Tiera's Legacy

by Ananda K. Syapin, Jon C. and Sheryl Schopfer

Tigerstar was not happy; tensions were high in the Holt. She almost felt that some of the elves were avoiding her. Because of the cub I bear, she thought, No, because of her father. Tigerstar placed a hand on her bare belly. It would be many moons before she began to show. But Kalem needs to be told. Tigerstar sighed. She was unsure of how he was going to take the news.

Tigerstar had seen Kalem smile and laugh when he and Tiera had spent the day together. He had been so happy to have his lifemate back. she had genuinely felt his pain when Tiera had told Kalem that she would be leaving again.

And she had experienced the exquiste pleasure of Kalem and Tiera's joining. Tigerstar suspected there was something about that joining that Kalem was not aware of- other than the resulting predicament. Kalem and Tiera had joined body and soul; they exchanged their soul names freely during their union and Tigerstar's soul had been a part of that exchange. Tiera had used her soul name... and Kalem had used it. and Tigerstar had used theirs. It had been a true three-way joining, even if Kalem had not been aware of her presence.

Tigerstar sighed, she had procrastinated long enough. Kalem needed to be told of his impending fatherhood. The chieftess left her den, briefly considering riding Dreamer to Kalem's clearing. No, she finally decided, Kalem is not comfortable around the wolves. Tigerstar disapeared into the forest.

Dark eyes paused in her game of Toss Stone. She glanced at the spot where the chieftess had vanished. She quietly excused herself from the game and darted after the brooding chieftess.

* * *

Trueflight knotted the thread and bit off the remainder. He held the top out at arm's length. He smiled as he admired his handiwork. Tigerstar will love it, he thought. He carefully folded the garment, then wrapped it in a piece of old cloth. He tucked the parcel into his belt and clambered out of his den.

The young elf spent several minutes learning of Tigerstar's whereabouts. A group of cubs were finally able to direct him to the forest. Trueflight sauntered into the woods, humming softly to himself. He couldn't wait to show the chieftess her new top!

* * *

Deep in thought as Tigerstar was, she still sensed someone trailing her. She frowned and whirled about; she didn't relish this upcoming audience and wanted to spare the others. Her frown deepened when she saw the brown-skinned child approaching her.

"Return to the Holt, little cub. This matter does not involve you and I don't think you should be present." Tigerstar strove to be gentle and patient, but she truly didn't want Dark Eyes -- or anyone else -- to follow her now. The child simply shrugged her shoulders and tossed her short curls defiantly, sinking Tigerstar's heart.

**If not me, than who?** she asked simply. Tigerstar sensed a challenge in the question and suddenly became worried. The cub simply didn't understand the situation.

**No one. I must do this alone,** Tigerstar sent, hoping the sincerity of the sending would convince the child to turn back. It didn't. By now, Dark Eyes had caught up to her chief and stared up into the chief's green eyes, her own black ones unblinking.

**Would you risk yourself to Kalem? Would you risk your daughter to Kalem?**

Tigerstar pulled herself from the child, using her chieftain's will to break the contact and stay in control of her own mind. She realized the logic in having Dark Eyes as company when she went to tell Kalem; Dark Eyes could provide protection no other could. Tigerstar hated to show throat, but she decided to cease arguing. She turned and continued her journey, letting the child follow.

Tigerstar suddenly became very nervous when she finally saw the lone elf sitting by the river. She knew he'd heard her enter his clearing, but he refused to meet her gaze, keeping his eyes focused on the flowing water.

"Kalem, I have something to tell you," Tigerstar said anxiously.

"WHAT?" he snarled, scarcely pretending to be civil. He was still quite angered by the whole incident with Tiera. He felt very betrayed by Tigerstar and wanted nothing to do with her. He turned to glare at them, saw a condoning look from Dark Eyes' face and felt nearly sheepish. He shrugged the unusual feeling off quickly, though.

"Kalem... When you and I .... When Tiera..."

He turned away, deciding to leave. She realized she had to quit beating around the bush and just tell him, so she did.

"Kalem, I'm pregnant. I'm carrying your and Tiera's child." His eyes widened and she pulled back while he unsheathed his dagger. He lunged at her in blind rage and...

**STOP!** In mid-leap, he felt himself collapse in agony. Through the haze of pain, he opened his eyes and looked up accusingly. He met unsympathetic, angry black eyes.

**You shouldn't attack people with pokey things, Shai. They hurt.** He winced at Dark Eyes admonishing use of his soul-name. Now that she knew Tigerstar knew it, she seemed more ready to use it. **Why do you always have to be so mean?!** Dark Eye's force of sending was much stronger than before.

"Kalem, I knew you were going to be mad, but I still had to tell you. You deserved to know." Tigerstar approached Kalem who was still recovering from Dark Eye's mind blast. "I'm sorry Kalem. I didn't mean for any of this to happen."

