Crane-
Now normally I'm the pacifist and avoid getting into the things going on around me and no this trip I seem to be the one keeping an eye on our rather ecstatic students, thank goodness Tigress likes to push so hard. It really was making my job easier. With one student that could fly and another that loved to run like there it is no tomorrow I was surprised she was still able to wear them out. The first two days were ok I was able to keep them occupied by asking them various questions about the spiritual aspects of Kung Fu thus keeping their minds off of what was actually going on. Why Shifu insisted we take them I didn't know. Yes we went with him when we were younger but at least then we had been better behaved. I thought for a moment then rephrased, Viper and I were better behaved.
The third day was when things got complicated. Meeting those Crocs made my feathers stand on end. What was worse was the students wanted to fight them and once they found out they were friends wanted to spar with them. It took me most of the day to calm them back down before Bind or Grind heard them.
This morning however they were different both were worried about the jungle neither of them liked how confined and dark it was. Even so I noticed that Tigress had an eary ease in this place as if she had spent a lot of time with in its forbidding confines.
Po-
For some reason as we made our way through the jungle Tigress seemed to be more at home and relaxed which was a good thing I however had a feeling that this was a dark place. Not in the since that it was evil just unforgiving and foreboding, as if visitors were dealt with in the worst of ways. The path she led us on was a crooked one that leed towards the rocks that were visible from the river. I walked in the back of the group as we neared their edge making sure no one got separated. Viper and crane would be ok but the students would have a hard time keeping it together in this strange environment.
At the end of the day we stopped in the jungle within sight of its edge where the shadows from the spires of rock and stone kept the plants from growing. Scratching my fur I looked out into the darkening expanse and asked Tigress, "Why are we not camping out from under the trees?" She smiled at me and said, "Because it would be too dangerous for those of us who sleep soundly." A chill ran down my spine as I watched her scale a tree. Looking to Viper I asked, "Can you see anything out there?" Talking a slow sweeping stare at the expanse before us she looked at me and shook her head. Sighing in relief I suggested, "Well I say we take watches tonight just in case." The others agree Tigress from the tree of course took the first watch.
Tigress-
I looked down at the others peacefully sleeping below. I had made that mistake once and ended up fighting a gang of slavers for it. Now I'm going to watch over them to make sure Ying's forces weren't going to come out this far. My watch was uneventful and I debated on not sleeping but decided that it would be best if I was rested just in case I needed to stop Decha from a rampage again. Slipping from the tree I went and woke Viper, "Hey, it's your turn."
I watched as she yawned and stretched. Smiling at her I walked over to a soft pile of leaves with my bag next to them. Before I could settle in she asked, "So what's it been like not staying in one place for long? Bind told me that you have been with Decha and the other two for a while now." Taking a deep breath I figured it would be best to fill her in a bit more, "It's been nice actually. We've been traveling because Decha is always finding some bounty or other for us which helps keep food on the table and nice clothes on our backs but I stay to help train the two we found. Both are amazing and I just want to make sure they are taken care of. Decha is a good guy but he can be careless and reckless at times too. So how bout you tell me what's going on with you and Crane I noticed you've been on his heels the whole way?" I couldn't help but smile at her reddening face I had said it just to keep her from dwelling on what all I had said but it looked like I hit a soft spot too. So winking at the flustered snake I rolled over and went to sleep.
Po-
I was woken up by Viper for the last watch of the night. I had chosen to be last so I could sleep more but at the same time I still hated being up. Slowly wandering toward the edge of our camp nearest the clearing I sat down and watched for a few hours before dozing off. I'm not sure how long I was out but I woke to the sound of a rock falling. Looking out and around from where I was I saw a large dark figure land in the clearing from the cliff face above. He looked as if he had hornes and his eyes looked as if they were glowing red in the night. I slowly stood and lowered my stave ready to strike a potential enemy.
It was alike something out of a legend as the figure seemed to disappear and then reappeared feet from me walking as if he hadn't missed a step. A toothy grin spread across his face as he neared. Deciding that he was an overly cocky enemy that needed to be knocked down by my awesome bodasity I quickly struck out with the tip of my stave aiming for his chest. Before it contacted he slammed his elbow into it making it explode as if I had rammed it into a spear head. Blinking I threw its splintered remains a side and prepaired to fight.