Chapter 1

"Hey look, she's back!" Shifu was just following his student's out of the Training Hall. He looked up to see Tigress entering the courtyard. She just closed the gates as they neared her in complete silence. She seemed a little out of breath, Shifu thought. I'm sure it was a bit of a struggle on her own.

"Master Tigress," Po and Monkey instantly stepped to the side, and watched Shifu walk towards the feline as the gates gave a small thud. "How was the mission Master Tigress?" He asked. "I'm sure the issue was sorted out?" Tigress was still facing the gate, her grip firm on the handles, head lowering slightly in time with the volume of her intakes of air. A gentle breeze brushed past, and leaves rustles by their feet, but nothing but her breathing was heard coming from her lips. Shifu's ears twitched when she was standing there breathing in and out, and only when his students looked at him questioningly, his ears went flat as possible.

"Tigress?" Her ears twitched too, as Viper leaned to the side so she could help the feline's disoriented eyes. "Are you... alright?" Her head twitched to the side, for her to watch Viper at a side glance. A narrow black slit was staring at her, ready to stab... before they went a big and wide a dumplings. Shifu studied this as the tiger tightened her grip on the handle as Crane took a step towards her.

"Hey Tigress?" He asked, wing slowly rising towards her. Po wasn't sure whether or not it was a good idea for him to do that, and was about to reach out for Crane's shoulder to hold him back.

But she collapsed, and Crane caught her just in time, nearly falling with her if it wasn't for Po pulling him up, taking her, putting one of her arms around his shoulder, while Crane took the other. She was still conscious, but her legs must of suddenly given way, and her eyes were heavy as if they were the weight that kept her head hanging down.

"Tigress?" Viper slithered up to her and looked into her eyes, alarmed. "What happened? What's wrong?!" The Feline's lips was moving, but the words were either coming out in one syllables, stutters, or nothing at all.

"Get her to her room," Shifu instructed. "For goodness sake Po, pick her up, and I'll fetch the healer." He watched Tigress' head hang forward while Po scooped her up and ran for the bunk house, Viper, Mantis, and Monkey not far behind him, while Crane offered Shifu to fly him to the healer. Shifu declined, telling him to follow the others. "Make sure she's alright. I'll be quick."

It seemed like any other beautiful day in the Valley of Peace; the sun was smiling down on all doing the usual work, in the usual location, with their smiles, being their usual selves... at least, down in the Valley they all were.

You see, there was a bandit raid early yesterday morning, just outside the Valley; really early, the time where the sun was still dark, but you knew dawn was coming. For our protagonists, it wouldn't have been an problem for them... if they only woke up with Tigress that morning. Even she was unsure why she was up so early, but she was just meditating to pass the time. She hadn't done that in a long time. When the alarm was raised, she left to sort out the issue on a solo. Shifu asked her if it was alright for her to deal with it on her own, and the feline brushed it off as no problem, and nothing for him to worry, and went to sort it out...

She returned, fur ruffled and eyes unusually large... Shifu pushed the state of her fur off as she got a few punches she couldn't dodge, or whoever was causing trouble had a firm grip on her as she fought them off. But he never saw her eyes like that before. It was not normal for Tigress to come back like this. Sure she'd come back with a few bruises, or a little bit ruffed up, but nothing compared to this. This was different.

"Make sure she's alright. I'll be quick..."

The old Master's own words ran through his head, and the thought of Monkey zooming off in the direction he saw himself running in. The primate's speed and swift leaps almost startled him. He definitely got the healer in a nick of time a lot faster than Shifu would have done. Shifu walked out of the room in silence, seeming like he was ignoring everyone around him, holding something in his enclosed fingers. No one could see it, and quickly glanced at Tigress as the doors slowly closed. Monkey stretched his neck a little to get a better view. She was motionless, eyes resting, and her arms were limp by her sides as her chest rose and fell in the speed of eternity. Her tranquil face was the only image printed in their heads once the door had shut completely.

"How is she now?" Monkey asked, twisting his hand around the opposite wrist. He nodded towards the door in case if Shifu had somehow forgotten what had occurred. The red panda looked down at his own hand, holding the cause of this mystery... or, held it.

"This was holding an unknown mix of liquids." He opened the hand, and they were staring down at a small dart, which long lost it's feather at the end. Upon the sharp tip, there was an unmistakable smear of crimson red, which left a small trace on Shifu's palm. "My theory is, out of the few pieces of information of the doctor on where it was. She was kept still, and as she fought off the outcasts, one had aimed the dart, and it just took effect as she made it back to us. She may have noticed, but that will remain unclear until she's awake properly and remembers anything." He tightened his grip on the dart again. "At this duration in time, we are unsure about what the outcome will be of her, apart from whatever was in the dart is not being life threatening to her. Now, I want the village patrolled immediately, then every two hours after that. Monkey, Crane," they bowed in unison. "You'll patrol the village for now, and report any suspicion."

