The Tiger Within 435 The Shifter City Part 1

The caravans were circled in their permanent home. Children ran and played between the large wagons, with their built in homes on the back. A few leather and cloth tents had been constructed as the s.h.i.+fters settled into a new home. It had only been a month since they arrived, but this little glen had already become more like home than they had any right to expect. Mordakai had made it clear this was their land, that was more than the s.h.i.+fter's had ever had before. At the center of their circle a fire burned, white smoke curling toward the sky.

Kyera stood by the fire, using a stick to turn over the leaf packets sitting on the stone structure just out of the flame's reach. The smell of spices and meat filled the air as she made her signature meal. Part of her attention on Raina who ran and played with the other children, her best friend, a little rabbit girl was teaching her to climb and swing on vines. It wasn't something a Princess of Shadow Veil or even her home kingdom should do, but to Kyera she was also a Princess of the forest. It was precisely what a Forest Princess, or even a Frost Princess should do, so she didn't stop her.

"How are you holding up, Ky?" Daxin asked as he wrapped another one of the packets, following the steps she had shown him. There were two other women there, both following the same steps. One being the shape s.h.i.+fter Cora, her body now scared from the battle with the Dark Ones. The other was a young mother, a fox s.h.i.+fter with a baby resting in her lap.  Kyera sat back down and continued to stuff the leaves with meat and vegetables.

"I don't really know. It is taking a lot of effort to get things done right now. I'm still healing I guess, I am so tired." Kyera replied, stifling a yawn. Daxin frowned softly a bit concerned now. He was looking over her complexion and her physique. Her aura was strong, that wasn't draining her. Yet there seemed to be a slight color change.

"You had a brush with death, Princess. You know as well as I do that takes alot out of a person." He reminded her gently. She frowned softly and laid three more packages on the fire by the ones already roasting. Using a stick, she removed the blackened packages that had already completed their cooking process.

Yeah but, normally I heal faster and move on. I mean it wasn't my first near death." Kyera reminded him and Daxin flinched as he remembered the two other times he nearly lost her as a child. He shot her a sad glare, angry that she talked so lightly of it,but sad that he couldn't  chastise her. Death was like a old friend to her, having shrouded her every step of her young life.

"Kyera, you don't grow accustomed to near death experiences, your body doesn't heal faster the second than the first. This time it was a much deeper wound and your muscles were affected, as were your organs. Your body will need to heal fully and that will take time." He reminded her. She sighed deeply folding the last leaf around its contents and putting them on the fire.

"I just wish it would stop affecting my eating habits." Kyera chuckled brightly, her smile seemed to glow. The young mother beside her, Hydie was rather curious as she glanced at her princess. Perhaps she didn't know… and perhaps it wasn't Hydie's place to tell her. Not publicly at least. Hydie and Daxin exchanged glances.

"Hmm well loss of appet.i.te can come from system stress." Hydie offered, probing the situation carefully. Kyera laughed and shook her head.

"I wish that was the problem. No, I'm eating more. It's to the point my corset needs extra lacing just to fit properly." Kyera replied ruefully. Daxin dropped the parcel he had been trying to tie.