A/N: Well here we are again. I'm here to try and paint an awesome story for you guys, and you are my criticizing audience whom I love dearly. In all seriousness though, let's do this! Quick shout out to Cuaroc and Caris:
Cuaroc: Hey bud, if they wanna read instead of review it, that's fine by me. Reviews don't make the story, the feelings you get from reading and writing it do. Though I am eternally grateful for your help, and praise my friend. He is an awesome beta-reader, and helped me out a lot with this chapter!
Caris: Thank you, thank you, thank you. Criticism is awesome I knew something could have been fixed last chapter, but I didn't know what. I'll work on it
I swear, one last chapter before we get to the nitty gritty. I don't like to rush things in this story. You'll thank me later ;) Let's Rock!
Disclaimer: ... Every time you tell someone you own KFP when you don't, a kitten commits a murder o_0 Do you want to take that risk?
Chapter 5: When the Heavens Cry
Po didn't know how fast they had run... in reality he didn't really want to know. Just as Tigress promised they arrived at the entrance of the Thread of Hope just as the sun sank below the western horizon. The precarious traverse extended for miles across what citizens of China had come to call the Devil's Mouth, a seemingly never ending abyss that spanned for miles underneath the legendary rope bridge. One misplaced step on the treacherous crossing meant agonizing, and drawn out, death to the unwary. This was Po's first time in two decades even glimpsing at the fabled crossing. Needless to say he was excited.
And he wasn't being subtle about it.
"Woooh! The Devil's Mouth!" It was the first coherent thing Po had said after they slowed to a walk when the bridge came into immediate view. For a while all Tigress could make out were desperate gasps for air. She had been pushing him rather hard that day. However, Po's heavy breathing had finally subsided, and the adrenaline still in his veins stimulated his boyish tendencies.
Tigress heaved a heavy sigh upon recognizing Po's token 'fanboy' mode. She set up her mental fortifications for the storm. It came fast and unrelenting. "They say Master Oogway fought the dreaded Demon of Dark Dismay across its entire length. It was probably one of the longest and most treacherous battles ever to take place since the beginnings of Kung Fu history, especially since the Thread of Hope was created a century after the battle. For miles Oogway and the demon leaped and clashed across the Fangs of Hell, and near the end Oogway was almost defeated. But then, drinking from the Gourd of Heavenly Respite, Oogway's strength returned and he sent the demon plummeting into the depths of the crevasse. It's soul, overcome by Oogway's sheer bodacity and pure heart, erupted into an endless sea of fog that expanded from the Cliffs of Great Awakening to the Forbidden Ridge of the Northern Wastes...Awesome!" The panda, barely able to contain his excitement, danced giddily as they continued toward the rendezvous point.
There was once a time where Tigress would have glared a promise of swift death into his eyes for such foolishness, but instead all she did was sigh in relief that the storm had passed. She smirked and shook her head, her ember eyes watching the Dragon Warrior wiggle about like an excited school boy. Po had become more to her than just a silly panda who happened to inherit the title of Dragon Warrior. Over time, his boyish qualities had become rather endearing for her, though she would never admit this to anyone out loud. He was perhaps her truest friend, and she wouldn't change him for the world.
Po's excitement soon settled down and his energetic movements subsided as he approached his silent Kung Fu companion. His jade orbs took in the sight of the huge gateway leading into the mountain pass ahead, it was ominous yet inspiring to behold.
He turned his amazed gaze towards the smiling tiger beside him. "You and the others took on Tai Lung here, right?"
Tigress's smile faded slightly as she recalled the intense battle over the infinite gorge. Her eyes became distant as she relived the fight move for move, punch for punch all over again in her mind. She nodded slowly in response to Po's query. "Yes we did, Po. Tai Lung had just about finished crossing the Thread when we intercepted him." She paused briefly, and turned her vacant eyes toward Po. Tigress, apparently, had his rapt attention- his eyes urging her to continue. His eager stare pulled her back into reality, and she continued the story- adopting her more professional demeanor. "We fought well against him- all of us working together as a singular unit. However, we let our guard down when we thought we were victorious. Tai Lung used this brief moment to strike with a paralyzing nerve attack rendering our bodies useless. We failed."
Po was searching the ground with his eyes, trying to figure something out in his head. "I still don't get it though."
Tigress broke from her poised demeanor, interested in the panda's current thoughts. "What about?"
Po shifted his eyes to his friend. "Why Tai Lung let you guys live. I mean, don't get me wrong, it would have sucked if he killed you. I mean... you and the others, not... just you- anyway." Tigress smiled softly at the flustered panda, it was just a part of his boyish charm that she enjoyed. Po recovered from his momentary brain lapse. "I just seems odd. If he was such a bad dude, then shouldn't have destroying the Furious Five been... like, at the top of his 'Baddie To-Do List'?"
Tigress shrugged nonchalantly. "It's pretty simple, Dragon Warrior. Tactics. Sending us all back to you and Shifu battered and broken was the perfect way to ruin morale and thwart any intentions of stopping him. Tai Lung may have been ruthless, but he was also a skilled tactician."
