The Fiery Tiger

Chapter 2: The Venom Snake Tribe

Koli was surrounded by fire. The fire was everywhere, it was all around her, no matter where she turned, there was fire. The fire licked Koli's bare skin, but she felt no heat. But everything else was burning…burning to the ground. In the midst of the flames, she saw a silhouetted figure.

"Koli…Koli help me…" The figure moaned, stumbling to one knee.

"Help me…" It was Cheynne.

"Cheynne!" Koli screamed, running towards him. But the closer Koli thought she was to Cheynne, the farther away he was. Cheynne was burning alive, the flames greedily feasted on his skin, darkening it until it was pitch black.

"Koli…" Cheynne whispered feebly, the life dimming from his eyes. "Koli…"

Cheynne shuddered, and then fell to the ground, in ashes.

"No! Not Cheynne, no!" Koli cried into the oblivion of flames. "No!" Tears flowed freely down her cheeks as she hugged herself.

"No…no…no…"

Koli awoke from her nightmare, drenched in sweat. Revelation hammered her. It was only a nightmare, a horrible, horrible nightmare…But then Koli heard a scream that chilled her blood, and then a shout quickly followed it.

"It's another raid! Prepare the warriors, retrieve the Shamans!"

Koli sat up erect and scrabbled to her feet. No! Not another raid! Koli thought. Koli heard a noise outside her tent and the tent flap opened. Green static crackled around Koli's hands. Luckily, Cheynne burst into her tent, his raven hair tangled and nightclothes rumpled.

"Koli, come quickly," Cheynne ordered in an iron tone. Fear had taken residence in his eyes. Koli acquiesced, clasping her hand within Cheynne's. "Whatever happens Koli," Cheynne whispered, opening the flap of the tent. "Don't let go of my hand." They each took a breath, and exited the tent, clinging each other like a tree's roots hold firm in the ground. Fire was feeding upon numerous tents, and bodies of slain warriors were strewn upon the ground. They're wide, lifeless eyes stared up to the heavens. Koli turned white, fighting the urge to vomit. "Hurry Koli, hurry!" Cheynne pressed, turning Koli's head away from the carnage. They winded through the maze of tents, avoiding all battle. They sky turned into a hazy black. Koli found herself on the hill, where she was last night. She looked upon her village with tears in her eyes; half of it was in flames, while the other half was piled with dead bodies.

"Cheynne, why didn't we stay and help?" Koli asked, her blood boiling. "You and I, we could've stopped this with our Gifts!" Koli clenched her fists. "Why Cheynne, tell me, why!" Cheynne took a profound breath. He pointed to the horizon. "Look Koli, look. Tell me what you see." Koli wiped her tears and squinted. "What? I see nothing except desert!" Koli started to turn away, but Cheynne grabbed her shoulder. "Look closer Koli." Reluctantly, Koli glanced again. Then she saw it. What she saw wasn't desert. It was an innumerable amount of rows of soldiers. This wasn't only a raid…this was an annihilation. Koli saw a flag rise above the soldiers; a green snake lined in silver was emblazoned on the flag.

"It is the Venom Snake Tribe, Koli," Cheynne said indifferently. "They're only purpose is to destroy all Bazhir tribes, or make them one of their own. It is either side with them, or die. Now the Fiery Tiger is next."

" I knew this Koli," Cheynne continued, seeing question etched in her face. "Because I saw a raider with the Venom Snake insignia embossed on his arm. Without a question, I knew. I have studied the lore of the Venom Snake, and I know their history to quite some degree." Cheynne sighed and ran his thick fingers through his raven hair. "And I know that they cannot be stopped. The Fiery Tiger is finished, Koli." Koli bowed her head. "No Cheynne, the Fiery Tiger is not finished. Not while I still have a breath in my body!" Koli lifted her head. Her emerald eyes glowed with an electrified power. Her hands radiated with a green hue.

"Koli I'm sorry, but we are fini-"

"No!" Koli interjected. "Look, if I have the power to create life, maybe it can be reversed. What if I can take it away?"

Cheynne shook his head. "Koli, you said it yourself last night, it taxes too much of your strength-"

"Cheynne! I don't care if it kills me, I will not let the Fiery Tiger die without a fight!" Koli said with conviction. "I am going to fight them Cheynne, with or without you!" Koli sprinted down the hill, heading towards the Venom Snake Tribe.

"Koli, no!" Cheynne yelled out, his hand reaching for Koli. "I can't lose you…"