The Throne of the Tigress

Sister

 Tala laid in the shades of the forest, squinting her eyes against the sun that shone through the evergreen leaves of the forest, contented at her surroundings. She never wanted to leave this place, the only place she could call home, but time was running out and soon, her mother would be teaching her life lessons about how to go around marking one's territory and claiming it, as well as teaching her some essential battle skills that she would need for future dangerous encounters with other predators- especially another tiger.

      She was pulled away from her thoughts as she heard a rustle in the shrubs grown behind her. Her ears twitched and she raised her nose to catch the scent of whatever that might be. But before she could discern what it was, the animal revealed itself. 

       "Hello there sister," came a familiar voice. Tala got up in surprise and moved forward to bump heads with her sister in greeting. At Teroo's feet laid a dead fawn and Tala gave it a sniff, mainly out of curiosity but Teroo pushed her away with more force than usual. Surprised and slightly hurt, Tala backed away and sat down at a distance, watching Teroo's tail twitching backward and forward in agitation.

        "Where's mother?" Teroo's emerald green eyes flashed as she demanded an answer from Tala. "She's gone out hunting," Tala replied, and, confused by the way Teroo is acting, asked, "What's eating you?" True, Teroo has always been the more dominant one but she had never took advantage of Tala's submissive nature, or at least that's what Tala thought. 

        Teroo had started pacing around as Tala gave her the answer and she stopped when Tala asked her the last question. "Nothing Tala, I just killed my first prey. Obviously I won't want to tell mother about it," Teroo replied sarcastically and looked at Tala, mischief sparkling in her eyes. Tala's eyes widened, horrified at herself that she did not realize the great achievement of Teroo's, "Congratulations Teroo! Mother will be so pleased!" Tala playfully pounced on Teroo, her paws playfully batting at her ears. "Will you teach me those hunting moves?" she asked eagerly. 

         Tala thought that Teroo narrowed her eyes at this statement but as quickly as she had narrowed it, it resumed back to it's usual appearance, making Tala assure herself that it was the light and  shadows thrown by the trees that was playing with her eyes. "Of course, anything for you little sister," Teroo purred and nuzzled her affectionately.

          At this, they stopped play- fighting and Tala started licking her ruffled fur. Suddenly, Teroo shot up straight from her position on the ground and turned to Tala, saying, "I have to go somewhere for awhile, don't wait for me." And with that, she left Tala, her powerful jaws holding fast to the prey she had just caught, treating it as if it were her most prized possession. 

         Tala could only just stare at her back, as her very own sister who was supposed to be her constant companion, turned her back on her and disappeared into the shadows of this forest, leaving Tala to feel very alone.