Chapter 3
It was raining and she was deep within the forest. Just until last night, she had been living at the temple. Now, she was within a cave, bound and gagged. No matter how much she squirmed, Tigress couldn't get free. A shadowy figure towered above her, and she watched him with fearful amber eyes.
"My…aren't we a pretty little thing…" The figure growled.
Tigress struggled more and finally managed to remove her gag from her mouth. "Why are you doing this?! Master had already started to forgive you…and then…you do this…why?!" Tigress asked, tears welling up in her eyes.
"If I'm not chosen as the Dragon Warrior…then there isn't any reason for me to stay at the temple and act all, noble and…honorable…and…all that worthless stuff…" A fur paw stroked Tigress' cheek, making her flinch. "Besides…I prefer it like this…"
"B-but…why…me…?" Tigress' tears began to fall in fear of her captor.
"Why…? Because I knew about your feelings…I know how you feel towards me, little Tigress…"
Tigress blushed deeply at how her secret being found out. "I-I…I never…"
"Don't deny it…I see it in your eyes…you adore me…" The paw rubbing her cheek descended down her face and down her neck, shoulder, then along her sides, making her shiver.
"I…I…I would never love you…never!" Tigress snapped.
"Ah…but my young Tigress…you do…and you know it…I've seen you…watching me with those gorgeous eyes of yours…"
"T-that's not true…" Tigress whispered, as if trying to convince herself that it wasn't true.
"Oh…but it is…and you know it….don't dare try and deny it…" The captor forcibly pressed his maw against hers. Tigress' eyes widened as she started to struggle even harder than before, trying to push her captor away as he kissed her.
Finally, Tigress managed to push her captor away but fell to the floor in doing so. There was a snicker as Tigress landed, her rear sticking up in the air. Tigress felt a clawed paw slip into her waist band, causing her to scream. "Don't you dare!"
"Oh, my sweet Tigress…I dare…"
"No!" Tigress screeched. "TAI LUNG!!"
There was a flash of lightning, and Tai Lung's appearance was illuminated. Tai Lung roared with laughter as he descended upon the crying tiger.
"TAI LUNG!!" Tigress woke up in a cold sweat. She looked around to see that she was still in her room. She sighed as she fell back onto her pillow, her paw covering her eyes. She had been having that same nightmare for the last several nights now. Her only explanation was her sudden increase in her training regime. For the last month she had increased her training to at least twice as much. Her fellow members of the Furious Five we understandably concerned for her. Everyone knew her well enough to know that when ever Tigress decides to do extensive training, it's to keep her mind of something. Viper knew exactly what her mind was own.
It's been a full four weeks since Felix left and they've heard no news about him. Surely by now, he was cross China's borders. The others, excluding Viper, thought that Tigress would be the most relieved to have him out of her hair, but it was the exact opposite. Every night, before they were to turn in for bed, Tigress would sit, leaning against The Sacred Peach Tree of Heavenly Wisdom. and stare off into the valley.
But that wasn't what bothered her this morning. What bothered her this morning was her disturbing nightmare. She felt…her past was about to come back and haunt her…
Just then, Zeng came flying into her room and crashed into her door frame.
"Z-Zeng? What are you doing?!" Tigress asked, getting out from under her covers.
Zeng, still on the floor, held up his held up his foot where a piece of paper was tied crudely to his foot with a rope of vine.
Tigress unsheathed a claw and cut the vine from Zeng's leg and took the piece of paper, and read what was on it. Master of the tiger style, Master Tigress, I hereby challenge you to a duel. You will meet me at the southern most edge of the valley by noon, that is…if you ever wish to see your friends ever again. Pray that this stupid bird reaches you in time… There was no signature or seal.
Tigress rushed out of the bunk house and started to search the grounds for the other masters, but they were no where to be found. Panicked, Tigress rushed back to the bunk house which, thankfully, Zeng still laid. She quickly picked him up and set him on his feet. "Who gave you this?!"
"I-I don't know…all I know is that it was a large white tiger…that's all!" Zeng cowered under the fiercest of the Furious Five.
"It can't be…" Tigress' breath was caught in her chest and she pelted out of the temple and entered the valley. People stared as one of the masters from the temple ran past them.
When Tigress reached the forest that marked the southern most part of the valley, she found the place completely deserted.
"Felix! Felix?! Are you there?!" Tigress called out, breathing heavily.
"Felix…that's not what father called me…"
Tigress whirled around to see a large white tiger prowling towards her, but it defiantly was not Felix. This tiger was much younger, younger than her even. Behind him was Crane, Viper, Monkey, and Mantis, all bound together.
"Just who do you think you are doing something like this?!"
"Be careful, Tigress! He claims he's the son of Tai Lung and he has the strength to prove it!" Viper shouted.
"H-his son…?" Tigress felt her heart skip a beat. "Y-you're…"
The tiger smiled. "The name's Xue Hu…I'm home…mother…"