TigerClaw's History and Past(Lani Allen) Hello folks! My name is Lani Justine Allen, but I prefer to be called Lani. I have been asked, who is TigerClaw? I have been pondering that question since I am writing a story about a warrior that she trained herself. For your information TigerClaw doesn’t train many warriors herself. There was a time when TigerClaw had to fight to be the best. She doesn’t consider herself the best because she is noble. Perhaps it's time I take you into the time before she was even born. TigerClaw’s home was from far across the ocean to a little island called Dangé. Even though the island was small, it was worth a lot. Every kind of trees, bushes, and fruits were grown there. Even if you were an outsider, you would be welcomed on the island. No one was turned away. All the people were fair to each other; there was never a war to be fought. I know what you are thinking. How could such a great warrior grow up in a place so peaceful? Well, all was peaceful, that was until TigerClaw was born. TigerClaw’s mother, Fawnspots, was excited when she found out she was due to have her own children. Her mate was the king of the island, and he was just as excited as she was. They both have always wanted to be parents. When the time came for her child to be born, Fawnspots found out she was going to have twins. That thrilled her even more; her children would have only the best, but there was no way they would get spoiled rotten. When her children were born, their father, Shadowpool, held a great ceremony for them. They had twins, a boy and a girl. The boy was name Cloudpool, in honor of his father by taking on the last part of his name. The girl, however, was unique. She was a fighter from the moment she was born. She was smaller than her brother, but she was fierce. That didn’t worry her parents at all at least she was special. Her name was TigerClaw, named after her fierce spirit. As the children grew, they bonded closely together, closer than any other siblings. Even though the Cloudpool was peaceful, and TigerClaw was a battler. They seemed to get along; Cloudpool was the only one brave enough to calm TigerClaw when she argued with her father, and mother. TigerClaw was the only one who could get Cloudpool to practice his fighting skills. It was like they were one; they didn’t make a move without consulting each other first. When they were twelve, their sister, Fawnstep, was born. They were as thrilled as their parents to have her join the family. One day, TigerClaw left the city’s protected walls, and went to explore the island. That’s when she saw it. She saw a mountain in the middle of the valley, all by itself. Taken by curiosity, she went to investigate it. TigerClaw was there till the moon started to rise in the sky. She sighed, and started to leave, but froze when she heard a chime. Slowly, she turned around too see a doorway before her. She wouldn’t have seen the doorway in the day because it needed the moonlight to shine on it. Cautiously she walked up to it, and she heard a voice. “Where does a circle start?” That’s an odd question, TigerClaw thought. She looked around, and there was no on there. “A circle has no beginning, nor does it have an ending,” she answered. She looked around again, and again no one was there. Her blue eyes missed nothing. She flicked her golden blonde hair behind her shoulder, and sighed. She started to walk away, but then she heard a noise coming from behind her. TigerClaw whipped around to see that the doorway had opened up to reveal a passageway. TigerClaw pushed aside her fear, and summoned her courage. Without fear or doubt, she walked through the passage. It wasn’t a long passage TigerClaw discovered. At its end, there was a cavern with a small pool of water that sparkled like diamonds, and the walls shimmered like different jewels that TigerClaw had never seen before. She was dumbfounded by the caverns beauty and much more. “Drink from the pool. No one will know.” TigerClaw whipped around, but no one was there. “Drink from the pool,” the voice said coaxingly “It is your destiny to become greater than your parents and siblings. Drink from the pool, and make a wish. No one has to know. It will make you stronger and more powerful than any other warrior that ever existed. Just drink from the pool.” This convinced TigerClaw, without hesitating, she scooped some water from the pool, and she drunk it. It was sweet as it ran through her body. Make me more powerful and stronger than any warrior, she thought, make me live forever to become great and make me more skilled than any other warrior because it’s my destiny. Suddenly, jolts of pain shot through her body, and TigerClaw gasped in pain. Her knees buckled, and she fell to the