The sun rose above the eastern snowy mountains, bathing the western edge of the valley with its light. The rays bounced from snowy mountain caps to green evergreens to the rivers' edge where it slowly awoke two people on a small island splitting the river in two for a brief moment. Tigress woke up first, fluttering her eyes open. She heard the panda's gentle breathing beside her, spotting his unconscious smile. The tiger smiled, kissing his cheek. The panda rumbled and moved. "I didn't mean to wake you."
Po yawned and stretched his limbs without making Tigress move. "It's okay. I was hoping the memory I had wasn't a dream. Thankfully, you're still here."
"Mmm, keep your words smooth like that and you'll have a future with me beyond death."
"I can't wait," Po smiled. They kissed in their naked forms. He wrapped his arms around her slender waist while Tigress swathed hers around his neck. They pulled apart, smiling and grinning at each other.
But the tiger's frown broke out first. "What's wrong?" Po asked.
"Our union has been official, but I'm worried about the future of our tribes. I know not everyone takes kindly to this union."
"You mean Jiao'oa Hu?" Po guessed. Tigress lifted her head to see the panda. "Yeah, I know him. Not the most... accepting when it comes to new things."
"Even though my father and a sizable number of my people are, he still has sway over the tribe that believe him to be the pride of the Striped Warriors tribe." The tiger slowly rolled herself up to her feet, hugging herself as she stepped out of their tent. "Even though I believe a large number of our stubborn people admire you and your people, his dissent is still... concerning."
"You worry about a fight among the tigers?" Po asked.
"It has happened before," Tigress sighed. Po picked himself up and followed her, resting his hand on her shoulder. They didn't care that they were naked. They were alone with each other.
"Whatever happens, I will be with you."
"I don't want the struggle to cause your death, Po."
"Like you nearly caused mine when you fought the snow leopards?" His smirk vanished when Tigress growled. "Heh, sorry about that."
The tiger sighed, "I will return to my father and tell him of the news."
"Uhhh does it... have to be public right now?" Po grimaced.
Tigress smirked, "With our shouts of pleasure and love, I wouldn't be surprised if they already know." She hugged his body and licked his bruised bite mark. "And I'm sure your kind will know I've been with you."
"Heh heh, right." Tigress turned to get her clothes on the ground, but the panda grabbed her hand. "We don't have to return right now, right?"
"Oh? And what did you have in mind?" Tigress smirked with mischief on her lips. The feline sauntered up to Po, subconsciously swaying her alluring hips.
"Uhhh I think you already know what I had in mind," Po grinned, capturing his tiger and kissing her again.
After a while, Tigress made her way back to her camp. She walked along the riverbed. The water already erased the horrors of last night. She smiled a bit to herself. Even with that memory in her head, she found it not as horrible. Her mind felt healed and unafraid.
Because of Po.
Tigress found herself smiling as she entered the camp bustling about. She made it to her father's camp. The male bareback tiger stroked his growing beard, pensively staring into the ground. "Father, I have... returned."
"Ah! Tigress, it's good to see you. I'm glad you're safe."
She tilted her head. "Why?"
"Our scouts saw one of the Northern Leopards' bodies floating down the river. Tai Lung."
"I... know. He attacked me last night. But Po defeated him."
Shoji's old eyes widened. He spread his arms around Tigress, hugging her tightly with a relieved sigh. "Twice the panda has saved you. Twice he has proven himself a warrior beyond our comprehension." Shoji sniffed.
"Po and I... made our union official. I came to tell you," Tigress clarified.
Again the older tiger's eyes widened. "Well, that will definitely... help."
"I thought you were in agreement," Tigress said, noticing her father's hesitation.
Shoji turned his back towards her and stroked his beard again. "I visited Li Shan. We've... talked about combining our tribes."
Now Tigress's eyes broadened. "What about Ziao'ao Hu?"
"I am going to talk with him right now. He should be by his training grounds."
"Should I accompany you, father?"
