Hello again my reader, I hope you didn't lose much interest because I got a new chapter for you, and a nice little easter egg as well!
An ominous figure stared out over the mountains of northern china from inside the confines of a cave. The cave from the outside looked like any other cave in the mountains of china, but this one held a secret. The lionesses eyes scanned the landscape with a deadly grace, and nothing would escape her eyes. The sound of scampering feet behind her didn't go unnoticed and when she looked back she saw it was commander dacha "mission report commander" she said as she looked back out the cave.
The commander was breathing hard and by the sound of it he was on the verge of collapse "C-commander dacha is dead" the wolf said while taking deep breaths. She turned around quickly and got a better look at the wolf in front of her and noticed that he was just a lowly lieutenant, apart of dacha's unit if she guessed right. She saw the several cracks in the wolf's armor and an arrowhead was stuck in his neck, right next to his jugular.
She slowly walked forward and stood directly in front of the injured and tired wolf "and... who killed him?" she said while she slowly put her paw on his shoulder, making him freeze. The wolf's eyes were radiating fear and his instincts were probably telling him to run "o-o-one of the furious five, t-the tiger" he said with a stutter as he look down at the ground. A frown appeared on her face and she moved her paw towards his neck, making him shake in fear "and the fox" she said quietly, letting a little hiss escaped her mouth at the end. The wolf froze as he felt her grab the end of the arrowhead and her left paw rest atop his right shoulder like a stone "t-t-the f-fox... g-got away" he stuttered out.
A low growl exited the lioness mouth and she turned around, letting go of the wolf's neck and shoulder. The wolf stood there for a second before letting out a small sigh of relief, thinking he had survived, when suddenly the arrow was ripped out by seemingly nothing. Blood splattered out like a explosion and his hands quickly went to his neck, trying to stop the bleeding. His yelps of pain quickly turned into chokes and gargles due to his jugular being cut, and he fell to his knees. Blood ran down his neck and chest, staining hair fur crimson. A few more desperate breaths for air echoed through the small cave before his strength finally left him, his arms falling to his side then falling to the ground limp.
A growl exited the lioness mouth and she dropped a string that she connected to the arrow. She walked over to her desk and picked up a small towel, wiping the blood off of her right arm. The lioness looked back down at the now lifeless wolf and threw the towel onto the body. She walked around the desk and sat down on the comfy leather chair, then pulling the string by the rock wall behind her.
It didn't take long before two other wolves and a snake came in, the two wolves immediately started to take care of the body and the snake licked up some of the blood before slithering atop the desk, trailing a little blood onto it.
The lioness sighed and shook her head "did you have to go through the blood" she said in a irritated tone. A small chuckle left the snake which turned into a pleased hiss "I alwayssss love it when you leave a body on the floor, it'll be a nice ssssnack for later" he said with the lick of his lips.
The lioness just sighed again and took out a ink pen and began to write down the report of the mission that commander dacha won't be able to make anymore. The snake slithered closer and watched what she wrote down "the fox has slipped from our grasp... again" he said with an angry hiss. A growl left the lionesses mouth as well and she almost snapped the ink pen in her hand. She took a few deep breaths before she started to write again, but this time on a different piece of paper.
She looked over at the snake and a sick smile formed on her face "prepare for an assault on the valley of peace, squads 1-11 are to lead the assault, keep to long range weapons, and... bring our secret project for a test run... I've been waiting to see what it can do" she said with a sick chuckle. A hiss of approval left the snakes mouth "anything else" the snake asked with the lick of his lips. The lioness looked back at the two wolves cleaning up the mess "the rest is on the paper" she said blankly.
The snake nodded and slithering out of the room with the instructions in his tail, but not before licking up some more blood.
The lioness stood up from her chair and turned around, staring out over the mountains again. Though this time she had a smile and a relaxed stature, thinking about all the fun and torturous things she could do to her least favorite fox.
_mike_
I sighed tiredly as I opened the door to my house, thankfully it wasn't looted by those wolves. I was about to close the door behind me when the door was suddenly pulled open. I lazily looked back and saw the very displeased face of tigress who by now is probably sick of being around me, if she wasn't already.
I slowly walked through the living room and into the kitchen before stopping right before my bedroom door "you can uhhh... sleep on the couch if you want" I said with a lazy point at the long cushioned seat in the living room. Tigress looked over at it and sighed before looking back at me "if shifu didn't tell me to protect you, you'd be in the same condition as those wolves in the mountains" she said blankly but still projecting her anger out.
A small chuckle left mouth "well let me heal up first so I can at least throw little sticks back at you" I said sarcastically with a tired yawn. I turned towards my bedroom and with a small wave I went into my room and flopped face first onto my bed.
_tigress_
I scowled lightly as I watched the fox go into his dark room, and upon hearing a soft thud followed by soft snoring, I knew he was asleep.
I looked around the dark room and smelled the air, recoiling at the foul scent. The entire place smelled like aged blood and sweat, and I didn't exactly like it. I growled angrily and controlled the urge to punch something for long as I could before I barged out the door. I walked down the steps and walked a little bit into the iron woods before stopping in front of a few fallen bamboo trees. I growled savagely before smashing the logs into splinters with a precise strike.
I took a step back and started to take a few deep and calming breaths, trying to calm myself down so I won't do anything rash. It took a few minutes but I was able to calm myself down, but it almost came back as I looked back at the house.
"Of course I'm stuck on guard duty, while the others watch for the threat... it should be me out there" I said to myself in a frustrated tone. I looked up into the sky and sighed as I saw crane flying overhead "at least they get to do something interesting."
