The tiger grumbled a bit, traveling with his spear as a walking stick. After trudging up the wooded pathway, he came to a small clearing where the mountain's incline started on the opposite side. The tiger cracked his stiff back and grunted loudly. "You're having a harder time climbing up hill, old friend?" Said a voice from the opposite side.
"Li Shan," The tiger smiled and bowed, but the tiger's eyes jumped open when he felt the large panda's arms wrap around him in a tight big bear hug.
"Ahhh! You know we don't bow around here, friend. Only hug."
"And you wonder why my back is stiff," The tiger grinned briefly before sitting in the grass of the clearing. The large panda sat down with him, clutching his colorful vest-like covering closer to him.
"Is everything alright, Chief Shoji?"
"The ending of the war is recent," Shoji replied. "And your son's bravery is still the talk of the tribe."
"And your daughter's courage and bravery is idolized. She comes from very strong lines," Li Shan smiled. "And how is your wife, by the way?"
"Eh, eh, enough with that," Shoji smirked widely. "Until I die, she's mine. Remember that."
"Of course, of course," Li Shan chuckled nervously. Shoji's smile widened. "But you couldn't have just called me for this casual meeting."
Shoji sighed heavily, "Our scouts have found some strays from the Northern Leopards. They say that they've disbanded from their tribe and are trying to attack us. For right now, we've found and killed most of them."
"My people have found some as well, although they've been trying to attack our food."
Shoji sighed with a small grunt. "It makes sense. They're fighting you because of us. I'm sorry, old friend."
"Your pain is my pain, Shoji," Li Shan smiled, "And your joy is my joy."
"If you need to take care of your own first, I will understand-"
"For the most part, the strays haven't damaged the crops, but it has put our people on edge." Li Shan nervously tapped his teeth with the tip of his dull claw. Shoji rose a sturdy eyebrow from his normally still face.
"Is something wrong?"
Li glanced at Shoji and sighed, "Ever since my wife died from the war, our people have seen a...weakness."
"Weakness?" Shoji tilted his head.
"We're largely people of the land. We gave up the way of wandering a while ago and we've felt at peace here."
"So have my people. And with our tribes together, we've managed to protect each other."
Li Shan nodded, "But... there's still a weakness. We are not warriors."
"And yet you have the hearts of one."
"What I'm trying to say is... a large number of our people... want to integrate our tribes."
Shoji's eyes widened and then narrowed. "And what's your opinion on this?"
"I'm... unsure. I don't despise your warrior nature, Shoji. But... war is what took my wife away." Shoji got up and sat right next to Li Shan. The panda stared into the ground, sighing, "My people need to protect themselves and your people need food. Regardless of our children's relationship now, becoming one people would be great."
"But you're afraid of losing yourself?"
"I'm afraid that making warriors of my people will turn them into spirits without a name." The big panda sighed loudly, wiping his face with his hand. A heavy furry hand rested on his shoulder.
"My friend, your people aren't just warriors at heart, they are tender loving people. The likes of which I've never seen until we started our allegiance. My people have learned that rest, food, and play are all necessary for our warrior nature to thrive. And your people have learned to be strong, courageous, and fearless, if your son is any indication of this," The old tiger smiled. "I would be glad for our tribes to become one. And they will have to be warriors anyway. Better to be a warrior that farms than a farmer at war."
Li Shan rose an eyebrow but smirked, "You know that a warrior that farms would most likely kill the food he farms, right?"
Shoji rolled his eyes but chuckled, "You know what I mean."
"I know."
"Speaking of children," Shoji said as his friendly air turned suspicious. "Where is he? I heard that he was a bit... distant with my daughter."
Li Shan looked confused, "He didn't mention this when he went to the lady of the mountain."
"Why does he go there?"
"He said he had to make preparations. And to settle some doubts."
Shoji's eyes widened but nothing else on his face conveyed any other emotion. "Do you think his heart is with another?"
"No."
"You seem certain."
"You haven't seen his doll of Princess Fennu de Louhu."
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Shoji chuckled loudly, "I see."
"I believe he's nervous for her. He seemed worried about... himself."
"He does not see himself as fit for my daughter?" Shoji asked. Li Shan nodded. The old tiger smiled, "A humble heart as well. Your son and my daughter will unify our camps like a nine corded rope."
