"What do I do now?"

The white wolf couldn't stop shivering. Underneath his pure coat, a fine layer of sweat itched his skin. He paced, claws in his fur, pulling at the folicles with a vengeance. By his feet, a fine layer of mist swirled slowly in the moonlight.

"Shen, Kai, both of them were failures in our plan." The voice was strong, and old. It reverberated through him, vibrated low in his chest like a growl. "And now look at you. You come to me with the same weak ambitions."

"I've done everything you asked."

"NO!" It was angry. Bai Liang Shivered and dropped to the floor at the sudden rage in its voice. "You have lost the staff, and the Dragon Warrior."

"What do I do?" Bai Liang sniveled like a child.

"Take your ships to sea. I will deal with our enemies on land."

There was a knock at the door. The mist faded. Bai Liang stood, fear gone from his frame. His posture was erect, eyes icy and cold. "What is it?"

"Sir, the men are loading the barrels onto the boats."

"Good." The wolf sighed. "How long will it take to make final preparations?"

"A day, if we continue working through the night."

"Make it faster."

OoOoOoO

A/N: Alright Kids….we're nearing the end. Only a few more chapters.

OoOoOoO

"Hey Kai!"

The young tiger paused in his tracks, having just exited out of the medical area. Many of the patients inside had been treated and were on the path to recovery. Most of the refugees only suffered from malnutrition, something treated over time. The only real concern was the Kung Fu masters that had been injured in the attack.

"Yu! Morning."

"Morning." She finally looked down. "Kai, what do you have on your hands?"

"Uh-"

"It's blood, isn't it?"

"Yeah." He shrugged, gesturing with his head to the medical building. "I was helping out."

"Hmm," She raised an eyebrow, "Well, clean up. Shifu and the others want to see us."

"Awesome."

OoOoOoO

"I am sorry, Tigress."

She had been standing in the window, pulling her robe over her cold frame and tying it in front of her. The doctor had come by to check on her wounds and change her bandages. Her tail must have been giving her away. Her thoughts had been going a mile-a-minute all morning.

"For what?" She turned from the mirror, frowning at him.

"You deserved to hear the words from me, but not like that." He had gotten himself out of bed, but he leaned heavily on his staff. "I was being fatalistic."

"It's okay, Master." She offered him a brief smile. Apparently, she had been the same way.

After a moment, the red panda finally sighed. "You've done well with Kai. He's become a natural leader."

"As much as I'd love to take credit, he's impressive all on his own." She chuckled. "You should tell him that. I think he blames himself for what happened."

"I will." He nodded.

But then the atmosphere tensed, and she had a sudden feeling he wanted to ask a question that made him uncomfortable. He must have noticed…she hadn't exactly returned promptly last night. She'd snuck back in just before dawn, and had foolishly convinced herself that he hadn't heard anything.

Saved by the knock. Yu and Kai poked their heads in.

"You wanted to see us, Shifu?"

"Yes, come in."

"Mother." Kai moved to the older tiger and embraced her. "How are you feeling?"

"Fine, thank you." She touched his cheek fondly, hopefully ridding him of any concern.

"Good to see you two up and moving." Monkey had also joined the party, as had Crane and Mei Ling.

It seemed the group just kept coming in, until the Furious Five, the kids, Po and Mei Ling stood around the room in a rough circle. Actually, 'stood' was generous. Viper and Mantis hopped up on the third bed in order to see everyone. Po sat on the floor, Tigress and Kai sat on her bed.

"In order to make this as quick as possible," Shifu spoke and the group went quiet, "Yu, do you have the scroll?"

The white fox nodded, producing the small wooden box. It glowed briefly, and then she opened it and produced the small scroll.

"You should read it, Yu." Tigress suggested quietly. "It was obviously meant for you."

Yu opened it…and frowned a moment. There was complete silence.

"It doesn't say anything." She lowered it slowly, confusion written all over her face.

"I'm having déjà vu." Po sighed.

"No I mean, it's not blank, but it doesn't say anything." Her hand slackened on it, and Kai took it from her grasp.

"It's a drawing. Like, a sketch." Kai had the same sort of frown on his face and Tigress peered over his shoulder. "Looks like a mountain range."

"It's a location." Shifu finally said, not having seen the scroll. But he knew Oogway well enough to know that of course it meant something.

"Yay for puzzles." Mantis shook his head tiredly.

"It's not a puzzle, though." Tigress replied. "Think about it. We need something to destroy the stone. Knowing Oogway, this is that thing."

"She's right." Po piped up from the floor. "We find the mountains, we find whatever it is he had waiting for us."

Their eyes only met briefly before she looked away, and he sighed quietly in frustration. She was doing a really good job of pretending their little interaction the night before hadn't happened. Tigress had left before he'd woken up and he hadn't seen her all morning. No explanation. Right now, though, was not the time. They had more pressing matters.

