A Long Way for A Friend
The desert burned her feet. Her brown cloak shielded her from the bright sun across the shifting sand. With each step, her staff made small holes in the dunes. Each step was closer to her destination.
She hoped.
The dry hot air blew against her body. Her fur glistened with a small sheen of sweat that she wiped from her brow. She carried on, moving like a mindless servant to their master's call. Her eyes traveled on with the setting sun behind her. The dunes slowly turned into rocks and bright course white sand that penetrated her sandals. It must have sanded her fur off by now. She would have to wait until she got back to tell the others about how horrid the whole experience was.
If she got back.
She carried on until the night sky hung overhead, dripping with the dancing twinkling lights next to the big dancer, the moon. She stopped for a moment, taking a sip of her water before trekking on. One of those celestial lights burned closer to the horizon than normal. She squinted her eyes and followed the light. The hot sun had played its fair share of mirages. In the night's cool, the light on the horizon burning brighter the closer she got. Three steps closer became two hours closer where she found a small oasis on the edge of the desert. She took a deep breath and walked on. The hut-like houses stood three people away from each other with the watering oasis at the back. She broke into a run, past shocked citizens and straight to the pool where she guzzled down as much water as she could. She collapsed by it, laying onto her back with her eyes staring into the night sky. She took a big long breath.
She felt cold. Or at least she recognized she was. Her body, not used to shivering, immediately sought some kind of warmth. She popped her head up and found a pair of eyes looking at her. A small desert fox that probably came up to her waist. "Hello," The cloaked woman said.
"You're funny looking. I've never seen you before," Said the desert fox with the voice of a child. "Who are you?"
The cloaked figure unveiled herself. "I'm Tigress. I'm from China."
"China!" The desert fox exclaimed, "That's far. That's past the Maurya capital!"
Tigress smiled, "It is."
The fox sat next to Tigress, crossing her legs. "What is it like? Are their other strange people like you? How did you cross the desert? Are the women there pretty like you?"
"Uhhhh," Tigress stuttered. "I don't know all the answers, umm... what is your name?"
"Oh, I'm Jamila! My parents told me not to talk to strangers, but you looked so funny drinking like that."
"I was very thirsty," Tigress said, standing up from the sand. "Let's get you back to your parents. I'm sure they're worried about you."
"I'll show you to them!" Jamila excitedly said. The tiger followed the fox back to her hut-like home made of clay and brick. A round straw or bush-like covering formed the roof. "Mama, Papa! I brought someone!"
"Jamila! What have I told you about-Oh!" The older slightly taller fox nearly fell back at the sight of Tigress. "Oh, oh, oh, uhh. I-I-I-It's an honor to have you... Mrs... ummm."
"Jamal? What's the-" A female-looking fox gasped at the sight of Tigress.
"Please, we don't want-" Tigress stopped Jamal with a raise of her hand.
"I'm not here to hurt any of you. I was just crossing the desert on an important mission. I understand if my appearance is... unsettling," Tigress replied. This wasn't her first time venturing into unknown places.
"But she's nice!" Jamila exclaimed.
"Zahra. Come here," Said the mother. Jamila rushed to her mother. The mother held Jamila tightly, scowling at the tiger with a quiet vicious growl.
Tigress tilted her head. "I thought her name was Jamila?"
Jamal, whose eyes were stuck on wide, slowly lowered his tensed shoulders. "Zahra is one of our words for... flower."
"I see," Tigress said. She gazed around the still room. While several trinkets and paintings laid around ceramic pots and elaborate rugs, she felt the fear creep into their bodies. "I promise I'm not here to hurt you. I'm from the Jade Palace, in China."
"You're... you're from China?" Jamal asked. Tigress nodded. His shoulders and body collapsed in relief. "It's alright, love. She's not one of the tigers."
"Tigers?"
"A band of tigers from the southeast have been terrorizing this part of the desert," Jamal began as they sat down at a low table. Jamila and her mother quickly prepared the food and water. "Ever since then, we've been wary of any tigers that come this way."
"It's a long way for tigers," the Kung Fu master commented, "What are they doing here?"
"They're part of the Maurya empire. If we were closer to Egypt, we wouldn't be raided, but... that's not the case," Jamal sighed. Jamila ran to his side and hugged him, placing a smile on the fatherly fox. "But why are you on the other side of their empire? If you're from China?"