Po frowned slightly averting his eyes from Tigress's cool stare. Now he had her absolutely perplexed, her dark elegant brows lifting above her crimson orbs. Po's shoulders slumped a little. "I just thought-you know- maybe he did it, because he didn't want to kill you all. Like he still had some good in him underneath all that rage."
Tigress's eyes widened, disbelief and a hint of anger burning behind them. "How can you even say that!" Po's eyes shot back up to her, startled by her sudden trepidation. The hate and aggression behind her words was forcing her to push Po's body to the side of the road. Po soon found himself with his back against a tree- eyes helplessly consumed by the fire which burned in the female tiger's eyes. "Dragon Warrior, you know just as well as any of us what that mad man did to the Valley. His rampage over twenty years ago will forever be regarded as one of the most horrific and tragic events in China's history. His obsession over the title of Dragon Warrior drove him mad enough that he tried to destroy his own home. He even went so far as to wound Master Shifu, his own father, in his blind and ignorant fury." She took a step back and eyed him incredulously, shaking her head. "Don't be foolish, Dragon Warrior."
Her words stung Po slightly, but was he more angered than disheartened by her harsh accusation. He straightened noticeably, a fire burning behind his usually jovially eyes. "Is it so hard to believe that people consumed by evil can change, Master Tigress? Is it so wrong to hope a guy like him could still have good in his heart, somewhere?"
Tigress glared, crossing her arms over her chest. "What's wrong is that you even think he possessed a heart to begin with. If that monster had any semblance of a soul in him, he would have stopped upon gravely injuring his own benefactor. 'Good People' don't hurt others who care for them, panda." She spat the word out, every word seemed to be coated in venom for her.
Po's eyes quivered in disbelief. The green light in them dimmed with sadness as he gazed at the vehement feline. "How can you say that about your own brother?"
Tigress's dilated. An enraged snarl escaped her throat, her eyes becoming mere slits, before punching a hole in the tree next to them. She took a hold of Po's shoulders, claws digging slightly into his skin, causing him to flinch. "Don't you dare say that! Don't you ever call that...demon my brother! As far as I'm concerned, I never had a sibling." Tigress was now seething with rage. "Whatever relation that monster had to Shifu and I was destroyed, along with half the valley that night."
Though in slight pain from her claws, Po was determined not to lose this argument. Something told him it was too important for him to give up now. Even though her eyes held untold anger, he could see a heart wrenching sadness there, too. He could literally feel the pain in her heart piercing his own.
He ripped her paws from his shoulders with a strength he didn't know he possessed. Tigress was taken aback, but only momentarily as she growled at the giant panda before her. The Dragon Warrior glared intensely into the fiery orbs of the Master of Tiger style, cool jade challenging furious fire. "You don't mean that," he stated with finality. "I know in your heart you believed in him just as much as Shifu did. Even though you were so young, you still cared for him like he was your own flesh and blood. He was your brother, and you cared for him. Loved him, as only his sister could." His eyes softened. "I know, deep down, you wanted him to come back to you, so you could all be a family again."
Tigress was shocked. How could he do this? How could he break through every barrier she had built over her heart in the past twenty years? She stared helplessly into his brilliant jade eyes, her paws hanging limp in his firm grasp. Her whole body trembled, but not from fear. She couldn't describe it- she had never felt this way before. She felt vulnerable and weak, but at the same time content and safe. It bewildered the veteran Kung Fu warrior, and she was not comfortable with it what so ever.
She suddenly realized how close her face was to Po's. Their intense breaths intermingling in the small space between them. Both masters were lost in each others' eyes for what seemed like eternity. For a brief moment it was just them and the universe, nothing else.
Tigress was the first to break from the trance, and yanked her paws free from his hold growling under her breath. She put her paws by her side clenching them into fists, turning her body slightly away from Po's. Her eyes hardened once more giving the panda a stern look. "You don't know anything about me, panda. What do you know about what I may have felt? What does it matter anyway? Tai Lung is dead, just as dead as that filthy peacock." Her voice was poison, and her eyes were fierce. They narrowed in supposition. "I suppose you are also ready to forgive the beast that murdered your people, as well?"
Pain immediately washed over the once determined features of the Dragon Warrior. Hurt and anguish filled his irises where that fire once raged. Tigress knew she had gone too far, and the anger that had defined her features gave way to regret. She raised a paw, as if reaching out to the wounded panda before hopelessly dropping it to her side. She closed her eyes and exhaled hard calming her nerves. She turned slightly away from Po, gripping her forearm with her paw and averting her eyes from him. "Forgive me, Dragon Warrior. I- I went too far, there. I should have known better."
Po sighed softly, a sad smile coming to his face. Shifu and Tigress were the only two who he had told about his past. Shifu, because he was his master; and Tigress, because he trusted her implicitly. Even though he had attained inner peace by learning of his past, it still pained him to no end when he dwelled on the prospect.
Tigress felt awful. She knew the subject was of an extremely sensitive nature for him, but still she let it slip. A good friend wouldn't have done that, especially a friend of Po's.
Maybe I really am just like Tai Lung, she thought bitterly. A ruthless monster.
Suddenly, she felt a paw rest on her shoulder. She turned and saw Po smiling softly at her. How could he smile at her like that? Hadn't she just stuck a knife in his heart a few seconds ago?
