The panda picked berries around the forested land. The loud noise of silence hugged the air as his feet carefully moved through the thick woods; as silent as a panda could be. He bent down and looked at the small plant in front of him. Another Goji berry with some kiwi fruit. His father figured out how to grow them ever since they finally stopped their nomadic way. The plants they grew were plump and big enough to feed their growing tribe.
The panda grabbed some and stashed them into the bag his mother made for him. He lifted his loosening loincloth and trekked back.
Snap!
The panda froze. He slowly looked around the forest. The tree trunks were still and silent, yet the wind whistled through their leaves. The panda's eyes darted left and right, looking up at the dense canopy of foliage. The woodland floor was covered in leaves from the waning winter; the spring would soon arrive. The plants, trees, and leaves finally stilled. It was calm. Quiet. No sign of possible threat.
The panda slowly moved forward. No sound. He sighed in relief.
"HA!"
"WAHHHHHH!" The panda fell flat onto his back, knocking his bag out of his shoulder. The ground crunched beneath him. He opened his eyes and bright amber irises filled his vision. "Ahh! Wahh... Ahh uhhh h-h-h-hey, Princess Fennu de Laohu!" The panda stuttered. "Wh-What is the Raging Tiger doing here?"
The colorful feline pinning the panda's arms above his head smiled, wide and coy, "I've told you to call me, Tigress, panda."
"Sorry, sorry," The panda quickly replied. "I just... want to be... you know, respectful of the Striped Warrior Tribe."
Tigress's grin purred, "And the Striped Warrior Tribe still thanks you for your assistance against the Northern Leopards. And for saving me."
"Ti-Tigress, what are you doing here?"
Tigress, straddling his large yet manageable waist, crossed her arms underneath her brown chest covering. "I could ask you the same. You know you're in Striped Warrior territory."
"Whaaatt? I didn't know that," The panda sheepishly grinned.
"And you know that this particular area is where I go to train."
"O-O-Oh?"
Tigress gave a small smirk, "Po, you can stop playing dumb. I know you came to see me."
"I... no! Not really. I was trying to find some berries for my dad. Honest!"
Tigress's face fell as she stood up from the panda. "Then why are you here? You know that Goji berries don't grow much near the river."
"I... uh... hold on. Let me think of this," Po got up and thought, sticking out his tongue. The tiger shook her head and waited until the panda sighed in defeat. "Alright, you caught me. I... I was trying to see how you were."
"Much better, thanks to you."
"You don't really have to thank me."
"If it weren't for you, I would've died in that attack."
"I just did what anyone would do," Po said. "It's nothing big really."
"You went into a burning, raging battlefield for me and wouldn't let me die, even when I..." She trailed off. Her hand gently rubbed against the side of his cheek. There was a faint scar from that heated moment. Each graze against it brought another deep regret to her heart that she struggled to remove. He caught her hand softly.
He showed a warm smile. "It's healing. Don't worry about it."
"I'm sorry. I... I shouldn't have let my pride get so large that... I hurt you in my anger."
"They don't call you Raging Tiger for nothing," Po joked, though the tiger didn't laugh. "Tigress, you thought dying in an honorable battle was the thing your father wanted. You wanted to make your tribe proud. I get it. But I'm sure that they just want you alive more than anything else." He tilted his head sideways. "You never told me what happened after I got you to the village."
Tigress sighed, turning away from him and hugging her arms. The panda took a brief moment to scan her outfit. From her chest to her waist, a loose breathable cloth of one seam covered her, and a skirt-like fabric stretched to her knees. They were a dull brownish color and had several stains of war; Po didn't want to figure out their origin. This must have been her fighting outfit. Her 'Princess' Attire was more colorful. "Did the tribe punish you?"
"My... father scolded me for acting so foolishly, but... you were right. The tribe was more glad to see me alive than dead," Tigress confessed. She felt the panda's form behind her and turned around. His great big charming smile met her eyes.
"I'm glad. I told you they would."
"Yes," Tigress smiled back. "You did." She took the panda's face and brought it close to her face.
"Uh... what are you-"
"But I never thanked you."
"You know you don't have to uhh."
"I want to," Tigress grinned. She kissed him, sneakily wrapping her arms around his neck. She wasn't going to let him slip away.
Po's eyes shot open. Her gentle yet fierce lips pressed against his. He chose not to overthink this. He slowly shut his eyes and enjoyed the succulent tenderness of this beautiful warrior in front of him. His arms tried to wrap his arms around her only to stop. He reluctantly pulled away. A hurt face washed across the tiger's questioning eyes.
