For those in waiting. I want to know who you like better, Anik or Rohan. I need names if anyone is willing to give them, plus ideas for when Kelsey meets Li again. I apologize for lack of updates. I need a bit more motivation. Again, I am sorry for sounding like a beggar, but I need some encouragement. I feel like I am writing a story to no one. With that said, I shall try to give you all another chapter.

Okay, breathe. In. Out. In. Out. Duck. My opponent swung out an arm. I dodged quickly and moved my feet to retaliate. It was one of those teeth shattering hits that you could hear before you felt it. I had lifted my leg up until it meet solidly with his chest. The muscled kid only stepped back twice, then moved to strike my legs, knocking me down. Not today. I sidestepped fast. That is when things picked up. I was sore, tired, and determined. Fists flew out and I moved to my instincts. I took a hard hit to my jaw and one to my nose, but I got a nice few hits in myself. It took a few seconds, but I was able to gain the upper hand and flip the boy over.

The poor dirt covered guy fell to the mats. He laid stunned in his Green and white gi. His skin was paled and his hair was a rat's nest. He groaned a few times trying to stand up. He was out of energy. He was out of the match. Not that I noticed. I was too proud. I had beat the round! My team had just won.

Anik and Rohan were both slick with sweat, as was the rest of the team and me. They all ran onto the mats, screaming and enveloping each other in hugs. Our coach handed Ali the trophy. I gave her a high five, as she was the only other girl on the team. Somewhere in the chaos both Ali and I were lifted onto the guys' shoulders. She handed one handle to me and we lifted the golden statue to the sky. The crowds were yelling our names. I spotted uncle Li sitting with my parents and Aunt Clair. He was smiling brightly. Uncle Li was the one who convinced me to try fighting. My brothers and I used to spar when I was young. Uncle Li taught us. He taught us most of the basics.

Mr. Rajaram looked proud, and Mrs. Kelsey was almost crying. The new Rajaram relatives seemed to have something new in their eyes. Respect? Don't worry about them know, I thought. Just enjoy the moment. And I did. Time seemed to freeze. I could tell Anik was the one holding my left side up, and Rohan my right. I glanced down to see pure accomplishment spread across their faces. I could say we trained for a few months for the tournament, but this was harder than I expected. I had used everything Coach taught me and I even a few advanced tricks I remembered Li teaching me.

My family was somewhere in our team crowd. A few minutes later, and after everyone's feet were firmly on the ground, I spotted my brothers talking to Mom. Sam and Alec were the twins, with Kyle the eldest. They were bruised and battered, no doubt from the fighting we just finished. They joined martial arts when I did. It was my idea though.

"I am so proud!" my mom wailed. "I knew you could do it! JessLynn! Is that a bruise?"

"Yeah, but I'll heal." The guys were laughing at my sad attempt to get my mother off of my fighting marks.

"Does it hurt JessLynn? Do you need a doctor? Your nose is bleeding!"

"I'm fine. I'm fine," I pulled away. I saw Rohan leaned up against the far wall. His skin looked papery. I swiped a hand across my lip. My nose was bleeding. "I'll be right back."

Rohan looked worse up close. His forehead was beaded with cold sweat. His fingers twitched, yet he reclined his head against the wall and squeezed his eyes shut. The black and red gi he was wearing no longer seemed to fit right. It was as if he had been shifted out of focus. He was having trouble swallowing. I didn't remember him this sick after the fight. He had been carrying me.

"Rohan? What's wrong?"

He shook his head slightly.

"Do you need a medic?"

"So dizzy," he whispered. I was starting to become severely worried. "Just let me get some air." He started half limping, half dragging, himself out the back door. I, of course, followed. We only got a few steps away from the building before he slumped to the mossy ground. I knelt down, brushing brown locks out of the way. The back of the dojo was surrounded by the woods and fuzzy green rocks. Good thing too. Not seconds after Rohan fell, he let out a cry, and vanished.

I jumped back. He didn't vanish as in gone. Rohan vanished as in her changed. He was a tiger. An actual tiger. By then, the bliss of victory was waning and I was questioning my sanity. It seemed like the perfect time for another tiger to trot out of the woods, which it did.

Rohan's tiger looked up at me. It was Rohan. It had his eyes, vibrant blue with a hint of grass green. His fur was light gray, almost white. Deep stripes covered his body and face. The tiger from the woods was darker, almost black, just a few shades lighter. It had dark stripes too. More importantly, it had Anik's golden brown eyes. What is wrong with me?

And after that pleasant thought, with two tigers staring at me, I bolted back inside the steel doors. So much for though martial arts warrior.

I am really looking for advice and reviews here. Names, criticism, plots, and motivation. Any and all welcome. As always

~TigerWarrior