As Tigress gazed unbelieving at him, Po's smile grew. "It's okay, Tigress. What I said about you and Tai Lung... I should have known it was a touchy subject. It was dumb of me, I'm sorry." Tigress's eyes widened as she felt the pressure of unwanted tears behind them. She kept listening to Po, avoiding any chance of a tear escaping her glistening amber eyes. She refused to let even one free.
Po sighed and looked himself over. "I may be black and white, Tigress, but I absolutely refuse to believe that this is all the world has to offer. Is it too much to ask that someone can change for the better if given a chance? That's all I'm saying."
Tigress couldn't hold back anymore. Finally understanding why Po believed so firmly in what he did, she launched herself at him- embracing him as she did in Gongmen city jail all those weeks ago. Po's small smile grew as he generously returned the hug, causing the female tiger to squeeze harder still.
"I had no idea that having to fight him would hurt you so much?" Her voice was slightly muffled by Po's fur.
Po nodded. "I just wish I didn't have to do it. I wanted something to grab onto, something that would have let me bring him back. I never wanted t- to ki-" He choked on the word as it formed in his throat. It's very presence made him sick and weak all at once. He struggled against his own tears as Tigress's hold on him tightened.
She slowly nodded into his shoulder before turning her head out of his fur so he could hear her clearly. Her once tearful eyes were now placid and calm. "I know Po... I know."
They stayed that way for a time, each supporting the other while fighting back tears that neither wanted to fall. They had each other, and that was enough. The last rays of the setting sun burned across the heavens above them, red and yellow hues mixing with the dark blue of the coming night. It seemed that even the heavens above were in conflict, and the only peace that could be found amongst the chaos was the comfort which emanated from the two embracing masters.
Tigress smiled to herself. She realized at that moment just how much she cared for the panda that now held her, as she him. She knew she would do whatever she could in order to keep him safe. Po had similar thoughts, as well. He became intoxicated by the smell of the jasmine in her fur. The feel of her form against his, calming his troubled mind. What they were sharing then felt right.
As if waking from a dream, Po's eyes widened at the realization that they had been hugging a long time. Slowly, almost unwillingly he eased his hold on the tiger master in front of him. Tigress followed suit, loosening her embrace from around his neck. They both stepped back smiling at one another.
Po realized he was staring and coughed a little before chuckling nervously and turning to scratch the back of his head, taking a sudden interest in the leaves that hung from the tree branches overhead. Tigress shook her head at the childish display, smile remaining intact. "Po."
The panda ended his interest in the tree branches. Ceasing his incessant head scratching he turned to face his best friend. "Uh, yeah?"
Tigress's crimson eyes locked with Po's. "Do you know why you are the Dragon Warrior?"
Po, at first extremely intimidated by her gaze, crossed his arms in front of him quizzically. The question took him completely by surprise. After about ten seconds of intense mind probing he shrugged in defeat. "My natural affinity for all things awesome?" His face twisted into his stupid signature grin at his own joke.
Tigress allowed a small laugh to escape her lips before shaking her head. "No, and it's not your natural 'bodacity' either." She walked up to the panda once more, the distance between them growing exceedingly close. She stared straight into his bright green eyes, his smile waning in its fortitude. He prepared for the worst.
A small prodding into his chest caught his attention, and he looked down to see Tigress's finger poking into the fur. Tigress's smile grew even more. "It's this, Po. This is your secret technique which no enemy, no matter how fierce, can best. This is the only weapon in your arsenal which can never be broken. This is your armor which no weapon, no matter how strong, can pierce. And-" She paused for effect. Po was sure he had passed out or something from an unseen blow she gave to his head earlier. She chuckled lightly and prodded one final time. "And it is what defines you. As a great master, and an even greater friend." She finally backed away from the stunned panda. He unconsciously began rubbing the spot on his chest.
Tigress smiled warmly at her friend. "As long as you never change 'that', you will always be the one and only one worthy of that title, Dragon Warrior."
Po chuckled, his paw still over the spot where she had implemented her finger jousting upon his chest. He nodded appreciatively. "Thanks, Tigress." Tigress gave a curt nod in response, a small smile still tinged her face.
Po's smile turned into a playful pout as he examined his chest cavity. "This Dragon Warrior does bruise easily, I'll let you know." His cocky smirk melted away his cheap facade.
Tigress rolled her eyes and punched him in the shoulder causing the giant panda to wince in actual pain. The ochre tiger adopted an extremely fake apologetic demeanor. "Oops!" Her smooth voice oozed sarcasm. "That one slipped. My sincerest apologies, Dragon Warrior." Her crimson eyes were laughing uncontrollably.
Po rubbed the new raw spot on his upper arm frowning. "Oh, you think that's funny, huh?"
Master Tigress spun on her heels, barely able to hold onto her air of discipline the longer she looked at the disgruntled bear. She coughed into her hand, fully composing herself. "Of course not,Master Po. We have much more important things to worry about than childish games." Po was anything but amused as an ear twitched on his head. "Now let's go, before the others think we have abandoned the mission." With that she turned and flashed him a sly smile before continuing down the road.
