Disclaimer: If I owned anything I would be rich, end of story.
Also there is a tribute to a certain animal that through a movie has touched my heart, see if you can find it and see if you know the movie.
Oh this will be a small chapter more or less, but it's important to the story.
Mercy
After Shifu's news he had us start packing for the mission. He sent Crane and I out to the market to collect at least enough rations for us to make it to the next village with a little to spare. As I was walking down the stairs and with Crane flying above me, I looked up at the sky covering my eyes. It was then when I noticed the heat of the summer's day.
After a long silence we made it down to the market and went about finding the food we will need. We walked into a local shop and looked for things we will need.
"How could Shifu not let me defeat the Demon? I mean he was the person who murd-," I stopped, I couldn't continue, it hurt too much. I just picked up bag of rice and shut up.
"Tigress I know," Crane sighed, "But after all you did defy a direct order from our master. Not to mention your paws." He said taking bag of stuff in his beak. He motioned with his head to head back up to the palace and took off.
I looked down and carefully studied my paws. How could I have been so stupid? Although on the other side it was good practice, but I shouldn't have done it in a cave. I sighed and walked towards the palace.
Suddenly I heard muffled screaming and yelps coming from a nearby ally. I walked to the source of the ruckus and hid behind the corner of the street and the ally, dropped the bag of rice I was carrying, and peered in.
"Please let me go I don't have any money!"
A young leopard was surrounded by four snarling boars all dressed in the same black shirts and red slacks.
"C'mon Mao use those claws if you want us to stop oh wait your mommy trimmed them didn't she." The biggest of the group of boars taunted, "Alright sweetie enough fun give us your money!"
I walked out from behind the wall and started for the would-be burglars, but as I did the leopard balled up her fists and socked the boar that was taunting her twice in the mouth and eye making the boar fly to the ground.
Impressive.
"That was a mistake cub." He said getting up and pulling out a strange looking dagger. "Meet your maker."
I grabbed his hand right as it was high above his head.
"No that was a mistake pig." I spat, pulling the dagger from his hand and throwing it aside.
He turned around to see me towering over him, but did something I didn't expect. He growled and threw what I think was a punch at my head.
I easily grabbed his arm, ignoring the pain in my paws, and twisted it behind his back. Then urged on by their apparent leaders half-wit courage the other three boars attacked.
Still holding onto the one pig I side kicked one boar in the head and spun their leader around and threw him into another. Now there was just one left.
He just stood there glaring at me. It was then when I noticed a strange looking patch on his shirt. It had a…grey rhino.
"Hey bacon, what does that patch mean? Who do you work for?" I asked crossing my arms and sending a glare that could start a fire.
"Wouldn't you like to know?" He said, oh well means I get to beat it out of him.
"Yes I would," I said grabbing his tusks as best I could with bandages on my paws. Without saying another word I pulled his head down and brought my knee up. The two made contact with what sounded like a tooth breaking and made the boar flop to the ground holding his face.
I looked over because I heard something and found that the leopard was laughing at the boar's helplessness. But I needed an answer to my question. So I picked the boar up again by his tusks, hoisted him into the air, and slammed him into the ally wall.
"Ok unless you want to know what a twenty foot fall feels like I suggest that you tell me who you work for." I don't think that would actually carry out that threat I just hope he doesn't call my bluff.
"Ok, ok take it easy. We are recruits to the order of The Followers of the Demon."
"Of the Grey Demon?" ok now I was seriously considering dropping him from the roof.
"Yes and once he finds out about this he will come looking for you." He spat with his friends now starting to wake up.
"Not if I find him first." I said back throwing him aside, "Now get out of this valley, if I see you again I will rip you to pieces and have some morning bacon."
He picked himself off the ground and scurried off with his associates.
The young leopard walked up to me, "Thank you for stopping them that was very brave. And with hurt paws no less."
"You're welcome and you were brave too it took a lot of courage to fight back. What's your name anyway?" I asked inquisitively.
"My name is Lagadema, I come from Africa and I am looking for a new life ever since…well I'm looking for a new life." She said.
I knew what it was, it was rather obvious considering I've went through it firsthand. She has lost her family.
