Amusing Panda

Why did I have to do this? Isn't it bad enough that I have other duties to deal with, like listening to boring council meetings?

I groaned as I walked through the dense forest. It was morning, but the villagers near the south gave reports of a beastly creature that could cut down trees in a single blow and growled like the army of a thousand tigers.

You have to love those descriptive reports. They sound so cool! It's like the Fighting Poem of Chen Lu and-

Right, right, need to stop getting distracted. Anyway, I walked through the forest. The trees were thick with leaves and vines covering the top. There was a small narrow trail that I could barely fit through. The Furious Five and Shifu had sent me alone since they had 'other things' to do. I scoffed. Sometimes, I feel like the title of Dragon Warrior gets used against me more than anything.

I started to feel the ground go down like I was entering a depression. The grass grew sparse and several trees held markings on them.

Claw marks.

I sighed.

My mind immediately went to Tigress. And the report of a roaring growl made sense. Was this another tiger abandoned by everyone?

I gulped a bit. The claw marks looked a lot bigger and sharper than Tigress's. I walked on, stumbling down a steep slope before trekking to the flat bottom. I looked up. Tall trees reached to the sky, covering the sun. The light streamed down like diamonds sparkling onto the ground.

But this wasn't the time to get poetic. I walked on until I saw a strange rock opening embedded into the earth. Eroded stone statues stood at the entrance. The villagers didn't say anyone was missing, but I didn't want to be the first person to get snatched up by whatever was inside. "Hello?" I called into the cave. There was no reply. I gulped.

Why did I have to do this again?

I slowly stepped into the cave. The villagers gave me a lantern just in case. "It's okay, Po. You've got this. Whatever it is, you've probably dealt with something like it, right?"

I stopped right in the middle of the cave. "Right?"

Well, I had to be sure.

I set the lantern down. "Hang on, let's see. I've gotten possessed, fought bandits, defeated warlords and Kung Fu villains, stopped ghosts, met the Qilin, forgot my memory, defeated a mythical dragon, beat a Qi-sucking baddie from the Spirit realm... what else?"

"Have you met a spirit animal?"

"Nah, I don't really-" I froze. That voice wasn't mine. I looked at the darkness and found a dim pair of eyes reflecting the glow of the lantern.

Amber eyes.

"A... a tiger?" I asked, picking up my lantern. I lifted it and saw a massive beast standing three heads above me. Its grizzly white teeth smiled hungrily at me. When it moved, the ground quaked. Its eyes burned or were burning bright as it neared my lantern. The starving growl echoed around the cave. "Uhhhh, hello?"

"What are you doing here, little panda?" It spoke like a woman. I heard a flooshing noise. Like Crane's wings. The beast had two large orangeish wings attached to the back of its shoulder blades, and two curved back horns rested atop her scowling face. "I asked you a question." Her voice turned menacing.

"Ah! I... I... uh... the villagers sent me to uh... uh... check and see what the... fuss was about?" I squeaked. I hate it when I'm like this, but what could I do? You try standing before something like this and not pee your pants!

The beast rested her balled-up hands on her hips. "Are you another villager invading my forest?"

"You... your forest? You live here?"

"Yes," She growled, "And I'd appreciate it if you didn't bother me."

"Right, right. Sorry. Uhh... Just... why is your cave uh... like... this?"

"What do you mean?"

"I don't know. I just don't think being here is a good idea... I mean, your cave is in the middle of nowhere."

"Yes... It wasn't always like that."

"What do you mean?"

The beast dove over me and a great wind flew through the cave, knocking the lantern out of my hands. "Hey wait up!" I couldn't believe that I was running after a 12-foot flying tiger. Aren't I supposed to run away from danger? Wait, I can't do that because I'm the Dragon Warrior.

Riiiight.

Anyway, she flew/ran to the entrance and rushed out leaving me panting up behind her. She scanned the area.

She was a tiger. A very tall and big one. Just had horns and wings. But in those burning eyes, it looked like she was sad. "Hey, what's wrong?"

The beast sighed, sadly, "Long ago, this was a temple. I stayed here and protected the forest. But recently, I could feel the forest was being disturbed."

"You're connected to it? That's awesome! So like, you can feel this?" I poked at a small plant. The tiger beast glared at me.

"No, only when it's in danger."

"Oh, yeah that makes more sense. It would be silly if you felt everything in the forest and... stuff," I twiddled my fingers.

She gave a deep-throated chuckle. "You're... amusing."

"Uh... thanks? I'm Po. I never got your name."

"Shouhu Senlin de Ta."

I blinked several times. Literally and casually translated her name means, "She that guards the forest." And boy was that a mouth full.

"Um... is it possible I can call you something... shorter? Like... Senlin?"

She raised her eyebrow. "I'll... allow it."

