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

"Alright, suit yourself stubborn wench." Ember growled and blew another warm gust over the girls in front of him, not bothering to catch Feya in the wake. Ivory gave her twin a disapproving look, but Kyera offered a gentle smile. 


"Don't be offended, Ember. Some royals simply do not know how to behave. That being said, the baby and I are hungry." Kyera hinted and the Storm Twins nodded. I Ivory lowered her wing for Kyera to climb up. Meanwhile, Ember addressed the dogs. 


"We will handle Kyera's transport from here, Wolflings. Please bring her kills to the palace where your brother's await. The hunt ended at the edge of the Woodlands anyway." Ember told them and the two wolves who had been taking care of Kyera trotted past. They knew they were no longer needed. Afterall, a dragon rider would always choose scales over fur for transportation. 


"Girls mount up. Unfortunately, unless it is a case of emergency the Storm Twins only carry myself and my mate." Kyera explained and Ember bowed. 


"My apologies, I will however keep you warm." Ember offers as he readies to take to the sky. Melania and Lalia both climbed onto the wolf drawn sleds. Both dragons went from standing still, to flurries of motion as they thrust their powerful feet against the ground and extended their wings in a powerful downward thrust sending them into the air. 


Ember swirled back so he could blow a short flame over Melania, and Lalia's sleds. The flame was too short to burn them, but the warmth enveloped them as the wolves dashed for the palace gates. Kyera leaned forward, letting her body rest against Ivory's back. Her entire body drained from the effort of healing plus the hunt. She would have loved just to fall asleep on Ivory and let the dragon glide over the palace in slow circles until she was recovered. However, she had several kills that needed to be packed and preserved for the hunt to have been a success. 


"You are tired, dear one." Ivory whispered through their mind link. Kyera nodded snuggling against her back. "You really must learn to rest. 


These long sessions of near death sleeps do not count as rest." Ivory chastised gently as they began the slow descent into the yard. Ivory was not in a hurry to reach the palace, having Kyera on her back felt relaxing and safe. She didn't have  to worry about her rider if Kyera was on her back. 


"I am trying, Ivory. I know it doesn't seem like it but, I don't mean to get into these situations." Kyera replies shaking her head, her soul felt weary from all the stress. Things needed to stop and chill for a while. Not nearly dying for more than a month would be nice. 


As they landed Ivory sighed, folding in her wings carefully, so not to hit any architecture or humans scuttling around below her. Kyera sat up slowly and took a deep breath in. The baby shifted and Kyera gently caressed her tummy to soothe the child. Flight was a bit different for those who were not accustomed to it and the baby had only flown once. 


"Thank you for your safety, Ivory." Kyera whispered before sliding off her shoulder blade, and down onto the wing joint before walking to the ground. Ivory raised her wing and nodded gently bumping Kyera with her nose. Kyera smiled and hugged her, laying her forehead to Ivory's smooth, warm scales. 


"Thank you for your trust, My lady. May you and the barren rest well." Ivory replied before pulling away. The wolves and Ember came to rest in the courtyard as Kyera turned to face them. Now she got to actually look at everyone's success this hunt. They had each gathered a rather nice set of kills, it wasn't quite clear who had the best count yet. 


Beyond that, at least everyone was alive. That was a great end  for any hunt, she figured. Especially when a Ursa Superior had been awoken from its cave. For the first time she wondered just this once, if everyone surviving was the best end.


Offended