The Turtle King II: Leonardo's Pride *COMPLETED*

Chapter 6: 'Upendi' Tygra meets Rockwell

Words count: 2262

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Later that same night, to the open savanna at night. Tygra and Shuri lie on their backs, stargazing. "Did ya see that? Did ya see that?" Tygra asked. "What?" Shuri asked. Tygra chuckles. 

"Oh, wow." He said. He points at the sky. "Oh, look at that!" He said. "What?" Shuri asked. "It's really pretty." Tygra said. "Oh, yeah!" Shuri said. She laughs. "You're right." She said. She points at the sky. "Oh, look. There's one that looks like a baby rabbit." Shuri said. The stars above from the shape of a rabbit. "See the fluffy tail?" She asked. "Yeah. Hey!" Tygra said. He points at the sky. "There's one that looks like two lions killing each other for a scrap of meat." He said. The stars form the shape of two lions on their hind legs. He laughs.

Shuri flashes Tygra a concerned look. He doesn't notice. "Ah, I've never done this before." The mutated tiger said. "Really? My father and I used to do this all the time. He says all the Great Kings of the Past are up there. Hm." Shuri said. "Do you think Tigerclaw's up there?" Tygra asked. 

Shuri looks pointedly at Tygra. After a moment, he stands and walks away. She sits up in concern. He sits at a distance from her, his shoulders hunched. "He wasn't my father, but he was still...part of me." Tygra said. Shuri stands and strides towards Tygra. "My father said there was a...a darkness in Tigerclaw that he couldn't escape." She said. 

She kneels down as she sits next to Tygra. "Maybe there's a darkness in me, too." He said. Shuri touches one of Tygra's legs, then nuzzles him. Tygra purrs. After a moment, Tygra nuzzles Shuri back.

On a nearby hill, Leonardo surveys Tygra and Shuri. He looks up at the stars. "Father, I am lost. Tygra is one of them." Leonardo said. He bows his head. "Tigerclaw's heir." He said. Leonardo looks up at the stars. "How can I accept him?" He asked. Someone is standing a few inches away from him.

"Leonardo?" She asked. Ariella strides towards Leonardo, then sits next to him. "I was seeking counsel from the Great Kings." Leonardo said. "Did they help?" She asked. Leonardo sighs as he looks up at the stars. "Silent as stars. My father would never—" He said. Ariella nudges Leonardo. 

"Oh, my Leonardo. You want so much to walk the path expected of you. Perhaps Tygra does not." Ariella said. Leonardo's eyes widen. "What?" He asked. He turns to Ariella. "How do you know what-?" He asked.

Ariella chuckles. "I can see them down there just as easily as you can. Get to know him and see." She said. Ariella turns and strides away. After a moment, Leonardo follows her.

Tygra and Shuri continue to nuzzle. The mutated two-different colored eyed tiger pulls away from Shuri abruptly as he clears his throat. "What's wrong?" Shuri asked. Tygra strides away, then sits at a distance from Shuri. "Nothing." He said. Shuri approaches. "Tygra..." She said. 

Tygra looks back at Shuri. He starts to walk towards her. "It's just that, my whole life, I've been trained to..." He said. Tygra bows his head as he sighs. "Nothing." He said. Tygra walks away. "I gotta go." He said. "Tygra, wait." Shuri said softly. Tygra hesitates, looking back at Shuri.

She stares at him imploringly. After a moment, he keeps walking, only to be halted by a hand that emerges from the grass and pokes him in the nose. "And where are you going?" Rockwell asked.

The mutated, two different eye colored tiger was confused. "Nuh...nowhere." Tygra said. Rockwell pops out of the grass. "Ha! That's what you think." He said as he points at Tygra. Rockwell ducks back into the grass. Tygra bends down to look for him. Rockwell laughs as the grass stalks wave behind Tygra as Rockwell races away. Shuri watches him go. Tygra looks over one shoulder. "Who was that?" He asked. "Uh..." Shuri said apologetically. She sidles up to Tygra. "Friend of the family." She said.