The Tiger Within 97 Monster Part 1

It was finally time to run the forest of Serenity hunting the traps that the lion fell into. With grace and elegance Kyera disappeared into the woods, alone. As she left the human area she let the shadow dress fall away transforming into her tigress form once more. She dashed off into the woods reveling in her reawakened senses.

Wood from fires of the kitchen, horses from the stables, cloth and innocence of the children playing at breakfast with their grandfather. The soft spices and cool water scent of her favorite little cub. For a moment Kyera's nose centered on her sent, wondering what the little one was up to. Nothing so it seemed. The smell of inks seemed intertwined with her… 'perhaps calligraphy?' Kyera wondered for a moment, but then remembered she had a job to do.

In tiger form she covered more ground than she would have human. Sniffing and scanning the land from branches. The sun rose higher and the cool scents of morning became stronger and changed tone as items heated to a more fragrant state. The cool water of the river gathered her attention and she leaped down onto the river bank. As she fell her body s.h.i.+fted shape, shadows wrapping around her like a thin drape as she drank.

A twig snapped and Kyera froze her hand reaching for her dagger. The weapon being the only think not of shadow she could conceal as a tiger. She lifted her head to see a woman across the river, 5 feet away.

She was tall and willow thin, with hair of honey gold flowing around her body but dripping with water from the river. Mature with age and dressed in nothing but the warm afternoon winds. Kyera's expression hardened as the face looking back at her grinned, looking so much like her own familiar face. A growl ripped from Kyera's chest a warning to the woman.

"You choose to wet yourself in the river and coat yourself in perfume rather than face me properly." Kyera spat at her, wiping the water from her lips. The woman sighed and folded her arms, looking at Kyera critically, but the young tigress had no intention in cooperating, the shadows darkening to hide her form. In her eyes this woman had long ago lost the right to a.s.sess her. Nothing Kyera was now had anything to do with the groundwork this woman had lain. She no longer called this woman mother.

"No, I chose to do so so i could speak to my daughter who seems so intent on ignoring my existence." she replied her voice smooth and warm, it would be comforting if Kyera didn't feel so much pain from the sound. Each loving word was like the caress of thousands of needles in her heart. She pushed back the pain again, hiding it from her.

"Then, perhaps you should wait for her to come to you." kyera replied standing tall as the shadows danced in the sunlight hiding her body and behaving like fabric in the wind. The other woman laughed as though she was mildly amused.

"The Kyera I remember would never be so forward. Even when she was angry her brothers would have to tease the reason from your lips." she replied giggling again. The amus.e.m.e.nt in her voice brought tears of anger to Kyera's eyes. What she wouldn't give for another moment with those teasing words and tender hugs from her

"Kyera, how are your brothers? Does Keenan have a wife yet? Children" the excitement and curiosity in those questions caught Kyera off guard.