Chapter 5: Suspicions and a Kept Secret
For about a week Aidan had been very happy at the Jade Palace. Shifu was teaching her simple kicks, punches, and blocking techniques. She was a fast learner and one thing she had mastered was stealth. Aidan could be very quiet and sneak around and no one would know she was ever there. Tigress watched carefully as Aidan sparred with Po. Po pretended to grab her from behind and Aidan dropped to her knees and slid out of the hold and kicked Po to the ground. At first the lioness thought she hurt the panda till he smiled at her telling her that he was okay. "Hey Aidan, why don't you try me?" Tigress asked as she locked eyes on the young lioness. Aidan gave Po a "should I" look as Po glanced back.
"No offense Ti, but I am not sure if Aidan is ready to fight someone of your style," Po said giving Tigress a worried look.
"Don't worry Po, I won't go too hard on her I promise," Tigress said and Aidan gave Po a nod saying she would do it. Yet, as Po watched the match he wasn't worried about Tigress harming Aidan more like of Aidan accidently harming Tigress. The two females bowed and began to get into a fighting stance. Tigress watched Aidan who apparently was just standing still and Tigress asked", Aren't you going to get ready?"
"I am ready," Aidan assured. Tigress shrugged and lunged at her about to deliver a punch. Aidan held her left paw and blocked it then delivered a punch of her own with her right paw. Tigress fell backwards as she rubbed her sore side. "Oh I am sorry did I punch too hard. Master Shifu taught me it so it was first time using it I am sorry if I hurt you," Aidan said trying to help Tigress up.
"It's fine Aidan I am fine," Tigress assured the young lioness as she accepted her paw and again felt an unnatural heat coming from Aidan's paw. Before she could ask anything Aidan let go and walked back over to Po.
"That is enough fighting today Aidan go on to the Peach Tree and meditate. I will call you when dinner is ready," Po told her with a smile. Aidan smiled and bowed to Po and Tigress then silently headed toward the Peach Tree. Once they were alone Po let out a small chuckle. "She packs quite a punch uh kitten?" he asked as he walked up to Tigress.
"Yes, I must say she does for one so young," Tigress admitted.
"Remind you of anyone?" Po asked with a raised eyebrow. Tigress knew what he meant for she too was very strong for her age and couldn't control it until Shifu came into her life. Yet, Aidan seemed to be able to control herself so well. Being an orphan since she was nine was very well odd. Aidan never mentioned her father or her mother. Only talks about the things she and Po used to do when he found her. It felt strange she wasn't grieving over them but it had only been a week and maybe given time she would open up more. Then Tigress realized they were alone for the first time in a long time. Since Aidan had come to the Jade Palace Po had spent most of his time with her. Now Tigress could have her panda all to herself for a while. She wrapped her arms around his neck and sent kisses along his neckline. Po held her as he kissed her lips. Before anything else could happen they heard a scream. "Aidan," Po cried and rushed off to see what was wrong with Aidan. Tigress was right behind him as they came to the Peach Tree. Aidan was crying as four wolves were on the ground moaning in pain. "Aidan are you alright?" Po asked as he held her.
"I'm sorry Daddy I didn't mean too. I was scared my friends were just trying to help me," Aidan said softly where hardly anyone could hear well unless they were Tigress.
"It's okay sweetie you are safe now," Po whispered as he held the shaken lioness. Tigress inspected the bodies and noticed they looked like guards of some kind. No bruises were on them except they had burn marks all over them. Nothing serious given time the burns would heal but what was odd was there was no source of fire anywhere. So, where did the burns come from? A wolf soldier woke long enough for Tigress to hear him speak.
"Tell the panda, he can't protect her forever. Our Master will have her back and she can run but she can no longer hide. He will find her," the wolf guard said and passed out. Tigress thought this whole thing was weird. Who was this Master and why did he want Aidan? And what did Aidan mean by her friends were just trying to help her? Tigress was through of getting slivers of information once they put these wolves away Aidan and her were going to have a little talk. Later that day Po gave Aidan some hot broth and told her to stay in the kitchen till he got back. He was going to make sure the wolves were locked up tight. Aidan nodded her head and sat silently in her chair.
"Hello Aidan," Tigress said softly.
"Hello Master Tigress," Aidan said politely.
"I am glad you are alright that must have been scary for you. Those wolves coming out of nowhere do you know what they wanted?" Tigress asked sitting by her. A mask fell over her face as the young lioness just shook her head no. Tigress knew she was lying and began a different approach.
