Chapter 44: felines and water
Tigress and I and left Bao Gu in search for this town called 'Giojin.' To be honest, I've never heard of this place. Over the months I've been here I've pretty much memorised most counties and towns around China, yet I've never heard of his place we were heading to. Tigress, however, seemed to have some knowledge of it, so I decide to ask her about it. At the moment she was studying a map she brought to select a route for us to take.
"So, Ti, this town we're heading to, where have you heard about it before?" I asked. She pulled her gaze away from the map and towards me.
"I saw it on a map some time ago. Strangely, I've never been there myself. According to most people, it's a ghost town." She replied.
"So what's the best route there?" I asked gazing at the map. Tigress turned her eyes to it as well.
"I am unsure. There certainly seems to be a couple. However, some are longer than others. I believe I need sometime to figure out where we're going." She replied using her finger to point out various routes from where we were right now.
"Well, why don't we rest for a moment. We have been walking all day and we still need to pick a route to follow."
"Well...I suppose. Come, we'll find a spot to rest in there." Tigress said pointing to a forest that was ahead of us. From the outside of the forest, I could could make out a dirt path that led into it as well as a variety of different trees living there.
"Alright, but if I see anything that looks like slenderman, I'm running for the hills." I said walking towards the forest alongside Tigress.
"Slender-who?" Tigress questioned confusingly.
"Ehhh...never mind, lets just find a place to rest." We both then followed to dirt path that led into the forest. And let me just say, this place was really beautiful. With the sun slipping through the cracks of the leaves on trees, their outline sun brightly, displaying its beauty. There was a lot of plant life growing beside the dirt path too. Now if I'm really honest, I'm not one for walking through the woods. For some reason after watching over six hundred horrors that centre around a forest for some reason makes me a 'little' skeptical to ever enter one. But at this moment, all I could think of was just how beautiful nature was. Ti and I continued down the dirt path until we came across a unique location. If I were to guess, I'd say we were in the centre of the woods. There was a small bed of grass that stood beside a large lake that received its water from a large waterfall that glistened in the sunlight. Standing at the verge of the lake, was an old oak tree with a large truck which provided a fraction of shade in the lake with its large branches. I'm mean Jesus, this looks like something Bob Ross would paint.
"Wow...it's quite beautiful." Tigress admitted.
"You can say that again. Man, this place is amazing." I said approaching the lake. I laid my backpack that I was carrying on the ground next to me as I dragged my right hand through the water. "I guess we could rest here for a while. It's a lovely spot and I fancy a bit of a swim."
"Alright. I'll work on where we're going from here." She said as she laid her back pack on the ground next to mine and took a sit next to the lake. She pulled the map from here pocket and laid it in front of her. I began heading over to the old oak tree that rested by the lake and I started to remove my vest. Once it was off, I pulled my undershirt off with one hand and rested them both on a branch on the oak tree. I leaned against the tree for support as I began removing my shoes and socks. Once they were off, I finally pulled off my pants and placed them beside my vest and undershirt. Thankfully it was warm out today to I wasn't cold in my underpants. As I turned towards the lake, I couldn't help noticed out of the corner of my eye that it almost look like Tigress was just...gazing at me strangely for a brief moment. Was she watching me...nah it was probably nothing. I began to enter the lake slowly, using my leg to determine just how deep it was, and to my surprise I found it to be quite deep. I dropped in quickly, expelling large ripples as I did so. I released a satisfied sigh as I basked in the cool water.
"Oh man, it's frickin nice in here." I spoke up as I began to swim around the lake.
"I could only imagine." Tigress said, not lifting her head from the map.
"Why don't you join me? A bit of a swim will do you good." She shook her head.
"No thank you. I'm still trying to figure out where we're going."
"Come on, you can do that later. Just come on in for a quick swim."
"No!" Tigress responded quickly, speaking with a rather loud tone. I frowned as I believe I may have offended her in same way
"Whoa...alright, I'm sorry, no need to get mad." I apologised. Tigress sighed.
"No, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have spoken to you like in such a manner. I just...I'd like to focus on the map for now."
"Alright, sure, whatever you want." I continued to swim around the lake as my gaze would occasionally fall onto Tigress. Jesus, why did she get a little mad for such a harmless suggestion. What, was she afraid of getting a little wet? I stopped swimming as a little idea began to construct itself in my mind. Once it was complete, a mischievous smile crept a cross my face. "Oh shit! Goddamn!" I exclaimed holding my hand and shutting my eyes when I did. I opened one as saw that I had immediately caught Tigress's attention.
"What's wrong?" Tigress asked concerned.
