The Countdown

Lost in a Fog

"Why not?"

"Because...bec...I don't know!"

Tigress sighed and leaned back. After a second to collect herself, she said, "There are just some things I don't feel like talking about or informing people, and getting locked in a cellar and doing something...not hardcore isn't something I want people to know."

Viper smiled. "I thought that sounded kind of sweet," she pointed out to her friend. "You don't normally relax, so to hear that you're relaxing and actually enjoying yourself is nice to know."

Tigress sighed, leaning her elbows on her crossed legs so that she could set her face against her paws.

"There's something else bothering you, isn't there?" Viper said knowingly.

Tigress leaned back with a small groan and said, "Do you remember a couple of weeks ago when I was still resting from my ribs and Mr. Ping and I got attacked by bandits?"

"Of course I remember," Viper said. "We were all worried sick because you weren't used to fighting them off."

"Before they attacked us, they referred to me as Po's girlfriend," Tigress told Viper. "As did Mr. Ping."

"What's so bad about that?" Viper asked. "It's just a small misunderstanding."

"That's the point!" Tigress exclaimed. "I don't want people to get the wrong idea about Po and I. We are simply good friends and I don't want people to think that we're dating just because we got locked in the basement together or because he carried me back to the Jade Palace, or because-"

"Because you broke him from Shifu's mind control without taking off that necklace?" Viper suggested.

"Exactly. I am Po's friend and that is it. But it seems that whenever we do anything, Mr. Ping takes it as being romantic and I don't want people to get any ideas."

Viper smirked at her. Tigress gave her a look. "Don't get any ideas," she warned her friend.

"I'm not," Viper told her. "It's just...I think I might have an idea as to why Mr. Ping or other people might think you're dating."

"Well keep it to yourself," Tigress said. "I'm not in the mood to hear it."

Viper shrugged. "Suit yourself," she replied.

The gate opened up to reveal Po standing there with a grin. "There you two are," he exclaimed. "I have breakfast ready if you two are hungry."

"Sounds good to me!" Viper told him, slithering over. "Coming, Tigress?"

"I suppose," Tigress answered, standing up and walking over as well.

Po eyed her. "You weren't training, were you?" he asked sternly.

"Almost," Viper piped up, slithering away.

"Tigreeess..." Po said sternly.

"I just wanted to stay prepared," Tigress told him, walking out of the area with a smirk.

"Tomorrow," Po promised her. "When Shifu gets back."

He then followed the master to the kitchen, asking nervously, "So...how did you enjoy the festival?"

"It was fine," Tigress said. She glanced at Po before adding, "I'm sorry for being such a klutz during the dance."

"You weren't a klutz," Po assured her. "I mean, you didn't seem to know what you were doing when we first started, but you did fine until I changed speeds too fast and knocked you over."