Elusive


"Hmmm, very interesting," Shifu muttered at the kitchen table. He sat across from Po with a plate full of his usual noodle soup with dumplings. Po gulped down another dumpling as Shifu stroked his goatee. "And is Master Tigress okay?"

"I think so," Po said. "That fight took a lot out of her, but she kept Momoda on the edge."

"And she's still sleeping?" Po nodded. It was noon, which made the red panda more anxious. "In their fight, was there anything unusual about Momoda?"

"Yeeaaaaah. She was quiet."

Shifu rose an eyebrow. "She usually isn't?"

"I... don't know what is usual for her."

"Fair point."

"But she doesn't seem to be harming anyone right now," Po said.

"You mean other than you and the others."

"And the bandits."

"Who count as people being harmed."

Po rolled his eyes. "I say we just keep a close eye on any activity tonight. But let's leave Tigress to sleep."

"Hmmm," Shifu murmured, stroking his beard. "But if Tigress and you are having a hard time with this tiger, it might be time to call in reinforcements."

"You mean other Kung Fu Masters?" Po asked. Shifu nodded. "Is that really necessary?"

"Po."

"This isn't me asking because she's flirting with me," Po said defensively. "It's just... crime at night is down and she helped Crane get his girlfriend."

"Girlfriend? They're officially dating?" Shifu asked. Po's smirk made the red panda shake his head. "It doesn't matter. I was hoping that Master Tigress could defeat her where you couldn't."

"Why?"

"Because she's a female."

Po rolled his eyes again. "Just because Momoda is a woman doesn't make it harder for me."

"No, she's an attractive female that is flirting with you. I'm not questioning your ability, Po. I'm just saying that it is dangerous."

"How would you know?"

Shifu smirked, "Because I've been there before. More times than you think."

"Hmph," Po huffed. "Alright, I guess we can try with the masters."

"I'm glad you can see it my way, Dragon Warrior," Shifu smiled.

"But," Po said as Shifu left his seat, "Try not to make the wrong decision just because she's not doing things the way you want."

"We have laws and rules about how people should act, Po. You know that."

"And yet, people don't exactly hate her. Heck, they seem to actually like her."

Shifu turned around and narrowed his eyes. "How do you know this?"

"Uhhh well," Po tapped his fingers together. "I... may have heard some stuff from my... dad."

"Gossip you mean."

"Okay, okay. I know I'm not supposed to listen to town gossip, but before that, I thought the same way you did. And then Momoda showed up."

"Correlation doesn't mean causation, Po," Shifu sighed. "The very presence of this feline doesn't mean that gossip is true or should be listened to. Especially when that kind of information can so easily be turned against you. Something you should know about."

"Yeah, yeah," Po grumbled.

"And, in a way, capturing this tiger will protect her. If the villagers start to treat her like an outcast or get fed up with her antics, they might cause her to hurt someone."

"Yeah, I know," Po sighed.

Shifu gave a small smile. "I understand that you want to help, but do be careful who you help, Po."

"Hmm, tell that to my dad," Po chuckled. Smiling, the red panda nodded and left the kitchen. As Po finished eating, something orange slunk into the kitchen. "Oh! Hey Tigress."

"Silence," She grumbled sleepily. She trudged over to the pantry and threw together some of her favorite food in large quantities: Spring rolls, stir fried soy cubes, and bok-choy Po had left for the others; he usually cooks for the entire day. Po watched as the tiger finally sat down and gulped up the food she prepared.

Tigress ate fast and a lot. She gobbled down some food with her chopsticks and some with her hands, throwing it all into her mouth. When she finally stopped, she covered her mouth as a small inaudible burp came up. The panda dropped his jaw to the table, but no words came out for a long time.

"Uhhh, Tigress? Are you uhhh okay?"

"I'm tired," Tigress grumbled.

"Right, right," Po sheepishly shut up. Tigress mumbled as she gulped down fruits and some of her favorite dishes before grabbing a cloth and drinking a gallon of water. "Whoa, Tigress. Are you sure you're okay?"

"Why wouldn't I be?"

"It's just... you usually don't eat like me."

"Are you saying I'm gluttonous?" She growled.

"No, no, no," Po quickly said, putting his hands up. "No, no, nothing like that. I was just saying that you're... uh... eating a lot?" Tigress glared at the panda and mumbled something under her breath. "Huh? I didn't get that."

"I said, I'm just tired. Fighting Momoda... exhausted my energy."

"That's weird," Po mentioned. "She barely touched you."

"She has a lot of strength, Po."

"Huh, that much I know," Po sighed with a smile. "Anyway, I'll let you eat in peace."

"Thank you, Po."

"Oh!" Po stopped in the middle of the entryway. "I almost forgot. Master Shifu is having some masters come into the village to catch Momoda. Hopefully, we'll get her before the month is out."

"Good," Tigress said. "It's time we end this cat-and-mouse game she's playing."

"Yeah, cat and mouse," Po muttered, rubbing his chin. He gazed at Tigress gulping her food down before she finally finished. "I'm starting to wonder if this is more of a catfight than a game."

"What?"

"Uh... never mind. Just... wondering," Po said. He stared at Tigress for a second longer and then left.

Three weeks went by. Masters came from the nearby temples and training halls to try their hands at capturing the elusive Momoda. Sometimes they would catch her, only for her to escape using her smoke bombs or some other useful tool. Other times, she'd duck into crowded inns and taverns, leaving without a trace.

