"I have a different constitution. I have a different brain I have a different heart I got tiger blood, man." - Charlie Sheen

Mi-Ok was just your normal girl born into your normal family. Her father a plastic surgeon and her mother a business woman. Her early childhood was one that most girls could look back on with a fond smile on her face. She was the only child in her small family and therefore she was doted upon generously. She lived a comfortable and quiet life. She never felt unloved or unappreciated in her family. Mi-Ok loved her parents very much and always put her best foot forward to see those happy smiles on their faces. Her family always supported her in her endeavors one hundred percent.

Her perfect world was shattered when she was a teenager. Her family had decided to go on vacation in the mountains. It wasn't anything unusual. They went about every couple of years. She loved being in the mountains and in the forest. The greenery and the trees and the fresh smell of nature was one to be longed for. To get away from their busy city life and just take a moment to breath and relax made the trip well worth it.

After they had settled in Mi had decided to go for a hike. Taking some water with her and a couple of snacks and her phone she was on her way. Walking down the familiar paths she had always walked down she felt happy and serene. After a while she stopped for a little rest to sit down on a log. Closing her eyes to let the sunlight hit her face and enjoy the peace and quiet. The moment was ruined when she heard a low growl. It wasn't that uncommon to encounter wildlife here. If she kept still or walked away calmly most of the time she was fine.

This time was different. Opening her eyes she saw the magnificent white Siberian tiger before her. Immediately she was on edge. Her breath caught and her heart raced. Palms sweaty as she went over her options quickly. She wasn't that far from her cabin. Would it leave her alone" Should she walk away' Her brain screamed at her to run but she knew that was a stupid idea that would get her killed. After a few tense moments the tiger padded away. She let out the breath she didn't know she had been holding. That was a close one. After waiting a few moments she got up and decided to head back to the cabin.

That was when he struck. Claws dug into her back and pulled her down. Her eyes widened as she screamed. The wind knocked out of her as she hit the ground hard. The taste and smell of dirt was pungent. For a moment time stood still. Then the tiger with its claws still embedded into her skin turned her over. Crying out in pain she writhed on the forest floor. Her heart fluttering in her chest she knew she was going to die.

The tiger leaned down to sniff her and lick her face and neck. Tasting the flesh. A low growl escaped its throat. Withdrawing its claws from the girl it was disappointed that its prey did not struggle more. Letting out a sigh the tiger batted at the girl to frighten her. Mi whimpered in pain as she was batted by those paws which could crush her and those deadly claws. The tiger stepped back to see how she would react. All logic had faded as Mi scrambled to her feet and ran. Ignoring the pain and just wanting to get home.

That was more like it. The tiger let her get a head start before bounding after her and easily catching up. Once more the tiger brought down its prey. Pain and fear ran through her. She cried out but there was no answer. She was still too far away for her parents to hear her cries for help. The tiger excited by her pathetic struggles batted her around. Being batted around by a tiger is not the most fun thing in the world. It hurt and every time she felt like it was going to turn into a killing blow.

How long this went on she did not know. Fear and pain still ran through her but it was being replaced by exhaustion. This is what the tiger wanted. It liked its prey subdued just before it felt. But just awake enough to scream in pain. Lips curling back to reveal those long sharp fangs the tiger held her down with its paws and it began to feed.

She struggled and screamed. She struggled and screamed until all of her energy had left her. The world began to darken and she felt her breathing slowing. This was how it ended. This was how she was going to die"

Darkness ate her world and then there was nothing.

"O tiger's heart wrapped in a woman's hide!" - William Shakespeare

As soon as she had recovered enough she was discharged from the hospital and went home. It was summer so thankfully she didn't have to worry about school. The dreams didn't get any better. They got worse as the days and nights dragged on. Each one more vivid than the last. Medicine to help her sleep and with her dreams was prescribed to her. But it didn't help. Nothing seemed to help. She was referred to by a top high dollar psychiatrist but even that didn't help. The dreams turned into nightmares plagued her. She began to not sleep. It was taking a toll on her and her parents were very worried.

Eventually they prescribed the highest dosage of a tranquilizer they could. It would knock her out and if she dreamed unfortunately she wouldn't be able to wake up. But at least she would get sleep. Since then she began waking up in strange places. Curled up in the closet of her parent's bedroom. Underneath the kitchen table. Even outside in their backyard. The doctors and shrinks were scratching their heads as they couldn't figure out what was wrong with her.

