Wung Hu Valley has always been known as one of the most peaceful valleys in all of China. It had it's fair of bandits and thieves but what valley didn't really? Masters Chicken and Boar were really good at their job, chasing those bandits and thieves away and the citizens were very grateful for that.
Tigress smiled as they walked through the streets of the valley. Every citizen greeting her sister with a smile and wave. MaSha would smile and wave back at them respectfully.
"Good morning MaSha." They would say with a smile.
"Hope you're doing well today MaSha." Said another. MaSha loved her home for now but she was still waiting for the day she could go to the Jade Palace with her sister. After many greetings, the two tigers soon arrived at their destination.
"Miss Jia?" Tigress called out. The tent they had arrived at was quite large and a bit worn down. The flaps were open for any customers that searched for the habitant of the tent. The two girls entered the tent searching for Miss Jia. Usually the older woman was there to greet them. Other times….well other times she did this.
They could hear the pitter patter of the creature's feet going around the tent and the two girls smiled at each other as they listened for her. Jia giggled knowing well that they could hear her but could not tell where she was coming from. The girls got back to back to each other, smirks on their faces as they awaited for the small creature to come at them from any angle she dared.
Jia giggled again as she scattered again throughout the tent looking for a great way to sneak up on the two sisters. The girls' ears twitched in anticipation waiting on her, not knowing she jumped on them from above.
"Gotcha!" The creature laughed, landing on their heads. The girls nearly attacked the small weasel but were quick to realize it was her.
"Miss Jia!" They screamed. The old weasel laughed at the two girls as she scattered to the ground. The two girls looked at Miss Jia laughing at themselves. Miss Jia always knew how to sneak up on the two girls or they just gave her that advantage to get a discount.
Miss Jia is an older red weasel with gray hairs in some spots. The old weasel was about 12 inches big and wore a yellow shirt and brown pants with some glasses to help her see.
"You girls are fun." She laughed. Tigress and MaSha smiled at her and bowed respectfully.
"Nice to see you as well Miss Jia." Jia smiled at the two and bowed to them as well.
"How are you girls doing today?"
"We're…alright." MaSha shrugged. "Just dealing with the usual stuff you know."
"Ah yes." Jia nodded understandably.
"Not something we want to discuss today though." Tigress smiled softly.
"I understand." Jia gestured to the seats. "Go on. Take a seat." The girls walked over to the stools and took the one they usually sat at. "The usual?"
"Like every year." Jia smiled at the two girls. Miss Jia had a specialty for treating fur and claws. Tigress had been bringing MaSha to her ever since she was 7 years old, when she first brought her to Wung Hu Valley. MaSha's fur had been very mistreated from the torture their mother had put her through.
It had taken the poor girl 6 months to recover since Tigress and the others finally saved her. Nothing had been able to touch her fur without harming her and MaSha grew afraid of anything that would come into contact with her. Miss Jia had learned that MaSha's fur had a special sensitivity to water. All her baths had to be sprinkled in with a special salt that Miss Jia had given the young girl. At this point MaSha knew how to take care of her fur now but it was always fun coming with her sister to get certain parts of her fur done by Jia and having a nice conversation with her.
"Are you excited for your birthday this year MaSha?" Jia began to prepare the water.
"Not really." MaSha admitted. "This year I'm supposed to get my Master title but I'm not sure I'm ready."
"So far you're doing great." Tigress nudged her slightly. "Personally I think you should have gotten it years ago."
"You saw how it acted this morning, Tigress." MaSha frowned. "I still feel like I've lost control of it." MaSha looked down at her paws. Miss Jia walked over to the two girls, carrying a bowl. She set up a taller stool to be able to reach the teen.
"That's because ou let it control you." Jia told her. The two girls looked at her. The valley knew of MaSha's past, at least some of it anyway. Jia was probably the only one in the whole valley to know the full story, yet she wasn't afraid to get close to the young teen. "Your mother may be locked up but it's like she's never stopped controlling you." The two girls frowned, knowing it was true. "I know it takes time, I've had my share of trauma growing up." She admitted. "Your story may not have a happy beginning, but it doesn't make you who you are. It's who you chose to be." The weasel began to apply the special water to the teen's fur. MaSha looked at the weasel, considering her words.
"I've heard that before." Tigress thought out loud. "Po mentioned something about that when we returned from Gongmen City."
"The panda?" MaSha looked at her unamused.
"He has a name." Tigress looked at her. MaSha rolled her eyes at her. "He has his fair share of trauma, you know."
"You aren't just saying that so I'm nicer to him are you?" MaSha raised a brow.
"Of course not." Tigress shook her head. "If you took the time to get to know him, you'll understand." MaSha looked at her sister before looking down at the job Jia was doing. She never imagined her fur would be so sensitive yet Tigress's wasn't. Another cursed effect from the Tiger's Chi.
