The Tiger Within 413 Return To The Real World

The brothers wasted no time in bringing Clovis to the tree at the heart of their gardens. The first life tree stood tall and proud, leaves glowing with the power of the shadow realm, like silver edges to the snow white flowers. It looked as magical and precious as every drop of nectar it provided was known to be. Kendrick handed Clovis a vial filled with the silver liquid.

"What do I do with this?" He asked just for clarity.

"You will give that Vial to the Flower's vessel. She will drink the nectar down and it will rejuvenate her body. The flower will feed from it inside her rather than her soul and life blood. Next year we will do this yet again with a new champion." Konnor explained with a bit of a soft smile. Clovis frowned as he remembered all the h.e.l.l he had been through.

"Seriously? Every year someone faces those woods and has to travel here, get this and head back?" He asked realizing exactly how many have most likely lost their lives trying to complete this task. There had to be a better way.

"Well no. It only needs to be completed once every 5 years but, since they have a less… stable success rate they try yearly." Keenan explained shaking his head. "That's why I have decided to be an escort. At least they will make it to the tree each year."

"I see… Well how do I get home then?" Clovis asked honestly ready to be back among the land of the living. There was a good chance everyone was worried about him back home. If only he knew the truth.

"We will send you back through the stable portal. It is tricky though. You have to think of where you want to go, and be sure its true in your heart. If you waiver, even for a second, you will end up wherever you wished last." Keenan cautioned him and Kendrick smirked softly as he looked up.

"Or it will just split you in half which is… a gorey business at best." Kendrick offered as if it was a decent option. Clovis swallowed slowly, taking this into account.

"Alright, lets.. Try it then." Clovis replied and Keenan nodded. He traced a tall arch onto the trunk of the snow tree. The door way he drew seemed to glow with energy as he completed a set of runes at the top of the door. He stepped aside.

"Focus on where you want to be, hold onto it with everything you have and walk through this arch." Keenan instructed carefully. "Give our sister our love. Come back and visit next year… I… we would all love to see her alive… and healthy." Keenan added.

"Alive being the key word there. We are in no rush to have her join us." Konnor added, stressing the main point in his brother's words. They all wished for her to have a full life.

"You better take care of her." A fourth voice warned him from a few steps behind. CLovis turned back to see Kain, standing where he had dropped down from the tree. The middle brother and the Fourth Prince held eyes for several moments. Clovis offered his hand for Kain to take. He did so, large palm in the smaller hand.The fourth prince pulled him into a half hug.

"I will take care of her. She's happy, she misses you but shes happy. I will do my best to keep it that way." Clovis replied before letting go and stepping through the doorway.

There was a swirl of color as his mind locked on the front room of the palace, but his mind drifted to Kyera. His heart called to her, holding onto her smile, her expression. The way she spun with him during that dance. Slowly the spinning stopped. He stood beside the fire in a dim lit room where the air was too heavy for him to understand.