The caravan, or what was left of it, lay flattened against the snow like a god reached down and smote it off the earth with his thumb. Overturned yurts slumped over ransacked sleds, kicked aside fires slowly choked to death, and everywhere was littered with headless bodies. All different species lay mutilated, melting little crimson lakes into the snow.
Tai Lung took a big bite of hard tack and nodded approvingly. "Looks like we missed the party," he said.
Tigress wrinkled her nose at his callousness. "We didn't miss it by much. This is fresh. Whoever did this is nearby."
"Are you scared?" he snickered. "Don't worry, little kitten. I'll protect you." He reached out to pat her head but Tigress ducked away before he could touch her.
"Spare me," she said and started down the hill towards the wreckage. Tai Lung chuckled and followed. She meant only to skirt the outer edges, none too eager to get blood on her feet, but Tai Lung strode right in like a cheerful festival goer after a hard rain.
"Tigress look at this!" he said, pointing to a pile of rubble. "The sled must have flipped end over end and landed square on top of this yurt. Wew-wew-wew BLAM!" he said, drawing a curlicue in the air with his index finger. "Wish I'd seen that!"
She crossed her arms. "Do you also wish you'd seen all the beheadings?"
He glanced around. Shrugged. "Seen one seen 'em all." He turned to the wreckage and lifted a panel of yurt canvas to look beneath it. "One time, I - " he stopped short. Bent to look closer at whatever he found there. "Dear god."
'What is it?' Tigress asked. He looked up at her, eyes wide and bewildered, and drew the canvas aside. Laying beneath it was grizzled old wolf – mangled, but still very much alive. The wolf coughed, expelling more blood into the puddle at his mouth. One arm lay outstretched, as though reaching for something.
The wolf opened his eyes. His gaze fell on Tigress. He smiled, his teeth stained red.
"Well I'll be damned," he croaked. "An angel."
o
"Hand me the canteen," Tigress whispered to Tai Lung.
"Why?" Tai Lung whispered back. "We can't do anything for him except put him out of his misery."
"Might we offer a dying man a drink of water before leaping right to the mercy kill?"
"Certainly, but I'm just saying …. you know, don't get too attached."
To Tigress's surprise the wolf gave a grim gallows laugh. Coughed. When he spoke his words were labored, with long pauses for breath. "He …. ain't wrong, sweetheart. I'm well on my way. But I'll …. take that water."
Tai Lung handed Tigress the canteen and grinned at the wolf. "Not your day, is it, sir?"
"Heh. Ain't …. never been …. my day, soldier," he said.
Tigress knelt beside the wolf and gently lifted his head, holding the canteen to his lips. "Tell me if I'm hurting you," she said.
"Can't feel a thing … beautiful. Back broke in the crash. Long past hurtin'," the wolf replied. He drank heartily, gasping with relief. "Thank you," he said, coughing. He glanced up at Tai Lung. "Can you … hand me my pipe … son?"
"Oh. Um-" Tai Lung replied, startled. "Where is it?"
The wolf wiggled the fingers of his outstretched arm. Next to them lay a little worn sack. "Just here. Just outta...outta my reach. Arm's broken. Been a … been a real pisser, let me tell you."
Tai Lung laughed. He knelt down and pushed the sack into the wolf's hand. The wolf closed his fingers around it but that was all he could do. Tai Lung shook his head.
"Let me guess, you want me to load it up and light it for you too, lazy ass?" Tai Lung barked. Tigress was aghast, but the wolf laughed. Tai Lung slid the pipe and tobacco out of the sack, smiling wryly. "Look lively man, look lively! Eyes front, march!"
"Eyes left," the wolf said, glancing at Tigress.
"You're telling me," Tai Lung replied.
They chuckled. Tigress furrowed her brow. They'd just made some sort of reference to her. She wasn't certain the nature of it, but they smiled, so it couldn't have been too bad.
"You're Chinese," Tigress said to the wolf. "How did you end up out here?"
