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

Morning came mercifully slow the next day, and the sun seemed more lazy than usual as it peeked over the mountains edge. Its light pouring over the treetops causing a green stained glass effect to ripple across the ground. With that beautiful glow, came Kyera's consciousness, returning to her for the first time in several days. As was normal, her senses came to awareness before her mind or eyes opened. Touch, taste and smell seemed to bombard her, having been in silence for so long. 


Warmth spread over her from beside her as well as the light weight on her body. A blanket… she realized after a moment. The lack of taste and the dryness in her mouth made her want water but her sense of smell dominated. Warm fae like woodsy scent mixed with the fire and essence of medical herbs filled her mind. It was familiar but oh so out of place. 


As her eyes opened she noticed a man sitting nearby, focused on a little bowl in front of him. He was muddling together herbs that she could have recognized, but she didn't try. Details were not her focus at the moment. She was more surprised to see Half Eye sitting so stoically beside her, a smirk on his face. She shifted. It hurt and she stopped. 


"Kyera, I believe I warned you last time to pay more attention and be careful. How on this earth did you allow yourself to get to this state?" Shaman Half Eye demanded, settling his eyes on her. Kyera sighed looking back at the old man. He was genuinely concerned and Kyera knew that but just now… she didn't feel like being scolded like this. 


"Half Eye. Please remember in public I am your student but in private I am still the daughter of your Master." Kyera reminded him as she shifted back into place. "that being said, any sign of his shadow?" she asked glancing up at Half eye almost hopeful. 


He hesitated to respond. She needed closure and that sliver of doubt to be pulled from her heart, but he didn't want to lie. "No… I am afraid neither body or soul has appeared since. It is possible he chose to cross over." 


"No… he wouldn't do that. He wanted to dance in the moonlight here, as a guardian of the forest." Kyera replied shaking her head. Those long night talks and gentle lies were something she was certain of. In death, he would walk the earth. 


"I see. I will keep looking. However, you really need to stop getting hurt. Your father is going to falay me alive." Shaman Half Eye warned her as he poured hot water onto the medicinal paste. Kyera's nose wrinkled at the acrid and sour notes. She has a feeling that cup was going to be bitter and sharp with no way to avoid its flavors. 


"I am aware but if I had not, I would have disobeyed my oath." Kyera replied, reaching for the cup. She drank it back in one gulp. Her expression twisting as the leafy past at the bottom landed on her tongue imprinting its flavor into her mouth. She swallowed. 


"Yes but your oath is not the law. If you bend it a little nobody will care." he replied with a deep sigh. Sometimes she was just too stubborn to understand. 


"That isn't true, I would care and my opinion matters most." Kyera replied as the medicine began moving through her system. The infused shadow energy mixed into the healing properties of the paste took away the sources of her pain. Within fifteen minutes she could sit up and stretch.


"Have it your way then, stubborn." he replied shaking his head at her. He would never get through to her… no matter what he did.  She was loyal and true unfortunately those were her two main characteristics and could be said as a compliment or a curse though more strongly as a curse.


Stubborn