Page 74 of Tiger's Destiny
“We were followed. We had to split up and circle back around.”
Kishan lifted the locking mechanism and pulled the gate open far enough to accommodate the animals shifting excitedly in the dark. As he moved back to me, he said, “I’ve never smelled anything like them in my life. What are they?”
One of the beasts blew out a breath.We’ve never smelled anything like you before either.
I laughed softly. “They are Qilin, and they can communicate with me. I think you’ve slightly offended them.”
“I apologize,” Kishan told the animals. “I only meant that I’d never met a creature such as you.”
“They accept,” I translated, “and we need to move the broken ropes on the ground. They are all that remains of the Qilin that the Rakshasas killed, and the Qilin herd does not want to accidentally trample them.”
Together, Kishan and I crouched down and collected the silky cords. Startled by a touch on my shoulder, I dropped the bunch of ropes I had picked up. Standing abruptly, I jumped back and raised my deadly claws.
“It’s okay. It’s just me, Ren.”
I lowered my arms to retrieve the ropes and let out a shaky breath. “Ren! We’ve been waiting for you. There’s just one more thing to do.”
Wrapping the Scarf around my body, I whispered the words that would return my form to its natural state. When I pulled the Scarf away and tied it around my waist, I ran my hands through my hair and quickly secured it with a ribbon. “Now that feels much better,” I mumbled.
Out of the corner of my eye, fire erupted in the darkness.
“Betrayer! You are no Rakshasa queen!”
Lightning strode toward us, his tattoos and hair ablaze with anger.
I put my arm on Kishan’s, knowing he was ready to turn this into a brawl. Directing my comments to Lightning, I said firmly, “I am the same woman you have admired, with the same heart and courage. I just choose to take a different form right now.”
“And do you also choose to free the animals we have rightly captured? You break the Rakshasa law! What have you done?”
I stretched out my arms and rubbed my hands slowly. “Rakshasa law says that whatever you are strong enough to capture is yours. I have taken these creatures from you. It’s true that in this form, it appears as if I am powerless, as if I am prey,” I narrowed my eyes, “but make no mistake, Lightning, I still have the ability to bring harm to you and your clan. I have no desire to do so . . . presently, but if a challenge is presented, then—” I shrugged.
He studied me in my new form as Ren and Kishan tensed next to me. Seeming to come to a decision, Lightning smiled evilly, and said, “This is a test. A test that will cement my claim as leader of the Rakshasa clan forever, and I will not fail.”
He sprung at me, claws extended, and Ren and Kishan switched to tigers and met him in mid-air. While they rolled around on the ground, claws ripping, I encouraged the Qilin to make their escape while they could. I stood out of the way as one by one the large beasts moved silently through the dark trees toward the distant cave, and then I turned to help Ren and Kishan.
Murmuring a few words and touching the Pearl Necklace at my throat, I cause a wet fog to surround the men. Lightning gasped and panted as if he was breathing poison. With a mighty cry, Lightning threw both tigers off of him, doused his light, and escaped into the trees. Ren and Kishan were about to chase after him when I called softly, “Ren, Kishan, let him go. We need to get out of here before he brings the whole clan down on our heads.”
The two tigers trotted back to me, and I felt a nudge on my back, which was accompanied by a soft whicker. Three Qilin remained.
We will take you far from here, princess.
But how can you?I asked the leader.You must stay with your herd.
You have done us a great service, and we will return the favor. Come. Climb onto our backs, and we will speed you away from this place.
I crouched down near the tigers and stroked their heads. The black tiger licked my arm. “They want us to ride them to safety,” I explained. “They said they are fast and they want to repay their debt.”
Kishan changed into a man and smiled. “Then what are we waiting for?”
The Qilin turned on their lights and stomped the ground eagerly. Kishan lifted me onto the back of the herd leader, and as I grabbed a hold of his flickering blue mane, Kishan leapt onto the back of a beast with green coloring. Ren changed into a man and bent to pick something up, then approached a glimmering purple beast dancing nearby. He leapt onto the back of the animal and deftly maneuvered it closer to me.
Leaning down to pat my blue Qilin, he spoke quietly, “Be careful with her. She hasn’t ridden before.”
After a pause, I smiled. “The Qilin will take care of me.”
“Good,” Ren answered before tucking something between my fingers.
Kishan called out, “Follow me,” and kneed his mount forward.
