Pet of the Peacock Prince

By Princess Thil Galel

I DO NOT OWN

Thank you

R&R

Please enjoy!

Hello everyone! First off, yes, the title is from the Skillet song. ;) Quite a few important things happen here, so keep your eyes open!

Now to thank you, my dear reviewers: Autobot NightFury, hidden stranger, jozs001, and eld mcm. As always, you all honor me with your positive words and I'm so very greatful. This time, I'm hoping to break my review record for this story-which is 7 per chapter. So let's do it!

Whispers in the Dark

Ah-Mah gently tapped several places around the deep puncture wound on the peacock's thigh. He flinched slightly, signaling that she'd found what she was searching for. She plunged the acupuncture needle into his flesh, the muscles in his leg gave a brief spasm before going numb. The pain-induced pinch of the prince's regal face slowly eased with a relieved sigh. She lovingly pet his forehead as she picked up a small vial. The goat carefully lifted the young peacock's head "Here, Darling." she said "Drink some of this-it'll help you rest." He obediently opened his mouth, a few sweet sticky drops of the familiar sedative landed on his tongue and disappeared-with some difficulty-down his sore throat.

The Soothsayer waited quietly as he slowly drifted off, gently rubbing soothing circles on his tummy like she'd done when he was sick as a child. But as she did so, the prince gestured her closer, whispered in her ear, and finally fell unconscious. When she was confident that he was deeply asleep, she quietly stood and left the tent. Instantly, the king and queen were upon her questions and concerns.

"How is he?"

"Is my baby okay?"

"What was the full extent of his injuries?"

"You don't think that thing was poisoned, do you?"

They finally fell silent when the goat held up her hoof. "His injuries are not life threatening, but the damage done will hinder him for some time." she said "The needle went in deep but didn't hit anything serious. He'll have to stay off his leg until the wound closes. As for the damage to his neck, it's bruised inside and out. I want him to avoid talking, drinking anything hot, and eating solid food for the next few days."

Azure nodded. "As you wish, Soothsayer." he said "How is he doing now?"

"I've given him his sleep medicine." she replied "He's resting at the moment. It would be best if we avoided moving him for today."

Hera habitually smoothed the front of her robe, her breath coming out shakily. "Y-yes, of-of course." she mumbled. Seeing how distressed his wife was becoming, Azure quickly excused them and tugged her into their tent.

Ah-Mah huffed softly and shook her head. Azure always turned to stone whenever his son was injured or ill, it was his way of trying to block out his emotions-of trying to block out his own pain...at the expense of closing his heart off to his only child. Hera on the other hand turned into a nervous wreck, wringing her primary feathers and stuttering. If she had ever wanted to be with Shen during any of those times remained to be seen, because every time it would happen, the king was always there to drag her away. But by now, Ah-Mah expected it. It had been the norm since the day the prince had hatched. When the doctors had predicted that the baby wouldn't live past childhood, the two had slowly begun to separate their ties to the chick, hoping in the end to save themselves from the heartache that would follow their son's untimely death.

However, Shen turned out to be a fighter. Even as a chick with all the odds stacked firmly against him, the peachick had not once given up his struggle. Fever after fever, flu after flu, the young prince had pulled through and came out a little stronger. Sadly, this didn't change the way his parents reacted. Ah-Mah wished more than anything that in times when he needed them most, Shen's parents would choose to embrace him-not shun him.

The goat spotted Amalthea sitting on a log by one of the fires, a blanket draped over her shoulders. Even from a distance, the Soothsayer could see something about her was rather off. Ah-Mah slowly approached the woman, her brow wrinkled in concern. "Sweetheart," she said softly "Is something wrong?" Closer up, the goat could see that she was shaking.

Clouded aquamarine eyes turned onto the Soothsayer. The woman's normally pink lips and rosy cheek were as pale and colorless as a fish's belly. With a quaking hand, she brushed the pink bangs out of her face. "Nanna," she said, her voice quivering "I...I killed someone." Tears slid down her cheek, her expression stunned blank.

