THE WERETIGER

AN ALLY??

His voice cut through the still air breaking the silence and time seemed to start ticking once again. He stood with his hands folded in front of him and his gaze casted downwards. It felt strange to be treated with such respect and slight embarrassment creeped up my neck with every second he stayed in that position. Time stretched on and maybe it was the embarrassment I felt or my slight exaggeration of the situation, either way I couldn't watch him show so much respect to my confused state any longer. I understood his behavior and the fact that he wasn't to blame for the anxiety and increasing embarrassment I felt but that didn't help.

"Lift your head already"

It was only a frustrated thought but he whipped his head to look at me, his eyebrows knitted in confusion. His eyebrows relaxed slowly and his eyes went wide with surprise. I watched as he narrowed his eyes, disbelief marring his features as he failed to comprehend that I just spoke. I needed time to process what was happening and so I prayed he would leave already, dismissing him sounding rude to me. He just continued staring at me, slight amusement creeping up his face as the corners of his thin lips curved up slightly. I narrowed my eyes at the smirk, it made me slightly angry since he couldn't and would never be able to fathom the confusion and anxiety that troubled my head. He suddenly averted his eyes as if my action intimidated him. A small genuine smile creeped up his face and I let out a frustrated breath once again.

" It's an honor to see you once again although I didn't expect to find you awake" he said.

Confusion overtook me for a moment after which it dispelled when a projection of images played itself in front of me. The interactions between the weretiger and the man in front of me filled the array of images. It was a show of respect, conversations of mild understanding and interactions of companionship. A partnership that was unnecessary to the weretiger and seemed very important to the man. The respect I had for the weretiger increased when I realized that the number of times it had used it's power in the conversations could be counted in one hand. I was supposed to be this animal and the thought scared me. The look the man had made the situation heavier and I wanted him to leave immediately. I shook my head to dispel the thoughts and get rid of the images that kept swirling in front of me. The assumption that I could take over the responsibilities and maintain the image of the weretiger was baseless and it was a thought that clouded my mind making my head swirl.

" Why are you here?" I asked in the most tired yet authoritative voice I could master not that I needed to try since I had the voice of the weretiger.

He stiffened at the sound of my voice as he straightened his back and after taking a deep breath, he spoke

" I'm here to ask for your help. The forest calls for you" he said.

A fact I'm painfully aware of and one that forms most of the regrets I have. The forest is in the worst condition after what has been happening. The hope that glimmered in his eyes made reality feel five or so times heavier than it was. He expected me to be the much loved, nearly forgotten and fierce weretiger. Protecting the ground whose destruction I had participated in, maintaining an image that shouldn't be reset in any way and coping with the reality I was facing were all responsibilities that made my heart tremble and my knees shake. The only reason why I was still standing straight was by the strength of the weretiger whose presence I felt. I had a lot of control but the faint presence of the weretiger made itself known at the most needed moments and this companionship between us seemed to seal what was my second chance at life. I felt it on my chest, the heavy responsibility that was both a burden and an opportunity.

" We need to borrow your strength, tenacity and power once again"

Humble and genuine.

It was like a cry for help and though he seemed to benefit, his voice only called for the forest and that shook me to my core. I stood there bathed in light, unable to take in the lack of an ulterior motive in the voice of the man who was slowly raising his head to look at me, a confused to be weretiger. I understood what he meant, every word he uttered was followed by a feeling or an explanation by the weretiger inside me so I knew everything about the forest and the man in front of me. I have all the information I need and though the sincerity he showed moved me, the decision to protect the forest troubled me.

" I came here to visit a friend, an ally as I have been since he fell asleep" he declared when he was eye to eye with me.

His visits played like a tape, the bond he had with the weretiger proving to be stronger as he spoke. At first he visited because of worry and though the worry subtly transformed to a selfish desire, he had genuine friendly feelings towards the weretiger and that explained the happiness that reflected in his eyes. Though it made me happy that someone was happy to see me, it was misplaced and I didn't know what to do. Reincarnated, given a second chance at life but expected to live opposite of how I have been.

" How would you describe the forest???" I asked.

