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 meeting ended soon after Kyera gave her orders. She turned away from the gathered group. "Goodnight and… thank you. I appreciate the concern you all had when you gathered here. If I do beast before this is over, it will be more than just my family I will fight to save." Kyera told them over her shoulder. 


Everyone had something they wanted to say, a denial but not one of them could speak a word. She glided away from them, as quietly as she had arrived. From the back, she was almost unrecognizable to the proud Princess they had known a mere year ago. The same body stood before them, but the soul inside… was no longer the same. A child without a childhood, a lover with a faithless love, and a woman clinging tightly to the family she has fought for… but no sign of the Happy, brilliant Warrioress everyone had prayed she should be. 


Kan followed her, staying close to her back as Shaman Half Eye led the way. The three were headed in the same direction. One to his patient, another to her dear friend, and then third to guard all three. Half Eye slowed his step and glanced over at the stoic princess. She glanced back at him, her eyes almost daring him to ask the question on his mind. He however, had never been one to back down from a challenge. 


"You have no intention of going beast." It was a statement, not a question. "However you are going to do something even more dangerous, aren't you?" He asked finally letting the question fall between them. Kan felt the hairs on the back of his neck prickle. To a shifter, there was nothing worse than going beast. 


"You seem to already know that answers, be blunt." She added her voice still cool and calm as the Empress facade she had worn earlier. They went inside the palace, bare feet making gentle sounds on the flooring. Half Eye sighed deeply.


"Princess all due respect but we both know what killed your elder sister and it had nothing to do with beating. She gave her mortal life to save them and became a demigoddess… a wisp of power in the trees. Do you intend to do the same?" He asked, his voice challenging and demanding answers. 


"Yes. If it comes down to it." Kyera replied honestly. The thought had crossed her mind more than once now. 


"Kyera, there is one major flaw in that plan. You have more of your father in you than she did. You have made offerings, you have visited his land, and you have wholly accepted yourself as his child for good and the bad. Your sister ran from the truth and only accepted it in the moment of her death. She only had that whispers of power to give. Kyera, you feel the shadows pulse through hour veins. Are they but a wisp, or so much more than that?" Half Eye asked her knowingly. As if cued by his words she became acutely aware of the power rushing through her. She could feel the way the shadows melded with her aura and caressed her skin with their cool embrace. 


"And?" Kyera asked turning her eyes on him. 


"That power will be set loose, in a instant. It will either claim and consume every particle of you or you may not just lose your place in Mora. Child you could lose your place to exist at all. This… isn't to be taken lightly." Half Eye warned her cautiously. Kyera frowned softly as she realized that he was making an effort to save her. Did she appear that out of control? 


"I understand half eye. I appreciate your care." Kyera replied and offered a smile. The facade cracked and he saw Kyera for a moment. It was a split second, nothing more. 


"Always Princess." Half Eye replied. Kan opened the door to the makeshift infirmary. The room smelt of incense, water bowls placed on pedestals near the bed. Two dark colored candlesticks stood near the door, and one on the bedside table. Two healers I'm training stood talking to each other off to the side. Judging by their expressions at being caught, they were gossiping. 
