(Okay guys I know it's been forever and this is a lot but I had the book open beside me as a reference and the words just kept flowing. I know they may seem like similarites but I own No content from the Tiger's Curse books, I do not claim to copy any of Colleen's creative genius. Hope you guys enjoy!)

My ears perk up when I hear Kelsey make her way down the stairs to the kitchen where I lay at my father's feet

"Good morning, Miss Kelsey." He greets then gestures to the Seal around her neck that Ren must've slipped in her room.

I stand and walk to her rubbing my head against her hand as she gets herself some breakfast. I rumble when she rubs behind my ears as her and my father converse about the Seal

A few minutes later, Ren walks his stiped butt into the room. I growl playfully and lunge at him which rewards a no-claw paw punch to the muzzle sending me to onto my side with him making a guttural sound that resembles a laugh.

With a huff I get up and smack him with my tail before I walk back to my father. I make my own laugh sound when he starts licking the mango juice off her arm much to her disgust.

After breakfast I follow my father to the garage with Ren and Kelsey on my tail. I morph and help him make sure the Jeep is ready to go.

My father regarded Kelsey "Be careful, Ren and Akira will watch out for you but there are still dangerous obstacles ahead. Some that I have planned but unfortunately there will also be some that I am unaware of. Use extreme caution."

"I will." She declared with confidence "We will be back very soon, hopefully."

As Kelsey and Ren get into the vehicle, I turn to my father and give him a sad smile, hating being away from him

"Please be careful." He whispers as he pulls me into his arms

I hug him back, feeling tears well in my eyes, "Don't worry father… We will be alright, remember I have been preparing for this day for several years, I laid by your side listening to you tell me about the temples and prophecies. We will be fine."

He smiles and kisses my cheek before I morph and jump in the passenger seat and slip to the floor.

A couple hours passed and by the time Kelsey pulled over to our destination, I was eager to get out and stretch my sore muscles

"Well according to the map this is where we are supposed to be, said it will two and a half hours to walk to the cave of Kanheri." Kelsey explained as I rolled around on the warm grass while Ren laid in the shade

Kelsey joined him and laid her head on his back then began talking about her family. I yawned and laid on the other side of Ren, using his paws as my pillow. It was nice to hear Kelsey talk about how her parents used to be and the traveling they used to do. In the back of my mind it made me envious of her and the happy childhood she was gifted with.

I didn't realize that I fell asleep until I feel Ren tugging at my ear to wake me up, I lightly grumble and get up.

Then he woke Kelsey and we began our hike up to the cave.

The walk was quite peaceful, except the times I had to ignore my instinct to chase the rabbits that crossed our path. I will admit I did snarl and bark at the annoying monkeys that grunted and screamed at the two predators below.

Finally, we reached the edge of the jungle and approached the stone steps that led up to the cave. When Kelsey started on the steps, Ren lunged in front of her and nudged her away and back to the tree line

"What? You want me to wait?" she asked then looked at me, I nodded and nudge her back a little more. I knew the reason of his actions, there were still tourists in the cave, and I don't think they will exactly be okay with a wolf and tiger walking into the cave.

We rested beneath the trees and watched as tourists come and go until the sun set. Me and Ren stood and walked to the steps, sticking our noses into the air. After a couple deep breaths, we deemed it was clear and safe and we started making our way up.

Once inside the cave we maked our way to the main room, passing honeycombed shaped rooms, I looked up as Kelsey ran her hands over the Indian writing and hieroglyphics that covered the walls. Ren continued forward towards the back, I nudged the back of Kelsey's leg and we followed behind. We came up to the next room, with a sandy floor and several doorways.

Kelsey pulled out a flashlight and asked, "Now what?"

Ren picked a doorway and walked through it, quickly disappearing. I rumbled and followed him, Kelsey taking the rear. The small room had several stone shelves and as I looked around, I felt a warm hand on my shoulder and turned to snarl but stopped when I saw Ren's face

"Easy there Kira."

I huffed and morphed "Scared me."

He chuckled "I know, did it to Kelsey too"

I shake my head but let out a chuckle as well then remember what my father told me what we need to be on the look out for, "Kelsey, look out for a symbol that would match the Seal."

With a nod we all started looking at different corners of the room. Me and Ren morphed back and started taking different doorways to look. But after an hour or two we began to become frustrated until Ren found it and it led us until a seventh room, that was narrower than the others.

