Volume Four: Snow and Fire
Chapter VII
Decisions
No — Get out of my head!
The tension in his mind raced his blood flow, gripping his temple. You could feel a giant wrestler's behemoth hands clutching your head, squeezing. Among the worst sensations inviting the episode, the tiger wished not to feel sick during this summer: headache. Damn. . . Xing winced, gritting his teeth without any sudden noise. He panted his breaths in and out without allowing his left eye to strain. His head triggered his eyes, forcing his vision through rapid pulsations of the painting strokes blotching in various directions before sweeping back and forth. The following enchantments stinging in his eyes emerged the encounters of the aspects.
Ebony storm claps lightning bolts above the raging sea of white waves, and the creature of black rain and scales chases the red junk ship.
A thin haze hovers on the dark river. Mosses with large and thin stems snaring a gray-blue face with an onyx muzzle underwater.
The badger, in a dusty mino, under the fading bamboo hat, heaves the small ax with one paw in the air, and below the figure is the army in lamellar armors, undulating towards the shadow ridge towers.
Dammit, what comes next? Xing demanded. The vision had him lessen the strain and grow his surroundings back before he sighted the last.
Growing from the swampy dirt water, a lily flower blooms, hissing. Petals wither to rust and sink. And the eyes of violet flash with a mighty roar.
"Shit," he muttered in dread.
The tiger kept whiffing his harsh breaths, though unable to draw the Nine's attention across the corridor. Giving a few hints to him to remember the latest encounters, like dream sequences, Xing knew one place to go and do paintings: in the small library.
After trudging towards the threshold, snatching the rolls of blank scrolls, Xing grabbed an ink bottle with a small black bowl, applying remnant drops of water before brushing the stick in, making the water blend into ink. Without hesitation, Chen Xing dipped the brush and stroked the blank page, scribbling whatever he could see the visions that repeated the sequences in his head.
Two paintings done.
The other two, becoming the last ones to witness, began to fade gradually, allowing the tiger to scribble with haste. Finished the third painting, Chen Xing worded his mind; the petals from the lily flower need to be more accurate, and the water on the surface exhibited ripple remnants. The fourth was unsuccessful, resulting in the painting of fading whiffs and the figures mottled in dry and saturated ebony. He could see the triangular face of the badger, but scribbles washed all the background away.
What am I looking at here?
Ignoring the fourth portrait, Xing locked his eyes on the first painting with the ship across the tempest ocean. To him, the ebony beast of black eyes with white outlines was haunting; no historical events in China involved this unknown creature's mythology. But there was one that the tiger noticed in the second painting. In his historical conception, after scrutinizing the head under the moss water, Xing thought of the name of the spirit creature that could drown people before claiming possession into one, freeing the previous soul before lingering in the other as the fresh form.
Shui-gui. The water ghost.
Somebody drowned. But who did or will become the shui-gui? The ebony muzzle is there, and that creature will snare one of the bovines.
Having another idea to manifest his old paintings, Xing returned to his chamber and grabbed the wrapped parchments and Niu's bag of drawings. Returning to the scroll library, the tiger pinned the other four illustrations on the wall, examining Master Ox's son's paintings on the table. He brought out the large portrait of lotus flowers blooming on the haze over water and the other drawing of his own.
Lotus flower. We almost have the same, but different. My sister has it. My aunt has it as well, including my temple's sigil. The flower has all the meanings.
He deepened his thought about one of the connotations that his bovine brother Niu mentioned.
Resurrection.
The tiger looked at the Great Wall with the lotus pagoda tower and then the bunny with a panda doll, who hid behind the stacks of boxes underneath from the black bear's fiery face that slithered close to the innocence. That bear is causing a heap of trouble. Xing stacked Niu's and his drawings in order and looked at his older portraits.
The only four on the wall were his nearly-forgotten encounters, which he previously visioned after the black bear's water splattered in his eyes at the harbor. The first was the colossus hoof at the horizon's edge, behind the raging sunlight. Xing remembered the worlds of heaven and hell, the Realms of the Spirit and Damnation clashed together into one. The Prince of Darkness cast his father's grasp to attempt to clutch the sun, but Xing's dragon disoriented him.