"My... quest really began with an unfortunate... errand," Tigress grumbled under her breath. She didn't think it would be wise to tell them that Po had heard of a new set of warriors coming from the west and thought it would be cool to try and infiltrate them and become one of them. Now caught up in a moving empire on the other side of their known world, Tigress was tasked with finding Po.
Again.
"I'm looking for my friend," Tigress continued. "He got involved with the Maurya empire and... things began to get... difficult."
"Is he alive?" The mother fox asked.
"Knowing him, he is," Tigress grunted as she cracked her knuckles, "But with the amount of trouble that he has given me, he'll die by my hands."
Jamal, flinching at the knuckle crack, suddenly laughed, "It sounds like this friend of yours is good at getting into trouble."
"He is," Tigress sighed.
"It has been a while since the Maurya guards last came," Jamal said.
"Mikal said that someone defeated their last king in a battle," Jamila chimed in. "Further South."
"Hmm, the trade merchants can probably help you there. Trade has been up for a while. And the tigers of Maurya haven't been around for over three months," Jamal said.
"Jamila," asked Tigress, "What did Mikal say the person looked like?"
"Uhhh some kind of... bear? Like a black and white clown?"
Tigress sighed with a smile, "That's Po."
"Then your journey is further south. You'll probably have better luck finding your friend there," Jamal said as he rose from his seat. "But now, please eat, drink, and rest. I'll have one of the merchant camels help find your way."
"Can I come?" Jamila asked.
Tigress smiled, "No, Jamila. I don't think that will be necessary. My friend will get hurt and I don't want you to see that."
"But... if he defeated the king-"
"He will get hurt by me," Tigress smiled with a full set of teeth. "He's in biiiggg trouble, and I'm going to show him that you shouldn't go off on wild adventures without your loved ones looking after you." She tried to say this in the sweetest way possible, but her growl and sharp teeth were in clear view. The small girl somehow knew that she didn't want to be involved in whatever this friend was going to receive from this tiger. Jamila quickly and promptly nodded, bidding the tiger goodnight and safe travels. Jamal and his wife couldn't stop laughing.
The morning bore down on the sands as Tigress threw her hood up and stepped into the carriage destined to the Southeast. "You'll be heading to Varanasi. It's a special place of India," Jamal said. Tigress nodded and smiled at the fox family. Jamila eagerly waved her goodbye.
"Don't forget about us!" Jamila smiled. "And please bring your friend back here! I really want to know what a black and white bear clown looks like."
The tiger grinned wider. "I will try. Thank you for your hospitality," She said with a bow.
"May the universe grant you safe passage," Jamal replied.
"Time to go!" said the head camel in front of the caravan. The slow train started, and Tigress gave one last wave to the fox family before their figures stood like dots on the sand in the hot sun's light.
Tigress sat in the carriage and decided to meditate. She was largely alone in this wagon; her status and reputation afforded her that. She grumbled. She didn't like being treated like royalty, but the space gave her time to rest, recuperate, and figure out some things.
Like how in the world did Po manage to get caught up in the Maurya Empire on the other end of China?! She growled lowly at the thought. It had been 30 days of crossing mountains, valley, rivers, and gorges just to get to the border of China and another 30 to get where Jamila's family was. Normally, Po could get himself out of situations or at the very least find some kind of way to get their help, but after ten days of no word, the Furious Five and Master Shifu got worried.
Thus, Tigress was tasked to figure out where the panda was. What started as a small tip about him being in the west turned into nearly 3000 miles of rock, sand, heat, cold, friends, enemies, and a weird situation with a small golden jackal.
Tigress shook her head at the thought of the golden jackal. She was ashamed to say that she did wonder how he was doing.
She shook her head again, noticing the position of the sun's western setting. They'd be stopping soon, so she decided to rest.
She entered a dreamless slumber until the sun rose again. The first cracks of daylight trickled into her carriage through the tarp. She opened the flap only to have her head shoved in by a hoof.
"Keep down! Bandits!" said one of the camel guards. Tigress's ears woke up to the sound of thunderous feet and battle cries. The wagons and carriages moved into a circle among the high rock-walled gorge. Archers in the crevices of the rock aimed at their guards while the back and front of the tight passage were blocked by the thugs. The bandits were made of camels, gazelles, and lizards. One of them came up to the guards who had quickly been disarmed. This bandit was a female Arabian wolf. She walked up to the circled caravan as the passengers were ordered to get out.