The Soothsayer's eyes went wide in shock. "What?" she asked startled "How did this happen?"

Amalthea took a shaky breath "I-It happened when they came after us. That bear was...they were going to..." she buried her face in her hands "Oh gods, what's wrong with me? I killed someone, and I didn't even think twice about it!"

"Oh, oh Sweetheart, don't!" Ah-Mah said hastily, her arms going around the crying human. She didn't sob or sniffle, not even a tiny hiccup. The tears simply fell. She felt cold to the Soothsayer, like her blood had been replaced with ice.

The goat tilted the girl's chin up. "Amalthea, Sweetheart, listen to me." she ordered, trying to hold back her own tears. "It couldn't be avoided, you were saving your friends. You can't beat yourself up over it."

"But I murdered him, Nanna!" she argued "I put a knife in his chest-I didn't even flinch when I snatched it back out either!"

Ah-Mah couldn't take one more second of this. She grabbed the woman by her shoulders and gave her a firm shake. "Amalthea, snap out of it!" she said sternly, and watched as those strangely colored eyes blinked at her in bewildered surprise. "Now you listen here, and you listen good-ya' hear? You didn't murder that bear, you stopped him from murdering Lang and Shen-there was no choice!" What tiny flare of frustrated anger she'd had vanished as salty trails form on her furred cheeks. "You did what was necessary to protect those that care for, and that isn't same as killing." she continued, her tone soft and filled with understanding. "I should know."

The human looked at her, unsure what to think. The Soothsayer sighed, almost tiredly, and sat on the log beside her. She set her hooves on top of her cane, her eyes filled with memories from long ago. "When Shen was a boy, a real little thing-so tiny I could still tote him around-something happened. No matter how much I wish to, I'll never be able to forget that day." she said, her voice sounded thick with grief. "Shen was playing with his ball in the garden, just like he did every other day till he was ten. He gave it a rather hard kick, feeling more than a little angry with his parents for not coming to see him as they promised, and when it rolled away he did what any child would do-he ran after it. That's when it started."

Ah-Mah took a deep breath of the cold air, and adjusted her glasses. "I wasn't paying attention-not as much as I could have. I watched as he disappeared behind a bush, when I was about to call him back he started screaming and came running out so fast his sleeve ripped on a branch. He was yelling for me, and at first I didn't know what had gotten into him." she continued "Then I saw him, an assassin. He'd come to kidnap my Darling, and then most likely kill him. What happened next I never foresaw. I don't even remember jumping up, but I ran as if a demon was biting my heels and rammed into him. I'd pushed him into the well, causing him to fall to his death."

Amalthea could only stare in shock and wonder. "You mean that you-?"

"Yes, dear." the goat cut in "At first I felt just as you do. But that night, a terrified little Shen wandered into my room and begged not to be left alone. That's when I realized it. If I hadn't stopped that assassin, he would have killed my boy." She place a gentle hoof on the woman's shoulder "Do you understand now, Sweetheart?"

She nodded slowly. The goat smiled warmly and patted the woman's arm. "Good." she said softly "Now, before I put him to sleep, Shen asked me to do something. He would like it if you went to sit with him."

"While he's asleep?" asked Amalthea in confusion.

Ah-Mah grinned as she stood. "You'd be surprise how much people are still aware of what's going on around them even in their sleep." she chuckled. "I'm going to check up on Lang, and see if I can't get that squirming kitten to hold still long enough for me to take care of any injuries he might have." Amalthea couldn't help but giggle. The Soothsayer was going to need all the luck in the world if she was going to try and hold Tai Lung still. "Why don't you go see him, hmm?" she suggested, a strange twinkle in her eyes "I'm sure that'll make him feel so much better."