That one is done for.
He put down the first painting, now focusing on the first three. One was the Demon Mountain, with the opening fields undulated with black spears before the black temple on the ridge — the second emerged the scorching desert with a thousand ridge ripples. And the third was the onyx circle blocking the behemoth star. Between the first and the second, Xing hardly tried to reflect what it was before the following sequence.
What am I missing here? Something big. What the hell was it?
A shoji door tapped thrice, and Xing whiffed his gasp.
"Pardon me, Master Xing. It's Kong."
"Just a moment."
He quickly gathered the drawings from the table and on the wall, stacking the rest without a hurry before the tiger reached for the small library's shoji door. The Nine's Messenger cleared his throat after a short yelp.
"Good evening, Master," Kong pardoned, grasping his wings. "I did not mean to interrupt your time."
"Oh, no. There's nothing to interrupt, Kong. I was — studying my brother's scrolls," the tiger looked at the table. Once Xing did, he had his digits brushed on his eyes closed. "I must be exhausting — had too much knowledge to give me clever ideas."
"Knowledge is power, indeed, sir. As I notice of your bedtime passing, your grandmother does not want you to stay up much longer."
"Of course," Xing noticed, and the reverberance of the snores across the corridor deafened. "Thank you for reminding me, Kong. I am about to wrap everything before I go to my room."
The goose's head neared closer to the small library threshold. "Are you feeling alright, Master Xing?" Kong asked him dearly.
"I'm good. You are too kind to ask how I am doing with my condition," the tiger simpered.
"I am glad you are well," the old goose nodded. "Time to sleep, Master."
"Good night, Kong."
"Good night, sir."
After shutting the small library's shoji door, the tiger secured his and Niu's drawings under his bamboo bed and blew off a candle to darkness. Wugu's zen song invited the rich pink and rose light from Kai's bedroom, and Xing rested well without one nightmare nor encountering other vision episodes.
June 9, 1211
The next morning invited the day of a dark yellow horizon from the east, the sun coming out with the blue. Chen Xing was in the Nine's Meeting Room with his student Kai, reading a few scroll news from the parchment that geese servants received from reporters across a few districts. Zooming his glasses, the tiger scrutinized a few as he was not interested in politics, three from the Shaolin Court that attended two classes to debate whether the two sides followed up the resolution to end their fumes, and the yuan balances for several banks, which a few of high places maintained their economics while attempting not to inflate prices. The only one that became crucial to China's most valuable wishlist was most of the people's demands in needing it: metal.
The tiger sipped his peppermint tea as his class started roaring by his companions outside the arena. Lotus engaged with her partner, Bao Gorilla; Hong educated with Lotus's father, Zhong, while twirling her pair of sai; the brown serpent, Fanshe, a cobra with a wide neck, slithered close to Chne Xing's grandmother near the pathway in between the palace and the Nine's Barrack. Chen Xing sighted Ming's claw, handing the green scroll to the serpent while her other limb grasped a light blue shell.
"I wonder why the metal is worth getting expensive," the yak read the news report ahead of him, sipping his tea.
"Who really wants those that bad?" the tiger inquired, lowering his grunt. "Several people do, but somebody is not letting everyone grab one for a purpose."
"What of your pan and wok, Little Kitten?" Kai wondered.
"Oh, no. Those two are well; Ming and I have treated metal without overheating it. Besides, our kitchen equipment lasted more than a decade. But a couple of years ahead will do. Nothing to worry about for now."
Chen Xing inspected small articles containing the list of numerous shipment delays after Goryeo. Although the markets forging metals were on strike despite the stolen counts of cargo holds, and the robberies in stores occurred months back. A parchment displaying a behemoth bell from the Musicians Village showed within the three-story pagoda tower, the label writing "Time Bell is missing" in dark crimson ink strokes.
