Who to trust. Who not to trust. Thrown into a crazy new world, Prince Tiger was baffled by everything that has happened. First the fire, the cave, and now this? This was unbelievable. For that was the way of things. Being unbelievable yet true.

The darkness of the cave along with the coldness seemed to press in, then recede. Then again, press in but recede farther. It was like a heart beating. Slowly. Pumping about darkness. Like the night. Where they dream. We dream in the dark. But we also fear the dark, so why do we dream in our fear? Maybe to escape from it… Tiger thought.

“Maple?” Tiger said.

Maple only looked at him sadly. A few new tears ran down her yellow and crimson-speckled cheek. Tiger thought to try and console her, but it would not be safe. She could well, do something horrible. He knew that this was not an ideal time for her to earn their trust, but that was not a thing in the near future. Tiger wanted to put his trust in everyone. But if he did, it might mean demise. Tiger did not want demise. That would be very sad and very bad.

But then again, he may regret making the wrong choice now. He needed to move a piece into position to capture another. But he needed help, he’d ask Truth later. He seemed to have proved himself. He was more trustworthy than Maple.

“Maple,” Tiger said firmly. “If we cannot trust you, we are as good as dead. You must prove yourself as Truth did.” this was true. she

“How would she do that?” Truth whispered to Tiger.

“Later,” Tiger responded.

They looked at Maple who, again, was looking toward the cold stone. Her face was with a dejected and woeful expression. More tears started to fall.

But Truth decided to knock her out with a rock so he and Tiger could talk. It wasn’t very bloody. He also knocked her out as to keep her from crying, that is at least what he said.

“So what sort of conniving plan is in order?” Truth asked. He and Tiger were huddled in a corner so the plan would be conceived. Why they tried to hide their plan? Perhaps the Master was watching them. Or perhaps they were just overly cautious.

“Put yourself in danger, and see if she saves you. If she doesn't, you'll be nearby to save me so you don’t die.”

“That is very vague,” Truth replied.

“Well, what's your plan?” Tiger said.

Silence.

The contemplative kind. Not the scary, something is coming for you, kind. Did the silence help Truth think? Tiger did not know. Tiger also was still somewhat unsure if he could trust Truth. But he did save him. He had taken a step to prove himself.

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“I think there might be a few cave bears here,” said Truth. “Maybe we could ask one of them as a threat to one of our wellbeings… I’ll volunteer.” he seemed to prefer Tiger’s idea to his own that never came into existence.

Tiger scoffed. “Like you had a choice.” He was half joking. But still, it made him feel bad. It wasn’t good to talk like that.

Being only thirteen and barely a teenager, he felt different. His regal training and preparations for becoming the future king had started two years earlier. It was ok at first, then he saw that heavy is the brow on which the crown sits. It scared him of all the responsibility of being king. Then again, he wanted to make great, positive change in the world. For that, he needed to be king.

Truth and Tiger started working on a plan, but they only had a few hours to do it. They all had a sense that something was going to go awry.

Tiger started to speak. “What if we wait? We should get out of here in any case. Let's just see if she slips a knife between our ribs. Then we’ll know.”

“I don’t like that idea.”

“Well, if we stay, we can test Maple and maybe not get killed by Maple. Or if we don’t, she may kill us,” said Tiger. “It’s your choice. To be honest, she might kill us either way.”

Truth pondered this for a minute. “Let’s devise a test. But it will be short enough as to us getting out of here on time.”

And it was so. Tiger and Truth, the fake cousins, worked on devising a plan to test Maple. Truth went to find a bear to aggravate so that he might die but be saved from dying. Truth seemed very fond of the idea of not dying.

As he was gone Tiger paced. Pondering. Contemplating. Contemplating their situation, what venture would ensue after this, if he would even survive to even see the next venture.

The rock was cold. Tiger was cold as well. He found some brushes and sticks to light. The fir would keep him warm. But it died quickly. The warmth stayed for a minute but left soon after the fire did.

Tiger felt like someone was watching him. It did not surprise him given all that had happened. It was still unnerving though. He quickly became afraid. Something here was not right. And it was his duty to make it right? Correct? He walked over to a passage entrance. It was dark inside. A thump came from inside. Tiger was petrified. He was as still as any inanimate object that doesn’t move unless reacted upon.

Truth came back into the cavern. Tiger was still at the cave entrance. Away from the knocked-out Maple. Truth touched his should and Tiger gave a start. “I think he’ll come and try and kill me in an hour or so,” he said

“Good,” Tiger said. “Well, not the kill part. And who? A bear?”

Truth seemed to be aware of Tiger’s emotions. He had his wing around Tiger. “Yes. A bear will come and try to kill me. It will hopefully not do the killing part though.”

Why am i letting him touch me? Tiger thought. He is dangerous. How can I trust him? But he allowed it to happen. It was the only comfort he had. He savored it.

They played a game similar to TicTacToe for a brief bit. The playing of the game was a brief period of peace, the silence before the storm. The time then came to wake Maple. Truth and Tiger walked over to her and Truth shook her awake. Tiger was still shaken from the encounter with the noise in the passage. He hadn’t told Truth yet. But now he was worried about Maple. Would she prove herself? Or would be their demise?

Prove herself? Or would be their demise?

A Note from Dlaerious

As you see here, they are waiting and testing each other. Not as iron sharpens iron, but to test each other trustworthiness and mettle. This is very much an interesting ‘coincidence’ that has happened. Be wary, observer. If you are caught with this, the Sovereign will be quite angry with you.