The Tiger Inside

Chapter 2|The Third Spring

The third spring was an exciting one for Flaw and for April. April had her second litter of cubs! And this time they had a father to care for them.

Clin was a father of the year old cubs and acted like a father to April's first litter as well. Meaning Flaw and the other six that survived. All of April's cubs loved him and she was happy to spend more time with her new kids.

"Only five survived this time,"She would say saddly," Out of six!" And then April would get really happy that almost all of her cubs survived their first winter. The runt died this time, because no one cared for him. Flaw always was ashamed in her mother for making her childhood sad. But that was the least of her worries. She was fully grown and other animals were telling her that she needed to mate before she died. That always scared Flaw, dieing. She had remembered seeing her dead, frozen brothers and sisters being dropped into the river. But she didn't want to rush mating. She wanted it to happen naturally, not just some random tiger come up and just be done with it. She wanted something like her mother had this time for her second litter. A father that was always going to be there and teach them how to hunt and teach the girls how to be lady like so other male tigers would be attracted to them. Yes if only Flaw had a father and a caring mother.

She didn't know how to be atractive. Or be lady like. She liked to kill animals and eat like there was no tomorrow. And she chased bunnies for fun and to burn calories. Almost no male finds eating and killing atractive. They like being relied on and knowing there more powerful than their wife. Not the other way around.

But Flaw didn't care, she just wanted to live in the moment. The moment that she could see her baby brothers and sisters. But Flaw thought on how her mother only had two more springs to live, which is one more litter of cubs. And Flaw wanted her cub to know they had a grandma and she wanted her mom to help her raise her kids.

"All in due time" Flaw mumbled to herself while playing with the youngest sister,"All in due time I will have my own cubs and a wonderful husband to father them and my sister to baby sit them." And that's all she knew for now, and she told herself that's all she needed to know. She knew not to let it get to her head. She knew better.

Clin was happy to take April's first litter in as his own, knowing that they grew up without a father. And he knew the old cubs would be thrilled to have a father figure in their lives. And that's just what they were. When April introduced him to her old cubs, they all asked if he would be their father form and act like their father. Of course he said yes and of course it all worked out in everyone's favor, especially Flaws. She was more than happy to know that her 'father' was almost exactly like her! Flaw and Clin spent all day talking while April was talking to her more valuable kids. Clin didn't like how his new wife treated Flaw in the past, but he couldn't do anything about it exepted for make her feel more loved. Flaw had actually grown quite beautiful and Clin was sure his cousins cousin would be interested in her. Clin knew that Flaw wanted to find a mate herself, and he respected that. He would just point Myu in the right direction.

"That's all I'll do." He thought while listening to Flaws life and how she's been searching for a mate and never having anything else to do.

By the end of the reunion, April's second litter had fallen asleep on one another and most of the first litter was gone due to boredom. All that was left were April, Clin, Flaw, Daisy, Sols, and Tatl. All of April's 'most ' favorite.

At the end when everyone departed April pulled Flaw aside and said,"Now listen Flaw, I know I was a bad mother in the past, but that doesn't mean I'm going to be bad this time around! I'm very sorry for not taking care of you as the runt. And I know that's why the runt died this time. He wasn't as strong as you. Even though you were crippled. I'm sorry."

As long of an apology that was, Flaw exepted it. She would forgive but never forget. She promised herself she would be a better mother no matter what. Even if all of her cubs were crippled. She would stay with them until the end. And that my friends, is a very hard promise to keep.

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As spring slowly got warmer and snow started to melt, Flaw knew summer was coming. And that also ment fall was right around the corner. And fall ment mating season. And she didn't have a mate. Yes, Clin did talk to his cousins cousin Myu. He hadn't found Flaw yet and both of them were getting worried about not having a mate when fall came.

It wasn't before long that Myu found Flaw catching some fish in a near by river.

"Hello there" Myu said friendly like.

Flaw looked up to see a handsome male tiger,"Oh, hello. What might your name be?"

"Myu. What is yours?" He didn't see why his cousins cousin had set him up for this. Yes, this tiger was gorgeous but he would have liked to find her himself.

"I'm Flaw. Nice to meet you. What part of the forest do you come from?" Flaw asked thoughtfully.

"Oh, just by eagle mountain, what about you?" Myu said, hoping that they lived near eachother.

"Wow. You live far," That crushed his hopes,"I live near Turtle Lake."

Myu was disappointed, he wanted someone close to home. Not someone that lived in or around Turtle Lake!

"Oh, Turtle Lake is beautiful." Myu complemented

"Yes, and so is Eagle Mountain."

"Why is your name Flaw when you are quite atractive?" Myu said without thinking.

"Oh, when I was born, I was the runt of the litter and had a crippled left hind leg," She said while wiggling her leg,"But I got better after they named me. Plus my mother didn't like me very much.."

Myu softened,"I'm sorry to bring up such a bad memory."

"Nah its fine, it's not my fault and it's not yours so why be sorry?" Flaw said thoughtfully so he wouldn't leave. She knew she wasn't going to mate with him, she just wanted a friend.

For the next couple of hours, they talked about Myu's cub life and how he was the first born of the second litter. They talked and talked and soon they both knew they wernt going to mate, but they liked each others company. And that was good enough for them.