Someone puts all the effort into stealing metal. Who could that be? Shen does not steal those anymore — that's out of the question. Bats? Maybe. I haven't seen them since the incursion.
"Does your village have something valuable, Kitten?" Kai pondered, sipping his tea.
"The only one my town has is the iron bell, about the second tower mountain to the west," Xing answered, straightening his back. "That thing is worth lots of yuans. When the news reports about the inflation, despite most of the delivery losses from Goryeo, the demanding price for metal is five times the amount, Kai. With that iron bell outside, you are asking to buy a large temple."
The yak hummed, nodding. "Have you stayed up again last night?"
"I was sleepwalking," he lied, which had Kai curl his smile.
"I see. That explains when you were drawing in a small library."
Xing made an innocent look when he closed his eyes. "Damn," he muttered. "You peeked."
"If I remember the last time we spoke, Little Kitten," Kai crossed his bulky arms on the table. "You promised your Nana that you would not go further on painting for illusions."
Xing heightened his defeated sigh from his muzzle, knowing his Nana's words were authentic. "I did."
"Then. . . what happened?"
Kai looked at the tiger, whose eyes cast down to his knees into contemplation. "I saw them, Kai. Those visions."
The yak held his breath silently. He had almost about to mention the paintings, but Chen Ming, who gestured her claw to her grandson, called him. "Could you keep it quiet for me, Kai? We'll talk about that later," Xing suggested before he sat up and walked away to the door.
Under Kai's neck, where he stroked his necklace, a rose light gradually pulsed, the winds from the cow's breath muttering.
Meeting his grandmother, the tiger checked with his serpent student, who held his tail over his eyes. The sunlight from the east of Guangxi cast a stream of yellow brushing on the temple, warming the tiger's head. "Yes, Nana?"
"I have bad news," Chen Ming folded her black ears, expressing her downcast face. "The letter is from Fanshe's home."
He grabbed and opened the lime scroll, which light and dark strokes writing on the parchment were easy to read. The following words had Xing's spine drown under the ice water.
To my son in Prosper Valley
Fanshe, you must come home. Your father is passing soon. You and your sister must see him before his eyes will close. Come home, my son.
Signed by Great Viper, the descendant of the Serpent Dragon. Written with help by Lily, the Serpent Lady, Mother of Viper
"Oh, no. . ." Xing trailed his voice, his silver eyes radiating to a shock. "Fanshe. . ."
The class stopped their activities and gathered close when Fanshe fastened his tail on his eyes, weeping. The tiger knelt and held him. "This cannot be real," the serpent lamented. "I don't want to see my father go!"
"I am sorry, brother," Xing hushed him. "I am very sorry. . ."
"I need to go," Fanshe wept, drawing back.
"You will not be going alone, Fanshe. The Nine of Shui Palace will go with you."
"There is another problem, Sunzi."
His grandmother intervened and brought out a light-blue scroll. "A letter from a citizen," she said, and her grandson grabbed it and began opening the knob. He surveyed the letter, which the handwriting had scribbled with a few blotched inks that were slightly difficult to read. The report had Xing whiffed his snout.
"Another raid incursion. More clans of boars will soon be marching in Hajin Province," he shook his head.
"Oh, you've gotta be shitting me," Hong snapped.
"Watch your tongue, Hong," Ming told her.
"But didn't we kick their butts last time?" Lotus asked, widening her yellow eyes. "I thought those lowlives learned the hard way."
"This clan is more different from the last time, Lotus. They are not like the one you fought, but they are all inspired by the late tyrant."
"Great. While Fanshe's dad is dying, how will we handle the situation?" Hong asked.
"We'll figure something out, sister," Chen Xing said. "I must say seven of us may handle the other army of boars, but time will be consuming. Right now, Fanshe must travel home as it is the top urgency, but will risk the Hajin Province into cause."
The tiger sighed. "We can't go to two places at once. If only we could get some help from Masters of Jade Palace right now."
"Speaking of which."
