Chapter 4:
Somewhere in China…
Twenty years. Twenty cold, hard years of waiting. His mind screamed to lash out, to change something about this terrible fate, but there was nothing to be done. All he could do was wait. Wait and hope for the day of justice to arrive, to wait for the moment when his chains of injustice would break.
Bai Jian sighed and tapped his fingers on the wooden table, "…..we can't do anything about it, Lěng Jìng. You'll just have to wait."
Lěng Jìng glared at the Southern Clan leader, "My patience is wearing thin, Bai Jian. I've tried being fair, but without our agreement, I can't hold you to your word. I know you're an honest man, but a deal IS a deal. My scouts have scoured the land, and yet they haven't found anything. The Xiong are closing upon your people, you need help. I need a wife for my son, you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours, right? I suggest you do something about this, or you won't like the results."
Bai Jian nodded, "I understand." With that, he stood and exited the room. Where is she? He thought. The clan leader walked into the soldier's barracks, calling for his commander.
Da quickly entered the room, "Yes?"
"…Send your best soldier to find Lei Huang."
Kneeling down, the commander of the army accepted his order, "Yes, Master."
Bai Jian turned to Da, rolling his eyes at the "humble" position he was in, "Get up, Da. Honestly, you think you'd be more casual."
Da straightened and face his leader, a smile forming on his face, "Just protocol, Bai Jian, just protocol. You remember Ju-Long, correct?"
The clan leader thought for a moment, his hand scratching his orange and black head, "You mean that little skinny kid with the huge head?"
Da nodded, "That's him, only he's not so little anymore. I think he'd be our best man for the job. Come on, I'll show you."
Bai Jian followed the slightly smaller tiger out of the meeting room and down the hallway. Pictures of the Tiger Clan lineage scattered across the wall. His father hung up there, the tiger's face noble and strong. A long scar ran down from his cheek and curved on his neck. Bai Jian knew what the damaged skin was from…the Xiong. They had taken away the mighty leader, leaving Bai Jian in charge at a very young age. He was sixteen when the cold hand of fate hand allotted him in this position. Despite being underage, the offspring of the strong leader proved to be a creditable chieftain also. Years went by, and Bai Jian gained the people's trust as he defended them from the dreaded leopards. There was one disadvantage to this though, Bai Jian's heart. Slowly, overtime it had turned to cold, hard ice. Yes, he did care for his followers, but with no surviving family, his heart was immune to love. That is, until Liang Hu came into his life. When Bai Jian first met her, it wasn't under normal circumstances. (Story soon to be posted under A Gypsy's Lie)
Da's voice snapped him back to reality as he called out Ju-Long's name.
"Soldier Ju-Long, report!"
A male tiger stepped up to the two felines. Bai Jian's eyes widen as he took in the tiger's harden body. Every part of him screamed warrior. His black and white fur hid muscles when he stood at ease, but Bai Jian knew better than to be fooled. The black markings on his face showed off the high cheekbones adorning it. He wore a leather thong around his neck, the symbol for "Courage" hanging from it. On his torso was a white shirt, opened at the top with rolled sleeves. For pants, he wore dark brown cotton like material. They were loose all over except for the waist and ankles.
"Well," Bai Jian commented, "You certainly look promising."
Ju-Long bowed, "Thank you, Bai Jian."
"Commander Da and I have a mission for you,"
His eyes brightened, relishing the idea of a challenger, "What is it?"
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"OOOOW!" Po cried as Tigress undid the pressure points on his mouth.
"Geez," He rubbed his tender mouth, "Paralyzing my mouth so I couldn't talk isn't what I call fun. A vow of silence? Is that really the best you can do, Tigress?" He asked, cocking a head at her.
The feline sighed as her tail swished back and forth, "I couldn't think of any better idea. Go pack your things, we're leaving in an AAAAH-" she groaned as another stomach pain shot through her body, "in thirty minutes, so be ready."
The panda nodded and shuffled to his bedroom, having regrets about making the famous Death Soup.
Tigress made her way to the student quarters. She grabbed another change of clothes, a dagger, and a few medical supplies in case they ran into any trouble. Better pack extra provisions for Po, she silently added.
Thirty minutes and several belly cramps later, the two masters left the Jade Palace.
Po thought of a way to get revenge of Tigress for making him unable to talk temporarily. "SO, Tigress, have you heard anything from Yijiro?" He nudged her, making the feline stumble slightly.
A pain hit her again, but this time it wasn't her stomach. Tigress closed her eyes tightly for a moment, remembering the prawn who had helped them defeat the clam. It had been months since she heard any news from him. "I'd rather not talk about it."
He smirked, "You don't have to hide from me, Tiggy. We ALL know that you totally crushed on him, almost as much when I crush Mantis by sitting on him."
Her face remained stone hard. "Stop it, Panda. You know that Master Shifu has advised us to steer clear of romantic entanglements. I intend to follow his every word... And don't call me 'Tiggy.' "
Po shrugged and they kept walking. He was obviously getting nowhere with her. Tigress's heart cracked as she thought of Yijiro. He was the first romantic encounter the feline had, but now it had died. She at first assumed that he was busy, probably chasing escapees and fugitives in Japan, but as the weeks and months went by, there was only silence from him. Of course, Tigress knew better than to get tangled up in childish dreams; it was dangerous for any master to have a significant other, it would distract their mind from their skills. Still, like any other girl, the tiger master still had a tiny, microscopic speck of longing down in her heart.