The Tiger Within

Prince Bastil had always been Akira"s least favorite Prince. Even in tiger form he treated her as nothing more than a pest, and even worse so when she was a human servant of his grandmother. He was the very last person she had hoped to see sitting on that throne. Unfortunately, his reign would be exactly the fuel needed for the Shifters to turn their back on their queen. Kyera wasn"t strong enough to hold their loyalty, she was just a child. Akira knew she would have to return to lead them if they were to overcome the call to the Dark One"s side. Especially now that Verone, Kyera"s lover had turned his back on her. That child had no ability to lead, or how would the most loyal to her become her enemy?

As her mind wandered over her daughter, Akira remembered her scent. The same forrest and frost she had smelled of since she was just a little cub. It was happier, simpler times then. Kyera had been an adorable child, toddering around on her two little legs and laughing and giggling at her brothers as they shifted back and forth for her entertainment. Her first shift had been such a shock but wow had the baby been beautiful. Those golden eyes… a mark of their line.

The same golden eyes that seemed to stare at her from across the room. Akira blinked a few times, almost unable to believe what she was seeing. Carefully blending into the shadows under the stairs was the outline of a tigress, and the golden eyes of her cub. It wasn"t a day dream or a hallucination, she knew enough to discern that for herself. Kyera raised a paw and motioned her forward. Akira looked around to make sure that the two head psychos were still engrossed in their dance and blended into the shadow along the wall and picked her way around the celebration party.

A rather drunk n.o.bel tripped, and his nearly full gla.s.s of rice wine sloshed and spilt all over Akira"s carefully brushed fur. Anger built in her chest and she wanted to slap this creature. Such excessive partying and yet the enemy stood at their door, ready to barge in and take their lives. Idiots. She almost believed they deserved to die. One good swipe and he might be knocked back into sobriety… it was worth a shot… she would be doing him a favor really.

However, as the logic slowly twisted to fit her whim, there was a low growl of warning. Rashan was nearby, his eyes on her and providing cover as they moved through the crowd. It was clear the emperor"s lion was a.s.sisting at Kyera"s urging. Akira had never truly liked that lions. None of them were worth their weight in sand, in her opinion anyway. He was a good distraction though as she made her way to Kyera"s side.

"How did you find me?" Akira asked honestly curious and she received a death glare from her daughter. There was still so much hatred in her eyes. When would this cub get over it? Did she think she was the first child to ever have to provide for herself at a young age? 
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"Do you remember how to use shadow Aura?" Kyera asked softly, bypa.s.sing the other woman"s completely pointless question. Akira looked completely offended.

"Of course I do. I am the Shadow Dancer." Akira replied in a low growl and she felt the lash of anger from Kyera, as well as how quickly the cub had drawn it back into herself. Good, it seemed her daughter finally realized how much she needed her. Why else would she control her anger in a time like this?

"Good, use it. Dungeons. Now." Kyera demanded before turning and using both shadow magic and natural shadows to weave her way back down the hall. Akira followed suit, granted her camouflage was much less effective than Kyera"s. She had to demand and force the spirits to mold around her, and hide her from view. Kyera however, they molded over like a second skin and followed her without being asked. It was clear which one of them was having to use more effort just in the air around them.