Chapter 14
Valley Of Peace…market street…
"I still don't know if this is such a good idea," Mea said as she and Shifu made their way down the street of the village.
"Don't worry Mea," Shifu said, "truth be told, the Valley of Peace has been attacked by bandits several times, and even though we are well protected, many people has have their personal belonging damaged from time to time, and they will flock to you once they learn what a great stylist you are."
Mea found herself blushing. "I know several people back home who would disagree with you Master Shifu."
"We shall see," the red panda said though paused in his stride as he pointed down the street with this staff and added with a cheerful voice, "ah there it is."
As they rounded the next corner the two of them came upon a two story stone building with a spaces patio. The window frames had been broken in and there were burn marks along the side. Leaning the right, Mea noticed a wide stream that ran along the back of the house.
"I know it's not much to look at," Shifu said twirling his cane about his fingers, "but I'm sure with enough work you'll be able to make use of it."
"Thank you Master Shifu," she said with a smile, "and I don't mind a little hard work. To be honest, after living the easy life up in your palace yesterday I've been looking forward to getting my hands dirty again."
"Well I'm pleased to hear you're open to the idea," Shifu said, "so then shall we go and look at the inside."
"Lead on Shifu," Mea said with a slight bow.
"This is not good," a shadowy figure said as he watched the grand master and female snow leopard enter the abandon building. He had been working on this scheme for the past three months and because of this outsider, his planning was in jeopardy. He had to get rid of this woman before Temutai arrived. Of course he would need to wait till after Shifu left. Scaring off the weak feline would be easy but he had no chance of dealing with a kung fu master.
The inside of the house was surprisingly in better shape than the outside. The first floor was divided into three room, the largest of which would make for a wonderful displace area, one room lead to the patio which she planned to set up several mannequins so off her newest design. To her amazement the back room led to the rear which a small port stood near the stream. She could really use this with her trading with Rat Reed. Upstairs she found another two rooms, plus a kitchen and a place they could use to set up a table and enjoy their meals. It was almost too perfect, and wondered why anyone hasn't sought to buy this building for themselves. The only strange thing she noticed were that several floor boards near the far side of the house did not seem to match but after laying down a few rugs and mats, it should even itself out.
Shifu had left about a hour ago stating that he and Tai Lung would return with a chest of their belongs as well as go pick up Lilly from Mr. Ping's noodle shop, allowing her the chance to tidy up a little before they heard the news for themselves. She still couldn't believe it. At long last she was going to have a shop of her own and do something she always dreamed of doing since she was young. "I wonder if that duck—"
Mea's statement was cut as the main door opened and calmly turned to face it with a smile saying, "That was fast Master Shifu. I thought it would take you a bit longer to climb up and down those—"
"Afraid to disappoint you Miss. But I'm not that shrimpy red panda."
Mea dropped the broom she was using as her eyes fell upon a trim dark brown buffalo. He wore a light blue short sleeve tunic and matching slacks. He wielded a pair daggers attached to his belt, and judging by his stance held a hidden one somewhere along his right leg. Strapped to his back, Mea could make out a foreboding battle ax.
"Well, talk about getting business quick around here," Mea said inching her way toward a stone counter. "Sorry, but as you can clearly see I don't anything to offer you in terms of new clothes…" she paused as she eyed his clothes closer, looking for any sign as to which tribe he belonged to, "…unless you wish for me to mend some clothes. I just did a wonderful job for the grandmaster, and I'm sure I could do wonders for you as well."
"Afraid not lady," the buffalo said in a harsh tone, "now you're going to leave here and never show yourself again—"
"Funny," Mea snapped cutting the creep off, "I was about to say the same thing to you."
"Enough of this," the buffalo shouted, marching toward her, grinding his hand into fist, "now are you going to leave or I'm going to have to ruin that pretty little face of yours?"
"Oh dear," Mea cried gripping the side of counter, panic riddled over her features, "whatever shall I do? If only my husband was here."
"Well he's not," the buffalo said in a mocking tone.
"Yes," Mea replied, her grim expression shifting to a sly smile, "because he's going to miss quite the show."
"What show?"
"Me teaching you that I'm not just a pretty face." With that Mea lean back against the counter, bringing her foot up in a high kick across the brute's chin causing him to stumble back a bit. Before he could recover, Mea leapt forward to deliver a swift spin kick across the buffalo's face once again forcing him back and then ducked down and swept the legs out from under him.
It took the buffalo a moment to regain his foot and brushed a hand against his jaw. "You're a lot tougher than I thought."
"Yeah," Mea said shifting her arms into a fighting stance, "you should have seen the look on Tai Lung's face when I first brought him down. Now then how about we try this again? I think we were discussing the idea where you calmly walk out of this building, and leave me alone to set up my shop in peace."
"Not a chance lady," the buffalo said in harsh tone, "I've worked too long for my plans to be ruined by some female and your stupid shop."
Mea growled, showing her teeth with eyes narrowing and claws fully extended. "Now you've done it, I was completely willing to let you walk away with your teeth intact, but now all bets are off."
