"The chariots. They're tonight."
"I know. Early end for training?"
"We'll give the prep team 2 hours and Nynso one - apparently your costume is all ready, although he mentioned he wanted as much time, directly before you go out, as possible. Is that okay?"
"Yes. I think we can arrange that, as I am second-to-last in the running order. Obviously, the Dragon Warrior is last."
"Mmhmm. Yes. Now, I'm going to get the trainer to give you an attack test, and you may use only a bow and four arrows to deflect him for five minutes. Set?" Tigress calmly took her weaponry that she had been training with in the morning then made her way to the battle area. There should be marks in the floor from previous fights. There wasn't any, due to the ever-present cleaning staff who made sure nothing could be seen.
"Set." She muttered just loud enough for everyone to hear her. Everything raced to life, from the silent, dead state it had once been in. You wouldn't have ever known it was the calm place it was before.
After many minutes, the fighting ended.
Tigress still had one arrow left. The other three were being used to pin the trainer by his clothing to the wall. Nothing near perfect, but a reliable enough aim to work with... just in case.
"Good. Work on faster arrows, it took you seven minutes and twenty-three-point-eight seconds to get him into a reliable place. The arena won't give you that sort of advantage. Now, swap around, so he shoots and you dodge, just if you happen not to get the arrow." Kunku looked at her with his sharp, intruding bird-eyes. Tigress found this most disturbing, the 'glaring a hole into her soul' business.
But two could play at that game.
"Set." In position, she began to dodge the sharp arrows coming at her. The trainer was obviously an excellent and skilful shot; otherwise there was no way he would've been hired. This excercise was easier for her, because she was on familiar grounds now: practicing when she was younger and her tiger senses gave her a good edge, as well as her combat knowlege. However, this trainer also seemed to have this inner-circle knowlege, or was extremely lucky, as she was often taken by suprise by his arrows.
Either way, he was good.
"END!" Kunku yelled, as Tigress dove to the ground from her leap, graceful as a dove. After lowering herself, she got up and dusted herself off.
"You're one step ahead of your opponent. Make sure you are two steps ahead, fake the first step then use their prediction against them with the second step. Improve." She was a talented warrior who only required the best of training. She didn't appreciate compliments anymore: Shifu had taught her that the hard way. So that's why she was cold, and only appreciated the cold.
After all, the warm are the first to die.
"You haven't deliberately tried to kill anyone yet, I'm impressed." A small smirk appeared on Nynso's face, as he trailed around Tigress' naked, 'improved' body, and complimented her control of will.
"You expected me to?"
"Well... let's say a few bets were placed..." You could hear the laugh in his voice. Tigress couldn't work out whether to trust him or not: on one hand, he hadn't forced her into this killing and didn't exactly seem to support it. On the other hand, he seemed very sneaky and sly, and hadn't shown any dislike or feelings against the games.
"Right... What am I to wear for the chariots?"
"Well, Tigress, you are said to be the fearless warrior of the furious five. You wear the vest coloured in blood - obviously, I don't mean literally. You are the heat that keeps the hearts of the five burning. You are a south china tiger. The creature I seem to be relating you to is a Vermillion Bird... and what element does a Vermillion bird represent, that describes you completely?"
Tigress thought she couldn't work out who Nynso was. Well, she thought, I jolly well know now.
Viper had ribbons tied around her body, making them wrap around herself in a way that made them look like they bloom out, in a way similar to a colourful flower, around her snake-body. Mantis had a black, reflective board that was connected to his simple cothing, that made him look much bigger than he actually was. Crane's fur had been covered in a temporary white, and had been covered in calligraphy - literally. The only bits not covered in markings were his wings, which were outlined in silver that made them flicker when he moved. Monkey was in a serious-looking suit... which was full of comedy tricks. It was hard to stay serious with his suit, if they didn't know what was approaching next. Tigress was relatively plain compared to everyone else. She wore a black body suit and a black headress that stuck up like flames. Along her arms there was more of the fabric, left loose. She had been told to raise and lower her arms as if she was trying to flap off, but only after Nynso's insane, life-threatening plan had been set into place. Po, the dragon warrior, was amazing. It was easily anticipated, but it still took everyone's breath away.
Po wasn't dressed as a dragon. Po was a dragon.
"So, we need to play being all happy and joyful about this and not reveal anything?" Crane voiced everyone's thoughts in a calm way, so that no-one could get there first and talk in a slightly more... menacing way.
"Well, dears, yes you do. And don't think you can get out of it, by the way, loves!" The voice way instantly recognizable. The high-pitch, the silly words, and the madman behind it: It was the nameless, cloaked figure.