"Same way you … two did."
Tigress and Tai Lung glanced at once another.
"That's unlikely," Tai Lung said.
"You weren't press...ganged?" the wolf asked. "Are you spies?"
"Yes," they replied in unison.
The wolf raised his eyebrows and nodded. "Don't ... have much for ... debrief. Been AWOL for years."
"Did they take you in combat?" Tai Lung asked.
The wolf shook his head. "On R and R. Whorehouse."
Tigress's eyes went wide.
"Mongol horde took all the girls as …. slaves ...press-ganged me into their unit."
"Well!" Tai Lung said "You must have impressed them."
The wolf grinned, baring blood-stained teeth. "The … the girls? You're ... goddam right."
Tai Lung laughed. "No, the Mongols! I hear they only press-gang the worthy."
"I put up a hell of a fight."
"And you can't be killed, apparently," Tigress said.
The wolf winked at her and grinned. "You could kill me, sweetheart. Any … any night of the week."
Tigress made a flustered sound, unable to bring herself to order a dying man to shut his mouth.
"Watch yourself, soldier. You're speaking to royalty," Tai Lung said. "This is Lady Flying Tigress of the Valley of Peace."
The wolf raised his eyebrows. Coughed. "Really? Ain't …. never met a royal...before. And a spy for her Empire? That's...nobility. A thousand … apologies, my Lady."
"I'm not- " Tigress began, but Tai Lung nudged her with his elbow. He was trying to spare her discomfort, she realized. Though it was a fib, it was a thoughtful one. She felt a sudden burst of warmth for him.
"It's fine," she said to the wolf, and gave Tai Lung a slow blink and a slight smile. He gave her a crooked, private little grin in return. Leaned just a bit closer to her, so their upper arms touched. A tiny thrill ricocheted up through her.
"I'd bow," the wolf said said, gesturing weakly to himself with his good arm.
"No, I – please, it's – you're fine," Tigress said, thrown by this lie, flustered by the feel of Tai Lung's arm pressing against hers. "Would you like more water?"
"Got any wine?"
"No."
"Yes," Tai Lung said, and began digging through the pack.
"You have wine?" Tigress asked Tai Lung.
"Yes in fact I do. Why?" he said, retrieving a bottle.
"What were you planning on doing with that?" Tigress asked wryly.
"If you must know, I thought I would share it with you on a cold night," Tai Lung said. "But instead I'll share it with this wolf, he's a tad more appreciative."
"I'm not sure wine will help him," Tigress whispered.
"It – what? Nothing's going to help him!" Tai Lung cried. "Of all the times for a man to drink! May as well send him off happy to the – where is it you wolves go, the Noble Wood?"
The wolf grimaced. "The Heavenly Den," he said. "But I ain't goin' there. Gotta do good … to go there. I ain't never done … a good thing … in my life."
"Well I'm...I'm sure that's not true," Tigress said. "I'm sure you've done lots of good things in your life."
The wolf shut his eyes and shook his head. "Only good thing … I ever tried to do … was this," he said, gesturing to the wreckage and carnage around them. "And see … how that turned out. My lady."
"You feel responsible for this somehow?" she asked.
"I … am responsible for this. Directly. My lady. I was...trying to save them."
"Who?"
"The girls," he replied. "My...my girls."
Tigress furrowed her brow. "Your...daughters?"
"I believe he's talking about the, ah … the prostitutes," Tai Lung said, looking from body to body. Tigress hadn't examined them closely, but upon a second glance she noticed a great many of them wore women's clothing – cheongsams and hanfus peeking out beneath blooded coats.
The wolf winced. "Was living in a border town. Spent … a lot of time with the … the girls. Was drinkin' and whorin' myself to – to death. Trying to forget...forget what I...did."
"What did you do?" Tigress asked.
"You were a mercenary," Tai Lung said.
