~~~~~~~~~ The Beginning~~~~~~~~~

It was like any ordinary day or the young, rather mighty lion of Mula. Pulling a cart full of supplies for the villages that placed their orders all across China; with Mula's next stop being the Valley of Peace. With Mula being from Africa, he has never heard or been to this place, but like many he has heard of great kung fu masters that live within the valley, on top of a mountain, looking down upon a village, in which they protect. The lion was only a couple of dozen of miles South from the village, with his eyes, already able to see an ancient temple structure on top of a high mountain. "I must be getting close!" Mula says looking up at the mountain, with cart in paw, as it follows him, as he walks down a path, with a thick bamboo forest on either side of the path. The trips have been long and far from his home down in Africa, and staying in Gongman city for his job, but he can at least say it has been fairly peaceful.

That was, until Mula's ears would perk up, hearing twigs unnaturally snap in the forest, the sound of rustling as well as Mula begins to walk faster. "HA YAAA!" screams someone from the forest, as they jump high and land several small feet in front of Mula. The lion would look up to see, what looks like a crocodile with a little metal helmet and a rather sizable dagger, as Mula looks to turn around, before another crocodile jumps out and lands behind him. "Hey... wh-..what do you want?!" Mula growls, as a third crocodile comes from his right, trapping the lion. "Hand over your cargo! And you may walk without metal going into you!" the croc in front tell him, with a growl, as Mula sets the cart down, to free his paws. "No, I won't let you take anything!" Mula says, putting his paws up to fight theses croc bandits. "You heard'em boys, put holes in this kitten, then we'll take his stuff!" the obvious leader croc tells the other two, as they begin to close in.

Mula don't know many fighting moves, no knowledge of kung fu or any other martial art. But the lion is determined to not let his stuff get stolen. The lion would begin his effort of fighting off these crocs, with many of his punches landing, disarming each of the crocs as they got close, and kneeing one in the jaw. But, the numbers game would soon get to the lion, as the crocs begin to beat him down. Hard punches to his gut, face, hard kicks to his knees, before being kicked in the face, sending the lion to the ground. With the amount of pain going through his body; Mula can hardly bare to get up, as blood begins to run down his nose, with anger builds in the lion. "Nice try little kitten... but not good enough!" the same croc tells him as they get closer with their daggers back in hand. Mula looks up to see them approaching, as the lion would let out a loud roar towards the crocs, hoping to intimidate them, maybe halt their approach. However, his roar would make them shiver, but they didn't stop, with Mula letting out another roar, while trying to stand before his ribs would hurt too much to stand.

But, right when he thought it was all over, he'd hear the sound of heavy paws, slapping the path behind him. Then before too long, he'd hear the sound get louder and louder, until something orange, white, and black jumps high over him and lands paws first in between Mula and the croc bandits. Mula, couldn't really believe his eyes, as he'd looks to see a tiger standing in front to defend him, as the tiger stands ready for battle, as the croc bandits almost immediately stop in their tracks. "Oh great! It's Master Tigress" one of the crocs says, with Mula being a bit more surprised, to learn that the tiger is a tigress, kinda hard to tell from behind. "If you know what's best for you, I'd suggest running the other way!" Tigress growls, unsheathing her sharp claws and ready to strike, before one of the crocs would charge towards her.

Mula looks in concern for Tigress, unknowing of what she's capable of as he tries to get up, but only to be sent back down from his hurt ribs. Though, the lion would look on, to see the Tigress duck low and give the croc a hard palm to his gut, sending him back into the other crocs, as Mula was amazed at what he seen, before the crocs would get back up, with each of them now, charging at her at different angles, as Tigress would jump to dodge one attack, land on the crocs sword, before fury punching the croc, as she'd jump high to avoid another attack which causes the croc to hit the other croc. Mula watches in awe, in what Tigress is doing, fast kicks, high back flips, Mula can't keep his eyes off of her, as she kicks all three crocs in one super kick. At that point, the crocs had enough, as they begin to flee, running down the path, with Tigress standing in front of Mula, watching as the bandits leave like cowards.

Then Tigress would turn around to see the lion, bloody nose, battered face, but his expression being impressed, really surprised in what he just witnessed. "Are you ok?" Tigress asks, now standing in front of him, with a paw out extended to help him up. Mula would look at her paw, before kindly accepting the help, as he'd grunt and clinches his teeth at the pain he's feeling. "Agh... yeah, a lot better after you showed up. Thank you very much, Miss...?" Mula tells her, before asking for her name. "The names Tigress, What about you? What's a lion doing so far into China?" Tigress then asks looking the lion up and down. " Nice to meet you, the name is Mula. Well, I'm just here delivering supplies to villages. Not many jobs down in Africa, so I just decided to head North, found this city called "Gongman City" and then here I am" Mula explains, as he looks over towards his severely damaged cart, to see some of the boxes have been destroyed with corn all over the ground, as the lion sighs. "Oh, uh sorry about your supplies, I hope that doesn't dock your pay or anything" Tigress says remembering that she kicked a croc towards the cart, not thinking the cart was for any importance.

"Nah, it's fine, this will actually get rid of any pay I earned... but no matter, I've witnessed something incredible" Mula says looking and turning to look at Tigress. " Tigress, you are amazing, your skills are like nothing I've seen!" Mula smiles as Tigress rubs the back of her head. "Well, it was just Kung Fu." Tigress chuckles and shrugs her shoulders. "Kung...Fu... Kung Fu?...Kung Fu! Wow, that was Kung Fu?! Wait, so you're a Kung Fu master?" Mula asks her as she nods her head. "I am, a Kung Fu master from the Jade Palace" Tigress smiles with some pride, but not too much, as the lion looks at her in amazement. "Ah, of course! I've heard of this place back at the city!" Mula says before beginning to think. "Hmm... so my life as a delivery boy maybe over... but I think I know my true goal in life... so Tigress" Mula begins. "Would it be possible, for me to learn Kung Fu?" Mula asks her. Tigress would look to the side, tilt her head left to right, before shrugging her shoulders. "Well... it's possible, if a big dumb Panda can, I'm sure you can" Tigress tells him with a light smile, crossing her arms as she spoke. "Then, if it's fine with you, I'm sure it wouldn't be a problem for you to teach me?" Mula asks her, as Tigress's eyes blink wide in surprise of what she just heard. "Wait.... what?" Tigress asks not sure if she heard correctly, as she looks to see the lion put his fist in his paw, then bowing to her, like a student to a master. " It would be an honor, if you taught me the ways of Kung Fu, Master Tigress!" Mula asks her.


~~~~~~~~~To Be Continued~~~~~~~~~

This piece was made by the wonderfully talented  LynxBrush one of her rare times of doing anthro work, and I think it looks amazing! I explained what I wanted, and she executed perfectly!

I written the story to go with this. Which this is piece number one, and in the near future (potentially, depending on how things go, possibly the later side of 2020), I will commission more that will then build this story, and eventually find the end! I hope you guys enjoy the pictures, and the stories! Which, if you want some anthro stuff too, feel free to click on LynxBrush's icon, then note her what you want!

Thanks again to  LynxBrush for making this peice, and soon more after!