Catch a Tiger by the Tail

"Is something the matter, Dear one?" Kyera asked and Mally adjusted her bangs both of them painted and perfect but a stark difference between them. One looked as though she was a delicate lady, submissive and sweet with kindness in her very soul, like a lotus on the water. However, the other looked like a warrioress dressed to receive her prince after a long war. Warm, strong, and confident but also Gentle, soft, and graceful a balance of tiger and maid, Princess and warrior.

"You should have been born a queen." Mally whispered without thinking her words through. Kyera smiled tenderly at her friend.

"I was...Just not one of this world…" Kyera replied softly as Ping gently brushed his forehead into kyera's head letter her run her fingers over shadows between his ears. He set the earpiece into her hand, her crest glittering in the fire light. She slid it into place standing tall.

"Kyera…" Mally began but the confidence in Kyera's eyes silenced her. "We should meet the Emperor now." Mally finished, deciding against the words she was going to say. There was no reason for that now, not when they both needed to be of sound minds.

"Yes, we shouldn't keep the Emperor waiting. Thank you Ping." Kyera replied tilting her head to the fox who bowed before dashing off in a circle around her before disappearing into the land beyond.

Mally led down the hall, her hands clasped in front of her waist as she made her way through the hallways she now called home. Kyera mimicked the same stance as they went. The number of animals and humans that traversed these halls made Kyera sad.

'How was it they could tolerate the wild ones, but her own kind were so hated here? Did they realize how similar the two people were? What bred such deep hatred?' She wondered as they crossed the gardens between the Phoenix Palace and the Winter Rain Palaces.

The wind blew leaves and flower petals into the air to dance across the evening sky. The soft scent of cherry blossoms teased at her more human senses. She could do little other than truly enjoy them.

Before long, the pair reached a door with two guards at it. Each was dressed in long robes, with plate armour laying over vital points. Swords on their hips announcing their status. Kyera easily killed both of them in her mind, if she wanted to get past them… it would be all too simple.

Mally bowed as the two men looked her way. "The Emperor asked us to join him in the study." Mally told them her eyes bowed. Kyera waited, wondering what was going on. These customs were foreign to her. 'Why would the guards be standing inside? Did they not trust their Emperor to tend himself' She wondered, mentally noting to ask Mally about it later.