"Worse than that. Worse. I was a paid ...thug. A killer. All the – the villages I robbed -and the houses I burned – but that house – he paid me so much to burn that house. He fuckin' hated her …. so much …. for marrying the other guy. Hired me to … to kill him. Slit 'em up, string 'em up. That was...supposed to be...it. But he – he -" the wolf began to cough violently, hacking up blood. Tigress made a move to try and fuss over him, but there was nothing she could do.
"It's okay," Tigress "You don't have to talk."
"I do," he said, grabbing Tigress's wrist with a surprising strength. She felt Tai Lung tense beside her. "I need to … tell someone...someone should...know."
"All right," Tigress said. "Then tell us."
He nodded in thanks. "She was...there. She and her...cubs. Tied them up. I killed the other guy...in front of them. He dragged her out of the house and beat...beat the hell out of her. I just...watched. Nothin' I ain't...seen before. But then he said... torch the bitch's house. I said …. cubs are inside. He starts...throwin' money at me. Says … I'll pay you...quadruple...what you'll make in … ten years. Just light it. Just...just light it. Mom was screaming...begging me...not to. But I..."
"You did it," Tigress said softly, her heart sinking into her stomach.
"The babies were … screaming – screaming – and mom, she...she died. Still alive but I...saw her..die, as she...listened to her babies...burn. Died in her...her eyes, long before he slit her throat." he said. "You gotta...understand...never wanted to kill any kids. But I was young, I thought – who needs – a heart? Take the damn thing. Fill my chest with money. Thought I was – I was tryin' to be - the hardest...fucker..alive. But after that I...I died. I died too. Couldn't stop thinkin' about … her eyes. Dreamt...dreamt about 'em. Dying. Couldn't contract anymore. Joined the army...trying to...forget. Went AWOL. Wandered. Stopped at that little whorehouse in that...border..town...and never left. Only thing that made me...feel...anything."
The wolf paused, breathing heavily. The telling of the tale was seeping the last of his energy, but he was driven to persist.
"Mongols...came. Captured us. Mongols were – usin' em. Usin' 'em up. I tried to - I wanted to -free them. Take 'em back to China. They were whores but they were – kind to me. Always so kind. So...sweet, every last...one of 'em. Took care of me when I was...sick. I … bounced the bad...Johns...out the door... for 'em. Kept 'em safe. They didn't – deserve -no one deserves what the Mongols were ... doin' to 'em," he stammered. "I broke us free. Them and whoever wanted to...come with us. All my plan. I had to...get them home. Couldn't...couldn't listen while they burned." The wolf grimaced with the memory. "Couldn't listen while they burned. But..." he gestured to the carnage. "The Mongol soldiers...caught up to us. Just my luck they...they left me alive...to hear it." The wolf's mouth twitched. He shut his eyes tight. "It's...what I deserve. All I ever fuckin' did was kill people. Even – even when I wanted them to - to live. My...my Lady."
Tigress took the wolf's hand. "The girls are waiting for you in the Heavenly Den," she said.
"You're not a wolf...My Lady," he scoffed. "You gotta do good to get into the den. I've never done a good thing in my whole...rotten life. I'm scum."
"You freed those girls," Tai Lung said. "That's a good thing."
"They're dead," he barked, and started to hack again.
"But you tried to save them," she replied. "You followed your heart. Out of the goodness of your heart...whatever goodness was left in you..."
"I loved them," the wolf replied, his voice vibrating with sorrow. "Oh god, I loved every last one of 'em."
"And that's why they're waiting for you in the Heavenly Den," Tigress said, tears pricking at her eyes. "You did a terrible thing when you burned that house. But you tried – you tried to - "
The wolf shook his head against her words. "No," he said.
Tigress took his hand in her and gripped it tight. "Listen. Listen to me," she said. "Anyone can be forgiven. Anyone. Even you."
"No," he said again.
"Even you," Tigress insisted. The wolf shook his head. "Even you. Are you listening to me, wolf? Even you." He shut his eyes tight against her words. She leaned closer. "I forgive you, wolf. I am Lady Flying Tigress of the Valley of Peace, and I forgive you."
