Princess Warrior [ON HOLD]

12

"Family not only need to consist of merely those whom we share blood but also for those whom we'd give blood."
       - Charles Dickens.

As the tigress got closer, I didn't try to defend myself. So, we both fell on the ground. Her claws were digging deep into my shoulder blade once again. I ignored the pain as I stared deep into eyes that were so like that of Terra's. The tigress stopped in mid motion. She had been about to bite my neck. She stared deep into my eyes and I was sure she had seen something there.

I was suddenly so sure that she would be able to hear what I would say to her through my mind. So I said in my mind, "Your cubs are safe. I took them somewhere safe. I'll take you there if you just let me."

The tigress stared at me doubts written in her eyes. I remembered that I had carried Terra, so her scent was probably still on me. I said, "Smell me and see if you won't find my story true."

The tigress closed the distance between us as she brought her nose to my neck, a little above my collar bone. She was trying to catch her daughter's scent on me.

Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw my Father give the signal to the head archer as he adjusted his bow and pointed the arrow at the tigress. They probably thought she was trying to kill me.

The only thought that registered in my brain was that I had to save Terra's mum. I couldn't stop myself from yelling, "No!". Then I turned Terra's mother over and my body was covering her as I felt the arrow sink into my back at my left shoulder.

Shock and surprise was written in the tigress eyes. I tried to look up towards where the head archer was and I yelled at him with all my might, "Stop!!"

The archer didn't understand as he targeted the tigress once again. I managed to stand up on my feet and then, I yelled with all my might,"Stop shooting!!!"

The head archer looked at Father who only nodded at him. The archer dropped his bow. I sighed out of relief.

Then, I heard the crowd gasp and saw that they were not looking at me anymore but something beside me. I turned to my left and saw the tigress beside me. She was doing something really strange. She sat on her hunches and dipped her head forward. Her eyes clued to the ground. I didn't understand at first until it registered in my memory that she was doing a sort of bow. The tigress was bowing down to me.

I couldn't hide the surprise written all over my face. That means she believed me. As absurd as my story might have seemed, she still believed me.

I turned to the crowd and located my Father. I said, "Can I have my request now Father?"

Father nodded. Shock was also written all over his face. I could see he was trying so hard to conceal it and he was failing.

I said, "Give me the tigress Father. Let me have her to do whatever I please."

Father said, "You can have her, Princess Keren-happuch but only on the grounds that she won't harm anyone in the kingdom."

I said, "You have my word Father."

He nodded and said, "Then, it is done."

I turned and stared at the tigress. She stared at me utmost trust written in her eyes. I said to her, "I'll take you to your cubs."

I walked towards the gate of the cage and the tigress followed me closely behind. It was then the pain in my shoulder got increasingly painful. I remembered the arrow lodged in there. I broke the arrow. If I removed it, I would bleed a lot, so breaking it was the best option.

I felt the world spin around me. I was feeling dizzy but I couldn't stop now. I had to get the tigress to her cubs. Blood was seeping out of the wounds to my shoulder blade where the claws of the tigress had dug into my skin.

I stopped for a moment to steady myself. Then I took a deep breath and walked out of the cage with the tigress closely behind me.

I made my way past the attendants, past the crowd who parted like the sea for me and the tigress. No one made an attempt to stop me and for that, I was grateful.

I made my way out of the palace, past my drawing tree, up the hill and towards Comer's house. All the way, the tigress followed me.

The journey to Comer's house seemed to last forever. The stars were out and the moon shone brightly and it was cold. I was cold. I was bleeding and I was dizzy. I was barely holding on to reality. I could feel my consciousness slipping away from me from time to time but I was trying my best to hold unto it. I had to. For Terra and her family's sake.

Finally, we got to Comer's house. I didn't see him anywhere and I just led the tigress to the cage behind Comer's house.

Lo and behold, Comer stood there beside the cage. He didn't say a word to me as he opened the cage. Terra and her brother ran out of the cage with joy and surrounded their mother. The funny sounds of joy they were making brought a smile to my face.

Just then, Terra ran towards me. I scooped her up in my arms and hugged her furry little body. Then I dropped her beside her mother who only had gratitude in her eyes for me. I smiled at the tigress and said, "Take care of them and do not try to come back here. Go somewhere far away and safe where no hunter or such can reach you. Goodbye."

The tigress led her cubs out of the backyard towards the woods. I followed them. Just as they were about to enter the woods, the tigress looked back at me and so did the cubs. Then in a very loud voice in my mind, I heard the words, "Will. never. forget."

I gasped as the tiger family ran into the woods. Had the tigress just spoken to me? Had I really heard her? Was I dreaming? Was this some sort of hallucination or something? No, I had to be dreaming. It was too surreal. Just then, the darkness at the edge of my eyes seemed to overtake me and everywhere was dark as I fell into a deep, dark pit of unconsciousness.

***************************

When I opened my eyes, I was in a little room on a narrow bamboo bed facing a little window. I stared outside the window. It was dark outside. I sat up and noticed that my wounds were bounded and they hurt less. I stared outside the window and noticed that the moon was really high in the sky which meant that it was really late.

I sat up even though I was hurting all over. Just then, Comer walked into the room. He said, "You're up Princess."

I said, "Where am I? What happened?"

Comer said, "You fainted. I took care of you."

I was probably in Comer's house and it was this late. That meant that I had to go home to the palace before my Father, tears down the whole kingdom searching for me.

I stood up with some difficulty. I said, "I've got to go."

Comer nodded. He said, "Okay. What about your martial arts lessons Princess?"

I had almost forgotten about it. I said, "We'll start tomorrow."

Comer chuckled and said, "No Princess. Take a day off and get some rest. We will start the day after tomorrow."

I nodded as I walked out of the tiny room, out of the house and into the night.

Once I got outside, I turned around and noticed that Comer was behind me. I said to him, "Thank you for everything."

Comer nodded and smiled. Then, I turned and walked away back to the palace.

A/N: Hope you liked it. Don't forget to comment and vote. Hope the fight scene with the tiger was good enough. Tell me in your comments.

Blessings.

Lohluh.

//Do you think Keren was stupid and foolish in her decision to save the tigers? Would you have done the same in that situation?//