Chapter 7: First Contact
Tigress slowly lifted her head and opened her eyes. There wasn't a stripe on her body that didn't hurt. It felt like there were a thousand needles digging into her skin. She tried slowly lifting her head, but an electric wave of pain shot down her spine. She was quick to drop the thought of moving. She set her head back down and allowed a low growl to leave her throat.
"Easy, girl." Viper whispered in her ear.
Tigress laid still for a moment longer. Half her body was numb. The other half still throbbed with pain. Once more she made an attempt to lift her head. This time, she managed to push through the pain. She looked around, but only Viper was at her side.
"Where are the others?" Tigress asked.
"We're here!" Po hollered, poking his head from around the neighboring building. His eyes were closed, but he smiled and waved like the goof he was.
"Why are they acting so weird?" Tigress asked.
Viper responded by tapping her shoulder and pointing down towards her lower body. "That fire did a number on your clothes."
Tigress looked down. Her eyes opened wide as she realized then and there that Viper wasn't playing tricks. Her vest was in tatters, leaving too much exposed for her liking. Instinctively, she pulled her knees to her chest, covering the patches of bare fur with whatever she could.
"Relax! The boys didn't see a thing." Viper said with reassurance. "I was the first at your side."
Tigress couldn't find the words to thank the snake. She could hardly nod with the appreciation her friend deserved because of the pain, but Tigress did manage a smile. "Could you grab my spare clothes? We have a lot to talk about."
"Once I'm done treating your wounds." Viper responded.
"How bad is it?"
"I don't know." Viper said with a shrug. "I'm not a doctor. All I know is walking might be tough for a while. You may have a few deep tissue bruises. Like, deep, deep tissue. Maybe a broken bone or two? Three? Four, max… Maybe five. Also, your ear and tail caught fire. You smell like burnt fur."
"Why is it always the tail?" Tigress groaned.
Viper smiled and turned back towards the boys, who were still hiding behind the ash ridden house. "Po? Could you fetch a couple spare clothes for Tigress, please?"
"On it!" Po hollered out, then immediately sprang into action. He raced back towards the edge of town where they had dropped what little necessities they had brought. Mantis followed the Dragon Warrior, helping him dig for Tigress' vests. He managed to find a nice purple and gold vest and a black pair of pants from the bamboo bag. Without a second to spare, he raced back. There was a SNAP as Po stepped on Mantis's tiny, claw sized bag. Po decided it would be best to pick up the pace and hope to avoid the wrath of Master Mantis, who cursed Po from far behind.
Po began to bite his claws as he ran. He had never seen Tigress so injured, though he would be the first to admit he didn't get a good look at her. Not that he wanted to, given her current state. Po tried to shake the thought from his mind. Tai Lung had done a number on her, and General Kai had surely given her a few good looks. Still, the incident in Gongmen Harbor was the closest thing Po could compare her current state too. However, not even that held a candle to how she seemed now.
Tigress was beaten, and it wasn't a bandit or a warlord or a master of chi. I had almost lost Tigress, and for what? The thought caused a deep bit to form in his stomach. As he tore through the field of trees, he winced and cringed. I had almost lost Tigress? I? Where did that come from? Po didn't give it much thought when he pounced from the forest, then dashed through the building of rubble. The fire had nearly vanished entirely, so Po felt as if the threat was gone. He leapt out from behind the building, holding her clothes out triumphantly.
His eyes widened immediately. The blood drained from his face. Whoops.
"PO!" Viper spat.
"GAH!" Po leapt from his fur. "I didn't see anything! Sorry! Sorry! I am so sorry!" Po shut his eyes and raced back behind the building, leaving the clothes where he once stood. "Stupid. Stupid. Stupid." He cursed himself. The picture of Tigress' battered body sent chills up and down his spine.
With the help of Viper, Tigress was fully dressed within just a few minutes. Each joint she pulled through her pants and vest felt like a ball of fire coursing through her skin and tendons. Viper remained at her side until she was able to stand on her own two feet. Even then, despite the tiger's pride, Viper watched as she hobbled about.
"Thanks, Po." Tigress managed.
"No problem!" Po hollered from behind the building.
Tigress turned and looked around. There, laying just a few feet away, nearly covered with ash and soot, was the body of Tsang. She wobbled over, dropping to her knees before the dead tiger.
"Woah." Viper whispered. "I didn't even see it." She got closer. Eyes wide as the Dragon Warrior and the Furious Five gathered around. "Is that a tiger?"
