A Tigerian Story

 

 

            A long, long time ago, in another galaxy, there was a planet named Tigeria. On Tigeria, there were two kingdoms, the Felarian kingdom and the Tigerian kingdom. These races were very similar. They were both tiger-like people. The average male was six feet tall and two hundred and fifty Terran pounds. The average female was five foot and six inches tall and one hundred and fifty Terran pounds.

The differences between the Felarians and the Tigerians were that the Felarians had a silvery-white fur and usually green to yellow eyes with black, gray, or silvery-white hair a top their heads. Tigerians had either reddish-orange or dark or light orange fur and either teal, green, or blue eyes with red, brown, or blond hair. For both of these races, the rare blue-gray oculars and/or blue hair were a sign of a lengthy life journey that was filled with hardships. The same few were usually favored by one the deities. The blue hair was rarer than the gray-blue oculars.

            In the kingdom of Tigeria, Crowned Prince Aileron was to proclaim his bride-to-be. He was six feet and ten inches tall, a very muscular build, sharp blue eyes, scarlet hair, and reddish-orange fur with a golden tint. Not that he had any trouble trying to find a bride, every lady in the court wanted him to court them, but he wanted a different kind of lady.

He chose the Lady Mia, a fair maiden from a recently conquered rebellious territory. Her strawberry-blond hair, light blue oculars, slender form of five feet and seven inches, and her silvery yet mysterious voice, captivated him. He announced the wedding, received her family treasure, and had her brought to the castle.

            They were wed at once, crowned as King Aileron and Queen Mia and six months later, the queen was to give birth to three children.

            ‘Where am I? Who are these two others that are with me? Why am I crowded? What? One of the others is gone…now there are two of us…but there goes another one. I’m alone now. What? It’s bright! Who are these people?’ The littlest one thought

            “Hello my little one. It’s ok now. Mother’s got you. No need to cry now.” said the queen with a tired voice.

‘What’s a mother? She’s nice though. Why did those people have to hit me so hard? Where are the others?’

“It’s all right now, my little Lynne. Yes, that name fits you very well. Lynne.” Mia said.

Suddenly, Aileron entered the room and looked to his wife. A person in a white coat spoke to him, ”Congratulations sire. You and your wife were blessed with three children. Two girls and a boy.”

Aileron seemed glad when he heard he had a boy and spoke, “Very well done Mia.”

Mia only smiled weakly and said, “They have your golden fur color Aileron, and they all have the rare blue-gray eyes.” Aileron nodded and just as swiftly as he entered, he was urgently called away to deal with political matters.

‘Was…was that my father? He seems important to everyone. And who is Gaven? Where are the others I was with?’ The newborn Lynne wondered.

Almost as if Mia could interpret Lynne’s thoughts, she put the other two infants beside her. She then touched each one tenderly on the nose and spoke their names. “Gaven…Diana…and Lynne. You three will grow up to be great leaders of Tigeria.”

The three children grew rapidly to become seventeen. Gaven, six feet and nine inches tall, ginger fur which had golden touch to it, blue-gray eyes, and reddish-brown hair, was to become heir to the throne as king, Diana, who looked exactly like her mother with the exception of her blue-gray eyes, was to be the queen of a new land conquered by the Tigerians, and Lynne, five feet and nine inches tall, with her crimson hair, lightly golden ginger fur, and her mother’s lean body, was to be wedded to the Felarians on the other side of the world for a political union. There was a rumor that the Prince of the Felarians detested the marriage ritual, and it was understood that Lynne did as well, but their parents ignored it. Unbeknownst to the Prince and the Princess, they had spent some of their childhood together, but really didn’t put the facts together.

‘I don’t want to be wedded…especially to someone I don’t know.’ Lynne thought. At that moment, a servant came to Lynne’s room an announced to her that there was a banquette tonight in the ballroom dining vicinity and she was to be clad in her most exquisite garb. She dismissed the servant and sighed.

She sat her self at the mirror and glanced over her looks out of boredom as she brushed her wild tresses. She sighed once more and clothed in her favorite green dress that complemented her body. She put on a ring that was a symbol of her betrothal, and an emerald studded necklace.

            When the sun set in the heavens, Lynne met Diana in one of the many halls in the palace and they discussed political affairs, and they decided that they should enter the dining vicinity together. After they were announced, they were seated at the vast marble table. After a few courses, all of which Lynne and Diana both ate very little of, Lynne felt as if someone was staring at her. She slightly raised her eyes and looked to see who was gazing at her, due to the fact that it was tremendously offensive and unpleasant to look at people during the dining hour unless it was a relative.

When she found the person who was staring at her, she mentally gasped. It was a young man approximately the age of nineteen. She quickly stopped looking at him and looked back at her food. Trying to figure out why he was looking at her, her thoughts were interrupted by Diana sticking a fork into her leg slightly. Lynne let out a faintly audible gasp and looked to Diana, which immediately started a mental conversation.

‘What’s wrong with you Lynne? You’re barely eating.’ stated Diana.

‘Sorry, but I am not very fond of fried piglet bombshell…it’s sickening and revolting as muck because that’s where it has been for the last two moons.’ replies Lynne.

‘Well, I agree with you…what were you doing looking at Astire Ryo?’

‘Astire Ryon? Who’s that?’ asks Lynne.

Diana laughs mentally, ‘He’s your fiancé you silly girl. You really didn’t know?’

It was then time for the dancing to begin, but King Aileron Katrea and King Kiore Ryon stood and proposed a toast. Almost as if they knew what the other was about to say, they spoke in union.

“To Astire and Lynne! Your marriage ritual will be next week! Rejoice!’ Everyone but Astire and Lynne raised their goblets and toasted. Astire and Lynne studied each other silently. Astire had silver hair, was six feet and ten inches tall, jade eyes, a pleasurable grin, and had white fur with the unique striped pattern of the royal family of Felaria on his fur. His eyes stood out from his pale features and Lynne knew that she would probably never be able to forget his eyes even if she chose to. Then something in Lynne’s mind triggered her past. ‘I…I know him. We played together a long time ago. Wow. He really drank his milk’. Lynne mentally chuckled.

Lynne went out to the veranda to gaze at the stars and get away from all the hustle and bustle. Just as she was becoming relaxed, a strong hand was placed on her shoulder. Without looking, she knew who it was, but turned around anyways to be well mannered. When she met Astire’s face, she bowed gracefully and mannerly.