The panda smiled a little sadly. "I... uh... I don't want to lose control. I know our parents are okay with this, but... I want to make sure of something."
Tigress tilted her head. "What is that?"
"Don't worry. This is something I have to do."
"Is this a panda tradition we don't know about?"
"No, no... well, kind of. It's kind of complicated," Po rubbed the back of his head. "I'll see you again. I promise."
Tigress leaned on her left leg, eying the panda suspiciously. "And after that? Will you reject me again?"
"No, no, no, no. I'm not rejecting you. Just... postponing," Po sighed. "It's complicated. I'll explain later, okay?"
"When will I see you?"
"Soon, very soon." Po walked over towards the nearby river. The river split around a small island with a small woodland patch. On the other side were the high barren mountains passed the sea of trees that bordered them; both Po's and Tigress's tribes were on the west side of the river. "You see that island where the river splits."
"You mean the only island on the river."
"Yeah, right," Po chuckled shyly. "Meet me the night after tomorrow. Sunset."
"And if you don't come?"
"Then something has happened to me, or I've been clawed out," Po joked. Tigress's eyes hardened.
"What do you mean, 'clawed out'?"
"Don't worry. I'll see you again. I promise," Po said, holding her hands. The tiger stared long at those hands. Their soft downy fur was a large comfort in her rough and enstrangled world. She sighed and looked at the panda's calming jade eyes. She nodded. The panda slowly let go of Tigress's hands. Both felt the painful tug at their hearts as Po walked along the river's edge towards his tribe. He waved back at Tigress with that same goofy disarming smile that caught Tigress's heart so long ago. He disappeared into the woods.
Tigress sighed loudly and traveled along the opposite side.
Soon, she reached her tribe settled on a still bend of the river. The dusty well-trodded earth kicked up as a few feline children laughed and played around, waving to Tigress as she passed by. Huts of earth, linen, and wool clustered together around a circular encampment with a large hut at the northern end of the settlement. Tigress took a deep breath and entered the tent. The strong well-fought bareback of a male tiger twice her age sat cross-legged as he ate some food. "My daughter, you returned. How was your training?"
"Fruitful, father," Tigress said, sitting crossed-leg before him. "I hope not to repeat my mistake if the Northern Leopards attack us again."
"I highly doubt that. Li Shan and our spies say that the Northern Leopards are retreating north due to the increasing heat in the area."
Tigress narrowed her eyes, "But the air has felt the same for many summers."
"Not around the snow-capped peaks. There are some signs of a swell of energy there. Either way, the weather and the war have pushed them north."
"But a warrior is always prepared, father. I know to keep my guard sharp, no matter what," Tigress replied. The large tiger slowly stood and turned towards her. His loincloth shifted around as he stood, but he sniffed the air.
A wide smile stretched across his face. "You haven't only been training, have you?"
"What do you mean?" Tigress asked, avoiding her father's stare.
The large tiger laughed, "My cub, you forget that my nose is still more skilled at finding other species' scents on you. And you can never fake the pandas' food."
The female tiger cursed herself for forgetting. "I apologize, father. I didn't mean to lose focus. I-"
"You and I both know that I won't discipline you for being with the hero of our war against the North Leopards." The tiger smirked, motioning her to rise from the ground. "So, how were things between you?"
"They... they... I am confused by him," Tigress admitted.
"He is unpredictable."
"He wants me to wait at the middle island on the night after tomorrow, but he seems... uneasy."
The tiger's smile vanished as a glare formed in its place. "I see."
"I fear something is wrong with him, but I don't know."
The male tiger stroked his sharp chiseled jaw, looking down at the ground for a brief moment before resting his hand on his daughter's shoulder. "Be at ease, my daughter. I'm sure that he will be there. The son of Li Shan isn't one to back away from someone like you."
"Do you think I-"
"No, I don't think so," The tiger replied. He opened the tent flap, noticing the waning sun's position. "The night is falling. Get some rest. And stay near for a while."
"Why?"
"Our scouts have found some stray Northern Leopards. I am visiting Li Shan tomorrow morning." Tigress's eyes widened, but she said nothing. "I hope you will not follow me like last time."
"Yes, father," Tigress muttered. The large tiger smiled and wrapped his arms around his offspring.
"Go and help your mother. She's finishing food." Tigress bowed and left her father while the large tiger stared behind his tent towards the elevated plateau slightly to the north of their encampment. "I hope your son isn't doing anything foolish again, Li Shan," The tiger muttered to himself.
Decided to make this for test. Two character relationships in this with two intimate moments, tell me which one you like.