Chapter 6- Taming a Tiger

  Year 6 and three quarters

  There was a note on my door when I woke this morning.

  It was written sloppily in my father's scraggly handwriting.

  It read, My boy it's time to take the next step in your training. Follow this map and meet me at the West Cave.

  And so I went.

  Trucking through the forest with my sundial out to gauge direction, with the sun falling upon it the dial showed west to be right. So west I went.

  After a long walk the cave came into view.

  From the inside I could hear the voice of my father and a tiger roaring and I felt a flashback of memory.

  So this is where he had taken it.

  I swallowed my fear and walked inside.

  <+> >°

  "Oi! You can't do that. Oi! "

  "Rooaarrrr! "

  "You can roar all you want, it's not happening. Put it down! NoOoo!!"

  "Dad what are you doing? "

  "Beast my son. Stop this creature! Quick she's out of control. "

  "Dad...."

  "What my boy. "

  "Your playing cards with the tiger ? "

  "I didn't expect to go this way either son, believe me, but wait over there, as soon as Dad wins you'll have a brand new pet. "

  This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.

  "Roaarr!!!!" The tiger said in response.

  The scene was surreal. The tiger in comparison to my father was actually quite small and with his height advantage he often looked over the creatures hand when it wasn't looking.

  The tiger who held their cards with incredible finesse in between their paws, frequently tried to block his gaze with his tail. When that didn't work it would roar and shift.

  "Dad. How did you end up..."

  "These things happen Beast. Whats important now is I win. We have a hell of a wager on the line. "

  "......"

  "If I win she'll give up and submit to you without a fight. If I lose.

  She gets to try to eat you. "

  I hadn't known how to feel seeing a Tiger play cards with my father, but I knew how to feel about this.

  "I'll be with Mom. "

  I turned, and began walking away.

  "Oi Beast! You're a Slayer. A Slayer doesn't run away from battle. "

  I threw it back at him. " A Slayer doesn't take on fights he knows he'll lose either. "

  "Who's saying you'll lose. " He said voice shifted down full of confidence.

  " Have some faith in your old man, I'm one of the Best card players on this side of, of , of -"

  "Shit I've lost. "

  A tiger roared triumphantly.

  "Welp that's that Beast. Your life may end as lunch."

  "Oi! "

  "Don't worry. I'll be on the sidelines the whole time. You'll be fine. "

  The tiger unleashed it's claws, its face full of inflicted Betrayal. The air turned serious as it began hunching forward its face full of murder.

  I opened my eyes twice and drew my sword.

  

  I opened my my eyes and rolled over, then picked myself up.

  The cave was filled with gouges, sword cuts, and blood.

  I felt for my torso and felt a slimy green mud that smelled of ginger and mint and looked away.

  Across from me a Tiger sat not much worse for ware.

  I had lost.

  "Oi Beast what are you doing. Get up it's time for another round. "

  I looked up face full of fatigue.

  "Don't tell me you thought it was only once?" The large man gave a large chuckle.

  "You'll be doing this everyday you emerge victorious. Now come pick up the sword, the path of a Slayer awaits you. "