“Good evening Sir Astire,” she said with a smile, “It is nice to finally meet you.”

Astire smiled somewhat and looked right over her head. “The stars are really glittering tonight. What do you think of our arranged marriage?” he asked.

Lynne stammered. “I have no opinion really. I…have…well...um… I am in no position to speak of it. Our parents are doing this for the good of the kingdoms and the planet.” That was the answer her mother always told her to say if she was asked.

“It’s your life Lynne…I understand that you have been trained to respond that way, but to tell you the truth, I want to be able to wed anyone I want to and not do it for political affairs. I’m not saying this because I don’t like you, but because this is what I believe. Forgive me for being so straightforward, but I am relieved it is someone like you I am to marry.” Before he could see her face turned red, he turned his face away but took her hand. She looked at her hand and saw that both of their hands wore the ring that showed their engagement. Astire’s free hand went to Lynne’s chin and lifted her face to face him. Time seemed to stop.

“You are a beautiful flower in this winter-like world. Don’t ever let the frost kill you.” As Astire whispered these words to her, his lips were getting closer and closer to hers. Just as they were about to be lip-locked, King Kiore called. Astire smiled, knelt, and kissed her hand. As Astire walked away, he said something under his breath to the wind, but Lynne missed it.

Later that evening, she talked to her brother Gaven about Astire.

“Even though we are friends, I don’t know that much about him. You should go to sleep now. Tomorrow is a big day for you.” Gaven said with a smile. After she prayed to the gods and goddesses, she let her thoughts wander.

‘I guess Astire isn’t as bad as I thought he would. He’s not bad at all. I could really learn to like him.’ With that, she giggled slightly and then gazed out of her glass door to her veranda thinking that things couldn’t be better. She was right.

The next morning, she got dressed for her sword training with her brother since he needed a partner and no one would spar with him. Diana always told her that it was a waste of time because it’s not like Lynne would ever need to defend her self. As she walked down the corridor to the area where they practiced, she caught a fleeting glimpse of Astire out of the corner of her eyes, but when she looked, he was gone.

‘I guess my eyes were playing tricks with me, besides he wouldn’t be here. He should be just arriving the gates of Felaria.’ When she opened the doors, she saw her brother awaiting her patiently with Astire alongside him. She bowed to them both and waited for her brother to start.

“If you don’t mind princess, I would like to watch you and the prince practice.” Astire declared.

“I have no problem with it Lord Astire. Do you Lord Gaven?” Lynne asked, and her answer was a shake of the head. They began with a few warm-ups, and then began. A few times, she glanced at Astire out of the corner of her oculars to see his expression, but it was always blank.

After an hour had passed, the two stopped for the day. Lynne bowed to the two and left the room by their leave. When she got back to her room, her bathing water was prepared for her.

‘What was he doing here? I was almost sure that he had left. He is so totally different than he was last night.’ Oh well. After a nice wash, the princess dressed in a nice yet informal outfit. As she was draining her water, there was a crash in her room coming from the veranda. When she got there, there were four or five ninja-like men in her room swaying their tails as they waited for her. She was about to shriek when she remembered that she still had her practice sword. Just as she was unsheathing it, her brother entered the room with a drawn blade. As they fought them off, a gigantic, brawny man entered the room and grabbed Lynne and carried her to the window. Just as he was about to fling her off, Gaven and Lynne, in unification, stabbed the man, but Lynne still fell. To her good fortune, she was able to reduce the damage that she received by twisting her body in mid air and landing on all fours, but she still blacked out.

‘What was that all about? What did I do to deserve this?’ When she opened her eyes, the first people she saw were her family. ‘Oh great, I’m going to get lectured.’ To her surprise, he mother’s fur was wet with tears, her brother looked angered, her sister was concerned, but her father…his face was warped in condemnation.

“Why did you hire them to execute you Lynne? Is it because you don’t want to wed Astire? Why did you do it?” he growled.

“What are you talking about father? I didn’t pay anyone to kill me. I would never go against your desires sir.” She replied unhurriedly. With that, he punched her with such power; she was thrown out of the bed, against the wall on the other side of the room with a substantial snap, and then a great sickly thud against the floor. Hastily, Astire entered the room and knelt by Lynne’s unconscious body.

“It wasn’t her who hired them, it was me. I hired them before I met her. Pardon me.” Aileron thought it over and then drew his sword.

“I can understand this, but it was not required. I shall punish you.” With that, he went over to Astire and made a wound in his right cheek. “I have shown you compassion only because you are to be my future son-in-law. If it happens once more, it will be your head.” Astire nodded and watched Aileron leave the room. Once he knew it was safe, he kissed her on the forehead, picked her up, and placed her on the bed.

It was a few hours until Lynne came to. When she opened her eyes, the first thing she noticed was Astire looking at her with a bloodied cheek and his warm smile.

After that day, Lynne noticed that Astire kept acting more and more strange, but she thought it to be her imagination. She had more important things to do, such as learning how to be more lady-like from her sister Diana, and how to cook from her mother, how to be stronger from her brother, and how to show a daughter absolute detestation from the bitter looks she got from her father.

It was two days before the wedding and Lynne felt that Astire was up to something. ‘I wonder why he has been hanging around here for so long? He should make preparations at his castle.’ Lynne thought She turned as her handmaidens were putting the finishing touches on her wedding dress. She dismissed them and took the dress of, only to put on simple clothing. Suddenly, shrouded warriors with the Felarian crest on their sleeves entered Lynne’s room from the balcony. This time, having recognized the situation, Lynne was ready for them, and promptly attacked. It wasn’t long until Gaven came and joined the fight, but then, an even stronger masked warrior entered. His fighting technique was a little more refined than the rest, and he could more or less foresee their every move, until Lynne and Gaven did a sword combo, which locked the assailant between their swords.

Then Gaven unmasked the mysterious foe, which brought a gasp from the two of them. “A…Astire? B…but why?” Lynne questioned sorrowfully.

Her question was met with a sneer, a evil chuckle, and then the entrance of Diana who said, “Dear Lynne, I’m sorry, but you are an hindrance.” Diana then took out a concealed rapier and aimed it at Lynne. “You must die because you are just a great deal of irritation to my plans.”