Chen Ming pulled her grin, and the pulsations from the west merged nearby, the vibrant wings coming down to the group. Th Jade Palace's messenger, Zeng, in his emerald robe and a black cap, presented his bow to the Nine before Kai came out from the Barrack's door.
"Good day, Zeng," Xing greeted.
"Good day, Masters," Zeng cleared his throat, handing out a rolled parchment of a green wax sigil. "I bring you a message from Master Tigress."
"Wonderful. I wonder what my aunt's letter says right now."
The old feline removed the wax and scrutinized her niece's writing, giving moments for the Nine to contemplate the Great Viper while aiding their serpent brother. With her silver eyes glinting, the Nine's Master turned to her students. "Her group will be coming to Shui Palace," Chen Ming uttered. "The Dragon Warrior, Crane, and Shen will travel far to the Jin Dynasty to meet the Emperor's daughter. They know about Great Viper's passing and will aid with assistance."
"Wait a minute. Isn't the land of the Jin Dynasty supposed to be hostile?" Lotus asked.
"Not anymore," Hong assured. "I hear the Song and Jin stopped killing at each other's throats. The Song Dynasty must now praise our former nemesis with respect."
"But how will they treat newcomers over there?"
"I am certain they will treat them well, Lotus," her father, Wolf Boss, said. "Besides, the panda is the Dragon Warrior, and they will know him."
"Bao, I know Great Viper meant everything to you when you first met him," Chen Xing said, moving closer to the ape, who fastened his lips, weeping. "You must be strong."
"Bao, Viper!" the giant gorilla cried, sniffing.
"I know. . ." Xing wrapped his arms around Bao and soothed him. "Nana and I will figure this out. Okay? I need you to be with your brother. You and Fanshe will not be training for today."
The ape lessened his sobs and eyed the serpent. "Bao, Fanshe."
"We're going to be okay, brother. I know we all are," Fanshe said, slithering close.
"Go wash your face, Bao," the tiger patted his shoulder after he pulled himself away. "We'll take it from here."
"Bao, Bao," he bobbed his head and turned away, and the cobra joined his side as they headed for the stream bridge ahead of them.
"Concentrate your training for today, my students," Chen Ming announced to all five pupils. "We will discuss these matters later this afternoon."
Several hours went on as the Nine, but Bao and Fanshe strengthened their muscles as their furs drenched with sweat. Kai had most of his mane soaked and drooped on his shoulders as he had done over three hundred push-ups, a fifteen-mile hike jogging on fours from the nearest hook river on the north to the Prosper Valley, and most of the cores that impacted throughout his body: pull-ups, belly crunches, planks, tugs, and hand grips. After physical exercises, the Nine stretched their limbs where their joints and muscles were intensely warm. They went for their baths when the afternoon arrived with the lime-green and yellow horizon.
The gateway door tapped thrice with a friendly presence, and by the time Chen Xing walked with Kai and had an amicable conversation about the town's public areas soon to be constructed with defensive buildings and guard houses for a small local authority, the group of Jade Palace members arrived and introduced themselves ahead of the Nine.
The snow leopard, Tai Lung, heightened his chuffs as he greeted the Nine's Leader with a smirk. Tigress was ahead of Lotus and had their paws shaken with respect. Viper slithered to her adoptive brother, Fanshe, who went to her first and rounded their necks together, embracing. Monkey and Mantis met with the ape Bao and the bunny Hong, one presenting a hard fist bump and the other flirting ahead of the insect.
"It's nice to see you again, Kai," the snow leopard shook the yak's hoof, which was more dominant than the leopard's.
"Likewise," the yak stretched his little grin. "Master Tai Lung."
Beside the two former nemesis, Tigress met with her nephew, Chen Xing, near Fighting Square. "Master Tigress," Xing introduced, clearing his throat.
"Master Xing. Nephew," she nodded. "How are you and your student?"
"Kai and I are getting along well," the tiger looked around the group, his silver eyes brightening as the felines strolled across the platform and surveyed the wooden dummies. "I read Po, Shen, and Crane are heading to Jin Dynasty."