"I'm stuck watching the crippled."
Suddenly a crack of a stick echoed from behind me and immediately turning around to see what it was. Surprisingly it was Po, and he almost sneaked up on me, my sense must be getting dull. I crossed my arms and quickly tucked my anger away "what do you want Po" I asked quickly.
He looked disappointed, probably because he failed to sneak up on me "I got news from crane, he spotted several groups of wolves at the northern mountain pass and that they were most likely scouts " he said with a tired heave as he leaned against a bamboo tree.
"Thank you Po" I said with a nod before looking back at the house. Po continued to lean on the tree, regaining his breath, when suddenly the tree let out a groan of displeasure before it snapped and fell over to the ground, bringing Po with it. He fell backwards and let out a yell of surprise before rolling away a few feet.
I looked over at him and let out a little chuckle as I watched him roll around "I think you should lay off the dumplings Po" I said with a smile. He leaned up looked up at me with a bright smile on his face "HA, I finally got you to smile!" he said triumphantly. My eyes widened slightly before I quickly forced myself to frown.
"Oh come on tigress, there's no denying it " Po said happily as he got off the ground.
I shuck my head and let my smile return "whatever you say Po."
He walked up beside me and looked at the house then back at me "why have you've been so mad recently" Po asked curiously
I turned away from him and didn't answer, my smile disappeared as I looked at the house, Po is not someone I would like to discuss this with.
"Is it the fox tigress" he asked, well more like stated. I quickly looked at him with my eyes narrowed and I growled. Po's eyes widened in surprise and he took a few steps back "well I'll see you later tigress, and try not to kill him" he said with an awkward smile before running off towards the Jade Palace.
I waited until his footfalls were out of earshot before I let out a frustrated sigh. I just might Po, I just might.
I looked up at the sky and closed my eyes, when suddenly the sound of cracking wood filled the air and a flash from the sky illuminated the iron woods.
I quickly opened my eyes and looked back at the house, the droplets of water landing on my head. It was only a light drizzle thankfully and it didn't seem like it would pick up, but you never know.
It continued to drizzle and only after a few minutes my clothes were starting to get damp and uncomfortable. I let out a growl as several more cracks and flashes reverberated through the air, making the rain come down harder and totally drenching the remainder of my clothes.
I looked at the house and growled, but as the rain somehow got even harder there was no arguing with it. I trudged my way towards the house through the muddy ground and reluctantly went inside.
The foul smell returned but I tried not to pay attention to it as I moved towards the couch. I shivered as the water from my clothes slid down the center of my back. I walked around the back side of the couch and was about to sit down when more god damn water slid down the center of my back.
I growled and looked around the room before I took off my vest, I didn't have my bandages on but it really didn't matter. It's not like you can see anything past the fur anyways. I laid down on the soft couch and crossed my arms over my chest.
I closed my eyes and proceeded to try and sleep, which wasn't that hard. I felt my conscience start to slip as the day's activities started to show, my arms and legs ached and my mind felt exhausted.
"Maybe it's good to get some sleep" I said tiredly as I felt myself ascend into the land of dreams.
_Mike in the morning_
"Don't tell me you hoked up with her" Zhū dí asked in disbelief.
"Oh god no, she would kill me before I even got there" I said with an amused chuckle as I sipped my tea.
"Good, because last time you got with a feline it didn't end up well" Zhū dí said with a smile.
I growled a little and she held up her hands "I know I know, don't mention her."
Suddenly the shirtless tiger shot up from the couch and frantically looked around the room before her eyes landed on us. A devious thought ran through my mind.
"I see you got wet last night, I didn't think you were that hardcore" I said with a chuckle as I sipped my tea. Her eyes narrowed in anger and it looked like she was about to pounce, when suddenly Zhū dí jumped onto my back, grabbed my right arm, and slammed my head into the table "Another comment like that, and I'll break your arm this time" she said threateningly into my ear.
She pinned my right arm painfully and I quickly nodded my head "Yes mama" I said respectfully with a nod. She painfully slammed my head into the table again before jumping back into her chair. I slowly leaned up and held my right arm against my chest, while moving my aching jaw.
I looked up as Tigress walked up to us, with her vest on of course. She still looked furious with my comment "who are you" she asked with clenched fist
"My name is Zhū dí, I'm one of mike's only friends" she said with a smile.
"I'm surprised he has any friends, especially with a bunny" she said calmly as she could as I held my aching arm.
"Yeah me to" Zhū dí said in disbelief.
"So, why are you here" Tigress asked quickly, getting to the point.
"Well I heard that Mike was back in town, so I had to come and see him" Zhū dí said in a happy manner, which seemed to irritate tigress even more.
"And I come to find he has a fractured arm, so I fixed him right up" she said with a proud smile with her arms propped against her sides.
Tigress raised her eyebrow in confusion "fixed him up? fractured bones take weeks to heal" she said as she thoroughly looked at my right arm.
Zhū dí looked up at tigress with an almost humorous looking smile "I used chi" she stated innocently.
Her eyes widened in surprise and she looked at her in disbelief "that's impossible, no master in china knows how to use it and all teachings of it are away from the public eye" she stated slowly.
"well let's just say I borrowed some of your scrolls" she said with a devious smile.
"You stole them did you" tigress said with a growl as she clenched her fist.
"Oh most definitely" Zhū dí said with a chuckle, and I couldn't predict what happened next.
I must apologize for the long wait, I was slacking to the max (Being lazy), but I have finally pumped out the chapter and I hope that liked it. Did you find the easter egg?