The Tiger Within 328 Action Was His

"It was my the winter I turned twelve. I had gone to bed like any other night. It was dark out, but nearly dawn. s.h.i.+fters were strictly night creatures back then it cut down on human exposure." Kyera began, her voice soft and her eyes lost deep inside her memories. "Keenan had put me to bed, like he always did then Kendrick and  Kain would sing their songs till I pa.s.sed out. I don't know exactly what woke me, but I felt something warm splash my face." her hand raised subconsciously to caress that place on her cheek where the liquid had splashed her fair skin.

"I remembered the smell, strong and metallic. When I opened my eyes I saw him. He was mere inches from my face. I screamed and lashed out slicing his face open. He roared and retreated from me and I looked to my brothers for help. Kain slept closest to me. His chest was clawed open, blood… blood was everywhere. I was frozen on my matt barely protecting me from the blood. I…" Kyera's voice cracked as she laughed darkly at herself. It was almost mockery. Clovis reached for her hand and took it firmly in his, his thumb moving back and forth over the tender skin. She brought his hand to her lips and kissed it gently before continueing.

"I was so young. I tried to convince myself it was water. It couldn't be blood it had to be water reflecting red off something maybe a blanket. I tried so hard to convince myself. I heard Keenan growl and the fighting began. I just wanted the fighting to stop. I ran to the alarm. I pulled it hard over and over. I heard a child screaming, I thought other villagers were in trouble. They weren't. It was my own voice I heard. I don't even know when I started screaming."  Kyera had to take a moment to wipe the tears from her face. Clovis watched quietly, offering her support but no pity. She was too strong a woman to accept pity.

"Keenan, he fought hard. He kept telling me to run, but I couldn't. I couldn't leave him. I attacked Kan. I tried to save my last brother. He was bleeding so much. Kan took Keenan by pure muscle. He was so much older and more experienced there was no true contest. He finally grabbed Keenan by the throat and threw him into the wall before running out. I tried to help Keenan… I tried but it was too late. He pulled me against him and… he died holding me." Kyera's arms wrapped around herself, trying to hold herself together. "I stumbled out of the house with my dolly. I tripped on the doorstep and fell on the porch. Blood smeared everywhere. I couldn't get it off." her voice was barely a whisper  now. "Verone and his father, Daxin and several guard were the first to arrive. Verone's father dealt with the bodies, we laid them to rest in the gardens. Verone… he took care of me, him and Daxin until Half Eye took me in. I was so lost no one could reach me. It took awhile before I was deemed 'normal.' I don't think I ever really felt normal again." Kyera was finished retelling and Clovis had no idea of what to say. He could only imagine her pain.

"Kyera, come here." He whispered standing to move a few feet in front of her. Kyera stood slowly, shakily and did as she was asked. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her close to his chest. Every fiber of acceptance and warmth he could offer flowed into her. Kyera held him close, no tears in her eyes but her heart still broken, he didn't say a word. The time for words had belonged to someone else. For now only action belonged to him and he was okay with that.