“Your plans? What do you mean Diana? What does Lynne have to do with it?” asked a slightly inquisitive Gaven. All of a sudden, Diana let Astire free and charged at Lynne, which in turn, knocked her off the balcony and into an unsuspecting guards grasp who just smiled.

“All in a days work Princess.”

“Thank you very much!” said Lynne, who was very obliged, and gave him a petite kiss on the cheek, then went back to the fight.

When she got back to the room, Gaven was on the floor and holding his arm, which was bleeding massively and Astire was licking the blood from his blade.

“About time you came back. I decided to let you in on our little scheme.” Diana spoke with confidence. “You see, with Astire under my command, he is my little puppet.” She punctuated this by putting her hands on Astire’s chest and nibbling on his ear. She turned back to her audience and sneered. “After we dispose of you, we will take over the entire planet and all of the other territories and colonies.” She chuckled wickedly and scratched under her pawn’s chin.

“Come on Diana, no here. We should get rid of my ‘bride-to-be’ and my so-called friend. Let’s ‘play’ with them.” Astire spoke with boredom in his tone.

Lynne, fuming, charged again at Astire. Just as she was about to stab him with her katana, Diana took the blow and fell to her knees. Lynne, startled, quickly removed her weapon from her sister’s ribs and gasped.

“D…DIANA!” screamed Lynne. “Why? Why did you do it?” she asked.

“Well…you have to protect those that you need for a plan. Haven’t I…taught you anything at all? I couldn’t let you take his life…besides, he’s still under my control…and even so in my death…I’ll see you in hell sister…then…I shall get my …” whispered Diana. She had no chance to finish her statement.

“Astire, stop this. This is meaningless. Diana’s dead. Come one. You can fight her control.” Lynne pleaded. The man laughed at her pitiable tone and imitated her with his arms crossed on his chest.

“‘Astire, stop this.’ Why? So that you and I can marry, have little kids, rule a single planet, fight a war because someone looks at us the wrong way, have no respect, and grow old and die? I think not you little wench.” Astire spoke.

“W…WENCH? I’ll kill you for that one.” Lynne yelled outraged. The princess seemed radiant with untainted power as her tresses fluttered around her shoulders while turning silvery, her oculars emanating a ruby radiance, and her hands gripping her katana near the breaking point. Her teeth turned into fangs, the sword glistened with bloodlust, and her voice seemed to make everyone’s spirit shiver in terror.

“You are now in the presence of a goddess. I am the almighty goddess of retribution named Lei. Prepare for your own demise.” Astire, totally awestruck, was paralyzed with fear.

With the power that she was granted, Lei ran at Astire and beheaded him in a single swoop. After the feat was done, she was changed back into the maiden Lynne and fainted.

While Gaven was carrying Lynne, the Felarians attacked the palace. Solders were everywhere. When Lynne and Gaven got to the throne room, they made it just in time to see their father pierce their mother in the abdomen and mutilate King Kiore.

“Don’t you dare cry over their deaths. You are my brood, so show that you are tough. They were conspirators against kingdom.” With that, their father left. Just as Lynne was about to cry, their mother’s spirit showed itself to them and spoke.

“I’m glad you two are alright, but where is Diana?” With those words, Lynne nearly lost it.

“Forgive me mother. She threw her self in front of my sword just as I was about to kill Astire. She was in league with him, but I didn’t want to kill her. I’m sorry.”

The late queen looked to her youngest daughter and spoke grimly, “Although it was not a good act, I understand. Please take these, my children, for these are the last gifts that I can give you. Your father has gone immoral. I am sure that you will have to fight him in the future, so be careful.” With a radiant light, Queen Mia gave Gaven the family sword and Lynne was able to receive her mother’s necklace. The late queen said her farewell and departed for the other life.

High above the planet, the gods and goddesses were having an argument about the war going on the planet. Having decided that the general population had become unstable, the deities decided to obliterate the planet along with the inhabitants. At that moment, they started their silent countdown.

The scientists noticed an extreme change in the environment, the natural balance, and the sense of the planet almost instantaneously. Due to their loyalties to the royal family of Tigeria, the assembled King Aileron, Prince Gaven, and Princess Lynne and told them to escape in the space pods and launched them out of range of a planetary implosion. Once they were five hundred feet from the planet, sleeping gasses spewed out of the controls and filled the chambers. Lynne knew what was going on and covered her nose and mouth with a makeshift handkerchief to escape it for a small amount of time, but what she saw overwhelmed her. All at once, her beautiful, productive, green planet turned to a glowing red, molten, gaseous orb and imploded. For the first time in a very long time, Lynne cried until there were no more tears held within her soul, and when she could not cry anymore, she was lulled to sleep by the gasses.

‘I can’t believe this is happening! My whole world is…gone! My mother is gone, so is Diana and…Astire. He probably didn’t deserve it. He would have been controlled all of his life. I cannot believe that I was actually falling in love with him. My dear mother…why did father have to kill her? Diana…I didn’t mean to kill her. I have nowhere to go now…’

The Great Counsel, with the knowledge of the three Tigerians heading toward Terra, decided that Aileron should die by either Gaven’s or Lynne’s hand. The Great Counsel was a very large assembly of representatives from every planet in the universe. If it was there wish, it was done. If anyone violated them, they were penalized severely.

Several days, then weeks, months, and years passed. Lastly, after twenty-six years went by, the three Tigerians landed on a strange planet. Lynne’s pod landed on some

strange structure made of wood and many grasses. Once Lynne opened her pod and stepped out, she looked for her father and brother, but just saw peculiar creatures that stood on two legs and didn’t have fur except for on the tops of their heads, and the occasional fur on the face just under the nose and chin. She must have been in a small village of some sort due to the small huts and the ceremonial circle. Lynne stared at them and the bizarre creatures stared back. Just then, one of the young approached the princess and started playing with her tail, and them more of the smaller creatures came. They made amusing yet pleasingly merry noises that resembled laughter. Lynne couldn’t help but smile placidly. An extremely old male approached her and started communicating.

“Forgive me, but where did you come from? You and this round metal object just fell from the heavens onto my dwelling. Please enlighten us.” For the first time, Lynne looked shocked and replied.

“I am dreadfully sorry for my intrusion upon your village and landing on your dwelling, but I had no choice but to land here. See, I am Lynne Katrea, princess of the Tigerians, and I am looking for my brother and father.”

