Traitor

The winds fluttered through the trees, cooling the warm glow of the sun, giving a slight chill to the morning. The forest market was open, vendors meeting once again in this secret place to trade goods and care for the needs of the other tribes. Meet, weapons, trinkets, and cloth were all available to purchase from different crafters. Shapeshifters of all ages and types were maneuvering between small stalls.

Well, not really stalls. Small blankets were laid out and small cords hung some of the wares into the tree. The sellers stood by their wares or sat on the ground discussing the items with any man woman and in some case child who happened to pass. One rather interesting young woman was setting up round fruit on a tree stump. Her hair tied back behind her head as she used her forehead to crack the fruit open revealing a soft purple fleshy center. A small red mark left on her forehead as she continued to sell the fruit bits.

Kyera walked up to the woman and offered a sweet smile. In human form her hair was tied up into a ponytail falling down her back in a white waterfall, contrasting against her ruby dress. The sleeves hid most of the bruises on her arms and back. "Thank you, Ursana the silken fruit is amazing." She smiles paying the lady with a couple smooth silver coin slices.

"Thank you, Lady Kyera." The golden haired bear smiles at her but the smile slowly fades as she looks over Kyera's shoulder. Five people were approaching, each seeming to walk with a swagger in their step. The one in charge was obviously a woman with long golden hair and a expression that said trouble was soon to come. She was perfect from head to toe, a frame of warm strong muscle and angelic grace. "My Lady you might want…" Ursana didn't have time to finish that statement before the woman grabbed Kyera's shoulder and spun her around, swinging to punch her in the face.

Kyera saw it coming and raised her hand, catching that punch before it could make contact with her. Cold golden eyes met the woman as her hand tightened over the dainty fist. With a flick of her wrist, Kyera sent the girl spinning away from her. The three men with her growled baring their teeth like the Jackals their other form took after. "I see. I wondered who was childish enough to strike me with my back turned." Kyera's words were calm and collected but the edge of ridicule. The woman squared off growling at her, every inch of her posture angry and ready to attack.

"You have some nerve avoiding my hit after what you did to my brother." She snarled at him. Kyera looked her over, trying to place her. Within seconds the man she had fought over the child with came to mind. The self righteous sister before her was Bina, a young Jackal with more heart than brains. She would defend her brother at all costs, her heart was in the right place. She wasn't a leader, just a young hot head without the sense to check her facts. A gullible child, and Kyera was pretty sure she was a puppet on a string but there was no way to prove that. Not yet, she tried to find the truth. However, her facts lacked truth, a pity she was making a fool out of herself rather than handling this quietly. Kyera couldn't allow herself to look weak.

"Bina, we should discuss this privately." Kyera tried to do the right thing. Her eyes locking with the Jackal's eyes. She laughed, cold and cruel. A sigh escaped the tigress's lips as she realized that there was no easy way out of this. Revenge could be the stupidest thing some times.

"You want to hush me up so no one knows what you've done. You Murderer!" Bina spoke loud enough for the entire market to hear. Silence seemed to follow the last syllable and Kyera frowned.

"Don't go too far, Bina. Not without the facts." Kyera warned, her voice low and at a near growl. The look of cold cruelty in Bina's eyes made the hair on Kyera's neck to slowly stand up. The child was too far gone and she wasn't sure where she was going to go but she knew it wasn't good.

"Traitor."