"Listen," She shouted as the wind picked up her desert clothing, "My name is Anika. We don't mean to kill you or hurt you. We just need some of your supplies to get by. Just give us half of what you have and we'll be on our way."
"But we have-"
"Don't give me the children bit," She growled. "There's a place a day away from here to restock on provisions. Be thankful that we're not stealing your valuables." Her eyes fell on one of the front wagons. Every person had come out except that one. "I know you're in there." She shouted. "They don't put just cargo in the front of caravans."
"Please," pleaded one of the camel guards. "There's no one there."
The wolf sighed and ordered a gazelle and lizard to check. The two bandits slowly approached the wagon and peaked inside. It was dark and quiet. They couldn't see anything.
Until something opened its amber eyes and launched at them, dragging them inside the wagon. "WAAAHHH!"
Anika snapped her head to the sound. "Alright, what's the deal?" She slowly walked up to the wagon with several bandits aiming their bows at it. "If you don't come out of there, we'll be forced to burn the whole caravan."
"You can't!" Shouted one of the camel guards.
"Hush you," ordered the bandit camel holding him.
"We just want supplies. No need to make things worse than they already are," Anika called out.
Slowly, the tiger stepped out. Anika stumbled back to the sand as Tigress glared into her form. "Wh-What! A tiger?!"
"My name is Tigress," She growled. "And you should leave."
"Wait. I-"
"Look out Anika!" Shouted the lizard bandit from the wagon. Tigress dodged the sword swing behind her and threw the bandit into Anika. An arrow shot from the crevice of the rock wall. Tigress backflipped onto the wagon's top, dodging the line of arrows. She saw two of the archers on the lower edge of the rock wall. Diving towards them under a hail of arrows, Tigress clawed her way up the wall. The archer bandits gasped as she roared. She kicked and pushed them off before getting into a crevice for protection. The small cave offered little defense from the arrows, but Tigress immediately found something there.
Gunpowder and a torch; the bandits did threaten to burn the caravan.
Tigress quickly grabbed some and shot the flaming arrow high up. It struck the rocks atop the gorge and exploded with a loud bang. Dust and rock tumbled from above, covering everyone in a virtual dust storm.
Anika finally got up, noticing the chaos ensuing. She ran to the bandits on the north end of the gorge. "Get back! Get out of this dust storm and don't shoot her! I repeat, do not shoot her!"
"What?! What are you talking about?"
"We need to take her alive. Lay down your arms!"
"But-"
"That's an order!" Anika shouted. She ran back into the dust storm. Arrows zipped past her face but the wolf rushed to the other side of the gorge where she found most of the bandits fallen and groaning in pain. "Dang it!"
"Seems like you're outmatched," Said a voice behind her. Anika spun around. The dust finally settled and out of the blinding dirt came the tiger, casting her bow aside. "I've taken care of your archers and your bandits. You were smart to send the ones on the other side away. Take your thugs and go home. If you want supplies, you'll have to buy it just like everyone else."
Anika fell to her knees and bowed to the dirt. "Master Tigress of the Jade Palace, please don't hurt us anymore!"
Tigress rose an eyebrow. "You know me?"
"Yes, I do! Please, we didn't mean to hurt you! We didn't mean to hurt anyone!"
"And yet you stole-"
"To get food! Do you know how hard it is to feed a panda!"
Tigress's eyes widened. "You... you know Po?"
"Yes, he's our leader."
Tigress blinked several times before tilting her head. "How?"
"I honestly don't know how he managed to do it either," Anika confessed as she stood up. "But we're not stealing for his appetite. I swear. We just need supplies for our outpost in this area." She pointed to the southern edge of the gorge. Tigress could see the small patch of green vegetation. "The city is right there. We wouldn't attack the caravan if it was coming from the other side."
"Po has you-"
"No, we're only doing this because we are desperate to help our outpost here. Please come with us. I'll explain on the way." Tigress stared for a moment but nodded. "We'll escort the caravan to its destination and then show you to Po."
"Maybe you should do that instead of stealing from people?" Tigress softly chided. The Arabian wolf gulped.
