Chapter 1

Intro into our story world. Get ready to meet our bold and brave Tigercub......

  Chapter 1

Tila

A young woman stands all alone in a field of purple irises that stretches for miles and miles. Her gaze moves around the field taking in the millions of flowers. In confusing she asks, “Where am I?” Why was she here? Her gaze continues to stretch out around the field, until she sees it. Standing alone, much like she was, in that sea of purple Irises, with its head hanging low, a rare and beautiful, orange Dragon Lily. It looked so lonely and the woman felt such empathy for it. For she to knows how it feels to be all alone and lonely, like you are the only one who is different. Heart filled with a desire to help this poor lonely flower, softly and slowly that feeling of desire began to grow until out nowhere a sweet, familiar voice began to speak. She looked up and with a small reflection on them, she heard the great power in them and wonder if they could very well be the thing which this poor flower needed. Finding her strength and her voice she then began to speak,

“Oh vibrant Dragon Lily, how you stand out amongst so many Irises. Your petals are so soft and silky. Why do you try to hide yourself from the sunrise?” She focused her attention toward the lily and watched as its petaled head began to lift. It looked as if it had been called out of the depths of some great despair by the mere power of her words. As she watched it begin to rise she continued on,

“Is it because you are different? Or is it because you are scared?” The lily slowly lowered it head as if in agreement or shame, “Do you doubt your own worth? Do you think that nobody cares?” Her eyes began to fill with tears at her own worries and doubt and she added her own words, which were filled with love and care,”Well I do care.” Those few words, were the most powerful to ever spoken before in this place of great mystery. Like fire they flew toward the lily and with a surge of power, it began to flared with a new and brilliant light. Blinded by this new light, the woman looked away. As she did, she wondered how she had known those words. Where had she heard them from, she could not seem to remember. The realization came slowly as the light faded slowly away to reveal a beautiful pond with a trickling waterfall and a clearing surrounded by trees that sparkled. It was such a tranquil place. I remember now, she thought to herself,  that was mom’s favorite poem which she had written a long time ago. Oh Mom, where are you? I remember with each scrape or bruise, you would recite those sweet phrases to me. Some how you feel so far away, yet you aren’t gone. I remember the time we were walking together, laughing. I remember we had just went shopping and we had walking around town. It was snowing, I remember you were singing softly about the snow. I remember you twirled out into the crosswalk, we were about to cross. I remember lights and a loud thrumming. Soon the thrumming she had been remembering became a constant noise and began to grow louder with every passing second. Mom, I don't know how it happened. But I can feel that you are barely clinging to this world. The thrumming soon was joined by a small voice talking gibberish. Everything around her began to fade. I’m sorry mom. It was my fault. Please forgive me, I couldn’t save you in time.

I awoke to my cell phone vibrating as my alarm, I had set the previous night before was going off. To top it off the baby monitor, I had next to my bed on my bedside table, was full of the sounds of my son talking and giggling. I smiled softly, that silly child of mine. I guess it is time to get up and get ready for the day. I walked to my dresser and as I pulled out my navy blue shirt with the ruffles on it, I pondered on last night’s dream. Was it really a dream? The feeling had been so real, like I could almost touch those flowers and feel the soft breezes. I had wished so much to have picked up and hold that poor flower. I finished slipping on my jeans and a pair of socks. I closed the bottom drawer in my dresser, grabbed my phone and began to head out of the room. I walked across the hallway that separated my room from Red’s. I opened the door slowly and peeked around it. Sure enough, I spotted my goofy child standing up holding on to the side railing of his crib. He giggled and smiled when he saw my face. Showing a wide grin that exposed his two bottom teeth.

“Hey sweet boy, are you ready to be awake?” I ask not expecting a response. Red looked at me and giggled and stomped his little feet. Walking forward, towards the crib, I bent down and scooped up my son in my arms. He clung to my shoulders, while resting his little head against my neck. He then placed his hand up by his face and began to suck on his thumb. My heart swelled with love for this precious child that had come into my world. Oh Matt, I thought looking out the window toward the beautiful view of the ocean, you are missing so many important moments. I hope you can see how much he is growing.