One night after taking her medicine she laid in bed. Staring out of her window. Was that' Is that' Is that the same Siberian tiger sitting outside of her window" Surely not. It must be the medicine. It had to have been the lack of sleep and stress. Why' Why did it continue to haunt her" With the tiger's face staring at her and the only thing separating them being a pane of glass she let sleep suck her under.

He waited until it was quiet. He watched her sleep. When everyone in the house had settled down he shifted into a man. Another form of beast entirely. Naked and with only the moonlight to guide him he opened the window. They didn't even keep it locked. Quietly he snuck into her room. The drugs they had given her had knocked her out. For once she would sleep peacefully. He knew she saw his dreams when he hunted. This was easy prey.

Pulling down the blanket he turned her over onto her stomach. Lifting up her shirt to look at the healing scars. There were no ill intentions here. Well, not like the ones most people thought. A frown as he studied the marks then a glance out of the window and at the moon. She had survived. He hadn't planned on that. He'd have to keep an eye on her. When the moon became full in the sky that's when he would know. Pulling down her shirt he turned her over and pulled the blanket back up. Running his thumb over her eyebrow he leaned down to kiss her forehead. Quietly he slipped out into the night and back to his home.

A few nights later as the sun had set the moon was full in the sky.

"It is not part of a true culture to tame tigers, any more than it is to make sheep ferocious." - Henry David Thoreau

After that night she had never looked back. She had been taken far away from the city she so loved and was thrust into the wilderness of the forest. There she learned to take control of her fate. This new blessing and a curse. She learned to not let the moon control her. He taught her to retain some semblance of humanity when she wore the guise of the tigress hunting for her next meal.

He was a great teacher and a mentor. At first she resented and despised him for what he did to her. But he cared enough to teach her to not let this change consume her. For that she was thankful. They remained side by side as companions for years. Relying on each other being each other's strength and rock.

A few times he tried for more but she only saw him as a big-brother and a teacher type. Forever friend zoned. That was alright with him. For years he had been a solitary creature and it was strange but exciting to take someone under his paw. Of course what they were was kept a secret. Only something you whispered in the shadows with someone you trusted.

They had moved to the outskirts of the city and stayed in a small home together. He was surprised at the amount of control she displayed over her beast in such a short amount of time. During the day they lead normal lives like normal people did. At night they would shed off their humanity and let the beast out. Mostly they had kept to themselves and no one bothered them. He and she liked it that way.

She had caught the attention of a few people but she would kindly turn them away with a smile. For the most part she thought that it was okay. That was until her world was shattered again. A night like many others they had returned from their hunt and bid each other good night. Retiring to their separate rooms they prepared for bed. In the beginning one would stay up for the first half of the night and the other for the rest of the night. This was when they had just moved and were paranoid. But they had grown comfortable and now went to bed when they were tired.

Tired from the day's activities she fell into her bed and sleep immediately sucked her under. She wasn't asleep for long. The sounds of someone trying to break in woke her up. Quietly and sticking low to the shadows she crept out of her room and to where he slept. He was awake as well. Putting his finger to his lips he motioned for her to be quiet. They always had a backup plan. In his room were two bags prepared with clothes, identification cards, and money. Just in case they needed to suddenly skip out. This seemed like one of those times.

They were ready. But so were those breaking into their home. The two of them didn't have much. Just the bare essentials and nothing to cement an attachment or anything of value in the place. So, what did they want' Was it him' Was it her" The answer soon became apparent. They were searching for her. But why' It didn't matter.

Cracking the window open they began to slip out. But the window made a noise and suddenly the men were in the room with them. Simultaneously they both let out a growl as the strong smell of alcohol and tobacco filled their nostrils. The drunks were momentarily taken aback by the inhuman growls. But laughing they went for the two.

It had been discussed between them that if there was a chance of the humans not raising a cry for help they would use the beast to defend themselves. But there were four of them. They probably had families and would come looking for them. It was too great of a risk. So playing human they let themselves be taken.

They tied him down to one of the chairs and made him watch as they had their way with her. When she was passed out from being beaten and exhausted they killed him. After they were done the men left. The kiss of dawn on her battered and bruised face she woke to the sight of her mentor's corpse.

Mi-Ok had her revenge. She took her sweet sweet time with them. Once it was all over she felt she had avenged him. But she wasn't stupid. She knew that the human authorities would come looking for her. So, she ran. She kept a low profile and escaped. Eventually she ended up in Rhy"Din.