floor, withering in pain. TigerClaw cried out, and begged for help, but no one came. As suddenly as the pain came, it was gone. Slowly, TigerClaw sat up in bewilderment. She pushed herself to her feet, and stumbled out of the cavern. Finally, she was out in the open, and breathing calmly. TigerClaw ran all the way home, egger to tell her parents of what happened. She slowed her pace to a walk as she neared the city. The city doors were open as the normally were, and TigerClaw walked calmly through them, feeling confident that her parents would be proud. The villagers that TigerClaw walked pasted, stopped what they were doing, and stared at her like she had grown another head. She just held her head high, and continued to walk forward towards her home. When she was in front her parents’ castle, she stopped. Everything was not the way she had planned it. They are just awed because I am now very powerful, she thought reassuring herself. A guard that spotted her, he darted inside the palace. It was not long before her parents came running out. Her mother spotted her with wide eyes and cowered behind her father. Shadowpool was not much better; his eyes were wide with dread. I looked around me, and the villagers had the face of fear. “What is the matter,” she asked is confusion, “What are you staring at?” For a while no one answered me before my father said in a quiet voice, “TigerClaw… I-is that you?” She turned her gaze back to him, with her eyes narrowed, “Yes, of course its me. Who else would it be?” “Why do the heavens have to choose us to pick on,” Fawnspots wailed, “Why us?” Shadowpool held her in his arms and whispered, “I know not why they had to choose us, but maybe it’s a sign. Maybe something will go wrong.” TigerClaw glared at him in fury. “I have not change in appearance! I am more powerful than ever. You should be proud! I made a hard choice to become a warrior forever only to protect our home! I am gifted now; you should not greet me like this! You should be grateful!” She suddenly calmed and said, “I may have discovered something important to our history. The mountain that stands alone, that never changes. I found it. I saw its doorway in the moonlight. I answered the question, and I entered it and…” I got no further before I was interrupted by several gasp from the crowd and my parents. “What,” Shadowpool exclaimed, “You found that cursed mountain?! NO! This has not happened! My daughter has not been cursed!” Fawnspots wailed in grief and pain. TigerClaw backed away from him shaking her head in bewilderment, “What is so bad? I haven’t changed at all! I’m still your daughter.” TigerClaw spotted her twin brother walking up behind their parents. She dashed to him, and he backed away from her. “Tell them I haven’t changed at all,” TigerClaw begged him, “Please, they seem to have gone mad! I can’t get any sense from them.” Cloudpool continued to back away from her, “Your not TigerClaw. Your hair is dark, and your eyes are amber like a tiger. You can’t be my sister!” TigerClaw was really hurt, and her pain was stronger than anything she ever felt before, worse than the pain she felt in the cavern. Her heart had been ripped out, and her soul was gone. Then he paused and then said, “Wait a second. My sister would never lie her way out of anything. I am going to ask you a question and you will answer. And we will see if you are TigerClaw or not. Are you ready?” TigerClaw nodded, she could do this, and she had to. Cloudpool took a deep breath and asked, “What was the last thing that TigerClaw said to me before she left and why?” TigerClaw pondered that before she answered, “The last thing I said to you was ‘I love you Cloudpool, I love our parents, and our sister. I would fight to the death to protect you. I will and always will follow you to hell’s gates and back. This I swear on my blood and the graves of our forefathers now and forever.’ I swore that because my family is the only thing I care about besides our kingdom. I would die a thousand times to ensure theirs and yours safety.” Cloudpool turned to his parents and then back to TigerClaw with relief and loyalty and love in his eyes, “That is exactly what she said to me and that is exactly why she said it. I don’t care whether your hair and eyes changed. It’s clear that your heart hasn’t been twisted. You’re my twin sister and that’s all I care about.” There was a hiss behind him. Cloudpool and I looked behind him and there was my mother. “Your really going to let that cursed person into our kingdom? She will bring her curse down on all of us,” she said with wrath, she was really furious as she continued, “I knew she was trouble from the day she was born! And she expects to be welcomed back as a hero after she’s been cursed! She may