Tigress nodded. "He died in my arms."
"I'm so sorry."
Tsang, she reminded herself. His name was Tsang. Something told her she would remember that name for a long, long time. She took the hand of the deceased tiger, crossing it around his chest.
"Why me?" She whispered softly. Not even Viper could hear. "Why were you looking for me?"
"I didn't think there were any tigers left." Monkey said, earning a glare from Tigress. The poor master froze. "Aside from you, of course." Monkey let out a nervous laugh.
"Was he…" Po thought hard on the next few words. "… you know? Gone when you found him?"
Tigress shook her head. "No. I pulled him from that house." She turned, immediately remembering the red eyes of the strange figure within.
"Did he say anything?" Po continued.
"He was looking for me." Tigress shuffled past Tsang and began to dig out the ash until she came across the object Tsang had given her. She was half expecting it to turn to ash, but the metal had cooled. It was a pendant with a simple design. A dragon chasing the tail of a tiger, which in turn, chased the dragon.
"Woah!" Po gasped, amazed at the odd style of the pendant. "I've never seen the Yin and the Yang styled like that. So cool."
"Focus, Po." Tigress ordered.
"Why was he looking for you?" Crane asked.
Tigress looked down at the deceased tiger. An empty feeling in her gut returned. "I don't know." She said softly. She bent down and pressed her paw to Tsang's chest. She knew it was a longshot, but she still held hope there was a heartbeat. She was not surprised when nothing came. "We need a burial."
"Shouldn't we hurry back to Master Shifu? He'd want an update, I imagine. If we wait too long, he'll get cranky." Crane said.
"Very cranky." Mantis backed Crane.
"Tsang deserves a burial, and I intend to give him one." Tigress ordered. That was that.
The hole was dug near the outskirts of the village just before the tree line. Po and Monkey had generously volunteered to dig while Tigress pushed through the pain and carried the body from the rubble. Mantis and Viper attempted to help, but Tigress shot them down with a single stare.
"You said his name was… Tsang?" Viper asked.
"Yeah." Tigress said. "And he was looking for me."
"But… you have no idea why." Mantis joined in.
Tigress nodded.
Tigress stood above the hole, ready to place the dead tiger in. Po, however, was at her side in a heartbeat. "Let me take him." He said softly. As they shared a quick glance, she could tell that, for the moment, the goofy panda was gone. Standing beside her was the Dragon Warrior. "I'll lay him in."
Tigress stood firm and shook her head. "I can do it."
Po sighed. "At least let me help you."
Tigress was not in the mood to counter. Po wrapped his paw around her shoulder, and they walked side by side towards the empty grave. Tigress leaned on the fluffy panda. Po, meanwhile, stood firm. Just for Tigress. Whenever the pain set in, she would fall into the Dragon Warrior, who caught her every time. Together, they gently laid Tsang to rest.
Tigress glanced over at Monkey. "Fill it."
Monkey groaned. "Can't Mantis do it this time?"
"Oh, right! Let me just grab my mini shovel. I'll have this thing filled by the end of the week."
"Viper?"
"Uh… No hands. Sorry, Monkey."
"Po?" Monkey became desperate.
Po shot him a glance around Tigress' shoulder. Po gave him a series of odd facial expressions, which Monkey was quick to decipher. Sorry, pal. Busy consoling Tigress. Good luck.
Monkey was left alone to fill the grave.
The hole was filled within the hour, to which Tigress remained silent the entire time. The mood remained somber as Po and the Furious Five decided to return to the Jade Palace without a word being spoken. Though Po, Mantis, and Monkey all wanted to talk and joke, they each knew Tigress was not in the mood for their usual, constant bickering.
They pushed through the terrain, good or bad. The weather wasn't sure what it wanted to do. Rain, then sun. Scorching sun. With each passing hour, Tigress felt her body wear. Her body could only take so much.
About six hours until nightfall they made a steep climb up a tall, rocky hill. For once, Po was the first one to crest. With pride, he turned around and looked down at the Furious Five. It was a sight he had long wished for. Watching Crane, Viper, Mantis, Monkey, and Tigress all walking up towards him. Only, there was no Tigress.
She remained far behind, at the bottom of the hill. Her paw wrapped around her chest, and she knelt in a patch of grass wet with dew from the rain a few hours before.
Po barreled past his friends and was the first one at his side.
