It had started out as an "innocent joke" on Monkey's part; he had snuck up behind Chiszle in front of the palace and pulled the tiger's tail. And that is when things went horribly wrong.

Chiszle slowly turned towards Monkey, a feral look on his face. His golden eyes took on a red mist, and his lips curled back in a snarl as he growled. Lihai, who had seen the monkey, shouted, "RUN YOU FOOL!" Monkey backed up, but Chiszle got down on all four legs and got ready to pounce.

"I'm sorry, it was just a joke," the primate apologized. The tiger did not answer, in fact his growling grew louder. Suddenly Lihai and Chwun Hwa were at his sides, holding onto his arms. "I SAID RUN!" the albino tigress hissed desperately as her brother threw the two girls away from him; they landed about twenty yards away.

Monkey took the tigress' advice; he ran towards the trees in the courtyard, the tiger close behind. Hsiao Lung moved like lightening to coil himself around his best friend, but unfortunately missed the tiger's arms. When Chiszle seemed to realize this, he hauled himself after monkey with the anaconda still tied around his waist and legs. "SOMEBODY HELP! BEFORE HE KILLS MONKEY!" the snake cried. For once in a long while, Monkey was afraid. You would be too, if a roaring tiger was after you even when tied down!

Tigress obliged; she tried to grab his arm. The tiger, however, threw her onto the ground and held her down, raising his free paw with claws extended. Tigress was so surprised she could only stare; an hour ago he had been asking her out, now he might kill her!

But the killstroke never came. Holding his paw in the air, Chiszle's breathing returned to normal, the red mist fell from his eyes, and he became horrified when he realized what he had almost done. "Tigress!" was all he could say as he lowered his paw, beginning to pant. When Hsiao Lung let go of him, the tiger turned and ran behind the palace. No one followed him.

"What was that about?" asked Monkey, helping Tigress up from the ground.

Hsiao Lung lowered his head shamefully, "When Chiszle is provoked enough, he loses his mind and becomes feral. He'll usually try to kill the one who got him mad, and anyone who gets in his way."

Tigress found Chiszle on the roof, arms wrapped around his knees. When the tiger noticed the tigress, he buried his head in his arms. Not being good with words, Tigress did not have a clue what to say. She sat across from him and cleared her throat. When he did not move, she started, "You didn't hurt anybody, everything is okay. Monkey is sorry he pulled your tail."

Chiszle shook his head, and when he lifted it to face her his cheeks were tear-stained. "You don't know what it's like," he choked. "I can't control myself, never could. I'm afraid of myself. I could attack a friend and not even realize it until- I just can't-" he turned and ran off.

Not very long, but I'm having a little writer's block and I know people have been waiting for an update. Happy New Year's!