I was curious. I wanted to know what I was going to encounter and I believed he was the best person to ask. He took a moment to think, scratching the back of his head as discomfort and worry marred his features. A forlorn look creeped up his face and he began describing the enchanted forest. The river was flowing at a high speed as if anticipating the story. The atmosphere shifted and I was suddenly ready to listen, The urge to protect overpowered the feelings of confusion that nearly overwhelmed me. I had a new role and though my soul was the same my body wasn't. It was a second chance and something within me was begging me to stop dwelling on what happened and just go with what was going on. The responsibility on my shoulders was heavy but the strength and power I felt was enormous.

" It was a beautiful sight with every creature living comfortably and protected by a weretiger adored and loved. The forest was visibly healthy and in the best condition, meaning every person who resided around the forest was also living their best lives. This fact was a folktale to the wolves as they did not know anything of the forest" he stopped to look at me as he walked around the cave, a finger on his chin and the other hand across his torso.

He became comfortable as he told the story, walking around and constantly looking for my reaction. He was passionate as he spoke, the love he had for the forest could be seen clearly. It was a story that showed his concern and also his desire.

" I got acquainted with the weretiger when a disaster hit the forest. The witches wanted to take the forest's powers for selfish purposes. There was a war between the wolves and the hunters, instigated by the witches to act as distraction, the humans attacked and the witches' visit to the forest was covered. It was a peaceful time roughly three years before the weretiger slept and since the forest is very important for the survival of my people, we were ready to defend the forest and so we fought alongside the weretiger although he didn't need any help"

He stopped to look at me, having realized that I was shocked. I didn't miss the reference to the weretiger and instead of saying you he said the weretiger. His smile was warm as if to ease the discomfort and confusion that troubled me but for some reason, I got nervous. It felt like he knew who I was and yet he treated me with so much respect and adoration.

" The weretiger??" I asked.

" I know of your reincarnation though I don't know who you are" he answered with ease.

I was surprised but the faint presence of the weretiger made me see him as an ally and a person I can trust. I just watched him silently as he began pacing the area around where he stood. His visit has been taking me on a rollercoaster of emotions and I feared that due to this visit I might accept the challenge that had come my way.

" We were allies and though I needed him more than he did me, our partnership was never strained and so when he decided to take rest and look for someone to guard the forest, he spoke to me first. I was supportive of the idea but the forest would remain unprotected for a time. He assured me that it would take time before people realized that he was absent and that he would have found a person to take over. That didn't happen and it took ten years for you to wake up. We were safe for seven years but the last three years were a pain and the forest was nearly destroyed. It was a slow destruction that didn't happen at once with people stealing the creatures and watching for a reaction but overtime they became courageous and out of control" he said with a frown.

He was right, three years ago I was appointed the werewolf general and due to the strategic position of the west side of the vast forest, I decided to make it a war zone. I hang my head in shame, regret making me unable to maintain eye contact with the man who loves the forest on which my accomplishments rested. We don't all get the chance to correct what we did wrong and I was grateful for this chance but I was still overwhelmed and scared.

" The happiness I feel knows no bounds now that you are awake. I hope to keep the relationship I had with the weretiger that is if you are comfortable with it" he added.

I still didn't know what he was as it was clear that he was neither a human nor a werewolf. His expectations of me were reasonable and it felt nice to have a companion but would I be adequate?? I didn't want to let him down and though his confidence was somehow making me believe that I could do it, I feared lying to myself. I didn't want to join him in this mission without having confidence in myself. Joining a group of ambitious people without an ounce of ambition and with doubts is the worst thing one could do to the group in my opinion so I didn't want to overestimate myself until I was sure of the path I was going to take.

" You spoke of your people, who are they???" I asked.

He got a cute smile on his attractive face as he thought back to his people and I watched with pure amazement as his eyes twinkled with adoration and I was swiftly reminded of my very capable and charismatic Alpha, Alpha alexander. They shared a few characteristics like the pride that showed on their faces when asked about their people. With his next statement, not only did he answer the question but I also got to meet a creature I have been wanting to meet.

" My people are the vampires and I am the vampire king. I have been waiting for you" he said.