HAT: Darn it! This is your fault, Nella, Lindsay, and EmpressIrony! If it weren't for ya'll I'd have never started this Tiger's Curse kick (okay, so I would've because I had considered it after reading the second book, but that's not the point!) and this wouldn't be here! Nor any of the other stories I'm working on... dang it, that's a lot on my plate with Tiger's Curse fanfiction... *sighs* What a drag... Anyway, enjoy... if you can, I'm not the best at fight scenes or romance scenes or... Actually to be honest, I just think my writing's subpar period. Ignore me and read on.
Disclaimer: Tiger's Curse isn't mine and the idea isn't mine, just (kinda) the plot.
Prologue:
The Legend of the Black Tiger
A young boy runs his fingers through his short, dirty black hair and stands. "No fair! You played dirty!"
The older boy with long hair put up in a messy bun grins. "You're just mad because you lost!" The boy grins mischievously as he shoves his friend into the river and laughs as he stands back up and sputters. "No fair, Ompati!"
Ompati throws his head back and laughs. "You're just mad because you lost," he mocks. Suddenly the older boy freezes and looks behind the younger. The younger's eyebrows come together in confusion. "What?... Jagatpal, what're you looking at?"
"Tiger eyes."
Ompati turns and sees large, glinting golden tiger eyes glaring at him and the boy in the river from the edge of the forest. He narrows his eyes and can't make out any orange or white that would normally be on a tiger. It prowls out and Ompati's heart leaps to his threat as it's claws slide out. It's a demon, he's sure, because it is black with darker black stripes. It gives a snarl when suddenly nearby the adults call for the boys. As if knowing the danger that might come the tiger gives a warning growl and darts off into the forest out of sight.
The boys stand there, one in the river and one on land, gaping at the forest with an inability to comprehend what they'd just seen.
"Ompati! Jagatpal! Oh, there you boys are," sighs a man in relief before taking notice of the state of the boys. "What is the matter? Why is Jagatpal in the river?"
As if by magic the two are jarred out of their stupor and run up to the man yelling things such as, "There was a demon/We saw a tiger/black with golden eyes/it's out in the forest," all at the same time, giving the man no chance to interpret what he'd just been told.
"Boys, boys! Calm down! Jagatpal, tell me what happened," demands the man.
"There was a large tiger, it was big and black with eyes as gold as the setting sun! He walked towards us and then when he heard you and the other adults, he growled and ran off. He went in that direction!"
His eyebrows come together. "Did you provoke the tiger?"
They shake their heads. "No."
"I'm glad you're both safe. Come on, back to the village," he grunts, gently pushing both boys towards home, throwing wary glances over their shoulders.
"What is that thing?" Ompati asks.
"That is the Black Tiger, said to have been around for generations prowling the forest. No one can track him or capture him. He is said to have been as clever as a man! He has killed many men and boys who have looked for him and even those who have not. It is said those that gaze into the golden orbs and live to tell the tale will become as rich as a king!"
The boys share a curious look, both of them thinking the same thing. I looked into those eyes!
"Is it true?" Jagatpal demands.
"Perhaps, I don't know, but perhaps."
That night the boys dreamed of being kings with gold all around them ad a black tiger with golden eyes prowling through the wealth.
HAT: Okay, so at first this was meant to introduce Kishan and such, but now I'm seriously considering making this into a longer story... Most definitely will exceed the 2000 word limit I've set for myself... Maybe it will... I dunno!
Kishan: *shakes head* Tsk, tsk, tsk... you should've thought about that.
HAT: *rolls eyes* Shut up, Kishan... *jumps up and turns to reader with puppy-dog eyes* Would you pretty please do what Kishan says?
Kishan: Review.
HAT: *raises eyebrow at him* You could've said please.
Kishan: What's the point if you did it already?
HAT: *opens mouth to retort, but stops and closes mouth before grumbling* Okay, fine, then...