Captured Princess

First Day in the Tribe

Shanaia sighed as she placed her bag on the floor and looked around the room she would be staying in for the rest of their mid-year school break.

Just like what her mother said, she and her siblings were shipped to their maternal side of the family – The Mountain Claw Tribe was the largest cheetah and feline shifter tribe in Arizona.

They traveled there through their uncle Alex’s portal on the first day of their mid-year school break.

Shanaia once again let out a sigh as she sat on the edge of her bed. Her room was plain, but pretty neat and cozy with her own bathroom. She has her Queen-sized bed placed against the left wall of her room, her closet on the right side, and a small desk and chair next to her bed. In front of her bed was the huge door towards the balcony that acts as the room’s window as well.

Shanaia made her way out to the balcony and looked at the breathtaking view of the whole territory that looked like an oasis in the middle of the canyons. A small smile appeared on her lips as she realized that her room may be plain compared to her room back in the pack, but she had the best view; the perks of having the attic room.

“Looks like I have to make the most of my stay here,” she mumbled to herself.

Then she heard movement behind her so she turned around and saw her uncle Siegfried; her mom’s eldest brother and the tribe’s chief.

“Uncle Siegfried!”

Shanaia exclaimed and then she smiled at him before stepping back inside her room and hugged her uncle.

“How are you?” Siegfried asked.

Shanaia pulled away before answering.

“I’m good,”

Siegfried nodded in response, and then he looked around before looking back at her.

“How do you like your room? I know this room is pretty basic but I made sure that you have the best view,” her uncle spoke.

“I love the view, thank you.” She replied and her uncle smiled.

“I’m glad you like it,” Siegfried said, and then there was a moment of silence between them before he cleared his throat.

“Do you understand why you and your siblings are here?” he asked.

“Mom is punishing us?”

Shanaia answered and Siegfried gave her a small smile.

“Aside from that, your mother wanted you three to train and learn the ways of the tribe,” he said.

Shanaia looked at him as she remembered what her mother said.

“She said grandpa will be teaching me how to control my temper when using my gift so I wouldn't be overkilling the next time I use them,” she said and her uncle nodded.

“Sahara mentioned what happened in the no man’s land and based on how they described what happened, I’d say you really needed control,”

Shanaia sighed and then she took a step back before she looked down on the floor.

“I don’t understand uncle. Why is it only me? Crane and Seb are pretty much okay with their gifts but when it comes to me, I tend to go overboard,” she asked, looking at her uncle.

Siegfried heaved a deep sigh before answering.

“There could be a lot of reasons why, but your father said maybe it's because you don’t have something to balance the rage in you that it reflects the way you use your gift,” he told her.

“Rage? I don’t think so. I am pretty calm unlike my other cousins,” Shanaia said, pertaining to Zander when she said those words.

Siegfried took a few steps closer to his niece and put his hand on her shoulder.

“There are many reasons and trust me, your grandpa will help you uncover the real reason and he will help you manage it. And maybe, the healers of our tribe can also help you with your healing ability,”

Shanaia frowned in response to what her uncle said.

“So, they also told you that I did not get Dad’s healing ability,” she mumbled.

“Yet.”

Siegfried said and Shanaia furrowed her eyebrows.

“You haven’t got it yet.”

Shanaia scoffed.

“You really think I have it too?” she asked.

“I know so.”

Shanaia pursed her lips and her uncle patted the top of her head.

“Don’t think about much. Everything will play out fine.” He spoke.

“I hope so,”

Siegfried just smiled.

“I’ll leave you to unpack. Just come down to the kitchen after for a snack,” he told her.

“Thanks, uncle.”

“You’re welcome.”

After Siegfried left her room, Crane and Seb came in and both were bewildered when they saw their sister’s room.

“What the hell? Why is your room this big?” Seb whined.

“Not only is it big, but you also have a balcony?” Crane added as he pointed at the balcony.

“It's big?” she asked.

“Yeah. Not only was our room just half of your room, but we also had to share,” Seb answered as he sat on the edge of her bed.

“You have a nice view. Not fair,” Crane grumbled as he stepped onto the balcony.

“Well, I didn’t choose this room,” Shanaia retorted as she pulled Seb from her bed and sat down instead.

Crane went back inside; he stuffed his hands into his pockets.

“So, how do you plan on surviving our stay here?” Crane asked his older sister.

Shanaia heaved a deep breath before answering.

“Well, we can start by accepting the fact that we’ll be here instead of camping with our friends,” she told them.

“But how? I don’t want to spend the whole mid-year break training,” Seb whined.

“Too bad, our fate has been decided,” Shanaia replied and then she stood up.

