The Tiger Within

"I would prefer you not speak as though they are lifeless objects . Ryo, Talis, and even Kan have pride and I see no reason to insult their intelligence . " Kyera added, glancing at the guard a bit coldly . He nodded, coughing slightly surprised by such a rebuke .

Kan looked back at her for a moment then just shook his ears harmlessly . She smiled softly, amused at how cute his fake indifference was . It seemed as though something had ruffled the tiger"s mane .

"I have every intention of hunting for my husband"s honor . Just because there is a baby within me, it would not change my duties if I was still at home in the Forest . Our people produce young ones without trouble and do heavier tasks than this . " Kyera pointed out motioning to Cora who smiles and nodded her head .

"Forest Knights are amazing people for sure . " Cora agreed, preening with a bit of pride . The Reigning Empress seemed to consider this for a long moment . It was solid reasoning . There were no obvious holes that she could see .
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"You are already having complications though . " Alexi pointed out frowning a bit . Kyera chuckled .

"I am having these complications because people are stressing me emotionally . A good hunt may be exactly what I need to sooth and focus on the baby inside me . " Kyera replied with a smile . There was confidence in her way of speaking, and that more or less silenced him . Clovis didn"t even try, just as he hadn"t when she had first suggested this plan .

"Clovis, are you really just going to let your pregnant wife go romping off in the woods?" Alexi asked trying one more time for some sort of back up .

"Yes, I am . You see, I know my wife . I may not know what waits in those woods, but I know the light in those eyes . Her determination is not something I can win against . " Clovis replied with a bit of self ridicule . He knew very well that he had to pick his battles, and this was one he didn"t have a big enough stick to shake at it .

"I guess that settles it . Well, Princess Kyera I hope your hunt is successful . The Hunters may enter the forest at any time tomorrow, but must return by the following morning . The Hunt feast will be that evening, with the Hunt ball to follow . There will be dignitaries from almost every kingdom to see the result of the hunt . " Empress Vivian offered with a deep sigh . She was still unsettled about all of this .

"Thank you, Reigning Empress . " Kyera stood and bowed carefully . It was a slow dip, carefully designed to relieve any stress the baby might have suffered .

"Do not thank me child, do your best and bring back a kill . " She replied shaking her head slowly . If Kyera and the baby didn"t make it back, she just sent her great grandchild to its death . That was something she really didn"t want at her feet .

"I will, and I will return safely . " Kyera rea.s.sured as she reached out and straightened Raina"s hair . The little girl glowed looking up at her mother . Empress Vivian"s heart softened seeing the happiness on her Great Granddaughter"s face .

"Why don"t you go get the Present you made Great Grandmother?" Kyera asked gently, her tone reminding the child . Raina smiled and pulled a small wooden box from her dress pocket . Her modified skirts had pockets hidden throughout them where they were loose and ruffled below her leather corset .

"What might that be?" Empress Vivian asked as she sat down by Raina . The younger girl handed her the delicate box . Vivian opened it glancing at Clovis curiously .

On the inside, the wooden box was coated with simple, soft moss dyed dark in color . On the moss sat a simple vial on a string . The vial was filled with a dark ivory cream, and was stopped with a piece of cloth . Empress Vivian picked it up, looking at the chain curiously .

"It is a cream used to revitalize one"s health . " Raina struggled a bit with the more intricate word, but her confidence was clear . She wasn"t the mouse the Empress Dowager had cradled while she cried for her Tigress friend .

"Oh? So thoughtful, did you pick it out?" Empress Vivian asked and Raina suddenly glowed . She sat tall and smiled .

"No, I made it for you, Great Grandmother . " Raina replied . She had done well in her medicine lessons, and this had been her favorite recipe . "It has my favorite flower in it to make it smell good and soothe bruises away . "

"Bruises? Why would you be concerned with that?" Empress Vivian asked but then the more important part of that reached her mind, and clicked into place . "Wait you made this?" She asked and Raina smiled .