FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

-6-

Li-Tang awoke the next morning to the feeling of her windpipe being violently squeezed. Her eyes flew open as she reached up and grabbed the offending object which turned out to be Viper. Li-Tang found the back of Viper's head and squeezed with both paws. The snake released her immediately. "Oh, my god," Viper exclaimed. "Are you okay. Oh, my god... I am so sorry." "It's okay," Li-Tang choked waving off Viper's apology. "Are you okay? I squeezed you pretty good." "Me?" Viper was a bit shocked that this woman could even stand after such an attack let alone be concerned about her attacker. "I'm fine... I've been training all my life so a little squeeze wouldn't affect me much."

Li-Tang laughed as she tied an apron around her waist. "Well, I've always worked with rough customers so that wasn't much of a squeeze." "Where are you going?" Viper asked as Li-Tang washed her face in the basin next to the door. "I have to get downstairs to Mr. Ping. I work for him, remember?" Li-Tang laughed hoping she really hadn't damaged the snake. "Oh, yeah," Viper laughed. "I forgot where I was. Is there anything I can do to help?" "No, no... I've been working for him for a while now. So, we have a system worked out. You can watch if you'd like. Maybe being out of the palace for a while would do you some good." "You're probably right," Viper said musing as an angry look crossed her face, then became embarrassment, before returning to normal. "Coming?" Li-Tang asked holding the door open. "Yes," Viper smiled and then looked up at the panda as she got to the door. "Thank you." "Don't mention it," Li-Tang smiled at her as they left the room.

It was still dark as Tai Lung stood outside of his cave. Tigress had seen his true self. He hadn't been as careful as he should have been. Tai Lung sighed heavily and looked up at the clouds that were slowly dispersing. "Leaving Shakka?" Tai Lung asked as a shadow loomed towards him. "No jez yet," The shadow said getting closer until the image was clear as the moonlight streamed through the clouds. Shakka could be seen clearly now. The black mandrill chuckled as it sat down next to where Tai Lung was standing. "I still haffa make sure ya not gonna get yerself kill by a fat man." "I gave him a year to train," Tai Lung said quietly. "Wat about you?" Shakka asked putting his walking stick across his legs. "You keep dat woman 'ere and folks gonna come look for her." "I know," Tai Lung said. "I know. But I can't just let her go. Especially, when she knows who I am now." "Ah, yeah. She sees your face da odder night," Shakka said. "Ya not gonna paint your fur no mores? She might tink it was dream." "I doubt it," Tai Lung said. "Master Tigress isn't as stupid as the panda or anyone else in the valley." "I could make it so you stay black and maned for a while," Shakka said. "And what would you want in return, Shakkalu?" Tai Lung sighed. "If it's got anything to do with your balls I don't want it." "Nah, nah. You juz hafta get me blood," Shakka laughed. "You knows mine prices, boy."

Shakka looked up at Tai Lung smiling. Inwardly, Tai Lung shuddered. He hated when the mandrill smiled. It was always bad. The thought of having to collect blood also made him queasy. Not only did it have to be blood, but it had to be fresh. The blood had to be drained from a living creature and drank by the mandrill before the host it came from perished. The lionesses he had lived with never had a problem collecting it. But the first few times he'd seen it done he had wanted to throw up.

"All right," Tai Lung said. "Do it and I'll get you all the blood I can." "Deal," Shakka said and hit Tai Lung over the head with his stick. Tai Lung saw stars for a moment before he blacked out.