“Let’s get you ready for the day.” I say softly as I start walking toward the changing table. I pull of his sleeping clothes and socks and throw them in the wicker, basket hamper on the left side of the table. I then begin to grab a new diaper from the top right drawer, and grab a few wipes from the top of the table near Red’s head. I also grabbed a blue, rubber alligator, that lights up when you squeeze it. After Red had been change and I had disposed of his old, dirty diaper in the diaper bin located on the right side of the changing table. I gently picked him up and walked over to the other side of the room to his dresser. I kneel down and placed Red on the floor with his alligator. Then opening the third draw to the bottom, I pulled out a pair of navy blue sweatpants that were cuffed at the bottom, and a gray, sleeveless onesie that had the words “Mommy’s Little Mr. Fix It” written in colorful lettering. As I slipped on the onesie over Red’s head, much to his frustration, I began to think of how routine my life had become. My day starts off with me waking up at 7, then I come to get Red, then get him dressed, and then off to work on the stuff for the day. Nothing too exciting really happens anymore, but it’s not like I hate it. I’m perfectly ok with the life I lead. But there are sometimes I think about how I want to go and have ice cream sometimes with some friends or I guess even someone special. But I didn’t know what was soon to be in store. Oh, look at the time, we need to go have breakfast. Finishing with putting on Red’s pants, I pick him up and we head out of his room toward the kitchen.

As we enter the kitchen,  I start to smell something burning, I turned my head towards the oven and there I can see Mrs. Danny cooking eggs and bacon, with a little bit of smoke coming off the eggs. Quickly setting Red in his high chair with some cheerios. I rush over to Mrs. Danny.

“Mrs. Danny,” I say slowly.” What are you doing?” I look at her up and down and she turned to face me, I realize something. Where are her glasses? She squints her eyes both in confusion and that fact that she an elderly lady who can't see without her glasses. A soft smile appears after she recognizes who I am.

“Oh Tila! Good morning. I’m just a whipping up some breakfast for you and Miss Lane.” She chimes in so cheerfully. She hasn’t quite yet noticed that her glasses are missing. Looking around I search to find them before another disaster occurs, I also shut off the burner. Those eggs have had quite the ordeal and can’t be salvaged even with a little seasoning.

“Mrs. Danny, where are your glasses?” I question as I sort through egg shells and bowls which have somehow all been used. Oh this woman really shouldn't cook anymore. I chuckle though at the fact that at least this time she didn't burn the entire kitchen wall. Finally after tidying up the counters, I see no glasses. I turn back towards her and spy something shiny on her long spiraling curling gray head. I gently walk over and carefully remove her glasses from her head and place them in her hands.

“Your doctor told you that you are to wear these at all times. You know that you can not see like you used to and if you don't use them, you can’t work.” I say sternly in my matter of fact tone. She gives me lots of practice for when Red gets to be old enough to cause trouble on purpose. But she isn't an awful person she is very sweet and kind. She is just stubborn.

            “Oh Tila, I can too see!” I give her look, “Well you could be right.” She places them back on her head. “ Good heavens!” Looking toward the burnt eggs. “ How did that happen?” She shakes her head and calls in Blue. In comes this silly, old dog. He once was a very energetic pup. Course now he had gotten old and lazy, plus fat. She scraped the contents of the pan into Blue’s bowl on the floor and the fat, old dog lapped up the blackened eggs. I turned back to the stove. I grab a new pan and a kettle. I fill the kettle with water and put both the kettle and pan on two of the burners. I flip the burners and the water in the kettle began to boil. I then cracked some eggs and mixed them into a bowl with milk and then pour them into the pan. Mrs. Danny starts grabbing three plates, three forks, and three mugs; and sets the table. Before long I had added a third pan, with sizzling bacon. My eggs were almost scrambled and the bacon almost done when I hear rapid footsteps running down the flight of stairs. Mrs. Danny was buttering toast when the door flew open and in bursts Maya. She quickly grabbed a seat and I flicked the burners off heaping food on plates, I then set them on the table. I sat down and Mrs. Danny blessed the meal.

             Mowing down her food, like she had been starved for weeks, Maya speaks between mouthfuls. “This food is so good. Tila what are your plans today?” She takes another mouthful and then chews vigorously till she swallows the large lump. Like watching a wolf take chunks of hide and just swallow them, it can be quite a disturbing site. “ You know Mr. Dailey is waiting for the shipping order for the new linens? Mrs. Brown's children are coming over for their music lessons?”

I sigh,” Yes I know. I am going to town to drop off the shipping order and picking up the some new music sheets and books, plus some strings for my guitar.Also I will need to grab my textbooks for the new semester. I also need to go to the grocery store and get eggs, butter, bread, and muffin mix.” As I drolled through the list I watched as Mrs. Danny set her cup down on the table and slowly got up and walked over toward the window, which held the view of the cliff and the lighthouse. Without thinking I dropped my fork which fell to the floor to be at the mercy of the old dog, who was also watching Mrs. Danny. I touched her shoulder, as I got to her, and turned her to face me. Her face was blank, her eyes glazed over and looked as if she was not there at all. Crap! It’s happening again.

“Mrs. Danny, Are you ok?” I ask, hoping it wasn't anything serious.

