A/N: Hey babes. Shout out to my new followers. Love you guys!

Oh, a particular movie that I was watching inspired this scene. If you can guess what it is, you'll get a cookie.

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"Tigress."

At first, the feline wasn't sure if she actually heard her name being called. She had been laying on that thin cot, arms crossed, trying and failing to fall asleep.

"Tigress."

That time she was certain that she heard it. She sat upright and frowned. "Hello?"

"Down here!" The little cutout they used to push through her bowl was just large enough for Mantis to crawl underneath.

"Mantis?!" She exclaimed, eyes wide. She slid off the bed and landed on her knees to be closer to his eye level. "You're alive." It was a sigh of relief. "What are you doing here?"

"Came to rescue the damsel in distress!" He jumped up on her shoulder and put his feelers in her neck, his version of a hug. "What did you do to get an execution date?"

"You talked to Kai?" He jumped down from her shoulder and nodded. "Is he okay?"

"I don't know. He looked like he took a beating but I think he's okay. What's he to you anyway?" Mantis was surveying the room, looking for anything that could get her out.

"That's a long story." She rubbed the back of her head anxiously. "There isn't a way out. I tried." She shrugged.

He looked back at her. "Okay, so we'll come up with another plan."

"How did you even get past the guards?" She asked. "I mean you're small, but not unnoticeable."

"Let's just say several of them will be found unconscious in a random closet first thing in the morning." Mantis replied nonchalantly.

"Are you trying it to get us killed?" She hissed.

"No." He rolled his eyes. "Hopefully by the time they find them, we'll be long gone." He peered back at the door. "Be right back."

She watched him slide back through the opening. After a moment, the cell door creaked and opened slowly.

"C'mon!" He encouraged, but she froze in the doorway. "What is it?"

"I can't leave Kai."

Mantis frowned at her. What was that expression on her face? It seemed almost terrified, or worried-maybe even protective. He had never seen it on her before. He knew that that she wouldn't come with him unless the kid came, too.

"Alright. Lead the way."

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"Master Kai-" The young tiger lifted his head. He was sitting on the edge of his bed, preparing to sleep. "You will be summoned by Master Bái láng first thing in the morning."

"Thank you." He nodded and the guard left the room. Kai was suddenly left in silence, that is, until several thumps were heard outside his door.

He stood suddenly, bracing himself for a fight. Instead, Tigress came through the door and shut it behind her.

"Mother." He sighed with relief and hugged her tightly. "Are you alright? How did you get out?"'

"Long story. Kai, I'm leaving." She gave him a moment for it to sink in. "It is your choice if you come with me."

"Yes." There was no hesitation in his voice. "Let me come with you."

She nodded determinedly and out the door they went.

They met Mantis in the hallway, and so began the sprint through the castle halls.

"Mantis, how did you come in?" Tigress cried as they ran.

"The gardens. Once I got inside, I just beat up anyone I saw. I had the size advantage." Mantis looked at the two of them. "But you two don't, so we'll have to be careful."

"I have an idea!" Kai piped up from the back. He was keeping pace with them surprisingly well. "You said you took out guards, right? Show me where they are."

Mantis hesitated but then made a right turn. He led them down a few hallways until they came to a small room. He was right when he said he took out every guard he came across. There were at least twenty unconscious wolves in there. Once they found the room, Kai urged them inside and shut the door.

"Take a uniform." He gestured to the wolves. "You can wear them. I'll say I'm going for a walk and you can escort me." He looked at Tigress.

'Where did you find this kid?" Mantis asked, slightly impressed.

"I taught him well, huh?" She replied with a small chuckle. Tigress than began helping Mantis remove a uniform that seemed to be close to her size. She put it on over her vest and pants, and grabbed one of the helmets.

"Come on." Kai gestured when she was finished. Mantis hoped on her shoulder and perched himself on the back of her neck for a free ride. Kai began walking steadily towards the gardens, Tigress keeping pace easily.

The two guards at the doors to the gardens gave them odd looks, but he fixed them with an authoritative glare that made them look away. Once out into the gardens, he led them down a path towards the back corner.

"There's a path that the village people use to bring supplies up to the palace. If you can hold on a bit longer, we can escape from there." Kai whispered.

Tigress just nodded, wincing. Her tail was in a very uncomfortable position against her spine. He led them around the back of the gardens, but stopped suddenly.

"Shit." He murmured. The three of them just managed to get into the bushes as a group of wolves passed by. He could see through the leaves that there were two guards stationed at the gate out of the gardens. "Hey bug guy-"

"It's Mantis."

"Sorry. Mantis, can you take those two out?" The tiger gestured towards the two guys and the bug disappeared. Suddenly, both guards felt to the ground, unconscious. The two tigers left their safety and made their way to where he was standing.

"They key wasn't on them. We'll have to jump the gate." Mantis climbed up and over first. Next was Tigress, who helped Kai over. Once they were on the other side, they moved into the woods.

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"How far are we?" Tigress removed the helmet, shaking her head to get the sweat from her fur.

"Not far. Took me half a day to get there." The bug replied.

They had run for hours, until Kai finally asked if they could take a break. Tigress was secretly relieved. That uniform had been absolutely awful to run in. Add that to a lack of exercise for ten years and serious injuries, and she was hurting quite a bit. She let the helmet drop with a wince and began on the uniform. The breeze on her fur felt amazing.

"It's almost dawn." Mantis stood. "I'm sorry, but we need to keep going. They will notice he's gone here soon." He gestured to Kai.

"He's got a point. Are you alright?" He asked. He held out a hand to help her stand.

"Yeah, I'm fine." She said once she was up. "Where are we going?"

"Camp." Mantis replied with a chuckle.

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When Crane came to check on him early that morning, Shifu lied and said he slept. In reality, he spent all night tossing and turning until he gave up and tried to meditate. The bird must have known he was lying, but he didn't press it.

In reality, Shifu hadn't slept in ten years, not since that day in the valley. If he was being honest with himself, he could have done more. He cursed himself for his age, and his old bones. Even his inner peace, which had been a staple of his life, seemed to be missing. The puzzle pieces in his chest felt like they had been scrambled.

"Master Shifu!" A goose servant of the Dai Lee Academy came running into the training hall. "You are needed in the infirmary immediately!"

"The infirmary?" Shifu frowned. A part of his chest sunk, hoping that no one had been hurt. He raced out of the building and down the path towards the tent that housed the hospital. No one was there. In fact, it seemed to be totally silent. That is, until an old raccoon peered around the corner down the way.

"Master, in here." Shifu moved down the aisles of beds down towards the end, where a screen had been set up.

His jaw dropped when he turned the corner.

"Tigress?"