The Caspian Tiger was one of the largest cats to live in a range extending from eastern Turkey, Mesopotamia, the Caucasus, west and south of the Caspian Sea in Iran.
Pepper and Tony rode back towards the inner circle of the forest, away from the castle.
It was a cold but bright day and he was happy that they had found a way to get into the castle undetected. His arm was around Pepper's waist and Tony tightened his grip on her slightly as Balthazar galloped heavily over the snow covered ground.
We will have lunch and then I'm going to persuade my lady to have a little nap with me... preferably without clothing.
His sensual musings were interrupted by the sound of loud disturbed neighing. Balthazar whinnied back loudly in response and halted where he stood, shaking his head in agitation.
Tony tightened the reins and Pepper said, "Whoa, whoa there, Balthazar, calm down!"
The big horse pawed the ground hard and they were startled to see Aurora burst forth from the shrubbery, galloping towards them, nostrils flaring.
He was worried now and Pepper slid down from the saddle as her horse trotted towards her, tossing her golden mane and whinnying.
She stroked Aurora's muzzle softly and whispered soothing words, trying to calm her horse.
"There girl, what's the matter? What happened?" she cooed to the nervous filly.
Balthazar had become nervous too and refused to move forward.
Tony dismounted and scanned the horizon. They were at the bottom of the small hill, close to the cave. He could see the thicket of trees around its entrance.
Pepper came up behind him. "Something has spooked Aurora badly." She said softly.
He peered into the green mass above them and withdrew his sword.
"Something is out there, Pepper. Walking by the cave. We need to be on our guard and see what it is, on foot."
She unsheathed her sword and they slowly and quietly climbed up the hill.
They reached the thicket and cautiously approached the burrowed entrance to the cave. Then they froze in place as they heard a loud snarl.
Tony narrowed his eyes in confusion. "Is that an animal? Or another... monster?"
Pepper said loudly, "I have never heard an animal sound like that, before!"
"Careful, Pepper! Be as quiet as possible!" He said, tip toeing forward. He quietly wove through the trees, Pepper following him.
Then Tony stood still, holding her back as he looked upon the beast standing at the entrance of the cave.
"Good Lord! What is that?!"
The beast was huge and furry with a long tail and a noble, diamond-shaped head with pointed ears. It was very similar in build to Tigliath but it was massive and its coat was a deep fiery orange, filled with thick black stripes.
"Why is it so angry?" Pepper whispered behind him.
"I wonder the same."
Then they heard a low angry growl and Pepper hissed, "Tony, look!"
Another big cat crawled forward from the dense shrubbery. It was even larger than the first one with a black muzzle and torn ear.
The two cats sprang at each other, front paws raised and collided in a mass of fur and claws. They growled and snarled at each other as they fought viciously
"Whatever are we to do?" Pepper whispered in worry. "They are fighting over the cave, our bags are still in there with our armor, food etc."
Those are tigers! Hissed the Dragon excitedly. I've seen them before! When I was a child! In my native land! I did not know they roam the forests of Cumbria.
Tony was thinking hard. "Is it possible to take on two cats without armor? How can I chase them off?" He muttered softly.
Pepper caught his hand tightly. "No one is fighting them! That's suicide!"
He couldn't help but grin at her fierce expression. "I know, sweeting, I know but we need to chase them off."
Then there was a loud slam and they both looked back at the fighting cats. One had pushed the other into a tree hard and was pawing at its face.
"This could go on for a long time." Tony muttered.
"What about fire?" Said Pepper quickly. "Wild animals are afraid of fire, aren't they?"
He narrowed his eyes at her. "Yes, usually they are wary of fire but these are... different beasts. They may need more convincing. But what's the plan, Pepper? You cannot just run at them, hands blazing!"
She giggled softly. "Tony, I will warn them off with fire bolts and shots. Meanwhile, you can sneak into the cave, get the bags and then we can escape with the horses."
Tony dropped his jaw with horror. "Potts, if you think I am leaving you alone to keep two large cats at bay while I get our things... you must be mental, sweetheart!"
"Tony..." Pepper said with exasperation. "I have my fire power and my sword. I am not going to fight them, I am just going to scare them off till you can get inside the cave and come back. Besides, what alternative do we have?"
Tony was going to argue but the Dragon hissed, Virginia has a point, Anthony. You can't wait for hours until the beasts finish fighting! We need to plan for tomorrow!
Pepper grinned at him triumphantly and he had to acquiesce because he couldn't think of any alternative.
She said clearly, "I lead, you follow me. I start to cast fire, you get inside the cave. Agreed?"
Tony clasped Pepper's hands tightly.
