A Tiger's Journey

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The full moon was a brilliant orange, igniting the sky with its eerie glow. There were no clouds to inhibit the moon and stars. All around the clearing wolves gathered beneath the blood orange moon and sang beautiful songs. Howling in unison There would be no hunting this night, even the herds of deer gathered in the moonlight, enjoying this one night of peace. The woods were alive with the change of the moon. A pure white she-wolf with silver eyes entered the center of the clearing. She lifted her head high and let out a long howl into the night sky. The wolves around her gathered in a circle around her, running at a playful speed. Males nipped playfully at the heels of females, and some females nipped at the tails of the males. Each was searching for their mate. Althea sat at the edge of the clearing. Her snow-white fur stood out against the darkness. She had dark black stripes in her fur, and eyes that put the sky to shame. She was a tiger. The only one of her kind this far north. She was born on a stormy night and abandoned by her mother. As such, the Alpha of the local pack took her in and raised her as her own.  Althea kept her distance during events such as this, but the marvel of it all fascinated her. Pairs of wolves were being made, a few omegas sauntered off into the woods to make their bonds more permanent. When the pure white Alpha looked her way she fought the urge her tiger had to greet her in a challenge and lowered her head in submission. Althea knew her only worth in being here was due to her special ability, but this was home, both in animal form and in human. The Alpha, Caela, made her way towards me, sitting close by and rubbing her head over my own. She had been like a mother to Althea since she was found, and the tiger chuffed softly in response. Althea nuzzled her head beneath Caela's maw, showing her love for all the she-wolf does for her. Althea could feel her attempting to mind-link with and opened herself to the Alpha's thoughts.

"I am glad you are here, my child. It is time we found you a mate of your own." Althea laughed at her statement.

"Mother, I do not believe I will find my other half in these woods. Besides those in the zoo, there are none like me here." Caela rolled her eyes.

"Perhaps your beast may not find a mate, but you, my daughter could find a partner. Someone to share your life, to make you smile. Perhaps even my insatiable son could be a good fit, and you could truly become one with this pack."

We both let our eyes wander to that of the salt and pepper colored male nipping at any female who he could catch between his maw. He was lean, muscular, just as he was in his human form. Any female would be happy to call him her mate. Especially since he was the next alpha. A twinge of sadness took Althea when she remembered last summer. He had found his true mate, but she was dying of cancer. We lost her just a few months ago. To save him from dying with her she had rejected him. Belemy was alive, but only a shell of who he used to be.

"I don't think now is the time, mother. I think I'll go for a walk, check the perimeter." Her mother watched her mood shift and nodded, watching as Althea left the joyous festivities to be alone. 

Life as a tiger was often solitary. Most never wandered from their own territory unless trying to find a mate. Althea shook her head, her heavy paws thudding softly onto the earth as she walked her pack's lands. A  circular area of roughly five miles in diameter. The pack included a small town that held a wildlife refuge in which Althea worked as a veterinarian to the big cats. Crossing the border slightly she ran to her favorite place. It was an open meadow filled with alstroemeria. She carefully made her way deeper into the meadow of tall flowers and let her body collapse beneath her, rolling onto her back to look up at the night sky. She trusted the moon goddess Lunara to keep her safe, just as all in the pack would. But she hoped that Solaris, the sun god and mate of the moon, would bring her love. Her sky blue eyes watched in awe as a shooting star fell across the sky as if in response to her wish. Althea wished she could howl like the wolves in her family however a tiger could not howl. Something inside her bubbled forth and she rolled back onto her belly. Rising to her paws she let out a loud, sorrowful roar that echoed into the night air.