After a while of stories being swapped, Lynne learned that she was on the planet Terra, and these strange beings were humans or Terrans. As the village elder began to comprehend her predicament, he told her of the other metal orbs that fell from the sky on the same date. Lynne took their stories in mind and thanked them for their hospitality, but warned them about her hostile father.

Lynne started to run to the west, sensing her brother’s presence. When she got there, she found him injured in his pod and surrounded by unfriendly natives. After chasing them off, she healed him with her magic and got him out of his wreckage.

“Lynne, where in the universe are we?” Gaven inquired.

“Well, from what I’ve heard, we’re on the planet Terra…but the natives call it Earth.” Lynne responded.

“TERRA! We’re all the way out here?” Gaven fretted massively.

‘He has good reason to fret. This is a low intelligence area of the universe. We are to not interfere with their progress in evolution. Invasions on this planet are punishable by death in The Great Counsel.’

“Well, I don’t know how you found me, but let’s find father. He is more apt to execute anyone that doesn’t comply his every command. Let us find him.” Gaven said with wisdom. After scanning the planet with their magic, they found that he was actually standing behind them.

“So, my offspring don’t concur with me trying to rule this planet? Well, you shall see your ignorant ways as I carve you with my blade!” Aileron punctuated this with a thrust from his sword towards the two.

“Lynne, you must escape with your life. Run and try to reach the Great Counsel and ask for help. Run!” Gaven shouted as he pushed her out of the swords advance. As she fell, she watched the battle commence between her brother and her father.

‘The style that father uses is unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. I think that Gaven has the upper hand owed to his youthful age and never-ending training. Then again, father has been training for only the Gods know how long. This is probably going to be a dreadfully close match.’

As she finished her thought, Gaven unleashed the Goblin’s Vehemence. Just as he was about to run Aileron through, Aileron caught Gaven’s sword with one hand and picked Gaven up along with the sword to eye level and scoffed.

“You will never overpower me, boy. You are nothing but a reject. You are too tame to be my true son. My son would be feral!” With that said, Aileron kicked Gaven in the ribs repetitively and swung him around like a plaything. Just as Gaven was about to get use to it, Aileron slammed him down face first into the dirt. As soon as his face touched the ground, Gaven slipped Aileron’s hold and swung his blade out, gashing Aileron in the right leg. Aileron jumped back in amazement.

“Humph, it looks as though you are quick, but I will dispose of you…forever!” After a moment, they both got in stance to do a running slash, and then they ran at each other. There were a few sounds of metal against metal, and then they ran past each other and stopped.

It took two seconds, but it felt like eternity before the champion remained standing. And suddenly, with out warning, Gaven fell to the ground with blood spewing out from his abdomen and side. Lynne ran to him and tried to cure him, but to no avail.

“Gaven, it’s ok I’ll find a way to heal you, then I’ll eradicate father. Just stay awake.” Lynne said in a frenzied rush, but Gaven replied in a rough voice.

“Lynne, just run. If I can’t defeat him, then I know you can’t. Just go far away and stay away from him...It’s my time to go.” They looked each other in the eyes and then Gaven finally said with a defeated groan, “If you are so persistent on killing him, then I give you my consent, and my the Gods be with you. Heh. I though I’d see the day where you would finally become a properly behaved lady, but I guess you won’t. Take care…and get him for us all…” With that, Gaven died in Lynne’s arms.

‘Gaven, why did you have to leave me? Now I’m alone. Feh, I’ll fight…I’ll fight for all of us. I will avenge everyone and bring glory again. Gaven, mother, Diana, everyone, give me the strength to overcome him and deal a killing blow.’

While thoughts about killing Aileron flooded her mind, a few stray tears fell from her eyes onto her face and slid down her fur. When Aileron noticed this, he laughed.

“Pathetic daughter of mine. I will be more considerate to you and show you mercy. You will not feel any pain, and then you can be with everyone else.”

Aileron leisurely went to her, stood behind her back, lifted his blade, and just as he was about to swing, Lynne whispered.

“I’ll kill you.” Aileron nearly died laughing.

“YOU kill ME? Don’t make me laugh even more. You think you can succeed where as everyone else has failed? What makes YOU so exceptional? You are a princess. You were to be elegant, gorgeous, and exquisite. And now you wish to tarnish your hands with more blood? Hah!” Aileron swung his sword at Lynne. She tried to fall back to dodge the fast moving blade, but he succeeded in cutting her deep on the bridge of her nose, causing her to bleed.

Aileron took a moment to chuckle at his handy-work. Lynne’s hand went immediately to her wound and glared. She took this opportunity to take her brother’s sword and get into stance. She glared again at her father and at that moment, the odds were not in her favor. She knew it. Her father knew it. Even the Gods knew it. Her brother had more of a chance to destroy their father than she, but it was the strength of her spirit that called forth the deity Lei again. After they united, the one left standing in Lynne’s place was a female with silvery tresses, scarlet oculars, pearly fangs, and golden fur. The wound afflicted to her was gone and the sword that was her brother’s altered as well. From an average blade it turned into an elemental sword that could invoke any force of nature. She stood there rebelliously and brandished the new blade in the air, an inferno swirling about it and her.

 With one immediate swoop, Aileron was trapped and engulfed in flames. He jumped back and charged at her, but she simply crouched and jumped out at him, ice dangling from her sword. In an instant, they both jumped, but the enormous icicle that was her sword impaled Aileron in the chest.

As he slid down the now six-foot icicle, he looked to the woman and asked faintly, “Who are you precisely?” She stood there, a fierce wind blowing her wild tresses, her crimson eyes ablaze and burning into his, her golden fur reflecting the daylight, and her face pulled up into a harsh smirk as she spoke.

“I am revenge. The horror you put into your daughter’s heart finally became a scream for retribution, and thus, this outward appearance was born.” Content, King Aileron passed on and his threat was over. Lei left Lynne’s body and the young princess was turned back to normal.

Several years later, she heard from an envoy from The Great Counsel that her planet and people had been restored. All that she needed to do was return, but until then, time on that planet was frozen. She nodded in understanding and walked on.

‘ To become stronger…I must. For Mother, for Gaven, for Diana, and for my self I shall become stronger. If I am to rule, then I shall fight on my own…with out help this time.’