“You two get out so I can unpack,” she added and started pushing her brothers out of her room, despite their complaints.

Once they were out of her room, she closed the door and locked it. Her brothers knocked and continued to coerce her to think of a way to leave the place early. Shanaia ignored them and grabbed her luggage so she could start unpacking.

*******************************.

After Shanaia unpacked her stuff, she went out of her room and walked around the tribe’s main house. As she walked around, she could feel the people’s eyes on her when she passed them.

She tried to ignore them but as she went downstairs, she bumped into her cousins from her uncles with their friends. They all have a look of disdain on their faces as they look at her.

Unlike her cousins from her father’s side who are very close to her, her cousins from her mother’s side were quite indifferent. And as she tried to walk past them, one of them tried to trip her.

Since she is still her mother’s daughter and has the blood of a feline shifter, her reflexes were outstanding, she was able to balance herself and avoid falling on the floor. She then leaped away from them as she glared at them.

“What the hell?” she hissed.

“Oops,” her cousin, Samara sneered and her peers giggled.

Samara was her uncle Siegfried’s eldest daughter. She has an older brother named Salem who is the next chief of the tribe, and then her youngest sister named Stella who was there as well. Shanaia is also older than them by three years as she was the first grandchild of the former chief.

Shanaia rolled her eyes.

“What a way of welcoming me, Samara,” Shanaia spoke.

Samara then walked closer to her and narrowed her eyes at her.

“Welcome? You are not welcome here. This is a feline territory, you are a mutt,” Samara sneered and Shanaia gave her a deadpan look as a response.

“That again? Don’t you have any other thing to say? You say that every time we are here,”

Samara scoffed as the others hovered around Shanaia.

“I say it because you cannot seem to comprehend it,” Samara replied smugly.

Shanaia crossed her arms over her chest.

“Try saying that when the adults are around and let’s see if you can still be that smug. And besides, you speak as if my mother isn’t a feline shifter. She is still a member of this tribe, she is your father’s sister,” she said.

“Your mother mated with a mutt, making you a mixed-breed stray,” Stella, Samara’s younger sister said, making Shanaia scowl.

“Watch your mouth, Stella,” Shanaia said through her gritted teeth.

“I just said the truth,” Stella said and the others around them agreed.

Shanaia was about to speak when she noticed her uncles Stephen and Styx making their way towards them. She looked at her cousins with her back straightened.

“Your mouths spew nothing but disrespect. What do you think your father will say if he hears you say those things to his sister,” Shanaia spoke and Samara smirked.

“Are you going to tell him? We can just deny your claims. It's your word against mine and I have my friends to back me up. FYI, he will always believe us not you.” Samara told Shanaia.

“But we’re pretty sure your father will believe us if we tell him what you said,”

Samara’s eyes widened and then they all turned around. The color was drained from Samara and Stella’s faces when they saw their uncles Stephen and Styx.

“Samara, Stella. Shanaia is your aunt Sahara’s daughter, she is your cousin; she’s family. And being family means we have each other’s back, we don’t insult nor disrespect each other,” Stephen said.

“Uncle, you’re mistaken. It was her –“

“We heard everything, and we are not dumb,” Styx spoke, cutting Stella mid-sentence.

“Uncle –“

“Apologize to your cousin, now,” Stephen said as he looked sharply at their niece.

Samara scowled and then she stomped her foot before walking away instead of apologizing, followed by her sister and their friends. Stephen let out a frustrated sigh before he looked at Shanaia.

“Are you okay?” he asked and Shanaia nodded.

“I hope you won’t mention this to your uncle Siegfried. He already has a lot on his plate,” Stephen said.

“And both Samara and Stella are already on our brother’s nerves. They are a bit at odds at the moment,” Styx added.

“I won’t tell him, don’t worry. But still, thanks for helping,” she replied and her uncles smiled at her.

“So, how are you, kiddo?” Styx asked.

“Just fine,”

“We were stoked when Sahara called and told us that you and your brothers will be staying here for a while,” Stephen said and Shanaia could only let out an awkward smile.

Her uncles noticed that she was a bit troubled so they thought of something to ease that.

“You know what? Why don’t we catch up over some snacks and coffee?” Stephen asked.

“Yeah. Your brothers already ate and probably exploring with Seve. So, can you accompany your dear old uncles and have that coffee at the back of the house?” Styx told Shanaia who sighed and nodded.

“Great. Let’s go!” Styx exclaimed, putting his arm over Shanaia’s shoulder and leading her towards the back of the main house where there is an outdoor mess hall.

Stephen sighed and followed them.