Disclaimer: I don't own it.
A/N: I should not be starting this story, but it's irritating me so, I need to get it out. I hope you all enjoy this story.
A small single room shack sat on the border between the mortal world and the land of the immortals. Through various holes in the chinking between boards, small glimpses of light could be seen. Snowflakes slipped through the holes, settling to the wooden floor before melting in the slight heat.
The air of the room was chill, reflecting the weather on the outside. The small fire in the equally small fireplace did little to warm the room, causing the occupants to sit close together, trying to share the nearly threadbare blankets. The sound of a dry, rasping filled the room.
The small body bent forward, hands clutched against her chest, breath coming in short, sharp gasps as the coughing attack slowly eased up. "Aine!" The small girl was swept into her older brother's arm. She burrowed into her brother's warmth, pained brown eyes meeting with dazzling gold. There was a snort of laughter and golden eyes turned to slits as the young teen looked at his older sister.
"What's wrong Natasha? Think this is funny?" The older girl turned away from her brother, not able to bear the penetrating golden eyes. The boy cradled his younger sister closer, mumbling soothing words underneath his breath, Golden eyes traveled to the small fire, something about the flames mesmerizing. "Rei?" The teen looked down at the bundle is his arms and smiled. "Yes Aine." The little five year struggled to sit up and pulled her blanket tighter around her. "Can I braid your hair?" In answer the teen carefully unbound his hair from its wrap, raven strands pooling around his body.
Aine scrambled from her brother's lap and sat behind him, slowly working small, deft fingers through the raven silk. The three older sisters watched, jealously burning in their eyes. They had always been jealous of their brother. The younger teen had an exotic look that had led to numerous suitors, though their family was poor. Silk like hair hung down to his ankles. Innocent golden eyes looked out over the world. His skin was tan, so unlike the sallow skin that his sisters had.
Pansy, Rei's second oldest sister got to her feet, clutching her tattered blanket like it was a velvet robe. She casually walked behind Aine, quickly and cruelly twisting her fingers into her sister's hair, tugging hard. The small girl pulled away letting out a whimper. Rei came to his feet, half-braided ebony hair swinging behind him. Cat like fangs were bared, golden eyes burning with anger. "Pansy! Why do you continue to be that way? She's five leave her alone!"
He finished braiding his hair and tied it off before picking his younger sister back up. Wrapping his blanket around the frail body he sat down next to the fire, crooning unintelligible words. Aine slowly drifted to sleep, one hand clutching her brother's shirt. He slowly got to his feet and gently set her in their bed, drawing the wool blankets up.
The teen sat back down in front of the fire, all too aware of his sisters' eyes boring into his back. Natasha, Pansy and Tansy had always disliked him and he knew it. They were too scared to pick on him so they chose to go for Aine. He felt a fourth pair of eyes join his sisters and turned to find his mother staring at him, her eyes just as jealous as her daughters.
Rei let a silent sigh escape and he turned back to the fire, idly toying with the end of his bound hair. His thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a banging sound on the door. He exchanged a startled look with his mother and he slowly got to his feet, eyes riveted on the door as it shuddered again, flimsy wood no match for whatever was pounding on the door. He rested one hand on the door latch, ignoring the worried looks he was getting from his mother and sisters.
He pulled open the door, letting out a slight yelp as the wind ripped it from his hands. A figure slinked into the room and Rei grabbed the door, struggling to pull it closed against the wind. He quickly latched it shut and turned, golden eyes widening in shock.
Sitting near the table was a large, green striped tiger that took up most of the free space in the small shack. The majestic cat shook its self, dislodging snowflakes. Emerald eyes fastened on the young teen and the tiger moved closer, warm breath ruffling the dark strands. Rei could see a tube in a harness and he slowly reached out, fingers brushing the soft fur. The teen unhooked the tube from the strap and opened the tube. A scroll of parchment dropped into his hand.
The scroll was sealed by a wax seal, a picture of a wolf in front of the moon pressed into the wax. Rei broke the seal and unrolled the scroll, golden eyes confused. His mother and sisters were clustered around the fire, watching the tiger with fear. Aine had awoken at the sound of the door slamming. She crawled out of the bed, brown orbs filled with joy at the sight of the tiger. Natasha reached out to grab her and missed.
The small girl trundled over to her brother and tugged at his pants. Rei looked down and smiled one fang visible. "What is it Ai?" She pointed at the tiger. "Can I pet the kitty?" His eyes drifted over to the tiger. The magnificent cat was curled on the floor, emerald eyes barely visible. He nodded. "Just move slowly." Aine slowly moved forward, her blanket trailing behind her on the ground.
Rei's eyes drifted back to the scroll and he started reading it, eyes easily picking apart the neat handwriting.
To the guardian of the children that live in the house on the border between Realms
Don't worry about Driger. In fact, he happens to have a special soft spot for children.