Many years later, Lynne grew into a full adult, but still had her wild spirit One day, while snoozing high up in a gargantuan tree, she smelled a strong human with magic power. As she waited for this individual to bypass beneath her tree, she spotted him. He had bright, blazing orange hair, stood at six foot and two inches tall, had earrings dangling from his ears, and had a extraordinarily strong magic aura. Wow was all she could think.

‘If I hang around him long enough…maybe I can become stronger…or at least make a new ally’. With the idea of making a new friend, she made her mind up. In a flash, she let out an extremely undersized meow and then pounced upon him, thus tackling him onto the ground.

‘That should get his attention.’ She flipped off of him and grinned…barely revealing her pearly white fangs.

“Um…why did you just do that to me?” the man asked with an expression a cross between annoyance and mistrust as he dusted himself off.

“To get your attention. Why else would an adorable person do something like that?” Lynne came back with but also in a teasing tone.

“Adorable? I don’t see any adorable creatures around here…” the man retorted as he put a hand on his brow and started to look around for something. This kind of got on Lynne’s nerves. “Further more,” the man continued, ”For all I know, you could have tried to either rob me, slay me, or even…” he backed up and covered his chest with one hand and pointed to her with the other, “You could have tried to rape me!!! Or even gobble me up!!! GAH!” the man ended with a phony and very womanly cry.

‘Is this guy for real? Umm…gee…what do I do now? I really should have planned this better.’

“Umm…I don’t eat people, I do not steal, I wouldn’t even think of killing anyone, and furthermore…why would I want to rape you? AND I AM CUTE!” Lynne ended very red faced. With a shrug, the orange haired man started to walk away, but Lynne seized him by the shirt.

“WHAT? Why’d you do that?” the man said annoyed.

“I would like to go with you. Can I? PLEASE?” Lynne requested. The guy just incoherently mumbled his response and walked away again. Lynne took this opportunity to leap up in a tree and tag along that way.

When they stopped, they found themselves by a brook. “Um…pardon me sir, but what is your name? I can’t very well keep calling you ‘guy’ or ‘dude’ all the time.” Lynne asked properly. The carroty haired man turned, faced her, and answered nicely.

“My name is Taigia What’s your name?”

“My name is Lynne. My name is Lynne Lei Katrea. I am pleased to meet you Mr. Taigia.” Lynne answered courteously.

“Mr. Taigia? Speaking like that makes you sound like a merchant. Please, just Taigia will do.” Taigia said. Lynne simply nodded in affirmation. “Anyways,” Taigia started, “we need to start setting up some sort of campsite.” Again, Lynne nodded and she started to clear an area of a 30-foot diameter. “I’m going to go and get some firewood.” Taigia stated, and again, Lynne nodded.

After she was done, Lynne decided to catch some fish for the both of them to eat. When Taigia came back, Lynne had caught an adequate amount of fish to last them for a few days. After dinner was over with, Taigia made his bed and went to sleep while Lynne arched up into a ball on the other side of the fire to take a catnap. Lynne woke with the first light of day and since she was the first one conscious, she started a new fire and made breakfast of fish and some fruits that she was hording in her pack. After she ate her portion, Taigia woke ungracefully and mumbled things that sounded like ‘food,’ ‘morning,’ and ‘blip.’

‘Oi…. okay then…not a sunup person…and a very incoherent non-morning person at that.’ Lynne did her best to look cheerful, but Taigia, without opening his eyes, went to the provisions, ate whilst mumbling, and fell over…dead to the world.

‘Oh…kay then…very attractive…heh…yeah right…how does this guy continue to exist out here? He belongs in an inn. Gah.’ Lynne decided that it was time for Taigia to get up, and then poured a tankard of ice-cold water on his face. He didn’t move or cringe. Since that didn’t work, she started to prod him in the face with a stick.

Miraculously she got a response…he bit the stick and said, “Crunchy noodles.” She jumped back and pulled the stick, only to have him pull back unconsciously, thus starting a tug-o-war. It was only after a leaf fell on his nose that woke Taigia.

“Oi, Taigia…you sleep like a rock.” Lynne said exasperated.

“Really?” Taigia said with a childlike look on his face and the stick still in his jaws. As Taigia fully awoke, he spit out the stick and looked down at his garments only to notice that they were awfully messed up, and looked shocked.

“You raped me when I was most vulnerable didn’t you?” He yelled.

“WHY WOULD I DO THAT TO YOU?” Lynne yelled back.

“Well,” Taigia started and ‘tried’ to look appealing, “because I am a lady attraction!” Taigia punctuated this with the stretching and flexing of his physique. “I wouldn’t be surprised if you started to be mad about me too. Heh, women find me irresistible. Sometimes I have to hide from them due to the large amounts of them chasing me.” Taigia again started posing.

‘What a show off.’ Lynne only stared, had a giant sweat drop roll down the back of her head, and then retorted.

“You’re kidding right? I think you’re just a womanizer. You fool the poor girls. Tsk” As Lynne scolded him; she wagged a finger at him. Taigia, once more, looked traumatized and responded deafeningly.

“What? I am nothing of the sort, I think you should know that I am a absolute and total gentleman to those damsels.” Lynne, after flattening her ears from the volume of his voice, fell over with hilarity.

“Heh, well anyways…where are we going now?” Lynne said while she tried to stifle some giggles. Taigia thought about this and they discussed it over a map.

After plotting a course, they plunged into the river to swim to the next village because the roads were littered with bandits. When they got to the outskirts, Lynne went behind some bushed to dry off, but as she did, she took on her more human form.

When she went back to Taigia, her looks had changed from ginger and black fur to pale and smooth skin, chilly gray and azure catlike orbs to dazzling blue-gray human oculars, a slimmer form due to lack of fur, but other than that, she still had her untamed blazing scarlet hair, a scar on the bridge of her nose from her fight with Aileron, the normal human canines were slightly longer and sharper, and her attire was a slight bit loose-fitting. She did, on the other hand, lose her feline like ears, tail, and whiskers, but she still moved just as elegant as she usually did. Taigia, to say the least, was flabbergasted.

“L…Lynne? Is that you? What happened to you?” Taigia stumbled over the words as she made her way to him.

“I figured that since we were going into a village, and possibly an inn, I should use a form that is less likely to scare people. Do you not like this?” Lynne asked modestly. She looked herself over and asked.

“Isn’t this what a human female look like? Or am I just really hideous?” Taigia shook his head vigorously and replied.

