A Dragon's Crimson Cry
By: Tippi
A/N: Sorry about not updating last week but I was on vacation and I wasn't paying extra for internet at the hotel.
Onej6- Yeah, they could read the newspapers to find Jake but then it be a whole different story.
Luiz4200- Dragon one is his mask and the other 30 are Jake's family even if one was actually human (Jake's dad) but the huntsman didn't know that.
Ch 42 Tiger's Mystery Present
Time passed and the seasons flew by. Most of the year went by relatively normal for Jake and his grandfather at least normal for them.
Although LS had forgotten how much energy a normal child has so he was having quit a time keeping up with Jake now that was back to being a normal 10 year old now 11 year old.
Then the third anniversary came by again. And like the last two years Jake sleep in, didn't go to school, and dressed gloomily. And the two went to the cemetery with 30 red roses, put one on each grave, and got dinner at LS's favorite Chinese restaurant.
The day slipped away and they survived the third anniversary with out injury.
More time passed and Jake's 12th birthday came around. This year Jake's birthday came on a Saturday which for most people is a good day for a birthday.
Jake got up and at the moment he realized what day it was he jumped out of bed with excitement of the day.
Jake came into the kitchen dressed in a red t- shirt with a black and white tiger on it, blue jeans with black stripes going up the lower legs, and to finish it off he had a tiger necklace on while wearing his original dragon necklace under the t-shirt.
Jake looked around the kitchen seeing no one was in it he went for the cake box on the counter. He opened the lid and was about to steal some icing from the top when a voice stopped him.
"You wouldn't be trying to steal frosting behind my back now would you" his grandfather said walking in unfolding the newspaper.
Jake sighed taking his fingers from the box and let the lid drop closed.
"So where are you and your friends going today" LS asked his grandson.
"We were going to the skate park, then some milkshakes, and end at the arcade" Jake explained. "We'll be back by 6 for dinner and cake."
"So I start worrying about you when you don't show up by 6" LS stated was a slight smile on.
Jake just rolled his eyes and went downstairs.
"Hey birthday boy" Fu said a Jake came down the stairs. "A package came for you" Fu informed Jake as he held out a brown package with a green envelop tied to it.
"Who's it from?" Jake asked taking the package and looking over it and the envelope for a return address.
"I don't know, it doesn't say" Fu said.
The only indication who it was for was the name Jake printed in neat penmen ship on the envelope.
Jake quickly ripped open the envelope in hopes the inside contents would have a clue as to the mystery sender. The only content was a single card with the words Happy Birthday on the front with the picture of a cartoon tiger with a birthday hat on and a piece of cake with a candle on a plate in its paw. Jake anxiously flips the card open to read what was inside.
On the inside of the card was a hand written message in the same penmanship as on the envelope.
It read 'Dear Jake, happy birthday. Enjoy your special day and special present on your last year of being human.
With best wishes, a friend.'
"That was odd" Jake said putting the card aside and focusing on the square package.
He undid the brown paper from it to find a simple black square box. He took off the lid to find a small green pouch. Jake took it out of the box and from the weight he could tell there was something inside. He pulled the draw string of the pouch loose and dropped the contents into his hand.
12 gold coins fell into his hand and Jake looked at them closely seeing as they weren't any kind of coins he'd seen before.
"What's this" Jake said holding out the coins for Fu to see.
"It's leprechaun gold," Fu exclaimed at seeing the contents of Jake's hand. "Quite valuable in the magical community, in fact quite valuable in the non-magical community as well since that's high quality gold."
"Who would send me leprechaun gold," Jake asked "And what would I do with gold?"
"Well, you know if you don't want it I have some use for it" Fu said hopefully.
"Just because I don't know what to do with it doesn't mean I'm not keeping it" Jake said stuffing it in his pocket as the shop bell rang.
"Yo, Jake" Trixie's voice called from the front.
"See you later" Jake said as he ran out to meet Trixie and Spud grabbing his pads, helmet and skate board.
The three were skating down the sidewalk to the skate park when Trixie asked "What's with all the tiger ware?"
"I figured since I was born in the year of the tiger and it's my 12th birthday meaning it's the year of the tiger again it be appropriate" Jake answered.
"What are you taking about" Spud asked.
"How could guys not remember I explain this every year to you on Chinese New Year" Jake said.
His friend just gave a blank look.
Jake gave a slight groan and shook his head.
He took a deep breath and said "Chinese new year happens in February because China follows a slightly different calendar. Chinese new year is like every holiday wrapped into one big celebration, complete with presents and sweets."
Jake took another deep breath before continuing.
"Chinese legend said the god of the forest was dieing and he called all the animals to come to him before he died but only 12 animals came. In honor of the 12 animals that went each was given it's own year. There's the year of the rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, roster, dog, pig, rat, ox, and tiger in that exact cycle. It's called the Chinese zodiac"
"Oh" both Trixie and Spud said.
"So every 12 years the year of the tiger comes into play again" Trixie surmised.
"True," Jake said "But the zodiac is like what America does with the months like what sign you're born under decides what personality you have so do the animals in the zodiac."
"That's kinda cool" Spud said as the reached the park.
"So what's a tiger suppose to be like" Trixie asked before they entered the park.
"I read that the tiger is brave, enthusiastic, self- confident, gets carried away, is stubborn about what they think is right, have a tendency to be hot headed and a rebel" Jake explained.
"That does sound a lot like you" Trixie with a smile as they entered the park.
A/N I you haven't noticed by now I've had Jake in multiple tiger outfits through out the story and this is why. I chose the tiger because it fit Jake and if Hailey were in the story she'd be a horse it fits her better than the snake personality. It says the horse is intelligent, friendly, optimistic, with plausibility you could beat the opponents easily. Yet has shortcomings of being selfish and impatience. And since Chinese new year doesn't follow the rest of the world's new year I can make her a horse even though she's only 3 years younger than Jake in my story.
A/N This may get confusing later on if it isn't already so any questions just ask. Review