I stuck my nose to the ground, sniffing around until I stopped at a ledge and whined to get their attention

"What is it?" Kelsey approached to look closer and there it was, the engravement that matched the Seal "Alright, this is it. Keep your fingers, uh, claws crossed."

I wagged my tail lightly at her joke. She removed the seal from her neck and pressed it to the engravement. There was a mechanical whirring sound behind the wall, and I shifted on my paws anxiously.

She turned the Seal and there was a loud hiss. I jumped back as dust flew out from the edges, revealing that it wasn't a wall but a door

When the dust cleared, Ren nudged Kelsey aside and entered first, I took up the rear my eyes and ears scanning all around us. Kelsey found a metal sconce on the wall and lit it, brightening the corridor.

We began making our way down a spiraling staircase, well I attempted to. Stairs and paws do not mix, especially when it's a narrow staircase and nothing separates you from the wall and the dark plunge below.

'Yup... This will be a great time.'

And know what's best after a long staircase? A maze. Which was what we came upon next. Ren and I started sniffing the air, trying to decide which way to take. Following our noses, we lead the way through the dark maze until a loud terrifying sound faulted us. Behind us a sharp spiked iron gate slammed to the ground right behind us. Well, that's one of the dangerous things father spoke of that he couldn't predict: ancient old booby traps

'Can it get any better?'

We took up each side of Kelsey, our senses on high alert. A couple turns later we started to hear a low toned hum that got louder the closer we got

I tilted my head and listened 'What makes that kind of sound?' My question was soon answered when we came face to face with beetles... Hundreds of black beetles that blocked our path.

I morphed and glared "I hate to say it, but we are going to have to run our way through." I looked to Ren and he nodded, I look at Kelsey with an apologetic look on my face before morphing back. I take a few steps back and crouch, I tighten my muscles and bolt forward. I feel the tough exoskeletons of the beetles give way under my claws, growling when I feel some fly onto me and start to pinch me with their sharp mandibles.

I made it to the other side first, followed closely by Kelsey then Ren, both in the same condition as me; covered in the nasty bug goop and some live ones attached. I trot to Ren and start biting the little nuisances off him but one of them gets the better of me and latches onto my nose. I let out a loud yelp and start running around shaking my head feverously trying to get it off

"Akira. Akira!" Kelsey steps in front of me, "Let me help." She knocks it off with the butt of her touch, but I still rub my face on the ground, smelling my blood "I'm so sorry. Here" she kneels and rubs the blood off with a cloth. I wag my tail and lick her cheek, "Aw, your welcome." She smiles and pets my head. "Guess it helps to wear clothes guys. Given you both have squished bugs all over your paws."

After we all shake ourselves out, we continue.

Several turns later, Kelsey steps on a stone and it sinks into the ground, the walls tremble and reveal sharp metal barbs then a black oil starts leaking from the walls.

"Stay away from the spikes." Ren warned as he morphed into a man "I can smell the poison on them."

He was right, I stuck close to them and looked at the spikes, Kelsey couldn't see it, but I could see the poison was so coated in poison, small drops fell from them. Ren took point followed by Kelsey and me, we took it slow, being careful none of us were even scratched by the barbs. The floor was starting to become slippery from the oil seeping from the walls. I growled and dug my claws into the ground with each step I took.

"After the spikes, those bugs don't seem so bad after all." Kelsey teased as we continue to make our way through.

When we though we finally made it through, the doorway ahead of us started to sink down, we rushed for it, but it was to late. Before we could turn to look for another pathway, a loud rushing sound started banging above us and it crashed through the ceiling and water started to descent, rising quickly

Within seconds the water was already up to my stomach, and Kelsey's knees. She pulled out a glow stick and soon shined bright in the water

"What do we do? It'll be over your heads first!" Kelsey exclaimed

We morphed, "Tigers can swim as well as wolves. But I can hold my breath longer as a man." Ren replied. I may not exactly like it, but Ren was right about wolves being able to doggy paddle.

I took Kelsey's hand and we made our way to the wall as Ren dived under the water. When he surfaced, he shouted that there was a Seal mark by the door.

Kelsey took a deep breath and dived under, and at this rate we were nearing the ceiling and would soon run out of air.

