The Tiger Within 436 The Fallen Cradle

"We need to go see The Mother, Kyera." Cora replied, standing up and reaching for Kyera's hand. The shadow princess seemed surprised, but took the serpent's hand and stood up beside her.

"You… wait I'm." Kyera trailed off her hand coming to rest on her tightly corseted tummy. Cora moved beside her and began loosening the corsetry as a answer. The princess froze, her mind lost in thought as she tried to figure out how to process this news. Her hand came up to touch her stomach, all the little things over the last few weeks adding together in her head.

Panic. She felt panicked, that was the only way to describe the feeling in her chest. She pulled away from Cora and back up from the fire… one...two… three… four…. Five steps back and she turned away from then. In a blur of white fur a tigress ran into the forest, away from them. Cora went to follow but Daxin grabbed her arm.

"Don't. Let her go. Our Princess is having a emotional moment. She won't go far, but she will run further if we follow her." Daxin warned her, worry in his eyes. On one hand, she expected her response. On the other hand however, he had desperately hoped she wouldn't freak out. Pregnancy should be a joyous thing… should.

"I don't understand, why is she…" The fox girl asked cradling her baby close as she stood up.

"Because she is Princess Kyera Shade of the Moon… her past is checkered, her power even more so, and her heart's still broken whether she admits it or not." The tiger boy behind them was standing near the forest edge now, having just dropped down from the tree. "Our Princess… princess is the least of her worries."

"Talis speaks true. Kyera has many things on her mind. The question is, how will she handle it." Daxin agreed shaking his head gently.

"I don't know, but I know where she's going and I know who she needs to see." Talis replied turning into tiger form and running off into the forest before Daxin could stop him.

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

In the Fallen Forest

A tree stood tall, several trunks merged at the base and stretched high into the sky, as though it was a cradle. The legend told that this was where the Lady had fallen and given her life to protect Shadow Veil. This was the place she cast her final words to the air and protect the forest and all its creatures. She had lost her life, and it drained away in the very tree that held her soul.

The greenery nearby was lush and vibrant, and birds and squirrels had made those thick branches their home. The Nesting Place was a Crux for life and vitality. It was the best of safety in the forest where death could wait around any corner if you knew where to look. A soft moss had grown at the base of the cradle, as if providing a bed for weary travlers. On this moss, a figure of pale skin and white hair was resting. Her eyes were closed as she lay, cradled by the tree. Her hands gently rested on her stomach, while her eyes were directed inward, searching herself for answers.

Shadows seemed to bend around the tree, swirling and darting in both cheer and concern. It was a awkward mix, but the joyous occasion was marked only by the mother's uncertainty. A pair of soft footsteps sent the shadows into attack mode, but then they seemed to calm.

A man walked forward, he looked down at the woman, vulnerable and yet not defenseless. She would never be so careless as to not be defended here. However, her aura poured emotion into the tree as the tree tried to heal her wounded spirit.

He leaned against the tree, he felt its heart beat and looked down at his wife.