Po sighed once more in defeat, his displeased expression giving way to his normal jovial features. Chuckling to himself he broke into a quick jog in order to catch up to the feline master ahead of him. The sun had finally set, and a golden hue tinted the horizon as they arrived at the rendezvous point, exactly on schedule.
As night descended upon the the Valley, the band of Kung Fu warriors sat huddled around a blazing fire. Po was hard at work using his culinary prowess to create an improvised feast with some of their rations. Meanwhile, the Five discussed their plan of action for the rest of the mission.
Po couldn't help but smile excitedly as the Furious Five went over different mission strategies. While he was the Dragon Warrior and, arguably, the most talented warrior in the group, he was by no means a strategist. That is why he often took a back seat while mission plans were discussed. Crane had endeavored to teach Po strategic techniques for implementation in the field. Unfortunately, Po had the initiative to learn, but lacked the ability to comprehend plans on paper.
Po had, long ago, discovered he was more of a 'hands on, wing it' kind of guy. If whatever he did worked, he would adopt into his combat style or learn from the experience. That was after all how he defeated Tai Lung. For now, he was content to just listen to his childhood idols banter back and forth, his eyes trained on them like a plate of dumplings.
Tigress nodded to the four other masters near her. "So we agree. We will rest here for the night. At dawn we will cross the Thread of Hope, and reach the entrance to the Northern Wastes by sunset. Along the way to Lìrùn, we will split up into three teams and check the surrounding villages since we are ahead of schedule. The teams will be Mantis and Monkey, Crane and Viper, and myself and the Dragon Warrior." A pair of muffled snickers came from further around the circle. Tigress paused, eyeing Masters Monkey and Mantis suspiciously. "We will rendezvous on the two days from now on the edge of Gold Valley, a few li outside the borders of Lìrùn. Any questions?"
Tigress paused, waiting for any feedback from her comrades. The snickers soon returned, but this time Tigress caught the culprits in the act. Her eyes centered on the two giggling masters, but they continued in spite of her notice. "Would you like to share the joke with the rest of us, you two?" Her voice was cold as winter wind.
Monkey shook the green insect on his shoulder, a cue that it was his turn to deal with the short tempered feline. They both chortled once more before Mantis jumped from Monkey onto Crane's hat. Crane, not quite comfortable with the focus of Tigress's anger above his brow, squirmed in place eyeing Viper nervously. The serpent could only shrug while struggling to contain small laugh.
Mantis smirked as he stared straight into the eyes of the ochre feline next the avian master. He shrugged turning away and closing his brown eyes respectively. "It's nothing really Tigress. It's just funny for me and Monkey. I don't think you would get it."
A vein pulsed impatiently in Tigress's temple. "Oh, I'm sure we would all love to hear it Master Mantis. Do let us in on it." Crane and Viper eyed each other, both now equally worried.
Mantis crossed his forelegs in front of his chest, a smug grin slowly forming on his face. he opened an eye and looked back at the now agitated tiger. "I don't know..." As he egged the feline on, his langur friend had begun to bust a gut in anticipation.
Tigress leaned forward toward Crane's hat. "Try me." Her voice was low and dangerous. Mantis couldn't resist the challenge.
Besides... the lady asked for it.
Quickly whipping around, Mantis stared Tigress dead in the eyes. A twisted smile formed on his mandibles. "Monkey and I were just talking about mattresses."
Tigress blinked, not sure if she heard the insect correctly. "Mattresses?" Mantis nodded. "Why?", she asked.
She had taken the bait.
"Monkey has been complaining about his bed a lot lately. Says it's too lumpy. I told him he should stuff it with something else." The bug's twisted smile grew even more sinister. Monkey was stifling under controllable laughter.
Tigress, once driven by mere frustration toward her "friends", now had her curiosity peaked. She eyed Mantis questionably, leaning slightly back on her haunches. "What did you suggest?", she stated against her better judgement.
This cannot end well, Crane thought, desperately trying to figure how to save both him and Mantis from this rash decision.
The green insect wriggled his eyebrows at Tigress causing her to stare at him, utterly perplexed. He snorted as he prepared for the punch line. He braced himself for whatever fate awaited him afterwards, but the reaction from his feline cohort would be well worth it. "I told him to shave some fur off of Po and use that instead, seeing as you can't seem to-"
Before he could finish, a yelp escaped his throat as Master Crane quickly threw the bug, along with his hat, off into the forest. Monkey hooted and cackled at the spectacle clapping his hands in sheer enjoyment.
Where Tigress had once been eyeing a small brown-eyed bug, now she stared into the nervous gold eyes of her winged friend Crane. He winced in spite of himself as her flummoxed gaze probed his eyes questioningly.
Monkey gasped, trying to calm his hysterical laughter. He grasped his forehead and sighed, laughter still coloring his voice. "Hoo hoo hoo, it was worth it just to see him get thrown!" He continued chuckling to himself, not noticing that a certain green serpent had disappeared from her spot around the fire. "I thought for sure you were going to kill him and Crane, but it would have been worth it to see your face when he mentioned how you and Po are-"
Suddenly a slender green tail coiled around his neck ending the laughter He gagged and wheezed, Viper poking her head out innocently behind his back. She winked at Crane, before turning her attention to the confused and annoyed tiger. "Well, I think Po probably has dinner just about done don't you, Master Crane?"
