The Jin-Min
They had one more day to go, and they rested in a small cave for the night. Leo stood watch just outside when he suddenly heard movement behind him. Soft paw movement. Po is too clumsy, he thought. Lee and Me? He could smell their scents. The only person he didn't know was... Leo immediately got up and started walking away. "Leo, wait," Tigress said. The wolf stopped cold, "Look, I know you are afraid, but you don't have to be. I promise I won't hurt you." Leo never stopped shaking while he sat down facing her. Their sides to the cave and to the forest. "How are you?" She asked kindly.
"Fine." His voice was timid and scared, but Tigress ventured on.
"I'm sorry about what happened to you. Is there any way I can make you more comfortable?" The wolf didn't answer. They sat in silence for a while before Tigress finally sighed, "I know you're afraid. I just... I don't want you to be afraid of me. I was just thinking that... since Wong-Hu made us both orphans that we could... have something to talk about," She said heavily. She kept pulling for teeth.
Leo finally bit though, "You're an orphan, and yet you still live?"
"My mother gave me away before Wong-Hu could find me. Now I'm supposed to be this... great villain to destroy Japan." She stared at the ground.
"The prophecy is probably not what you think it is," Leo said. Tigress lifted her head. He shrugged. "Prophecies tend to be misunderstood. And you're not an orphan anymore. Sure, you grew up an orphan, but it doesn't sound like your parents, whoever they are, are dead."
"I know who my parents are, thanks to Po."
"The Dragon Warrior?" Tigress nodded. "Who are your parents?"
"Qiang and Tigra."
"T-T-T-The she-devil herself!" Leo froze.
Tigress's head tilted, "What do you-"
"Haven't you heard the stories about her?"
"No."
Leo looked at her and sighed. "Well, know that you definitely aren't like your mother. Or at least, I haven't seen you angry like her just yet."
"Is her temper that legendary?"
The wolf laughed nervously, "More than you think."
Tigress smiled and decided to venture further. "What is it like, being half-tiger and half-wolf?"
Leo paused. "How did you know I knew?"
"Even you should know that licking yourself is a feline thing," Tigress smirked.
Leo nervously chuckled, "Well, I don't shed as much. I constantly have to scratch the trees to keep my claws from overgrowing, which adds to the crazy look. I also have no one to talk to. Tigers don't want to be with me because I'm a wolf. Wolves don't want to be with me because I'm a tiger, and everyone doesn't want to be with me because I'm a demon! It's lonely."
"I understand. There was a time where I was alone," Tigress said. "It can be scary."
"Like my fear of tigers," Leo sighed, "I guess... I'm more afraid of my past with tigers than anything else. When I see a tiger, all I can remember is that horrible night. And the worst part is since I'm half-tiger, I sometimes have nightmares of killing my own parents," Leo said quietly. Tigress laid her hand on his shoulder, smiling warmly.
"Don't be afraid. Trust me. Who knows? You may even find a pretty lady you like," Tigress smirked. Leo's laugh turned into a howl that echoed into the night.
The next day, the team came to the tall iron gates of the Jin-Min capital etched with furious tiger decorations. "Are you ready?" Lee asked. Tigress and Leo both took a breath, and the gates opened. The village was full of people bustling about. Ducks, bunnies, pigs, crocs, boars, gorillas, and lots of tigers filled the tight market streets. The tigers were immensely different. Some were fat in the face or gut, some tall and short, others buff or lean. The tigers looked friendly and happy. Though a little more at ease, Leo was still wary of them. While the team got some supplies, a bandit diving into an alley caught Leo's eye. He followed.
"Give us your money, honey." A mean-looking wolf bandit and his gang held their hostage, a beautiful young tigress with a pink dress, by the collar. Leo purposefully coughed, grabbing the bandits' attention.
"You mind letting her go?" Leo asked calmly. The bandits laughed.
"Why don't you come and get her?" the wolf offered.
Leo sighed, "As you wish. YAAHHH!" He went into his crazed demon mode. Quite quickly, the gang was defeated and laid across the ground. Leo was looking at his handiwork when the tigress hugged him tightly around his torso.
"Thank you so much," She said overjoyed, "I don't know what would happen!" Leo's heart rate sped up, but he didn't feel scared. What was happening?
