Strong

Learning Strength

37, 38, thirty-niiiiiiiiineeAAH!" Po tossed the weight on his shoulders, and it clattered to the ground. "Awww man! Come on! I was so close!" The panda stumbled up from his squats and stretched out his back while cracking the stiffness in his neck. "Maybe pushing myself too hard. Gotta relax on the weights. Alright, time for-"

"Hey! Po!" 

"Huh? Guys? What are you all doing here?" Po asked. Monkey, Viper, Crane, and Mantis swarmed the panda. 

"Ah we... we were just thinking about how great you're doing," Monkey smiled. 

"Huh? Doing what?" 

"Uh... working out!" Crane quickly recovered. "Any reason why you're pumping iron now?"

"Um... just... personal, you know," Po shrugged. "Anyway, where's Tigress?"

"She's on a mission Shifu gave her," Viper smiled a little too widely. Po looked at all of them. 

"Guys, are you hiding something from me?" 

"Nooooo!" They all said. 

"Uh huh," Po shrugged again and walked out. "Well, if you don't need me, I'm gonna go for a run."

"Really? But you were just training. Don't you want to take a rest?" Viper asked. 

"I am, but I haven't talked with my dads in a while. I wanna make sure they're okay. Aaaaand I need to walk off this soreness. Aahh Oowowowowow," Whining loudly, Po stumbled out the Training Hall doors. The others sighed in relief. 

"We've got to do a better job of keeping him away from the wolf," Monkey muttered. "You guys are horrible at keeping a secret."

"Us?" Mantis barked, "You're the one with the whole, 'Oh good job at doing nothing!'" 

"Guys quiet!" Viper hushed. "He might be around the corner. Just... if you see Po going to the prisoner, distract him. Monkey is pretty good at that." 

"Hehe yeah, my pranks will have Po running after me as far as the wall of China," Monkey laughed. 

"We have to focus," Crane said. "No telling what might happen if Po starts talking with him." The team nodded and went their separate ways. Crane glanced at Viper slithering off. "Uh... V-V-Viper?"

"Yes, Crane?" 

"Um... I was just thinking... maybe it would be... best if we kept an eye on Po. Together. That way we don't have to wonder where he is." 

"Sure, but... why together?"

 Crane gulped a bit, "Uh... it doesn't have to be together if you don't want that! We can watch him in turns or... something." Sweat started pouring down Crane's face. 

But Viper smiled, "I didn't mean it that way, Crane. I was just curious."

"Oh."

"We can watch for Po. But why me?" 

"Uh... well because... Monkey is... Monkey. Mantis is too blunt. And Tigress... do I even need to say it?" Crane lightly chuckled. The snake giggled and nodded. 

"Okay." 

"Great! Uh... did you want to do that now or-"

"Not right now," Viper said. "He's just going to his father's place. No need to watch him when he's as far from the wolf as possible, right?"

"Right! Right. Okay so... I'll keep a lookout for him and... I'll tell you what happens."

"That would be lovely," Viper smiled and slithered away. A dazed smile crept onto Crane's beak, but the bird shook his head.