"Well Lagadema, why don't you come with me to the orph-,"
As soon as I started that word I shuddered, she is strong like I was, I couldn't let her go through the same hell I did. "Come with me to the Jade Palace."
"Really? That's great! Thank you so much this means a lot to me." she said practically jumping out of her fur with joy.
"Well grab your things and let's go." I said also noticing just how mangy her fur and clothing were.
"There is just one problem with that, this is all I have. I sold everything for a boat ride over here." Lagadema said with a hint of sadness in her voice.
"Oh sorry, um ok let head to the palace." I said awkwardly and waved for the young leopard to follow.
We walked to the edge of the stairs and I looked over at Lagadema and had to stifle a giggle. She had her mouth gaping open with wide eyes.
"Honestly," she said still staring up at the palace, "I thought you were kidding about your palace, this is my first time in this city and I thought that this place was just a temple."
"Nope genuine Palace c'mon lets walk and I'll explain."
We walked up to the top and while doing so I told her pretty much everything. How This was a place of learning the art of Kung Fu, and about Master Oogway achieving harmony and focus with the art. Also about Tai lung, and how a panda became the Dragon Warrior.
I opened the doors to the courtyard where the arena was and where the team was collecting all the mission gear that varied from weapons to a teddy bear for Po.
"Hey guys this is Lagadema." I said and she bowed with a big smile on her face without a trace of being the slightest bit shy. I guess she really doesn't know who we are, "She is from Africa and came here to look for a new life."
"Hey I'm Master Crane,"
"And I'm Viper," she said bowing back.
"I'm Mantis"
"Po here" he said waving
"Monkey,"
"And I am Master Shifu and Tigress I need to talk to you," he said with a slight edge to his voice.
"Yes master, uh Lag, get to meet the team ok?" I said dropping the rice and following Shifu behind a nearby building.
"Yes master?" I asked innocently.
"Tigress you know the rules we can't just take in strangers. Are you trying to get yourself in deeper trouble?" Shifu said staring me in the eyes.
"Yes- I mean no I'm not, but I saved her from the Followers of the Demon. I watched her fight back and saw great potential just as you saw in me. Also, though she won't admit it, I have a feeling she lost her family in Africa and came here to look for some sort of replacement. And with her strength I couldn't put her thought the same misery I went through at the orphanage." I really hope Shifu would accept her as he did me.
"Well you can't replace family. But you can gain new family. You of all people should know this. But there is a more pressing matter at hand. Tigress I know I told you that you can tag along on this mission. I have changed my mind. For lack of a better word you would be a dead weight. I'm sorry you must stay here, and while you are here, see if the leopard indeed has a hidden talent." He walked off with remorse in his eyes and voice.
I just stood there unable to speak a word, but I found the courage or rather anger to do so.
"MASTER SHIFU!" I roared, and watched him turn around in shock, "You won't let me kill the person that MURDERED my parents? All because a couple burnt paws? Why Shifu? WHY?"
"STAY YOUR TOUNG!" he yelled back then grasped himself, "The reason I won't let you go on this mission is because of what you just said. Tigress I know he killed your parents, and the only reason you aren't going with us is because I know that you will kill him. And I don't want for you to go through your life knowing everyday that you ended a life in revenge. Trust me I know, when I was a young man I watched my mother be killed by a rouge burglar," he sighed straying his vision from me as it was too much for him to say.
"I went out after him and tracked him down to an ally here in the village. I walked up to the thief and I remember now him saying something about it was an accident and the money was for his family. But I had no remorse, no mercy and I took the same dagger he used on my mother and I plunged it into his heart. I remember feeling the beating of his heart through the blade and feeling it stop. I remember seeing the life… leave his eyes. Tigress I was no better than him that night. Now every night when I lay my head down and close my eyes I see that panther standing in the ally with the dagger in his heart calling out to me. Asking for mercy, and asking for forgiveness." He finished looking down at the ground and I could have sworn I saw a tear in his eye.
This was sobering indeed and now I felt bad for bringing up those memories. "Master I'm so sorry. I had no idea."
