A Familiar Stranger [Kung Fu Panda]

A Helping Hand

Immediately Shifu had sent Po and the five to Gongmen city and had to make Tora promise to not follow in order to aid them as they were 'professionally trained kung fu masters that were perfectly capable of dealing with the situation'.

Tora felt at ease seeing that Shifu didn't seem worried but she still felt scared for Tigress. She didn't want to lose the sister she'd only just found.

A few days later Tora approached Shifu after he'd finished his morning meditation.

"Master Shifu... are you sure they will be fine? We haven't heard anything from them at present." Tora held her tail in her paws anxiously.

"I will be spending them a couple more days then will make my way there... although the journey is a days and a half long, they should of reached Shen's tower by now." Shifu sighed as he began walking towards the scroll room.

The next day Tora day on the roof of the Jade palace, bathing in the sun as she looked down upon the valley. Soon she felt the warmth of the sun relax her into falling asleep.

She suddenly found herself back home, the small house where she and her parents had lived their whole lives, yet it was different. The atmosphere was brighter and there was many pictures around the home of not one but two young tigers, identical in markings.

The scene faded and she was then surrounded by her baba and mama and another, it was Tigress. They were hugging. Then a storm broke out, the roof was ripped from their home and Tigress was ripped from their embrace, her parents just stared up into the storm, silently crying whilst Tora raced up the house trying to pull Tigress back.

"NO!! NO TIGRESS!!" The stairs beneath her fell and she fell to the floor in defeat. "I CANT LOSE YOU!!"

Lightning crashed and Tora woke up in panic. Looking around frantically, she was still on the roof of he Jade palace but it was no longer sunny. A huge storm had silently crept to the valley.

Jumping down from the roof she had a horrible feeling about something. Fearing for the safety of Tigress and the others she raced around looking for Shifu, finally finding him in the cave he tended to meditate in.

She slowly approached him, careful not to slip as the rocks were wet from the rain.

"Shifu?" No answer. She was about to speak again when lightning struck and the thunder roared.

Shifu gasped and fell from Oogways staff.

"Shifu!" Tora ran over to the master on the ground.

"They... they need help!" Was his reply.

Immediately Shifu composed himself assuring Tora he was now fine. They set out, Shifu atop Tora's back as she ran on all fours.

She's fast. Shifu thought. Faster than Tigress... faster than Tai Lung...

Tora raced through bamboo forests, small villages and big towns by the directions from Shifu. Adrenaline was giving her extra speed. It only took them a day to reach Gongmen city with only 3 short rests.

They stopped across the river from the city. Shifu had a look of determination on his face whilst Tora stared at the city in awe. It was really something.

"I wonder if where Durai lives is as amazing as here..." she thought aloud.

"You've never been there?" Shifu questioned.

"Orange tigers are forbidden from the capital." Tora replied as though it was common knowledge.

With their small rest over they borrowed a small boat from a nearby fisherman and made their way to the city.

A/N
I am so sorry for the year of no updates. Busy busy busy haha.
I never plan to abandon this story as I know where I want it to go and I know how I want to finish it.
Thank you everybody who reads and comments, it's so encouraging when I read them!