Li-Tang busily ran from table to table balancing bowls of steaming noodles on her arms as she shrugged them on to the tables in front of patrons with what seemed to be no effort at all. Viper marveled at how easy she made everything look. The patrons themselves were amused and delighted by her way of serving them. It kept them entertained before they filled their stomachs. She never got an order wrong Viper had heard customers saying amongst themselves. They'd even tried to trick her a few times to see if she would mess up. They had changed their orders mid way through and asked for some things to be taken out. Except Li-Tang had an amazing memory. Viper laughed at her antics as she rushed around and even helped cook all the while making everything look so fluid. Viper was in awe. Since the only panda she had ever seen lumbering around had been Po. It was very different to see a panda who wasn't falling over its own feet or tumbling down stairs. Once everyone was served Li-Tang got a few moments for a break. She came and sat next to Viper on one of the bar stools in front of the cook stoves. "Sorry, about all that," Li-Tang apologized. "Duty calls." "Oh, no... I enjoyed it. No need to apologize." Viper smiled up at her. "You make it look so easy. Almost like ribbon dancing." Li-Tang chuckled to herself, "It's harder than it looks. I've just been doing it for a while now." "But Po... He isn't as smooth." Viper said. "Even when he worked here I remember him bumping in to tables and almost knocking over bowls and pots." "Well, Po is a guy. But he also grew up here and not with other pandas." Li-Tang laughed. Viper nodded and smiled as she finished her own bowl of noodles. She didn't really want to get in to a conversation about Po at the moment. She felt her cheeks heating up as she thought about him, and her embarrassment.

"Po!" Master Shifu yelled interrupting Po's thoughts and cooking as he stood in the kitchen of the Jade Palace. "Yes, Master?!" Po called as he jumped and nearly tipped over the large pot that was boiling on the stove. Effortlessly, Shifu jumped up and touched the pot lightly causing it to steady itself. "Have you seen the others today?" Master Shifu asked him. "No, although, I did hear Mei Ling in Crane's room. They were giggling," Po said. "It must've been a funny joke or they were hungry." "Why do you say that?" "Because," Po started. "They started moaning after that and then I guess they were dancing because there was a lot of thumping and..." "Enough," Shifu said pulling his ears down. "I don't want to hear any more." "Monkey and Mantis were talking last night about bathing or bath houses and something about breasts. I think everyone is hungry which is why I'm making my special stew. It's guaranteed to fill even me up!" Po announced proudly. "Very good, Panda," Master Shifu said before turning and leaving. He didn't want to hear anymore. At the door of the kitchen he paused and turned back to Po. "Po... You haven't seen Master Tigress have you?" Shifu asked cautiously hoping that Po didn't have any unsavory news to tell him about his step daughter.

"No, Master," Po answered him shaking his head. "But I imagine she's just as hungry as everyone else." "ENOUGH, PANDA!!!" Shifu roared before bolting from the room. The last thing he wanted to imagine was Tigress naked with anyone.

Kataki slowly opened his eyes and looked around. He was sitting up against the entrance of his cave. He looked down at his fur and noticed that it was black once again he reached up his neck and felt around his face. His mane was there also. He looked around but Shakka was already gone. He sighed. At least he wouldn't have to gather the blood until he found Shakka again. Inwardly, he knew the mandrill had returned to Africa. He went in to the cave to check on his prisoner. Tigress was sitting up slightly and looking around the cave.

Slowly, Kataki approached her. "How are you feeling?" He asked quietly. Tigress spun around to look at him. "Oh!" She exclaimed. "It... was... a... dream..." "You sound disappointed," Kataki said as he sat down next to her. "Everything okay?" "Yeah," Tigress said. "I just could have sworn you had been someone else... Someone I barely knew..." "And this person was... Your boyfriend?" Kataki asked. "No... No... NO! Nothing like that. In fact he was the biggest murderer and villain the Valley of Peace had ever known..." "Is that so?" Kataki prodded. Tigress sighed and giggled, "But for a villain he was so handsome." "And I'm not?" Kataki asked with a smile. "Oh, no you're handsome..." Tigress smiled at him. "Actually, I was asking if I was a villain too," Kataki laughed as he began stoking the fire as he noticed Tigress blushing. "Are you hungry?" "Starving," She answered. "Good," Kataki said handing her a basket. "Cook us something, then."