The wolf's whole body constricted and he began to weep.
"I forgive you," she repeated. "I forgive you. And he does too," Tigress said, turning to Tai Lung. But Tai Lung wasn't looking at the wolf. He was looking at her, and with a look she'd never before seen in him, something she couldn't quite place. Like he'd been punched in the stomach, but … not quite. Shock, almost, only ...softer. It startled her.
"And he does too," Tigress repeated pointedly.
"I - " Tai Lung said, snapping to attention. He turned to the wolf. "I – me too. I do too. But if she does, then you -then you have the greatest thing in the world. If she forgives you then -then you are truly forgiven."
The weeping wolf took Tigress's hand and raised it to his lips. "Thank you," he said. "Thank you, my...My Lady. Thank you." He started hacking again. Tigress gently lifted his head and held the canteen to his mouth. As he drank she glanced at Tai Lung. He was still looking at her, still with that stunned, soft gaze. Whatever that gaze meant, she liked it, she realized. She liked him looking at her this way.
Tigress glanced at the small sack with the pipe that Tai Lung had placed on his knee.
"Maybe load that up," she whispered, smiling at him. "And open the wine."
o
The wolf's final pipe and final cup of wine were a surprisingly festive affair. He was barely able to choke down his wine and couldn't quite smoke his pipe, but he seemed glad for them, and the company. A weight had been lifted from him, the relief evident in his eyes. He told them his name -Bo Fang- which was his real name, he specified, that he hardly shared with anyone. But the conversation quickly grew dark as he contemplated his fate.
"Still don't know if … I'll get into the Heavenly Den...even with your blessing, My Lady," Bo Fang said. "But there's an...an in-between place. Maybe there."
"I'll light a candle for you," she said. "Intercede with the gods on your behalf."
"We know one personally," Tai Lung said. "Though I'm not sure he's one to grant favors."
Bo Fang smiled. "You two...are more than...I deserve." He raised the wine the wine weakly in his hand in a toast. Tigress and Tai Lung clinked his cup and drank. The taste of wine was growing on her -bright and juicy, the gag on the end fading with each mouthful.
"And that's that," Bo Fang said. He raised his eyes to Tai Lung. "Soldier. It's time," he said.
Tai Lung nodded gravely.
"It's time? Tigress asked. "Time for what?"
"You gave... a dying man... a drink, My Lady," Bo Fang said. "Now it's time for the...mercy kill."
Tigress's eyes widened. "Oh. I – can't we -?" But she knew there was nothing to be done. His back was broken and his stomach had begun to swell with internal bleeding. Even were they at a hospital there'd be little chance he would survive. He stood no chance in the tundra carried between the two of them. She took his hand, her eyes downcast. He squeezed.
"Will it...hurt?" Bo Fang asked Tai Lung.
Tai Lung shook his head. "You won't feel a thing."
"Okay. Okay... good. Really didn't want it to hurt," Bo Fang paused a moment, looking at them with eyes full of gratitude. "You two...be careful out there. The Mongols...don't...treat spies well."
"Don't worry," Tai Lung smirked. "I don't treat Mongols well."
"Good man," he said. He grasped Tai Lung's hand and shook it. "Good man, and his beautiful angel." He pointed at the sky. "I'll be keepin' an eye on you two."
"It will be a comfort to know that, Bo Fang," Tigress whispered. "It's been an honor to know you."
"Honor is...mine. Both of you." He raised his glass again to the sunset. "Sun's going down. Guess we'll go down together. Good-goodbye, sun." He smiled sadly at Tigress, then glanced at Tai Lung, lay back and shut his eyes. "Do your worst."
Tai Lung took a deep breath, then slid his hand facing up beneath Bo Fang. The wolf's ear twitched, almost as if in interest. "Be at peace, friend," Tai Lung whispered into it, and just like that the wolf's breath stopped and he went limp. Tai Lung had killed him via the point on the spine that, when pressed hard enough, caused instant death. The point where Oogway placed the needle inside Tai Lung's prison shell.
