The Tiger Within 99 Learn Something New Part 1

She also didn't like that she couldn't find the trap Rashan actually fell into. So, there was at least 1 more trap that she hadn't found and if there's one hidden that well, chances are there are more.

As kyera was lost in this thought process, she failed to notice the little feet tiptoeing along behind her. Raina was waiting for the right moment to pounce on her, but it seemed her prey seemed to be deep in thought. After a while of trying to decide, 5 seconds in real time but eternity in little girl time, Raina grabbed her hand.

Kyera started and nearly went into attack mode but her body stopped. The warm spice and water sent filling her mind. Sure enough when she looked down Raina's adorable little face stared straight ahead as if nothing had happened. Kyera's mood lifted as she gently squeezed the child's hand making her look up with a overly innocent expression. "Lady Kyera?" Raina asked as they walked along the garden path, luckily no one else seemed to be around. Kyera wasn't in the mood for misunderstandings and glares she didn't understand.

"Nothing, Princess Raina. How can I be of a.s.sistance?" Kyera asked with a smile. Raina's little eyes froze for a moment as she realized the flaw in her plan. She had no reason to seek Kyera out. She floundered for a moment for a appropriate response and a conversation with the little fairy in her pretty cage.

"I wanted to go look for fairies at the stream but they are tricky. I hoped you would go with me." Raina replied quickly, hoping she didn't sound too eager. However her little face gave it all away and Kyera struggled not to grin.

"As you wish, Princess. May I ask why your interested in the Water Fae?" Kyera asked curiously as the pair continued down the way to the stream. Her golden eyes keeping on the trail beneath their feet and the undergrowth around them. Raina thought for a moment and Kyera could sense her indecision. "Be honest with me, Princess. You don't have to be a royal in the woods."

"I want to see them dance. My fairy friend said that they are some of the prettiest dancers alive." Raina admitted a touch sheepishly. Kyera was baffled for a moment. 'Why would this cause the child so much embarra.s.sment?' she wondered looking her over. Then a thought flashed across her mind.

"Do you like dancers, Princess?" Kyera asked as they neared the water. Raina nodded enthusiastically and Kyera couldn't help but chuckle. This little one was so vibrant and full of life. It was a ray of suns.h.i.+ne in a world filled with darkness marks and traps.

"So where do we find the fairies?" Raina asked and Kyera looked at the river. Dancing swirls of bubbles twirled on the surface. Most the foam a direct result of the Phoenix Ash waterfall she had taken a nap on previously. The smooth rocks glimmered in the sunlight as the water glowed over them. The bubbles swirling and occasionally popping told Kyera all she needed to know.

"They are here little one, but they are hiding." Kyera replied, kneeling down to her level. She pointed at the swirling bubbles "The Fae like to dance on bubbles. That's why they spin. Now we just need to ask them politely to show themselves." Kyera replied showing her the clues she herself had found. Endless patience was a virtue with children and Fae alike.

"Okay, pretty fairies will you please show yourselves so we can watch you dance?" Raina asked sweetly and Kyera smiled as the bubbles stopped spinning. The stagnant form was a little unnerving in such a pretty moving stream. You never realize how natural that spin looks till it no longer does. Raina looked up sadly. "Did they leave?"

"No Princess… they are deciding if they should or not." Kyera replied taking a small satchel from her bag. She tipped it into her palm, a few small pebbles fell into her hand. She had intended to trade them for fairy water but there were plenty more in the forest and they only had power if given as a gift from non fae folk. She took two light blue stones and handed them to Raina. "Toss these into the water."

Raina nodded obediently and tossed the stones toward the water. She was careful to throw them away from the oven dancing bubbles. As the stones arched toward the water each was snapped out of the air by tiny sets of pale ivory hands.