It was a calm, dark night as a tall dark figure walked from the darkness to a tavern that was mainly known as a bandit and crook place to grab a drink. This one was neither of those things, but something even worse and greater.

Pushing the door open with its black bandaged paw, the figure was greeted with a sight full of wolves, crocs, rhinos , and warthogs. All of them turned their heads at the new guest. Few kept their eyes on him as the figure stepped into the light revealing he was wearing all black with a mask that covered his face and muzzle. The only thing that shown what species of creäture it was its black and white striped tail leading everyone to know it was a white tiger; gender remained unknown. What was most threatening about the one was it had two katanas placed over his back, a rope dart on its belt, and spiked bracelets on the wrists and ankles.

Heading straight to the bar being run by a Warthog, the tiger placed both paws on the counter and stared at him with dark amber eyes.

"Well? What'll it be?" snorted the Warthog, refusing to be afraid of this tiger. It was common for a masked figure to come in with weapons and disguises. To him the tiger was no threat ... for now.

"Lemon water," spoke the tiger in a smooth voice ( the tiger was male). "And make it fast! I didn't come all this way for slow service."

Giving the tiger a dirty look, the Warthog turned around to make the drink. Meanwhile the tiger turned around and leaned back on the counter. He met eyes with a wolf glaring at him from the seat beside him.

"What?" spat the tiger accusingly. "Is it my mask? Does the mask bother you? Well, deal with it!"

The wolf growled as he slowly looked away from the tiger. Clearly the tiger was strong and brave or just plain stupid. To the tiger he was both.

The sound of a glass slamming a cup on the counter made the tiger turn back at the Warthog. Taking a seat in front of the counter, the tiger removed the part of the mask covering his muzzle; the Warthog flinched a the sight of it: his muzzle had no fur but burnt skin. It was no question why he was wearing a mask now. The tiger ignored the flinch and drank his lemon water quickly and brought down the cup gently.

"Will there be anything else?" asked the Warthog.

"Nope," said the tiger, covering his muzzle again and began to walk out.

"That will be three yuan!" barked the Warthog.

"Three yuan? What a rip off!" replied the tiger. "Just put it on my tab, porky."

The Warthog snarled as he reached into his belt and withdrew a throwing knife and swiftly sent it flying to the tiger's head. The tiger heard the knife leave the Warthog's hoof but he made no reaction to its incoming impact. The blade went into his skull, sending him down on his knees and crashing to the floor. Everyone around the bar began laughing at the dead tiger's ignorance. They supposed he wasn't as threatening as he looked. It was most likely some poser trying to act tough to the tough.

Just then something happened that made all the animals end in their laughter: the tiger was getting to his knees with the blade still in his head. When up on his feet, he pulled the knife out of his head. Eyeing his blood (which he had not seen in years) on the blade for a moment while everyone watched in silence, the tiger quickly turned and threw it right where the Warthog had sent it in him. Collapsing to the floor, the Warthog breathed no more.

"Told ya it was a rip off," snickered the tiger.

Without hesitation, a wolf came running forward with a long sword, the tiger's eyes widened and went to draw his own sword but his paw was cut off before he could reach it. Yelling in pain and shock, the tiger watched his paw fall to the ground making a small pool of blood. It was everyone else's turn for a shock. The tiger looked around the tavern and asked loudly, "Can someone give me a hand?"

"You die now!" yelled the wolf, swinging his sword to the tiger's neck.

The tiger immediately ducked and made a sweeping kick to the wolf. Falling flat on his back, the tiger abruptly picked up his paw and placed it against his wrist. Another shock was delivered to the crowd as the tiger's paw became reattached. Most of the animals cleared out of fear for their lives. Only the wolf's allies and another Warthog remained to try and kill the fatal tiger. Cautiously moving in on the tiger, drawing their blades and hammers they formed a circle around him.

"What is this? Tiger in the middle?" the tiger laughed at his own joke. "Aw, come on! You guys need to lighten up."

At those words the tiger reached into his pocket and withdrew a small bottle filled with red liquid. Shaking it vigorously in his paw, he then chucked into the open mouth of the warthog which gave instant results. In a flash of red light, the warthog's head combusted leaving a headless carcass to drop to the floor.

"Boom shakalaka!" howled the tiger excitedly. Taking out more bottles of red liquid, the tiger was about to deliver the same to the wolves until they started to follow the others that fled in the first time. The tiger shook his head "Oh, hell no."

Running out after them, the tiger grabbed his rope dart. Catching up to his closest target, he shot the dart into the wolf's shoulder blade. Screaming in pain, the wolf fell and started being dragged back to the tiger.

"I got a big one! Come to me my pretty!"

Pulled all the way back to the feet of the tiger, the wolf tried to show no fear as he faced his killer. The tiger kneeled down in front of the wolf and yanked out the blade having the wolf yelp in pain. Wiping the blood off on the wolf's fur, he flipped him on his back, looking seriously in the eye, the tiger spoke, "We're gonna play a little game: I ask questions, you answer. If you answer correctly, you win your life. Got it?"

The wolf curtly nodded.

"Good boy. Now ..." the tiger whispered in the wolf's ear.

"Go East," the wolf answered right away. "It's a two days journey!"

"Is that right?" spoke the tiger, looking in the direction. He whispered in the wolf's ear again.

"Yes! We know a-"

The tiger punched the wolf in the face.

"Yes sufficed. Now..." the tiger got to his feet, pulling out one of the blades over his back.

"You said you'd let me live!" screamed the wolf fearfully.

"I said you'd win your life. I'm cheating," chuckled the tiger.

The screaming lasted for only a second before the tiger made the fatal blow. I hate it when the scream, the tiger thought sliding the blood away on the wolf again. Putting his sword away, the tiger started to head East. As he walked away from the carnage, the tiger drew out a scroll from his robe. Spreading it open, the tiger growled at the picture of the orange tiger known as Master Tigress.

"This time will be different!" laughed the tiger. "This time Bloody will have fun with you!"