Tiger's Curse

Epilogue

300 years in the past, 12 year old Prince Alagan Dihren Rajaram and his younger brother Sohan Kishan Rajaram awaited outside their parent's bedroom. Hours ago, their mother had gone into labor with her third child, their second sibling. The two boys were forced to wait while their new sibling was born. "I do not know about you, brother," Kishan said, trying to pass the time, "but I think we'll be getting a little sister." Dihren nodded. "I agree with you, brother." The 11 year old began to smirk.

"Yes, a little girl running around the palace, her golden eyes always full of life."

The elder one glared at him

"What? You must be joking! If anything, she will have cobalt eyes like mine!"

"Golden!"

"Cobalt!"

Suddenly an older voice cried out, "My princes!" The two brothers turned to see their mentor, Anik Kadam, walking up to them. "What is this all about?" The elder one answered, "My younger brother believes our new sister will have golden eyes when clearly she will have cobalt."

"Will not!"

"Will too!"

Stepping between the boys, Anik asked, "How do you know it's a girl?"

"We just do." The two answered simultaneously. Suddenly, Kishan had an idea.

"Brother, why not a bet?"

Dihren grinned and said, "Shall we say, who ever is wrong must be the winner's servant for a week?" Nodding like a madman, Kishan agreed. At the same time, the door opened. Stepping out, the midwife bowed and said, "Your parents have summoned you." Quick as a flash, the two brothers ran in. Their father stood proudly over their mother, who held their newest addition. Smiling, Deschen said to her sons, "Come! Meet your new sister!" The two boys rushed to see the little bundle of joy. She was mocha skinned like them, with a small crop of black hair on her head. The baby gave a yawn and opened her eyes. Her eyes were indeed cobalt… with golden flecks around the pupils.

"I guess we both lost, brother" Dihren whispered to Kishan

"What will you name her?" Kishan asked.

Their father chuckled

"It is customary that the two siblings before name the the third child."

The two brothers began to think when Dihren thought of something

"What about… Elisiana?"

The baby giggled. Smiling, their mother said, "She seems to like it!"

"Elisiana it is!"

And so, the Rajaram household was completed with the arrival of the new princess

BREAK LINE

8 years later

As the sun shone brightly that day, the youngest of the Rajaram siblings found herself restlessly wondering the palace. Her eldest brother, Dihren, who had been away to inspect the troops, was to return that day. With her other brother, Kishan mysteriously missing, the young princess was desperate for someone to play with. Trying to pass the time, she began jumping the roofs and trees. Her brothers often joked about her ability to jump and swing, often calling her a monkey, but only in good fun. Elisiana loved her brothers, and they loved her, even to a point of teaching her martial arts to defend herself with. As the youngest gracefully swung, she saw Dihren's fiancé, Yesubia. The princess didn't like her much. She would often make fun of the younger girl. Elisiana then saw the girl's father, Lokesh. He gave her a bad feeling, an instinct that told her not to trust him. She then decided to listen in.

"All is going according to plan, my daughter. Soon, we will capture Dihren, take his amulet, and I will have the Rajaram's throne!"

Elisiana's heart stopped. 'I knew he couldn't be trusted!" The young princess thought. 'I must warn Dihren!' Wasting no time, she swung to the stables. A blonde horse with black mane suddenly jumped from his stall. Her horse, Spirit(childhood movie, no judgements), was the fastest horse in the kingdom. Jumping on the sattle, they raced north.

'He can't be too far off'

Suddenly, 4 horsemen chased after her. Removing her bow from her back, Elisiana notched the arrows and killed all 4. Unfortunately someone awaited in the trees and knocked her off Spirit. The princess was disarmed and shoved into a sack.

'Sorry, brother.' Was her last thought

Brake Line

In Lokesh's kingdom, the eldest Rajaram sibling was shocked to see his brother had betrayed him and was with his fiancé. Lokesh sneered.

"Just hand over the amulet, prince."

Dihren growled, "I'll spill my own blood first."

Lokesh smirked

"Would you spill your sister's?"

2 guards dragged in the youngest. The two stared in anger. Kishan then said, "Lokesh! You said you would leave my sister out of this!" Confused and scared, Elisiana managed to slip out of the grip of the guards and run to her eldest brother. Hugging her, Dihren said, "Shhh it's all right, Chōtē sē ēka. Everything will be fine." Lokesh lunged at the prince and sliced his hand. Dabbing the blood on a wooden talesmen, he began chanting, as all 3 siblings felt their bones twist and burn. Yesubia tried to stop him but was thrown with a horrid snap! Suddenly, the pain stop. Looking down, the princess found that her hands were gone and in their place were two orange and black striped paws. Getting up, she found herself in the shadow of a tiger. It was white with black stripes but it's eyes said who it was. It was Dihren. Across the room, a black and grey striped tiger loomed over what was Yesubia. As the two tried desperately tried to move the tiger, whom they both realized was Kishan, Lokesh called his men. Finally, the 3 made their way out of the palace and darted straight for home. After finding Mr. Kadam, the 3 managed to turn back into humans, but could only do so for 24 minutes per day. Understanding the severity, the royal family fled the palace and found shelter in the jungle. As the years went by, the 3 royals were left untouched by time. One day, their father became ill. in his final breath, he said to his sons, "Protect your sister." Burying her face in her brother's shirts, the youngest Rajaram cried in anguish. Not long after, their mother passed on, leaving the 3 orphan and unable to morph back into humans. Mr. Kadam, whose life had been prolonged due to his amulet, kept the tigers safe for many years.

One particular day, Dihren and Elisana were hunting together. As Elisiana stalked a gazelle, the roar of her bother filled her ears. Running as fast as she could, she found him in a hunter's pit.

"Don't worry brother! I'll get help!" She growled as a tiger

Elisiana ran as fast as she could. Leading Mr. Kadam and Kishan back, she found herself too late. The two tigers picked up their brother's scent and followed it. They arrived in time only to see their elder brother loaded on a ship and sent away.

"Dihren!" The tigress screamed. But only roars could be heard.

Later that week, Kishan ran away. Elisiana had seen him and ran after him

"Kishan! Don't leave me! Please! KISHAN!"

But the elder tiger outran her and she was forced to return to her home. The youngest Rajaram was now alone. And that is how she felt for 300 years.