The Books of the Shadows III- Silver Tiger

31

In the evening, Silver was in the bedroom when he felt her.

She was scared.

He heard her voice through the mind link and two of the little brothers just burst into the room slamming the door.

-Where is Moon?

-What is happening? Is she gone too?? the second brother burst into the room too, looking worried. Did we lose Moon too?? he yelled at Tiger, demanding an answer he did not have yet.

They were scared, and they had a good reason to be scared.

Their parents were gone, maybe even lost forever, and they had so little time with them. Silver was lucky, he had his parents with him for 18 years now. They were there anytime he needed them. And now they were gone, and his little brothers needed them most.

But he did not know where Moon was, what was happening? They were searching for her for some time now and could not find her they said.

-Let's find her!

-No. I go find her, while you two do the most important thing, that only warriors do.

-What is that?

-That is, take care of your little sisters and brothers, until I find Moon and bring her back, alright?

They looked at each other, thinking about Tiger's words.

-But that is not really what warriors do, warriors fight...

-Warriors keep things calm for everyone and take care of everyone, just like you two will do now, or I can not go find Moon, because I will have to go take care of your brothers and sisters instead. Do you think they did not feel that?

The boys looked one at the other and nodded their heads in understanding.

-Alright then... one of the little ones seemed calm enough to obey.

-When is Shade coming back?

-He is on his way back, Siren, said Silver.

Siren was now 11. Silver was counting on him to take care of his brothers and sisters, because he was more like Moon, a natural born warrior, and knowing that, it made him smile when he saw him sullen that instead of going to war he must be left behind to take care of his younger brothers.

-Go then, Siren said.

-Wait for Shade, he is close, Silver said and just took off to find Moon.

Of course, he did not take long to find her. But he was a little worried about finding her on the ground, feeling ... scared or confused, he could not say for sure. She was holding something in her fist, and she was looking really undecided.

What was going on? She was not harmed, but then, why was she on the ground?

She was never clumsy, did she just trip and fall? No, that could not be. As he got closer, she did not feel him.

Again, strange, Silver was like a cat, but Moon was a better hunter, hearing even ants on the ground, which was scary.

And she did not even hear him coming?

Why was that? He towered over her, worried.

Was she really alright?

-Brother... even her voice sounded weak.

-What is wrong, Moon?

He sat next to her thinking she was just spending some time on her own, but the truth was that she could not move yet.

She was confused, not knowing how to interpret the things that had just occurred.

-I think... I don't know... Something happened... And I don't know...

-What has happened? I felt it.

-Someone came to me and gave me this, Moon opened her palm and showed him the crystal.

-What is it? Who gave it to you?

Silver looked around, trying to find any figure that may be moving around and let him know more info about a possible threat.

-I don't know... it was a feminine voice, I have heard that before, but I don't know... I think I know her but I can't say who it was... She wore a hood, and she was hiding from me.

-Why would she be hiding from you? Does that mean you know her? Why did she give it to you?

-She said to use it and open the portal...

-Wait, what? The portals? With this??

-Yes... But...

The crystal in her hand was special and emanated a power that was felt through the skin. Silver shredded just looking at him. He seemed strong, but what power would he have? And who gave it to his sister, what were his intentions? Now that they were all in danger, what was that person's interest?

-How do you open a portal with this one? Silver grabbed the crystal and looked at it, moving it on every side, like it was hiding something he needed to find.

-I don't know... She did not say... she just left...

-She gave you the stone and left??

-Yes! She said I am important...

-Of course, you are important; you are of royal blood!

-No, she did not mean it that way... She meant it in a different way...

-Important in another way than your royal blood? In what way?? As in... for someone?

-Yes... like that...

-As in... for a mate or something?

-I don't know, brother... I did not understand, and she did not stay long enough to explain it to me, but she meant no harm.

-How do you know that?

-Something in her, there was something familiar in her. I can not explain, but I think I know her. Somehow...

-Feels strange, little sister. Something is not right here... There is no one here, where did she go then?

Tiger looked around, impatient. Who could have such power to just sneak in and sneak out without anyone notice, that was not good for the security. They could have taken Moon, they could hurt anyone. It was not possible!!

But there were only shadows. No movement that he could trace.

-I know... but that is how I feel.

-Did she seem to know you back?

-Yes. Or at least, I think so. She kept her distance as if trying not to interfere too much... as I could recognize her...

-If you could recognize her and she was hiding, how can you tell she did not want to hurt you?

-If she wanted to hurt me, she could have tried something, right? She did not. It felt... strange like we knew each other for a lifetime and it felt... like.. like she loved me somehow??

Moon looked so confused. She could not stand on her feet yet so he kneeled near her on the ground.

-Was it Ayla?

-No, I know aunt Ayla, and it was not her.

-And how is this supposed to work, little sister? Silver was still moving the crystal on all its sides in his hand.

-I think I need to figure it out... She left before she could say more. But when she came over to me, she opened a small portal, enough for her alone to fit in and she left the same way. Maybe I just need to hold it or talk to it?

-Do not!!!

Silver Tiger just slapped her hand, and the stone fell to the ground. He did not want his little sister to just open a portal that would suck them into the gods know what world...

-We take it to the Sun House and let them study it.

-But is mine, she gave it to me!!

-But you do not know who she is and if she wants to harm the royal blood, do you now? And you don't know how to use it!

-Hmmm... I am positive she did not want to harm me, I could feel her love...

-LOVE?? Love, Moon? Then why was she hiding? Well, until you can actually back that loving feeling with some hard evidence, I am the crown prince and I say it goes to the Sun House. I don't want to have my little sister disappear into some unknown world.

-Awww, you fear for me, brother?

-No, I fear more the poor creatures that you would run into...

-Hahaha... But no, This will not get into someone else's hands. I will study it myself.

-But you will not study it alone and you will study it in your armor and armed, little sister. Plus, you restart your training every day, just like we were kids. I want our brothers to do that too, so it would be a good opportunity for you to train with them without raising suspicions that we fear something. If anything happens when you are studying this stone, you are to be ready to help yourself. Promise?

-I promise.

-And link me, before anything. Don't you dare disappear from our homeworld before you tell me about it? So do not touch it alone!

-All alright, all right...

-I mean it, Moon. Do you understand?? I need you right now. We all need all of us, but I need you to keep things in control, for now, little sister.

-Yes, brother, I understand. Thank you for loving me! She winked at him and kissed his cheek.

-Errrr, he growled loud enough for her to hear him. He loved her and she loved him back.

His sister was really a piece of art!