Eternal Tigress(Chapter 2)

The queen's room was adorned in Russian vines. Julia, the young queen, had started caring for them at the juvenile age of eight. After the death of Julia's parents, the former King and Queen of Novaland. A squirrel befriended the grieving child. Lonely Julia named him Igor. Igor brought Julia a gift of Russian vines one day after their initial greeting. Russian vines would be tedious for most but Julia delighted in the chore of caring for the playground of her forest visitors. Maybe her beloved forest friend knew the healing this would bring the young Queen. She found solace in the covering of the Russian vines. The young Queen had quite the growth chamber for the vines within her expansive imperial bedroom. Julia would leave the windows open for the birds and listen to their sweet melodies. Julia had names for them as well. The young Queen would sit at her window meditating on the beauty and mystery of the forest just beyond her grounds. Looking into Igors eye she sensed a connection to the squirrel, to the forest. Could be why Queen Julia always welcomed his visits. The feel the ease her friends' presence brought her. She wished the squirrel could tell her about the tiger she stayed awake to listen to at night.

The tiger seemed to be the only forest creature she hadn't encountered in some capacity. She'd seen the white-tailed eagle that wrote messages in the sky. The eagle's sky messages reminded her of the photo cards her parents would send to her while on their travels. the white musk deer she happened upon in the Dushka Palace dacha garden. This is where she first learned only she saw her magical friends. The only ones whose presence filled an empty void.

Julia had always been warned of the dangers that lay in wait for her within the forest. Amur, or Siberian tigers being number one. The Queen found beauty in them though only able to admire them visually in books. Their elegant strides and the strength in their powerful roars captivated her the most. At night when all was quiet she would often sit by her window. The songs of the birds had been put to rest and the tranquil space she had created provided the perfect concert hall for the tigers symphony. A symphony that griped her heart.

Queen Julia was titled at eight years old after the tragic death of both her parents. They were on annual leave in the Maldives during the tsunami caused by the Indian Ocean earthquake December 2004. King Radimir and Queen Yelena traveled among the world often leaving young Julia behind to pursue their adventure of love amongst the landscape of the world. Eighty-two people killed and twenty-four reported missing after the tragic tsunami hit the archipelago. King and Queen being a counted number in the tragedy. Sir Alexander, brother to Julia's father, King Radimir, had to make the dreadful journey to retrieve the remains of the King and Queen of Novaland.

The Queen hid the deepest secrets of her relationship with the forest. The dreams she had with the forest friends she'd befriended during the day. Julia's dreams began the day she learned of her parents death. She'd overheard her uncle telling the staff of King Radimir and Queen Yelena upon his return. Julia escaped to the forest because what did she have left now? It's unnatural for a little girl to hope a vicious tiger would reunite her with her parents. Her father, King Radimir warned her of the dangers of the forest. The leopards, tigers and the brown bears. She ran until she could no more and fell among a snow covered green patch between the trees.

Julia was parched upon her waking. She strode over to a stream trickling nearby to quench the thirst within her. Young Julia caught her reflection in the slight stream of water. Her reflection surprised her. Before her in the water reflected a young Siberian tiger. Just as she had seen in her books. Julia then glanced upon herself and saw that her form had changed. She no longer filled the juvenile human body she had previously. Julia's reflection only controlled her thoughts for a slight moment. Soon her eyes held the gaze of another set of eyes across the stream. It was another tiger just as her.