Zaber

Leo the Demon Fighter

"Come on, we have a long journey ahead of us," Lee said. They were nearing the Jin-Min capital when Lee remembered something, "Oh shoot. I forgot that Leo lives around here. We're gonna need him for this fight."

"Who's Leo?" Po asked.

"He's this sweet little wolf that we found when we were traveling China," Mei said, "But wait... we have Tigress."

"That's why I'm worried," Lee groaned. Before Po or Tigress could say anything, they came upon an old tent with a scrappy white wolf cooking out in the open. "Get in the bushes you two," Lee said to Tigress and Po. The white wolf's light tan pants were torn in several places, and there were small dark circles around his eyes. He was short, probably the shortest among all of them, and he had amber eyes. "Leo! How's it been? Whacha' you doing?" Lee's smile reeked of bad acting. Leo tilted his head. "I have a friend for you to meet. She's a bit... different, but she's friendly." Slowly, Tigress and Po emerged from the bushes. 

"Monster!" Leo shouted and immediately hid behind Lee. Tigress's ears went down.

"She's not a monster," Po defended her.

"No, that's not what he means," Lee said, patting the shivering white wolf. "You see, when he was a child, his parents were killed right before him by a... certain tiger."

"Wong-Hu?" Po asked.

"It was part of his 'ethnic' cleansing. Ever since then he's been afraid of tigers," Lee said, gently stroked the smaller wolf behind him, "But this one won't hurt you, Leo. She's... friendly."

"Thank you," Tigress said in a deadpanned voice.

"We're taking you with us, so you're not going to be hurt by anyone anymore," Mei explained holding the wolf's hand. The white wolf slowly got to his feet. "We're going to the Jin-Min capital." Leo's eyes shot open. "Don't worry, it will be fine. We won't let anyone hurt you. And we need you. People's lives are at stake and we can't do this without you," Mei's stared straight into his eyes. "We have to make sure that no more people are hurt like you." Leo slowly nodded.

"Okay. I'll go," He said in a timid brittle voice. Soon, he packed his merger things and journeyed with them, giving the others some of his freshly-made soup. Of course, because of Leo's tiger-phobia, Po had to take Tigress's bowl to her. The small wolf didn't talk much. He was always a good distance from Tigress, too, making her more and more depressed. Night came, and the team rested in their cozy tents. Tigress sat outside looking at the embers in the fire pit.

"You seem depressed. I mean, you're showing it more. What's the matter?" Po asked, sitting next to her. She sighed.

"It's just Leo. I-"

"Tigress, his parents were killed. You should know why he's scared," Po interrupted her.

"I do. I completely understand, more than anyone. Po, can I tell you something private?" Tigress asked. Po nodded. She took a deep breath. "I'm...scared...to see where I come from."

"I thought you were excited."

"I am but I'm also scared. What if I'm a monster amongst my own kind? And what if they're just like me?"

"If they are, then I'm gonna need a lot more padding," Po joked and earned a playful punch from the tiger, "But I've been there, Tigress. The people aren't like you... character-wise. They're okay." Tigress tucked in her legs to her chest. "They're amazing people, and I know your parents couldn't bear seeing you hurt by Wong-Hu."

"I just wish I wasn't seen as...a monster sometimes," Tigress whispered. Her sigh was long and heavy as if the air couldn't be lifted. She spotted Po looking around. "What?"