Amalthea watched the goat head off in search of the wolf and feline with a puzzled frown. The Soothsayer was as strange as Oogway sometimes, and just as confusing. She looked to Shen's tent, it loomed almost ominously before her-as if it were daring her to enter.

Did she dare?

The softest of sighs escaped her lips as she stood, and walked into the tent. Immediately, the scent of burning incense met her nose. Anxixiang-or benzoin resin, for preventing infections, and dingxiang-or clover, for warming the body and replenishing one's yang. The Soothsayer clearly didn't play around when it came to her prince. A small paper lantern hung from a hook overhead, it alone gave off light in the slightly smoky gloom of the tent. But the scene on which it's glow fell was one that Amalthea wished she hadn't had to see.

Shen's motionless form lay on the pallet at her feet, his wings folded together on his midsection. His crest was flattened, his face piched slightly, and his wonderful white color looked more like a ghastly pale gray. All in all, he actually looked like a corpse. If it wasn't for the slight rise and fall of his chest and the soft sound of his breathing, Amalthea would have sworn he was dead.

"Oh, Shen." the human breathed as she sank to her knees. "What have they done to you?" He'd always been strong in her eyes, when she'd first seen him she thought she'd been in the persence of a beautiful creature from the Spirit World. He radiated power, commanded respect. Yet, somehow, he was also so very fragile in some way she didn't quite understand. Until now.

'He may appear as a strong spirit being, but he's still mortal.' she thought, brushing her fingers ever so gently against his cheek. 'He can die, as can immortals, but the difference between mortals and immortals is when they cross into The Mist Of Jugement. Mortals lose themselves and can't return. Immortals, if they died peacefully, can come and go through without difficulty. Shen may put every immortal being in exisitance to shame with his magnificence, but he is still vulnerable.'

The prince stirred slightly in his slumber. A moan slipped past his beak, his face contorted in discomfort. Seemingly on it's own accord, Amalthea's hand took a firm hold of his wing. "It's okay, Shen." she murmured "I'm here. Everything's going to be alright." She reached under her hair to her feathers. Taking one firmly in hand, she plucked it, wincing at the sharp sting that came upon it's removal. She stared down at the fuchsia plumage resting in her palm, knowing that she would be risking everything in what she was about to do. But it had to be done.

Taking in a deep breath, the incense filling her lungs, Amalthea laid her feather on the peacock's chest-directly over his heart. She cupped her hand over it, and bowed her head. The energy hidden deep within her rose ever so briefly to the surface and pooled in her palm. A glow spilled out from between her fingers, a short burst of heat formed under her hand and flowed into the prince's body.

Slowly, she leaned over the white peacock, and kissed the corner of his mouth.

O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O

Shen's eyes slowly peeked open. The pain that had plauged his body was suddenly gone, like it had never been there to begin with. The white light made him squint and he shielded his scarlet eyes as he peered about. He was lying on the softest, plushest bed he'd ever seen, his head cradled on a cloud disguised as a pillow, in a room he'd didn't know. A feminine giggle came from beside him. "Feeling better, are we?" asked the giggler. Shen turned his head, and stared in confusion and awe.

Sitting beside the bed was a beautiful red bird. Shen tried to force himself to sit up, but his trembling wings wouldn't hold him and he weakly rested against his pillow. The red bird reached out and smoothed back his crest. "Shh, rest now." she cooed soothingly "Your wounds may have healed, but your body still needs to recover." Shen gingerly touched his injured neck...only to find the swelling bruise missing.

The bird carefully slipped her fiery red wing under his head and adjust the pillow, allowing him to sit up more comfortly. "There," she whispered "That's better, isn't it?" Her shape was similiar to that of a peahen, with the same height and curves. The bird's main color was red, with streaks of orange-gold and pink. There was a crest on her head, it was differnet from his own, the feathers were further back on her head and they were turned upwards. Her eyes held no pupiles, but they were a beautiful lapis blue. Her gaze was kind and gentle, caring and loving.