This time, the buffalo was clearly not taking any chances with Mea as he pulled out his ax, yet just as he was about to strike, Mea spun around, slicing the handle with the claws of her right hand and with the force of her movement drove her fist clear through the steel blade and squarely into the buffalo's face forcing him back to the ground.
"Alright buddy," Mea said in a pleasing tone, "this has been fun and all, but I would leave now before Tai Lung show up, because believe me as hard as I've been tossing you around, you wouldn't be able to walk after he gets his hands on you."
The buffalo smirked as he eyed the snow leopard, "I must agree with you there, so I guess I'll have to end this quick." With that, the brute pulled a small sphere from what was left of his handle and tossed them at her feet. The impact caused a cloud of smoke to rise up blocking Mea's vision. She coughed on the chocking vapors, waving a hand to clear her eyes, though then gasped as she felt something running against her waist. The pain grew worse a moment later and quick swung her arm about, but the buffalo was already gone. She groaned and moaned in pain, clutching her side. She sought to leave the building, to get out of this smoke and into the clear air, she sought the strong arms of her loving husband, to gaze into the joyful eyes of her daughter, but the last thing she saw before everything went dark was the wooden floor as she fell about the ground.
Tai Lung held a large chest up to his shoulder as he led Lilly down the market street. The villagers still gave him a wide birth, but at least they no longer star at him with hate in their eyes. Lilly seemed to be in a huff however as she fell in step behind her father. "Why do we have to leave the palace Dad? That place is awesome."
"We're not leaving the Jade Palace Lilly, I'll have to stay up there as part of my duty as protector of the village, and you and your mother will be able to visit every so often, it's just that Mom has found a place to live here and offer a serves to the rest of the people. You remember how she would spend hours mending clothes and drawing styles of dresses. Well now she could put those skills to good use. Don't you want Mom to be happy?"
"Well of course I do," Lilly said, though stopped as she began stomping her feet and brought her hands under her chin, crying, "but I really love that house, and it's really fun to chase Zang, he's so funny."
"Lilly?" Tai Lung said, narrowing his eyes and glaring down at her. "What have we discussed young girl?"
"Sorry Daddy," she said turning her gaze away from Tai Lung.
"Better," he said though reframed from frowning, "beside with you helping Mr. Ping in his noodle shop, living down here in the valley will be easier for you to get there without running up and down the steps."
"I guess your right Daddy," Lilly said her mood becoming more cheerful.
"And I'm sure you'll love the house Mea and Shifu picked out," Tai Lung said, "from what Shifu said, it looks completely…" Tai Lung's statement trailed off as they came around the next corner, his eyes narrowed as he saw a buffalo running out the front door and a plump of smoke trailing behind him.
"Daddy?" Lilly asked looking up at him.
"Stay here Lilly," Tai Lung command, dropped the chest and dashed toward the door. He reached the house in a matter of seconds and waved his hand about to clear the smoke from his face. As he did, his expression became one of terror as he saw Mea slumped about the ground. She held a small hollow wooden rod in one hand and her other placed over her waist, slightly covering a patch of blood, her eyes were closed and breathing shallow and as Tai Lung gently brought her up in his arms, tears began to form as he noticed the rhythmic beating of her heart begin to slow.
"Dad?" Lilly's fearful voice drifted from behind.
"Lilly go and get Shifu," he snapped, quickly rushing past her doing his best to hide the wound from his daughter, "tell him to meet me at the villager healer. Do it now!" Tai Lung ran on, not bothering to see if Lilly had left toward the palace. He clutched his wife close his chest, one hand pressed tightly against the gash in her waist. The steady flow of blood only fluid his dread and caused more tears to fall from his eyes. The day was coming to a close so thankfully there were less people in the street to block his way, but those that were there turned and gasped at the sight of Tai Lung running across the stone path holding a seemingly lifeless snow leopard. He ignored their gawking and questioning expression. All that mattered is what he held in his arms, and he feared time was running out. He had just reached the local clinic as a small sheep was closing the door. "Wait," Tai Lung gasped, towering over the doctor, "please you have to help me."
"Oh my," the sheep said his eyes wide with fear. "Please don't hurt me. I have nothing to offer you."
"No, you don't understand, my wife she's been attacked. You have to help her."
"I'm sorry," the sheep said slowly inching away from the door, "but it's late and all of my staff have left for the night. Why don't you go up to the Jade Palace, I'm sure one of their healers will—"
The sheep's fearful rambling was cut short as Tai Lung released a deep savage growl and without warning kicked his foot out, smashing the door to the clinic in. He then turned his fury upon the sheep, his face though stained with tears took on a look of pure rage. "DAMN YOU! You will help my wife or you will be the one who needs healing."
Author's Note: Now I know that doing a scene of Mea being painful wounded is somewhat pointless seeing how Mea is mention later on in the stories following this, but I thought it would be interesting to see if I could pull off a tragic scene for Tai Lung.