"You said it was a three-front war, right Crane?" Viper said, breaking him of his thought. "So, someone heads to that location to find whatever can destroy the stone."

"Po."

"I second that." Monkey agreed with Mantis.

"Now the wolves," Crane began, "I was thinking about it last night. You brought up the idea to try with the barrels. In order to do that, we will have to lure them out somehow. Otherwise we'll be outnumbered."

"Two birds with one stone." Tigress replied. "I agree. The woods are pretty thick in the areas leading up to the docks."

"Guerilla warfare." Monkey chuckled. "It's dirty, but I like it."

"How many fliers does the group have?" Crane suddenly piped up, seemingly deep in thought.

"I'm certain quite a few. Plus Zheng. Why?" Viper questioned.

"Oh," Tigress raised an eyebrow, immediately getting on his train of thought, "That's a decent idea."

"It could work." Po caught on as well.

"How much time you think we have to plan some kind of attack?" Yu asked.

"Not long." Tigress replied. "If Bai Liang is as desperate as I think he is, he will move tonight or tomorrow."

"That soon?"

"We have to move quickly, then." Shifu concluded. "Po, Tigress, Yu. The three of you work on a location. Crane-find other avians. Make a plan. The rest of us will work on battle strategies. Meet back in the courtyard in a few hours."

They separated. Po and Tigress eyed each other briefly and approached the white fox.

"We should go find a map. I think there's one in the war room." Tigress led the two of them out of the room and they made their way upstairs towards the war room. Sure enough, there was a large map of China laid out across the giant conference table.

Yu opened the scroll, and glanced at the sketch before squinting at the map, as though looking for a lost puzzle piece. After a moment of quiet, she smiled and put the scroll near the bottom of the map.

"Here. I think that's it."

Tigress came and looked over her shoulder, then nodded. "Looks like it. That's not too far from the valley. Should only be a few hours journey if we hurry. Yu, go tell Shifu we found it."

"On it." The fox disappeared out of the room.

There was a thick silence.

"I'm sorry." Tigress looked up at him, coming around the table to stand next to him.

"You left." He sounded hurt, but her apology was good to hear. It meant she actually was acknowledging that it happened.

"I know." She replied quietly. "The doc came around before dawn doing check ins. I was afraid Shifu would find out."

He finally looked at her, surprised, and he was met with a smirk.

"Trust me, Po, I never would have left if I didn't think I had to."

He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close slowly. His kiss was just as sweet as it had been the night before, and if they hadn't been in the middle of a war, she probably would not have been able to walk out of that room.

But, they had somewhere to be. And there was a war on.

She pulled away and made to leave, but paused on her way out. "I love you, too, Po."

OoOoOoO

They had a plan. It was rough, and relied on a gamble, but it was a plan none the less.

Po had gotten the okay to head on towards the mountains. Yu would be going with him, both as company and as their way in.

He had gone back to his room to pack a bag, but he honestly didn't have much. The rucksack he'd been given seemed empty, filed with only some food and his nunchucks. It did, however, provide a belt to conveniently carry the staff.

There was a knock at the door as he fastened it, and in walked Tigress. "One of the elders asked me to bring this up." She held up a piece of folded fabric. "It's a cloak. It's starting to get cold."

"Thanks." He took it and shoved it in the bag.

"You'll be careful, yeah?"

He paused, and turned with a sly smile on his face. "Aww…are you worried about me?"

"Shut up and come home safe." She shook her head good naturedly. "I can't go with you-doctor's orders. Shifu says that when you are done, they will need you at the docks."

"Sounds like a plan." Po shouldered his pack. When he was adjusted, he faced her. "You stay safe. Keep an eye on Shifu."

"I will certainly try." She kissed him and, rather reluctantly, exited the room.

And bumped straight into Crane.

"I totally called it." He was excited, eyes wide and a small smile on his beak. "You and…I totally called it!"

"Will you shut up?" She shoved him gently, trying to keep any kind of reaction off of her face except irritation. She looked around, making sure no one else was in the hallway with them.

"But I was right, wasn't I?" He bugged her, but she continued down the hall like she didn't hear. "Hey wait!"

"No."

"Tigress, please." He got in front of her and stood in her path. "Look, I'm not gonna say anything."

She frowned, thoroughly confused by the conversation, and the fact that if anyone was gonna catch on, she did not expect it to be Crane. But she trusted him implicitly. She had to. She just couldn't let Shifu find out right now. That conversation would have to happen later on.

"What do you want?"

"Nothing." The bird shrugged. "Just wanted to say I'm happy for you."

She hesitated. "Thanks."

"Look," he sighed, resigning to say what was really on his mind. "With Shifu…what the doctor said…."

"I'll keep an eye on him."

Crane relaxed a bit and nodded. "Thank you."

She continued down the hallway, but paused. "Hey Crane?"

"Yeah?"

"Stay safe please."