"YOU!" Having by far the easiest clothing to move in, Tigress almost lashed out at it, before landing in space. Cloak-man had disappereared and vworped into somewhere else. Resigned, Tigress decided there was no way she would get information or freedom for her comera-friends, she reminded herself, if she kept attacking. Because, if it came down to it, she would kill herself to save them. Especially Po...
"Nu-uh-uh! Sorry, sweetie," at this, Tigress couldn't stop a small growl escaping her lips, "but I can't have you attacking me... And you won't now, anyway, because otherwise, someone will die for it! And I'm not joking!" He started giggling at his insanely funny statement, before adding in a complete change of tone to serious yet still just as evil "I have kidnapped twenty-four young children and women. If you do not perform, not only will they die, but so will my latest captives. I have one close to each of your hearts, and they will be here and each time we sense anything wrong, they will be tortured!" He broke into laughter again, before Viper found the ability and courage to hiss back "Who are they, then?"
"Oh, hun', think about it. Who do you treasure most? Don't worry, I know. Exactly who. Snake-lady, your mother. Idiot-mammal, your mother too, because she's the only one you won't tell anyone about. Bug, your little butterfly-friend. El Storko, a special cat who is mildly amusing to play with called Mei-Ling. Pissy big lady, your master Shifu, because he is sooooooo protective of you, and fatto? A noodle-seller you know. Now, before you rebel, think about how it might affect those you love. Think about it..." With that, he disappeared into the ground. All they could feel is shock and horror, as the opening ceremonies began.
They all stood together, mainly in an awkward silence, before, one by one, they were called off to get into the carriages they had been allocated. The warriors felt nothing but sympathy for the horses forced to pull them along. The horses, at close-up, could be seen to have been beaten and mildly tortured, but look beautiful from afar. Snow-white, silky, they could've passed for some sort of magical creature.
At last, it came for Tigress to get on a carriage and present herself to the world. Her tiger features were quickly touched up on, as she stepped into the carriage. Almost hoping Nynso had forgot his mental plan, she prepared to leave, but then the lynx came running up with a box of matches and a special mixture of chemicals. Tigress had seen him put some on her earlier, this was probably for the starting stages. Not speaking, he lit her up, so she was quietly burning, but not to the full effect yet. Nynso leapt back off just as Tigress turned to wave at her dragon warrior friend, who gave her the thumbs-up and a big grin, before facing forward to the rest of China. All her fellows had been a raging sucess, and hopefully she could continue the trend. She didn't quite fancy death yet.
"AHHHHH!"
"OH MY GOSH LOOK!"
"SHE'S ON FIRE!"
"I LOVE YOU TIGRESS!"
All Tigress could hear was a mass gasp, then screams of approval, shock, and joy. Maybe Nynso wasn't completely insane...
Turning her head, she was just able to see herself in a giant mirror used to make seeing her easier - not that they needed, for she was burning brighter than everyone else, literally. Seeing herself, she had to prevent a gasp from escaping her lips.
Tigress was on fire, Tigress was burning, Tigress had kindled a flame that would be hard to stop. And the fire was beautiful.
Her recognizable features had been outined, so it was quite obviously her. There was almost a slight darkness to her look, which both suprised and pleased Tigress. A vague touch of rebellion conjured from her personality, Nynso certainly earnt credit for that. But by far the most noticeable feature was her flames. Her black costume was burning, although Nynso had assured her it was completely safe... probably. The wings... the wings! Tigress suddenly began to bring up her arms, and the fabric in the flaps rose until it was well above. Vermillion Bird she now was, a creature from myths said to be flaming. Her fire symbol, a mild rebellion sign. A fire to keep the hearts of those she was brought up to protect burning. To keep them warm. Maybe even safe.
So Tigress made sure everyone loved her and thought she was amazing. After all, if she didn't, people would suffer... and die.
A/N: SOOOOOOOOOOOOO SORRY! Yes, no update, so kill me, I've been really REALLY busy. And everything is in a different order. So kill me (please don't). Hope you like REVIEW OR I'LL HAVE ANOTHER MASSIVE BREAK! And OMG YAAY I CANNOT wait for The Hunger Games Movie I booked my tickets nearly two weeks in advance - as soon as my cinema opened pre-booking. Going with 3 friends, SO EXCITED! Review, please, and thanks to all those who already have, I love you with all my heart, soul and mind. So does Tigress. If you review. If not, I'll send her to get you. No pressure or anything.
Oh, and I might kill Mei-Ling, Mr Ping and Shifu. No pressure.
And no-one's got what Kunku is yet. A few more hints in this chapter, I will reveal it in the chapter right before the games.