Tigress was in the middle of her after dinner training regimine when a heavy hand pounded on her door. She steadied the bag which depended from three metal hooks in the ceiling. She opened the door to reveal a orage and black striped cat who told her her father was expecting her.
"Ok, but, er, can't it wait? I'm in the middle of something." She said gesturing to the punching bag.
The strapier Ka'Po'Tun shook his head, saying it was urgent.
"Ugh... fine." She grumbled as she proceeded down the candle--lit hallway to the room at the end.
She knocked on the door, hoping she didn't disrupt anything important.
"Hello?" She said, opening the door. "You wanted to see me Master Xingxiao? What is this about?"
She moved across the room to a small pond encased in the crimson room. The creature saw her and got off his staff, with which he was meditating.
"Yes." He said. Tigress saw a note of curiosity within the old primate's face that was hard to mistake though his grey beard. "I see two prophecies coinciding: one, ssomeone will betray you and seek to sow destruction amongst the Akaviri..."
She grew concerned with every word he spoke.
"The second?" She assked, wincing a bit.
The elderly Tang Mo walked towards her. He scrutinized her.
"I remember when you were but a little thing. You could barely hold your own against me in battle."
She smiled as if she found something humorous.
"That's because you were so agile on your feet master."
Xingxiao furrowed his brow as he considered this.
"True, I was much more nimble back then. Of course, I can still beat you if chance permits it. That, however, is a cloud obsucring the daylight of what I really wanted to talk to you about. The propechies. There are three." He said, holding up three gnarled tree trunks. The first: Someone close to you will endanger all of Akavir, I know not who. I see a river reflected by three moons. Third: I saw before your arrrival here. The prophecy I speak of..."
Tigress gulped and then spoke.
"Is it about my mother?" She asked.
Xingxiao smiled as he touched the female Ka'Po'Tun's cheek with a gnarled hand.
"Your mother, as well as her being my daughter, died at the hands of your father. I doubt you know this, but, your father..." He paused as he looked out over the Xinming province, strettching over plains, villages and rolling hills to the Fudong river below. "He gave his life to keep you safe. I doubt you are aware, but, he was ruler of the province and battled with those from neighboring provinces who sought to take that power away. He fought not with axe and blade, but with diplomacy and voice of the dragon. His legacy now passes to you. In three days time will be your coronation. It is also at this time the threat I have foreseen will befall us as well as the three moon I've told you about."
Tigress eyed the aged wisened ape with concern.
"Master... what oof my mother?" She asked him, eyes filling with tears, "Do she know of this? How could you keep me in the dark for so long about me possibly becoming Empress of the Tiger-Dragon people?"
The wisened Tang Mo lead her over to an unlit firepit ssurrounded by red cushions patterned with yellow intricaciees throughout the small rectangle and gestured for Tigress to take the vacant one just opposite the fire. The wise ape produced a staff from beneath his scarlet robe and cast the ashes to the four winds, caught them and drew with them a symbol all too familiar to the Akaviri: two half circles which contrasted the light brown floor. The two orange half-circles shone like the brightest of dragon fire.
Xingxiao gestured to the flaming circle upon the ground between them.
"Tigress, as you know, this world needs balance lest it fall prey to the night dragon. It is to this end, you must ascend to the role of empress and save our nation of utter annihilation from within and without. Only you can..."
Tigress smirked slyly as she stared at the shifted orange twin dragon dancing without one overtaking the other.
"Prevent wildfires? I think we are in dager of burning down a pagoda, not a forest, if this goes sideways." She said with a laugh.
Xingxiao shot her a contemptous glance as he did not find making light of his teachings amusing.
"If you're not going to take this seriously, I guess you're not the right pick." He said, flatly.
Tigress bowed heer head so it was just level to the flaming twin circles.
"I'm sorry master, I meant no disrespect, please continue."
He eyed her with quiet contempt but did as she so eloquently stated.
"Your skies had a turn of cloud cover? Good. Maybe this time you will learn to stop interrupting." He said, jabbing the Ka'Po'Tun hard on the nose. "As I was saying, only you can unit Akavir under one banner and prevent further discourse." He cross the room. His brown tail swayed to and fro as he watched the setting sun paint the horizon shades of deep indigo and orange. "The ssun is setting. Those people I spoke of will be here in tomorrow and the day after that, your coronation as empress." He turned to face Tigresss "Go now and rest. Tomorrow we will see what you retained from your training sessions as a kitten, sleep well."
Tigress bowed, her sunset eyes never leaving her master's grey ones and left the chamber.
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very well made as always!