“No. Not at all. I might have to clobber the drunks and perverts away from you with a hefty limb though.” Taigia ended his statement with amusement, but Lynne missed the entire gag.

“By the way, what’s with that scar on your face?” Taigia asked casually. Lynne’s hand went to her nose and she answered.

             “This is a reminder of who to trust and who not to.” Taigia shrugged it off.

While walking to the inn, there were many ladies of the town that called to Taigia casually, in which Taigia waved back and would usually respond with ‘catch you later,’ ‘we’ll do lunch,’ ‘hey cutie,’ or even ‘see me later’ as he winked. Lynne got odd stares from everyone and so she got the impression that she was ugly and Taigia lied to her.

‘Ugh, that Taigia. I’ll have to hurt him later for lying to me. People are staring at me.’ Finally, Lynne just had to ask.

“Taigia. Why is everyone staring at me? Did you lie to me? Is there something on my face? Why is it people stare at me?” Lynne asked with a slightly sad and panicked tone.

“No way. Nothing’s on your face, except the scar, and I didn’t fib. People find you gorgeous.” Taigia guaranteed her. When they got to the inn, it wasn’t very eventful, other than Lynne discovering that Taigia had been here before and unintentionally devoured a table once. When they got to the room after dinner, Lynne made a bed on the floor and slept.

the sun rose, Lynne woke and found Taigia asleep still. She decided that she wanted to see the sights of the town, so she put on a cloak complete with hood to cover her and some tough boots. After a few moments, she had a pack of brawny, dirty, and untrustworthy looking guys follow and corner her in a murky alleyway.

“Where are you going little missy? Don’t you need an escort?” the leader asked.

“Yeah, we’ll show you where the real fun is, but for a price.” A lankier guy stated.

“I am in no need of any of you to assist me in going about this town.” Lynne said curtly.

“Oh. A feisty one, eh? I like ‘em feisty. Cute and feisty.” Another one chuckled and then began to advance on her. He reached out with a grimy hand and seized her cloak, tore it from her body, and attempted to pull her garments off of her. Lynne, outraged, kicked the thug in the gut and tossed him out of her way. Once her way was clear, she allowed her fingernails to grow claw-like. The thugs noticed this, and pulled out their weapons.

“You little wench. You’ll pay for what you did to Georgio. Taste the cold of my blade.” One of the tall guys said as he rushed at her. Once he was around a foot from her, she leapt over him and clawed him in two. After five minutes, Lynne eradicated all of the thugs and burnt their remains into ash to be blown out by the winds and let her fingernails return to normal.

She returned to the inn after cleaning off and met Taigia there in the lobby.

“Are you ready to go now?” Taigia asked. Lynne nodded and they left.

After a few hours of walking east, they came to a grotto. After Lynne turned back into her normal form, she ventured in along with Taigia, took an extraordinary precious green stone, and dashed out in time to save them from the traps set up by whoever put the jewel there. As soon as they were turning away from the grotto, a giant plant-like creature came at them. Lynne tried to claw the beast, but this only resulted in getting large thorns lodged in her paw. Taigia chopped it in half with his battle-ax, but this only made it divide into two. Lynne took out her element sword and invoked the element of fire and burnt the two beasts to cinders. Lynne put the sword in her sheath and removed the thorns from her wounded paw. As they were about to proceed, Lynne got really light headed and she fell to her knees.

“Taigia, the thorns were poisoned. I cannot heal myself from poison. Do you have an antidote of some sort?” Lynne asked composedly. Taigia rummaged around through his bundle, brought out a bottle, and opened it for her. Lynne’s strength was dispersing, but she was capable of drinking the foul flavored fluid. After swallowing, she performed a weightless mantra so it would be easier for Taigia to carry her. Taigia took her onto his back and headed towards his home.

As Lynne slept on Taigia’s back, she had a realistic premonition about a light grey, brown eyed, great wolf running across immense grasslands headed towards it’s remote dwelling.

‘What a bizarre dream. This feels strange.’ Lynne thought while sleeping.

Whilst Lynne awakened, she was lying on a comfortable couch and covered up with a warm blanket in what appeared to be the den of a house. Feeling sheltered and protected, she started purring, and was soon joined with Taigia’s black cat, Black Flame. Taigia walked by the hall, gazed through the doorway and heard them purring. He watched them momentarily and then walked off while shaking his head.

The wizard continued down the hall and into his workshop and started examining the gem while performing tests on it. After two hours of work and burning off his eyebrows, he wisely decided it was time for a snack. Before walking into the kitchen, he heard sounds of food being devoured. Ready for battle, the wizard leapt around the doorway and expected to have to fight of some goblins, but only found Lynne after eating half of his food supply.

Taigia, with his jaw literally to the floor and his eyes popped out of his sockets, exclaimed, “ You…you ATE all of MY FOOD!!! I am VERY HUNGRY!” Taigia almost looked as though he were to either cry or scream.

Kicked out of the house for a while, Lynne decided to go hunting for goblins. After six hours of hunting, the very dirty Lynne slinked back to Taigia’s house and sat by the door for an hour of catnap time. She woke to a bucket of cold-water being dumped all over her and then was thwacked on the head with the bucket.

“What do you think you are doing? You are very filthy and on my porch. Take a bath.” Taigia all but glared while he said that. Reluctantly, Lynne went to the guestroom and took a bath in a tub. After she was cleaned and dressed in clean clothing, Lynne went to the den and plopped down on the couch and somehow fell asleep. Sometime later Taigia took a shortcut through the den to get to the library when he found Lynne asleep and shivering. Seeing that she was cold, he carefully covered her with a blanket and continued to the library. Lynne woke sometime later and found herself nice and warm with a blanket on her and Black Flame on her legs.

After a feline conversation, Lynne took the form of a regular house-cat. She was ginger with charcoal stripes, grey-blue eyes, and dainty, yet slightly larger than normal paws. They snuck around the house until they got to Taigia’s library and they observed him carefully. They counted to three and pounced on his butt with claws extended. Taigia ran around the house hollering and screaming like a child. The cats ran outside onto the roof and laughed. Taigia went to his armory and got out a bow and a quiver of arrows. He ran out and randomly fired onto the roof, missing them every time due to his bad aim and judgment. Eventually Lynne and Black Flame came down and Taigia forgave them. To repent, Lynne cooked a delicious meal for Taigia, and everything was forgiven.