have passed the test to prove she’s TigerClaw, but she cannot and will not be welcomed here. EVER!!! I forbid it!” There were gasps in the crowd and from Shadowpool and Cloudpool. “What,” my father exclaimed, “You will not welcome our daughter back here?” “I wasn’t planning on staying,” TigerClaw said, Cloudpool tried to interrupt, but she swept on with her eyes narrowed. “I will not live where she is prowling behind me. I won’t let her stalk me for the rest of my life. If she wishes it, then I will go, but do not fear for me, I will be fine. I will come back one day.” Then she turned and walked silently through the crowd, but still heard Shadowpool say, “You are throwing away our only possible way to defend ourselves, you understand that don’t you? She could’ve taught us that so we can be prepared for whatever comes.” Then she heard Fawnspots say, “Like I care. We have always been a peaceful island and we shall always be unharmed. I believe nothing can bring us down, both then and now. We must remain strong.” TigerClaw didn’t care about her mother anymore; all she cared was about her father, her siblings, and her kingdoms safety. She would return once she became a full warrior as she was born to be. While she was in deep thought of her plans to become a warrior, she didn’t notice that she was being followed. A twig snapped, and TigerClaw turned around, but saw no one. She narrowed her eyes and called out, “I know your there. I don’t bite, but if you are an enemy then I have the right to kill you.” Out of the bush came a slightly tan dark brown haired, guy with deep brown eyes. “I followed you,” he told her, “I don’t think you are cursed. I think it is a gift that you found something lost to history, and I don’t believe they should have acted that way towards you.” That surprised TigerClaw, her eyes widened amazement. Then she said, “I didn’t know anybody believed me. I guess I was wrong in a way. Why did you follow me? Didn’t you know your leaving the safe boundaries of the city?” He looked her straight in to her eyes when he answered, “I know that. I want to be a warrior too. Always have, and always will. My father was a sailor, and he fought to the death against pirates to protect his men. I want to be like him. Will you let me come with you?” TigerClaw smiled, “Of course you can come, if you want I can show you the mountain that I found, but it quite a journey. What’s your name?” He smiled and said, “My name is LionMane. I guessing you are TigerClaw?” She nodded, “I am.” LionMane continued to smile, “So what do we do first? Rescue a family in need? What? Why are you laughing? Are you laughing at me?” She shook my head chuckling, “I’m not laughing at you, I’m happy for the first time in a few days. Its good to have a companion who believes me, you don’t know how good it feels. My whole family never did support my warrior ways, finally someone does.” He nodded in understanding, “That must’ve been irritating.” TigerClaw nodded and the walked towards the mountain. On the way they met a band of rouges keeping a father, mother, a son and young daughter captive. With courage they fought the rouges, even though they were outnumbered. TigerClaw and LionMane won the fight, and the family thanked them with much gratitude. The father asked them to teach him and his son some moves that he thought that would come useful in battle, and TigerClaw agreed, saying she would be glad too. While TigerClaw and LionMane were training them, the younger daughter was eyeing LionMane with much interest. When TigerClaw and LionMane said goodbye to them, the family again thanked them for their help, and the family set on their way to find a place to settle. TigerClaw set out on their journey to the mountain were TigerClaw found the cavern. Suddenly the earth shook, and smoke covered the sun. “What’s happening,” LionMane yelled to TigerClaw as he knelt by where she fell down. TigerClaw spit out a bit of grass and yelled back, “I don’t know! We need to get to the mountain as soon as possible!” LionMane lent a hand to help TigerClaw to her feet, and she took it. Together, they ran as fast as they could to cover land faster. When it should have been nighttime, even thought the sun was still blocked by the smoke, they made it to the mountain. “Where’s the door,” LionMane asked in bewilderment running his hand along the solid rock. In the dark, TigerClaw said, “We need moonlight in order to see the-” She didn’t even get to finish her sentence before she heard a chime. Their eyes widened, and there before them was the door, shining through the pitch black dark. A voice said, “A natural state, I'm sought by all.
Go without me, and you shall fall.
You do me when you spend,
and use me when you eat to no end. What am I?”

