Catch a Tiger by the Tail

Kyera's nails dug into her palms as the smell of blood filled her nostrils. Smears of red, hot and sticky. Warm air, the snarls and her own cries for help mingled on the wind. Helplessness flooded her body. All of it… all of it was her fault. Kyera glared at her.

How dare this woman live so happily ignorant of the plunder she had caused. The destruction of her own family, and yet she lived blissfully unaware. Kyera took a breath and met her yea. "You evil witch. You don't even deserve to speak their names. Your very tongue tarnishes all they ever stood for!" Kyera growled lashing out verbally because it took all she had not to launch herself at her mother…. No this beast.

She wanted to tear her apart and leave her as shattered as Kyera's own heart had been for so many long years. However, that's not what her brother's would have wanted. Her nails slowly released as she remembered her brothers forgiveness. Their kindness to believe their mother had her reasons. Not one reason could excuse her… not after all the pain and suffering they had endured.

"Come now, Kyera. My sons wouldn't hold a grudge this long." the woman tried to coax walking across the shallow river. The silent sound of something snapping deep inside Kyera's heart came out through her lips as a bemused chuckle. She turned her golden eyes on her mother and smiled in a twisted manner. "You will forgive me too. In time." she continued, giving her daughter a gentle smile.

"I suppose so. It's hard for the dead to hate anyone." Kyera replied shaking her head slowly. The older woman shot her a confused look that quickly turned to exasperation.

"Don't be so dramatic, Ky Mei." she replied with a chuckle wringing water out of her hair. Some stray droplets landed on Kyera's skin and she couldn't help but rinse them off as though they were drips of acid. "Tell me about my sons."

"They lay in a cross in the garden of our old home. Never to age a day past 15." Kyera replied her voice cold, filled with pain. The sound of flesh striking flesh and the fresh sting in her cheek did nothing compared to her heart's pain all these years.

The older woman shook her hand from having hit Kyera so roughly. "Lies. I've had enough Kyera. Do not curse your brothers. They love you."she growled and Kyera dug her nails into her palms.

"Loved. I am not lying to you Akita. Keenan, Kendrick, Kain, and Konner were all laid to rest in our garden 12 years ago. Less than a year after you abandoned us. Your paws are stained with their blood." Kyera roared at her in anger. The beast within she had made so many efforts to control was clawing to get out. She fought back the tears struggling against every urge to cry. The accursed tears overflowed down her cheeks despite her efforts.

"How…" the words were soft as she looked away, unable to look into Kyera's eyes. She knew now she was wrong.

"No. I'm not reliving it for you. My brother's were murdered and it's your fault." Kyera replied turning her back on the pitiful looking woman. There was a small side of Kyera that felt for her, having learned her sons were dead and her remaining child hated her deeply. However that side was overpowered by the side of Kyera that woman had abandoned and the pain her brothers had endured to raise her.

Without another word Kyera took a step, and then another step away from the woman.

"Ky Mei…" the woman began and Kyera froze.