"Yes," she grinned. "Po has another plan to finish the request. The Emperor wishes him to see his daughter."
"How will they travel there far on foot?"
"Lucky for them, they will have an airship for a few days, riding to the northeast."
"That's good to know," Xing grinned. "No way they will take a long hike from here to there because that'll take years of traveling. Without a compass, you'll get lost easily."
Farther down from the two tigers, the serpents still twirling their necks had met their heads closer, sharing their grief. "I know, Viper. He means a lot to you."
"You are his son," Viper said. "He means a lot to you as well, brother."
"I know. . ."
They curled and met their heads before they could join themselves with a cup of tea inside the Nine's Meeting Room.
The Nine of Shui Palace and five members of the Jade Palace decided to have supper when Chen Xing and his grandmother began to cook rice balls and mooncakes. Mentioning the topics on a mission and the visit to Great Viper's Village, the warriors determined whether the Nine or the Masters of Jade Palace to head Hajin Province.
"You know, I thought Po mentioned there was one of the scariest bandits in the town," Mantis regarded the table. Monkey chewed bits of rice balls when the two serpents next to him drank their water.
"The Nine have," Chen Xing said, crossing his limbs and leaning against the side of the wide window. "I remember the boar bandit who led his army and took their siege in Hajin. All he wanted was for the Emperor to surrender his reign and the town's mayor to resign. He held off twenty thousand citizens for a ransom and made death threats, warning to any who would dare to stop his conquest."
"Ever since we got in," Lotus filled her story for her brother, their eyes drawing attention to her. Her father, Wolf Boss, was next to Lotus. "It was no easy task that we could break in and capture the leader. There were thousands, around a ten-thousand, when I heard a bandit who tried to boil a villager inside the pot."
"Those guys were not joking, alright," Hong said, shaking her head beside her wolf sister. "Lotus and I needed to hear some information about their leader's location, but it was not that simple to intimidate the bandit either way."
"How did you guys get in the city without getting caught?" Monkey asked the Nine.
"We had help from the anonymous subject who reckoned the clan leader and knew secret passages to enter Hajin," Fanshe said, Viper meeting her eyes on her brother. "The crazy thing was. . . Hajin was our very first mission, and I thought we could get into serious trouble if we failed."
"We've been there," Viper expressed. "The Furious Five had to blend in a town where we promised ourselves not to come back there after we saved the river bay from a corrupted politician who was behind most of everything."
"What place was that you in?" her reptile brother queried.
"In the bay, down south from here, is the horrendous place to come in and out in one piece. The Weeping River."
"Oh, jeez. That place fills with tensions. It's sad, and I hate it," Mantis said, his wings chirping. "Every time the rain pours, someone dies. The Weeping River is like being cursed, like the water attempts to wash away the town; it has a bad reputation."
"Let's not talk about the historical events," Tigress said, her voice dominating the room, her amber eyes shining brighter. "While these scrolls are important to handle these matters, you must split into two groups."
"I agree," her aunt, Chen Ming, nodded, stepping beside Tigress. "Time is ahead of us; Viper and Fanshe will be heading to Great Viper's village to see their father one last time; the second group of Boar's bandits is soon planning another attack in Hajin Province, and their conquest on taking over the town must not happen again."
Chen Ming surveyed her students and the warriors, her digits grasping together. "However. I must say that my granddaughter Lotus had bitter complications after she confronted her past nemesis, who burned down the village where she was born. As much as the Nine of Gongmen City is far away and will take longer from hiking, the groups must diverge and handle the matter."
"I will go," Mantis stepped forward.
"Whoa-ho! Slow down, Master Mantis," Chen Xing gestured his claw. "I was like that when you first stepped in with my bravest thoughts. After a week of arriving there, Mantis, all the hype went to crumbles when the town ahead of us had bandits and lowlives waiting for us. I promise you, those gangs will act like that."
"Ahh! There's no need for them to scare me and my pals, Xing," Mantis gave his limb clutch and heaved in the air. "Master Eagle and his aces will get there if all hell breaks loose."