TigerClaw had to think for a minute, before saying, “Balance, yes that’s the answer because balance is a natural state, and we do seek it. We will fall without it.” Then the voice said, “Well reasoned.” Without a word more, the door creaked open, and TigerClaw and LionMane went inside. They stayed silent till they went in the cavern, till LionMane broke the silence, “I can’t believe I’m actually in Whisper Cavern.” TigerClaw turned to face him. “What did you call it,” she asked him with open curiosity. LionMane didn’t look at her; he was gazing around the cavern. “I called it Whisper Cavern because I can hear whispering, can’t you,” he answered. TigerClaw looked around, then back at him, clearly bewildered, “No, I hear nothing. The Cavern is silent to my ears.” “Listen carefully,” LionMane instructed her, “You’ll hear them.” TigerClaw listened harder with all her might. “They have come,” a voice said. “Yes, they seem to have accepted their destiny,” said the second agreeing with the first. LionMane summoned all his courage and called out, “What destiny? Were we supposed to come? Why?” “They have too many questioned, they must be stupid to see what is in front of their eyes,” a third voice sneered. “Who are you,” TigerClaw demanded with a firm tone in her voice. “We are the voices of voices of mystery, the souls of the ones who built this cavern, we called for you to come and you did,” the first voice said. “What do you want from us,” LionMane asked, “We will do anything you ask.” TigerClaw glared at him, but he was looking with awe around the cavern, trying to pinpoint where the voices were coming from. “You must-” the second voice started to say before the first voice cut it off, “Must stay in this cavern until the fire one is at his highest, you must bring us the one born with a strong destiny. You will train him in the ways to fight, and he will bring down the fire breather once and for all.” TigerClaw narrowed her eyes and asked, “This fire breather couldn’t be a dragon could it now?” “Garn! You gave it away,” the third voice said angrily to the first. If the fire breather was a dragon, who was the one with a strong destiny and where could they find him? While they pondered this, outside the cavern, things were really bad. A huge emerald green dragon flew over the city were TigerClaw’s’ parents ruled, blowing tons of fire on the buildings and set them aflame. Villagers ran everywhere they thought was safe, places that were close to the fire set aflame, burning the people inside of them. People were screaming, a woman huddled in an alleyway with her children wailing over her dead husband, the little children were huddled together, shivering with terror. Guards ran around trying to gather the villagers together, but some of them were killed as the dragon blew more flame at them. In the castle, Fawnspots was huddled in a corner, and Shadowpool was frightened out of his wits, but he was furious. “If you hadn’t sent TigerClaw away we could have been facing this better!” Fawnspots arose from her spot and glared at him with fury in her eyes, “You blame me? ME? I did what was best for the kingdom by sending her away, but her curse lingered here an-” A roar interrupted her and the dragon burst through the wall, and tore off the roof. Looking down on them with merciless golden eyes, the dragon spit out great flames, and the royal family were no more. TigerClaw’s twin was burned in the fire and her sister died of fright from looking into the terrible dragons eyes. When most of the villagers and guards were either eaten, burned or gone because they ran away, the dragon settled down to sleep. Meanwhile, in the cavern TigerClaw and LionMane still pondered their troubles. Then the voices started to speak again. “Have you figured it out yet,” the first voice asked. LionMane raised his head. “Do you have names?” “Yes,” the second voice answered rather eagerly excited. “Could you tell them to us?” “No! Why would we tell you our names? Are you going to try to stalk us,” the third voice retorted. “Of course they aren’t,” the first voice barked to the third voice, “has the millenniums worn out your brain? If you had any sense, you would shut up right now! However you don’t because you’re stupid and a maniac!” TigerClaw raised her eyebrows in surprise, and LionMane looked shocked. “You were human? AND you made this cavern,” LionMane asked with his mouth open. “Yes we were in fact, we found this pool and we drank from it,” the first voice explained, “We were prophesied that we would be the new owners of this pool, and we were to protect it. So using our magical powers that it bestowed on us, we made this cavern to protect this pool. We concealed ourselves in the cavern and we died here. The water can only do so much as what you wish for, you see. Here’s what’s going to happen since you, TigerClaw daughter of Shadowpool and Fawnspots, you