"Tigress? Are you all right?"
Tigress nodded. The pain had become so unbearable, she was unable to speak.
Crane was next. "Is she okay?"
"I'm fine." She managed.
"You don't look okay." Mantis said.
"I said I'm fine." Tigress lied.
"I know you think you are, but you don't look right. You're in bad shape." Po turned towards Viper. "How many broken bones again?"
Viper shrugged as snakes do. "I'm not a doctor. Mantis?"
Mantis, who had been crawling up and down Tigress ever since he had gotten down to her, stopped atop her head. "Six or so. Maybe seven? I'm not a doctor, either."
"That's six or so too many." Po said.
Mantis leapt to Tigress' shoulder and felt her immediately wince with pain. The little guy scurried around her once again, this time tapping her from time to time using his forearms.
"Stop." Tigress groaned, giving Mantis a death glare.
Mantis froze, knowing his next move could mean death. Nervously, he tapped her collar bone. She roared with pain and nearly collapsed. Mantis leapt from his exoskeleton and ran for dear life.
"That hurt!" Tigress cried out.
"Definitely broken." Mantis said with a tremble in his voice.
"That's all I need to know." Po said. "We'll-"
"Just carry me!" Tigress roared.
Po froze. Something fluttered in his stomach, as if reacting to the desperation of the tiger's words. He looked around at the Furious Five. Everybody had the same expression. Disbelief. Mantis, Crane, Viper, Monkey. All were looking up at Po, then back at Tigress.
"W-What?" Po stumbled through his words.
"We aren't setting up camp." Tigress hissed at the pain. "We're not stopping. If you don't think I can go alone, then carry me."
"This… this isn't a trick, right? You're not going to spring to life and chase me?" There was an aura of silence. The only thing heard was Tigress' deep breaths. "Tigress?" Again, silence. The tiger remained as still as could be. She looked down at the ground, unable to even look up at the Dragon Warrior. At her master.
Po, without another comment, approached Tigress and lifted her up. Cradling her like a child, they walked up the hill. In silence. Even her breathing became slightly more subtle. Po was fine with this. He had promised himself, night after night, that should anything happen to Tigress, he would personally bear the weight of a million worlds to see her through to the end.
Lu Fang watched as her soldiers began to pour in through the gates. Hundreds, all in perfect order. Not a step out of place, just the way she liked it. The last soldier she saw misstep found himself somewhere, the fool found himself floating alone in the Shining Sea.
Liang stood beside the mistress.
"It looks like your mission was a success." Liang said, allowing a nervous chuckle to leave his lips. Lu Fang, however, ignored the servant, spun around and walked towards her golden throne. "Are you not pleased?"
"I feel as if time is running out. I've spent the better half of my life chasing those damned tigers to the edge of extinction." Lu Fang plopped her rear in her throne and pressed her face between her palms. "I'm tired, Liang. I haven't slept well in days, but you know what they say, don't you? If you want a job done right, do it yourself." She laughed, then groaned. "I knew I shouldn't have left uncovering the Hidden Valley's location to those damned mercenaries. They're useless."
"All this for the proper name and location of some far-off place. Are you sure this Hidden Valley is actually real?"
Lu Fang's eyes lit up like a thousand suns. In a flash, she was in front of Liang. Eyes of death rained down on the poor rabbit. With lightning-fast paws, she pulled the servant close. Her claws scratched the fur on his neck. He tried to pull himself free, but the large panda was far too strong.
"Excuse me?" Her voice was soft. Emotionless.
"What if… hypothetically, this location isn't… real?"
"It has to be, Li. I know it's out there, and there isn't a thing on this earth that will stop me from finding it." She finally released the poor, little rabbit. He gasped for air and watched as Lu Fang sped back to her throne.
"Very well. I know this mission of yours is not misplaced. Sorry if I made you think otherwise."
Lu Fang let out a grunt. "Very good. Loyalty is important, Li. Loyalty and trust. Without those two, the house crumbles with the disbelievers beneath the rubble."
Liang swallowed the knot in his throat. "So, what did you uncover?" Liang asked, hoping not to offend the mistress again.
"Nothing." She sighed. "We found nothing, and to make matters worse, the emperor sought fit to send the Imperial Army to stop us!" She stood up and began to pace. "I'm running out of time, Li. If the emperor starts interfering, I'm in trouble. Big, big trouble."
"The Imperial Army?!"
