Valinteena

In a world left with scars from a great war, the humans rejoice in their victory, but also weep at the cost. Unaware of the blind hatred that led to the slaughter, an entire race was nearly erased from the face of their lands. They believed they had wiped the shifters from the face of the planet, little did they know very few lived on in the very forests they visited, and in the villages they traded with. Forced into hiding, the shifters built a new clan, and lived by the old rules, hiding from humanity. 

Kyera Shade of the Moon is a Shapeshifter who takes the form of a White tigress with silver stripes. Alone in the world, and carrying the weight of her clan on her shoulders, she attempts to uphold the law she was born to, and protect the remaining of her kind. Her heart decimated by the deaths of her brothers and the absence of her mother, she finds herself caught in a net and unable to break free. In her moment of desperation, a hand reaches out and catches her. A man who threatens to steal her heart away, but can she learn to forgive herself? Can she find love and salvation in another's arms after the betrayals of so many? 

Clovis of the Dancing Rain is the fourth Prince of the Forest Kingdom. He is a clever man, but had no wish to be king. Perfectly happy to raise is Daughter in peace now that his young wife had passed. There was darkness and secrets in his past, but there was no place for revenge in his future. Not until they took it too far. Pushing his bottom line a need to take the crown lit in his heart. However, he needed one thing more than anything else... the right woman by his side. As if the answer to a prayer, a woman appeared. Beautiful and trustworthy who loved his daughter as much as he did, if not more. Yet her heart was broken, her world surrounded by secrets and shadows, perhaps she was best left alone. However, would he be able to live without her?

The Tiger Within

The sound of the stream and the sound of laughter nearby caught Clovis's attention as he wandered the garden path the servants had pointed him toward. Mally had taken Raina to the river to play. It was interesting place for a outing for a child who had issues with fairies before, but since Mally's sister was visiting he wasn't surprised she wished to spend the day by the river. It was the most beautiful place within the garden's for tea. It would not hurt if the two women kept a eye on his princess. 


Sunlight danced across the river water as he walked up alongside the winding banks. He heard a splash and giggling as he turned the corner and spotted three female figures up river. One familiar form was Mally sitting off to the side by herself, watching the other two figures at the top of a small waterfall. 


At first glance it looked to be a mother and a child crouched down and investigating something in the stream. The white haired beauty with her arm around the young girl's waist pointing at something in the water. A small smile creased his lips till he noticed it was his daughter's giggling laugh coming from the girl in the woman's arms. He froze, stunned to realize he recognized both woman and child. 


The woman was tall and slender, with a modest, pale green dress flowing around her form, deeper green at her ankles where water had splashed up on the fabric. Her pale white hair was twirled up rather haphazardly on top of her head as if that was not how she left her rooms that morning. The smile on her face and the sweetness in her eyes as she kept her arm carefully secured around his daughter's waist. 


As he watched, Kyera took her hands and helped her slowly navigate her way down the waterfall, to the bank. Each step careful and interestingly graceful as she stepped off the rock and onto the soft grass. She glanced back at Kyera and smiled "I did it!" Raina cried excitedly. Kyera nodded with a chuckle.


"Of course you did, Princess. Was there any question?" Kyera asked standing effortlessly at the top of the fall. She pulled the pin from her hair that held the bun in place, it falling and getting caught in the wind and dancing behind her.


"Prince Clovis, welcome. We didn't expect you to join us  so soon." Mally called out alerting both the other girls to his approach before he could stop her. Kyera's eyes shot over to see the Prince standing a little ways down the river, walking toward them. Raina grinned and ran over to her father in excitement as Kyera began slowly descending to the forest floor. 


"Daddy!" She called out reaching out to him. Clovis smiled and hugged his little girl close. He handed her the doll and Raina looked at it curiously. She hugged it to her chest looking up at her father for an explanation. 


"A gift from Empress Eve." He explained with a soft smile. His eyes flicked over to the woman climbing down from the waterfall. She seemed to be carefully working her way down, the last two rocks being covered in moss. Clovis smiled and offered her a hand down, reaching out to her, expecting her to ignore him as she had the first time they met. However, she took it and allowed him to help her keep her balance till her feet were on the ground. Then she bowed. 


"Your Highness." Kyera greeted as she curtsied low to him. Clovis bowed his head to her as well, noticing the earing she was also wearing. 


"Lady Kyera, I did not expect to see you here." Clovis replied with a soft smile. Her fresh woodsy scent was calming mixed with the cool water. She smiled at him with a bit of mischief in her eyes.  She looked over at Mally who was grinning at the pair as they interacted. The amusement in her eyes was curious.


Found at the Falls Part 1