"Um...sure," Leo said, blushing in the face, "Um sorry, I have to go now. Important business." He wiggled out of her arms and ran away. The tigress looked for him in the streets but couldn't find him. Leo ran up back with the group, out of breath.
"What happened?" They all asked.
"Saved...a...tiger...couldn't find you guys...out of breath. Fought bandits," Leo panted out.
"But you've fought bandits before," Tigress said, "You shouldn't be out of breath."
"When the girl hugged me...heart went faster...had to get out there...Okay, I'm better now," Leo sighed.
"Come on," Lee said, "We got to get to the palace. Tiger's expecting us." They got to the palace and went through the big gates. They walked into the beautiful throne room with red carpets and tall blood-red pillars. There on the seat sat a male replica of Tigress. Tiger was a bit buffer and taller than Tigress. They definitely had similar features. The only difference seemed to be that he wore a calming white and gold robe.
"Sister," Tiger stood up and hugged her. Tigress slowly hugged back. Her body wouldn't move much. She heard Tiger's deep laugh. "It must be strange for you to see your family after all these years."
"Really... really strange," Tigress confessed as he released her. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be" Tiger chuckled, "Po, Lee, Mei, it's good to see you."
"Good to see you...leader of the Jin-Min?" Po stated, crossing his arms, "When were you going to tell me?!"
"When you brought my sister back." Tiger stated, "And now, you're here. However, you're new here. What is your name?"
"My name is Leo, Sire," he bowed shyly.
"Please, just Tiger."
"So how's life?" Lee asked.
"Good, good. Especially with my daughter," Tiger answered, "Let me introduce you to her. Miwa." Then a female tiger appeared...in a pink dress.
"Hello, I'm Miwa. My father's told me a lot about you," Then she saw Leo and gasped, "You're the one who saved me from the bandits!"
"And you're the one I saved?" Leo asked. Miwa nodded. "Of course you are," he muttered with a gritted smile. Tiger bowed low before him.
"I thank you greatly for saving my daughter. Without you, I wouldn't be able to save her."
"No, no, it's okay. You're welcome," Leo stuttered.
"Now, why don't we take a tour of the palace, Hmm?" Tiger offered. Miwa grabbed hold of her father's arm.
"Father, is it okay if I show Leo around for myself?" She asked. Tiger nodded. Miwa then grabbed Leo by the arm. "Come on! I'll show you around," She beamed, practically dragging Leo off. "Come on!"
"Help!" Leo shouted. The others just sighed.
The others took a tour through the palace. "Um...Tiger, we'll catch up with you in a moment. I need to talk with Tigress," Po said. Tiger nodded and went on with the tour.
"What's wrong, Po?" Tigress asked.
"We're about to meet your parents. I just wanted to know if you had any questions," Po said.
She thought for a moment before saying, "Actually, yes. You keep saying that my mother is a very... furious person."
"A She-devil is more like it," Po muttered.
"Why is everyone saying that?"
"Have you heard of La-Ju, the greatest assassin of China?"
"Yes?"
"That's your mother. They also called her the She-Devil of Tigers, the incarnate of every tiger's rage," Po said. Tigress could only blink with wide eyes. "Yeah. That's your mother and I only learned this AFTER I became friends with her... I think."
"You think?"
"I honestly don't know if your mother likes me sometimes. She's very... mischievous," Po nervously rubbed the back of his neck.
The feline smirked, "I can imagine."
"See, right there! That's her," Po pointed at Tigress, making her chuckle slightly. "Other than rage, she's actually very caring, sweet, loving almost to a fault. Very beautiful, the kind that doesn't go away with age, and a bit flirtatious." Tigress rose her eyebrow, making Po roll his eyes. "No, I did not see her like that. Anyway, she's VERY protective of her family and me."
"Of you?"
"There was one time she threatened someone who called me fat."
"That doesn't sound bad."
"It just so happened to be the former leader's son."
"Oh," Tigress's eyes widened. "I see."
"But you're definitely like her. You have your father's emotional 'brick-hardness', but you get your viciousness from your mother. Thankfully, you're the much better and friendlier side of her," Po smiled forcefully.
"So what's Tiger like?" She asked.
"Like his father: stern, strict, understanding, and likes a good challenge. He's lightened up since I last saw him. Probably from having his daughter. Come on, let's catch up with the others."
