As An Apology

He was intent on her leg, propped up on his knees as he tightly wove the bandage gauze around the entirety of the knee and calf. His paws were gentle, he felt the tendons in the ligament tense though at the pressure he needed to apply. The wound was a deep one and didn't want to stop bleeding, Po felt incredibly guilty. It was painful for the both of them, for Tigress it was simply due to the intensity of the injury but for Po it was his heart.

That blow was supposed to be for him. So each time he circled the wrappings around her wounded limb, he uttered an apology, which only awarded a wag of the tiger's lovely head. Her grunts and hisses of hurt didn't help. The long sword stained red beside them was the source of the problem, he'd pulled it out when the fight was done.

"It wasn't your fault, Po," she told him, he lifted his eyes to her.

"This cut should've been on my leg, not yours," the panda replied with his little black ears pressing flat.

"But it isn't because I wouldn't let that happen," Tigress stated matter of factly, meeting his eyes.

He began knotting the bandaging tightly, not wanting all that hard work to come unraveled. Po used his chi to help mend the slash and slow it's bleeding, there was only so much that could do. Manipulating the very fabric and energy of living things was a intense endeavor. It left him drained and tired, his paws felt warm from where his chi had come from, like soft fire licking below the surface. Despite his recent mastery he still had a long way to go with his abilities, especially in the mystic healing arts his species once knew so vividly.

The panda flared his nostrils in frustration, his stomach felt uncomfortably knotted. She always played guardian angel for those around her, it was a role Po admired vastly about her. Her sense of duty and passion for the ones she loved, Tigress wouldn't ever hesitate to lay her life down just for the sake of others. Innocent strangers were given the sacred honor of her selflessness.

Even as undeserving as he, Po could only think, she would proudly die for. When a sword wielding bandit went to impale his blade into the distracted panda, Tigress stepped forth to interfere. She'd fought bravely through the enemies to reach him, she showed no mercy with every precise strike. Tigress shoved the Dragon Warrior aside, she'd taken the blow herself, angling her body as a shield.

The bandit struck clean once into her calf, buckling the warrior to her knees before impaling the sword right through the limb, leaving it as it were the next 'Sword in the Stone'. Her shout haunted his head, short but filled to the very brim in pain.

Everything seemed to have slowed down around him when he witnessed his friend be cut down. Despite being mortally wounded she still defended herself, reaching with her arms to flip the foe over a nearby cliff. His screams faded into the distant fog below. There were more bandits around them thanks to an ambush. Po felt rage boil within him now that she was hurt.

Tigress struggled on one knee, hissing furiously to get back into the fray. Po didn't give her the chance as he hurried to be at her side, gently pushing the wounded master to stay still on the ground. She'd appeared mildly delirious from the intensity of the wound and adrenaline pulsating through her system. Trusting him entirely the tigress had relaxed to the best of her ability, slumping heavily onto her haunches to shakily press her paws at the bloody patch upon her leg. Po stood a protective wall in front of her, fists balled and arm extended out to ready himself a fight.

Somehow with the help of Inner Peace and the desperation to save Tigress he sent those bandits running one by one. He'd moved like water, flowing as he skillfully deflected each bandit one by one. Entirely defense, the panda used their own momentum against them. With tails tucked between their legs, the foes scurried off home to mama.

It was only after could Po tend to his friend, Tigress gently walking him through the basics of tending to a puncture wound. Pulling the sword out was a terrible experience he'd rather not wish to replicate any time soon. He was sure by how glassy her red eyes had become that Tigress nearly blacked out. Somehow the screech of pain was bit back by a pitiful whimper that turned into a sharp squeak.

And here they were now, slouching in exhaustion in the belly of a large series of canyons. Bloody and bruised, Po was drained and judging by the way Tigress fought to keep her eyes from hooding over spoke volumes of her own tiredness. Still she valiantly remained as alert as she could, eyes scoring the cliffs above them and ears pricked for the slightest noise.

Regardless they weren't safe out here, their senses were dulled by weight of fatigue. Especially poor Tigress.

"We must keep moving," Tigress announced, voice ragged and heavy. She still carried about her air of commandment, she struggle to stand.

"Wait, are you serious? Tigress!"

"No, Po," she snarled, teeth lightly glistening from her open mouth. "Those bandits will return, we can't stay here." She stood on her good leg with most of her weight, the injured one folded awkwardly, kneeling.

"And you can't walk!" The panda exclaimed in return, reaching out to hold her at the shoulders firmly. "Tigress, listen..."

"You listen, there will be more of them. Do you understand?" They met each other's eye in a stare down, reigning for dominance.

Po saw how tired she was, felt it beneath his paws as she tremble. The fight was draining out of her, the usually so vibrant red eyes of hers dull. Eventually she found herself looking away as a wave of fatigue crashed over her. Tigress fell to her knees, Po catching her against his broad chest. He kept her upright, feeling the labored breaths against his throat.

"Look, we gotta get you somewhere safe." Po got to his feet, bringing the delirious Tigress with him. His arm looped against her muscular back, feeling the tension in her spine as she strain to support her weight.

His green eyes scored the cliffs desperately, knowing they needed a sheltered spot to hide from the elements and threat of the bandits looming. Tigress lifted her chin up and without missing a beat, she gestured down a darkened alley of the canyon.

"That way," she only said, gritting her teeth painfully.

Listening to the tiger master, Po practically carried her through the narrow rocks down the canyon, her feet dragging through the dirt as she'd given up trying to find her footing.

The weight of her eyelids suddenly became too much. With darkness surrounding every single one of her senses, Tigress could only lean her face against his collarbone and trust as always he would keep her safe. She clutched his fur with her fingers, as if holding him would keep her concious.

"I got you, Ti. It's okay." His voice sounded as if she were under water. The guilt he felt stung more than any wound. He could have prevented this, if only... Po was back in Gongmen's harbor, floating in the murky waters of war as he found Tigress gripping driftwood weakly. She'd saved his life and in exchange was all too willing to forfeit hers.

Again he was useless, holding her and hoping what he could do next would be enough. Only this time, he was doubtful, seeing as the tiger was slowly shutting down in his arms.

She felt his nose against her cheek, air ruffling the fur there. Warm arms had suddenly surrounded her tightly, the ground vanishing from beneath her. Tired as she was, the tiger didn't fight it, the weight of her injury finally hitting her. Only sought out the familiarity of her panda as she sunk her face further into his fur. Something wet plopped against her brow followed by soft, hushed sniffles.

"I'm sorry," his voice echoed to her, sounding so far away.

Her last hold on reality finally collasped, giving out one long sigh as she let herself fall into rest. The finishing words of the tangible world hit her but Tigress was convinced it was a figment of her imagination.

"I love you."