Although Shen couldn't quite put his feather on it, there was something about her that was familiar. The elusive feeling nagged at the very edge of his mind. 'I know her.' he thought 'But from where? Who is she?' As if she knew exactly what he was thinking, the strange bird smiled. He didn't enjoy feeling like he was being mocked. "Who are you?" he asked, his voice abnormally soft due to his weakened state. "Where am I?"

She smiled sweetly at him. "You're in a dream, Shen." she stated.

"A...dream?"

The bird giggled "Of course, you silly thing." she chortled "Where did you think you were?"

Shen didn't know what to think. He simply lay there on his back, his mind trying to process this information. A dream? Could that really be true, was he locked inside his own subconscious? It seemed more than a little far-fetched. And this bird, what was she doing here? "You didn't answer me." he stated "Who are you?"

The red bird brushed the back of her wing against his cheek. Her lapis eyes gazing down at him with a friendly smile. "Do you recognize me, Shen?" she asked, when his brow knitted together she giggled. "I guess not. But that's okay. I'm actually glad you don't, it'll make it easier for you to forget all of this."

"Forget?" he asked "How could I forget something like this?"

"Simple," she replied. Leaning over him, the bird whispered in his ear "You wake up."

Shen's eyes snapped open, and he bolted upright, his wing outstretched. "Amalthea!" he cried, grasping at wisps of incense smoke that slipped through his feathers. His heart pounded in his chest, his lungs heaved for air, a cold sweat dripped from his brow. He gazed around, and found himself back in his tent. He placed a wing on his chest, feeling his heart fluttering under his ribs, and something else. Looking down, he rubbed his primary feathers together, his white plumage was smudged with gray.

'Ash?' he thought 'Why is there ash on me?' He opened the collar of his robe to reveal his neck and chest, under the fabric was a dark gray patch upon his feathers. Hesitantly, he gently touched the spot. He flinched slightly, his skin felt tender under his feathers, like he had a sunburn.

The sound of running footsteps made his heart skip a beat, he quickly closed his robe, hiding the mark on his chest. Ah-Mah rushed inside "Shen!" she cried as she knelt beside him "Darling what's wrong, why did you scream?"

Shen blinked "I screamed?" he asked.

The Soothsayer looked at him in confusion. "Yes, dear." she replied "You were yelling for Amalthea."

"I was?"

She sighed "Yes, Shen." she said patiently "What happened, Darling?"

He gently touched his temple, frowning in concentration. "I...I think I was...dreaming." he said slowly "But I...I can't remember."

Ah-Mah gently tilted his head towards her. "Open your mouth, Dear." she ordered. He did as he was bid, and allowed her to gaze down his throat. "Hmm," she hummed "Odd, you're throat seems to be healing rather well overnight. How is your neck feeling?"

He flinched a little when she touched the slender column of his neck. "Still tender!" he exclaimed, a cough suddenly erupting from his throat. The Soothsayer gently patted his back until it passed. When he could finally breathe again he asked "Where's Amalthea?"

The goat chuckled "What's the matter?" she said teasingly "Can't stop thinking about her?" The prince gave her at pointed glare, to which the Soothsayer only smiled in response. "I did as you asked and suggested that she come sit with you-which she did. But she wasn't feeling very well, so after about an hour she went to bed early." she said "As far as I know she should be eating breakfast right about now. If you feel well enough, I'll ask one of the guards to help you outside so you can join everyone."

The peacock nodded and Ah-Mah quickly brought one of the wolves milling around outside the tent to help Shen get to his feet. The prince wrapped a wing around the wolf's neck, leaning against him to avoid putting any weight on his injured leg. The wolf tucked his arm under the peacock's other wing and slightly lifted most of his weight off the ground so he could walk more comfortably.

When they reached the nearest fire, Shen asked the wolf to set him down. Ah-Mah made him a bowl of whatever was in the pot hanging over the flames. When she handed it to him, his face involuntary scrunched. "What on earth is this?" he asked, watching some of it drip off his spoon. "It looks like slop."

