Chapter one Part one: The Rider
A lone figure sat astride a Siberian Tiger. Yet, this was no ordinary tiger. It was almost the size of a horse, with one gold eye, and one blue, and black and white stripes instead of the typical black and orange. It stood still while a cold wind made the figure's cloak billow, revealing the form of a young woman. A few wisps of brown hair escaped her cloak's hood. She sniffed the air.
"Come Raja," she said. "We must leave now if we wish to escape the storm."
The tiger let out a slow breath then moved forward. First at a walk, then at a run.