Lynne slept in a bed that night, but dreamt of Astire. She remembered when they first met. A warm day when Lynne was six, her family went to Felaria for a month. Lynne was playing in the garden when some kids ran past her, pushing her down in the process. When she fell, she had skinned her knee on some rocks. An eight-year-old Astire came to see what was wrong.

“What’s wrong? Did those kids hurt you?” Lynne, with her eyes filled with tears nodded as she sobbed. Astire knelt by her and spoke bravely. “I’ll go and get them for you. Don’t worry one bit. No one should do this to anyone.” Astire picked a flower and gave it to her to cheer her up. Just as Astire was about to go and get ‘revenge,’ Lynne, with a shaking voice, spoke out to him.

“No. It’s ok. If I can’t handle this and need to be bailed out, then I am pathetic. Thank you for your kindness.” Lynne stood and smiled, her fur still wet with tears. She held out her hand and smiled broadly. “My name’s Lynne, princess of the Tigerians. What’s your name?” Astire stood and took her hand.

“My name’s Astire. I’m the prince of the Felarians. I guess you and your family will be staying with us. I hope to become better friends with you.” Lynne woke with a start and saw Taigia in the doorway.

“Um…you were crying in your sleep. I came to check on you. Are you okay now?” Taigia said with worry in his voice. Lynne nodded and wiped her face.

“Thank you for your concern Taigia.” With that, Taigia left and Lynne went back to sleep.

The next day, Taigia was in his study examining the strange gem. He had chipped off a piece for further examination but he soon became baffled and went out to the den to seek Lynne’s counsel.

“Lynne, what do you think of this? I know that this is not a normal gem. I can’t make heads or tails of it.” Taigia casually tossed her the jewel. Lynne examined the jewel and spoke.

“I don’t know, Taigia. This is an odd item. You’re right, this isn’t as it appears.” Lynne smoothly threw the gem back to Taigia. This initiated a game of catch until Taigia unintentionally threw the jewel outside.

“Oops.” Taigia whispered. The emerald shattered into many shards and caused an explosion. When the dust cleared, a massive beast was in the front yard. The creature was repulsive beyond belief, gigantic, possessed sharp claws, yellowed teeth, and lusting for blood.

“Oh great. Another monster at my house. I suppose that this is my fault. Well, let’s hop to it.’ Taigia sighed. The hulking beast loomed over the house and salivated massively as he seized a frightened Lynne. Taigia, seeing his friend in danger, summoned his ax and wedged it the monster’s rump. The beast wailed in pain and tossed Lynne into him. The surprised wizard was hit head on by a flying cat-girl that left him with his eyes swirling and his battered body lying on the ground. Taigia was only stunned momentarily before he threw Lynne off himself and jumped to his feet.

Lynne, being feline-like, landed on her feet. At the moment that she landed, she sprang back into the fight with her sword blazing. Taigia magically called his ax to his hand, and it flew from the creature’s buttocks as he effortlessly caught his ax by its staff.  Taigia threw magical fire at the beast causing it to catch aflame. As the creature writhed in agony, Lynne decided to hurl a spirit blast at its chest. The monstrous creature blew up and spewed blood all over the house. Lynne looked at the gigantic mess and groaned.

“I guess I’ll start cleaning this right away.” With that, Lynne scrubbed the house. As soon as she was done with the feat, a gigantic rainstorm blew in. Lynne started yelling and screaming about bad timing. Taigia came out and looked at her.

“I could have told you it was going to rain. You just didn’t ask.” Lynne had a giant vein popping out of her head as she tackled Taigia. After he had fallen, she sat on him and pulled on his cheeks. Lynne went and made a sandwich snack with tea.

That evening, while it was still storming, a tall, cloaked figure approached the house. Lynne sat up to attention and sniffed the air.

“There’s someone here Taigia. He smells familiar.” Lynne exclaimed.

“Like roast beef?” Taigia asked.

“No…” Lynne answered slowly.

“Darn…then it’s not my butcher.” Taigia said lightheartedly.

The figure neared the door and knocked once, twice, then thrice.

Taigia lazily got up and walked to the door, Lynne offered to get it but the wizard insisted.  He opened the door and looked at the tall, cloaked person.

“I hear there is a powerful wizard here that can perform great feats of magic to heal ones self, is this true?” The cloaked one spoke.

Taigia blinked and smiled, “Yes it is, if you could only tell me what is the matter I am sure I could be of some assistance.” All the while Lynne was standing in the shadows, analyzing the man. The voice was the same and the smell was the same but she was waiting to be sure.

“The matter is...” The man pulled off the hood of his cloak to reveal a Tigerian face, “I have lost my memory” there was a great flash of lightning that revealed that this was no average Tigerian, he was…is the long dead prince Gaven. Lynne screamed in happiness, forgetting everything that her brother had just said and bounced toward him in a hyper act of jubilation. Lynne threw herself onto the once thought dead Gaven and hugged him while crying tears of joy.

“Gaven! I can’t believe it’s you! You…you were dead…but you’re here! I can’t believe it. Where have you been? How have you been doing?” As Lynne bombarded him with questions, Gaven spoke.

“I’m sorry…but I don’t remember you. Who are you?” He spoke. Lynne frowned.

“Me? You don’t remember me? How can you not remember me?” Lynne started yelling at Gaven about how anyone could forget someone like her. Gaven lifted her off of him and threw her out of the window into the rain with a look a mix of shock, confusion, and fear. Gaven looked at Taigia.

“What was that about?” he said. Taigia just shrugged.

“Don’t worry about it.” The two men went inside with the door unlocked, and talked while awaiting Lynne’s return. Gaven was sitting in front of the fire when a soggy Lynne got back with her head hanging down and her hair casting a darkened shadow over her eyes. Taigia could tell that something was wrong with her.

 “What is wrong?” Taigia asked. Lynne broke into tears and cried on Taigia’s shoulder.

“My brother doesn’t remember me! That’s worse than not having a family.” Taigia just patted her back and told her that everything would be all right. Gaven stood up from the hearth and walked over to Lynne.

“I know that I don’t remember you but I will try.  Anyway Taigia can restore my memories.”  Gaven said positively. The Pyromancer just sat there and mumbled something; Gaven looked at him and asked, “What was that Taigia?”

