Prologue:
There was a time when gods and goddesses ruled the celestial body called Earth. Now, those disgusting creatures known as humans run it. However, during the time of peace, there was a powerful enchantress named Circe. She was the most gorgeous being in the heavens with her glistening snow-white hair, dazzling crystalline blue eyes and a smile that warmed the hearts of the lowest gods and goddesses. She was the envy of all, including the sun goddess, Demia. Demia with her satiny brown hair, sharp brown eyes and deep tan, was indeed beautiful. This rival in beauty was the cause of Circe's punishment. During the setting of the stars, Circe was summoned by Demia into her throne room. "You summoned me Demia?" Circe questioned. "Circe, your beauty rivals mine," Demia began. "I have heard this, yes," Circe nodded. "I refuse to have my beauty rivaled," she said. She stood and pointed her clipeus staff at the enchantress in front of her. As the sun goddess was about to banish the enchantress from the heavens, Vetus Tutela, the ancient guardian of the enchantress entered. "Pardon my entrance oh powerful goddess of the sun, but it is my duty to protect Circe," she said moving in front of her mistress. "Vetus Tutela, I will take the punishment of the sun goddess for I do not wish to make pain among the heavens," Circe said. Vetus Tutela stepped aside, fear in her eyes. "I banish you to the land of lesser being for all eternity as a pure Bengal tigress," Demia said and the power of the sun shot out from her clipeus staff and Circe vanished. "I will devote my life to protecting my mistress, wherever she may be," Vetus Tutela vowed. Divinus aeternitas. 'Service eternal'
Chapter 1: The Warning
The sun crept its way up over the trees, signaling the world that morning had come in the year 3012. Demia, in her glistening, golden chariot rode in front. As shadows were cast onto the forest floor by leaves, two small tiger cubs could be seen running about each other. These two cubs were the offspring of Circe and Cloud, the most feared tiger in the forest. It is said that 10,000 years ago, the ancient enchantress was banished to earth to live out eternity as a pure Bengal tigress. Having her as his mate made Cloud that much more feared. Now, the cubs, Lily and Alana, were young still, having come into the world in the opening of spring. Lily resembled her mother, with no stripes and crystalline blue eyes. Alana took after her father, with silver blue eyes. Strangely, she bears a single stripe on her tail that matches the scar on her father's face. Cloud was given the scar by a wolf that had attempted to kill his litter three cycles of the moon ago. He now bore that scar with pride for that litter had grown and left.
Circe left the den and gathered her cubs near. 'Lily, Alana, stay here. I shall return with our food,' she instructed the playful cubs.
She headed out into the depths of the forest in which she had lived for the past 10,000 years. 'Eternity is becoming tiresome,' she thought as she set out to hunt. Suddenly, her sensitive nose picked the sent of something new. She inched towards the smell, pressing her body low to the ground and preparing to strike. She leapt out of the undergrowth, claws extended, teeth bared only to find the new scent to belong to Vetus Tutela, her guardian.
"Mistress," Vetus Tutela said bowing to the graceful tigress. 'Vetus Tutela, what are doing on Earth?' Circe asked. "It is so good to see you again," she continued. "Although this visit is not on pleasant terms. I have come to warn you of a most horrid evil," the guardian said. The sun glinted off of her silky brown hair. She was wearing a white beaded dress with bell sleeves. Her mystical blue eyes showed true fear for her mistress. 'What is this evil you speak of Vetus Tutela?' Circe asked, surveying the being at her feet. "Demia still envies your beauty," Vetus Tutela whispered. "She wished you dead," she said, her voice becoming barely audible, even to Circe's sensitive ears.
'If she still envies me, why does she not use her power as sun goddess to change me?' Circe suggested. "She cannot, the magic is permanent. She would only bring discord to the heavens," the young woman said. 'How does she plan to kill me?' the fearsome tigress inquired of her servant. "I wish I could tell you, but I fear that Demia is watching me now," Vetus Tutela said. "I will return after four settings of the sun with the answer," Vetus Tutela said and she vanished.
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