Tiger Mountain
A/N: Hey pplz! Sorry it took so long, i've been very lazy lately. Thanx for all the reviews. U guys r the best! Hope you enjoy the latest capters.
Disclaimer: Last time i'm writing one of these. Big waste of time, especially since you all know I'm not Tamora Pierce. There is no way I could have written all those great books, so dont sue!
Key: * Dream * 'thought'
She could see it in the distance. Tiger mountain rose above all the others in the area. The top was shaped like a roaring tiger's head. Forests covered most of it, this was her destination.
Kally reached the base of the mountain two nights later and decided to set up camp. She let Storm wander around and graze. She lay awake in her bedroll for awhile, thinking about the past couple of months since her ordeal. When she fell asleep, she started to have the dream she always had.
* She was in the stadium facing a gigantic spidren. It's face resembled her father's. Jonathon was furious that his oldest daughter had become a Shang.
" Well, well, well, I see you've come back and as a shang, no less. It isn't fitting for a princess. I'd disown you, but my repuation would be at stake. I guess I'll just have to kill you, what a pity, you were always my favorite. I even liked you better than Roald, and he's my heir. Oh well, good bye princess, say hello to your grandparents for me..."
She tried to talk some sense into him as he came at her with his sword. But it was no use. He chopped off her head and before she could scream, she was dead. *
Kally woke up sweating, that was the fifth time this week that she had that dream and it always ended with her father killing her. ' Thats it, I'll go to Tortal as soon as possible, but right now, I better start hiking up that mountain, maybe the dreams will stop if I'm really exhausted.'
On the third day, she met a tiger. It spoke and for a moment she thought she was going crazy. It told her not to worry about the whole talking thing. Humans were very primitive creatures who thought they were all that and a bag of chips. It was easy, even for a parrot, to copy the sounds that two-leggers used to communicate. It led her up the mountain and one week later, they reached the mouth of the stone tiger.
There were huge caverns of marble, and in the middle of the largest cavern, there was a huge block of tigers'eye, polished and smooth. But, the thing that amazed Kally the most, was the huge, white Siberian Tiger reclining on the large block, being fanned by human slaves with exotic leaves.
Kally knelt before the queen and respectively held up the amulet.
" Your majesty, I have come from the Shang University in Maren to ask your permission on a matter of great importance."
" What is your name?" the queen asked, her blue gray eyes searching Kally's face, making sure she did not lie.
" Kalasin of Conte, your excellence."
" It is not usual for a member of a royal house to become shang. Tell your story and I shall determine if you lie. Impersonating royalty is a grave matter and if you lie I shall kill you myself."
Kally told the queen all about how she had wanted to be a knight and how her mother had sent her off to Shang. When the queen had heard everything, Kally could see a hint of amusment in her intelligent eyes.
" A most intriguing story, even more so since it is the truth. I suppose the Elders think you are worthy of the Tigress rank?"
" Yes , majesty."
" Well I must see it to believe it. You shall stay here for six months, at the end of that time, if you have proven yourself worthy, I shall send you back to Shang, alive and with my blessing, to become the first Tigress in a century. Razorclaws will show you to the room you shall stay in, a slave will take care of your horse."
" Thank you, Your Excellence," Kally said before following her guide out a door.
He led her to a huge wooden door and when Kally went inside, she was in a small cave. On one side, there was a feather mattress. An old wardrobe was int the corner near a moss covered fountain with crystal clear water inside it. A table of food was in the middle of the cave in a patch of light coming from the ceiling.
" I will come for you when it is time for supper. A slave will come by later to help you look presentable. There should be a dress in the wardrobe," Razorclaws said before leaving and locking the door.
She washed her hair and face in the fountain and had a liitle snack. She was very tired and decided to sleep a little.
She woke up to a faint knocking at her door, and a human slave came in. The slave curtseyed to her and went over to the wardrobe. On a hanger was a beautiful dress, the deep blue matched her eyes perfectly. She put it on and it fit. The sleeves hugged her arms and flared out at her wrists. The V- shaped neckline, with silver trimming, was a little low and showed the top of her breasts. At her waist it blossomed into a medium sized skirt dropping to the floor. The slave placed a silver and saphire tiara on Kally's head, and put on some face paint, then helped Kally into some blue satin slippers.
" Great," Kally muttered, "I look like a stupid doll."
Razorclaws came and led her to supper. She sat beside the queen and started to chat with some of the other tigers around her.
As the months passed, Kally explored the mountain, inside and out, with all of the cubs. She learned some things she never knew before and entertained the slaves and great cats with her stories of Shang.
Before she knew it, the six months were up and she was given an audience with the queen.
" Hello Kalasin," the queen greeted her warmly, they had become friends months ago, " please sit. You have been here for six months. You adjusted beautifully and many of us will be very sorry to see you go. But you must. Due to what I have seen and heard, you are more than worthy of the rank of Tigress. Go to Shang with my blessing and become a legend."
" Th-Thank you, your majesty," Kally stammered, " I am deeply honored that you find me worthy. I shall live up to the rank and try my hardest to honor it."
The queen nodded, " Good. You are dismissed. Tonight will be full of celebration and food, you shall leave tomorrow."
That night there was music and feasting. Kally's new friends all wished her luck and she was presented with the amulet. Her name had been engraved in blue. She was to never take it off for the rest of her life.
Kally left the next morning atop Chocolate Storm after saying good bye to all her friends among the residents of Tiger Mountain, slave included. In a few months, she would officially be a Shang Warrior.