"Calm down, Li. If the emperor thinks a few thousand of China's finest will stop me, then he has another thing coming." She stopped and took a deep breath. Once her heart began to settle, she sat back down on her golden throne. "It is only a small inconvenience, but like anything, it will snowball into a major problem. Luckily, I thought ahead. I kept one of my most loyal weapons behind. He will keep tabs on China for me, and I know he will not let me down."
"This… loyal weapon. Have we met?"
Lu Fang laughed. "Not yet, but one day soon. He is just a doll to be around. Loyal to a fault." Her icy eyes locked onto Liang. "Now, get lost."
Liang scurried out of the room. He had enjoyed his time without Lu Fang. Now, with her back, he was once again nothing more than her servant. Lower than dirt, but he was loyal. Loyal and trustworthy, just as Lu Fang wanted.
Master Shifu was sitting on the staff of Master Oogway. His eyes were closed as he enjoyed the serenity the garden brought. Though the flowers were dying, Shifu was at peace. Po was the spearhead as the Furious Five entered. Tigress' pride had grown, and after that first night on the road back home, she had once again decided she could walk. Po, while he disagreed that she was in no shape to walk, respected her wish. Po kept close, however, and was there to assist when the pain set in.
Though it may have delayed their journey, it was good to be home.
"Greetings, students." Shifu said.
Po and the Furious Five stopped in their tracks and bowed. "Greetings, Master Shifu." They all said.
"How was your mission?"
Po felt the eyes of the Furious Five on him. Somehow, through some mystical force, they seemed to push him forward in front of the group. He took a deep breath. How do I say this gently? Po knew, deep in his heart, it was impossible. He was screwed.
"The village was nothing but rubble and the Imperial Army was defeated." Po spoke fast and quiet. So quiet, as if trying to slide the bad parts of the report past Shifu. Po realized quick that the trick doesn't work when the entire situation is bad.
Shifu's eyes opened. His peace was immediately broken. The worry was evident with the way his pupils ran back and forth, flipping to each of his students that stood before him. They stopped on Tigress.
"Oogway once said there was no such thing as bad news. I'm not sure what he'd say to this."
"I failed, Master Shifu." Tigress spoke, though the pain in her chest began to swell once again. "We were too late."
"Nonsense, Tigress." Shifu grumbled and leapt down from the staff, standing before his students. His eyes now focused solely on the ground, deep in thought. "This is bad. Very bad." The red panda began to pace. "How? How is this possible?" He spoke silently to himself before stopping and looking up at Po. "What happened?"
Po shrugged. "We don't know, but we weren't too far behind the enemy. The village was still on fire when we arrived."
"And the Imperial Army?"
"In…" Po took a deep breath. "In a fresh grave. Just outside the village."
Shifu nodded. His eyes once again shot down at his feet. He held his staff behind him, but clutched it tightly, hoping it would give him comfort. It was clear once he began to pace again, it didn't.
"Perhaps if I hadn't ordered you to rest…" Shifu grumbled to himself, not stopping for a moment. "No. You needed the rest. You all did." Finally, Shifu stopped and looked up at his students. "You didn't happen to get a glimpse of the enemy, did you?"
Crane shook his head. "We were too late. I couldn't see any trace of them. Not even from the sky."
Again, Shifu paced. "This is serious. Very serious indeed. How are we going to protect China if we don't even know who we're fighting?"
"We'll figure this out." Viper stepped up. "All we need to do is take a step back and look at what we know."
"That is very wise, Viper." Shifu said. "This threat is obviously very powerful. More powerful than I first believed."
"What's our next step, Master Shifu?" Monkey asked.
"I'm not sure. Did you find anything else?"
Tigress nodded, then pulled the pendant from her clothes and held it up for Shifu to see. The red panda, like the grump he was, snatched it from her paws and looked at it with interest. His eyes widened as he raised it into the light.
"Do you know what it is?" Tigress asked. "Not even Po has seen a design like this."
Shifu shook his head. "No. Unfortunately, I do not, but that does not mean Master Oogway didn't. Give me time and I will try to uncover what I can." His ears lowered with defeat. "For now, go get some rest."
Po and the Furious Five bowed, then, one by one, took their leave. Po was stopped by the lightning-fast staff of Shifu and pulled back before him. He watched as the Furious Five left the courtyard and entered the barracks. Tigress being the last one, helped by Viper and Monkey. Po saw how the wounds affected her. She acted tough, and she was, but he saw her pain.
