"Master?" Po called out, wildly looking around for Shifu, who apparently was not where he was before. Po lowered his voice and muttered to himself. "What happened?"
The only literal thought going through Po's head as he searched for him was, "He must be in danger, something must have happened."
And literally, that truly scared Po.

Po called for his master a couple more times until he finally gave up the search in the small open lands in the mountains.

He must be somewhere else.

Po thought of everything Shifu had told him that he could remember. Everything he had told him this morning. Did he mention anything about going somewhere?

Po shuddered. He wouldn't just leave me here, would he? A sudden thought entered into Po's mind, replacing the old one.

Maybe he's just trying to teach me something.

Po stood up from his position on the ground and called out again.

"Master, if you're out there, you're really starting to make me nervous!" Po exclaimed, with a bit of hesitancy in his tone. "Master?" Po's voice was a bit faltered as all he could hear was the whistle as the wind passed by. Po buried his hand in his face and sighed.

"Please just answer me." Po choked out, solemnly telling himself that if he didn't have to leave Shifu's side, he wouldn't.

Po knew some parts of the Wudang Mountains, but he didn't know everything.

Sure, the trail back was pretty calm, but STILL! If something happened to Shifu, Po would do what he could to help him.

Although…Po has no idea WHAT exactly happened to him.

Maybe he just left to walk alone, or something? I mean, he's a Shaolin Master, he can handle himself.

Po shook his head in frustration.

But I'm his student, I should be with him.

Surely he would have told me, right?
"Master!" Po called out again, walking towards the Pool of Sacred Tears, for if he knew Shifu at all it would be that he would either come here, or somewhere near here.

Po wildly glanced around, not even catching a spark of Shifu or even anyone, for that matter. Po's breath became lodged in his throat as he looked upwards to see a figure standing on the Great Rock. Po thought he had possibly found his master, but once he stared a little closer, he could tell that it was absolutely NOT his master.

That's not Master Shifu, Po said, I know him well enough to know THAT.

Shifu shuddered in the wind as he stared looking at the figure above on the rock. The figure really wasn't moving, he was just….standing, and staring.

Shifu found it quite interesting, but he was a bit on edge on wanting to know who exactly that figure was.

Could it be an enemy?

An ally?

A villager?

Shifu shook his head in annoyance. He's on the property of the Jade Palace, and the Guangxi Province. Shifu sighed. And I'm the province's leader.

Shifu flicked his ear, glancing around to make sure no one was trying to jump-attack him in an effort for him to hand over all of the palace's secrets, like their empty threats usually held.

As Shifu glanced around, he noticed his student standing by the trees, apparently noticing the figure and staring up at the rock with wide eyes. Shifu let out a soft sigh, and gently walked towards him.

"Po," Shifu stood up and flicked his ear, close enough where he could speak to him in a soft conversation. "My student, what are you doing here?"
Po suddenly almost jumped at the sound of his master's voice. With a gasp of alarm, Po ran towards him and bowed.

"M-master! I was looking for you!" Po placed a gentle hand on his master's shoulder. "I thought something may have happened, or….something."

Shifu shook his head in amusement, but he could clearly tell that his student was worried. "Nothing happened, I'm fine." Shifu instantly felt guilty for leaving without telling his student. So much for being the greatest Shaolin teacher in China, Shifu. "Forgive me, I didn't mean to frighten you."
Shifu flicked his ear, and Po dipped his head, grateful that they had found each other. It truly put Po's mind to rest, for the time being.

It really did.
"No, I'm sorry, Master. I should have stayed by your side."

Shifu smiled and put his head to one side. Shifu glanced behind him as he amusingly shook his head at his student, turning to the figure on top of one of the Great Rocks. Shifu's mind instantly flickered back to that and his thoughts came back into reality.

"Come with me."

Po followed his master over to the big rock, behind which the two of them were trying to keep themselves hidden, although they knew that it was quite unlikely, for the leaves covering some of them weren't doing such a great job. Just because they can't see him doesn't mean he can't see them.

"Master," Po turned to his teacher, who in turn, turned to him. "Who is that figure on the rock?"
Shifu glanced upwards and sharply flicked an ear. What should he say?

Should he comfort him and tell him that he knows? Or should he just say that he's honestly petrified of who it could be?
"That's what I'm about to find out."
Po blinked, astonished. "Master, maybe he's from the palace?" Po suggested the opinion, but the thoughts of it being that were most highly unlikely.

"I'm about to find out, my student." Shifu comforted, trying his best to keep his voice down in this time. Shifu had done missions like this alone before, even when he was a child, just to check on things in the village, but Shifu felt a fierce fire inside of him to protect his student in case of anything-even if it was really someone down in the village. "Stay with me."

Shifu took a deep breath and exhaled before getting out of the cover. He told his student to come as well, but to stay behind him. If Shifu encountered someone that shouldn't be here while Po was hiding here or back in the camp, Shifu was scared of the things that might happen if he truly was an enemy, and not an ally.

He could hurt my student, or worse, perhaps. Shifu shut his eyes tight, trying not to envision it. Best he stays by my side.

Aww, protective Shifu is so adorable!

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