1 Saving Serenity

Sunlight broke through the dense trees in flashes as she raced on foot through the forest. She moved fast, running at top speed; jumping over fallen logs and ducking under low brush. A sharp pain cut across her cheek as a bush slashed her. The thin wound burned in the cool forest air. She barely could see where she was running. The forest was a blur of brown, green and yellow as she sped through. Her chest heaved. She had never run this far for this long in her life – but she couldn't stop. Her life depended on it.

Her black cloak billowed behind her. She had hoped that it would hide her pale white complexion and silvery blond hair from anyone who may sore overhead. That hope was dashed though fairly early in her escape attempt.

The thumping sound of heavy paws thundered behind her. She guessed there were two members of the Royal Guard tailing her through the forest. It had started as many more, but the deeper she went into the forest, the more the Guard hung back for fear of wild beast and strange magic. She thought if she could just make it to Tarzaharth, she would be able to hide and recuperate in the mess of species that lived in the city. She would be able to go anywhere from there and escape forever from the Den.

Tarzaharth was on the opposite side of the Magic Forest from the Den. It was not a long distance, but the density of the forest and the ancient magic hidden in its depths often kept visitors out of the woods. Only the bravest, or most foolish, entered the forest. Hardly anyone ever came out. Most species kept to the extended roads that connected Tarzaharth to many kingdoms and went around the Magic Forest.

Serenity did not fear the magic of the forest. She knew that her magic came from the earth, just as the magic in the forest did, and that there was truly nothing to fear. She was capable of the same mysteries that scared other creatures from the forest. In some ways, the forest was a welcoming home—a place to escape.

She was thankful for how dense the trees were growing as she moved farther into the woods. She was a small young woman, agile and able to move quickly through the brush, unlike the massive guards chasing her. If they took their human form, she had no doubt they would get caught in the woods and be unable to follow her.

That is why she knew she had to escape through the forest. Despite how dangerous it could be, she knew it was her best chance of survival. She had coverage from all sides – large men and creatures would have difficulty following her in the woods.

The trees grew so close together at the center of the forest, she had to slow down to maneuver between them. She stayed quiet and caught her breath as she weaved in and out of the tree trunks. She kept her dark, navy blue eyes on the sky above, looking to make sure no one dived down on her.

As the trees began to thin she knew she was emerging from the forest, closer to Tarzaharth. She picked up her pace and began to jog again, prancing over fallen trees and trunks. She could no longer hear the thumping sound of paws behind her. She slowed her pace again, exhausted, but unwilling to stop in fear that the Royal Guard would catch up to her.

She did not stop running for what seemed hours. Finally, she stumbled out of the forest and looked across a long field of tall grass. Beyond the grass she could see the skyline of Tarzaharth. She bent over, putting her hands on her knees, and caught her breath with a long heavy sigh. As she stood up straight she threw her hair and hood out of her face and looked up at the crystal blue sky.

The sun was blocked abruptly by a large tiger– pouncing down on her – and before she could move she felt the scratching pain of claws ripping into her shoulders. The monstrous Bengal scratched both of her shoulders, knocking her to the ground. Her cloak and shirt ripped as blood seeped where he had caught her. She fell into the long grass and cried out, covering her eyes from the burning sun. The tiger stood back for a moment, staring at her waiting for her to try to run again. She rolled onto her back to glare at the animal. He would pounce the moment she moved or transformed. He would catch her in his mouth and no doubt tear her to pieces. She didn't have time to move. The tiger pounced high into the air and transformed as he landed on her, trapping her between his broad body and the ground.

The tiger's shining armor blinded her as the sun reflected off it. She could not see the distinguishing features of his face because of his protective helmet, but she could see his burning yellow eyes. Like most Bengals, his eyes were sharp golden irises with black slits for pupils.