"Indeed you didn't. Maybe spending time with a child that has gone through the same ordeal as you would be good for you." He said calmly now.
"Yes master certainly it would," I said with my voice trailing off.
He turned to walk away, but turned back, "Tigress have you forgiven Po yet?"
Memories of Po and I's conversation back at the aid station filled my head and I smiled blushing slightly, "Yes master I believe I have."
"Good," he said before turning again to leave.
"Wait Master, how long have you known about me, about my parents?" I asked and this time he didn't turn to look at me.
"Tigress, Master Oogway told me when I brought you here. He said it would be part of your future and that I should tell you. But I didn't, I didn't because I being selfish. I didn't because I thought it would affect your training and I saw so much potential for you to become the Dragon Warrior and I didn't want to lose you like I lost Tai lung." He said with so much sadness in his voice that I felt it. "Tigress it is time that I ask for your forgiveness."
"…I forgive you master," I said softly and bowing.
"Thank you, I needed that more than you know." Shifu said walking away.
I followed him back out to the courtyard where the rest of the five and Lagadema were talking.
Shifu turned to address them all and I stopped beside him.
"First of all Tigress will not be joining us on this mission." He said and the whole team exchanged confused glances. "She will be staying behind and training a new student," he turned to Lagadema, "Lagadema I am giving you the chance to begin a new life here at the Jade Palace learning the art of Kung Fu. And as for us we head out in five minutes."
"Sooo they are going to fight the Grey Demon, who everybody seems to say can't be beaten." Lagadema asked raising an eyebrow as the rest of the furious five and Shifu started down the stairs.
"Ya well we are the most powerful warriors in all of China. And we not only protect this valley but if need be, the whole country." I said waving goodbye. "Ok let's head to the living courters and I'll show you your room."
We walked in silence towards the house until I got the urge to ask a question.
"Lagadema?"
"Yeah?" she answered innocently.
I looked over to catch her golden eyes. "What happened that made you come here?"
She didn't answer right away, but sighed instead and looked down at the ground.
"Lagadema if you don't want to talk about it then its fine." I said feeling bad for my curiosity.
"No, no it's probably time it get this off my chest. When I was seven a large rhino came into our house and murdered my father, but left me and my mother alone. My mother was depressed even to the day I turned ten and on that day when mom came back from a hunt and found out that I had a kill of my own. She ran up to feed on it but I ran up after her and I don't know why but I attacked her defending my kill." She said looking back at me.
All this talk about killing reminded me that some still hunt for their food.
"She got really mad and walked off. Then three years passed and our bond wasn't getting any stronger. One day she was leading me to a kill and a troop of hyenas were following us, but we managed to get to the food. As I was feeding I knocked the gazelle out of the tree and down to the ground where the waiting hyenas stole it. My mother was thrown into a rage unlike I've ever seen and she exiled me. So I started to look for a new life and I came here where you so graciously took me in after saving me. And that's why I'm here."
"That's sad, and so you're thirteen now?" I said opening the door to the house.
"Yes and you?" she asked entering the doorway and I could see her exploring every aspect of the house with her eyes.
"Twenty so not that much older than you, ok here is you room." I said sliding open the door to the right of mine, "Not too fancy, but better than nothing I suppose."
She walked in and seemed for the first time, at peace... She had a hard life just like me, maybe even more so with the fact that her own mother exiled her. She was just thirteen! How could a mother that loved her so much just abandon her? This triggered a deep rage within me and I tightened my fists, gritted my teeth, and was growling lowly.
Lagadema noticed this and came over to me and…she did something that no one has done in a very long time. She gave me a hug, and not just one of pity, but one of comfort, of knowing what was going on and trying to help. She gripped me tightly and didn't let go as I sank to my knees, closing my eyes to keep the tears in as the rage turned into sadness.
As we sat there we both started to bawl like new born infants. We balled because for once in our lives we could let out our suppressed emotions, out into the arms of another who has gone through the same hell, same anguish, and the same sadness.
Well there it is, and though it was obvious the character was Lagadema. From Nat Geo's film Eye of the Leopard. Um thank you Black Raider and visitor ana for your reviews keep 'em coming. I will work on chp 4 as soon as I can.