Author's Note: Hey guys! Been awhile huh? Well, I have been busy working on my graduation film for uni and hot damn has it been an absolute blast to work on (though exhausting) so I've had practically zero time for my fics. Then add an annoying cold to the equation and well... That is just not very nice is it? Well, time to finally post for this month.

This one-shot is almost entirely based on a song that I've just recently gotten into. "Like a Stone" by Audioslave. It's such a good song and in order to get the full emotion that I've wanted to capture from this one-shot, I'd suggest listening to it while reading. Anyways, enough with the notes.

Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN KFP (Would be cool if I did)

Enjoy.

Like a Stone

It's hard to let go of a dream, it's even harder to let go of a chance of making those dreams a reality. But sometimes these chances are merely a mirage, only seeking to destroy us in our quest for happiness.

Golden streaks peak through the columns of trees, the sun's all-seeing eye for once being eluded by the forest's vast emptiness. Only a building occupies this hollow expanse, cracked stones and cobwebs maintaining the building's crooked exterior.

A vibrant statue stands in front of the building's daunting wooden doors. She ignores the sounds of children playfully laughing in the cheaply maintained structure. She ignores the sunlight accidentally blinding her in its illumination. She doesn't even look at the building that dwarfs her. Instead, her amber eyes maintain their stare down the woods' merciless labyrinth, the gentle breeze kissing her black and orange fur.

Never had Tigress thought she would ever go near this place again, never did that idea ever seem like a possibility. But here she is. Feet aching from hours of waiting and hopeful eyes decimated with a knowing dread. Nevertheless, the tiger cub refuses to move from her spot, no matter how much the children of Bao Gu mock her in their mirth.

Two weeks ago, master Shifu had finally given her an opportunity to escape this wretched place. He had given her a home and the possibility of becoming something more than Bao Gu's monster or a sad little girl. In spite of her overwhelming joy, Tigress' mind had found a way to pry this away from her. A single memory. One that had stabbed her heart yet lifted it at the same time. One that held promise for a beautiful future or a horrific nightmare. The only thing she can remember before Bao Gu. Two robed figures with striped tales, hesitating to drop her in front of the orphanage's door.

Every night this memory would soon spiral into a mosaic of emotions, a maze of possibilities and lives she could live. She could be a proud warrior or a humble merchant or she could even be royalty. Yet they left her… Why? They obviously didn't want to leave their child, who would? In spite of Shifu's kindness, these questions persisted in her mind, pleading for some kind of answer.

An answer that could only be found here.

So many years have passed since they've left her, surely, they would come back. Surely there is some reason for why they had to do this. Right? Hour by hour passes, the cub not even realising what time it is anymore. Yet she still waits, certain that two tigers will appear from the forest's endless void. Dreams of running room by room and playing with her real father, soon tear themselves into fragments of hope, dashed away by her sinking heart. Tigress' face falls as her mind's epiphany reaches her heart, despair coating her soul. They aren't coming back, no matter how much she wants them to.

For a brief moment these despondent clouds relinquish their reign over her heart as she notices something emerge from the woods. No, someone. Joyous flames begin to burn within the tiger cub's eyes, her dreams now within reach…

Until that someone gets closer, revealing their massive ears, wizened beard, and silk robes. Tigress' amber fire extinguishes itself as she sees Shifu's usually stern face, now matted with concern. Blue irises adopt a compassionate gaze as Tigress' father approaches her. He is going to take her back to the palace, back to her home. But is it really hers? Is it really worth living there when her own parents don't want to see their own daughter? The tiger cub morosely shifts her gaze towards the dirt ground below. No, that can't be true. They're coming back for her. They're going to check where they left her and take her home. And she'll be waiting.

Though her heart desperately wants to believe this, a single thought pounds its way into her mind. That there is no use. That they left her there and will never return. Maybe they will never care enough to come back or maybe they… No, she doesn't even want to consider that.

As if he sensed the child's inner torment, Shifu crouches down towards his daughter and puts his paw under her chin. With a gentle movement, he lifts her face to look straight at him. A wordless message of painful understanding lathers his eyes, breaking through the tiger cub's hopeful façade. Tigress' bottom lip quivers as she struggles to keep herself together. She can't go back now, maybe she'll miss them. Or maybe she'll still be waiting for nothing. No! That's not true… It can't be… It is only when Tigress looks into Shifu's again does her epiphany truly swarm her heart.

They're gone, and they'll never come back.

Bursting into tears, Tigress clutches her adoptive father tightly and buries her head into his shoulder. He embraces her back, going against his instincts to stomp out this emotional outburst. She needs to let it out, Gods know that he does too. As tear upon tear cascade across the red panda's robe, the tiger cub thanks the Gods above for bringing Shifu into her life. For giving her someone who truly cares about her. If he hadn't come to bring her home, she wouldn't know what she would do. Perhaps she would wait in front of the orphanage, knowing full well that nothing awaited her. Perhaps despair would consume her heart as the worst possibilities would consume her mind, convincing her they were either dead or never cared for her from the beginning. But with Shifu, she now finally has a place to truly call home. She will never need to come here again. She will never have to wait for her parents here like a stone.

She will never have to wait for her parents here alone.

This scenario pretty much flashed in my mind the second I started listening to the song and I just knew I needed to write it down. Honestly, I can't imagine the kind of pain that Tigress had gone through, especially as a kid. Shifu though, yeah, I kind of utilised his origins explained in LOA but left out the specifics because it is a bit... meh. Anyways, with another one-shot done, I'll be heading off to continue coughing, sneezing, sniffling and all that jazz whilst hopefully finding time for Clouded Minds (Cuz I've been prepping that story for a VERY long time) Until next time! :)