A Friend Indeed (Kung Fu Panda)

Belief

It was only a few months after the year of the dog officially started. The weather had started to become more tolerable. It hadn't quite reached the level of Spring in full, but it wouldn't be too far off now.

It should have been a peaceful morning, but it didn't stay that way. The morning gong had been wrung. The day's training began, and Tigress could see that the others had succeeded into turning their fighting styles into works of art.

Master Shifu was observing them in the training hall, occasionally calling out to remind someone to widen their stance, or keep their elbows up. Zeng threw open the doors and ran in, honking with panic and exhaustion. "Master Shifu!"

Master Shifu's ears dropped as he turned to face Zeng. "Yes? What it is it?"

Zeng held out a scroll. "Bandits! A pack of wolves in the south! There attacking the farmers!'

Master Shifu snatched the scroll out of Zeng's wing, before perusing the contents himself. He hummed with thought before he called to his students. With practiced fluidity, they each exited their areas of the hall.

"It seems we have an opportunity for your skills to see some practical use," Master Shifu said.

"You want us to fight off an entire pack of wolves?" Crane asked. Shifu gave him a level glance, causing him to add "Uh. . . master."

Shifu rolled his eyes. "Yes. I do. From the reports, it should hardly be more than twenty. That should be enough for you five to handle." Crane gulped. Shifu looked at all of his students. "I expect you all to look after another. I don't have to tell you what could happen." He took a moment to look each of them in the eye. "Remember, the valley is in your hands." He waved outside. "Now go!"

Tigress dashed away without hesitation, easily falling onto all fours. Perhaps it was the simple display of confidence that made the others follow her.

As Shifu watched them leave, he heard a voice coming from his side. "No extra conditions?"

Shifu jumped at the unexpected commentary, but soon calmed down. "Master Oogway," he said flatly. "Someone really should put a bell on you."

Master Oogway chuckled. "Who's to say no one hasn't?"

The two of them were content standing in quiet for a time. "Is there something you wanted to ask me?" Shifu asked after a while.

"You seem to have found some confidence in your students," Master Oogway said.

"Of course I do," Master Shifu said. "I trained them after all."

Master Oogway hummed. "Perhaps you should put less faith in your abilities as a teacher, and more faith in your student's abilities to learn."

Shifu drew in a long breath through his nose. "Faith has nothing to do with it."

Master Oogway nodded without commitment, before he started to walk away. His friend, it appeared, would still need more time. Still, at least Shifu believed in something again. That was progress.

***

"So, Tigress," Crane asked, flying a little ways above her. "Any advice on how to deal with nerves?"

"Simple," she said. "Don't be nervous." She heard the words as she said them. Had her paws not been propelling her forward, one of them would have hit her forehead.

"Yeah, okay. . ." Crane said. "But consider this; I am. Extremely."

"You'll do fine," Viper said. "You're just as ready for this as any of us." Viper's gaze flicked to Tigress. "Well, except maybe Tigress, but she's been doing this a lot longer."