Chapter 3: An Unexplained Rescue
Tigress decided to follow Po and Aidan on their shopping trip. Mostly to get some more information on this strange girl and to find out what secret she was hiding. "Hey Po mind if I join you and Aidan on your shopping trip?" Tigress asked casually.
"Sure Tigress we would love to have you come. Won't that be fun Aidan?" Po asked looking down at the young lioness.
"I guess," Aidan said shrugging her shoulders unaware of what to say in this situation. She knew her Daddy Po was dating this Tigress and really wanted Tigress to like her. Po said she was usually suspicious of people due to having trust issues when she was a cub. That was something Aidan and Tigress had in common. They didn't trust people right away. Aidan trusted Po for she just knew she could trust him. Yet, Tigress however Aidan wanted to trust her but was afraid if Tigress knew her secret. Then she would be afraid of her. They walked silently down to the village as everyone stopped and stared at Aidan. Mostly because they had never seen a pure red lioness before and soon whispers began to start. "Po, why are people staring at me?" Aidan said nervously as she bit her lip. She held Po's paw tighter as she got closer to him. As fear took her and wondered if these people knew what she was and would send her back to him.
"It is okay Aidan they just never seen you before and just want to know who you are is all," Po explained gently squeezing her paw and giving her a kind smile. Aidan smiled back and continued walking with him a bit more relaxed than before. Tigress began to wonder more about Aidan. Her name meant fire and Tigress was trying to figure out why someone would name her a name that meant fire. As far as Tigress could tell the child was meek and nervous and jumped like a mouse whenever something new came her way. It could be because of her fur but still it puzzled Tigress.
"Um Aidan your name is very unique do you know what it means?" Tigress asked sounding casual. Hopefully the young girl might let something slip and Tigress could get more of a piece as to what she and Po were hiding. She hated being so suspicious but Po had told her everything about himself. Yet, not once did he mention Aidan at all. Even if the young girl wanted to be left alone Po would have said something about her at least. But he kept her a secret why? What was this young girl hiding from and what was her real connection to Po?
"Yes, Master Tigress I do know what my name means," Aidan said politely.
"Mind telling me what it means to see if we are both correct?" Tigress asked giving the girl a smile.
"It means fire," Aidan told her looking away and holding Po's paw tighter.
"Easy sweetie not so hard," Po said as a bit of pain went through his paw.
"Sorry Da-I mean Po," Aidan said quickly mentally kicking herself for almost letting something slip. Tigress's eyes widened by that slip and grew even more suspicious.
"Yes, we are both right it does mean fire. Mind telling me why you were named that?" Tigress asked gently.
"Isn't it obvious Master Tigress? I was given that name for my fiery red fur," Aidan said with a smile. Though Tigress could tell by both Aidan's and Po's masked expressions was that was not the real reason on how Aidan got her name. Tigress was about to ask another question but soon a fire broke out and a young man was screaming.
"Please, my wife and children are trapped inside! Someone please help me!" the man shouted.
"Tigress come one, Aidan stay here," Po said and him and Tigress rushed towards the burning building. Aidan became very stiff when she saw the flames and she knew she did not start the fire for someone must have carelessly lit a match somewhere and the fire started. The flames were lapping up the house like a hungry wolf would devour meat. Po came out covered in ash holding the wife in his arms as Tigress came out holding one of the children.
"My baby where is my baby?" the wife asked with wide tears. Po and Tigress didn't know but before they could go in the entrance to the door way was blocked and no one could get in. "No, my baby please not my baby!" the woman screamed as tears fell from her eyes. Aidan could feel the woman's pain and knew she had to do something. Her secret may be blown but it was worth it if she could save the baby. She snuck behind the house to the very back and saw the flames. Instead of feeling heat she heard voices coming from the flames.
"Mistress how can we serve you?" they asked.
"Please let me through I need to get someone out of here. And if you could die down please I would appreciate it," Aidan said addressing the flames.
"But Mistress we are hungry we need to eat," the flames said in a sad tone.
"I know but a child will die if you don't die down surely you had enough to eat. Now please die down and let me pass," Aidan said begging with the flames. Time was precious and she was running out of it.
"Very well Mistress we will die down. We live only to serve you," the flames said.
"Thank you my friends," Aidan said as the fire soon disappeared and she went inside and found the baby. The poor thing was at the top floor in his crib crying thankfully the smoke had not reached him yet. "It is alright little one you are safe now," Aidan said sweetly and picked up the child. She came out to a shocked crowd as the mother ran up to her shedding tears of joy.
"You saved my baby, thank you girl thank you," the woman cried as she smiled at Aidan.
"You are welcome mam," Aidan said and handed the baby to the mother. The crowd cheered and soon dispersed. No one but Tigress noticed how odd it was that the fire magically went away just as soon as Aidan came out. Or the fact that she was not covered in soot or smelled of smoke. What she did hear was very strange.
"Good work Aidan. I told you your gifts could be used for good," Po whispered silently to her.
"Thanks Po, but my friends did help after I convinced them to stop eating," Aidan whispered back. When Tigress got closer Po and Aidan stopped whispering and acted like nothing happened.
"Good job on your first rescue mission," Tigress said crossing her arms.
"Thank you Master Tigress," Aidan said bowing.
"Okay now let's finish our shopping trip," Po said as he led Aidan and Tigress down the road. Unbeknown to them a shadowy figure was watching the scene with interest. His eyes locking on Aidan as a smile came to the figure's face. Another shadowy figure approached the other and they began to speak.
"Our plan worked," said the first figure.
"Yes, after searching nearly a hundred villages and setting fires we finally found her. The boss we will be so happy," said the second one.
"Deliver the message and I will keep an eye on the girl so she doesn't escape this time," the first said.
"Right away," said the second and disappeared.
"We got you now kid and you can no longer hide," the figure said cackling as he gazed at Aidan from a distance and disappeared into the shadows.
Author's Note: Hope you all enjoyed this chapter and please review.