Chapter 6: Hardcore Tigress

Well I hope you all review and enjoy this chapter.

(Tigress Age 13)

A dark gloomy winter storm shadowed the small orphanage and the lighting screamed across the sky as it seemed that the whole world was crashing all around. Tigress was never the same after that fateful night. When her leg was healed she insisted on staying in her room and demanded that all her meals were to be brought to her. Even after the caretakers went on a relentless search for Rees they always came back empty handed and every time they would return it would wound Tigress even more. Why do they keep getting my hopes up? Tigress would always think as she sat in her room isolating herself from everyone. Many times the kids would try to get Tigress to come outside and play with them. But every time they were met with insults and growls. As time went on all the children that grew to care for Tigress and call her their friend ended up finding families leaving Tigress right back where she started all those years ago. Where all the new children started calling her a monster again but unlike last time Tigress payed there words no mind as if she never knew they existed. All her days were spent thinking about Rees,and her nights were plagued with horrendous nightmares about Rees and what might of happened to him.

"I couldn't save you. I am so sorry Rees I let you down and now your gone" Tigress cried to herself as she did every day.

"Tigress are you there?" Mrs. Lu said from behind the locked door.

"Go away it's not even dinner time!" Tigress yelled.

"Tigress, me and the other caretakers are really concerned about you and we wanted to know if there is anything we can do to make you happy again?" Mrs. Lu asked. Tigress got up from her bed and opened her door and saw Mrs. Lu's pleading eyes and said.

"I appreciate your concern Mrs. Lu but nothing you say or do will make me happy again I didn't just lose my best friend that night I also loss my innocence." Tigress said plainly. Tigress turned around and made her way back to her bed but before the door closed Mrs. Lu stopped it and peeked into the room.

"Is this what Rees would want?" Mrs. Lu asked. Hearing Rees's name sparked Tigress's interest. Tigress thought about what he would say at that exact moment and she sighed.

"...No he wouldn't" she said saddened.

"No is right Tigress Rees would want you to be happy and live your life not wallow in pity and grief. You have changed Tigress you have changed into a beautiful strong young lady and you have Rees to thank for showing you how to have fun and how to live and if he was here right now he would want you to live your life" Mrs. Lu said with a grin. Tigress smiled and hugged Mrs. Lu.

"Thank you Mrs. Lu you're right Rees would want me to be happy and live my life" Tigress said as she became rather uncomfortable. "I also wanted to get this off my chest it's been on my mind for years. Mrs. Lu?". Mrs. Lu looked up.

"I want to leave the orphanage by myself" Tigress admitted. A look of horror crossed Mrs. Lu's face.

"Tigress you can't be serious the world is a big scary place for a young teen like yourself. Who knows what could happen to you:you could be poor, homeless, without a family to care for you" Mrs. Lu said concerned. Tigress stood up and looked at the repaired wall in her room.

"Mrs. Lu when me and Rees were younger we made sorta a promise to each other that even if we didn't have families adopt us that we would go out into the world and live a life together…. like if we were a family" Tigress blushed remembering that day. Mrs. Lu smiled happy to see her in a good mood again.

" I also want to leave because I know that Rees is alive and he's out there somewhere and I need to find him he's my friend and my family and I never leave a friend behind." Tigress said confidently. Mrs. Lu looked down at the floor and sighed.

"I see...well it seems that I won't be able to stop you so Tigress you have my blessing to leave and find Rees we will help you as much as we can to get you started on your journey ." Mrs. Lu said with a smile. Tigress was so happy that she hugged the goat again and swung her around the room.

"Ok Tigress let me down" Mrs. Lu laughed. Tigress set her down and smiled back.

"Sorry I'm just so excited" Tigress laughed.

That day the caretakers spent the day packing Tigress a backpack full of food,clothes, the ball Tigress and Rees used to play with, a map, and whatever money they could give.

"Now Tigress I know you have a lot of places to look but before you go hiking around China I want you to see an old friend of mine his name is Shifu he lives in the Valley of Peace and he could provide you with more supplies and a place to rest for the night" Mrs. Lu said handing her the pack.

