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

She smiled at him. "You are very balanced. Though you are not perfect in your fighting, you can command your men with acute precision. Your cool and collected about affairs of the the Empire but when it comes to your family and your people you are compassionate and calming." Kyera explained as she glanced out the window remembering all the little things she had seen since entering the palace. Both as Kyera and as Moon the tigress. 


Prince Clovis watched her, bewildered as this woman whom he had barely paid more attention to her than as a teacher of his daughter defined him. For some reason this didn't feel like being dressed down but instead he felt as though she was laying him bare before them both. It was oddly entrancing as she continued to speak. His eyes looking into hers, half expecting to see amusement or a jesting mockery there. Yet there was neither. 


"You focus on your duty but you do not neglect your family. Some would call you weak, but they do not understand family helps you build compassion and understanding. If you truly see yourself as weaker than your brothers, nothing I say will matter but hear this: do not push those thoughts on me." She replies calmly, but her eyes lit with fire.  


Clovis sat quietly trying to digest what she had said and formulate some sort of answer. However, he found no words to say that didn't sound calloused or as though he was fishing for compliments. All he could do was wonder why this lady saw so clearly what he himself had never noticed. 


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Raina was waiting patiently for her father's coach to arrive. She had rather enjoyed the nice long ride with her uncle. The child was jittery with excitement to see them and tell them about her exciting ride. Prince Alexi had even allowed her to take the reins and gallop with him, granted she wasn't sure if she would share that little bit of information. A secret between her and uncle perhaps? One of many, at least she could hope so. 


The carriage rolled into view, slower than she would have hoped. As it glided to a stop she held herself as a princess should, tall and straight but with her head slightly bowed to show her obedience. The guard opened the door to the carriage and offered a hand, expecting the lady to come to the carriage door first. However, Clovis sighed seeing that she was lost in thought, he cleared his throat. 


"Shall we disembark, My Lady?" Clovis asked quietly.


Balance and Heart Part 2