He withdrew his hand and sighed. Tigress took the wolf's hands and placed them on his chest.
"Should we bury him?" she asked.
Tai Lung shook his head. "It grows dark. We don't have time." He got to his feet and put the pack on. Tigress hovered over the body for a moment, suddenly reluctant to leave.
"Tigress," Tai Lung said gently, "you did more than enough for him. You gave him a peaceful death."
He offered her his hand.
"You did that," she said, taking it.
"No, you did that. You gave his soul rest. I merely showed it the door." He lifted her to his feet but did not release her hand, keeping it in his as they walked. "That was merciful of you. Incredibly kind."
"I - " Tigress said, glancing down at their hands, wondering why he hadn't let go. "It's – you helped him too. He seemed to already know you."
"I spent quite a bit of time with the Emperor's forces," he said. "I was to be an officer. A general, eventually. A soldier knows another soldier."
"You kept him in good spirits."
"He kept himself in good spirits," Tai Lung said, chuckling softly. "Half dead and still made a pass at you. I kind of admire that."
"Well you put a quick stop to it, with that fake title," Tigress said, smiling. "But why Lady Flying Tigress?"
"Because," Tai Lung said. "You're an angel."
Tigress stopped breathing for a split second. "O – oh," she stammered.
"The wolf was smart. He called it the second he saw you." He squeezed her hand. "Took me a bit longer."
He's holding my hand, Tigress realized. He called me an angel and he's holding my hand.
Her head swam. Her chest burned. They'd both had some wine, she remembered. That was – surely – what was behind this. This wasn't- they didn't – there had never been hand holding before. Hand-holding, and that look from earlier – the way he was looking at her -
She glanced up. He was looking at her that way again, that soft sweet stupid gaze, the way she'd sometimes imagined Lord Xan would look at her when he returned to the Jade Palace to ask for her hand. But it was Tai Lung that had her hand. She glanced down again in disbelief. He hadn't let go.
And neither … neither had she.
Her heart pounded. She had to say something. Anything. "How - how far along are we towards catching the road, do you think?"
He shrugged. Loosened his grip on her hand just to hold it tighter. She held her breath at the feel of his pads against hers, the warmth of skin against skin. "A little more than a week, I reckon. We're making good time. If we keep making good time we'll be back to the Valley of Peace in just under three years. Right as spring hits summer." He smiled. "The Peach Tree will be blooming."
It was a lovely thought. That was the best time of year in the Valley of Peace. The Peach Tree wafted such a delicious scent over the courtyard and into the training hall. And it would be so good to see the training hall again. To see her friends, and her Master.
But what about him?
"Tai Lung," she asked. "What will you do when we get there?
He smiled. "I don't know. Have a look around, I suppose. Take a spin in the training hall." He brushed his thumb over her fingers. "Take you to the sweet shop. Buy you a treat."
She laughed in delighted disbelief. "That's – that's all?"
"Well," he said. "One has to see what's on rotation in the Hall of Warriors, of course."
"Tourist," she teased.
"Ha! I suppose I should wear clacking shoes and talk loudly too? I swear sometimes I could hear them in the courtyard. Difficult to concentrate on form over some pig yelling Hey Lin! Get a fat load of this sword!"
Tigress laughed aloud.
He grinned. "But no. You know what I actually plan to do? Once I retrieve my scroll, of course?"
All at once Tigress went cold. At the mention of his scroll she suddenly remembered who exactly it was that held her hand.
Who presumed to hold her hand.
She resisted the temptation to tear it away. "What will you do?"
His grin turned smug. "I'm going to drain the Moon Pool and see what else lies in Oogway's Chamber of Horrors," he said. "The Black Scrolls were far from the only artifact in there. It's filled with mysterious enchanted things. Things that could make us powerful beyond our wildest dreams. You'll see," he said, patting her hand. "It will be glorious."