"Yes, I think you might have a... vested interest in this," Shoji sighed. Tigress nodded. Shoji took his walking staff and wore a red robe fashioned with dark seams into a model of the river on the back. The two tigers walked out of the tent and to the 'Pride of the Tigers' training grounds further down the river.
"There he is," Shoji said. Along the riverbank stood a large male bare-chested tiger with a bow strap carrying his quiver. His jaw clenched as he pulled his bow back, shooting at a target hanging in the trees. Pulling another arrow from his quiver, he strung another shot before noticing the two tigers walking towards him.
Ziao'ao Hu stopped and bowed. "Greetings, Chief Shoji and Princess Fennu de Laohu," The tiger said stiffly. Shoji and Tigress shared a glance.
"Hu," Shoji spoke. "I have some... news."
"Is it about the Northern Leopards?" Hu asked.
"No, it's... about the panda tribe," Shoji gauged the tiger's reactions.
"What about them?"
"We've decided that it is... better for safety and strategic purposes that... we unite our tribes."
Hu's eyes widened as his ears perked up. "Oh! I understand. The pandas are a formidable ally and great farmers. It would only make sense to unity."
"What?" Tigress and Shoji both said.
Hu looked between the two tigers, raising an eyebrow. "Is something wrong?"
Tigress stared at her father. The older tiger made an awkward cough. "You... in the past, you have had... reservations about the pandas. One would even say... hostile."
"I... don't know what you mean," Hu chuckled awkwardly. Tigress's eyes sharpened. The stoic tiger never chuckled like that.
But she knew that kind of laugh.
"Are you sure you're okay with this... decision?" Shoji asked.
Hu nodded. "I may have had opinions of the pandas before but that was largely erased ever since our battle with the Northern Leopards."
Shoji glanced at Tigress though she didn't offer any protocol for what to do in this situation. He took a breath and smiled, "Very well then. I will leave you to your training. I hope you'll help the other tigers see the wisdom of this decision."
"I will, Chief Shoji," Hu bowed. The older tiger left, leaving Tigress alone with Hu. Hu went back to stringing his bow but glanced at Tigress. The female tiger crossed her arms, staring at him with suspicion. "Is... something wrong, princess?"
Tigress said nothing for a moment before finally asking, "What's her name?"
"Who?"
"The panda that has your heart?"
Hu tripped up and the arrow flung three feet in front of him. "Wh-What?"
Tigress smirked, "The great Pride Tiger stumbling over his bow and words like a child with their first kill. Some might say you have love on your mind."
Hu crossed his arms, glaring, "I assure you I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Then why the sudden change in your attitude? You were the most outspoken about 'keeping our tribes pure' even after our fight with the Northern Leopards. And it's only been one change of the seasons. What changed?"
Hu glanced away and grunted, grabbing the arrow from the ground. "I tell you, Princess Fennu de Laohu. I have no idea what you're talking about. I see the reason for King Shoji's decision. That is all."
Tigress crossed her arms. "Why do you hide the truth?" she asked softly.
"I do not."
"Hu."
"I do not know what you want, Princess, but I am not hiding the truth," Hu grunted out. Tigress stared for a moment. She sniffed the air, tilting her head slightly.
"You smell of blood."
"There were enemies yesterday... I did not wash."
"And of panda food," Tigress finished, hardening her glare. Hu's eyes widened again. "What did you-"
"It's not what you think, Princess. I... I..." Hu bowed his head and groaned. "Alright, you're right. There is... this panda girl." He rubbed the back of his neck as he grumbled. Tigress smiled and sat down on a large log by the river bank. She patted a spot next to her. The male tiger sighed and sat next to her on the log, hunching over with a long sigh of defeat. "I... I just don't want to believe that a panda of all things can... soften me."
"Better than being accused of murdering one of our allies," Tigress said. Hu slowly nodded. "Tell me, who is this woman?"
"She's the one they call Edu Di Yongbao. But she prefers to be called Bao."
The female tiger narrowed her eyes. "Edu Di Yongbao? What's... vicious about her cuddles?"
"I was confused by her name too. Until I met her a season ago."
"How did you meet?" Tigress asked.
Hu took a long sigh and began the tale.