"Really?" Lotus chirped, flickering her ears up.
"Thank the heavens for that one!" Hong burst her sigh of ease.
"Now you do not need to worry about backups anymore, sweetie," Viper presented her slight grin to the tiger. "Remember what you, Lao, and Lotus spoke with us about no backups? Only you guys?"
"I remember."
"Before anything happens to Hajin Province, I am certain Master Eagle and his fighters will arrive there without further delay," the female serpent added.
"Now that's what I like to hear," Hong clutched her fist in the air, her elbow nudging the gorilla's forearm. "Ain't that right, big fella?"
"Bao Bao!" the gorilla unveiled his wicked grin.
"Nana and Tigress are right," Chen Xing nodded. "Time is ahead of us. Hajin Province is nearing under siege, and Great Viper's passing becomes imminent."
The tiger observed the Nine of Shui Palace warriors. "Bao, Hong," he called the two. "You both will go to Hajin Province with the Masters of Jade Palace."
"Bao. . . Fanshe? Bao, go?" Bao Gorilla arched his eyebrows, worrying.
"You must be ahead of yourself when there's trouble coming, Bao. Fight for the people, and grieve later," Xing advised, patting the ape's shoulder. "Think of you and Fanshe have happy times together, and your strength will be unstoppable."
"Bao. . . Unstoppable. Bao, Bao."
"You're going to be alright, buddy. Hong will watch your back, and you will do the same with her and the gang."
"What about us, brother?" Lotus asked.
"Lotus, I cannot deny that you had a history with the Hajin Province," Xing regarded. "You are going with Viper and Fanshe."
"Wherever my daughter goes, I go," Wolf Boss said, grunting. "What are you going to do, son?"
"Hajin has always been in my mind at some other time," the tiger said, humming. "The Nine faced difficulties that barely dragged us down, but we handled one problem before taking on the biggest threat. If this is something the citizens need heroes in town to handle Boar Commander's infiltrators, I will go."
"No," Tigress stepped in. "You have bravery in you. Nana wishes for you and Kai to go with Viper. Let me and Tai Lung take care of Hajin. Besides, Great Viper's village is close to here."
Xing glanced at his grandmother, who made her nod to him before Tai Lung did the same with admiration. Kai was outside the room's threshold, presenting his little smirk to him. "Okay," Xing, the Nine's Leader, accepted. "Nine, wedge your clothes in your sacks and fetch food and water. We take a hike in half an hour."
After ten minutes, most students gathered three pairs of clothes and stacked plenty in their patched sacks. Chen Xing grabbed only five in different colors that tinged from regular sky-blue to midnight tops, and his trousers were only ebony and gray. After wedged his and packed a few paintings and Li Han's ascendant scrolls in his sack, Xing grabbed the Mongolian bow and the quiver; the tiger, testing the strings, so sight and ready to send the arrows fly, came out of his chamber and watched his student opening the shoji door.
The yak's long green cloak drooped on his bulky shoulders in front, the links pinning on one end and the other under his neck. Xing did not mind his student that Kai preferred traveling on an adventure with his war cape, knowing the warlords with billowing cloaks were the symbol of triumphs and glory, unlike Master Croc's collection of capes the reptile used to wear for style. Behind the yak's cape presented a label "honor," for the General who made his word for pride and honesty to his army as they were his. But one soldier, among his own, became the worthiest and honorable fighter Kai had ever been proud of: his adoptive son, Dakai.
His son initially visioned his father that justice suited him to bring thousands of all the nemesis to surrender, one that showed pride and brawn, while the other had the aspeccts of persistence and the brain. Kai and Oogway were the relentless jade warlords who fought for the rights with their fellow brothers, Lieutenant Zhanshe and Lord Li Han, and Kai's wife, Wugu.
The Nine of Shui Palace was now outside with all five Masters of Jade Palace. Tai Lung inspected his claws as he tested delivering his fast blows and arm deflections when the Nine were packing their sacks. Tigress did hers, surveying the devices before giving her a chance to hurl her limbs on wooden dummies. The leopard met Chen Ming at the nearest arch when Kai's long cloak fluttered, the groups amid the road.
