Prologue

I don't know where I was going. The dark clouds above me beckoned to me; called me forth with a voice I couldn't hope to resist. My movement was not of my own accord. The raging storm had complete control over me. This terrain was one that I would normally get numerous scrapes and bruises on, but I hopped from rock to rock as if it was nothing. With the liquid grace of the tiger, I easily made it from one end of the former riverbed to the other. And still the storm pulled me forward.

The long, yellowed grass of the plains tickled my legs as I moved to the center of the field. But it was a notion that flickered in my head for mere moments before completely vanishing. My walking was more lethargic now, as if savoring the moments. How a five year old had even slipped away from the village to begin with I would never find out.

I stopped in the middle of the field, in a gap in the grass. Something pulled me to my knees, and I didn't think twice before allowing it to take me. I stared at that same spot in the sky, completely entranced by whatever it was that had called me here. Lightning flickered behind a swirling black cloud, and in that spot, the shape of a massive tiger flickered with it. The tiger's muzzle twitched along with the thunder, telling me that was the sound of it growling. From there, time blurred.

A few strands of dark hair drifted in front of my face as the wind picked up…

A sharp stab of lightning, followed by the snarling roar of thunder…

I could feel my breath becoming harder to obtain…

Everything in my body wanted to run, but I couldn't do so. Whatever force had called me here didn't want me to leave. I was on my knees, completely immobilized…

I could see the tiger now. His immense ivory colored body was a deep contrast from the ebony clouds behind him. The blood red stripes across his body rippled with his breath. He shook this way and that, repositioning the giant bow on his shoulder. His tail whipped across something attached to his back leg and zipped to his bow. The electric energy bristled as that tail pulled the string back. He lowered his head, and pointed the bolt right at me.

And still I couldn't move. I watched in horror as his tail slipped from the string. Finally able to look away, I flinched into a cowering position.

"KIERRA!"

I felt hands starting to pull me back, but too slowly. The tail had released the lightning, and with a roar the tiger watched it strike.

I screamed at the immense pain, drowning out the yelp of my attempted savior. The lightning stabbed at me, puncturing my sensitive nerves time and again. I cried from it, screaming when it became too much. It was all I could think to do.

"Kierra! Oh no… Kierra?"

I opened my eyes through the pain, seeing Okuro beside me. My twin was usually so calm and collected. I had never seen him so panicked in my life. I tried to tell him to run, before the tiger got him too, but my body refused to comply. Everything sounded so muffled. I looked at where I saw the tiger, and he was no longer there. My eyes locked on Okuro again, who anxiously looked to the left.

"Niena! She's over here! Hurry!"

The black waters pulled me under, my last notion being the feeling of fear that wasn't my own.

I spent more time than I wanted to listening to my own heartbeat. Occasionally, I'd hear my own breath, but it was like I wasn't really the one listening to it. I'd occasionally hear a soft nudge of "Wake up," in a voice that wasn't my own, yet sounded familiar all the same. This went on for a long time.

The surface of the blackness bubbled closer, and I pushed through with all of my power. My eyes opened, slowly bringing everything into focus. I flinched from the sunlight on my face the second I comprehended its presence. I sat up, letting out a sigh. A gasp sounded behind me. Trademark Niena.

"You're okay! You worried us all."

I nodded, not feeling up to talking to her. I felt she worried too much about Okuro and I. The fact that she was there after that night, it made a reprimand unavoidable. I sat in silence as she strung together word after word that even to my five-year-old mind sounded cliché. It wasn't long before I tuned her out, keeping a serious expression plastered on my face. That was an art Okuro and I had mastered around our worrywart babysitter. Where are you when I need you, Okuro? I thought to myself.

Or so I thought.

Kierra? Is that you?

I jumped, causing a panic attack in Niena. I disregarded her, and dealt with what I felt were more important matters.

Okuro? You heard me?

Yeah. I still can, you know. The calm tone in his thoughts bothered me a little.

We've never been able to do this before!

I know. It doesn't make sense…

Okuro was always calmer than I was. That placid demeanor made him seem wise beyond his years.

Can you come here? I asked, feeling a little stupid in my asking.

Why? Scared?

No!

Then whaddaya need me for? I could almost hear the smirk that would always tug at his lips after that kind of comment.

Not knowing how to respond to that, I tuned Niena back in. She was asking me something about remembering what she said. As I didn't hear anything, I released the yawn stuck in my throat instead. I guess she thought I was still tired as she scurried out of the room after some incoherent Niena-babble.

Content with the silence, I flopped down on my bed again, and fell asleep rather quickly.

My dreams were about that tiger, and he would remain the subject for many nights to come.