Chapter Three: Splitting Up
Red was relieved by Harmony and the big ox fell asleep. She saw him shed a few tears and knew it was because of Shade. Soon the sad noises were gone and all she heard was his gentle breathing. Harmony looked all around listening to the night sounds. Of all the places and things she and Po and the other six have done. This was one thing she never thought they would be doing. But if one of them were in a place like this then Shade would save them. Harmony just hoped they could save Shade. To lose a member of the family was like putting a knife into Harmony's heart.
Before the six all she had was Po and even before him her life was a blank. Her first memory was waking up in some woods all alone. She had no idea what her name was or where she came from. Just that she was a tiger and her memories were blurred. All she could recall was living in caves and eating berries. When she came to that village being picked on and taunted for being a white tiger, something she had no control over. How scared and angry she was and then how Po changed her life. If she never met him she shuddered at what she may have become or even if she would be alive now.
Looking into the flames as she watched them dance. It reminded her of the days where she would dance in the streets with Po playing music. Being chased by obnoxious guards and trying to survive in a cruel world who threw them away. When they met the six that is what they called themselves. The throw aways for that is what the world did to them. Threw them all away and left them to take care of themselves. Each one having abilities to help the others survive. But they separated to keep everyone safe for they feared of Golden would still hunt them. Yet, they always kept in touch and Harmony knew her life was an odd and difficult life. If she had to live it all over again she would in a heartbeat.
Soon she grew tired and Tai-Lung took the second watch. Unlike the rest he was given a good life but got greedy with power. Tai-Lung looked around the shadows listening for any attackers. He still couldn't believe how his life turned out. Yes, he was an orphan unaware of who his parents were or why they abandoned him. But Shifu found him and gave him a home and even a name. According to Shade that was much more than Harmony and Po had. Just thinking about that little mouse brought tears to his eyes.
He, at one time was a good person. But the thought of being the Dragon Warrior corrupted him making him want the power to be stronger instead of helping people. Shade was given a worse life then he did and had powers. Yet, unlike him she who could have given into the darkness fought it and tried to make a good life. Why he never knew all these people here even Po and Harmony could easily take over all of China and no one could stop them. Instead they wanted to help the very world that treated them worse than dirt.
Tai-Lung heard vaguely from Shade how they were all treated. That Golden came to their villages and destroyed their homes. Each of the six had no clue if any of their parents or home was still intact. To Po and Harmony Golden took more than their home or parents but their identities. At least the six had their names but Po and Harmony and no names. Living all alone and unwanted by the world.
Then Tai-Lung's mind wondered to Tigress and how she must have been treated. Po told him that she was in an orphanage and was feared for being a tiger. Locked up in her room and even when Shifu adopted her that he barely gave her any love. Tai-Lung felt guilty for he caused Shifu to be that way. Not only did Tai-Lung ruin innocent lives but he ruined the life of someone he never met.
He didn't deserve to live. In his mind he should be the one dead not Shade. She was a silly mouse for leaving the safety of Red's shoulder. To jump in front of that fireball to save him, a monster that didn't deserve any form of kindness. But she called him her family and how she always protected her family. That melted his stone cold heart. How could she call him her family? He was the reason she got captured and killed. Tai-Lung was going to destroy all of China to be the Dragon Warrior. If Golden didn't betray him then he would still be on Shen's side. At least he thought he would be but there was something about Shade that made him want to be good again.
Maybe it was her honesty or how even though her life was horrible she still clung to the light and made something out of herself. Still she gave him a chance to redeem himself and he had to save her so, she could live. He knew Red hated him with a passion but he was tired of being seen like a monster. Now he would become the hero he was meant to be and he prayed that he could fix his relationship with Shifu and apologize to his sister Tigress. But first he had to find his little sister Shade and bring her back home.
The next morning the gang all woke up. They ate the berries that were left over from yesterday. "Okay guys we ate now we have to form a plan on finding Shade. I recommend we split up into pairs of two. We can cover more ground and in case something happens we can protect one another. Let's meet back here by the big dead tree in an hour. If anything goes wrong try and find a way to alert us," Po said.
"Okay Snow and I will go this way," Camille said.
"Dark Wind and I can check out the caves I saw near the trees. Shade might be in one of them," Speedy said.
"Uh Po I hate to say it but there is nine of us how can we split into pairs of two?" Harmony asked.
"Oh yeah I forgot okay Red, and I can pair up and Tigress, you and Tai-Lung can go in a pair," Po said.
"Okay I will be okay with that if Tigress and Harmony don't mind," Tai-Lung said. He knew why Po was going with Red instead of pairing him with Red. Red hated him and Po may fear another fight would ensure.
"I am okay with it," Harmony said.
"Me too," Tigress said folding her arms.
"Whatever," Red muttered. Soon the group split up each going a separate way. Tigress and Harmony along with Tai-Lung took the way towards a part of the woods. All three felines using their senses to keep an eye on trouble, and so far all they saw was fog and dead trees.
"Shade, Shade," Harmony called cupping her paws.
"Shade," Tigress called.
"Shade, where are you?" Tai-Lung called. They kept searching but they didn't find the little mouse. On the other side of the woods was Po and Red.
"Shade, can you hear me?" Po called. Sniffing to get her scent and listening to hear her tiny squeaks. Red was pulling branches back and looking around.
"Shade, it is Red can you hear me?" he called. He wanted to hear her call his name but he heard nothing. Slowly he began to move away from Po when the mist began to swirl. Soon he heard a familiar voice.
"Red, where are you?" asked a voice. It was Shade, he found her.
"Shade I am coming," he called. He began to run and Po noticed the change in Red and tried to follow him.
"Red, where are you? Please find me I am scared," Shade's voice said and he heard the terror in her voice.
"Don't worry Shade I will find you," he called to the mist. His heart was leaping for joy he found her. He would take her home and marry her. Everything would be fine now their lives could go back to normal. Going deeper into the woods he heard Shade's voice getting louder. Red continued to follow the voice and came to the middle of the woods. Pulling back some vines he to his great joy found Shade.
She was smiling and was unharmed. Her eyes were shining full of love and just looked so beautiful. "I am so happy you found me," she said.
"Oh Shade I missed you. Let's go home," Red said. But the second he began to walk up to her. Shade scurried over to a hand and it wasn't Red's. This hand was gray and belonged to Tai-Lung.
"I knew you would find me Tai-Lung. I love you my sweet Snow Prince," Shade said nuzzling his cheek. Red froze in his tracks at the scene he was watching.
"I will always find you Shade, because I love you too," Tai-Lung said as he held her in his paw. Red stood there as hot tears fell from his face and he heard his own heart break. His worst fear was coming true he was losing Shade to another man. A surge of anger of and raw jealousy ran all over his body. No one was taking Shade from him no one. He was going to stop this right now.
Author's Note: Hoped you all enjoyed this chapter and please review.