Her heart withered in her ribs, watery and heavy. She'd wanted to believe it, she realized. She wanted believe in the man who'd been so kind to a dying wolf, that held her hand and gave her an angel's name. He wasn't real – of course he wasn't– but nonetheless the falling illusion broke her heart on the way down.
She took a big step back from him, jerking her hand out of his grasp.
"Never," she said.
He paused for a moment. His shoulders fell. He rolled his eyes. "Tigress-"
This enraged her. "You know for a second – for a split second there – I almost forgot. I almost forgot that you're nothing but a selfish, spoiled child who will stop at nothing to get his way."
Anger flashed across his face. "Tigress - " he said sternly.
"Not even the Dragon Scroll is enough for you now? You have to raid Oogway's other belongings too?"
"Of course! Tigress, if you had any idea what's down there - "
"I don't care what's down there!" she shouted.
"You should!" he shouted back. "What's down there will make us powerful beyond measure! As we should be! The Jade Palace has never turned out a finer pair of warriors. Everything in it is ours by right!"
"Ours!?" Tigress burst. "As though I would ever join you in this? I would sooner shove a sword through my chest than dishonor the Jade Palace in such a way! You were raised there! It's your home! How is it that you spent your entire life there without understanding a single thing it stands for! Kung Fu isn't about the grasping of power for power's sake!"
"Tell that to Shifu!"
"STOP BLAMING SHIFU!" she shouted. "If I hear you blame Shifu one more time I'll tear your throat out! This is you, this is a problem in you! There's something wrong with you! Nothing's ever enough! It's exactly as Shifu said, it was never enough for you! You just eat and eat and eat! Just like you ate Shifu's heart and left nothing for – for anyone else!"
"For you, you mean."
She flustered but ignored him. "You want to power beyond measure? You don't deserve power beyond measure. Oogway didn't choose you for the Dragon Scroll because you didn't deserve it and this is why. Because even the Dragon Scroll wouldn't be enough! You'd be after the next thing you thought would bring you power, and the next, and the next!"
Tai Lung growled. He tore the pack from his shoulders and let it drop into the snow, glaring at her.
"What are you going to do?" Tigress asked, putting her hands in fists. "What are you going do, hm? Hit me? Go ahead. Do it. Hit me. Kill me, even. It won't be enough for you. Nothing will ever be enough for you. Kill me, kill Shifu. Destroy the Valley of Peace. Take the scroll, take all of Oogway's magical things. You'll still wander hungry your whole life, Tai Lung."
He snarled, the hair on his shoulders and neck rising. Tigress snapped her body into a ready stance and lifted her chin, ready for a fight. Tai Lung's eyes widened for a split second. He made a sound of pure frustration and tore his gaze from her. Took a deep breath. Took another.
"So," he said, still breathing deeply, trying to calm himself. "So when it comes to a dying wolf who killed women and children for money, your heart is a deep well of forgiveness. But for me? Not a drop."
"The wolf showed remorse," Tigress said, not breaking her ready stance. "You've never shown any. It's as though murdering your neighbors rolled right off your back and twenty years in prison taught you nothing."
"So remorse is what you want?" he asked, his voice low.
"Remorse is what should be there."
"You're right," he replied. "You're absolutely right."
She blinked. "I- I am?"
"You are. But you see, what use is the hospital wrecking, temple destroying, people-murdering Tip of the Blade if he's wracked with guilt for every horrific deed he's ordered to commit? Hm? You're smart. You think the author of the Black Scrolls didn't account for that? I feel nothing when I'm in that state, Tigress, and I feel nothing after – just as I was trained to. So as much as I'd like to show remorse for that night, you've asked for the one thing I cannot give." He straightened. Summoned his pride. "But ...Tigress... I can give you everything else."
Her chest and throat began to burn. "Your – your remorse is all I want."
