102Is Love Safe?
Chapter Two- And So it Begins
The Sun was warm on his fur coat, the low winds lightly bushing through every strand with a tender touch; the autumn morning was a welcoming one.
Taking in a slow, deep breath through his nose, Po leaned casually on the complex shape of his makeshift walking staff. His large black paws groping at the thick wooden surface of the bark as he carelessly leaned on the stick for support; his emerald eyes glowing with limitless energy of a young child, but with the hardened features of a growing man inside their jade coloured rims. The panda tilted his head to the side as he inspected the form standing just a few meters away from him.
In the gravity of the stare down Po could not help himself but let a coy smile tug at the corner of his lips.
His opponent was a complex as he. She was strong and fast, swift and nimble. Her eyes burned so brightly it made the sun look like a simple candle flame; they shone with a mysterious yet scrutinizing gaze as they ogled back at Po shrewdly. Her form was slender yet firm, straight yet amazingly flexible- most definitely. Her fur glowed with a torrent of orange, black and white; each colour contrasting to the next, from the markings atop her forehead to the stripes running down her arms and back, all the way to her long ringed tail slowly swiping from side to side.
Po leaned off his walking staff as he kicked up the bottom part off the floor, spun it around his body in a dance of twirls and twists before slipping into a low stance with the stick pointed at his opponent. The foe smirked as they too slowly went into their signature position.
She was the first to move, charging forward. Po copied her movements and sprinted boldly towards her, making his next move when she was close enough that Po could reach out and touch her. The panda slammed his staff into the floor and used the momentum of the sudden stop in his charge to spin over his opponent and land on the floor gracefully. He wasted no time in spinning on his heels in time to swipe away an oncoming fist with the staff. But his adversary latched her other paw onto the staff, tightly holding it horizontally between them. Po narrowed his eyes as he reached across with a fist aimed straight at the female's face.
But her defence did not falter so easily; she brought back her free paw and smacked away Po's fist before it could come anywhere near her face. They both drew back a fist and slammed into each other's chest, forcing them both back.
But neither let go of the staff amid them- either too determined, or too stubborn to even think about it.
It was like fighting a mirror; simultaneously they both rose up a foot and kicked each other square in the chest, the force making them finally liberate their grip on the staff. It dropped to the floor. Po's jade eyes never left his opponent, nor did she do the same. But, unconsciously, they both kicked again, this time against the falling staff between them.
The might behind the synchronized kicks sent the stick roaring into the sky between them.
Neither adversary took their gaze away from each other.
Both pair of eyes turned to slits.
Before too long they engaged in a fiery close-quarter scrap of furry kicks and swipes as they held onto each other with resolute claws.
From the sidelines, an audience of Kung Fu Masters; Crane, Monkey, Mantis and Viper watched with gawking mouths and engrossed eyes, none of them had seen Po move so fast and with precision against one of their own. Tigress was a fierce competitor, but it seemed that this match had to be the most long lasting that the pair had ever affianced in. All eyes watched as Tigress and Po held onto the staff amongst them with concrete grips, swiping and kicking at each other before sending the makeshift stick high into clouds.
They all followed the staff as it travelled into the sky, before snapping their gazes down on the combatants once more. Situated high on the walking platform that ran around the Training Hall, Grand Master Shifu starred down on the spar with inquisitive sapphire eyes, his attention mainly focused on Po than Tigress- watching every strike, swipe and kick, all of it being noted inside the sage red panda's mind. His blue eyes slowly watched the staff got sent into the sky before focusing back on his students.
After a short while he then looked up through his brows to the ember sky where he saw the mangled form of the staff remerge from the clouds and drop back down to the ground.
Shifu felt a discreet smile creep its way onto his lips, a plan formulated in his mind- a sneaky one.
Po finally managed to get some distance between him and Tigress on the field; just enough to get a breather before the feline lit into him again with a flurry of swift blows. Po had to move fast just to keep up, he was faltering- and she could tell. Pursing his lips, Po managed to have the chance of catching one of Tigress' paws and pulled with all his strength as he leapt back, dragging her through the air with him. Tigress was off balance for a few seconds, more than enough time for Po to push forward with his her paw in his own but he did not remember that she still could reach her legs out and kick him, till he felt the air get taken from his lungs. She just delivered a knee to his chest, a strong one.