Then she began to speak, “The time is coming….He’s here! The dragon has come….Tigress, you must go to him…..”Her voice echoed through the room and sent chills down my spine.

“The dragon? Tigress? Are you referring to me? Who must I go to? Mrs. Danny you aren’t making any sense. Do you need your medicine?” My mind was whirling with questions. She continued….

“It is your destiny…...You must save him….Save him before it is too late!” With that last word her eyes fluttered closed and she slumped to the floor. I caught her in my arms before she crashed all the way down. Maya rushed over and helped me to lift Mrs. Danny. We carried her over  to the  window seat and set her down. Red began to get angry and wanted out of his seat. I went over to him, while Maya tried to wake Mrs. Danny. I cleaned up his face and hands as he cried and hollered at me. I then took him out and carried him over to his playpen and his toys, I set him down and he rushed to his stuffed bear and began to hug it and giggle. Turning back to Mrs. Danny and Maya, I grabbed a cup and poured some more of Mrs. Danny special herbal tea into it. Taking it over, I touched Mrs. Danny’s shoulder and gently shook it.

“Mrs. Danny, please wake up. I brought you a cup of tea.” Her eyes began to open and she turned her head to me while a smile formed on her face. Good it wasn’t anything to serious. But still.

“Oh Ti, how thoughtful,” I handed her the cup and she sipped from it. “ What on earth happened, Ti? What am I doing over here in this chair?” Knowing I couldn't quite tell her that she had a weird episode of rambling. But before I could form some tall tale. She put her hand to her head. “ Never mind. My head aches. I should rest for a bit.” I nodded.

“Maya, take Mrs, Danny to her room and give her two aspirin. and then tuck her in. Mrs. Danny, You just relax and we will take care of everything else.” Maya helped Mrs. Danny up and led her to her room. I went back over to my son and played with him for a bit. I thought back on what she had said. Tigress? Dragon? Sigh, maybe it was just silly rambling from a woman who is slowly getting older. How could I save anyone? Especially when I don't even know who they are or why I have to help them? What a morning.

After leaving Red with Maya, I headed to town to run my errands. First I walk over to Mr. Dailey’s to drop off our shipping order for new table cloths and linens and silverware. I walk in to be greeted by a huge man stacking linens on a shelf.

“Why hello there, Ti. What brings you to my shop?” He smiles and slowly grabs another box of linens. The shelf looks to almost be finished, maybe I should wait? No, it needs to be done. The Brown’s kids will be over at two o’clock.

“I came to drop off our shipping order for our new lines for the next month. Sorry it was a bit late. I will try to get it to you a week before from now on.” I say as I hold out the order sheet.

“Not a problem, little missy. And I know you will get it to me then. Besides I just ordered your linens and tablecloths. I used what you asked for last time. It’s always been the same. So there is no worries.” I sigh with relief. I so glad I ordered from here. Mr. Dailey has always been so understanding toward the inn.

“Oh you are my hero today Mr. Dailey! Thankyou so much.” I give him a great big hug and a kiss on the cheek. He blushes and smiles all big.

"Oh well then, I should do this more often. It's not everyday you get kissed by a pretty girl.” I thanked him for the compliment and left the order and headed out the door. Now the bookstore is usually located around the corner up here past the alleyway. So it should be just a quick pop in and grab my books I ordered and get out. But I don't think it would turn out that way because I love books. I stopped for a moment and look at my town. It has this old little town feel, with its rustic door and simple sidewalks. I took a deep breath of that fresh air. I waved hi to Susan Wright, she owns and runs the bakery. I could just about taste her sweet delicious knot rolls. I began walking down the street. I yell a quick hello to Mr. Brown, our town’s electrician, who was checking the wires on one of the telephone poles. Two stores down till the alley way, I’m almost there. I get to alley way that I have to cross, and I’m about halfway in front when I feel a hand reach out, fingers curled around my arm and I’m yanked into the dark. I whirl to punch my attacker directly in the gut, when a thick palm stops me.

Carp! I look up slowly, following the arm which was now crushing mine, all the way to his face. The ugly mug belong to none other than Bill Carp, our town’s biggest annoyance’s dog. Course to me, he’s more of  joke than scary. He sneers as he realizes the prize he caught, like a cat who had finally caught his prized mouse.

“Well if it isn’t our own little Tiger Cub. How are you? I hope you’ve been good, because Joe wants talk to you. So why don’t you step into her office?” He pushed me deeper into the alleyway. Had my arms and hands been free, I would have cuffed in his stupid face. I struggled as we trudge on. I look back over my shoulder, praying for a miracle, but none came. Fine, I will do this myself.

Author's Note

So get ready for the greatest version of this.