The Tiger Within

His eyes smiled softly as he watched the silver image of the girl shimmering before him as it repeated her words . It had been too long since he last heard her voice . The beauty of the message was only marred by the tone of her words, as if she begged for justice .

Justice she would have . He decided turning his eyes to the soul in front of him . The pure black shadow around the redish blackened light quivered in fear as The Master reached out and took the orb spinning it between his hand like the stones .

The shadow was expelled forcefully from the orb, dragging with it the light inside the orb . It quickly shaped the poacher, and fell to its knees at feet of the desk . Cold eyes like ice pinned him down .

Advertis.e.m.e.nt"You dare defile my children with your bows, arrows, and vicious traps?" he spat the words with enough frost to nearly materialize as ice daggers in the air . The creature trembled on the floor of the study unable to form words . Patience was in short supply however as the sound of the nails clicking one after another on the hardwood desk made the hairs on their spines stand on end . The sense of oppression and anger coating the room thickly like a layer of frozen water on their shoulders . "state your plea . " he demanded, voice softer than a whisper but edged with ice .

"Guilty only of following orders . " the man"s voice shook as the Master toyed with the orb in his hands . Slowly he spun it tapping a nail on the surface, and the man cried out in pain as if a knife had torn through his shoulder .

"Then we will see how well you follow mine . " The Master"s words brought hope to the souls eyes buy Keric seemed less enthusiastic . He couldn"t help but think of the man as a cruel fool .

Keric took Ping"s hand and spun him to face away both wolf and fox turning their back on what was to come .

"oh thank you Shadow King… thank you . " the man said unaware of the fire lighting in the Master"s hand . The screaming began moments before the Master gave his first and file order .

"Burn . "

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Thirteen Men on Horseback Part 1

In the Royal Village on the outskirts of the Forests named Tiger"s Keep

Kyera walked the streets of the human Village, dressed as a wealthy merchant . She sold the cloth and string made of shedded fur and poultices created from the forest harvest . Even though they hardly visited the village, money was good to have for situations such as these .

The tiger healer Kaynam, and his sister Kaleema had none of rosewood b.a.l.l.s they needed to finish the antidote . Now there was only one true chance to find what she needed . Moving through the crowd, dressed human in her flowing hunter green gown with its deep brown detailing she almost pa.s.sed as human . A tiger could sense her, as could any of the animals who kept their fair distance from her . However meer humans saw a ravishing beauty, nothing more .

Alone among the stalls, and yet surrounded by the people going about their lives she felt ill at ease . A familiar face, an older woman who had once been a stunning fair haired bride waved her hand to draw Kyera closer . The woman was known as Aggie . She brought potions and things to trade . The subtle scent of a leopard wafting from her skin .

"Wise Aggie, pleasant to see you . " Kyera smiled and kissed the woman"s cheek as was customary for the pair . The older woman chuckled .

"Same to you, Fair Kyera . I hear you seek some things for an antidote . I fear the poachers are using poison more these days . Cruel fools . " she said the words as thought they were discussing the price of herbs, only her eyes revealing her anger . Kyera nodded, frowning .

"That I am, Wise One . Can you help me?" Kyera asked clearly concerned . The old woman touched the side of her nose as if in acknowledgement . A smile spread across Kyera"s lips as she sniffed the air .