are going to live forever and you are going to be the greatest warrior that ever lived. You, LionMane, are going to fight by her side as her mate.” That blew both LionMane and TigerClaw’s minds as the voice continued, “If you haven’t figured it out yet, you two will bring into the world the one born with a great destiny. Remember he is BORN with a great destiny. He is your son and you will train him to defeat the dragon once and for all.” After a year passed, LionMane did take TigerClaw as his mate because he realized that he loved her more than he wished to be a warrior. So he drank from the pool to be at her side forever. TigerClaw felt the same way about him and during that time, she gave birth to baby son. His hair was like a fire red and his eyes were bright like there was fire alit in them. They knew he was the one to defeat the dragon so they named him DragonFlame. In three months time, DragonFlame grew into a full-grown man. He was quicker learner than anyone TigerClaw ever met before. Soon she began to wonder what happened to her family now that the dragon was in the land, and she began to worry. One night she asked the voices in the cavern what happened to them and her kingdom, and she didn’t like the news. “You know what you must do DragonFlame,” TigerClaw said one night to him. DragonFlame nodded, “Defeat the dragon at any cost, I know. I fear nothing and no one.” LionMane smiled, “My son, I know you don’t, but remember that if you want help from us we will come. Just call for us by touching your vial of pool water. We’ll come, I promise.” TigerClaw looked down and sniffed. DragonFlame touched his mothers’ hand and she looked up at him with fierce pride and courage in her eyes. “I will come back,” DragonFlame promised. He turned away and walked out of the cavern into the tunnel. “He’ll be okay,” LionMane said and TigerClaw turned to him, “He knows his stuff. He will return to us.” TigerClaw turned her gaze back to the tunnel, “I know, don’t ask how I know, but I know.” Meanwhile, DragonFlame walked confidently through the woods towards the city. Closer and closer he got, the more anger he felt. Trees had been burned, and nothing was growing. No creatures were about or water running in the beds. As DragonFlame walked, he didn’t notice that he was being watched. “You shouldn’t go that way son,” a voice said. DragonFlame turned around and saw an old man with ragged clothes following him. “What shouldn’t I go that way?” “The dragon is that way,” the old man’s voice shook with fear. “Good,” DragonFlame said with a grim face, “that’s where I’m heading.” The old man’s eyes widened, “Y-y-you c-can’t! The dragon will kill you for sure!” DragonFlame narrowed his eyes, “I must, I am the one to end the dragon for ever. My name is DragonFlame and it is my destiny to meet the dragon Zog in one final battle.” DragonFlame continued on his journey, but didn’t hear the old man say, “May good fortune be on your side, young one, may you live to tell the tale or not suffer long.” DragonFlame traveled on while TigerClaw was grieving over her family who she now knew were dead. LionMane joined her in her corner where she was sitting. “I’m sorry,” he finally said. TigerClaw raised her eyes to gaze into his. “For what,” she asked him. He looked away and said, “If you haven’t left with me, you would’ve been able to save your family. I’m sorry, it’s all my fault.” TigerClaw smiled and took his hand in hers. “I don’t regret leaving with you, nor do I regret having our son. You and I met to fore fill the destiny that has been placed with DragonFlame; we brought him into the world. If we hadn’t met then we would’ve been most likely killed if we stayed, then the Zog would never have been brought down. It’s thanks to our choices that there is hope for this land. We were meant to find each other. It’s our destiny and our fate. Don’t you dare regret it now, because I won’t and I never will. People die every day, in any way possible. You may not believe me, but it’s the truth.” He took her face in his hand, bent over, and kissed her on her lips. She kissed him back with passion. Then they split and he smiled. “I never regretted meeting you nor do I regret our son either. I love you both and I trust you both with my life,” LionMane said. What he said made TigerClaw’s heart grow with affection. The same moment they were talking about DragonFlame, he was at the gates of the city. Taking a deep breath, he went in. What he saw was terrifying. There were burned houses, animals and people scattered about the ground. The sight was so bad, that DragonFlame started to get angrier and angrier. He just snapped when he saw the bodies of a couple young children and babies lying close together where they died, burnt to crisp, their eyes still there wide with terror, but misted over with death. He started to run towards the castle where the dragon was