Chapter 16

Tigress woke up early next morning. The day before didn't bring much excitement. Felix had decided that it may be best for them to stay still for a couple of days, in cause anyone was looking for them. He would leave Tigress on occasions to find food for the two of them or else a way to ascend the wall of the valley they were in. Felix had climbed up a tree to try and get a "bird's eye view" but discovered that they weren't in a simple gorge but a massive valley. To think such a life giving place would be situated beneath Chor Ghom Prison. Any more exploration would just get them even more lost and rescue after that would be impossible.

Tigress yawned slightly and stretched, feeling around for the wall so she could grab something on it to pull herself up. Her ankle still ached badly but at least she could limp slightly…that is if Felix would let her limp at all. Felix would always make sure she would sit where he could see her, never trusting her to be by herself, for fear of her endangering herself by walking too much or something petty like that. But right now he was asleep…so she could try and move around a little.

Tigress limped to the cave's entrance and looked out. She was just about to walk out when she heard a bush near her rustle. Jumping slightly, Tigress eyed the bush warily. Before long, the thing in the bush came out slowly.

"Master Shifu!"

The little panda turned around and smiled up at his pupil. "Tigress…it's good to see you're ok."

"Thank you, Master, but what are you doing here? I thought you were away with Po…" Tigress said, remembering to bow as she talked.

"We had returned slightly ahead of schedule…Po can be a rather quick learner with the…proper incentive…" Shifu gave Tigress a knowing smile. "But enough of that…where is your friend?"

Tigress blushed slightly and pointed into the cave where her "friend" was sleeping.

Shifu didn't seem to notice the blush. "We you must wake him. I have to get moving."

Tigress nodded. "Of course, Master…but what are you dragging with you?" Tigress gasped as she saw the thing that Shifu was pulling along behind him was Lang's body. "Is he…?"

Shifu shook his head. "I did not kill him…but in order to bring him with us without fuss I had to…subdue him…"

Tigress nodded slightly before entering the cave and kneeing next to Felix, shaking him slightly. "Felix…come on…we have to go…"

Felix awoke at once and looked up at Tigress. "Where are we going?"

Tigress moved aside and gestured at Shifu. "Master Shifu came looking for us…"

Felix got up quickly and bowed to Shifu. "Master Shifu…it's an honor to finally meet you…"

Shifu held up a hand to silence Felix. "We have time for this later…right now we have to get you two back to the temple."

Felix nodded as he lifted Tigress onto his back and walked out. "How do we get out of here?"

"There's a small part of the canyon wall that is climbable. We can get up from there…" Shifu explained.

"But what about…" Tigress pointed at Lang's body.

"Well…we'll just have to find a way…" Shifu said with a sigh.

"I'll carry him…" Felix offered.

"What? All by yourself? You can't possibly carry me and him at the same time…" Tigress said, startled.

"I can make two trips…" Felix shrugged.

"Are you sure? It won't be an easy task…" Shifu said, hesitantly.

"I never expected it to be." Felix replied.

After a while Shifu gave in and lead him and Tigress to the section of the canyon wall that was climbable. When they reached the section of the wall, Felix set Tigress on the ground and picked Lang up from Shifu.

"Back in a couple minutes…" Felix muttered before starting up the canyon wall.

Shifu and Tigress watched him for a good ten minutes before he climbed higher than the fog above them. It seemed like very tiring work, seeing how Felix had to take several breaks. But, after 20 min, Felix was making his way back down. When he got to the bottom, he slumped against the canyon wall, panting heavily.

"Are you ok…?" Tigress asked, kneeing at his side and stroking the side of his face tenderly.

Felix leaned into Tigress' hand and nodded. "Yeah…just need a minute to catch my breath..."

Shifu smiled at the scene in front of him. He wouldn't have believed it if he weren't watching it for himself. For once in her life, it seemed like Tigress had opened herself up to someone, more importantly a male outside the members of the Furious Five. If she could trust Felix like that, Shifu would gladly accept and trust him.

Felix was soon getting up and dusting off the bottom of his pants. "Alright…let's get going…"

Tigress cursed herself for needing to impose Felix with the task of carrying her, but with her ankle, there was no way she would be able to climb. Carefully she got onto his back and he started to climb. But just as he started to climb, a shout tore through the air.

"SHIFU!!!"

All three turned to see Mei Hu, barreling out of the trees and bushes, landing in the clearing with them.

"It's you!" Felix shouted and was about to leap back down from the wall before Shifu stopped him.

"Get out of here now! Get Tigress to the top and get yourselves back to the temple!"

"But Master!" Tigress called, but Felix had already started to climb. "Felix what are you doing?!"

"Look I'm sure the Master can take care of himself…but if that leopard is here then that means Xue Hu and the cheetah aren't far behind…we have to get you out of here first…" Felix said, climbing with renewed vigor.

Down below, Mei Hu was advancing on Shifu.

"I didn't think I'd see you this soon…" Mei Hu said, her voice livid. "But that just makes it all the better…now you'll pay for what you've done!"

"Young one please listen to me…" Shifu said, backing up.

"Lang tried to listen…he tried to listen to you and those stupid guards from before! But they still tried to lock us up…and now look where it's got him!" Mei Hu threw a kick at Shifu, who dodged easily. She then tried sweeping him off his feet, but Shifu dodged that too. "Stay still!"

"Rage clouds your mind…you won't beat me as you are…" Shifu said calmly.

"Shut up!" Mei Hu screeched and punched at Shifu. Shifu placed his hand on her's and pushed himself up and kicked her in the cheek.

Shifu took the chance as Mei Hu recoiled to climb up the side of the canyon.

Mei Hu staggered back from the blow that Shifu had given her, and when she looked up again, he was no where to be seen. Mei Hu gave a loud yell of frustration that echoed up to the top of the canyon.

Shifu sighed as he reached the top of the canyon and looked around. Felix, Tigress, and Lang weren't there, but tracks showed that they had headed back to the Valley of Peace. At least for tonight, they can rest with ease…