"Po? I just wanted a quick word." Shifu said softly.
"Of course."
"It is not often one gets to consult with the Dragon Warrior on the subject of kung fu. It is once in a lifetime, but I intend to make the most of it." He took a deep breath. "This… next level we've spoken of once or twice. It has interested me as of late."
"It has?"
"It has." Shifu confirmed. "When Master Oogway left us, I was forced into his role. The role of a teacher. I was hoping retirement would be on the horizon. I am old and not nearly as capable as I once was, I fear. But…" Shifu's eyes darted left and right. "…I believe I have found my pathway to the next level." He smiled.
"Really!?" Po nearly roared with life. "That's great!"
Shifu nodded. "It is. I have given it much thought since you brought it up before your mission, and it is clear to me. Now, more than ever." He looked down at the pendant in his paw. "Over the many years of studying under Master Oogway, I couldn't help shake the fact that he was telling me more than he actually was. Within each lesson came a second one. A new way of understanding. Only in my aging years am I truly able to understand his teachings." He looked up at Po. "So, I have you to thank, Master Po."
Shifu bowed.
Po wanted to explode with delight. He tried to remain firm. Stoic. His antsy knees and constant chuckles made it impossible. To most people, he would be seen as a bumbling idiot fanboy. To Shifu, he was Po, The Dragon Warrior.
Po, gaining some of his senses, bowed back. "It is all thanks to you, Master Shifu."
Shifu nodded. "That reminds me. How has your quest for this… next level gone?" He groaned as the words came from his mouth. "We really need a new term for it."
"Oh, it's going well, I think."
"Good. I wish you well in that quest. For now, go get some rest. I have lots of thinking to do."
Po rushed away in a hurry. Straight to Tigress' room. He knocked.
"Po?" Tigress asked from inside. "Come in."
Po entered but stood awkwardly in the doorway, scared to make any sudden moves. Tigress was sitting on her cot, but slid over and allowed Po to sit beside her. "How are you feeling?" He asked.
"Everything hurts." She had to admit. Lying would be too obvious.
"I'd imagine."
There was a long, drawn-out silence that followed. Tigress' eyes glanced up at the table in the center of her bed. Sitting at the end was a flower. Or, at the very least, the husk of one. The white jasmine flower was wilted. Brown. Sagging and rotten. Old petals littered the table.
"I thought Zeng was supposed to water you." She spoke to the poor plant.
Po shrugged. "For some reason, plants have been dying. I'm sure Zeng took care of it the best he could."
"It's a shame." Tigress said.
"No. Watch this!" Po knelt down before the plant. He lifted his paw and closed his eyes. Just as the bubbly feelings began to swirl, the thought came to him. He opened his eyes. Slowly, his gaze shifted from the plant to his paw… then to Tigress.
She looked at him with a scowl. "What?"
"Mind if I try something?"
Tigress eyed the panda for a moment. She was reluctant and on the verge of telling him off, but she stopped herself. With each second they sat in silence, a curiosity began to rise. She nodded faintly. "Okay."
Tigress watched as Po pulled her paw close. His fingers gently pressed themselves into her fur. Po studied them for a moment, then pulled them closer to his chest. Tigress felt the warmth of his body. A warmth that carried up her entire arm. She was about to pull away. The instinct was too strong. Too natural. Then, lights.
Bright, yellow lights. Lights like the sun, which were followed by a warm feeling she had not felt in a long time.
Po's eyes were bright yellow, yet as distant as could be, almost as if he was looking straight through her. His bright, yellow pupils vanished behind as he closed his eyes. Suddenly, yellow streaks shot from between their paws like a swarm of millions of fireflies. Tigress almost gasped with pure amazement. The warm feeling continued to resonate through her body, down to the tip of her tail.
Soon, the yellow lights vanished, and the room returned to normal. Po opened his eyes. His bright, green eyes.
"What was that?" She asked.
"I don't know. I just wanted to try and help. How do your paws feel?"
She gently pulled her paws away and held them up. Though the warm feelings lasted everywhere else in her body, her paws felt nothing. "No feeling, remember? Ironwood trees?"
"Oh… right." Po winced. "So hardcore."
"But…" Tigress began hesitantly. "…everything else feels much better." Tigress tried to compose herself. If she had been weak in professionalism, she would have pulled Po close and kissed him right there. "Thanks, Po."
