The Ballad of Song and Panda (cp 2000)

[Lita]

Wisps of blue cloud coiled like serpents about the full moon that bathed the valley in its ethereal glow, casting light and the shadows of several slender, weaving bodies as they made their dancing journey up to the sacred palace and temple that resided atop Jade mountain within the Valley of Peace.

Clouded Leopards. Females.

The Ladies of Shade were... delivering a package.

A living, breathing bundle. Wrapped in scarlet and gold.

Tender paws lay the bundle down upon the stones that lay against the gargantuan wooden gates. Before drifting back.

A shrill hissing echoed from beneath the cloth, as it was left by the alluring leopard dancers, who twisted, sprang and spiralled this way and that down the lofty steps that led up to the Jade Palace, like stray blossom petals caught in a sudden breeze.

Against the tall wooden gates, the hissing bundle began to shudder, shaking like a leaf, before it almost took flight, hopping up and down under its fabric trappings.

A bundle of thrashing, flailing rags took to the steps of the Jade palace, the stark red and gold cloths glinting like fires and ember in the moonlight.

[cp 2000]

Po, more formaly known across the land as the dragon warrior, was just finishing up with his evening training as he packed away the equipment.

The Panda had come far in the world of Kung Fu, surpassing many who had been training for years in mere months of his tuetelidge, under the watchfull eye of the red panda, Master Shifu.

While he enjoyed his life in the Jade Palace, he also missed the life he had once led outside, getting to know people and forming good relationships with others. In fact, he had previuosly met a pretty snow leopard called Song, who had left with her dancing group to travel the world, making Po wonder if he'd ever see her again.

However, all thoughts of this were pushed from his mind when he heard noises coming from outside the doors of the Jade palace. Curious, he walked over and opened the doors, looking out into the night to see what was causing the souns, not noticing the bundle right beneath him.

[Lita]

The bundle paused, stayed on the steps. A lash and curl of a cloud spotted tail came out from beneath the scarlet, satin rags. The fluffy tail flicked out again, and touched the row of black toes, clawed toes of Po's feet, before the bundle shuffled forward under the darkness, and sniffed at the air.

In a moment, the pile of rags jumped up, and clutched at the big panda's legs, nuzzling, mewling, and purring, "Po! Po! Po~~!"

[cp 2000]

Po looked down in suprise as he saw the small cub nuzzling against his legs, puring happily to itself. He was more than a little suprised, but his his shock and simply smiled at the cub.

"Hey there" he said, waving at her as she clung onto his legs, "what're you doing out here on such a cold night?".

[Lita]

Shaking the fabric aside, the material slid past soft, downy baby-fur, to reveal a pretty little clouded leopard cub, with wide, sparkling sapphire eyes which glittered not unlike the gemstone itself, bathed under shallow, shimmering pools.

Song mewed once more, and nuzzled Po's warm black fur, squeezing tightly with lithe young arms, covered in silvery cub-spots. Her pointed ears twitched, trying to see beyond creamy white fur of the panda's belly, before she tried to crawl up it, giggling happily, "Song wus left here... 'cause that nasty witch lady got mad'n Song got small! And the ladies of the Shade said Song was Po's 'sponsibility 'cause Po likes Song and Po is a Dragon War...wa....warerer!" She purred, tiny paws gripping the panda tight.

After a long while of staring, tail swishing back and forth, little Song purred playfully, "You smell like dumplings!"

[cp 2000]

Po was absolutely shocked when the cub revealed herself to be Song, the woman he had met only a few months ago. Not only was she now just a little cub, but the ladies of the shade had abandoned her with Po for the foreseeable future.

Never the less, Po sighed gently and reached down to lift the little cub into his arms, smiling at her as he walked back towards the pallace with her. "Well, it's great to see you again Song" he said, continuing to walk towards the doors, "except you seem a little...umm...littler than you were the last time we met".

[Lita]

As she was picked up, Song mewled happily, enjoying the feeling of being enveloped by the dragon warrior's big, cuddly arms just as much as she had as a woman of the shade, if not more. The tiny cub fit into the crook of Po's arms quite nicely, and her lithe young legs kicked gently, swinging back and forth as her large blue eyes glimmered up at her friend.

"And Po is lots big-big-bigger!" the kit exclaimed happily, throwing out her arms, tiny paws reaching for the stars.

Her stomach gave a low growl, and she started, blinking big blue eyes, looking down at her tummy, and then back up to the panda, tail curling.

[cp 2000]

Po knew that something would have to be done about Songs current situation, but right now her hunger was his main priority, smiling down at the little cub and gently tickling her tummy in a playfull manor.

"Well" he said, chuckling a little as he tickled her, "looks like we're going to need to get you some food".

[Lita]

Blinking, the kitten tilted her head as the panda reached down and touched her groaning belly. Her pointed ears twitched, before they shot up in fright, "EEee!!"

Song kicked her legs, squealing gleefully.

"Heheheh! Quit it, Po!" The cloudy-furred cub fawned and mewled as she batted her tiny paws against Po's much larger one, her downy tail lashing back and forth, curling around the arm that held her.

At the mention of food, the cub's giggles soon diminished, and she rubbed tears from the bright blue gems of her eyes, and she looked up at Po hopefully.

[cp 2000]

Po laughed a little at the girls playfullness, carrying her through to the palaces kitchen and sitting her at the table as he pottered around, making her something to eat.

He wasn't sure how long it had been since sh had lat eaten, but he imgagined that some food in her belly would do her a whole world of good.

After a few minutes, he returned to the table and placed a bowl of noodles infront of her, sitting down at the table with her and passing the girl some chop sticks.