Author's Note: ...Hey everyone! Been awhile. Okay look, I know I've been extremely inconsistent as of late but my life has been as well. I won't fret you too much about it but just know that things are getting better, so that's a plus. As for what we've got here... Let's just say it is a "return to form" as it were. Oh yeah, you thought I was done with shattering your hearts to pieces well think again! As for where this one-shot came about, this came out of an oddly personal place (It's not in a literal sense but it is certainly not something I want to talk about) so I felt extremely compelled to get this out as soon as I could. Anyways, let's get right into it!

Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN KFP (*Yawn* this is getting tiresome)

Enjoy... If you can.

Strength in Silence

Strength isn't something as simple as one's physicality. It is often the light that finds us in our darkest moments, the courage to do what's right even if it may harm us in the process. Finding this strength is what truly makes a warrior.

Drip.

A drop of crimson crashes along the wooden landscape, its sickly hue only highlighted by a dimly lit lantern hanging in the corner of the room. Recoiling in horror at the raining specks of blood, the floor's meagre splinters shiver at the cold, fatigued rattle of chains whispering above them. Reminding them of the horror they had bore witness to nearly an hour ago.

Drip.

Another drop of blood, followed by another rattle of chains. A fruitless effort, but the prisoner strung above the floor continues to do so albeit weakly. Crimson smears her black and orange fur, with purple bruises accentuating her body. Chains suffocate her wrists and ankles with no sign of getting any looser in spite of her countless attempts. Fatigued breaths exit the prisoner's mouth as her amber irises continue to stare at the floor, the entire room melding into a wooden blur.

Drip.

Crimson smudges Tigress' already blurred vision as a river of blood cascades down her right eye. An agonising sting stabs into her eye, forcing her to shut it immediately. If only this is how bad the pain gets. No, in spite of her decades of training, even she was not able to withstand the torment that had been forced upon her for the past hour.

For an entire hour she had been trapped inside this dank, dark room, pitted against thugs and bandits that would cowardly whale away at her without hesitation. All for a single piece of information. The location of the village chief's son. In his father's absence, Tigress, Po, and Mantis were assigned to guard him. Upon seeing several boar bandits following them throughout the streets, a chase had soon ensued with Tigress concocting a plan to lead them astray. Safe to say, this plan had been successful, in spite of her wounds suggesting otherwise.

Though her now limited eyesight is unable to pick out these wounds, she can feel every single one of them. Every stab and gash that had sliced through her qipao, every punch and kick that was delivered to her skull, every bash of a hammer cracking her ribs. This pain parades around her body, dancing along to her immeasurable suffering.

Drip.

Regardless of the searing agony coursing throughout her battered body, Tigress shakes it off and once again attempts to break free of her restraints. However, her arms and legs simply cannot gather the strength needed to perform such a feat. Noticing her lack of progress, the tiger master slumps down yet resignation is nowhere to be found in her. Over an hour of grievous torture and her captors still haven't managed to fish out the location. Granted, they had gotten a few hisses, yelps, and screams of pain but the weapons they had utilised for her interrogation made that outcome unavoidable. They can make her yell and scream all they like; She will never say a word to them. Never mind the pain clutching her abdomen or her head feeling like it will split in half, giving in will never be an option.

Drip.

A throbbing pain embraces her ears as they twitch at the dripping blood oozing out of her wounded torso, painting her qipao with a crimson sheen. Gods know how much she is bleeding out, but if it isn't tended to soon then… this could truly be the end… To die like this, beaten, bruised, and humiliated by common thugs. To bleed out in claustrophobic casket of a room… Alone… Better than dying as a gutless, traitorous coward that would throw away her duty at the first sign of danger. No. She'd rather die like this, fighting to the very end in whatever way she can. Then again… she'd miss out on so much. Training Po, opening up more to the five, becoming the jade palace's next grandmaster, teaching a new generation of kung fu… Though she may be content in dying like this, is content enough? She can't go out like this, she has to hold on, even if it won't last long.

Drip.

Keeping her body still, Tigress manages to force her head upwards and stares at the blurred sight of the door at the end of the room. It taunts her, threatening to seal her within here for the rest of her life. Her eyes grow heavy, but she manages to keep those gates from shutting fully. She had kept herself from giving in earlier and she must do so now. For her friends. For the dragon warrior. For her father. She cannot fail them, not after enduring so much.

Drip.

Amber eyes continue staring at the door, trying their hardest to remain open in spite of desperately wishing to rest.

Drip.

Just a moment's rest, that's all she- No! She can't let go! Not yet.

Drip.

As she continues staring down at the door, an epiphany forms in Tigress' mind. One that makes her understand a lesson Oogway had taught her long ago. That strength can come without ever throwing a punch or uttering a single word. That there is strength in silence. If only she could have figured out this out before she di-

Crash!

Tired amber irises expand to the best of their degree as commotion finds its way into the space outside her door, with several yelps of pain and unconscious groans soon accompanying it. There is still a chance. She will be able to make it out of it, she just needs to stay strong.

Hiiiyaaaah!

Hope rockets its way into Tigress' heart as she immediately recognises that battle cry. It's Po. He did it. He found her. And through her silence she had bought him enough time to get the chief's son to safety. A tiny smile pushes its way past the pain and finds its way onto the tiger master's face as Po bursts into the room, happy that she has fulfilled her duty.

Happy that she has found strength in silence.

Don't worry guys! Tigress is fine, I mean of course she is, she can tank a cannon directly to the chest for God's sake. As for why I've made this one-shot in particular, I've felt this is probably the next step for this collection considering I haven't done anything particularly insidious just yet. And as for clouded minds... um... *runs away* (Only joking) I'll try to get that updated as soon as I can, for some reason my brain is just not letting me finish the second chapter and I cannot understand why! Anyways, I hope you guys have a great morning/afternoon/night and until next time :)