Eager to end this little fiasco, Crane bobbed his head in agreement. "Why Master Viper I believe your assumption is correct. Tigress and I will go assist him." He stood and motioned for Tigress to follow before walking towards Po's cooking fire.
Tigress eyed Viper suspiciously. The cerulean-eyed snake only smiled sweetly as monkey continued to struggle against her vice-like tail. Tigress rolled her eyes and followed Crane.
As soon as they were out of ear shot, Viper released her hold on the golden langur. Once free, Monkey collapsed on the ground, his lungs taking in all the precious oxygen it could hold. Mantis had finally made his way back to the fire and hopped on Monkey's back patting him reassuringly. They both glared at the tree viper daggers.
"What was that for?", they both exclaimed.
Viper rolled her eyes before whipping them both upside the heads. "You two idiots are lucky Crane and I stepped in, and saved your sorry butts." She sighed in frustration. "You two know absolutely nothing about women."
Though Po had been unconvinced that he had created an adequate meal for his teammates, he appreciated the praise he received during the meal. At the Palace, it seemed like all Po made for them to eat was noodles and dumplings. Having a meal which included more than that was a treat for them, even it was was made from basic rations.
Mantis's face was buried in a piece of sweet bread which Po had created for a dessert. He lifted his head out briefly to breath and compliment the monochromatic chef. "Po... when I finally die I will have only two regrets. First, I won't get to see what my kids grow up to look like; And second, that I will never get to eat your cooking ever again."
Po chuckled and waved the compliment away. "Pffft. Come on man, I'm not that good. Besides, I hear that when you die and join the rest of your ancestors in the heavens, you eat meals like this all day none stop." He paused and grinned, patting himself on the stomach. "I'd give myself and Mantis a day before we get kicked out."
Mantis smirked, and began laughing. "They'd give me a day. You, they'd give five minutes!"
All the men around the fire broke out into hearty uncontrolled laughter. Monkey, who had been busy devouring what was left of his noodles, was now choking on the remnants of his dinner. Crane, chuckling in spite of himself, raised a wing and began slapping the unfortunate langur on the center of his back to clear the blockage. Monkey was saved from this unfortunate bout with the noodles. Unfortunately for Mantis, said noodles dislodged themselves from Monkey's throat and catapulted toward the unsuspecting bug master. The impact sent the insect flying two feet from the fire, his body covered in cold, wet noodles. The boys paused looking from one to the other. Monkey and Po started snorting from contained laughter. It started all over again, every male master around the fire was cracking up. Even Mantis, who had dug himself out of the noodle mess on the ground, rejoined the festivities.
Their two female companions only watched as these fully grown men made complete fools of themselves. Viper was coiled on the ground, gracefully eating her food while smiling warmly and allowing herself a few good laughs here and there. As the shenanigans progressed, she turned to she her best friend smiling contentedly. She followed Tigress's gaze until her eyes fell upon a panda who was currently reenacting a confrontation between him and Shifu a few months back.
She had never seen Tigress look at anyone in that way. She knew that Tigress and Po had become even closer in the past year, especially after Gongmen. Tigress smiled a lot more than she used to especially when Po was around, but this look was different. It wasn't just compassionate or friendly. It was... pure affection.
Tigress noticed she was being watched and turned to see her friend grinning from flower to flower. She immediately put up her defenses, she knew that look on her friend all too well. "Why are you staring at me like that, Viper?", she said in a relatively hushed tone, she did not want to bring attention to their conversation.
Viper eyed her knowingly, a crafty smile forming on her lips. Tigress absolutely hated that look, she growled lowly in response. She abhorred whenever Viper thought she spotted something she was hiding. It made her... difficult to deal with.
Viper put on airs of innocence, before shrugging in response. "Oh, nothing Master Tigress."
Tigress went deadpan. Her unimpressed expression saying infinitely more than words ever could. Viper only glanced at her slyly, before rolling her eyes upward and away from the mirthless feline.
Tigress sighed and groaned internally. I must not act on my emotions, it is exactly what she wants me to do. Either that or she wants me to kill her... it is under consideration.
"You know, I never noticed this, but the Dragon Warrior is quite charming." The feline felt a familiar warmth grace her cheeks, her gaze turning on Viper almost instantly. Her eyes went as wide as soup bowls. Viper gazed at the panda, who was still regaling the other three guys with stories of his restaurant antics. "It is a wonder why he has never brought anyone back to the Jade Palace before. Unless, he does have someone and they like to spend private time alone where we can't pry." The serpent flicked her tongue and looked at the flustered tiger next to her.
Tigress immediately stood up from her spot and began walking away from the fire. Po was in the middle of choking himself, acting out a spat he had with the leader of a small mercenary band when he was a teen. He noticed Tigress leaving and stopped mid suffocation. "Where you going, Tigress?"
The South China Tiger halted her motion at the sound of the panda's voice. She turned slightly looking at him and the others. "I am going to go patrol the area before we turn in for the night." She looked down at the ground briefly. When she looked up again, Po was wearing a concerned look on his face. She gave a small reassuring smile for him, to ease his concern. "I will return shortly." Po's face lit up slightly, and he nodded.
