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

Clovis listened as Kyera recited the history of the war, conflicted inside as he took this in. Her eyes and her expression said so much. Her words were so different from what he knew, nothing like his people taught their children. The tale woven so well he couldn't' help but get lost in the story itself. He wanted to deny it, tell her the truth as he knew it, but at the same time he couldn't help but think it over more. He knew what she said clashed with every word he had ever heard. Yet, every word seemed more true than any of the things he had been told. The stories of his childhood seemed hollow and without feeling. He had thought that was just the result of the subject of war. 


Now however listening to Kyera's voice as she explained the plight of the Shifter people he felt it. He felt shame at the sorrow in her voice, and conviction as she explained her duty to that key. It seemed that the topic didn't affect how much emotion one could pour into words. Instead, He realized perhaps their words were hollow because they didn't believe what they were saying. History was written by the victors and there was no way of knowing the truth, but she had more evidence than he had seen to support the history he knew.  


She was willing to give up her home, the land she loved for the safety of another race was admirable. It was another layer of her personality that he hadn't known, loyalty and a sense of duty that made him want to know more. She was so much more complex and open with that complexity than he had ever experienced before. There was one thing, however, that bothered him a bit. He could let it go but part of him needed to hear that answer. 


"Why would you tell me something so important to you and take such a risk? It was my family that started the war for the key. How do you know I won't take it from you?" Clovis asked looking into Kyera's face as she finished. She was still focused on the forest but his words caused her to chuckle and turn leaning her back on the banner. Her golden eyes met his, and he froze. The passion and fire in those eyes was shockingly clear. The amusement that appeared in those golden pools caught him off gaurd. 


"Would you?" She asked raising an eyebrow and he scoffed. 


"No. I would never do something so disrespectful as to chance an entire cultures future. I am many things but a thief and a slaver I am not." he replied without thinking, suddenly becoming defensive at the drop of a hat. Kyera chuckled smiling at him. She had been right. 


"You answered your own question, Clovis. I trust you and you are worthy of my trust. Though there are things I can not share with you, this I can not do alone. Protecting they key falls on my shoulders, but in the long run if you don't support me I will fail and the Fae will become slaves to the Dark force that is coming." she explained and he couldn't help but stare at her. There was so much he was feeling… he didn't know how to respond. "So, in the end, I decided if there was one Ally I wanted at my back if things went badly it was you." She shrugged pushing off the banister. 


"Will the Force come after you here?" He asked honestly curious as to why she seemed to feel she was comfortable here. Should he prepare to defend his people?


"No, they would never leave the forest depths unless they had to. The Fae magic that protects us, is the same magic that protects them. If they leave the forest they could be found out and without the power of the Fae they have no chance of beating your people." Kyera explained with a soft chuckle. He almost couldn't believe her words. 


"Wait they want the fae magic so they can take out my people? Why?" Clovis asked frowning. Kyera sighed.


The Force