The Tiger Within 646 Daxin

Smoke and cold Winds made flying over the Palace gates uncomfortable. Below the Dragon's bellies the once proud forest was thinner now as smaller trees had been removed to make way for the refugee camps that were being built. From the sky, any dweller of the Bazar would be able to tell this was s.h.i.+fter work. The little camps were built in a way that blended them in with the forest, and Kyera was willing to bet she could walk through the forest right now and none of the dwellings would be obvious, unless you looked from above.

"Should we land?" Ember asked still circling above in slow careful rounds, his flying partner, a fire dragon who seemed to be interested in staying close to him suddenly. She was silent though and had yet to say a single word to Kyera. Since she wasn't a daughter of the Storm, she wasn't required to answer to Kyera the same way as the Storm Dragons did. Yet, she was required to show her respect.

"Yes,  we must but the question is where. I don't want you, Seri, Night, Via, Tinti and Kae to be in danger and I'm not sure how long we will have to stay. I'm expecting at least 2 trips to get the Forest Knights out of here." Kyera replied, her heart burned with the conflict below her.

On one hand, the forest knights were these people's only hope. Empress Vivian was strong willed, but she was not a warrior and her guards were trained for defense. They could never take on a full onslaught of s.h.i.+fter kin. It was simply a fact since their idea of an army was still being regrown from the great war. A kingdom with few subjects had even fewer warriors and the war had culled both quite heavily, and now with the persecution of their main warrior base…

"Land there, in that clearing. You and Seri can protect it and that waterfall should be able to cover at least 1 side of your shelter." Kyera instructed as she forced her mind back to the present. There was no time to worry about the effects of her actions.

Too many of her kin had died, and it was time to remove them from here. They would at least be safe in the Shadow Veil Lands. Kyera sighed heavily, closing her eyes and forcing the heart ache away. She could not save the ones who were not her own, not when they persecuted her people.

She landed the dragons and slipped off Ivory's back. "Stay alert. I will return as soon as I can." Kyera told them before turning to s.h.i.+ft form. The Tigress within her sprang free and dashed into the forest. Her nose dented the air searching for anyone she knew. Most of the smells were new, people and places she didn't know mixed with the smoke from fires both destructive and cooking.

The first smell that caught her attention was a relief. The old wolf bounded toward her from the opposite direction, he was obviously exhausted. His coat was dark with grime and his eye was crusted shut as if the injury had nearly taken his site. Kyera could tell he had been tortured. Whip markings clear beneath his fur.

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"Daxin?" She gasped, reaching out to touch his fur with a paw. The magic in her instantly began to heal him, and as her paw brushed over his eye, it cleaned the crust away.

"Princess it is not safe. We must get you out of here. Vivian is in the dungeons, most the s.h.i.+fters have slipped out and escaped. The Forest Knight Core is all that's left but if they knew you were here…" he shook his head pulling her behind a group of trees and boxes.

"What are you talking about, Daxin? Vivian is where now?" Kyera asked suddenly feeling a chill down her spine. Were things worse than she feared?

"Vivian is in the dungeons. Bastil shoved her down there and took over because she refused to slaughter the s.h.i.+fters within the palace." Daxin replied his eyes darting around looking for signs of danger.

"Things are worse than I feared. How many of our Kin and friends are still here?" Kyera asked honestly worried.

"Seven, just the core. The others left to help the refugees escape." Daxin informed her and Kyera nodded. Then froze.

"The refugees? He threw them out?" She asked her blood turning to Ice.

"Yes. The people here are mercenaries and s.h.i.+fter hunters. All the 'useless' villagers were forced out when Vivian was put in prison. The Forest Knights escorted them to the Shadow Veil in secret, it is said that King Mordakai welcomes them to his land." Daxin explained and Kyera felt that Ice turn to searing fire as anger raged through her.

"This has gone too far. We need to get Vivian and leave here. Now." Kyera growled and Daxin sighed.

"It may not be easy but at least everyone is distracted by the royal wedding." Daxin added and Kyera raised a brow.

"Come again?"