Vastly and solemnly, the domestic villagers of the Valley of Peace trudged out of their homes with their heads hung low and their children clung close to them. The Furious Five splitting themselves to keep track of the whole valley, Monkey and Mantis way in the back to make sure no villagers went astray, Crane flying ahead to lead the front, and Viper slithering among the villagers in the middle with Tigress near by, holding a baby bunny and helping his big family travel through. It had been quite the journey as it was already dawn and yet the valley was still visible in sight.
The serpent looked worryingly at the tiger ahead of her. Though she can see only the back of her head, she knew full well that Tigress still had her brows furrowed in anger. What looked like determination to everyone else, Viper knew was truly heartbreak radiating off of the hardcore feline.
"Excuse me..." Viper whispered politely as she passed through a few villagers and slithered up to Tigress' side. She glanced at the baby bunny currently sleeping in her big striped arms and chuckled to herself.
"You know, for someone who prides herself on being the most hardcore fighter in all the valley, you sure know how to be tender sometimes."
Tigress' glare softened as she glanced down at the sleeping kit in her arms before refocusing on the path ahead, "Children are out of the question. I'm hardcore, not cruel, contrary to what most may believe."
"Hmm... it really does take someone... special, to understand how tender you can truly be, doesn't it?" The snake asked ominously, making the tiger roll her eyes.
"Don't Patronise me, Viper. I'm not that noteworthy or important to have others care about how 'tender' I can be."
"You are to me... and a certain panda.." Viper mumbled.
But Tigress just glared down at her reptilian counterpart and flared her nostrils in a low grunt, "We are not discussing this. Lotus chose to be a coward, he is not my business anymore. And it was never your business either."
Viper narrowed her eyes at the feline, "Lotus didn't choose to be a coward, and you know that."
"Is everything alright, Master Viper?" The mother to the rabbit Tigress was cradling asked meekly, worried about the bickering between the two warriors.
The snake softly smiled back at the rabbit mother, "Yes, apologies, Master Tigress and I are just settling a private dispute."
"Consider it already settled." Tigress stated coldly, but Viper just glared back with a pout.
"Lotus felt like no one believed in him, so he gave up," She continued. "We all felt a little helpless when we found out the scroll was... you know..."
"But that doesn't excuse him walking out on us!" Tigress spat back, "He raves about wanting to be a hero yet runs out as soon as something doesn't go his way. He was right... he shouldn't have come with me to the valley at all..." She looked down at the ground, feeling her surface-level anger fade into her more authentic melancholy.
Viper sighed through her nose, "Are you saying that for his sake... or for your own?"
Suddenly, the words jammed in Tigress' throat. She wanted to argue back, to defend what was left of her dignity, but she couldn't help but feel the back of her mind confirm Viper's suspicions. She knew what the serpent was implying, and try as she might to keep a poker face and keep moving forward, she still felt that aching in her chest yearning for the presence of that stupid panda.
Before she could form her thoughts together, she as well as Viper and the group of villagers near them heard the panicked flapping and hollering of a distant bird. They all turned to the group behind them as the villagers split apart to let no other than Mr. Ping flap forward towards the two masters. "Master Tigress! Master Tigress, help! You have to help!"
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Lotus
Fanfictionwhat would've happened if just before the carriage that carried the radish basket with Po in it was about to leave, Li Shan found his son and raised him alone? how would Po end up? and what happens when a gorgeous tiger is assigned to now protect th...