"Yes Master," Crane and Monkey were off.

"Viper, Mantis, you start training, you'll be next on patrol." The serpent and bug bowed and were off. Po stood still with his arms by his side.

"And me Master?" He asked.

Shifu opened the doors again, and gestured inside. "You'll keep an eye on Tigress. She may stir, and may even wake up, but she won't acknowledge anything or anyone around her until this stuff wears off, so don't overwhelm her with questions alright?"

"Yeah-"

"I mean it Po."

The black and white bear rolled his eyes. "I know Master, I promise." Shifu nodded, and began walking down the hall. "But Master," he stopped and turned to face his student. "Where're you gonna be? Don't we need to investigate this... stuff further?"

Shifu nodded. "That is why I'm going to meditate and hope that Oogway will send me a sign or message... For now keep an eye on her." And he was gone.

Po frowned, before walking into the room, and closing the doors slowly. "How is meditation gonna help us find out what's going on?" He muttered, before shifting to face Tigress, who stirred a little right on cue, frowning a little in possible discomfort. As his lips faded from a straight line, and as one side ticked upwards, he crept over and knelt beside her, taking hold of her paw. Her fingers scrunched up a little at first contact, but then slowly released once her face softened a little. Maybe this stuff was sending cramps through her muscles. "You're gonna be fine Ti, no need to try and wake up so quick." His eyes began to droop after a while as his other arm placed itself on the blanket. "Take your time... and take this sleep as... a... little award for your... volunteered labor..." his head found the small space on the mattress by Tigress' flank, and he too was asleep.

Shifu sat directly in front of the statue of Oogway, his volume intertwining with the silence around him. He didn't feel the threat of an attack... but unlike the serenity around him, nothing was obeying to the usual rota;

Shoulders were tense rather than loosened, his head was muddled with everything that went on earlier that morning, his eyes were having a hard time remaining closed naturally, as he had them shut tight with force... and his temper was wearing with his impatience. He immediately stood up, and began pacing back and forth. "Master Oogway," he said tiredly. "If you can hear me from your eternal peace... I ask you for help... again..." He sighed deeply. "This time, it's not to do with an unknown enemy, it's a matter within the Jade Palace. One of our students was attacked on a solo mission... I shouldn't of let her go alone." He chuckled a little. "I'm sure you are aware who I'm talking about..." He cleared his throat awkwardly in the voiceless response. "She's now in a condition that no one knows the outcome... perhaps you do?" He looked up to see the stone face of his old friend staring down at him, with a smile no one could ever forget. "...send me a sign..." His eyes quickly casted to the ground briefly, before smiling a little when a petal fell into his view along the ground by his feet... and then another, and another, and another. Shifu's eyes narrowed... while his ears picked up the sound of someone behind him.

"Red... is the first color of Spring. It's the color of rebirth... Of beginning..." His head spun around. The voice was right behind him... "sometimes... second chances work out even better than the first..." It came crawling along his neck, "because you learn from your mistakes..." Shifu leapt into the air, Oogway's staff in hand. His eyes tried to find the voice amongst the sudden mist that surrounded him. As he landed heavily, the smoke lifted, and no one was there. He crouched low to the ground, frowning a little as his eyes scanned the area around him. The mist began to fade a little... but that was when he saw the cloaked figure. Big, bulbous eyes were staring right at him. "You can thank me later, but don't waste this opportunity Shifu," the voice said, low, but not threatening.

"Who are you?" Shifu demanded with a glare.

"All you need to know me as is 'The Granter'... nothing more. But remember this Shifu- the only receipt for this grant, you will not find in a flower, nor an ancient temple. It's within yourself. "

Before Shifu could pounce, they vanished. He remained in his form for another few seconds, before straightening his posture. "Hm..." He thought aloud, before beginning to turn around. "What could they mean by-"

"MASTER!" Shifu was in his battle stance, as he noticed Crane flying his way. "Master! Monkey and I just came back from patrolling the village... something happened to Tigress..." he shook his head, wild eyed. Shifu didn't hesitate to run for the palace. When he got there, he met Viper, Monkey, Mantis and Po in Tigress' room; Viper, Monkey and Mantis were visibly distraught when they turned to face him. Po had his back to them, standing in front of Tigress' bed... which was was a glimpse of the black and red from Tigress' blanket, which Po had in his arms.

"Po?" Shifu asked. "What happened..." He looked around swiftly. "Where is Tigress?" Nothing. "Po..."

Shifu was about to step forward, but Po slowly turned around.

Hey all, hope you liked this chapter.

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