Ren reached under and pulled her back up "You can do this Kells."

"Come on you got this," I encouraged her

With a determined look she nodded and headed back under, I pressed my mouth to the ceiling taking as much air as I could

"I'm going under." Ren announced before he morphed and dived under.

I changed back to a wolf and stuck my muzzle up, the rest of my body under the water but within seconds, my whole body was submerged. I looked down to see Kelsey beating the Seal into the door until it finally opens, and the water finally begins to drain.

We were dumped into the next corridor as the rest of the water drains. I cough heavily trying to repel the water in my lungs and replace it with air again. After some deep breaths I shake myself out and look over as Kelsey laughs at Ren's wet cat look. If I wasn't soaked to the bone, I would join in her laugh but now wasn't the best time, that is until Ren gets payback by shaking himself off and splashing her in the process. That is always funny.

"Well at least we washed off all the bugs and oil. But unfortunately, all the food is inedible." Kelsey announces, checking her gear.

Oh well, the food was mostly hers anyway.

Several turns later my ears perk up and me and Ren leap in front of Kelsey and start moving her back

"Oh great, now what scorpions?"

The next moment, there is a loud rumbling and the ground ahead of us crumbles and falls into the dark chasm before us.

'You know, scorpions are better than this.' I huff and collapse onto my side, completely exhausted. I huff and watch as Kelsey shines her flash light into the dark abyss and complains that she isn't Indiana Jones and question exactly how we are supposed to get across.

Ren peers over then starts pacing along the edge

Kelsey plops down next to me, and after taking a drink of her water she pulls out a small bowl and pours some for me. I drink up and then lay my head in her lap dozing up.

"We have to find a way across this chasm," I hear Ren announce but keep my eyes closed

"You are more welcomed to try." Kelsey replies

There is more silence until Kelsey jumps up and screams "Ren, no!" Her movement wakes me, and I watch as Ren charges full speed at the hole and leaps, clearing it easily

Yeah, I kind of figured he would do that, that's Ren for you always trying to be the hero. He does the same thing on the other side and jumps back to our side

"Well that was dramatic." I tease as I change back to human, Ren shoots me a look when he changes as well and announces he has an idea.

"Let me guess, your gonna jump across with her on her back?" I offer, trying not to laugh when Kelsey's face pales

"You have got to be kidding." She snorts

"No. What she is going to do is wait by the edge while I go to the end of the tunnel, build up my speed and leap as a tiger. When I do, she is going to jump up and grab my neck and grab my neck in midair. I will change into a man in midair so I can hold on to hold and we will fall onto the other side together." Ren explains

I nod "Hm that seems like a pretty sound plan to me."

Kelsey looks at me, "Please tell me he is not serious"

I shrug, "Not unless your plan involves you growing a pair of wings and flying to the other side. This is the plan." I turn to Ren "What about me? I don't know if you've heard or not, but I can't do circus tiger jumps like you can."

He chuckles and shakes his head, "Don't worry, I've thought of that too. You are gonna do the same thing as me but before you reach the edge you are going to change into a human and reach for the rope that I will have dangling for you before you fall into the dark abyss."

I smirk, "Yeah let's do this."

As eager I was to get this over with, Kelsey was the exact opposite. "Your serious? You really want me to do this?" she asks looking from me to Ren

We both nod

"Yes, now stand over there you two so I can get few practice jumps in." Ren announces before morphing back to his tiger and trotting to the end of the tunnel.

I morph back and sit by the wall with Kelsey beside me. I watch Ren as he gathers his strength and charges forward. I look up to see Kelsey is also watching, trying to get the rhythm of his strides down.

After a couple jumps, its time for the real thing.

"I can't believe you guys talked me into this." Kelsey complains as she goes to stand by the edge

"Hey at least you have a safety net." I shoot back "All I have is my hope in my ability to even make the leap."

She looks down sheepishly "Right… Sorry Akira."

I smile at her trying to lighten the mood, "Hey don't worry about it, we'll be fine."

She gives me a small smile then turns her attention as me and Ren make our way back

"You sure about this?" I whisper to him

He turns to me and pulls me into a hug "Don't worry Kira, have I ever let you down?"

I smile and lean into his embrace "No you haven't, so you better not now or my father will skin you."

He chuckles "Duly noted."

I morph and start stretching like I'm about to run a wolf marathon. Well that sounds better than this.