"Thank you thank you all so much for everything you did for me and I promise one day to return the favor" Tigress said looking at all the caretakers. Tigress said her goodbyes to the caretakers she didn't bother to say goodbye to the rotten children who continued to torture her the last 3 years. She stopped in front of Mrs. Lu and tears were on the verge of falling but they both held them back. Tigress bent down and Mrs. Lu gave her a hug.

" Be safe Tigress I have a lot of faith in you and between you and me" Mrs. Lu said happily .

"You were always my favorite" she said with a wink. Tigress laughed and said goodbye as she started the long walk ahead of her. The sun was going down and Tigress kept walking and didn't dare to look back.

Night fell an Tigress made herself a makeshift fire out of some dry leaves and twigs. Tigress tried to warm herself up but the icy winds were beating on her hard. Her teeth started to chatter and to get her mind off the cold she remembered the night when Rees was so cold and she insisted on sharing her bed with him. Tigress knew that he was nervous but she was able to convince him otherwise. That night Tigress had the warmest and happiest night of her life and she closed her eyes and started to drift off to sleep. Crickets chirped and the frozen branches swayed in the wind the snow was fine powder that was untouched by travelers when suddenly a black hoof disturbed the untouched snow bringing a stampede of creatures into the night. Tigress woke up startled but she relaxed when she saw that the fire just went out. Tigress tried to get it started again but to no avail. Tigress was poking at the fire she looked into the deep dark forest and she froze when she saw silver swords glinting in the moonlight.

"Well well well look what we have here a young female Tigress I've never a tiger before" The leader said dramatically.

"What do you want?" Tigress asked scared to hear the answer.

"You and your stuff now come quietly and no one gets hurt at least not yet" The leader said menacingly. Tigress became furious it was like something in her had change she could feel her strength coursing through her and she roared in anger. She charged the bandits and before they could move a muscle Tigress took out the two warthogs standing beside there leader with a flying kick. Then she flipped and took out two bandits with a crushing blow breaking both there noses. Tigress kept fighting and fighting but there were just too many of them and every time she knocked one down two more would take it's place. Tigress became overwhelmed and she was pinned to the ground with her hands behind her back. The leader stood over with his sword above his head.

"Your more trouble then your worth kid so were going to cut you loose and the best part there is nothing you can do to stop it" The leader said as he brought down his sword. Tigress squeezed her eyes tight knowing it was the end. But she opened her eyes and she was alive she got up and she didn't see any bandits she sighed with relief she looked for her pack and she found it by the fire that was roaring at this point and when she saw a small hooded figure warming himself by the fire. Tigress approached cautiously.

"Who..who are you" she said a little timid. The figure removed his hood and in the fire's glow a red panda with two large ears smiled at the young Tigress.

"Hello young one I am Shifu".Shifu said while giving her a bow. Tigress bowed back and smiled.

"Hello Shifu I am Tigress" Tigress said sweetly.

"Oh so your the Tigress that Mrs. Lu was talking about." Shifu said.

"Yeah I am how do you know Mrs. Lu" Tigress said curiously.

"Me and her play Mahjong with Mr. Ping in the Valley of Peace every month" Shifu explained.

"Shifu where did those bandits go?" Tigress asked. Shifu chuckled and pointed to the bushes behind him. Tigress went behind the bushes and saw a large pile of the bandits that attacked her all of them were knocked out.

"Did you do this?!" she said in amazement.

"Yes this old man still a few old tricks up his sleeve" Shifu said rolling up his sleeves Tigress laughed at his joke.

"Well Mrs. Lu told me to find you and she said that I could get a place to sleep tonight is that ok?" Tigress asked as a cold wind made her shiver.

"Of course any friend of Lu is a friend of mine and a sweet little girl like yourself shouldn't be out here in the cold." Shifu said as he motioned for her to follow him. Tigress dusted herself off and started to follow Shifu. They came to the Jade Palace and Tigress was very winded by the large flight of stairs that she had to climb. Shifu placed his hands on the doors and looked back at Tigress.

"I hope you are very comfortable here Tigress" he said as he opened the doors.

Well what do you think good? bad? uhhh? Review! Anyway have a great day from me and many best wishes. Newguy100