Creatures of darkness Chapter 6
The next day
Tigress awoke to a bright sun and a good feeling in her chest.
Then she noticed that she was alone in the room.
"Po?" she said to the room.
There was no answer.
She got out of bed and put her regular clothes on.
There was a note on the door stuck with a throwing knife.
Dear Tigress,
I'm sorry I couldn't be here this morning, but I had some things to take care of. Don't worry; I'll meet you at the Jade Palace. Crane is with me. Hope to see you soon. Keep the knife and sheath. They are yours.
Po.
Tigress took a long inhale through her nose.
The letter was covered in Po's scent as was the knife.
She looked over at the desk and saw a sheath and leg strap for the knife.
Beside it was the dart.
How thoughtful she thought.
The dart she put in her breast pocket, directly over her heart.
She put the blade and note in the sheath and noticed that the sheath had writing in it as well as the note, but not in ink.
The letters were carved.
It read "Via cong she zen."
It must've been a different language.
Tigress almost felt Po's touch as she strapped the knife to her left leg.
It felt right.
Almost like the blade was made specifically for her leg, come to think of it the sheath probably was.
She couldn't help but be slightly hesitant of Po.
From the beginning he was a born killer and had been raised not for honor, but for profit and war.
She decided it didn't matter as she knew him better than that.
As she walked out she walked straight into Master Shifu.
"Good morning Tigress. Can I come in?" he asked.
Tigress let him in and she closed the door.
"Tigress I want to know. Did you do anything during the night with him?" he asked.
"Oh no Master. I would never." She said.
"Good, are you alright? You seemed very shaken last night." asked her master.
"I'm fine Master. I just have a lot on my mind." She said.
"It's Po isn't it?" he asked.
"Well, I think I feel something for him. Last night just felt so wonderful. When I saw he was alive it was like being born again. He makes me feel so good." Said Tigress.
"Have you told him of your feelings?" asked Shifu.
"No Master. I don't think he likes me." She said, her ears folded against her head.
"Tigress, what is that on your leg?" he asked looked at the knife.
"Oh, Po gave it to me." She said.
Shifu sighed.
"I wouldn't be so sure. You might find that he cares for you more than you realize." Said her master.
"Thank you master. He said Crane was with him at the jade palace." Said Tigress.
"I know, he left me a note as well." He said.
They gathered the others to find the Mr. Ping was gone as well.
They set off for the valley of peace.
Pov Po.
"Very good. You seem to be a natural swordsman." Said Po, to Crane (komodo dragon).
"Thanks, what next?" asked Crane eagerly.
"Well, as a shadow lord you know have two souls." Said Po. "The second is contained in your shadow itself. He is a sort of servant, but more over he is your best friend."
Po closed his eyes and breathed in deeply.
His shadow began to ripple and wave until it separated from his body and rose from the ground as an exact copy of Po. Every detail was exactly the same.
"They can't talk, but they are smart and are loyal only to their masters." Said Po (tiger) "Search your mind Crane, feel your shadow."
Crane closed his eyes and searched himself.
He felt his chi flowing in him.
Then he felt a blockage.
Something out of place.
It turned to him and smiled.
It looked just like him.
It was trapped in the blocked Chi flow.
Crane sought the bonds that held the shadow before he realized that it was his mind that they were in.
He was in control.
He focused on the shadow and relinquished that control.
Back in reality the shadow became a Crane.
"Bravo! Well, look at you. Not many could have done that their first time." Said Po.
"You should be proud." Said Po.
Crane looked at his own shadow.
"I'll call you Revan." Said Crane.
Po turned to Crane who realized his shadow had gone back to its owner.
"I'll let you get acquainted." He said, walking off while smiling widely.
Po walked to the edge of the cliff next to the sacred peach tree and sat down grabbing a peach.
His shadow got up and sat beside him.
The shadow became a wolf and tilted its head as if to say what's up?
Po knew him so well that he didn't need to hear him speak.
"Nothing much. I wonder what Shifu will say when he gets here." Said Po.
The shadow turned into a red panda and gave Po the thumbs up.
"What if he doesn't though? What if I have to leave the Jade palace? What would Tigress say?" asked Po, letting all his worries pour out of him.
The shadow became Tigress and made a kissy face.
"Shut up Bane!" said Po.
The shadow Tigress stuck her tongue out at him.
"Yeah you too." Said Po. "I am a spectre. I should at least get a little respect."