Breaking away from Bast
Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight; it is the property of Stephenie Meyer. The original characters and plot are mine. I am in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
Italics for thoughts (Edward can hear it if he's present)
Stages of forms
Tiger: first form (actual tiger)
Tigris: second form (were-tiger, like werewolves, larger than actual animal)
Taiga: third form (cat ears, tail, more tiger musculature, fur, full canines, paws)
Tigam: fourth form (half and half, humanoid form, light fur, tail, nearly full canines, paws)
Tegamen: fifth form (mostly humanoid, no fur, stripes marking the skin and claws and longer canines)
Higar: sixth form (human but with cat senses and scent, regeneration and able streak mind)
Human: seventh form (completely human)
Chapter 23
Training
Bella pov
"That was freaking awesome!" Emmet exclaimed as he and I carried the remains for a burial a little deep in the woods. It was too obvious that something had happened in the area where the fight was so I suggested we walk a little ways and then bury them.
"Not really, just sad really." I told him and he looked at me confused. "I didn't really want to know what I'm capable of if I lost Edward or any of you. I liked my view of the world and the limitation I had on what I could and would do. To have that shattered is just rather unsettling and I'm not sure if it would be wise to have me lead when it is possible for me to go stark raving horrible." He nodded but I could still see that he thought what I had done was cool.
"Don't be so hard on your self." Daniel said as I turned at the approach of the three. It would be disrespectful for them not to be present for the burial of a Tiger, killers or not. I longed to by Edward's side as he healed from his wounds but since I knew he would heal I felt bound to this final act.
"I have learned a great and horrible thing." I replied smiling at him as he took my hand.
"That you think it horrible is what makes you so fit to be our queen. Renátka has this same emptiness in her and yet she thinks it a skill that makes her worthy to be queen." Tam stated and I shrugged.
"This new knowledge will allow you to kill her and prevent a war." Demetri told me knowing that this was the only good thing I could see in this new attitude. I smiled at him and kissed him before laying Kari's body down. Emmet dropped Gabriel and looked kinda confused about why we were treating those that had tried to kill us with such kindness.
"Thank you Emmet we will not be needing any more help." I told him letting him return to his family and wife. He nodded and shrugged running back to the house. "I didn't think it was so odd to honour the dead whether enemy or ally."
"To a Tiger all life is precious. It is not that way for most humans." Daniel replied as I knelt and placed their heads in their hands.
"The gardens and forests await you children lost to this earth. You have served your Goddess and it is time for you to rest. May you learn from this life and not repeat the mistakes you have made. All that are honour you and all that have been guide you." We chanted as we lit the bodies and watched them burn. Tigers are not flammable like vampires but in final death we are more readily accepted back into the earth than humans. The fire begins the process but soon nothing will remain of their bodies, they will be once more just another part of the earth.
"Now we prepare for battle." Tam said after a moment of silence. We nodded and ran behind him quickly returning to the house. Alice had gathered everyone outside for us and I smiled as I passed her. She alone knew just how hard it was to fight against us. The others had joined only as I killed the motionless Gabriel they had not seen Kari attack.
"I am not sure how much use it is to train you but I will do so anyway." I told them and got frowns all around. "The only way you will not be slaughtered is if you have a partner with you. No fighting one on one only two on one. With the help that we will be getting that is all that is needed. I will hopefully have the chance to challenge Renátka and there will be no reason to fight."
"But should it come to a fight you should be aware of the basic strategies of the Tigers." Daniel stated as if he had heard this speech a thousand times.
"The direct kill in the vampire world will never happen. You will not be fighting something that you can't win against alone. When we say fight in pairs we mean it is best if you are always together, side by side. Acting as one which is why I suggest you fight in the couples you are." Demetri said and I noticed how this relieved and worried them.
"Carlisle and Esme I want you with me." I told them and they looked at me confused. "I will need a calming factor and level headed people near me, aside from Edward if he is able. Some one to remind me not to loose myself it will make you a higher priority but also allow me to assist you as you fight. Keep in mind that anyone you kill will not be dead, merely no longer in battle." I told them and both Esme and Carlisle looked a little less uneasy.
"I am going to make up some artillery and I think that Emmet and Rose on the left and Jasper and Alice on the right with me in the middle will work for launching." Daniel stated getting lots of approval from Emmet and Rose rolled her eyes at her husband.
"The fight will be strategic my mother does not know she is not going to out number us so the more prepared we look the more overconfident she is. And hopefully she still thinks me weak and she'll accept my challenge and put an end to this without a war." I told them and got nods all around.
"They will come with her, all of those in Kodiak because Renátka will feel the need to be witnessed and also to know who doesn't stand with her so she can send out her hunters to slaughter them." Tam said in a sure voice and I shivered at the thought. "I have been in contact with Kayla and she has told me that many of the children are ready and at least 14 elders will side with us."
"This will match us if we gain assistance from the spirited wolves." I told them and they seemed confused with my tally. "Think of it as three children to ever adult." It was a large total but the lack of training and attacking you teachers and family made the young pause where as the elders didn't. "In pairs you are the match of one of us."
"Cocky much." Emmet shouted and I smirked.
"Accurate but if you don't believe me we can always have a match." I replied and got a hoot from him and smiles from the rest. "They will join us in standard from if she takes my challenge but if not they will try to assault from the back and a few will join our side in the frontal."
"Tigers fight in the Tigris or Taiga forms to using the tail as a leverage point it wise but hard. Our claws will rip your flesh to be mindful. We can not stand at full height but are best at quick attacks." Tam said and I let the boys teach them as I moved to find Edward and reassure myself that this was for the best. That killing my mother was something I could survive and that I would not loose him.