"I-I think I cut my hand on something. Oh god this hurts so much." I lied trying to suppress a smile.
"Come over to me. I'll see if I can patch it up for you." Tigress said pulling out bandages from her back pack. I slowly paddled towards her holding my 'cut' hand under the water while I expelled painful hisses. Once I reached her, she held out a paw. I rested my left arm on the bank of the lake and began pulling my right hand up, making sure to shield my palm. I held it out in front of me and Tigress gently held it with her paws. Once she had a grasp on me, I opened my palm. Tigress stared at it confused. "You don't have a-"
"Gotcha!" I shouted taking her by surprise. I grabbed her arm and pulled it towards me, causing her to released a surprised yelp as she plummeted in the lake. I quickly swam away from her and began laughing, knowing full well that she was gonna kick my ass. Once I reached a safe distance, I turned myself around and waited for Tigress to ascend from the water while I continued to laugh. My laughter, however, began to diminish as Tigress was nowhere in sight. Oh crap she could be any where around me by now! I gazed over one shoulder and then another, feeling rather nervous at the fact that she could pop up anywhere. Suddenly, the water in front of me propelled into the air as Tigress shot up taking in a long breath. "Ha! Thought you could sneak up on...Ti?" I questioned. I had expected her to swim towards me in a blind fury, but instead it almost seemed like she was...struggling to keep her head above the water. My eyes widened and I gasped and only just realised she frickin drowning!
"Help!" She cried out.
"Hold on, Ti!" I began kicking my feet and swinging my arms, swimming quickly towards her. Once I reached her, I wrapped my arm around her a managed to get her on my back. She wrapped her arms around my neck and coughed violently, taking in as many breaths as she could. I swam over to the bank of the lake and allowed Tigress to climb onto it. I pulled myself out of the water as well. Tigress dropped onto her knees and continued to cough. I knelt down next to her and reached out. "Are you alright?" I asked placing my hand on her shoulder. She instantly threw it off a turned her head towards me with a furious expression.
"Why did you do that?!" She roared. I was a little taken back by her outburst but I still tried to give an answer.
"I-I'm sorry. I was just playing around, I didn't-"
"Playing around?! You could have killed me, you idiot!" She shouted. I frowned feeling a little hurt by her words but realised I deserved it.
"Ti...I'm really sorry.." I spoke sadly reaching out for her once again.
"Don't touch me." She spat turning her head ahead of her while wrapping her arms and tail around herself. I sighed as sat by the lake with my back to her. I felt hurt with the tone she used to speak to me with. Tigress has never raised her voice to me before. Even the first week when I was here, she never really yelled at me. I sat quietly, and turned to Tigress ever so often until finally I decided to speak up.
"Ti, I'm really sorry. I thought it would be funny and it wasn't. Can you forgive me?" I asked turning towards her. She sat silently for a short moment before she sighed and turned to me.
"I suppose. I'm sorry too for yelling at you. I guess I should have told you that I couldn't swim."
"If I had known, I wouldn't have done what I did. So...you can't swim?" She rubbed her arm and turned her whole body towards me.
"No. It's something I never really got around to learning. I...had a bad experience with water when I was a child."
"Really?" She nodded. I scooted closer towards her. "What happened?"
"When I was seven...I tried to run away from the Jade Palace."
"What? Why?"
"Because I was tried of everything. Tired of not being loved by a father who was never pleased with my efforts. So I tried to run away. I was hardly outside the Valley before I fell into a river stream. It was too strong for me to escape and I found myself being dragged down the stream, struggling to keep my head above the water. I feared that my life was about end as everything started to become dark."
"So how did you get out of there?"
"Master Oogway. He had followed me and saved my life. He sat me by the river bank and told me I shouldn't give up and run away, for a real warrior stays and fights the pain."
"That sounds like Master Oogway alright. And...you've never tried to learn how to swim since then?" She shook her head.
"I've...developed a fear of water since that day." She admitted. Jeez I can't believe I never knew that. Keeping something like bottle up for so long must have been a bitch. I know felines aren't naturally fond of water, but I figured someone like Tigress knew how to swim. Mmmmm...I think I have an idea.
"What...what if I taught you?" I proposed. She gazed at me confused.
"What?"
"I could teach you to swim. There's really nothing to it. What do say?" She began thinking for a moment turning to the water
"I..I don't know..." I stood up and crossed my arms.
"Come on. I'll be with you in there. You trust me don't you?" I smiled as I held out my hand. I looked at it for a moment before she laid her paw in my palm. I wrapped my fingers around her paw and stood her up.
"I do trust you." She replied while sighing." Okay, lets do this."