"She is a tiger!" Shifu exclaimed at the masters one time, "She can't just disappear into thin air!"

But that's exactly what she seemed to do. Even the canine masters had a hard time pinpointing the tiger. Whenever they had the scent, they'd follow her all the way to a bunny or goat who said that Momoda ran into them, rubbed her scent on them, and ran off. The canine masters, confused as ever, would notice the scent getting fainter and fainter until they lost it completely.

"And it's never the same scent for some reason," one of the canine masters had said. "I don't know how that's possible."

Even when Crane, Mantis, and Monkey tried to fight her all at once, she easily deflected them, even putting Monkey through a wall like a nail through a stake of wood.

"That's twice she's shown you that you need to train," Po laughed.

"Shut up, Po."

"He's right, you know," Crane smirked.

Tigress, who continually trained to match strength with the tiger, and Po were the only ones that seemed to be on her level. Of course, Momoda was more... relaxed around Po.

Po did notice that Crane and Momoda had a very... weird relationship. One night, Po and Crane were patrolling the village's southern edge. Crane had taken to the air but would often swoop down and talk to Po.

And it was usually about one thing. "Do you think flowers are too tacky?"

"It doesn't hurt to try. And you could always ask her," Po sighed with a smile.

"I know, but flowers are just so... overdone."

"To you, but maybe not to her. I don't know, Crane. Just ask her," Po said.

Crane and Min's relationship was blossoming more than the pink and white spring flowers that were coming in around the valley. It wasn't as irritating as Po would've thought, but the constant questioning was starting to eat away at his patience. But he still helped.

Fortunately, someone voiced his slight annoyance much better.

"Oh my goodness," said a growl. "The bird gets one taste of romance and he doesn't know how to act." Po stopped and Crane hovered to a halt. They looked to the rooftop and saw the tiger leaning against a chimney shoot with black smoke softly puffing out of the top. "What's next, birdie? You're gonna be a limp noodle on the honeymoon?"

"Uhhh uhhh."

"Listen, bird," Momoda said. "The panda's right. Just ask her. Word of advice, though. Don't let your new relationship burn your old ones. And don't let love blind you." She crossed her arms and glared straight at the bird. Even though Crane could fly higher than her, he felt himself shrink.

But suddenly, Crane shook his head and flew straight to the tiger, flapping his wings with great gusto. "And what about you? You aren't letting your feelings blind you?"

Momoda rose her eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"You seem very relaxed around Po for some reason, especially when it could be a trap."

Momoda's stare hardened. "Just because the panda tickles my interest doesn't mean I can't hammer you through a wall like a nail in wood. Your monkey friend should know."

"And yet you definitely talk more to Po than us," Crane smirked. "You sure you're not having too much fun with your... panda toy?"

Momoda's growl rumbled through her throat, "I'm just saying, birdie. Love blinded your master with the snow leopard."

"So?"

"Don't let your emotions make you forget your friends, birdie."

"And what are you letting your emotions blind you to, kitten?"

Momoda's head jerked back. Po couldn't make the muscles in his fallen jaw respond anymore. Po's brain splashed to a frightening halt as he manually shut his mouth. Was Crane... talking back? Crane talked back to no one ever in his life. Po still gawked at how the bird 'stood' before the tiger.

Slowly, Momoda's lips spread into a wide feral grin. "Mmm, birdie's finally got a backbone. Doesn't happen much with relationships."

"Nah, I just took a page out of your book."

"Hmm, good. You needed it."

"Umm if I can interrupt?" Po said from below, catching both of their attention. "Aren't we supposed to... you know... catch her?" Momoda and Crane looked at each other.

"Oh... yeah," Momoda murmured. She suddenly jumped through the chimney's cloud of smoke and disappeared before their eyes.

"What the heck!" Po exclaimed.

"Ugh! I'm so sorry, Po. I didn't mean to-"

"No, no, I'm trying to figure out how the heck she did that! I mean she really can disappear into thin air?! That's so... aaaawesome!" Po jumped on his toes. "Awww man, I know I shouldn't be saying this, but she is so cool!"

"Yeah, cool," Crane rubbed the back of his head as his feet touched the ground.

"Also!" Po's gaze turned south as he glared at Crane. "What was that?"

"What was what?"

"I've never seen you talk like that to... anyone," Po said. "What gives?"

Crane's eyes moved around the street, but nothing could be a distraction for him. "Uhh well... after fighting Momoda for a while, I... kinda learned to... match her talk."

"Match her talk?" Po repeated. "What do you mean?"

"She's the kind of fighter that you have to tune out a bit. And... I have to admit that fighting with her has made me a little more... confident."

"Along with Min," Po smirked. The bird blushed with a smile. "Hehe, yeah, I get it. But I know Master Shifu will be miffed about this."

"He can't be that mad, right?" Crane asked. Po's face turned into a deadpan look. "Yeah, I heard how stupid it was when I said it out loud."

"Come on, let's get back to the Jade Palace," Po sighed with a small smile. The bird warrior walked back with his ursine friend. "Also, panda toy?"

"Oh you can't deny that she has a thing for you."

"She doesn't have a thing for me," Po remarked. "She's just... really... playful with me."

"What is the definition of a toy then?"

"Shut up Crane."

Crane smirked and laughed as the panda crossed his arms and pouted all the way up the mountain.

Continued...