“I can’t restore your memories” Taigia looked up at Gaven as he spoke with clarity. Taigia’s face was a mask of sorrow; “I’m sorry Gaven”

“Why can’t you?  You’re a wizard!  Please fix his memories I beg of you.”  Lynne shouted with desperation at Taigia. Taigia looked at her pleading eyes and shook his head.

“You don’t understand.  I can’t. It isn’t as simply as sealing a wound.  It is his mind, and his memories will come back to him in time.” Taigia doesn’t have the heart to tell them that his memory could be lost forever.

Lynne sighed as she got up and went to the kitchen to make snacks and drinks for the two men. As she was there, Lynne recollected all her times she had with her brother, from their infancy to his passing. When she got back, Taigia and Gaven were having a nice manly conversation. Lynne gave them the refreshments, said goodnight, and went to her room. Once she closed the door, she went to her bed and cried into her pillow as she tried to sleep.

When Lynne awoke at dawn, she decided to prepare a very delicious breakfast. She went to the kitchen and started up the range, preparing to make French toast, scrambled eggs, and bacon. Gaven truly proved himself as the Tigerian prince as he made a pig of himself at the table. Taigia could only watch with his mouth agape as Gaven ate more than he ever could. Lynne was too depressed to even look at the food that she made. After she cleaned the dishes, the kitchen, and the table, she decided to clean the whole house.

When she completed, she went outside for some time to herself and hiked through the woodland. When she finally made it to a small clearing, she took in her surroundings. There were a few large stones by a brook that was running through the area. Lynne sat on one of the stones and wept her heart out.

A passing horde of goblins heard the Tigerian princess’ sobs and found her defenseless. Seeing Lynne as an easy target, the horde decided to abduct her and keep her for target practice for the young ones then feast upon her battered flesh when she became weakened. The horde’s chief sent a minion to capture her. As soon as he grasped her wrist and tried to haul her away, Lynne’s eyes snapped open as her hand went to smack the minion due to her reflexes. This angered the horde greatly, and Lynne knew it.

‘Oops. I think I’m just a bit outnumbered here, even if I am a Tigerian warrior.’ Lynne thought. She smiled sweetly, and then in the blink of an eye, she was running down the brook and deeper into the wooded area. She found a wall of trees with a small gap between two trees in the middle.

‘This is perfect! If I can only get to the other side, they will have no choice but to go through separately. How strategic.’ The princess thought. Lynne struggled to get through. She squeezed by some sharp rocks that protruded out from the ground. When she got to the other side, Lynne hid behind the trees that made the wall, awaiting her attackers to arrive. As she waited, Lynne drew her sword, but didn’t power it with an element. Sure enough, one by one, the goblins came through the wall and were slain by her. Just so the next one wouldn’t see the bloodshed, she pulled the remains away from the opening and waited the next goblin.

Lynne was too focused on the opening that she completely forgot that there were ways around the wall. Just as she had slain her tenth goblin, she was seized from behind and knocked out.

When she awoke late that afternoon, Lynne was in the same place, but the goblins had made camp around her.

‘I’m probably too heavy for them to carry. Perhaps they waited for me to wake so that I may trail behind them. This bites, these ropes are hurting me.’ Lynne mentally cursed herself for not being perceptive. Her guard looked at her menacingly, trying to make her feel inferior. Lynne gave it an intimidating look right back at him, which baffled it. The guard snarled at her and she snarled in return. The guard was quite at a complete loss as to why this maiden was undisturbed by it. It tried making faces at her, but she was able to do worse. It bared his teeth, but Lynne bared her fangs. It growled and snarled some more at her, but she glared and hissed at it, scaring him out of its wits. It tried to belittle her, but she was just as good at put-downs. Finally, the goblin prodded at her with its spear, getting a rewarding yelp from her. Content, the goblin went back to its duty.

‘Well, my options are to transform into Lei, but that would leave me just a tad bit drained. I could try to seduce a guard, but that’s just gross. I could try to untie the ropes with my tail, but I’m not sure if I can. I’ll try it any way.’ Lynne plotted her course of action and then tried it. She had her tail maneuver to her bound wrists, after several minutes she thought to herself once again.

‘I don’t think that this is exactly working. I’m not exactly sure how long I was knocked out, but I’m sure it was a long time because it’s rather dark now and I left in the morning. I should stop trying to untie myself with my tail…my tail is getting rope burn!’ Lynne whimpered to herself.

Lynne listened to the wind as a distraction from the stinging of her tail, the moon moved in the sky equal to an hour on Terra before her sensitive ears picked up the sound of goblins squeaking in fear, yelling in pain, and gurgling on their own blood.

All this sound was just the quietest whisper on the wind. The screams of the goblin horde became louder and closer between as the approaching massacre got nearer. Lynne watched as the Goblin Chieftain and four of his ‘best’ remaining warriors rushed toward her, the Goblin Chieftain’s scimitar gleamed in the moon light as he advanced to her, he raised the weapon above it’s head and in a rough, raspy voice spoke.

“Come any closer, and this woman gets the consequences.”

            Taigia slowly approached from behind Lynne, “Chieftain! I give in, take my life but do not harm the maiden.”

But before the chieftain could respond, a silhouette of orange-gold luster reflected by the moonlight was all she could see before the Chieftain’s head fell from his neck and to the ground with a sickening thud. The attacker, Gaven, had not had time to move an inch before Lynne’s goblin guard launched himself at the Tigerian Prince in a fit of rage. Gaven made no recognition of the goblin’s attack from his side as he lunged toward his next target.

Lynne watched with fear in her eyes for her newly found brother who was doing the opposite of everything he had ever taught her about being on her guard. She found that her fear was without reason as a golden crescent ax blade cut the goblin in two like it was warm butter. Gaven was prevailing just as well as he promptly disemboweled two goblins with a single swing.

As the agile prince was about to slice another goblin down the middle then it was hit by a fireball, blowing its right side mostly off and melting the rest.

The Pyromancer stood only a few feet from where he was when he destroyed Lynne’s guard with his hand smoking. Seeming almost effortless he threw his battle-axe at the last of the goblins, the creature was hit in his midsection by the spear on the top of the axe head.  The force of the weapon carried the little beast back and pinned him into the side of a tree.  Taigia strode over to the goblin and casted the pyromancy spell ‘burning hands,’ which immediately torched the goblin, but not the tree, to ash.

While Taigia was taking care of that, Gaven cut Lynne from her bonds and picked her up with relative ease.

Written by Laura