The Tiger Within 191 Emotionless

By the time Kyera came back out, both adults were sitting in silence by the water. "Akira, Verone is dead. Daxin, what happened?" Kyera's voice was void of emotion as she dropped the facts on her mother. It took a few seconds for her words to sink in.

"We don't truly know. All we found was blood by the river. A lot of it. We hunted the forest, and Can't find any sign of him. We think he fell in the river… at least what was left of him." Daxin tried to recount best he could. He couldn't bare to go into detail. The pain he expected would have been better than the reaction he got.

Nothing. There was no response in Kyera's eyes. She didn't seem to be there.

"Do we know he is dead? Could he have hidden or got help from a wild clan?" Akira tried to reason. Daxin looked at her coldly. "You should have found a body."

"It is possible that the killer took Verone's body. He had beautiful fur. A rug or a trophy isn't… out of the question." Kyera whispered, her own cynical tone catching both elder-s eyes. They wanted to dispute it. To erase that gruesome thought from her mind. Yet neither could, it was all too likely.

"Kyera…. I needed to tell you in person but if the humans find me again…" Daxin began and Kyera nodded.

"You will stay with me in the Rebellion hide out tonight. Tomorrow I will have Lazren take you outside the walls as his uncle. You can take it from there." Kyera replied, leaving him no room to argue. She was in leaders.h.i.+p mode and he didn't want to challenge her. "Thank you for your concern, Akira. The Empress Dowager will need you. Go home."

Akira hesitated for a moment… but bid fare well and sauntered away. Kyera turned and led Daxin back to the tree. They were silent for most the walk, Kyera in her own head and Daxin had no idea what to say. He wasn't even sure what she was thinking… if she was.

"Tell the Clan I will be home as soon as my contract is fulfilled. Sooner if i can. Manage it." Kyera broke the silence first, and Daxin was greatful. At least this way he had a understanding.

"Alright. I will let them know. As far as now goes… Talis…" he began and Kyera raised her hand.

"Talis will lead the clan while I am gone. If news needs to get to me, come to the gates and say you have information for Kyera Moon. They will let you in." Kyera added. Her words were so one note, it was unnerving. Then he realized what she said and jolted a bit in surprise.

"Kyera what the h.e.l.l do you have going on here?" He asked, finally unable to maintain his curiosity. She was wearing a hair pin in tiger form. There was some silent form of communication between her and that Prince. So many layers… so much he just didn't understand. She was indoors!

"Daxin, it's not easy to explain. To put it simply, there's a hierarchy here. The humans have familiars like we used to talk about in stories. Somehow, in protecting Mally and the other s.h.i.+fters I ended up Clovis' familiar. That's the simple big." she explained calmly, honestly super simplifying it. He nodded, that made him feel a touch more relaxed.

"The complicated part then?" he asked knowing there was more.

"As a Human they know me as Kyera the healing student of HalfEye the Shadow Shaman. I serve the palace as a healer and disappear to 'training' when I need to beast out." Kyera explained and Daxin chuckled. He had to admit he was impressed by her resourcefulness. At his age and intelligence, he wasn't sure he could have come up with a better way of hiding in this palace.

"Then that only leaves one question." Daxin added glancing over at her so he could see her reaction. "Do you have a child patient?" he asked smoothly. Kyera's face spoke before she ever opened her lips. The child wasn't a patient, and Kyera was troubled by the question.