A/N: This chapter's just a fill-in, it's not long, I meant to make it longer, but the way a sentence ends at the end, made me figure out this was the proper way to end the chapter. It's also a prelude to the final battle. Or is it? I don't own KFP.

Chapter 21 – Negotiating with the stubborn tiger

As the three adult felines along with Po, Jia and Lei sleep in their tent, they're asleep finally after staying awake for so long, but Tigress wakes up at the slightest sound, a gust of wind, a branch hitting a tree, she just can't get any sleep, her family, her friends and a brutal teenage tiger girl that kicked her butt is sleeping with her in the tent. She sat up a little not to wake anyone, she saw her sleeping son, still shirtless and having his arms around the sleeping Jia, she slightly flinched at the sight, but it's for Jia's health, they must look out for those in need, even a tough girl like Jia. Tigress let out a slow sigh, she put her hands in her paws as she rubbed her temples.

Then...she saw a shadowy figure, her eyes widened at the sight, when it got closer, she slightly gasped, it's a shadowy figure of a hyena in a cloak...Nightfall! Tigress shot up and bolted out of the tent, only to see that there was no Kaftar, but the foolish thoughts of her imagination, she closed her eyes and slowly breathed out as her feet got wet from the dew on the grass.

Keep it together, Tigress, she thought, The Kaftar is long gone. There's no possible way he survived.

She then figured because of the mission and her son showing up, all of this pressure must be causing her to have hallucinations that're unpleasant. She looked to her left to see some blue light, the sun must be rising soon. Dang it, she didn't get any sleep. She yawned, and as much she hated to do it, she had to wake them up. She lightly shook Tai Lung and Vanessa first, they snapped their eyes open.

"It's first light, we gotta move," Tigress whispered.

"Oh...right..." Tai Lung said with a yawn.

Vanessa yawned while Tigress went over to Po and whispered into his ear, "I'm making your favorite ice cream, Master Po."

Po shot up, "Cool! I want first bite!" Then Po looked around, he saw he was in the tent again, he looked at Tigress and shook his head saying, "Why must you do that?"

"It's the only way to wake you up, now, it's first light, we must move," said Tigress.

Po slightly groaned before Tigress saw Jia was awake; Jia looked at Tigress and looked away, Tigress narrowed her eyes to see Jia's clothes are drier, mostly her upper part, but her pants are a little damp.

"Might wanna take a blanket and wrap it around you," said Tigress.

Jia just scoffed before taking a blanket and then heading out of the tent, when she got out, she ripped the blanket in two, making Tigress snarl in annoyance. Then she looked down at Lei, he looked so precious to her when he's sleeping, he will always be her little boy. She shook him awake, and when he awoke, Tigress told him it's time to move, Lei put on his green shirt and opened his droopy eyes wide open before heading out of the tent, he accidentally ran into Jia who held in a snarl when she saw it was him. Po came out of the tent followed by Tigress and the other two felines. Tigress slightly groaned as she rubbed her left eye.

"You all right, Mom?" Lei asked.

"I...I just had a rough night..." Tigress said in a tired tone as Lei saw her reddened eyes.

Lei nodded, "I see." He paused, "So...where to?" Po walked up to Lei while Tai Lung took down the tent in a hurry, Po gave Lei a bag with his Red Orb in it, then he whispered into his son's ear, "Take full responsibility of this Orb." Lei nodded and then Tigress stepped up.

"We'll head north, there we can find a town with some food and supplies," Tigress said, then she slightly cringed, "If it's...there..." She looked at Jia, "Since you and Lei have joined us on the mission, you're gonna have to follow Po and I's lead."

"What?" Jia said, "I don't trust y'all!"

"Jia, you must follow us," Po said.

"Why not?! What's wrong with me?!" Jia demanded.

"Nothing is, Jia!" Lei said.

"And you're relying on them?!"

"They're my parents!"

"I know that, but Miss Tiger just doesn't want me, I'm fine if I have to go home," Jia said, crossing her arms.

"No! Not again!" Lei begged, he looked at his mother, "She's always like this, but she only trusts me."

"And why is that?" Tigress asked.

"Because I own an Orb!"

Tigress looked at Jia, she pointed at Po, Jia looked at Po and the panda showed Jia he himself had the Green Orb, Jia's eyes widened at the sight.

"The second Orb..." Jia whispered.

"You know of the prophecy?" Po asked.

"Yeah, I always thought it was a myth," Jia replied as she looked at the Orb.

Po put the Orb away, "If you trust Lei, and he owns an Orb, why not trust me as well? I own an Orb."

Jia sighed, she looked up into the sky, "It's a wicked world, there's hardly anyone good out there."

"There are good people, Jia," said Vanessa, "Sure a lot of things happen that're cruel in this world, but we're people who you can trust. We're Po's friends, and Tigress is Po's wife. Shouldn't you just at least try to trust us?"

Jia looked at then again, "Miss Tiger still...you know." Tigress shook her head and said, "I just...don't know you well. It's not like I hate you, but I don't, I just don't know if you're an ally or a fiend."

"She's an ally, Mom," said Lei, "She's helped me on my journey, and without her, I wouldn't be here talking to you, she came back to warn us about the danger."

"Wait a minute..." Tigress whispered, "If she helped you...and you escaped earlier...she helped you escape!"

"Yes, but don't start up again!" Lei begged, "She may be stubborn, but just trust me, Mom! She can help us!"

Lei looked at Jia, and she saw his eyes are pleading with her, she only trusts him and is learning to trust Po, she wants to be the leader, but Tigress is stubborn as well.

Jia sighed, "Fine. But if Miss Tiger bosses me around too much, I'm gonna be the leader."

"Jia, Po and I are the leaders!" Tigress said.

"Look! I'm a powerful warrior and I kicked your tail!" Jia said.

They began arguing while the others groaned and face palmed.

"Where did you find this girl?" Tai Lung asked Lei.

"She's from the Forest of Shu..." Lei replied blankly.

Vanessa stepped up, "Stop it! STOP!" The older tiger and teenage tiger stopped arguing and looked at Vanessa who said, "You two shouldn't be arguing at a time when the universe and the Universal Timeline is on the line!" The mission came back to Tigress, while Jia gasped.

"The Universal Timeline?!" Jia exclaimed, Lei was surprised as well, he couldn't believe it!

"Mom...why didn't I know of this?!" Lei asked, shocked.

"I meant to tell you earlier, but I forgot to," Tigress said, she left the part out about Jia coming, making her forget.

"Lei!" Jia said with wide eyes, "This is a much bigger deal than I thought it was! I..."

She trailed off, she's so shocked, and couldn't believe it, Tigress crossed her arms and said, "Maybe I'd better lead so we can be safer?" Jia thought for a moment, she knew either way on the mission or at home her life's in danger, but she is a tough tiger and with them by her side, she can really kick butt. She looked at Tigress.

"I'm in," she said, shocking Lei, but making him full of relief.

Tigress nodded, she looked at the others and said, "Let's go." As they went, Lei looked at Jia in shock, the female tiger did have second thoughts about this, she wanted to go home, but she just feels a...calling to help save the universe. Why? She doesn't know herself, but she knows it's gonna be one heck of an adventure.

A/N: Kinda short isn't it? What did you think? And what's with the calling Jia feels? But I hope you enjoyed, this is a prelude to the final battle. :) Or is it? :D Well, I hope you enjoyed, and the next chapter will be longer. :) REVIEW! :D Oh, and how good is the story? Please tell.