Po's face turned a slight shade of red as the blood rushed to his face. He groaned at the pain but pushed onwards. Furrowing his eyebrows, the panda pulled Tigress towards him and reached across with his free paw to swipe at her face with an open palm. He felt the pad of his paw make contact, her head jerked to the side as she was sent spinning, but not before she landed another kick in the spin that smacked into Po's cheek.
The panda was knocked from his feet and onto his back but was quick to plant his paws on the ground before swinging his legs and using the momentum to get back onto his feet. He looked over to Tigress to find her already back in stance.
Po stood nonchalantly for a minute, leaning back imperturbably as he brought a paw up to his chest and gulped hard, his face still a tint of red from when the air was knocked out of him. He took a deep gasp of air. Tigress smirked as her tail swished behind her. The panda squinted as he forced a smile at the feline, nodding his head stiffly.
So that's how it's gonna be.
Alright then.
It was then Po glanced- with a leer smirk- skyward and noticed his staff falling back down from the clouds. Tigress followed his gaze. The pair connected eyes, each guessing who would make the next move. Po went first, spinning on his heels as he darted for the nearest wall and ran upside it, climbing onto the tiled roofing that ran all round the forecourt. Tigress saw what Po planned to do; he was going after the staff. The feline moved quickly as she leapt up into the sky, her powerful legs giving the spring she needed to fly for the stick. Po caught Tigress' movements out the corner of his eye as he bound for his staff.
Po was the first to get it. The panda smirked as he felt the staff in his grip once more, but then, Tigress' form was beside him in an instant. With the spin in her leap she outstretched a foot and wheeled it round. Po moved quickly as he rose up the staff in time to block the kick, but he sensed a change in weight on the end of the stick. Tigress had taken hold again.
As the competitors reached the stable floor once more they were at it again.
At either end of the staff, Tigress flicker her wrist in sending Po's end of the stick in a great twisting circle. The panda leapt and went with the flow of the turn. Tigress tried again a millisecond after his feet skimmed the ground; Po went with the momentum once more. Not giving her the advantage again Po leaned forward with his arm hoping that the end of the staff would strike the feline, but Tigress used her flexible body to lean back as the stick swung in an arc mere inches from her nose.
Po did not hesitate as Tigress' posture corrected, he placed his palm against the butt of the staff and pushed. Tigress did the same her end but Po's figure was almost twice her size; using his weight to overpower the feline he pushed forward with his feet and arms as Tigress was backed up against one of the walls. She grunted as he back grinded against the stone surface of the wall, a growl erupted from the depths of her throat. Po smiled to himself but hardened his gaze as drew back and slammed his paw against the butt of the stick. Tigress was a step ahead, rolling along the rod as her end smacked into the wall, but still keeping it in her grasp. Po rolled along the opposite side of the long stick and reached across with arm just in time to block an oncoming strike from Tigress' claw.
Strike after strike the pair swung for each other, turning so now their bodies faced together and their faces were inches from each other as their arms and wrists intersected with every paralleled swipe. In the heat of the close fight, Tigress could feel his warm breath on her fur, it made her shudder- but enough to make her back down. But that one little instant of distraction was a big cost on Tigress' behalf. The panda had seen her eyes flutter in pleasure, giving him the benefit to grasp both her wrists with one hefty paw, leaning over and deal a blow to her a head butt.
Tigress gritted her teeth together as she felt a thunderous headache ring through her skull, her eyes rolled into the back of her head. She had misjudged the strength of his forehead; it was tougher than it looked. Po didn't wait for Tigress to recover from the surprising blow, reaching over to latch his paw on the end of the staff and twist it out of her grasp. It worked.
And with a great finish Po spun round and swung the stick low to the ground, eventually catching Tigress' feet and sweeping them from beneath her. The feline grunted as her head hit the ground, she opened her eyes and got ready to pounce for Po but came face to face with the end of the panda's makeshift staff.
Po towered above her, a victorious smile on his chubby cheeks and glint of triumph in his little lost-boy eyes. "Skadoosh." He cheered loud enough for the feline to hear. Both competitors took deep breaths as the sparring had finally come to a close. Tigress sighed in defeat and rose up her paws in surrender. Po's smile then broadened as he planted the staff on the floor and reached down with his free paw, Tigress propped herself up and reached out to grasp his helping paw.
