The Tiger Within

Dawn came early and the rays of sunlight filtered through the treetops . Mally and the others were fast asleep in their beds when the white tigress made her way down to the water"s edge . Refreshing, the taste of home in the stream . Nightmares were washed away, and the exhausted emotions of her soul were soothed by to cool waters .

She stood in tiger form arching her front paws into the air before allowing her body to shift into a comfortable position . Then she shifted, her fur and hide form giving way to her smooth pale skin and long white hair streaked with bright silvers . Naked, she slid into the water rinsing herself in the cool spray . Even as she did, the shadows formed a loose wrap of cloth around her b.r.e.a.s.t.s and a similar wrap around her waist to her knees . She felt the cloth become real against her skin and smiled .

Advertis.e.m.e.nt"My little rascals, where did you steal this material from?" she asked curiously looking at the little wolf shadow in the water . The wolf barked indignantly "alright alright, thank you . " she conceded sliding down into the water further . She ran her fingers through her hair singing softly to the forest . Until she heard the sound by the water"s edge . Slipping behind a rock Kuera looked about a bit tense .

That tension flowed from her as she recognized the intruder . Clovis was drinking the water from the falls a bow leaned against the rock beside him, unaware she was there at first . He had happened upon her accidentally while hunting . She giggled softly and glanced at the shadows . She swam out a bit hoping to get to the other side without being noticed . However, the fates were not sympathetic as he looked up, and in that moment their eyes met .

There was a primalness in his eyes that spoke right to her soul . A hunter gazing upon his prey with such fiery pa.s.sion that Kyera"s poor heart started to thud hard in her chest . He smiled softly at her as the surprise slowly drained from his face . He was slightly embarra.s.sed that she was nearly naked but here in the forest there was something different about it .

A sense of rightness and longing as he gazed on her in the water . His eyes trailed down her neck over her bare shoulders but then back to her eyes . She looked like a sweet kitten caught in a hunter"s snare . Something about being alone here, where he was free to do as he pleased, removed his nerves .

He watched her and offered a smile "Kyera, swim here . I will help you out . " he offered waving her over . Kyera spent a moment using her mind to lengthen the skirt before swimming over . A soft blush on her cheeks as she reached for his hand .

He gripped her wrist, careful to pull her forearm as he heaved her onto the land with very little effort . She was fairly surprised . For a fairy body frame, he was deceptively strong . The wicked little grin on his lips however reminded her of naughty pixies . Kyera knew her surprise must have shown on her face cause he let loose a hearty laugh .

"Don"t tell anyone or the game will be up . " he teased her with a playful wink . Yet, she saw deeper into his eyes then . That jovial tone only reached so deep .

"I won"t . " she chuckled back as he released her . Their bodies were fairly close from him pulling her out . The loincloth and breast wrap the only separation between her and total vulnerability, but she wasn"t afraid .

"Good . Now then… what is a little healer like you doing out here?" he asked his eyes still filled with that fire . For the first time, Kyera was pretty sure she was seeing the true soul of Clovis, not the proper doll he had been trained to be . It excited her, drew her into his eyes . A long moment pa.s.sed before she answered, taking the opportunity to step back a bit, in effort to calm her heart and take her eyes away from his pillowy lips .

"The water here, it reminds me of the river back home . I am fairly sure it comes from the same peak . " Kyera explained looking off in the direction of the mountain . He laughed softly watching as she avoided his eyes .

"Do I make you uncomfortable, Lady Kyera?" he asked his voice sounding controlled and quiet now, much more normal . She gazed at him strangely for a moment .