Ah-Mah rolled her eyes and shook her head. "It's called oatmeal, Dear, and you better get use to it." she said "It's all you'll be getting for the next several days. Your throat may look a bit better, but I'm not taking any chances. Now eat, you need your strength."

Shen huffed softly as he brought the spoon to his mouth. The mash was watery on his tongue, almost completely tasteless, but thankfully there was a slight hint of blueberry. The prince glanced around as he forced himself to swallow mouthful after mouthful of the sticky goo, hoping to spot a pink braid amongst the tents.

"Good morning, Lord Shen."

The white peacock looked up and smirked tiredly. "Morning, Lang." he greeted "How are you doing?"

The Wolf Boss sat down beside his prince. "I should be asking you that." he said, softly he added. "Listen, the dragon from yesterday is still alive. We've got him tied up a short ways off in the woods, freezing his cold-blooded tail off. The king has ordered for everyone to stay away from him until he takes care of things."

Shen coughed slightly as he gulped down another spoonful. He dropped the spoon into the bowl with a frustrated growl and set it aside, refusing to eat anymore. "I see." he murmured, a gleam twinkling in his ruby eyes. "Since my father's orders don't apply to me, want to help me get some answers out of him?"

A malicious smile spread across the wolf's face, his white fangs flashing, his eyes lighting up at the unspoken promise of revenge.

O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O

"Amalthea." said Tai Lung "Amalthea, are you even listening?"

"Hmm?" she hummed "Did you say something?"

The snow leopard wiped a hand down his face in frustration. He'd barely managed to get the human to agree to take a walk with him alone, but now he was hardly getting a single word out of her. It was like her body was with him in the snowy woods, but her mind might as well be at the Jade Palace. He studied her closely "Are you feeling alright?" he asked "You're acting rather strange."

"I'm fine." she reassured him "There's just...a lot on my mind is all."

Not long after she'd awoken and stepped outside the tent, the feline had practically pounced on her and asked her to join him on a stroll. She hadn't been able to refuse him. After all, what harm could a simple amble in the snow do?

As they moved through the trees, the cat continued to cast her fleeting glances when he believed she wasn't looking, almost like he was trying to work up the courage to say something. Amalthea had seen him staring, but her thoughts were miles away. He might as well not be there at all. Her attention was suddenly brought back to the world around her, however, when the snow leopard abruptly grabbed her hand and pulled her to a stop.

"Tai?" she asked cautiously "What is it?"

He nervously licked his lips, swallowing hard against a lump in his throat. "Amalthea," he said, his tone low and breathy as he brought her hand up almost to his lips. "Thea, there's something I need to tell you."

The human could only blink up at him in confusion. What the heck was he doing? His hand was trembling around her own, his pulse racing in against her palm, his chest heaving slightly. Was he possibly having some sort of attack? "Okay," she said slowly "Do you want to sit down first? You're looking a little green around the gills-er, whiskers, I mean."

He shook his head. "No-no, I fine." he stated lamely, then cleared his throat. "You see, Amalthea, we've know each other for only a short time and, well, I really feel like we've connected rather well."

A smile graced her lips "That's sweet of you to say," she said "I think we clicked pretty good too."

"Exactly," he confirmed, nodding his head "And I know it's only been a few weeks and all, but I can't ignore this feeling I've been having ever since the day we first met."

Her brow knitted together in confusion. What was he getting at? And why was he beating around the bush? "And that would be?" she probed.

A gasp escaped her when the cat suddenly grabbed her shoulders and pushed against a tree. "I love you." he purred, then his lips crashed into her's.

Amalthea wasn't sure what exactly happened, but the next thing she knew her hand slapped the feline with all her might. He jumped back with a surprised snarl, a hand cradling his throbbing cheek. As she wiped her mouth free of his cat slobber, Amalthea eyed him wearily. "What in bloody hell was that for?" he demanded.