"I would like to stay here with you, Master Ming," Tai Lung wished, palming the feline's claws. "Father would have wanted me to be in touch with you."
"Shifu would like that, Tai Lung," Chen Ming said, arching her eyes. "In your heart, you know you can always come by here and speak with your mother. All sons and daughters watch over their parents."
"Hmm. Another round of tea when I come back?" Tai Lung asked, grinning.
"Of course, son," the old feline beamed, stroking the snow leopard's claws in return. "Please, be careful out there."
"I always will."
He bumped his head on her and stood away. Next to him, Tigress went to Ming. "I wish there were more time for me to speak with you, Nana," Tigress said.
"I know, my dear," Chen Ming smiled, her claws palming on her niece's shoulders. "Remember the Will Shifu gave you. Shui Palace is always your home, and your house name 'Chen' has been in your blood."
"Shifu knew I made him proud," she said, thinking of her red panda father, the last time spending with him before his passing. "I. . . I wanted him to stay. These changes ahead of me, Ming, I was not ready for what was coming."
"My dear child. No one was ready for the change. Most of the people change as how they grow, leaving the past behind," Ming said. "I do not know how he treated you to be a worthy student, but Shifu raised you to not only a student with broken bones but always a daughter. He had mistakes; unlike his, we all make mistakes, but we can do better."
She could see her niece lowering her head, folding her ears with a downcast. "I do not want you to think Shifu was a terrible father, Tigress," Ming held her digit under her jaw and motioned her head to her eyesight. "Know in your heart that he was the brilliant person who raised you to be his daughter. I know for a fact that he, in my honesty, had a relentless character in him, but deep down inside, Oogway picked him to be my brother, knowing Shifu had his heart. He cared for both of you the most."
The old feline inspected her niece's neck, which nearly shone with gold and brown. It was a shattered piece of pendant, mended together into one oblong. Ming held the charm. "I remember he gave this to you for the first time at Bao Gu Orphanage," she simpered, holding her claw on Tigress's cheek. "You have your mother's face. But your eyes. . . They are your father's. The real one."
The winds fiddled Ming's hanfu when her grandson approached from behind Tai Lung. "It is time," Ming regarded. "Remember your name. . . Meigui."
Tigress was no longer the name of her kind as she had been throughout her life, from abandoned cub to Shifu's daughter — not forsaken that her parents had to send her to Bao Gu. Protected from what, Tigress could never know their prime purpose. She could not remember her name until now; from her mother's sibling, who knew her niece's name for far too long, she called her Meigui.
A rose.
The clearing from her father's place had all the rich crimson roses. Chen Meigui. Tigress thought she would get used to her adoptive surname and given name.
"We'll be back safely, Nana," her grandson, Xing, came to Ming. The two felines blessed their temples, embracing.
"I love you, Sunzi."
"I love you too, Nana."
Their chuffs quivered into rich pulses when the other feline drummed his clicky purrs. Xing turned and saw the snow leopard nodding to him. "Would you like some of that, Tai Lung?"
After most discovered the tiger's lighthearted jester, Monkey and Mantis laughed hysterically. Tai Lung was grinning when he and Tigress began their hike with the group.
Not bad for a comedian.
Author's Note:
— Chapter Seven (formerly called Viper's Journey) may or may not change as if this indicates the start of my boy's drawings and the team's journey, leading to separation into two groups. The last chapter has the perfect title for this one, either way. So. . . hopefully the changes will go into effect this year.
— Tigress deserves to have a name of her own, which, throughout the movies, she currently doesn't have one so far. If only there was a side story for the Furious Five (we only got SotS) and something to depict them where they are and have their names. Puss In Boots has his tale to go for, and by the looks of it, the Furious Five deserve their time. Meigui had been in my old notes so I could remember the character's name for my ideas. Tigress's aunt will unveil a story about her parents in the next chapter.