The Tiger Within

Starlight peaked through the trees in the garden. Moon lay quietly on the patio attacked go Clovis" room. Her heart was discontent as feelings vibrated through her body. Something was wrong in the forest. She could sense trouble, and her mind found itself in a state of aggitation since there was nothing she could do. To run to them now as she desired would endanger her people.

Her focus was so clear however she failed to notice a shift in the forest beyond the wooden planks that formed the patio floor. She rose and leapt up onto the railing before glancing back at her sleeping friend, surprised to find his eyes were open. He was watching her with soft concern. Clovis pushed himself up on his arms, the robe falling open in the front. His bare chest drawing her eyes.

"You"re not intending to leave without saying goodbye, are you My Moon?" he asked her raising an eyebrow. She went to retort but had to stop herself. She wanted to say "I Wouldn"t be so rude…" yet she had been. Twice now if her memory served her right. She felt a bit ashamed for a moment.

"No, I saw something interesting and I just want to see what it is. I don"t leave till tomorrow night as we discussed." Moon replied rea.s.suringly as she stepped down off the edge and sat, as if waiting for his comment. Clovis sat up and walked to her side, looking out at the scene before them both. The forest looked calm to him.

He was fortunate not to understand the tone of the wind as it whispered news of far away places. The unease and tension of the woodland creatures was not something he was overly intune with. All he saw was the quiet beauty of the world under the evening blanket of stars and shadows. Moon looked up at him then out at the forest.

"Ahh there." he pointed and Moon glanced out the direction he was pointing and was shocked to see three men standing at the forest edge. Plain as day each shifted into tiger shapes and roared before turning back again as if the first shift didn"t make their point.

It was a roar of challenge. They were calling her out. Moon growled and her hackles stood up. She knew that voice. She knew that deep roar that reverberated through her every nightmares. Not here. Not now. Not this family.

"Shifters, what trouble do they seek here?" Clovis asked looking out at them with more tension in him. He could tell that roar wasn"t friendly. Moon"s heart sped up as two guards walked toward the group. She leaped up.

"Clovis stay here with Raina." she ordered thankful that both Mally and Lazren should be nearby. She roared calling them both to her as she jumped the railing and joined Lazren who had just transformed in the shadows. His hulking wolf form larger as his fur stood on end. Her roar had said so much more than she had intended.

"What is wrong? Intruders?" Lazren asked as Mally jumped down from the tree beside him. Moon nodded.

"Yes. We need to get those shifters away from here. Mally its him." she added meeting her friend"s eyes. The statement was also a bit of a question.  This was not a fight either of them could go into without their minds at ease.

"I will alert the resistance. We can"t chance losing you, Kyera. You"ve become important not just to our people but the kingdom." Mally added as she began weaving the spell on the ground. Moon nodded and waited the thirty seconds it took her to draw the symbol that cast the spell on the wind.

Lazren nodded his agreement as his nose was raised as he took in the night as well. The iron like metallic smell in the air  caused him to growl.

"They attacked the guard. Not fatal, but it is clear they have no intention of speaking to them." Lazren offered frowning as he glanced at Moon"s cold eyes next to him. "I think they are waiting for The Prince." he offered and Moon nodded slowly.

"No, they couldn"t care less about this palace. They are here because of me." Moon replied, her voice cold and clear. There was anger and self loathing layered with the tones of resolve that told a story that Mally knew all too well.

"What shall we do?" Mally asked tensing a bit as she looked to the silver tigress for guidance. Those golden eyes stared out at the forest.