Rei glanced up to find Aine curled against the tiger's side, stroking the green stripes. Driger was enjoying the rubbing, his purring filling the room. Golden eyes went back to the scroll.
I find that I have become rather enamored with your son. I am the holder of a vast estate in the Immortal realms and I would be willing to pay a handsome bride-price for him. I would also include an annual allowance that would allow you and your daughters to live in modest luxury for the rest of your lives. If the answer is yes, Driger will escort your son to my estates. Until then.
Lord Tala,
Prince of Farian
Rei stared at the scroll in shock, golden eyes wide. His mother moved next to him, mud colored eyes questioning. "Rei, what's wrong?" He handed her the scroll and moved over to sit with Aine, one hand brushing the soft white fur. Claire quickly scanned the scroll before handing it to her three oldest daughters. They all read it, eyes burning with jealousy. Natasha dropped the letter to the floor, stomping her foot in anger. "I'm, the oldest! I should be the first to get married, not him." Quick as lighting Claire smacked her daughter. "Shut up Natasha. Don't you see? If Rei goes to this Prince we'll have enough money to find husbands for all of you!"
Pansy and Tansy both smiled, their thoughts all ready turning to thoughts of parties and rich suitors. "You're forgetting one thing Mother." Claire turned to look at her son who was sitting on the floor, Aine once again curled in his lap, asleep. "And what would that be Rei?" Her voice was sickly sweet and the teen had a very good idea of where his mother's thoughts were going. "I never said I was going."
Claire dropped to her knees in front of her son, one hand reaching out to firmly grip his chin, forcing him to look at her. "But Rei, think about it. If you went, we could have a new house made. Aine would have some place warm to live and we could finally afford the medicine she needs." Rei shook his head. "Just give me some time to think it over." Claire nodded and got up, eyes flashing with triumph.
Rei slowly got to his feet, careful not to wake Aine. He crawled into the bed and curled around her small body, pulling the blankets up against the chill in the room. As he drifted to sleep he heard his mother talking to Driger. "Come back in seven days. I will make sure that Rei comes with you." It was followed by the sound of the door opening and closing. Tears slipped from behind closed eyelids as he contemplated his future.
*****
The seven days passed quickly and on the eve of the seventh night Driger reappeared, a harness affixed to his body, several bundles hanging from the harness. Claire immediately went for the box that contained the bride-price, letting out a happy squeal at the sight of the gold and silver coins. Natasha, Pansy and Tansy joined their mother, fingers reverently brushing at the gold.
Aine was sitting in front of the fire, braiding Rei's hair. Driger padded over to them and lay down, nosing at Rei. The teen reached out and scratched between the tiger's ears, golden eyes wistful. "Hey Driger." The tiger moved forward slightly, resting his massive head on Rei's leg. Aine tied off the end of Rei's hair and got to her feet, starting to look through the bags that were attached to the harness.
She pulled out a blanket, and stared at the embroidery that decorated one corner. She wrapped the blanket around her shoulders and crawled into her brother's lap, lifting the embroidered corner up to his eyes. "Rei, what's this say?" He took the corner of the blanket and smiled, one fang peeking out. "It says Aine. It's your blanket." She snuggled further into the blanket, slowly drifting to sleep. Rei lay Aine down in their bed before returning to sit in front of the fire.
His eyes roamed over the small shack, his eyes memorizing every little detail of the place he had known for his entire life. The small holes in the chinking, the rafters of the ceiling, the placement of the beds, the dishes and their cooking utensils all the little things that made this place his home. With a last look around he crawled into the bed.
*****
Claire made her way over to the bed where her two youngest children lay sleeping. Her eyes lingered on Rei and she felt a surge of dislike and jealously surge through her body. It wasn't fair. She woke him, avoiding the betrayed look that lurked in the golden depths. "Get up. The tiger is pacing and is antsy to go. Get dressed. Your stuff is at the foot of the bed." She turned on heel, making her way over to the table where the box containing the bride-price lay.
Lying at the foot of the bed were several articles of clothing. A black all weather cloak, brown leather trousers and a leather vest, sturdy brown boots, a red silk jerkin and red silk pants. He slipped into the curtained portion of the shack and slipped into the silk underclothes before pulling on the leather. He rebound his hair, tying it off at the end with a red ribbon. Aine was up when he came out and she watched as he pulled the boots on. "Where you going Rei?"
Rei pulled his sister into his arms, placing a gentle kiss on her forehead. "I'm leaving. I promise I'll come back and visit. I want you to be a good girl okay." Aine nodded, a crystal tear sliding down her thin cheek. The teen wrapped her in her new blanket, hugging her close. "I love you Aine."
He drew the cloak around his shoulders, fastening it with ruby cloak clasp. Just before opening the door he cast one last glance around his home. He opened the door and let Driger out. Rei pulled his hood up and clambered up onto the tiger's back, hands curling into the fur. Golden eyes slid shut as they crossed the border between Realms.
A/N2: Driger is bigger then a normal tiger because he's from the Immortal plain.