"What do you mean 'what was that for'?" she retorted "You just pinned me to a tree without warning and kissed me-right out of the clear blue sky!"

"Out of the-what are you talking about? I made it perfectly clear what I was planning!" he babbled, then took a deep breath to calm himself. "No matter, I guess it was a little too forward of me, for that I apologize. But I meant what I said, and I meant that kiss. I love you, Amalthea."

Her heart leaped into her throat. He what? How could he love her-they had only met less than a month ago! She didn't even know what his favorite color was, one of the simplest thing you could know about a person. But how was she going to tell him that?

'I guess it's like Grandpa always said-be direct, don't lead others astray.' she thought 'I'll just have to come out a say what's inside.'

Taking a brief breath, she looked the snow leopard straight in the eyes. "I'm sorry, Tai Lung," she said "But I don't like you like that. I can't return your feelings for me."

He looked like she'd just ripped his beating heart out and stomped on it. His jaw dropped, his ears fell, his tail limp on the ground. "Y-You don't..." he trailed off briefly, then his face twisted into the angriest, hate-filled snarl she'd ever seen."It's him, isn't it?" he accused in a ruthless growl "You're in love with that bloody peacock freak, aren't you?"

The human stared at the cat, utterly stunned. "What?" she gaped.

"You heard me. " he snapped "And don't try to deny it either! I've seen the way you look at him-like he can do no wrong in your eyes! He's perfect to you, isn't he? A perfect little Prince Charming, here to swoop up the ladies with his money, power, and that arrogant, annoying smirk of his!" With a snarl, the feline turned on his heels and stalked off.

Amalthea could only watch him go, unable to say anything or even move. 'He thinks I love Shen?' was the only thought running through her mind.

O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O

Shen glared down at the bloody mess laying in the snow before him. "Now that's rather disappointing." he commented as he gazed at the bloody foam gathered around the reptile's thin scaley lips, "Can't get anything out of a corpse."

Lang turned the dead body over, carefully inspecting it. "Poison," the wolf concluded, tugging at the once hidden pocket on the dragon's sleeve "Must of had some in this and took it in the middle of the night." He cleaned his hands with a little snow as he came to his feet. "What now?" he asked.

The prince huffed "Might as well tell Father about this, and maybe get on our way to Xiangyang before the sun gets high."

The wolf took the bird's wing around his shoulder, casted one final sneer at the lizard's life-less shell, and walked the prince back to camp.

Upon arriving, Shen asked the Wolf Boss to escort him to his parents' tent. Lang excused himself so the prince could speak with his mother and father. The wolf made a quick roundabout of the camp, checking the fires, tents, and the other wolves, then headed out.

He breathed in deep, cleansing breathes. Being a guard at the palace, and being Shen's personal bodyguard, Lang rarely got out of Gongmen City. But on trips like these, where he could travel through the countryside, the wolf felt like he was feeding his very soul with the untouched nature surrounding him. Although he prefered the spring to winter, he couldn't help but admire the forest's beauty.

The snow stretching out before him wasn't a perfect sheet of white as it should have been. Instead it was marred with two sets of footprints, one heavy and feline, the other lighter and dainty. Curiousity got the best on the wolf. He sniffed at the air, drawing scent in through his sensative nose. A strong musky smell hit him, causing him to cringe in disgust. One of the scents was that cat's. But the second one, it was sweet and inviting, a scent that made him take an extra breath just to imprint it in his mind. Amalthea's natural aroma.

The Boss Wolf scowled. Why did that egocentric cat want to drag Amalthea all the way out of camp? A low growl escaped his throat as he followed the tracks through the trees. He didn't like his dear Amalthea hanging around with an untrustworthy feline like Tai Lung.

Wait. Did he just think of her as 'his dear Amalthea'? Lang shook his head furiously, that was clearly the long days and short nights talking. After all, she called him Brother all the time. She didn't think of him that way. But he still found himself wondering...

