Chuff

Inspired by Lacey52's Instinctual, which I highly recommend you read.

I don't own Kung Fu Panda

Tigress sat in the kitchen with the other members of the furious five seated around her talking. Po stood by the stove humming happily as he cooked occasionally chiming into the conversation. She smiled softly to herself seeing the panda and the others so happy after the events of the past few weeks. She let her thoughts wander thinking back on recent events.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a mischievous chuckle. Her ears and eyes followed the sound landing on a green bug attempting to conceal his mirth.

"What are you laughing about?"

"Nothing, absolutely nothing."

The bug's comment had her full attention and she slowly took in the room. She surveyed each of her friends noticing each of their poorly concealed grins. Where was-

"Po!"

She shouted in alarm as she felt a paw pressing down on her head.

"What are you doing?"

"Please don't kill me!"

He said as he began to rub his paw over his head.

"Po." The tiger growled lowly. The panda laughed nervously continuing to rub her head. The tiger lowered her head slightly and emitted a low breathy snort. All went silent in the kitchen as the tigress found herself the center of attention.

"What was that?"

Mantis asked barely concealed giggles coming from his mouth.

"I think she was purring." Monkey responded before finally giving into his own laughter.

"Tigers don't purr." Tigress said with a blush so bright her fur couldn't conceal it. She looked around the table mortified as she watched her friends laughing, even the usually mild mannered Crane joining in.

"If it wasn't a purr then what was it."

Tigress froze as she realized she didn't have an answer. She flattened her ears to her skull, her face reddening again.

"I wasn't purring." The tiger muttered defeatedly. It seemed pointless to argue back, seeing as she had no clue what the sound she made was.

"I'm sorry sister but that did sound a lot like purring." Viper said around her giggles. Tigress turned her head to face the panda behind her with eyes narrowed into slits.

"You'd better watch your back panda." She said with a low growl before rushing out of the kitchen.

"I am so dead aren't I." the remaining members of the five only nodded in agreement.

That night after everyone had gone to sleep Po crept quietly out of the barracks, entering the Hall of Warriors on silent feet.

"Panda"

Po cringed and stopped in the doorway of the hall.

"Yes master shifu?"

"What are you doing up this late."

"...Looking for a snack."

"In the Hall of Warriors?" Shifu turned his head to give the panda a questioning look. The panda twiddled his thumbs before nodding his head yes. Shifu shook his head before speaking again.

"Don't break anything."

The panda bowed silently before rushing through the hall towards the library. He shuffled through the library skimming over titles until he found a scroll on tigers. He glanced over the scroll until he found what he was looking for. With a small cry of joy he left the library with the scroll in tow.

"I hope you enjoyed your snack."

Po chuckled nervously before ducking out of the hall.

The following morning

The six masters had congregated in the kitchen waiting for Po to finish cooking their breakfast.

"So where did you go last night Po?" Crane asked his head tilted to face the pandas back.

The panda turned and smiled with a child like glee on his face. He grabbed something from the waistband of his pants before lifting it to eye level with the other masters.

"I guess you're referring to what's inside of the scroll." Tigress said, giving him a deadpan look.

"Yeah you'll never guess what it's about!"

"I don't think i'll have to."

Po feigned a pout at the tigers refusal to play along in his game. He turned to the others with a hopeful look. Crane shook his head, siding with Tigress.

"Is it a new recipe for noodles?" Mantis asked hopefully.

"No."

Mantis shrugged. "Okay I give up what's the scroll about."

Po sighed disgruntled, before turning back to the stove and scooping out several bowls, before joining the five at the table.

"Okay before I start, do you think you could do it again." he looked towards Tigress.

"Do what again?"

"The snorty not purring thing you did."

"I don't know what you're talking about." Tigress said, turning her head away in an attempt to hide her blush.

"Aww come on please… If you do it again I prove you weren't purring."

"I don't know how or why I made that sound and I will not be attempting to do it again."

"Well last time she did it you were pe-rubbing her head." Mantis said with a wicked glint in his eye.

Po looked from Mantis to Tigress with a pleading look on his face. He began to bounce in his seat, his hands clasped in front of him.

"Please Please Please Please Please Please-"

"If I say yes will you stop."

The panda nodded excitedly before jumping out of his chair to do a short victory dance. Tigress sighed and lowered her head allowing the panda to place his hand on her head. He rubbed her head for a moment before she made the sound again. Tigress covered her muzzle, a blush forming again. Po exclaimed happily before unrolling the scroll.

"I found it! According to the scroll the sound you made was a prusten or a chuff o-."

"And what does that mean?"

"Oh yeah it's a happy sound, well that's the gist of it. Tigers make it in greeting, and to show joy."

"So it's purring with a silly name?" Monkey asked with a chuckle.

"Leave her alone. It's natural" Viper said, slapping Monkey with her tail.