"Let's hope they don't have the fire hot enough to burn that rope," Li Shan joked. Shoji laughed.
Meanwhile, another panda struggled up the slight incline of the mountain. Grass gave way to rock and gravel. The wintery territory came in sight. The panda bundled his father's old winter covering closer to his body. The snow shoes were helping him keep his heat, though his slight body-fat also helped insulate him. Going to this place took a day and a half, and Po struggled on as the still snow crunched under his feet. The slightly raised snow field was in complete white. He breathed a bit easier.
No snow leopards to worry about.
Soon, he saw a series of colorful flags near a wooden cave. A small light glowed from inside as Po traveled into the cave's heart. Soft silent snow turned into small drips of water echoing in the cave. Po took a torch he packed with him and set it ablaze. "Ha Ha! I'm getting better at starting these things," Po smiled.
"I can see that," said a voice from inside the cave. Po rounded a bend in the cave and saw the fire blazing where an old female goat stood, mixing her ingredients. Po sat down in front of the fire, waiting silently for the goat to finish her work.
He didn't wait long, though. "Soooo uh... are you done with that... because I uh-"
"I see you're still the same. You haven't changed a bit. I'm glad," The old goat turned and smiled, holding one of her concoctions in her hands.
"When was the last time you saw me strike fire?" Po asked.
"When you were but a child and burned down my hut."
"Oh, right. Sorry," Po sheepishly smiled.
The old goat smiled warmly, "It's alright. This cave is much safer. Now, what brings you here, Po?"
"Soothsayer, you know what I did for the Striped Warrior Tribe. How I saved the princess and-"
"I'm aware. Both your father and Fennu de Laohu's father came to me after the conflict. You were very brave."
"Yeah, but now I'm not feeling so brave."
"And why is that?" The Soothsayer asked, rubbing her chin. "I would think that a member of the Black and White Tribe wouldn't feel much fear after such a daring feat of bravery.
"Well, I'm not brave all the time," Po sighed, staring into the fire. "Tigress and I are... meant to be with each other."
"I know, Po. I was there for the wedding ceremony, remember," The old goat smiled.
"Yes, yes, but I... I'm worried about the... next part."
"The next part?"
"Tigress is a fierce amazing warrior that has seen her fair share of battles. And I love that about her! She's so incredible and awesome to be with."
"But?"
Po made a large frown. "I'm... not. I don't know if... when the intimate moment comes... will I do it right?"
"You have yet to fulfill your marriage vow and you're afraid that she won't be pleased with your night of being together?" The Soothsayer simplified. The panda nodded. "Hm, history repeats itself."
"What?"
"Your father came to me with the same question when he first met your mother," The old goat smiled. "And I told him the same thing I'm telling you now. Forget about the performance."
"What does that mean?"
"You and your father used to see sex the same way. It's an act. A skill. A performance made. Much like your skill with the food and fields," The Soothsayer shook her head. "That is not the case here. Skills have to be taught over time. You must learn each other. Not perform on each other. Treat the act as an experiment or a journey."
"An experiment? Like what me and my dad do with the crops?" Po asked. The old goat nodded. "Won't she be... weirded out? I mean, I can't just go up to a woman's... privates and study her like rice."
"Why not? Isn't experimentation about what works and what doesn't and figuring out why?"
"Yeah... but... huh. I guess you're right," Po sighed. "Wow, I feel like I just wasted your time being up here."
"Your time wasn't wasted, Po," the old goat said heavily, "Though I do believe you should return quickly."
Po narrowed his eyes, noticing the shift in her tone. "What do you mean?"
The goat poured the liquid she made and a bright pink smoke flew around the cave, casting a grave image before Po. "I have seen Tigress in danger near the place where you and her will bind yourselves together. A spotted threat will threaten her safety. You must return quickly from where you came."
"What?! Oh no!" Po shot up to his feet and quickly bowed to the Soothsayer. "Thank you so so much for the heads up. I've got to go!"
"Remember to finish him off, Po. You spared him during your battle when you saved Fennu de Louhu, but you can not afford the same mercy this time. Do not be gentle with him, or else he will be a greater threat that will surely murder all you love and hold dear."
The panda gulped but nodded. He sped out the cave only to come head first with a growing blizzard.
"A bad omen," Po grunted. He shook off the growing snow on his feet and struggled on through the thickening snowstorm.