She cowered under him, covering her face. He grabbed her arm and pulled her to stand in front of him as she screamed and yanked against his strength. He was at least twice her size, towering over her at six and half feet. Tigers were a large species, but the royal guard was extremely large for their kind. The Tigerian Royal Family handpicked their guard, ensuring that only the largest and most physically intimidating tigers served to protect them.

"You've gone too far, Dove!" he yelled at her as she struggled against his grasp. She screamed and squirmed, but doubted anyone would hear her. What were the chances that someone was on the outskirts of Tarzaharth. "No bird leaves the Den!"

"Release me!" she yelled at the top of her voice as she glared at the tiger. He seemed indifferent to her yelling. He did release her, but only to slap her across the face. He hit her so hard she fell back to the ground. She half sat up and shook her head because her vision was blurred. It wasn't the first time she had been hit that hard and she was sure it wouldn't be the last. Not if he got her back to the Den.

He grabbed the back of her cloak, tearing it off of her and revealing her long silvery blonde hair. It fell around her face and shoulders in lushes curls and waves. He grabbed her by the hair, pulling her head back to look up at him. His fingers grazing the soft white feathers that lined the back of her neck.

"Imagine my reward," he sneered "for bringing his Royal Highness' dove back from the Magic Forest! He might even give you to me. He brags that you're the best dove to have. I doubt he'll want you after this—"

She spat in his face. It landed just below his eye, where the helmet did not cover his face. He hit her again, with the back of his hand, then tore his helmet off and wiped her saliva from his cheek. He had high cheek bones and a sharp jaw. His nose was short and bent oddly as if it had been broken before. His lips were thin and his skin tanned.

"His Royal Highness hasn't broken me, what makes you think you will?"

The tiger grabbed her ankle and pulled her towards him. He knelt down on top of her, breathing heavy into her ear. She pressed her hands against his chest plate and tried to push him off of her small frame, but it was no use. The tiger was muscular and too heavy to move.

"I'll break you—" His hands pulled at the waist of her pants. "I might even finish you off for the pleasure – save the Prince some trouble."

"He'll kill you when you return," she cried in desperation.

The tiger froze over her. Her pants were part of the way down on her thighs and he still had her pinned, but he stopped to listen.

"If you bring me back after violating me, he'll kill you for touching what is his," she spoke quickly. "If you come back with me dead, he'll kill you for destroying what is his. And if you come back without me…well let's be honest, he probably won't kill you. He'll imprison you. He'll demote your entire family because you're an embarrassment to the Guard. What kind of tiger can't stop a dove?"

"Shut up," he punched her in the face this time. He grabbed her by her cut shoulders and slammed her head down on the ground causing her to see spots. She cried out. He wasn't as stupid as she was hoping. "He won't believe you anyways," he jeered and grabbed her hips.

There was a moment that she was sure he was going to successfully penetrate her. She cried out in anger, lifted her arms to beat against him – she wasn't going to let him take her without a fight. Part of her hoped he'd killer her in that field so she didn't have to go back to the Den.

The moment was short lived. Suddenly, the tiger's heavy body was off of her. She immediately took a deep breath of cool air. The world was still spinning around her from being hit in the head so many times. She felt ill and faint. She rolled her head to the side as her eyes grew heavy. There were murmurs from what seemed like far way.

"…your Highness, I beg you—"

"—you'd take something that doesn't belong to you?"

"Sire…I simply was trying to restrain her—"

There was an awful slashing sound. Serenity's body lurched as hot blood splattered across her cheek. There was silence in the long grass. She opened her eyes and tired to keep them open. She had no doubt in her mind that he had come for her. A blurry pale figured appeared in her line of sight. She sighed heavily as tears welled up in her eyes.

He kicked her side gently with his foot. She didn't move. Maybe he'd leave her there to die…

She felt the figure's hands carefully return her pants to her waist line. Then, his strong arms lifted her up and threw her body over his shoulder. She sighed heavily again as the blood rushed to her head. Her vision blurred and the last thing she saw was the faded image of the dead Bengal in the long grass.

Then all went black.