The Tiger Within

The Palace of the Dancing Wind

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 .

Advertis.e.m.e.nt"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 .