"Glad to hear it." Po smiled, but it didn't last long. "Tigress? What do you think could have destroyed the village? Or annihilated the Imperial Army?"
She shot him a look of confusion. "I wish I had an answer for you, but there are just too many possibilities. Maybe an invading army? Pirates? A war clique? I just don't know."
"What if it's worse?"
Tigress managed a smile. "Like another Tai Lung? Or another Shen? Kai? Whatever is out there won't be worse than any of villains. You said it yourself, remember?"
"What if I'm wrong." Po said, looking straight into the tiger's eyes of amber. "I couldn't beat Kai, you know? I lost. We're only here now because of my chi. What if that isn't enough for the next big bad?"
"Stop it." Tigress gave Po a gentle nudge. "It's too early to start having doubts. You're the Dragon Warrior. You are destined to stop them, and you will."
"Right." Po nodded, along with a hefty sigh. "I just-" Po froze. "You're right."
"Of course I'm right." She smiled. "Now go get some rest."
Po groaned as he stood up and headed for the door. Tigress watched as he slid the door shut and his shadow vanished into his own room. In mere seconds, she heard him snore.
Tigress was just about to lay her head down when something creaked. The wooden floorboards. She guided her eyes towards the walls. There, through the shoji door, were two bright eyes. Red eyes. The shadow moved swiftly, vanishing in a flash.
Tigress tried to stand up, but the pain was too much.
Holes tore through the door. Knives, sharp as needles littered her room.
Tigress dropped to the floor as the blades continued to tear through. The door was turned into an open window. A knife sailed mere inches above her head. Then, the shadow entered.
Tigress ducked and rolled beneath the table. Another flurry of knives. One happened to pierce through the thin wood, sticking her in the paw. She roared with pain and leapt to her feet, striking the table beneath her.
The shadow dodged the oncoming table, turned, and bolted out into the hallway. Tigress charged but tumbled out after a surge of pain coursed through her leg. She crouched on all fours, looking up and down the hall. The figure was nowhere in sight. She was left alone with a surge of pain coursing through her body.
Shifu turned the corner sharply, having heard the commotion, and every member of the Furious Five raced from their beds. Their doors flung open, and they quickly readied themselves for a fight that had already passed.
Shifu was first to Tigress. "What was that?" He gasped.
"Assassin." She reported. "Did you get a good look at him? Any of you?"
"I only heard the fighting. Crane, take to the skies and spot this intruder." Shifu commanded.
Crane didn't waste a second. He flew from his window and high into the air.
"Are you all right?" Viper asked, rushing to her side.
Tigress pulled the knife from her paw and nodded. She studied the blade a moment. It was embroidered with some form of script, but she was too unfocused to care. The knife made a heavy thud as it hit the floor.
"I'm fine." She said, holding up her hand to get a better look at the wound. "Just… fine."
Crane sailed back in. "Whoever it was, they're fast. I didn't see anyone flee from the palace."
"Then the assassin is either too quick or still within the palace grounds." Shifu said. "Either way, we will need to be careful tonight. First, we will scout the grounds more thoroughly. When it is cleared, we will sleep in shifts. You will leave first thing tomorrow."
"Leave where?" Mantis asked.
"To track down this intruder, of course."
Monkey wanted to laugh. "You want us to find their trail in the morning? It'll be long gone by then!"
Shifu shook his head. "Not if you have an expert tracker amongst you." He tilted his head towards Tigress.
Then, Po's door opened. He yawned, shook his head, and stretched. "I heard a noise. Did I miss anything?"
Shifu turned and smiled up at Po. "I see we have our first volunteer for the night watch."
"What?!" Po was suddenly awake and full of energy. "Night watch? Seriously guys, what did I miss?"
"Yup." Shifu smiled. "The rest of you can return to your beds for some well-deserved rest after a quick run around the grounds. I will explain the situation to Po."
Tigress didn't argue. She stepped back and closed what was left of her door. Her eyes watched a trickle of blood leak down the wound in her paw. Ouch. She thought. Ouch? She hadn't felt pain in her paw for years. Why now?
A/N: Hello! Thanks for reading! This new assassin was a last-minute addition (because I can't stick to outlines), but I have big plans for them in future chapters. Both this new assassin and Lu Fang are going to cause serious problems for Po and the Furious Five in the coming chapters. This story isn't going to be an easy one for Tigress or Po. Also, I absolutely love to show how much Po has grown. It's so much fun!
Hope you enjoyed this chapter!