Before anyone could say anything else, she turned and left the fire. The light from the blaze clung to her back briefly before she disappeared into the darkness.
The stars shone bright that warm summer night. Up in the sky, the heavenly bodies danced and twinkled against the dark blue canvas which covered the entire world. Watching the spectacle unfold before her, a lone tiger sat on a large boulder overlooking the vast expanse of the Thread of Hope. Down below the legendary bridge, the ancient mist which floated above the foreboding abyss glowed eerily in the surrounding darkness.
Tigress was leaning back on her paws, her tail swaying lazily on the surface of the large rock. Her bright irises scanned her surroundings, a small content smile tugging at her lips. Her smile dropped, though, as she heard the sound of someone approaching from the tree line. She remained still in order to lure her quarry into a false sense of security. Every muscle in her body tensed in anticipation for the attack.
Her eyes dilated as a spike of adrenaline pumped through her veins at the moment when she was about to strike. That was until she heard a voice say, softly, "It's a beautiful night isn't it, sister?"
Tigress immediately relaxed as the Green Tree Viper slithered up beside the boulder, her kind cerulean eyes glowing. "Would you like some company?" Viper looked up at her ochre friend, smiling sweetly.
Tigress kept her vision to the sky above them, her interest solely in the dance the heavens were performing for her. She quickly glanced at the patient snake on the ground before giving a curt nod in response.
Viper immediately accepted the invitation and leapt from the ground to the top of the giant rock with grace and precision, landing herself right next to her friend. For a long while, they both sat there and gazed up at the heavens in wonder.
Viper looked from the sky to the tiger and held her kind stare until she caught Tigress's attention once more. Tigress glanced at her indifferently acting as though the snakes gaze didn't bother her in the least. She had been lying to herself a lot that night.
Viper sighed and looked away sadly, surprising the feline causing her to show concern for her friend. "What is the matter, sister?" Tigress rarely used such endearing terms with her friends. However, since something seemed to generally be bothering Viper, she knew it was necessary to help cheer up her friend.
Viper smiled sadly in response before turning to Tigress with concern coloring her bright eyes. "Would you believe me if I said I was worried."
"About the mission?", asked Tigress sincerely.
Viper shook her head. "No. About you."
Tigress narrowed her eyes, confused. "I... don't understand. Why?"
Viper connected with her shining crimson eyes as if trying to convey her thoughts to Tigress. When it was clear that she still did not understand, she sighed heavily turning her head to face her directly. "Tigress you are the strongest person I know. You have a resolve that, no matter what happens, never falters in the face of seemingly impossible odds. You are a true leader, and rightfully command the respect of everyone you meet. We have all come to accept you as a leader, a friend, and even family. You may not know this, but you are important to all of us." Tigress nodded in understanding, waiting for her friend continue.
Viper looked away nervously, she knew Tigress was not going to like this. "I know you care about all of us, and the last thing we ever want is for you to feel you have failed us in some way." She swallowed in anticipation. Realization began to dawn on Tigress. "What happened in Gongmen City-to Po... it wasn't your fault."
Tigress looked back to the stars. Her face was blank and unreadable, but her eyes churned with a she of emotions. Emotions she was not used to feeling or even close to comprehending. Viper knew she had opened a sore wound, but it needed to be done. It was the only way to keep her sister safe.
She slithered closer to the quiet tiger. "I can only imagine how you must have felt thinking he had- left us. But I want you to realize that we all felt horrible that day, and the only one to blame for what happened was Shen. Please! Don't keep throwing yourself into this pit of blame with you have created."
Tigress smiled sadly, sitting up straight and gazing regretfully at her paws. She clenched them a few times before setting them into her lap. Her amber orbs gazed off into the distance. "It really is dumb, isn't it? I have spent my whole life training to not feel anything. To become this unbreakable weapon of justice. Then a big stupid panda falls from the sky and changes everything." She pauses to let out a bitter laugh. "Viper, besides you, I have never been able to talk to anyone about what I... feel. I had a father who only treated me as a student, and a brother who betrayed everything he ever knew for the sake a worthless stupid title. Not exactly a comforting family situation."
She smiled sadly at her own weak joke, Viper never took her eyes off of her. "Po... the Dragon Warrior has made me feel things I don't understand, and have never felt before. I haven't discovered what it means yet, but- I like it. Over the past two years, I have never felt so close to anyone in my life. To lose that so... instantly- it should never have happened. I allowed emotions to cloud my judgement." She stopped, her eyes glistening in the starlight. She shuddered. "He was dead Viper. He died, and there was nothing I could do."
Viper's eyes hardened and her tail whipped out taking a firm hold of her arm. "You have to stop this!" Her usually gentile voice was now firm and commanding. Tigress was slightly taken aback. "You failed no one. Po is alive! He came back to us, and saved China in the process... again. We all knew the risks when we became masters Tigress, Po as well. It is not your duty to protect him all the time. You need to let what happened in the past go!"
Tigress's face suddenly contorted into a fierce snarl. Her fist clenched and she slammed it into the surface of the rock next the angry snake, fracturing the surface. She turned her burning gaze on Viper, eyes screaming with bewildered sadness. "How can you say that, Viper? After, all he has done for us, for our family, you suggest we forget what happened that day? What we lost?" Anguish and pain darkened her voice. If she was looking at anyone else besides Viper, they would have gone mad with fright. "Well I won't! I refuse to ever let that happen, again!"
