A/N: I don't know. I just… Write. And I have no idea of which story to update. Sorry, but I am just so tired. Concentrating is like the hardest thing ever. When I get free to school, and have to practice theater in six hours everybody. I am just drained.

But at least I write something.

I do not own Kung Fu Panda.

Stripes of a Tiger
Friends

It had taken some time to get used to them. Suddenly, she was not alone anymore, and she did not know what to think about that.

Viper had been the first to come.

While the snake had been smiling brightly, Tigress' expression had been cold. She had been fifteen when Viper became a student, and the tiger had been at the Jade Palace in almost ten years.

She did not like changes.

But the snake's smile had never faded, and already the first evening she had decided to take a talk with the tiger. It had been… strange.

It had been something new. Something Tigress had never tried before. She was not sure of what to think. In the start she had been suspicious. How could she know if she could trust them?

Friendship did not exist in her world.

"I think you would lovely with some makeup!" Viper exclaimed as they both sat in the snake's room. "Though, with your stripes you don't really need it."

Tigress lifted an eyebrow in response.

Viper started giggling. "Don't you see it?"

The tiger shook her head, remaining quiet.

"You look beautiful," the snake praised her. "Natural. I know I haven't seen a tiger before, but you are like-"

"Please stop," Tigress muttered, ears flattened against her head.

"Why?"

"Because it doesn't matter anyways. Men don't want a woman who can kill him if she wanted."

Viper widened her eyes. "But if there is love, then you will never do that! Not that you would do that at all but-"

"I have eyes," Tigress eyes. "I can see. Also how people look at me." She shook her head to get rid of those thoughts. "Not that it matters; I am just here to protect them."

Viper did not dare to say more, but changed subject. Tigress heard her tell about her family, but the tiger never talked of the orphanage. Viper only got to know because of Shifu who by accident revealed Tigress' little secret about her past.

After Viper came Monkey and Mantis, almost at the same time. They were friends from the first minute. Seeing them laughing together, Tigress knew there would be troubles.

Pranks.

How many times had she roared at them when they pushed her nerves?

But she forgave them. In the end.

Even after that one time where they painted her fur black.

And she had to admit; when someone could fool her then they were quick.

Plus, they could fight. How many times had she tried crushing Mantis with her paw only to find that he could lift it away?

Monkey… How many times had she tried catching him, only to see him disappear up in a tree?

It had taken her some time to get used to them. Especially while training. Laughing or joking had never been a part of it before.

Though, she kept her mask, even while they were there. She had to be the stern one. The one who should look after them.

And so she did.

Even in battles, she would make sure that they were alright, all while fighting her own bandits. It was just to make sure that nothing would happen. That no one would get hurt.

And slowly, without anyone saying it out loud, she became their leader. It just happened naturally.

They listened to her, and she knew what to do.

Then Crane came. He was… different than the others.

Tigress liked him, respected him. He was quiet normally, but sometimes he would open up and laugh with the others. He was loyal and friendly; she admired him for that. No matter how quiet he could seem, he would always be more open than her.

She tried… But they all eventually that it was just how she was. A lone tiger. She was their comrades, she would fight for them. They lived and trained together. They learned that this was just her.

The first time they called her their friend, she was mildly shocked. Lying in her bed that night, she kept repeating the word over and over in her brain.

Friend.

She remembered wanting to be that in the orphanage. Later she gave up.

But now she had friends. They became her only friends.

Then Po came…

That was… difficult.

Tigress had to admit that she wanted him gone in the beginning. But as she understood that he actually would stay, she knew she had to change what was going on between them.

She too was tired of the cold silence that was when they were in the same room.

But she just did not know what to do. Even with her friends' encouragement, Tigress still hesitated. The panda was probably already tired of her anyway.

She had not exactly been… friendly when he had arrived.

Then one day she entered the kitchen to eat some tofu in silence, only to find that she was not alone in the room.

"Hey!" Po called from the other end of the room. "Want one too, eh?"

Tigress looked up to see him holding Monkey's jar of cookies. She lifted an eyebrow. "No thanks."

"Sure?" he asked her and put another almond cookie in his mouth.

Seeing the crumbs on his cheek, she replied, "Sure."

"So," he started, too sitting down on one of the chairs. "Rough training today, huh?"

Tigress stared at her paw, suddenly forgetting that she had come to get something to eat. "Tried worse."

"Well, yeah… Can imagine that."

She lifted an eyebrow as she did not understand.

He saw it and explained, "You are… well, you and so gotta… Train...? Hard…? You know what I mean!"

"I see."

"So… Never been tired of training before?"

"Tired from training."

"That's something else…"

"I know."

He tried to read her face, but failed. "I guess you must be used to it. How long time have you trained here? Ten years? Fifteen?"

"Since I was six."

That left him stunned. "That's… Wow."

"So yes; you get used to it."

She rose to leave, suddenly not hungry anymore. As she stood in the doorway, she heard him call out, "That's like really awesome."

And then, she knew she should say it now. And she did. "I apologize for… how I was."

He waved it off. "Nah, that's alright. After all I wasn't exactly supposed to be here."

"But you are, Dragon Warrior."

He grinned. "Thanks."

She gave him a short nod and then turned around the corner. But just as she did, he called again, "See ya later, friend."

Tigress was not sure if she deserved them, but she knew she would give everything for them.

A/N: And then came the others. Finally. So… What's next?

Next letter; G. Next word; Greed.