"Cool cool," I chuckled nervously, sitting next to her. Her wings were large, probably as long as I was tall! They were feathery and collapsed neatly behind her back. She glanced at me.

"Oh shoot! I'm staring," I thought to myself. "Sorry, sorry, I didn't mean to stare," I said out loud.

"Am I the first spirit animal you've seen?"

"Yeah. And I don't think I've seen a tiger as big as you. I mean! Not like fat or anything. Just like very tall and huge and awesome looking with your wings and I'll stop talking," I really need to stop talking.

Senlin smiled widely though still hungrily. "You're really amusing." She crawled onto all four paws and trodded around me. Her wings nearly covered me, and her tail slowly whipped around like Viper's slithering. "Tell me, Po the panda. Other than the complaints of a few villagers, why are you really here? To vanquish me? Kill me?"

"What?! No, no, I was just told there was something in the woods here."

"And now you've found it. What will you do?"

"Uh... tell villagers to stop touching the forest?" I guessed.

"And if they don't listen to you?" Senlin grumbled. I couldn't tell if she was annoyed with my answer or guarded against my next one.

"Why do you want to know?"

"I have to decide if I have to burn the village for them to listen."

"No, no, no," I spluttered. "No need for that. Heh, heh."

"Are you sure?" She asked, glaring and standing up to her full height, "You mortals seem to not care about what stands in your way. Even if it comes at a cost to you."

"What do you mean?"

"Wars, famines, bandits, and raids, deception, control. In addition, you cut down my domicile for your own benefit, not once thinking about what your actions do. Are you all that careless and self-centered?" She growled.

I knew I couldn't answer her with a no. Even if I did, the fraction of people who would try their best to do what was right wouldn't be enough. Heck, I had to deal with crazy emperors on a daily basis. The problem wasn't that there weren't good people. The problem was there were too many bad people in power.

"I... I... I don't know." I bowed my head. "You're right. I can't stop people from being who they are. Even if I tried, when I die, someone will probably harm your home for their own gain." I lifted my head. "But I can still try."

Senlin glared at me, though I couldn't tell if she was angry at me or suspicious.

Come to think of it, the tigers I've met only ever see me as suspicious or become angry with me.

Then again, I only know two tigers.

Senlin still stared and gave a small sigh as she crossed her arms. "I won't burn down the village, but they must know who lives here."

"Y-Y-Yeah! That's a good idea. And leaves fewer people hurt," I muttered under my breath. Senlin looked a little amused by my comment and walked towards the edge of the forest. "Wait! Wait! Why don't I go and warm everyone up to you first?"

"Why?"

"Well, I don't think they're going to NOT freak out at a mythical bea- I mean animal," I quickly corrected myself. Senlin stared and nodded. She let me go out of the forest and into the village where the people were scared when they heard the news. They promised not to set foot into the forest and placed multiple signs around to make sure no one trespassed. When I finally brought Senlin out of the forest, the villagers panicked and shivered. It made sense. Senlin wasn't like anyone they'd seen.

"But she's nice... I think."

"You think?" Asked one of the villagers.

"She's not going to eat you. She doesn't eat people, right?" I asked.

"I can if they're deserving," Senlin smirked.

I facepalmed, "Not helping, Senlin."

The 12-foot winged tiger-like beast stood proudly, raising her hands. "As long as you respect this forest, I will not harm any of you."

"What if an accident happens and harms your home," Asked one of the villagers. "And it's not our fault."

"I will not harm you in that case," Senlin replied.

"Should we offer sacrifices or offerings?"

"No."

"But won't you get lonely in there?" Asked one of the children. Senlin's wings lowered.

"Senlin, are you okay?" I asked.

"I... I will be fine, little one," Senlin smiled bravely. The villagers promised not to harm the land, and Senlin and I made our way back into the forest, though she still had a frown on her face.

"Senlin, are you upset about something? And don't say that you aren't. I know you are," I quickly said. It was hard enough to get Tigress to explain what was going on in her head.

"I do feel... isolated around this place sometimes. I've stood watch over this place for years and..." Senlin stopped and shook her head, growling. "Who would want a monster like me?"

I heard that before. I quickly grabbed her paw with sharp claws. I smiled. "You'd be surprised." I looked at the cave that she stayed at and made a thoughtful hmmm. "Hmmmm. You know, nothing says that you can't visit them. And if they were protected from bandits..."

Senlin raised her eyebrow.

"Nothing says that you can't be the defender of both the forest AND the village," I shrugged.

Senlin stared at me for a while. Then she smiled, "You're a very amusing panda."

It's been a whole two seasons since I've got back to see Senlin. The Furious Five and Shifu still can't believe I met such a person. Interestingly, crime near Senlin's forest and village has gone suspiciously low while their produce has gone up.

Hmmm, I wonder why.

The End