Dead Shot Duck

Pain of the Past

"I can't believe we didn't think of this in the first place," Po said. He walked the daylight streets with Tigress and a duck servant in his usual golden robes, holding their stuff on his back. Of course, it was his own stuff, but that was the only way he could get around. 

"Do I have to carry this stuff around with me?" Zeng grumbled. 

"It's your stuff, and it shows others that you're our servant. Besides, we as Kung fu Masters would draw more attention than a duck in all black," Tigress answered. 

The goose whined, "I see your smirk, Tigress. I know you're doing this because-"

"Servants are silent, Zeng," Tigress growled. The duck grumbled under his weight. Tigress looked at Po who narrowed his eyes back at the tiger. She sighed, "Here let me help."

"Thank you, dearest Master Tigress," Zeng smiled, giving her some of the weight. Po shook his head and continued on the journey. "You can carry some too, Po."

"I know, but right now I'm not in the mood," Po muttered. Zeng glanced at Tigress, who only shrugged. As they passed shops and vendors, Tigress and Po asked each and every person they could to find something about the whereabouts of the Deadly Generals. All they could figure out was that the particular bandits that attacked them came from the southwestern edge of the providence. "They're probably coming from Lao Mountain Range. The place that Shifu talked about," Po said as they headed back to the camp. It was noon, and the team had a lot to go off of. "We should start heading there." 

The two and then later the others agreed, but the tiger and duck couldn't figure out the sudden turn in Po's mood. His eyes always fixated on the front like he was staring down some glooming future. As they left Shang Depression and headed towards Lao Mountain, Po's silence grew thicker. As they rounded the narrow mountain pathways and over the raging waters of valley rivers, his silence only grew more disturbing until Zeng was the first to break the silence. "ARGH! I can't take it anymore!" 

"Huh?" Zeng marched up to the front and stopped right in front of the panda. "Zeng, what are you-"

"We camp here. End of story. Any objections?"

"No!" Said the rest of the team. 

"Good. In the meantime, I'd like to know why are you acting like this?"

"What are you talking about?" Po groused. 

"Po," Tigress spoke up, "You haven't been acting like yourself all day. Is something bothering you?" Po stared at Tigress and Zeng before sitting down. The waning sun in the sky glowed through the forest they were in. They had stopped just after a little stream, and the shaded view of the sun seemed to heal whatever sadness he had. Just a little.

"I just... don't understand it."

"Understand what?" Zeng asked. 

"This whole thing," Po answered. He looked straight into Zeng's eyes. "Zeng, you don't look like a murderer."

"Looks are deceiving," Tigress replied. 

"I was just gonna say that," Zeng smirked. 

"And I'm really getting tired of you two bickering," Po raged abruptly. "Tigress, he lied to you because he was trying to protect you. You do that all the time with me."

"I-" Po glared. The tiger fell silent and crossed his arms. 

"And you!" 

"Oh, do tell me what I did, panda," Zeng smirked, "Because I'd looove to see how much you know about me." 

"Just because you feel guilty about what happened to the Generals' kids, doesn't mean you get to wail on Tigress. Stop acting like you don't know what she's going through and that you're not going through the same thing. Have some sympathy."