolfs left as she placed the plate on the table, half its contents emptied immediately by the apparently starved wolves. She was about to turn and walk to the kitchen when a gruff voice suddenly commanded "Wait."
She froze mid-step as the large wolf turned to her, looking at her with his good eye. "Who are you?"
"I am Tigress, sir."
"Tigress. I know that name." The wolf looked her over again. "But if you are here, then the seer was wrong."
"The seer can't be wrong! She's never wrong!"
"Well, I mean, we hope she is, on certain things."
"We are?"
"Quiet you idiots! If this is the Tigress I have heard of, and she is here, the seer is incorrect! Either that, or the fates have changed!" The big wolf turned to the small tiger, who was visibly shaking. "I am sorry child. I did not mean to frighten you. You may go now." As she walked away, she heard the big wolf turn to his compatriots. "I should have known finding the panda here would be too easy. I doubt he's anywhere near this blasted valley."
As she entered the kitchen, Mr. Ping looked over his shoulder at her. "Well? Did they like the buns?"
"Yes father."
"Good good, they were set to go bad soon, glad we could sell them." He looked at her daughter quizzically. "Are you feeling alright?"
"No, I seem to have come down with something. I am going to go to bed early tonight."
"Yes that would be best, you look horrid."
Tigress rolled her eyes, but a smile still forced its way out. "Thanks dad."
"And don't worry about those wolves. I put special herbs in the soup, slightly calming, will leave them very docile." But as Mr. Ping turned, he hit a small glass container with his wing, knocking it into the pot. "Or, it may put them into a three day sleep."
Tigress shook her head and walked up stairs, collapsing into bed.
She dreamt of things she did not understand. She saw warriors, bright lights, heard screams and yells, but the colors were blurred, the images hidden. She yelled out for help several times, she tossed and turned, but she felt confined, trapped.
Suddenly, she began to fall, deep in a blindingly bright chasm that seemed to have no end. She screamed out again, crying for help. And as she fell, a soft melody of a bamboo flute saved her, and brought her back to a restful state of being, where darkness finally closed in on her exhausted and traumatized mind.