"This is great and all Tiger, but we have more urgent business. You know, like the entry into another war," Mei said bluntly to Tiger as Tigress and Po caught up.
"Oh, of course, but I think that my dear sister would like to meet her parents first." Tiger offered. Tigress looked at Po. The panda patted her on the shoulder.
"Don't worry, I'll be with you," Po smiled.
"You always are," Tigress smiled back. She nodded to Tiger, and he led them down the hall to their parents' room. Tiger opened the door. There Tigress saw an older, slightly smaller, yet still somehow beautiful version of herself folding clothes. A bigger, older tiger than Tiger was meditating near a window.
"Oh, Tiger, my son. You've come to visit," The woman tiger said.
"Mother, we live in the same house," Tiger sighed.
"Yes, but I hardly see you," She half-smiled with low-lidded eyes.
"Anyways, everyone this is Tigra, my mother, and Qiang, my father. Mother, father, this is-"
"We already know of the new royal couple, Tiger," interrupted Qiang. His voice still booming.
"Oh, and you've already met Po," Tiger said.
Tigra walked to the panda and glared with a long teeth-gleaming smile. All 30 sharp ones. "Yes, I have," she said cooly. Po gulped. "So, is my daughter safe, panda?"
"Hehehe," Po nervously laughed, "Funny you should say that." Po pointed to the stiff Tigress. Tigra and Qiang gasped. The three tigers slowly came to each other. Tigra gently placed her hand on Tigress's cheek. A strange warmth sprung from Tigress's heart.
"It is you," Tigra cried. Water poured down her aged cheeks. "It really is you. I'm so sorry for leaving you alone, my kitten. Welcome home." She chuckled and cried. The emotion was too much to bear. They all hugged each other. Tigress's heart exploded in the kind of happiness she could only feel from children hugging her, the laughter of her comrades, the acknowledged pride from Shifu, and the biggest hug from Po. A few trickles of saltwater left Tigress's eyes and coursed down her face. Qiang's silent, usually stoic face creased into a glad smile as tears streamed down his face.
"I've finally found you," Tigress cried, "I've finally found you. I'm home." The panda's smile couldn't be suppressed, but he had to make sure of something... if he were to live.
"See, safe and sound. Now there is no need for you to quote 'Rip my fluffy little tail out and shoved it down my throat'," Po said. Tigress looked at her mother.
"I'm...very...unique in my own way," Tigra smiled innocently, slowly releasing her daughter.
"Not that we don't want you, but why did you bring her here amiss all the struggles?" Qiang asked.
"Well since the Jin-Min and Japan are at peace, either the prophecy was wrong or we misinterpreted it. So there's no harm," Po explained. Qiang and Tigra nodded. Then Leo came in with Miwa.
"Hi, everybody. Hi grandma and grandpa," Miwa smiled.
"AAAHH! She-Devil!" Leo screamed as the wolf jumped onto Po's head; he's quite small for a wolf.
Tigra shook her head. "I see you brought the 'Demon Fighter' with you."
"You know him, Mother?" Tiger asked.
"He saved us from some bandits and even made us food, but umm...Tigra is the main reason why Leo's... a little afraid of her," Qiang said.
"A LOT afraid," Leo corrected as he got down from Po's head, "I cooked them food. Then Tigra snapped saying she would quote 'pluck out my tail, rip out my claws from their sockets, use them as writing materials, and whip me with my own tail'!" Tigress's eyes widened while Po laughed. "It's not funny! I had nightmares about that!"
"What did you do?" Lee asked.
"My tail ACCIDENTALLY brushed against her butt!"
"Now you see where you get it from, Tigress?" Po smirked. Tigress rolled her eyes.
"You're very verbally violent," Tigress stated to her mother in a half-smile.
"What? I'm just making sure that lines are established," Tigra said innocently.
"Speaking of food, let's eat. I'll cook my father's noodle soup and then we'll talk about Wong-Hu," Po said seriously. Tigra sighed as she watched the panda leave.
"What's wrong?" Tigress asked.
"Whenever Wong-Hu comes up, Po always gets... a little too serious. I think he might even become vengeful."
"Do you think it's a problem?"
"If it was anyone else, maybe," Tigra said, "But since it's Wong-Hu... it's gladly welcomed." She growled lowly and walked after the others. Tigress stood there with voiceless questions.
to be continued.