As he followed the trail of footprints he noticed that Tai Lung's tracks slowly got closer to Amalthea's. That, he didn't like at all. The wolf picked up his pace, dropping onto all fours, keeping his nose close to the ground. Not too far along, he spotted the human up ahead. She was just standing there, completely alone, staring off into the distance.

He stopped a few feet away, waiting to see if she even took noticed of him. But she didn't, her eyes remained fixed on nothing. "Thea?" he said "You okay?"

She jumped and whirled around with a gasp, a hand pressed to her heart. When she realized who it was, a breath of relief escaped her. "Oh gods," she gasped "Brother, you just gave me the fright of my life!"

The wolf closed the remaining distance between them. "What are you doing out here? I told you to stay close by-especially after what happened just yesterday." he said and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "And you're freezing. Did that cat leave you out here?"

It took her a moment to answer, almost as if she was numb from the cold. "I...I think he headed off." she murmured "And...I was going to walk back by myself." Lang didn't like how distant she seemed. It really wasn't like her to act this way. Ignoring any protest-if she had actually voiced some-he dragged her back to camp, going over how many different ways he could tie the snow leopard's tail into knots.

O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.O

A single fire lit the dark room. The scent of smoke and beer hung in the air like a choking cloud. A table was set before the fire, it's red glow turning the three sitting there into shadowed silhouettes. They waited in silence, their eyes staring holes through the closed door.

Knock, knock, knock.

Nothing moved at the sound, save for the flickering light of the fire.

Knock...knock, knock.

The signal.

"For whom does the little bird twitter?" said the middle figure.

"A dove has come to call," came a reply through the door. "My song so soft, so sweet. To chirp words of know-how, does come I."

A darkened smile graced each of their lips. "Enter." the three called together.

The door opened halfway, allowing another figure to slip inside without revealing the room the outside. The newcomer wore a black cloak, a sliver mountain enblazed on the back and left shoulder. The middle figure at the table tapped a set of fingers rhythmically. "So, what does our 'little birdie' have to tell us?" the tapping ceased as quickly as it began. "Start singing."

The cloaked figure nodded. "The hunters were...unsuccessful." said the newcomer "The demon still lives."

The three sitting at the table growled, the sound low and threatening. The middle figure stood, a set of sharp claws dug into the wood. "What?" they hissed "How did this happen? You guaranteed us his white head on a silver platter!"

The cloaked figure flinched. "I was assured as you were." they answered "But there were...unforeseen obstacles."

"Such as?"

The newcomer coughed softly. "The Grand Master Oogway's student, Tai Lung, was there."

The three sucked in a collective breath. The figure on the left stood. "This complicates things," they commented "On an extreme level."

"Agreed." answered the figure on the right, "He will have to be dealt with carefully...very carefully."

The cloaked figure cleared their throat. "I'm afraid there's more." they said "Our target is not only protected by the snow leopard and his wolf army, but he has a pet demon."

The three froze, their eyes all fixed upon the newcomer. "What do you mean?" growled the first figure. "What kind of demon does his bidding?"

"It's a strange creature-one that resembles the mythical human." they said "The surviving scout who didn't join the battle-as you suggested-says it's hair is as pink as the first light of dawn, with feathers sprouting out of the base of it's skull, and it's eyes are aquamarine like the sea. It killed the bear with only a small knife-from a distance!"

The three at the table murmured quietly together for a moment, then the first nodded. Six eyes turned back on the newcomer as they sat once more. "Very well. We have decided to change tactics, slightly." said the first. Reaching into a breast pocket, the figure produced a small glass vial, a crimson liquid swirled inside it."Take this," they flicked the bottle to the cloaked figure, who fumbled to catch it. "And get rid of the pet. As for the wolves and Tai Lung, well, we'll just have to take care of them ourselves. The white devil with die before the first blossom of spring opens."