But it was then a single sound echoed through the training grounds, it was loud and simple but in Po's mind he understood the meaning behind the very sound. It was a signal that Grand Master Shifu used all the time in training: the snap of his fingers.
Snap.
It was in that instant that all the remaining Kung Fu Warriors that had once been the audience to the sparring match, sprang into action and dove for Po with a synchronized cry of 'Hiya'. Po's head snapped in time to see Crane, Monkey, Mantis and Viper all charge for him. With widened eyes he turned back to Tigress in time pull a pout-like face before turning and running for his life bursting through the training ground doors and out into the gardens. "Gotta run!" He shouted as his large form disappeared down the steps, the Kung Fu Warriors hot on his toes.
Shifu shook his head as he gradually limped down the steps of the Training Hall, chuckling to himself as he made his way over to Tigress, he helped his foster daughter up and onto her feet as they walked side by side to the doors of the grounds.
"He gets better every day." Tigress commented as she crossed arms and leaned carelessly leaned against the doorframe, staring down on the remaining Kung Fu Masters as they chased Po around the grounds. The feline laughed at the sight. "But he's still a child inside."
"I doubt he'll ever be able to let go of that side of him." Shifu said: hands masterly folded behind his back. "But true, he grows better with every match." The aged panda raised an eyebrow to Tigress. "Did you let him win?" He asked slowly.
The feline sighed with a smile, her eyes never leaving Po for a second. "That was the plan, at first. But that last move was all his own." She admitted without a second thought. "I...I got distracted." She finally managed to look away, a redness glowing underneath her cheeks.
Shifu's ears lowered at the last remark. His head dropped a little, his sapphire eyes glued to the ground- but his mind, widely searching for what to say next. It eventually came out. "Tigress, I know that you and Po are together and I know it's been over a year since then, but I'm worried." Shifu's blue eyes moved from the ground and looked to Tigress, they connected with an iron gaze. Shifu's eyes were sympathetic yet caring. "I think this thing between you and Po is affecting your training."
Tigress' arms quickly unravelled themselves and stood at her sides. She gazed down on Shifu with hardened eyes. "This thing between me and Po is of our own personal accord. It has not affected my training. I am not faltering nor will I in the future!" Her voice growled deeply.
Shifu's face twisted into a stern glare as he looked up to daughter with provocative eyes. "I will not be talked to like that, Tigress." The Grand Master barked. "As your Master or your Father!" Tigress had to summon a large amount of will power not to lean down and strike the red panda across the cheek. She took a few paces ahead of the red panda and stopped atop the stairs. Her eyes fixed on the fight below to calm herself. Shifu's voice continued on. "I am merely concerned for your safety." The red panda's face softened a little. "I already lost two children, Tigress. I nearly lost a third, even a fourth!" Shifu looked away and off into the horizon; the ember sky mixing with the jutting rocks of the jagged mountains, the Sun emanating of his oceanic blue eyes. "When we were in the Dragon's Pass, that morning when you were fighting Chen..." The old master's lip started to tremble. "...when he's teeth bit down on you and threw you around like his rag doll, I thought that was it. I thought that I had lost you."
Tigress closed her eyes and bit her lip, running a paw up her shoulder. She could feel them, the scars. The scars of where Chen Hue Leigh- the former Leader of the Thousand Arrows- had sunk his malicious teeth into her skin. Sure, the holes had been filled and covered; but the scars would never fully heal, they would forever remain as a reminder of the catastrophe that happened almost a full year ago. The touch of the holes underneath her collar made the feline shudder as the memories swam in her mind.
"I'm sorry, Tigress. I meant no ill of you and Po." Shifu's voice tenderly touched the feline's ears. She opened her eyes and let out a choking gasp, a few tears rolling down her cheeks. Tigress looked down as she felt the Grand Master's small bony hand on her large furry arm. "I'm sorry." Shifu repeated as he looked up into Tigress' burning eyes with an apologetic glance. Tigress knelt down to Shifu's eye level. "I just don't want to lose you again." The feline felt more tears come to her eyes as she leaned forward and wrapped her large muscular arms around Shifu's neck, lifting him off the ground as the red panda returned the hug with as much strength and love in the grip.
"I'm sorry too, Baba." Tigress wept into the red panda's robe.