most likely to be. When he got there, he yelled out his challenge, “Zog the dragon! Come out and face me! ‘Tis I who will bring you down for I challenge you to do battle with me. It shall be to the death, and I swear on my honor that I will fight fair.” There was a silence that greeted his challenge. “Come out you coward! Come out and fight me,” DragonFlame yelled louder. “No one calls Zog the Death Dealer a coward and lives,” a deep voice said with a hint of snarl in it. “Well I do,” DragonFlame yelled, “What do you plan to do about, coward?” There was a rumble, then the dragon stood up, knocking the rest of the castle down with his massive body. DragonFlame bravely stood his ground as the dragon walked towards him, snarling his deadly, sharp teeth. The dragon took a deep breath, and blew out a jet of flame. Strangely, it didn’t have any effect on him. This made the dragon madder; he raised his scaly paw and flexed his long claws. He swiped out at DragonFlame, but he missed because DragonFlame jumped out of the way. Zog swiped again and again he missed. DragonFlame was too fast for him. Now he was really mad, so he shot out both of his paws and grabbed DragonFlame tightly between them. Zog raised DragonFlame to his eyes and said, “So you’re the one who says you can defeat me, eh? Not so brave now.” The dragon opened his mouth and started to push him towards it. He didn’t know what happened next. DragonFlame raised his hands, and with them, fire shot out and it turned into a sword. With it, DragonFlame stabbed it into the roof of Zog’s mouth. The dragon shrieked with fury and dropped DragonFlame, but was unable to dislodge the sword. Zog shrieked again and fell back, dying as he went. Then he collapsed, finally dead. The many villagers, guards, and royal family’s deaths were avenged. DragonFlame landed on the ground, but his knees buckled and he fell on his back, he was totally exhausted. While he fought the dragon, word had spread that he was going to defeat Zog among the remaining villagers and guards. They all came rushing into the village. When they saw DragonFlame and the dead Zog, they started to cheer, they were finally free of his terror and wrath. Back at the cave, TigerClaw smiled, and LionMane looked at her with curiosity. “What are you smiling at,” he asked her. She turned to him still smiling. “Our son has won, it is time to go back,” she said to him. They both got up and walked out of the cavern together. When they got there, the crowd parted to let them through. It was, after all, TigerClaw the born warrior with her mate LionMane at her side. When they got to DragonFlame’s side, TigerClaw hugged him. “I knew you would be great,” she whispered then said louder, “My son has become DragonFlame the Dragon Slayer.” The villagers broke into another cheer; they knew TigerClaw spoke the truth. One villager walked forward. “TigerClaw, you are the heir of the throne since your parents are dead,” he said, “Will you accept it?” LionMane and DragonFlame looked at her, she looked undecided. “Come on TigerClaw,” a villager yelled, “We need a warrior to teach us to become strong again! We need you to teach us how to fight!” The crowd cheered again this time with encouragement. TigerClaw hesitated, and then LionMane said, “It’s your choice, TigerClaw. I will support you no matter what.” “As will I,” DragonFlame said, “I think you will be great.” That made up her mind, TigerClaw turned to the crowd with a smile on her face, the first smile that they hadn’t seen for a long time, “I accept. I will try my hardest to be a good leader, but I don’t want to be known at Queen, but as Chief TigerClaw.” The crowd cheered and cheered. TigerClaw ruled her people with her wisdom and grace, her kindness, and fierceness that she was born with. She put her past behind her because she knew this was only the beginning of her story. Later on, she had a daughter named Bluefeather, when Bluefeather was old enough; she took on a mate of her own, Bigclaw. Together they had a daughter, Redfern. When Redfern was young, but old enough to understand. Their kind was attacked. In the battle, LionMane, Bluefeather, Bigclaw, and many others were killed. TigerClaw grieved for their loss, but rallied a force strong enough to bring the cruel ones down. The ones that died were avenged. TigerClaw raised little Redfern and she became the most beautiful in all the tribe, just like her mother, but that didn’t mean she was not wise and kind. She strived to be like TigerClaw. One day while TigerClaw was out hunting, she heard some crying. She followed it and it led her to a baby with sand-colored hair. TigerClaw took pity on the babe, so she raised him to be a warrior. And you can probably guess who that was. His name was Sandigier. Finally, TigerClaw’s story is at an end, and his story is just beginning.

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