Catch a Tiger by the Tail

Kyera laid at the top of the rocks basking in the sunlight. It had been a few days since her capture now, but her wounds were still healing. The sound of the waterfall below her was relaxing. There had been few animals out this way or humans either, so she had rested well in peace.

She heard little footsteps long before she saw the child totter into the clearing on the pool bank. At first, Kyera ignored it, laying in the sun fairly sure the humans couldn't see her up here. Even if they could, the blasted collar should ensure they left her be.

The trappers had put a magic contract on her, despite every bit of magical and physical protest Kyera had been able to muster. As if that wasn't humiliating enough, they put a shiny new collar on her and brought her here. The leather smelled like deer pelt at least, not a wolf or tiger coat. It felt suffocating as the power of the spell gathered in the stone at the throat. Its magic clashed with the magic of her Shadow Stone, weakening the contract just a bit, making it more comfortable for Kyera, though still annoying.

They had moved her after that Prince had taken the body of that little wolf away. Put her in a cage and carried her here on the backs of 3 oxen. She hated every moment of if, being gawked at in the streets. Not only was she a tiger, a beast most commoners never saw much of or lived to tell the tales of, she was different. With white fur streaked with the silver rather than the black. So many commoners stared and she couldn't blame them. She was a rarity and she knew it. However, so did her captors. She could blame them, and she did. Bluntly showing her off like that when they could have draped the cage with cloth. They had taken her this place. The "Garden of Serenity" Kyera had read on the gate. How serene could a place be for those who were trapped here?

She was drawn from her thoughts by the realization that there was silence down below. With a bit of effort and a soft groan Kyera turned onto her stomach again and glanced down. She almost couldn't believe her eyes. It was her little Princess again.

'No wonder the garden was so grand, it must be attached to the royal palace!' Kyera realized as she sat up and looked around. She sighed 'why does it look like the child is alone. Again?' after studying her for a moment Kyera stood and began to carefully climb her way down. 'and crying too. Why do I keep finding her like this?' Kyera wondered as she leapt the last few feet to the grass. She jolted slightly at the pain in her shoulder. Her heart quivered for a moment as she worried after Talis, who had taken most the damage of that collision.