The Tiger Within

"Almost Half a year now . I was taken before the Harvest Moon . " Moon replied realizing just how long she had been away from home . No wonder her people were nervous and Talis had seemed so shocked to see her . It had been so long since she had forced them to run… She almost couldn"t believe it . So much had happened since this began .

Advertis.e.m.e.nt"That"s not too long . " He replied and Moon looked up at him with fire in her eyes, as though she had been wronged . He felt the hairs on the back of his neck raise under the glare of those golden eyes .

"Do you know what has changed in that half a year back in my home? At least 2 children were born a wolf cub and a Tiger, whether it be a litter or a single cub I have no idea . My best friend and lover fell to death and his little brother is having to fill my shoes protecting my land and the creatures who live within my territory . My elders that I love so dearly move closer to death and may pa.s.s before I ever reach home . No, It isn"t a long time if you write the number down on paper or you say it so casually but when you realize that this time is a peice of life that I will never get back, it makes it much harder to mention with such a off handed comment . " Moon replied the fiery golden eyes never broke from his . He watched as water gathered in the edges of her eyes, and created two soft red trails in the furr as it reacted to the saltiness of her tears .

His heart felt as though it had been stabbed as he realized exactly how callous he had just been to his Familar"s feelings . He tried for a moment to imagine indefinitely being taken from Raina and he felt ashamed .

"I"m sorry, Moon . I didn"t think of it that way . " He whispered and stood just a bit awkwardly looking down at her as she tore her eyes away . She shook her head .

"My mate would still be alive if I had been by his side . We could have taken any foe as a pair . We are solidary beasts as you people seem to think . There is a community within us . Having any one piece stolen away pains the whole . So think carefully as you look at the individuals that have been brought here, recognize their sacrifice . It isn"t always as easy as you might think living here when your mind is thousands of miles away with the people you should be protecting and loving more than life itself . " Moon added before turning and heading once more toward the palace . Clovis followed her, a new understanding of his familiars wounded heart .

His mind drifted back to Kyera who had uprooted her life to come here, with him . Perhaps… perhaps that pain of losing her lover and being seperated from her people… that need to love and protect . Was that what drew them together? Could they foster it together? He wondered quietly, his eyes drawn to the forest just beyond the wall, barely within view for the wall was tall but the hill allowed him to see over into the treetops . For a moment, he could have sworn there was a flash of light, metal in the trees, but so quickly he was unsure if he had truly seen it .