"Alright. And..." I opened my arms, requesting a hug. "No hard feelings for what I did?" Tigress smiled as she opened her arms. Before I could put my arms around her, Tigress used both of her paws to push my chest and caused me to fly backwards into the lake. I plummeted under the water and I quickly surfaced blinking rapidly to get the water out of my eyes.
"No hard feelings." Tigress said as she...no, she didn't did she? I couldn't believe what I just heard. Tigress just...laughed. I'm not kidding! She quickly covered her mouth as I chuckled.
"That's the first time I've her heard you laugh. It's quite adorable. You should do it more often."
"Oh shut up..."
"Come on, get ready for your swimming lesson."
"Alright, give me a few moments." So Tigress headed over to the oak tree and disappeared behind it. I just paddled around and waited patiently for her. After a short moment of swimming around I heard Tigress speak from behind the tree. "I'm...I'm ready."
"Ehh...are you gonna come out from behind the tree?"
"Well...I'm not wearing my vest or pants."
"But you are...covered up, aren't you?"
"Yes..."
"Then there's no reason to feel uncomfortable. Come on, don't be shy."
"Alright..."
"That's the spirit. There's no need...to...be..." I trailed off and found myself completely devoid speech. As Tigress stepped out from behind the oak tree wearing nothing but a pair of tan coloured panties and a sash around her chest. With no vest or pants, she was really...displaying quite a figure. She had such majestic curves and an hourglasses figure. And with the sash around her chest, you could...make out...errm...cleavage. Oh Jesus, please forgive for saying that! I-I couldn't help it, I-it's just so noticeable. I've never see her so exposed before. Her black strikes stopped just before her white fur, which came down from her neck, around her chest, around her abdomen and towards her...unmentionables. Oh for the love of god what's wrong with me! Why I'm a describing such things! Tigress stroked her arm nervously as she averted her gaze.
"Well...here I am." She said. I merely stared at her with widened eyes and my mouth open ajar. She Turned towards me and saw that I was staring at her. "Would you please stop staring at me." I shook my head and pulled myself out of my daze.
"I'm sorry...it's just...wow, Ti, you...you look good." I covered my mouth when I realised what I had just said and blushed. Tigress actually even blushed at my words too.
"I...um, thank you. Maybe we should get started."
"What? Oh yeah, sorry, sorry. Alright, just hop on in." Tigress stared at the water a took a small step back.
"This...this may sound...ridiculous, but...could you help me in?" She asked embarrassed. I gave a nod as I swam toward her and stood up at the shallow part of the water which was at the bank near where she stood.
"Just take my hands." I instructed as I held out my hands. She took a deep breath and did as I asked. As she placed her paws in my hands, I gently began to lead into the water. She released a shudder as she put both feet into the water. I've never seen her so afraid of something before. If anything, this made me want to help her even more. As I began to lead her further into the water, she looked like she was beginning to panic a little. And what completely freaked her out was when she almost tripped. She quickly acted by wrapping her arms around me and held on tightly. The part of the water we were in at this moment, only came up to to my chest, but because Tigress was smaller than me, the level of the water was at her neck. She released a few shaky breaths as she held onto me. To try and calm her down, I put my arms around her. "It's alright, Ti, don't be afraid, I got you." I whispered. She raised her head from my chest and stared into my eyes. I released a smile and placed my hand on the back of her head. She smiled as well and finally calmed down.
"I think I'm okay. Thank you..." She whispered back.
"No problem." Neither one of us spoke, as we just stood there in the lake with our arms around one another. With my hand placed on the back of her, I uncontrollably began to stroke it. My heart began to beat rapidly as I just stared into those eyes, that was the equivalent of the sun rising. Tigress removed one paw from my back and placed it on my chest. I believe I should mention that those strange feelings I had developed for her a few months ago, were now beginning to act up. I..I really didn't know what to say or do. Tigress, however, snapped out of her daze as she pulled away from my grasp.
"Perhaps we should begin the lesson." She finally spoke up.
"Y-yeah, sure. Okay, just um...just watch me do it first and try to focus on my movements when I do so." I instructed. She nodded as she took a step back towards the shallow part of the water. From there, I spent an hour teaching Ti how to swim and she certainly was a quick learner. I...I was proud of her. Not only did she learn to swim, but she also overcame her fear. And...forgive me, but I couldn't get a certain image out of my head. The image being...Tigress devoid of clothing. She just looked so...amazing. Oh Jesus Christ I'm such a pervert. Anyway, once the swimming lesson ended, Tigress and I pack out stuff up and continued on our search for her parents.