Po smiled with satisfaction as he looked down at his work. He had prepared a large dinner for the girls when they returned from their day out. Surely MaSha couldn't deny food right?
"Wow Master Po!" Yang looked at all the food. "Everything looks delicious!"
"Thanks." Po looked at the table proudly. He had prepared bean buns, dumplings, stir fry tofu, secret ingredient noodles and even some spring rolls. There was probably more than enough for four warriors. "Think she'll like it?" Yang smiled at the Dragon Warrior. It was kind of nice to see him try to get MaSha to like him. The two males had spoken about how Tigress and MaSha's relationship was very important to the two girls. Nothing was more important than that to them and Po really wanted to get along with both of them.
He and Master Tigress already got along great but MaSha seemed to not like him at all, despite not really speaking to him.
"I'm sure she'll enjoy the nice home cooked meal.." Yang chuckled.
"Awesome!" Po smiled.
"Good afternoon boys. Bwack!" The voice of Master Chicken made the two look towards the door.
"Afternoon, Master Chicken." The Dragon Warrior and Yang bowed.
"Great to see you, Dragon Warrior. How have you been?" Chicken smiled at the panda.
"I'm doing awesome!" Po smiled at the master. "I really like your home. Except the stairs. The stairs are still a nightmare." Master Chicken chuckled with another 'bwack' escaping his beak.
"Where are the sisters?" Master Chicken asked.
"Oh you know." Yang shrugged. "They went to the Valley to do their usual sister stuff. Like every year."
"I heard what happened this morning." Chicken looked at him seriously.
"Oh…uh." Yang rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "Yeah. That."
"When they return, please be sure to send them back to see me in the Hall."
"Yes. Of course Master." Yang bowed. Master Chicken bowed respectfully at the two young men before leaving the kitchen. "Oh boy." Yang sighed.
"That serious huh?" Po looked at Yang worriedly.
"Unfortunately." Yang sighed again.
MaSha and Tigress laughed as they walked through the market. They had just witnessed children playing pranks on each other and the sisters had become quite amused by it. They had a good laugh when one of the bunny children had accidentally thrown a bowl of pudding at Tigress. The kids thought that the girls would be angry but laughed along when the girls threw the pudding at each other. Now the sisters' clothes were covered in pudding.
"Kids amuse me." MaSha laughed with a bright smile.
"They do make great entertainment." Tigress smiled. "I remember you trying to pull a prank on Master Chicken with shampoo that removes fur and feathers."
"It worked even better when Master Boar used it." MaSha smiled.
"You're lucky you were still very new to the palace."
"I suppose." MaSha chuckled looking at the ground. Tigress noticed how MaSha's ears fell.
"Are you okay?" Tigress placed a paw on her sister's shoulder.
"Do you think…" MaSha bit her lip before looking at her sister. "Do you think I'll be free? You know…from mom?"
"As bad as it sounds…mother won't live forever."
"I know it's just…" MaSha rubbed her arm nervously. "When she learned about Yang and me courting, she nearly escaped."
"Is that why you stopped?" Tigress frowned. MaSha nodded looking at the ground once again. The two girls stopped walking and Tigress stood in front of her.
"There's so much I want in my life. Being with Yang is probably one of the biggest things I want. But it's like I can't even do that without mother trying to chase me down." MaSha continued to look at the ground, rubbing her arm. Tigress frowned at her.
Yang and MaSha had known each other since MaSha was 6 and Yang was 8. They had grown up together and had a special bond. Tigress always had a feeling they had grown some type of affection towards each other. Learning that they had started courting only proved it. Only for it to end shortly after it started because of the fear MaSha had of Daiyu.
"You know," Tigress took her sister's paws, making the young girl look at her. MaSha always found it comforting for Tigress to hold them. Especially now after she nearly killed her this morning. "Even with mother around, I'm sure Yang will fight by your side through it all. He's a good young man. A bit annoying sometimes but what man isn't right?" The two girls smiled.
"I suppose you're right."
"Don't let the fear of mother stop you from doing what you want dear sister." Tigress kissed her sister's forehead. "I'll have your back no matter what. And I'm sure Yang will too." Tigress paused for a moment before looking at her again. "And The Dragon Warrior too."
"Okay now you're just saying that so I actually talk to him." MaSha pouted.
"He's not really that bad MaSha." Tigress smiled softly.
"You really love him don't you." MaSha smirked.
"That's not the point."
"Ha! You didn't deny it!"
"Hey, you were just talking about the future you want with Yang."
"I at least admit it and have done something about it. You and Po should of had kids by now!" MaSha laughed, making Tigress blush.
"MaSha!" Tigress's eyes narrowed.
"Oh oh. Looks like I touched a nerve! Race you back to the Palace!" MaSha got on all fours and began to run. Tigress not being far behind her.