She paused, anger draining from her face only to be replaced by immense hurt. She breathed in sharply, clutching her chest as if she had been struck by another cannon blast. In response to the sudden pain she pulled her legs in to her chest and squeezed as hard as she could.
No, not now. Not like this. She urged her body to maintain control.
A few tears fell from Vipers reddened eyes as she saw how much pain her sister was in. She slithered closer, cautiously, hoping she could help her. Tigress's eyes were shut tight and her body was shuddering violently as troubling images flashed in her mind.
The steam and smoke from the furnaces burned her eyes, and singed her fur. The glow from the many fires only added to the air of desperation as she fought her way toward the panda. She tore through legions of wolves and gorillas in order to reach him. She could see it all over again. The peacock leaped onto his weapon, malicious intent burning in his cold, blood red eyes.
His voice was venomous. "Let me... HEAL you."
Her heart stopped, and time slowed to a crawl. Her heightened senses catching every last detail as Shen dragged his iron clad talon across the fuse on the weapon, sparks shooting out from all different directions.
She needed to go faster, she had to reach him. To stop what was about to happen.
She saw Po's face fall a moment later as he too understood what was about to happen. He raised the wok he was holding to his chest, bracing himself. He turned his eyes briefly to Tigress.
The canon fired, a huge flaming ball of metal flickered and spun in the dimly lit factory towards its intended target. Her mind was the first thing to scream in horror. As she broke free from the wolves which held her down, she sprinted with all her might. Po looked at her, the corner of his mouth curving up slightly. He was smiling at her.
Suddenly the smile was gone, replaced only by the painful scream of her friend as the weapon made contact with his body. She had never screamed so loudly in her life, even then her heart was screaming louder still. She got close enough to feel the hot metal singe her fur, and smell his along with it before falling over from the force.
The next thing she heard was a sharp crack, as he was flung through the opposite wall. However, she couldn't tell whether the actually noise came from him or from within her. Tigress remained motionless on the gangway staring at the newly formed hole in the factory wall.
She felt weak. For the first time in her life she had nothing left in her body to give.
As wolves approached her cautiously and shackled her body in chains, for the second time in the last two days, she felt nothing. Her senses dulled, and even as her captures dragged her body across the wooden planks of the walkways she could feel nothing.
She was thrown into a corner of a prison cart with the rest of her comrades. They were defeated, and she had failed the only one he needed her most.
Suddenly, she heard a voice in her head. She looked around and saw Viper yelling at her. At first she couldn't hear her, but slowly her senses came back into focus.
She heard, "sister... sister... Sister... SISTER!"
Tigress woke from her trance, and turned to see a scared Viper shaking her violently, eyes red from shed tears. Tigress immediately embraced the snake close to her, short internal hiccups escaping her lungs. Viper, surprised by the sudden hug, looked at the tiger holding her. She saw fear and pain plastered all over her face, it was heart breaking. Viper Wrapped her tail around the shoulders of her sister, returning the hug. She cooed to the feline, like a mother soothing the cries of a scared child.
Tigress's body still shook with each sharp breath she made. "I can't lose him again, sister." Her voice was so small and fragile, like the smallest breeze could shatter it into a hundred pieces on the ground. "I- I can't." She gasped in between words, her body's shaking eased and her body slowly became still.
Viper closed her eyes and placed her head in the crook of her neck. The white fur of her throat and chin embraced her readily. "Oh, I know sweet heart." The tiger continued to breathe, each breath becoming less labored each time. Viper cooed once more. "I know."
As the two sisters sat together on the boulder, clouds began to roll in from the east. Slowly, the sky was covered by a thick blanket of moisture, shielding the stars from view.
Then, the surface of the boulder was dotted by a single droplet of water, followed by another. Soon, the once texture-less surface of stone became dotted by an infinite amount of water droplets as a slight drizzle passed over the Thread of Hope.
As the two female Kung Fu masters sat together on the rock, each looked up into the heavens. It was as if the heavens themselves wept in sorrow.
Moisture stained the fur on Tigress's now calm face. If she had let a single tear free that night, no one would have known.
Feng awoke from his sleep with a start. He had never remembered having such an awful dream in years. He frantically searched around the room to make sure nothing was wrong. He would have gotten out of bed and grabbed his Dao blade if it weren't for the calm and heavy breathing of his wife next to him. He sighed and looked down at the female red fox beside him.
They had only been together for a few years, but for the seasoned Imperial guard they had been the best years of his life. Feng had been serving in service of the Emperor for seven years now, and after a long year away from his home he was finally granted leave to be with his wife, and their five year old son.
Life was perfect, and he loved it.
Suddenly, his trained ears caught the sound of something coming from outside the house. Though he was sure it was just some local kids running around late at night on a dare, he decided not to take his chances.
Slowly getting out of bed, the grizzled red fox stood up stretching the kinks out from yesterdays farm work. He went to his closet and pulled out his cloak, which his wife had knitted for him during his last leave. He glanced at his Dao which lay hanging on the post of his bed next to his side. He shrugged grabbing the hilt of the curved imperial blade, and tied the gold embroidered scabbard sash around his waist.