I step back after Ren nuzzles me and he crouches, his tail twitching then surges forward like a rocket.

I see Kelsey's fear start to get her, as she closes her eyes but at the last second, she took off running and jumped off the edge as Ren took his flying leap. Their bodies collided with a dull thud, but Ren changed to a man and held her tight, just before they reached the other side, he rolled so his back hit the dirt floor.

I exhaled a deep breath I didn't even know I was holding. Good that worked a lot better than I thought it would. Now came the hard part; it was my turn.

I saw Ren stand up, pulling some rope from Kelsey's bag and began to unravel it "You got this Kira! Remember all the races you came in second when racing tigers!"

The memory made my chest feel warm, where the boys made had the power, I had the endurance but Kishan was always the one to finish first.

I take a deep breath and crouch down, closing my eyes. Feeling my heartbeat start to speed up. I let out a howl as I lunged forward, pushing my paws hard and fast as I ran. I kept my eyes locked on the rope that was hanging over the edge for me and leapt over the edge, the wind blew fast through my fur as I floated then as I feel myself begin to plummet I morph back to human and reach out grabbing the edge of the rope, my body slams into the side of the cliff

'Okay, bruised ribs is better than a dead body' I say to myself as I grip the rope tight and feel Ren start to pull me up but my heart drops to my stomach when I feel a tremor rush over my body 'Oh no… No not now.'

I look up to cry out for him to hurry but its too late, the change forces itself over me and I morph back to a wolf, I begin to fall but quickly grab the rope again in my teeth.

"Akira!" Kelsey screams out as I try to scratch at the walls

"Kira hold still your making it worse!" Ren yells down as he continues to pull me up. When I am at the edge he reaches down and grabs me by my scruff, pulling me up the rest of the way

I collapse onto my side panting heavily, my adrenaline rushing through my veins

"You alright?" Ren asks as he pets my head

I nod still panting, if I could speak, I would say never to do that again, but Kelsey beats me to it.

After a quick rest, Kelsey checks her bag and then we begin walking through a few more passageways before we come upon a door.

I tilt my head as I see there is not a door handle on it but a handprint. 'Wait.' I nudge Kelsey's hand then paw at it

"Hey, the marking on it match the drawing Phet gave me." She steps forward and put her hand to the print. Her hand begins to glow, the symbols on her hand shining a bright red. She puts her hand back to it and there is a spark between her skin and the door

The stones begin to move, and the door opens. We stepped forward to what looked like a picturesque cave and at the center was a tall monolith with a stone post on it.

Kelsey steps forward, finding another handprint, putting her hand on it, the events happened again with her hand glowing red and the spark reappeared

'Gonna have to remember to ask father what's with the spark.'

Soon there is a loud rumbling and a slurping sound. A bright gold liquid emerges post and starts to leak to a basin below. The liquid makes the stone begin to hiss and steam rises into the air.

When the noise stopped and the air cleared, it revealed glyphic engravings that were not there before.

I walk closer and look at them, I paw at them excitedly

"This is it!" Kelsey exclaimed "This is Durga's prophecy!"

I bark happily as she takes out her camera and begins taking pictures.

Kelsey starts to wonder around the monolith but stops when Ren lets out a loud yelp

The gold liquid was acid and was starting to make its way across the stone floor. I take a few steps back with Ren and Kelsey following suit

Soon the floor began to shake beneath our feet, sending rocks to fall from the ceiling and they would shatter on the ground. Ren and I push Kelsey back against the walls

The shaking became worse and with a loud crack, the monolith split in half, falling to the floor breaking into large pieces.

The basin broke open and the gold acid stared to crawl toward us

'Oh man this isn't good.' I turn around to see the doorway was completely blocked, I stood in front of Kelsey pushing her further back against the wall

Ren reared up on his back legs and started scratching at the wall, I looked over and saw that he was digging us a way out. I nudge Kelsey in his direction as Ren climbed out, she tossed her backpack through and crawled through.

I reared up but my head barely reached it. My ears perked up as I heard the ceiling start to cave in. Ren must've changed back to a man because he stuck a hand in and grabbed me by my scruff and helped me out as a huge boulder came crashing down behind me, sealing the hole

Man, this is the second time he has saved my tail tonight. I got to step up my game or I'm just going to be a burden.