They soon separated; wiping their bloodshot eyes of the remaining tears before composing themselves. "Whatever may happen in the future, Tigress..." Shifu soon spoke up, his voice holding a stable pitch. "...know I'll be there to support you." The Grand Master turned and trudged down a few stone steps; he soon paused and turned back to Tigress. "Oh, one more thing, I know that most parents which to have grandchildren if their own decided to find a lover." Tigress' eyes widened and her mouth hung open slightly agape. "But for now, let's wait a little while till you and Po ha-"
"I-I'll be sure to wait, Shifu!" Tigress quickly interrupted, her cheeks blushing a brilliant shade of red. "I don't think I'm ready for that, just yet."
Shifu closed his mouth and chuckled at his daughter's reaction. "Forgive me, Tigress. Sometimes this old panda can be curious." He smiled before turning back to the path and then stopped, yet again. His ears flicked upright as they twitched. It was the sound of a raspy voice echoing in the air. It was disquiet, riddle with stutters and quick. The Grand Master turned when he recognised the heavy breathing of the Palace goose messenger, Zeng. "Master Shifu!" The avian called out as he landed down beside Shifu in a ball of feathers.
Shifu raised a bushy eyebrow at the goose's entrance. "Zeng."
Zeng wobbled to his feet as he straightened out his robe before looking up to the old red panda with dot-like eyes. "Master Shifu, there's someone at the gate!"
Shifu lowered his head as he pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration. "What is this time, Zeng? I have no time for little problems with the villagers."
"I- I don't think she was a villager of the Valley."
Tigress joined her Master's side as the conversation reached her small but sensitive ears. "She?" The feline enquired.
The goose turned to Tigress, nodding as his eyes looked back to Shifu. "Y-Yes, she was a woman. A-a lynx, I think. And there was a child with her." Zeng paused for a moment as he tried to conjure up an understanding of the little one with the lynx. "I can't really describe the youngling, he...he...he looked different." The goose then added tentatively. "And I think she's ill, the lynx, h-her face...it...it looked ashen."
Shifu and Tigress both stood silent for a few long minutes, each trying to decipher the description of the two villagers that Zeng had mentioned. A lynx and an unexplainable young cub with her; it then dawned on the two Kung Fu Masters. With gaping mouths, Tigress and Shifu locked eyes. There was only one kind of lynx that both the Grand Master and student were familiar with, a figure of Shifu's past. "You don't think..." Tigress whispered.
Shifu did not waste his time in replying; the red panda was already rushing past Zeng, skipping two steps at a time as he bolted for the Arena as fast as his small legs could take him. Tigress was quick to follow on after him, not stopping as she passed Po and the others. The Kung Fu Masters all looked at her with questioning eyes as she sprinted by without a word along with Shifu. Po, Crane, Monkey, Mantis and Viper all shared glances between each other. A second later they were following after their Master and comrade.
Upon arriving at the arena, Shifu, Tigress and the gang all gathered as their Master bolted for the door. With an effortless tug on the rings the red wooden doors creaked open. Shifu mentally cursed himself and to Zeng for keeping the female waiting outside; if his suspicions were correct, then this would be no ordinary woman standing on the other side of the door.
It was then, as the large doors were pulled apart that Shifu's eyes shrunk to the size of dots. Half-standing, half-leaning against the stone archway of the entrance, dressed only in a night gown and nothing else stood a lynx. She was slim but had a reasonable figure; her fur was ruffled an uneven, but her eyes are what made Shifu's old heart shatter and break, in their bloodshot violet colouring Shifu could not see any power or love behind them, only a broken heart and a sensitive young child weeping. Tear stains ran down her matted fur.
Shifu's throat went dry. "Fu...?" The feline did not say a word, but rather collapsed right onto the Grand Master, only giving Shifu enough time to catch her before she fell to the ground. Her body was limp in his arms. "Fu!" At the sound of their Master's cry the Five and Po were by his side: Viper and Mantis already inspecting the lynx.
But as everybody looked down on the incapacitated feline, no one had remembered –nor was prepared- for the next cry that was not their own, but that of a broken yet sweet cub's voice.
"Mama!" Hao shrieked as he ran up to his Mother and sunk onto her chest with glassy eyes.
The Kung Fu Masters staggered.
"Mama?" They all asked.