Before leaving the room he turned and looked at his wife Lin. She was so peaceful and content. She was the most beautiful creature in all of China to him. He walked back quietly to her bed side and leaned over next to her ear. "I love you, my blossom." He quickly kissed on the forehead, and knew she heard it as the smile on her face grew even larger before she rolled over into deeper sleep. Chuckling to himself, Feng threw the cloak over his body, and headed down the stairs of his farm home.
The air was moist from the recent drizzle that evening, he inhaled the crisp cool mountain air. To the south, he could see the first rays of the sun lick the very tops of the mountains which formed the edges of Gold Valley. Within the valley lay the prosperous merchant town of Lìrùn, the central trading hub for the northern provinces. He had been given this land as a gift for his exemplary service to China, and also as a first watch for any potential bandit raids on the town. Luckily for him, most bandits often tried to use the mountain routes to attack caravans and the like so they would not draw the attention of Imperial forces. This let his section of the trading routes relatively easy to patrol and keep an eye on. It was a dream job. He smiled to himself before stepping off his front porch.
As his pads touched the moist earth on the ground a chill went up his spine. However, it wasn't because of the temperature, it was the middle of summer for the gods' sakes. No, something in the air did not sit well with him, it gave him an eerie feeling. It became stronger as he looked up the road leading north.
Off in the distance he thought he could see a figure walking down the road. He squinted to see if he could make out more clearly who or what it was. While he saw no face, his nocturnal eyes could clearly make out a billowing blue cloak trailing behind the figure.
Hmph... must be a traveler making their way to the town, he confirmed in his mind.
Even though he was sure nothing was wrong, his gut still told him to grab his gear from the barn. While dwelling on this, he looked back up to see if the figure was still there. There was no one there. Going on his instincts he acted quickly moving to wooden structure near the road.
Feng opened the front doors to his barn and lit a torch near the entrance. He walked into the back of the building and opened up the tool locker. He removed a key from his waist pocket and opened up a locked chest containing a set of imperial armor. The red and gold armor glimmered in the torch light of the barn, a prideful smirk curving his lips.
Imperial officers are well respected in these provinces. Shouldn't be too hard to figure out who this stranger is like this, his smirk grew into a confident smile as he began to buckle the armor to his chest.
Once he was satisfied that he looked professional enough, he turned and headed for the entrance adjusting his sword sash as he strode. When he reached the door he placed his hand on the latch.
The same cold chill ran up his spine for a second time causing him to turn around quickly. He could have sworn he heard a voice as well, like the howling of wind. Now, more concerned for the safety of his family, he lifted the latch of the door.
Slowly he walked outside, he paw subconsciously grasping the hilt of his blade. Something was definitely wrong now, he could feel it crawling in his blood. He turned his gaze up the road once more.
The figure was back, only standing a half li up the road.
Feng knew danger when he saw it. He ran as fast as he could to the front porch of his home, he needed to be with his family then. As he reached into his pocket for his house key he felt nothing, but fabric. He had left his key in the barn. He turned to run back and grab his cloak when he felt a sharp pain enter his chest.
He looked down in front of him and saw what looked like a crude obsidian blade lodged in his chest. He coughed up blood, his vision blurring. The sword slowly withdrew from the wound. He followed the blood stained blade with his dimming eyes, as he collapsed onto his knees.
The fox saw a tall figure, clad in a midnight blue cloak as dark as the sky, a hood pulled over its face. The figure went down to a knee and leaned forward, placing the hood near the dying soldier's sensitive ears.
"What do you hold most dear?", a voice more chilling than death emanated from underneath the dark hood.
Feng's eyes began to droop, he was bleeding out. He was dying. His thoughts turned to his family, laying asleep upstairs in his warm home. He pictured them all outside in the fields during the spring time, his wife's hair blowing in the warm breeze. His son giggling in his arms as he tossed him up and down. He smiled, blood staining his white lips.
"My- my family.", he whispered to the figure.
It nodded slowly, leaning back. Slowly, a black aura erupted from the cloaks arm hole and the black blade slid out smoothly from underneath it. "May you be guided to them in the afterlife."
As the figure stood once more, the barn behind it erupted in flames billowing the dark fabric surrounding it. Feng looked up at the figure's face as it stood before him. From the blackness of the hood, a pair of flaming orange eyes met his, setting his soul on fire.
A/N: Yep that's right folks... I'm a tease. Also, chalk another one up for the "Awwww" board. I hope everyone has had a fantastic week. I actually started this chapter on Sunday, and I have been working through it ever since. I know what some of you may be saying write now. 'Hey, Wra1th. All of this stuff is super fancy n' cool n' all, but when are going to see some action.' To that I say... soon?
In all honesty, I have no idea when things are going to get crazy. I thought it was going to be this chapter, but inspiration hit and I acted. In any case, I really think next chapter is when things get serious. I just don't want to rush things and ruin a good experience, you know? I would hate to cheapen things now so I could get into some action sequences.
In any case let me know what you think. Review/Subscribe/PM. I hope everyone has an awesome next week, and I will endeavor to have the next one up by Saturday. Rock on my homies!