A/N: Hey pplz! Sorry it took so long, i've been very lazy lately. Thanx for all the reviews. U guys r the best! Hope you enjoy the latest capters.
Disclaimer: Last time i'm writing one of these. Big waste of time, especially since you all know I'm not Tamora Pierce. There is no way I could have written all those great books, so dont sue!
Key: * Dream * 'thought'
She could see it in the distance. Tiger mountain rose above all the others in the area. The top was shaped like a roaring tiger's head. Forests covered most of it, this was her destination.
Kally reached the base of the mountain two nights later and decided to set up camp. She let Storm wander around and graze. She lay awake in her bedroll for awhile, thinking about the past couple of months since her ordeal. When she fell asleep, she started to have the dream she always had.
* She was in the stadium facing a gigantic spidren. It's face resembled her father's. Jonathon was furious that his oldest daughter had become a Shang.
" Well, well, well, I see you've come back and as a shang, no less. It isn't fitting for a princess. I'd disown you, but my repuation would be at stake. I guess I'll just have to kill you, what a pity, you were always my favorite. I even liked you better than Roald, and he's my heir. Oh well, good bye princess, say hello to your grandparents for me..."
She tried to talk some sense into him as he came at her with his sword. But it was no use. He chopped off her head and before she could scream, she was dead. *
Kally woke up sweating, that was the fifth time this week that she had that dream and it always ended with her father killing her. ' Thats it, I'll go to Tortal as soon as possible, but right now, I better start hiking up that mountain, maybe the dreams will stop if I'm really exhausted.'
On the third day, she met a tiger. It spoke and for a moment she thought she was going crazy. It told her not to worry about the whole talking thing. Humans were very primitive creatures who thought they were all that and a bag of chips. It was easy, even for a parrot, to copy the sounds that two-leggers used to communicate. It led her up the mountain and one week later, they reached the mouth of the stone tiger.
There were huge caverns of marble, and in the middle of the largest cavern, there was a huge block of tigers'eye, polished and smooth. But, the thing that amazed Kally the most, was the huge, white Siberian Tiger reclining on the large block, being fanned by human slaves with exotic leaves.
Kally knelt before the queen and respectively held up the amulet.
" Your majesty, I have come from the Shang University in Maren to ask your permission on a matter of great importance."
" What is your name?" the queen asked, her blue gray eyes searching Kally's face, making sure she did not lie.
" Kalasin of Conte, your excellence."
" It is not usual for a member of a royal house to become shang. Tell your story and I shall determine if you lie. Impersonating royalty is a grave matter and if you lie I shall kill you myself."
Kally told the queen all about how she had wanted to be a knight and how her mother had sent her off to Shang. When the queen had heard everything, Kally could see a hint of amusment in her intelligent eyes.
" A most intriguing story, even more so since it is the truth. I suppose the Elders think you are worthy of the Tigress rank?"
" Yes , majesty."
" Well I must see it to believe it. You shall stay here for six months, at the end of that time, if you have proven yourself worthy, I shall send you back to Shang, alive and with my blessing, to become the first Tigress in a century. Razorclaws will show you to the room you shall stay in, a slave will take care of your horse."
" Thank you, Your Excellence," Kally said before following her guide out a door.
He led her to a huge wooden door and when Kally went inside, she was in a small cave. On one side, there was a feather mattress. An old wardrobe was int the corner near a moss covered fountain with crystal clear water inside it. A table of food was in the middle of the cave in a patch of light coming from the ceiling.
" I will come for you when it is time for supper. A slave will come by later to help you look presentable. There should be a dress in the wardrobe," Razorclaws said before leaving and locking the door.
She washed her hair and face in the fountain and had a liitle snack. She was very tired and decided to sleep a little.
She woke up to a faint knocking at her door, and a human slave came in. The slave curtseyed to her and went over to the wardrobe. On a hanger was a beautiful dress, the deep blue matched her eyes perfectly. She put it on and it fit. The sleeves hugged her arms and flared out at her wrists. The V- shaped neckline, with silver trimming, was a little low and showed the top of her breasts. At her waist it blossomed into a medium sized skirt dropping to the floor. The slave placed a silver and saphire tiara on Kally's head, and put on some face paint, then helped Kally into some blue satin slippers.
" Great," Kally muttered, "I look like a stupid doll."
Razorclaws came and led her to supper. She sat beside the queen and started to chat with some of the other tigers around her.
As the months passed, Kally explored the mountain, inside and out, with all of the cubs. She learned some things she never knew before and entertained the slaves and great cats with her stories of Shang.
Before she knew it, the six months were up and she was given an audience with the queen.
" Hello Kalasin," the queen greeted her warmly, they had become friends months ago, " please sit. You have been here for six months. You adjusted beautifully and many of us will be very sorry to see you go. But you must. Due to what I have seen and heard, you are more than worthy of the rank of Tigress. Go to Shang with my blessing and become a legend."
" Th-Thank you, your majesty," Kally stammered, " I am deeply honored that you find me worthy. I shall live up to the rank and try my hardest to honor it."
The queen nodded, " Good. You are dismissed. Tonight will be full of celebration and food, you shall leave tomorrow."
That night there was music and feasting. Kally's new friends all wished her luck and she was presented with the amulet. Her name had been engraved in blue. She was to never take it off for the rest of her life.
Kally left the next morning atop Chocolate Storm after saying good bye to all her friends among the residents of Tiger Mountain, slave included. In a few months, she would officially be a Shang Warrior.