The Tiger Within 62 The Princess Is Missing Part 4

"Shhh shhh young one." Kyera urged her gently turning her head so the girl could see her ear. A similar trinket curled over the edge of her Tigress ear. The silver twisted around the edge, the purple stone, same as Raina was wearing s.h.i.+ned in the light. "I was sent by the Lady Kyera to protect you…" She says softly coming up with the easiest lie to keep with. After All, if she was going to be here she might as well make it worth her while.

Raina stared at her a moment, her little hand caressing the silver earring she was still wearing. "My Warrioress sent you?" She whispered and Kyera started just a bit. Is that what the child thought of her as? Oh well, no use in correcting her if it made her feel better.

"Yes. Now come here, I don't want you falling in the river." Kyera replied noticing how close to the edge the child now was. Raina looked behind her and stood, walking forward carefully her legs tired from seeking her way out. Noticing this Kyera stepped forward and let the girl take hold of her fur.

To her surprise that turned to the child wrapping her arms around Kyera's neck and burying her face in the soft fur of her chest. The tigress sat down and waited for the child to calm. She also realized her original expectation of the girl's age was off. She was closer to five, just pet.i.te for her age. A delicate flower with a fragrance for attracting trouble. The Tigress was patient, letting the child get her bearings.

"Come now, shall we find your way home?" Kyera asked softly, nuzzling gently at the little one's hair. Raina nodded whispering her thanks as the pair stood to walk on. "How did you get here anyway?" Kyera asked as she began leading the child back through the undergrowth where she had come from. She knew the basic direction the humans were in, she had just pointedly avoided it till she was stronger. No point in letting them see herself injured like this.

"A fairy stole me away…" Raina replied almost reproachfully. Her little heart was filled with discontentment at the fairy who had led her astray. Kyera shook her head slowly, knowing how dangerous playing with the fae could be. Such a young child without parents near would no doubt fall prey to the pretty little things.

"Never follow a Fairy. They can warp the s.p.a.ce around you and move you much further with a single step than you can go on horseback in a day." Kyera warned, with a frown. That was disconcerting. If a fairy carried her this far, there was no telling where the human camp actually was. "Why did you follow it to begin with?" Kyera asked, holding back a branch so Raina could pa.s.s it without having to stoop low.

"Thank you, and because I missed my grandma. I thought I could slip around the edge of the forest and find my way to the Cold Palace Path." Raina explained waiting a moment for Kyera to catch up and continue to lead her. She had learned her lesson of going off on her own in these tricky woods.

"Oh? Your grandmother is in the Cold Palace? Is she a consort?" Kyera asked sniffing the air to try and decipher if they are headed in the right direction at least. There was hint of human in the air but it was very faint. It was just enough for Kyera to know she was headed in the right direction.

"No, My Grandmother is the Empress. She could never be a consort… She's a good person."The little girl replied, seeming to take offense. Kyera looked at her for a moment and saw the feelings bright in her eyes. She had obviously suffered at the hands of the consorts, or at least had a very very dark impression of them. To have such a view at such a young age, Kyera had a idea of what type of people the Queen Consorts were at the Emperor's side.