He looked at her knowingly. "No. No, I don't think so. Let's put a fine point on this Tigress, shall we? Let's get down to brass tacks. You are angry because you feel that due to me Shifu did not love you as a daughter. The way you deserved. Because I – what did you say – ate his heart? I'm the sadness of your whole life – all my fault. I'm the cause of all your problems."
Tigress was flabbergasted. "I -" she stammered. "I -"
"Shifu is a fool!" he burst. "And if he cannot see you as a worthy daughter then he is blind as well! He was blind with me, he was blind with you, the man cannot see. And neither can you. All you can see is that I'm the reason you're sad. But did you ever stop to think I could be the reason you're happy?"
No," she nearly choked. "Your remorse is all I want."
He just looked at her. His voice went gentle. "Tigress...I know you're-"
She shut her eyes against tears.
"You know nothing," she whispered, her shoulders falling. "And you don't understand anything. All I want is your remorse, Tai Lung. Without that, there's nothing else from you I can accept."
She did not open her eyes. She did not look at him.
He was silent for a few long, heavy moments.
"I...see," he finally said, his voice flat.
"Good," she replied, turning away from him, her stomach churning sourly. "Then let's keep walking."
She strode off ahead of him, trying to harden her heart, not understand why something she was so skilled at now proved so difficult. Her very body rebelled against each step she took. She wanted to turn around and run to him with apologies, to take his face between her hands and believe in him. She wanted him to call her an angel, to press the pads of her hands against his so she could feel that warmth, that affection – even if that affection wasn't worth much, it was still the most she'd ever felt.
She made a tiny strangled sound.
And I ruined it, she thought. I just broke his heart all over again.
She growled, clawing the thought from her mind. I've ruined nothing! You cannot break what does not exist. He is trying to charm you because he wants to mate with you, and that is all. And the thought of it sickens you.
It didn't. She was famished at the thought of tasting his mouth, of pressing herself to his huge chest, of feeling his breath on her neck. It left her breathless with want. Even he could see she was breathless with want.
She narrowed her eyes. Set her jaw.
It. Sickens. You.
She put her hands in fists. Opened and closed them. Suddenly she took of running on all fours, the tension in her body too much. She needed to move. Tai Lung called after her but when she glanced back over her shoulder he was not giving chase. Good. Now he knew better. And she would keep two and a half miles between them all the way back to the Jade Palace if she had to.
She dashed into the moonlight, the cold night air wonderful in her fur. She breathed deeply, finally finding freedom in the widening space between them. Yet she wanted to weep. And hated the part of herself that wanted to weep. That deep, gutteral part of herself that refused to be quenched by reason.
It cannot be, she scolded it. It cannot be. It will not be. It never was. Shifu did not train you for this. He did not train you to be some man's woman. Especially not THAT man's woman.
She shut her eyes against the moon and ran up a hill. Tai Lung called to her again, his voice closer and more urgent now, but she ignored it. No, she thought, never. I'll be free of you if it's the last thing I -
His hand clapped down on her shoulder. She yelped, opened her eyes, and startled at what she saw before her.
Coming up the other side of the hill was a party thirty strong, armored, carrying torches. They were yaks, rhinos, and horses, all huge, all scarred, all dirty. A terrible reek of death came off them, more specifically off the wagon they drew behind them – filled with rotting heads, she realized.
Tigress and Tai Lung turned their backs to one another in ready stances, as they had been trained when facing an enemy as a team. The leader of the party emerged, smirking at them as he strode up the hill. He was a massive stallion with beads in his matted mane. He dragged a pair of spiked maces, each likely heavier than Tigress. Fur rested about his shoulders. Grey, spotted fur.
The hide of a snow leopard.
Tai Lung growled. She growled along with him. Together they sounded powerful.
"Tigress," Tai Lung said. "Does Shifu still teach from the cookbook?"
It was the colloquial name for the scrolls in which Shifu kept his battle plans. "Yes," she replied.
"Recall a recipe called Shit-Storm?"
She smirked. "Roger that."
"Good," Tai Lung said. "Let's do some damage."
o