"Pepper, you fire at those beasts with all your might and use your sword if needed but if they get too close, please...", he touched his forehead to hers, "please run away."
"I won't leave you, Tony." She said firmly, confirming his worst fears.
"Pepper, I will wear my gauntlets and come out fighting, I swear. I can take them. But you are going to run, if you have to. Promise? Promise me, Potts."
She nodded grudgingly. "Are you ready, Tony?"
He nodded, poised on the balls of his feet. They stepped out of the bushes and approached the mouth of the cave cautiously.
Tony had his sword raised as they neared the still squabbling cats. He could sense a growing warmth from Pepper and noticed she was clenching and opening her fists repeatedly.
The cats were wrestling on the floor of the forest, their loud snarls filling the air. Luckily in their fight, they had moved a little distance away from the cave's entrance.
Tony saw that they were distracted and inched towards the cave. "Pepper, follow me!"
They ran as quietly as they could into the cave. Tony found his bag and filled it with the small axe and other articles lying on the ground. He pulled out his gauntlets and put them on while Pepper gathered the cooking dishes and put them in her bag.
"Tony! What about Balthazar's saddle?"
"Leave it behind. I want my hands to be free, so that I can fire if needed. Get your shield out, Pepper." He told her sternly and she did so, slinging her bag onto her back.
They crept quietly back to the entrance of the cave. The growling had stopped and Tony was now suspicious.
"What is going on outside?"
He shifted the weight of the bag on his back and raised his hands, calling on his Flame. Pepper was right beside him, her eyes glowing slightly.
Tony carefully leaned out of the cave's entrance and looked from side to side.
No sign of the tigers...
Then he grimaced as he saw the bloodied corpse a little distance away. One tiger had clearly lost the fight and was lying in a pool of blood, its face and throat slashed badly.
He heard Pepper gasp loudly with horror and caught her hand urgently.
"We must get out of here! The other one may not have left the area and may be wounded! Quick!"
Tony stepped out of the cave and whistled shrilly for Balthazar. He could hear his horse whiny in response. Pepper and him began to run away from the cave and towards the landing below the hill.
It had started to snow again but he could see before him clearly. Then he heard the thundering of hooves and spotted Balthazar in the distance.
He sighed with relief and then his blood froze as a loud roar sounded behind them.
They both turned to see the bushes shake and the surviving tiger emerge, baring its bloodied teeth viciously. It studied them, growling low in its throat, its fur in hackles.
He muttered out of the corner of his mouth. "It is going to pounce... do not make any sudden moves, Pepper."
"Tony, do not worry, I am going to fire if it gets too close."
He stood tensely, slowly raising his arms, feeling his Flame poised and ready to fire. The tiger lowered its head, turning towards him and then lowering its body to the ground.
Suddenly the standoff was disturbed by Balthazar bursting onto the scene, whinnying loudly and charging straight at the tiger. They were all shocked but luckily the tiger was shocked the most of all because it roared loudly and sprang away.
Balthazar reared on his heels and shoved his hooves at the tiger's face. Pepper took advantage of the tiger's fear and whooped loudly, lighting her fists up and moving towards it.
The beast had had enough and ran back into the forest, yowling loudly. Tony caught Balthazar by the reins and yelled, "Pepper, climb up! Come on, we need to get out of here before it comes back!"
He helped her climb up and pulled himself up behind her. Tony gently turned Balthazar around, aware that his horse was carrying a lot of weight, both him and Pepper and their bags.
So he urged him into a gentle trot, moving away from the hilly area and onto clear land.
They rode away slowly, Tony looking behind from time to time. After riding for a while, they heard a soft whinny close by. Then Pepper exclaimed with joy as Aurora trotted up towards them.
She leaned from the saddle and spoke lovingly to her horse as Tony hoisted all the bags onto Aurora, tying them to her saddle.
"You were a smart girl. You warned us about the tiger."
Then Balthazar snorted and shifted, so she patted his neck and cooed to him as well, murmuring praises in his pricked up ears. Tony sighed loudly and Pepper straightened.
"Whatever is the matter, my lord?"
He whispered against her ear, "You keep spoiling my horse, my lady." enjoying the way she shivered at the contact.
"My lord, we just escaped a dangerous beast, thanks to your horse barging in, hooves flying." She leaned forward and patted Balthazar's side. "I think he deserves some praise."
Tony looped his arm around her waist and pulled her back hard against him. He kissed her ear, making her tremble once again and whispered, "And what about his master? Doesn't he deserve some praise too?"
Pepper turned slightly towards him, her lips curving. "My lord, you have become just as spoiled as your horse. But..." she whispered sultrily, pressing herself against him. "Find us a nice warm cave and I shall spoil you truly."
