New Golden Days


The thick mist covered the mountain land, and he had to watch his step over the rocky steps. Jagged edges barely formed a stairway on this path, but the panda was determined to get to the spot. It used to be better. This place used to have green trees covered by soft white snow. Ever since the ambush, nothing grew here. The enemy had uprooted so many trees, just to clear the forest of any stragglers. "Not much further," He sighed. His bones ached as he walked further and further until the hill drove up into a tall mountain with a shallow cave. There wasn't much inside. Just a small stone plaque commemorating the valiant person who died here. "It's me, honey," The panda said as he sat down. The plague didn't respond. As the mist rolled away around the panda, he could see the barren rocky slabs surrounding him in heaps. A landslide must have happened here. He'd have to remember that. "It's your anniversary. It makes twenty-five years since..." He couldn't finish. The choking tears poured down his face. "I just wanted to make sure that you were okay. No one's been touching your things, right? I know the garden outside is covered with snow... and rock. Hehe, you always said I was a lousy gardener," He lightly chuckled. The silence only brought more tears to his eyes. "I really wish I could hear you say that again. I wish that I could hear your voice just one more time. Please, just say something. I'm sorry I wasn't there for you I..." The panda dipped his head into his hands, breathing harshly. His body dreaded the pain coming onto him. It always came on. He thought the years would make the pain numb. It did, just not in a way he expected. He still cried his heart out every time he came here to see her. "I'm so sorry. I just wish I could..."

"Mr. Li Shan?" Said a voice, not unlike hers. The big panda turned around. He wasn't expecting anyone to follow him. From the thick mist came bright orange, red, and yellow colors trailing up the rocky road. The panda blinked several times over.

"Master Tigress," Li Shan replied, wiping his tears away. "What are you doing here?"

"I... saw you leaving the celebration. You traveled a long way and... I was worried you'd get lost."

"Hehe, nah, I've lived here for a while." Li Shan smiled, though sadly. Tigress looked back down the rocky path where the abandoned panda village once stood. Po and she traveled to Gongmen City to celebrate the anniversary of Lord Shen's defeat. Li Shan came down from the secret panda village, and the three of them were surprised to see each other, but Tigress could see a heaviness about the older panda that Po didn't pick up on. Now the tiger had traveled down the river and past the empty village to this cave where Li Shan sat.

Tigress took a seat next to him, respectfully silent. She looked at the small stone plaque, etched with Po's mother's name. Li Shan pulled out a small scroll and draped it over the plaque. It was her painting. The lovely female panda smiled wide and cheerful. It brought a tiny smile to Li Shan's face. "She was like you, you know. Brave, bold, willing to do almost anything for those she cared about. I think you two would've liked each other. Hehe, the only difference is the diet."

"I'm sorry for your loss, Mr. Li-"

"Please, just Li Shan, Tigress," The panda smiled. Tigress nodded and fell silent. "I can't imagine what it was like for you, though."

"Excuse me?"

"Po told me all about your orphan life. You and him aren't so different, you know."

"I never said we were," Tigress commented.

Li Shan smiled. "I know. I know. Just a thought." He looked back at the piece of paper on the plaque, sighing heavily. "I thought it would be easier, you know. To move forward. After nearly losing Po and the entire village to Kai, I thought I could move on from... her. I didn't want her to haunt me."

"Memories," Tigress said after a long silence. "Memories don't haunt you." Li Shan rose his forlorn head. "You will always have the memories that your wife gave you and those can't be taken away from you. And you still have Po, your panda family, your community."

"Hehe, easier said than done," Li Shan sighed. They entered another stillness. "But I get it. I just... I thought I could move on from this. I have my son back and the village is safe. I just... I wish she was here to see this."

"I'm sure she does, somehow." Li Shan looked at the tiger sitting next to him. His tears had dried, but now a puzzle quirked his eyebrow up.

"Have you ever lost someone close to you?"

"Nearly... several times, actually," Tigress sighed. "But I try to live in the moment. Po's taught me that. There's no point in trying to wish that things were different from the glory days. It prevents you from making new ones."

"Po taught you that?" Li Shan asked. "I never thought he would be...so... you like him?"

"He's..." Tigress glanced at the panda, raising an eyebrow. "We're comrades. Partners."

"And-"

"Just... partners," Tigress reiterated gently, but the tinge in her voice hinted at her annoyance. Li Shan smiled and even chuckled.

"You're right." He stood up, breathing in the mist with a bit clearer consciousness. But he still chuckled sadly. "It sounds something like she would say."

"What do you mean?"

"I never told you how we met?" Tigress shook her head. Li Shan smiled. Grabbing the paper, he tucked the picture back into his cloak and stood up. "Maybe another time, perhaps. Right now, I think I need some help... moving on."

The tiger showed a small smile, standing up with him. "Po and I would love to help you."

"Thank you, Master Tigress," Li Shan sighed. As the two walked back, rain started to drizzle onto the earth. Drops of water trickled down onto a small pink flower right before the cave. It spread its petals and winked at the two retreating down the mountain. Li Shan turned back when he saw it. Maybe it was just a coincidence or some grand cosmic way of his own spirit moving on.

Or maybe his wife was just smiling at him.

The End

A/N: I promise you guys I am okay XD