The Greatest Show on Earth
"Welcome boys and girls, ladies and gentleman to the Greatest Show on Earth." The loud salve of applause echoed through the tent as the announcer took a brief pause. Shining even brighter than the dozens of eyes set on the stage, two bright blue eyes glanced from under the curtain at the spectators. Clad in a blue leopard, covered with shinny crystals that glimmered under the lights cast by the strategically placed torches around the six year-old caracal girl could feel her heart racing. It was the opening night, and more importantly her grand debut. On her shoulders, the reassuring hands of her older brother. "It's just like practice, only this time the applause will be much louder Syra..." He whispered into her ear before retreating. Lingering on for a minute longer the feline watched in silence as the first performers went into action. Finally satisfied, the girl retreated to wait for her turn.
Fiery red hair held in check by a headband, arms spread wide to the sides in one smooth, graceful motion. Slowly the girl leaned forward. Tail flickered to help her maintain balance, head soon pressed against her small feet. Paws were planted on the carpet covering the dirt floor and in an apparent effortless move legs slipped up and backwards, arms pushing her off the floor and holding all of her weight. In a controlled motion, the girl slipped forward. A perfect bridge completed, nothing more than warm-up, the girl rolled to a side, now lying on her belly. Back bending almost unnaturally to draw a few gasps from the audience the seemingly oblivious to the reactions girl continued her performance. Both legs were brought from behind to meet her head, arms crossing under her knees to support her head in casual fashion, an open smile flashed to the crowd. Applause followed but she was just starting...
Five years down the road the little contortionist girl stood in the very same spot behind the curtain, studying the crowd and preparing for her acts. In addition to her first routine, she now starred in the juggling act. Colourful spheres were used to open the act, over a dozen of them flying through the air, exchanged with her brother in random patterns. Soon flaming torches replaced them, tossed spinning into the air, exchanging hands with ease. The final, awe inducing routine performed with sharp throwing knives that soon would find themselves hurled with amazing accuracy at one another, brother and sister pitched against each other in death defying spectacle. Their act was always popular, that night being no different. But before that night was over, their lives would be changed forever.
The flames raged on, consuming all in their path. Struggling for freedom in her brother's arms, tears running down her face. "The animals, they are still trapped! And there are others too!" She cried, staring at the fire. Her brother's grip would not falter, keeping her from rushing into the heat. "It's too late. You can't help anyone by getting killed."
No one knew for sure how the fire started. Only that it spread quickly, catching all by surprise. Friends were buried, some salvaged goods distributed between the survivors. Some chose to remain together, to try and rebuild. Others moved on. Torn between the two choices, the girl chose the latter, following her brother. The two would go find their father, a man the feline only knew from letters. Money was scarce, the siblings performing along the way to the gather enough gold to pay for food and whenever possible, a roof over their heads. Their path took them across the sea, forcing them to stay in the coastal city for a few weeks. After several street performances, they finally gathered enough to pay for their passages. They boarded that very same day.
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New life, New tricks.
Giant waves crashed against the hull of the ship, thunderous lightning brightening the dark skies. Above deck, the crew struggled to keep the boat afloat and in course. They were already close to port but the storm made impossible to know their bearings, the winds and currents dragging them in a whim. In their room, the two could do little more than hope for the best. A rock ripped away wood, carving a deadly hole in boat. The cries of the crew filled their ears. Despite their best efforts the two felines could not hold on, their grip on each other fading as cold waves plunged them underwater. Syra surfaced but her cries for her brother went unanswered. Struggling against the cold and exhaustion the young girl fought the storm for hours but in the end succumbed to the waves.
Syra shuddered awake. "Adam!" Was the first word to escape her lips. She was alone in a small beach. The storm had cleared, a sunny day replacing the dark clouds. At a distance she spotted a city, most likely their intended destination. After many hours of searching for her missing brother the sun set in. She spent that night alone on the shore, eyes set on the ocean. The next morning the girl left for the city, hoping to find her brother there. Days turned to weeks, the girl clinging to hope and knowledge that her brother wouldn't leave without finding her first.
To survive she was forced to return to her acts, showing off her juggling skills in the streets. It was enough to eat but shelter was often improvised. As the novelty of her shows faded and generosity diminished, the feline found herself skipping meals more and more often. One day her paw found way into a pocket. In that single slip the got more than in a day's worth of donations. Though her spectacles continued, generosity was no longer a concern. Donations could, and were easily acquired whenever hunger stroke. Until the day a strong grip found her wrist just as her paw came off someone's pocket. "Such a waste of potential..." She heard him say, looking up at the male tiger that now held her captive.
It was an encounter the girl would soon cherish. The male took the girl under his wing, giving her shelter and helping discover new skills. Music was his first passion, passed on to her as backup to her frequent performances. Pick-pocketing, lock picking, stealth and other tricks of the trade were taught to the young feline, her previous circus background no doubt a perfect base. Weeks turned to months, and then years. Her sixteenth birthday came in that coastal city, the feline refusing to leave until her brother came back for her. Her gift, a small flute, previously owned by the male tiger who regarded the young girl as a little sister. The growing girl soon found that her feelings for him went beyond simple friendship but never revealed them. Despite a few run-ins with the guards, the duo always managed to get away, their time split between street performances, and random pickpocketing or the occasional raid to an empty house.
That night was going to be grand. It was the fifth anniversary together and the little thief had big plans. She was going to share her feelings with him, but in addition she was bringing home a bag full of treats. The large manor built just outside the city had been under her eye for quite sometime. Perched in a tree, the feline waited until lights went off. Strapped to her waist, two throwing knives used in her shows, several empty pouches ready to be filled and the flute she had mastered as well as several lockpicks and other random items she held dear. Climbing to the second floor was an easy task, slipping through the small window not even a challenge given her contortionism skills. Once inside she moved in silence, picking small but valuable items along, several rings, necklaces and other goodies filling the previously empty pouches. The last room she sneaked into would be the one to change her life forever.
To be continued.
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