The escort was quiet and tense. Tigress rode with Anika in the lead wagon while the bruised and battered bandits stood at the sides until they got to the city. Tigress immediately got off the wagon and scooped up some water springing from a nearby pond. "I hate to interrupt your time," Said the wolf, filling her water container, "But we have to go before some of the guards notice us."
Tigress nodded and filled her container of water before following Anika and her crew towards the east. Sands slowly gave way to parched grasses and dry arid rocks. Tigress's stare burned on the wolf in front of her, never wavering her focus.
"How did Po become leader of a group of bandits?" She asked.
"I told you, I really don't-"
"No, I mean... why is he a leader?" Tigress clarified. "I thought he would've been arrested by the Maurya empire."
"The Maurya empire is no more, thanks to the panda." Anika smiled. "He used us, a small ragtag team of bandits, to overthrow that cruel tormentor."
"Po isn't the kind of person to be the... leader type."
"You should know that the panda's full of surprises," Anika smirked. Tigress only nodded. They made their way across the flat rock-filled desert. Over time, the rock turned into rubble and rubble into soil with deep grass and lush trees. The climate grew warmer and moisture hung around the air as they trekked over to green rolling mountains against the bright blue sky.
"This is a far journey from where you attacked," Tigress stated.
"This is our headquarters," Anika answered. "I told you, we needed supplies for our outpost there. Thankfully some of the caravan passengers gave us supplies. The panda spends a lot of time here since the desert is too... much for him."
"He eats through your supplies too much when he's overheating, doesn't he?"
"How do you deal with him?" Anika asked.
The tiger allowed herself a smile. "Very poorly."
They journeyed into a cave at the bottom of the mountains, covered with vines. They entered into a torch-lit cavern where shouts and voices came from deep inside. But Tigress could hear one of them. It was distinctly familiar.
"And then she punched the guy in the face with her double-handed strike. The guy's armor broke like glass!" Said an enthusiastic panda. Tigress smiled a bit. She knew the story he was telling. He was in a small low-ceiling room, teaching some little kids. Tigress tilted her head at the sight.
He looked a lot older than she thought. Dealing with war must have put a strain on him. His smile and spellbinding storytelling were still the same. A small fluff of fur stood atop his head with the starts of a beard growing in. It gave Tigress pause. Had he always cut his head fur and beard?*
The panda's head looked up. His bright jade eyes lit up. "Ti-Tigress?" His smile stretched wider as he got up and rushed over to her. "Tigress!"
"Po," Tigress smiled, latching onto his body in a hug.
"Ooh! I missed you so much! You wouldn't believe the time I-"
WACK!
"OWWWW!" Po gripped his head in pain. "What was that for?"
"I don't know, getting kidnapped by the Maurya Empire, leaving without a trace, and making me go through months of trying to figure out where on earth you were!" Tigress growled.
"Now, Tigress I didn't mean to-"
WACK!
"OOWWW! That hurts!" Po whimpered. The kids laughed while Anika and the rest of her crew stifled their sniggers. Tigress pulled Po by the ear. "OWOWOWOWOWOWOW!"
"You're going home, Po. And you are in so much trouble."
"Alright, alright!" Po cried out. "I'm sorry!"
"How did you manage to get captured and wind up as leader of a bandit army?!"
"Hehe, well, it's a funny story I uh OOWW! Enough with the ear!"
"Should we... help him?" One of the leopard bandits asked Anika.
"No, no, this is just how those two are. I hope," Anika sighed.
"What are we going to do? If Po's gone?"
"Oh, I think we'll be fine without the panda. I don't think what he did here will be easily forgotten," Anika smiled, watching the panda attempt to explain his case to a furious looking tiger.
"And that's why I'm here."
"That has got to be the most foolish story I've ever heard, but knowing you that's exactly what happened."
"I'm sorry!"
"Ugh," Tigress grumbled. "Well, now it's time to get back to the Jade Palace. There's no telling what's waiting for us back home. But first, you're coming with me to the north."
"What? Why?"
"Because I promised a little girl that I would show her what a bear that looks like a clown was like."
"HEY!"
The tiger cracked a small smirk.
It was good to have her friend back.
The End
*A/N: How fur and hair work in this universe is interesting to say the least. Like, Shifu's beard, is it fur or hair? And I don't even want to mention Kai's mane.