Kalme rose to his feet grumbling. "Chieftess......." He tightened his grip on the dagger but quickly dropped it when he caught Dark Eye's audacious glare. ".....I'm..... sorry."

Dark Eyes released her concentration on holding Kalem back as she smiled. **See Shai, that wasn't so hard.** Kalem, feeling Dark Eye's release, returned her smile. Now free from Dark Eyes, Kalem approached Tigerstar. He stared at her for a moment and then reached his hand out and felt her stomach. "A child you say? Imagine that." His face was lit up with excitement. Dark Eyes laughed at Kalem's enthusiasm as he relished the thought of a cub of his own blood.

"Yes, Kalem, its our child." Tigerstar, now free of fear, held Kalem's hand and guided it along her abdomen. "Isn't it wonderful, Kalem?"

"Yes, Tigerstar. Its so wonderful. You can't imagine how much this has changed me." Kalem pulled away from her and raised his hands in the air. "I feel like a new being. I feel whole and pure!" His eyes turned to the sky. "I feel as if I could touch the whole world! Thank you, Tigerstar! Thank you for bringing me this happiness!"

Tigerstar's short lived smile soon turned down once she realized Kalem's sarcasm. "Thank you, oh great cheiftess for turning me around from my path of darkness! You have saved my soul from damnation!" Kalem turned his view from the sky and returned a hateful glare that burned like skyfire at Tigerstar. "Did you actually think I even cared?! The child is not mine!!" Kalem picked up his dagger once again and pointed it at Tigerstar. "For what you've done to me, Tigerstar, I hope you perish in the birthing of that monstrosity!"

Kalem had spoke many harsh words to Tigerstar before, but this time she couldn't push the remarks aside. This time Kalem stabbed her where it hurt. She always thought that deep down past the harsh attitudes and rough conflicts that her and Kalem were friends. Now she realized that Kalem could care less weather she lived or died. Tears welled up in her eyes.

"Cry! Cry you little cub!" Kalem drew closer with his dagger still in hand.

**Stop it, Kalem!!!!!** Dark Eyes sent so furiously that she even stunned herself. Kalem fell backward unconscious from the strike. Dark Eyes turned towards the chieftess who was now in tears. "Tigerstar, I'm sorry this had to happen. You did what you had to do. Kalem is just a mean old elf. You couldn't expect him to be anything else."

Dark Eye's words didn't comfort the poor chieftess as she relished in her thoughts. She ran off back towards the holt as she cried. Dark Eyes walked next to Kalem who was still unconscious on the ground. She bent over and kissed him on the forehead. "Poor Kalem, your so foolish." With that, she walked back in the direction of the holt.

* * *

Tigerstar ran blindly, tears streaking her face. She finally collapsed in a small wooded glade not far fromteh Holt. Kalem's sarcasm had stung her deeply. She could not believe that any elf could not welcome the coming of a cub.

Oh, Starlock...Why? You had to have known what would happen! Why did you do it?

Tigerstar looked up startled as another elf intruded on her solitude. Trueflight entered the glade, a smile on his face. "There you are, chieftess! I have something for you."

Tigerstar dropped her gaze quickly, but Trueflight had already noted her tears. Her dropped to his knees before her. **Chieftess?! What's wrong?**

Tigerstar did not respond.

"Is there something wrong with the cub?" Trueflilght asked in distress.

"The only thing wrong with her is her father..."

Trueflight's low growl startled Tigerstar. The tanner was seldom aggressive. "What has he done now? Did he hurt you, Tigerstar?"

"Only in my heart," she replied. "I had hoped he would welcome his daughter."

Trueflight did not respond, Tigerstar finally brought her gaze up to meet his. They held each other's eyes for a moment before Trueflight said, "Tigerstar, I had brought you one gift, but I have a second that I hope you will accept."

Tigerstar smiled slightly. "A gift? For me?"

Trueflight pulled the wrapped bundle out of his belt. "I know that it will be some while before you begin to show, but I had this material lying around and this idea came into my head..."

Tigerstar opened the package and pulled out a lavender top. She could tell that it would hang down close to her knees. But not after I am heavy with child. "Oh, Trueflight, it's beautiful. Thank you!"

Trueflight smiled. "I have an idea for a pair of slippers as well."

Tigerstar laughed. "I wish you would put some of your creative energy into design your OWN clohes!"

Trueflight grinned sheepishly. "Why? I like these." He paused for a moment. "Tigerstar, I have another gift."

"What is it?" the chieftess grinned. Absently, she noticed the tears were gone, Trueflight had brought her happiness.

**Me.**

Tigerstar blinked in surprise. **I don't understand...**

**Kalem does not want the child. I do. If you would have me, Tigerstar, I will stand by you and support you.**

Tigerstar stared at him, gauging the sincerity of his words. **Yes.**