"You know Aidan trust is something that takes a long time to earn and seconds to lose," Tigress said.
"I know," Aidan said unsure as to where this was going.
"I want to know more about you. I want the truth," Tigress told her getting to the point.
"Po told you I am an orphan that he found in the woods and I didn't want to be bothered so he took care of me and I have been living in the woods," Aidan said. To Tigress it sounded rehearsed like someone coached her in remembering all that.
"How did you become an orphan?" Tigress asked and saw Aidan had not prepared for that question.
"My parents were um killed in a fire and my father pushed me out through an open window but the house collapsed before they could get out," Aidan said without missing a beat.
"I see such a terrible ordeal to endure at such a young age. And yet, just a week ago you went into a burning house to save a baby and it magically went out the second you came out. Surely someone who lost someone in a fire would be too afraid to go near one but you were unafraid and didn't even look like the flames even touched you," Tigress stated looking firmly into Aidan's eyes.
"I conquered my fear of fire and the wind must have put it out. And I got out before the flames reached me," Aidan explained looking at Tigress but her arms were crossed.
"Look Aidan I don't mind secrets but what I do mind is being lied to," Tigress said cutting the act.
"What do you mean?" Aidan asked in a confused tone.
"I want to know who your friends are Aidan the ones who apparently were just trying to help you with those wolves," Tigress asked.
"Just some forest creatures," Aidan said getting nervous.
"Were these forest creatures made of fire for those wolves had burn marks all over them? Come on Aidan the charade is over. Who are you? What exactly are you? And where do you really come from. What is your true connection to Po and why did those wolves say that their Master will have you back? Come on tell me before someone gets hurt trying to help you like Po," Tigress said standing up.
"I would never harm my Daddy I love him!" Aidan cried as tears fell from her face. Tigress eyes widened when she heard what came out of Aidan's mouth and Aidan knew she slipped. "I mean Po, I would never harm Po," Aidan said.
"What is going on in here?" Po asked for he heard some of the commotion as he walked in.
"Po, enough secrets I want to know what you and Aidan are hiding," Tigress said folding her arms. Po's face changed as he looked at Aidan with a concerned look.
"Aidan sweetie, go on up to your room and I will be in there in a minute," he told her softly. Aidan nodded and quickly went up to her room. Once she was gone Po turned his attention to Tigress. "Ti, there is no secret okay she was an orphan I found in the woods end of story," Po said putting Aidan's cup in the sink.
"You and I both know that is not true. She is not normal Po. You know this I can tell she is hiding something and you are keeping this secret. Now what is it?" Tigress demanded.
"There is no secret Tigress, except you being paranoid. Aidan is just fine so please don't pester her with any more questions," Po said trying to remain calm.
"What are you hiding from me? It has something to do with those so called "friends" of hers doesn't it and I heard her call you Daddy and in her sleep she keeps saying she didn't want to do something saying they are innocents. Who was she talking to Po?" Tigress asked.
"So, she has imaginary friends it is no big deal. She will grow out of it once she makes friends and as for her dream it was about a fight with a bully um Aidan was five and this other kid thought another did something wrong to her and punched the kid and Aidan said no he was innocent. See it was just a bad childhood memory," Po said chuckling.
"Po, that is the worst lie I ever heard and I want the truth now!" Tigress cried. Why was Po lying to her didn't he trust her?
"I don't know what you are talking about," Po said again.
"Stop lying to me!" Tigress yelled.
"Tigress, all you need to know is that Aidan is a young girl who needs help alright now drop it," Po snapped.
"What are you hiding tell me," Tigress demanded as tears fell from her face.
"I am sorry Tigress but I made a promise," Po said and silently left the room. Tigress slammed the table with her fist and Aidan watched from the shadows as tears fell from her eyes. This was all her fault. Daddy Po was happy and so was Master Tigress. Till she came along and ruined everything, if she never came to the village none of this would be happening now.
"This is all my fault, I have got to make things right so Master Tigress will love Daddy again," Aidan said softly. Taking a deep breath she walked back into the kitchen. "Master Tigress," she said softly. Tigress turned around to face Aidan wondering what the young lioness wanted from her. "I need to tell you something. You are right I have been keeping a secret and I will tell you everything. Please sit down it is a long story," Aidan said and she and Tigress sat down as Aidan began her tale.
Author's Note: Hope you all enjoyed this chapter and please review.