The Tiger Within

Kyera could feel the warmth and love of her brothers and father as they held her close . She was honestly shocked she made it this far up the steps before being attacked with affection . Kane was the first to reach her, lifting and spinning her around before hugging her close . At first it was tight but then loosened as she smiled at him . His eyes widened even as Kendrick, Keenan, and Konnor joined in on the hug before he could say a single word .

The final set of arms was warm and rather emotional, yet Kane"s arms seemed to be setting a slight barrier between everyone and her . No one could squeeze the baby because, in this group hug he was being stubborn . Finally everyone let go and smiled at each other . Kyera felt the tears in her eyes as she looked at the faces she had so missed . Keenan was the first to reach out and dry her tears with a gentle hand .

"Kyera, dearest sister it seems you have grown soft . " Kendrick teased while Konnor chuckled, putting his arm around Kane . Kyera just chuckled and took over wiping her face trying to pull it together .
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"Sorry, I am really really emotional right now . I hope you can give me a break . I haven"t seen you in nearly 10 years and with the baby I seem to be so much more receptive to crying at the moment . " Kyera replied a bit defensively and Keenan, Konnor, and Kendrick"s faces looked like they had just been struck by lightning . None of them sure what they heard but eyes quickly flipped to her starting to bloom tummy .

"Your pregnant? Is that why you came to visit?" Keenan asked before hugging her again, this time much more gently . "Congratulations little sister . "

Konnor recovered next and smiled . "Wow… our family line will live on . " There was a bitter sweetness to his tone, but happy all the same .

Kyera smiled brightly at all of them and turned her attention to her father who seemed troubled . There was a sense of sadness in his eyes as he reached for his daughter and pulled her into his arms . Carefully, embracing her close to him he stood still . The emotions seemed to boil and spill over him and her both . She didn"t understand half of what he was feeling… it was such a heavy weight that if he wasn"t holding her, she was sure she would collapse .

"Daddy… what"s wrong? Dad you"re scaring me…" Kyera whispered to him softly . He slowly calmed down and loosened his grip, offering a apologetic smile .

"I"m sorry, little one . I didn"t mean to worry you . There"s just a lot of things I regret, and it"s a double edged sword . Don"t worry yourself with the mutterings of a old man . I"m happy for you . I truly am . " He replied gently . The black orbs were coated in a thin sheen, as though he had been close to tears but restrained them . Kyera leaned up on her tip toes and kissed his forehead as she had when she was little .

The little girl form, merely 4 years old appeared in his mind again . He could hardly believe that child, that beautiful baby was having a child of her own .

"If you want to tell me, I"m happy to listen . If not, I respect you enough to tell me when your ready . At any rate I do not have much time and I need your help . " Kyera requested as she pulled the bottle out of her dress . "Can you tell me what this is, Kane?"

The younger brother took the bottle and knocked a small ball of herbs onto his hand . He began to a.n.a.lyze it, while his brothers watched on .

"What are those suppose to be?" The Shadow King asked raising a brow slightly . He recognized the hand writing on the bottle as a champion of the Frost Lands .

"My aunt . She claims my grandmother gave them to her to protect her baby . I wanted to make sure they were the same herbs before I started drinking the tea . " Kyera explained as Kane tossed the little ball into his mouth and began a weird breathing, pa.s.sing air over it .

"I see . Are you concerned for your child"s safety?" Keenan asked raising a brow . He had thought his brother in law was more capable than that .

"Yes… let me explain . " Kyera replied with a deep sigh .