Eve Smith, a.k.a. Shadow Tiger

Game Date: 12.24.2000

Awakening

She awoke, in an alley, to a gentle prodding against her ribs. Blinking in confusion, she saw a girl of about six years of age, gently nudging her. There was a worried look on the child's face. The walls loomed over her, trapping her in a three sided box of brick and the stench of rotten things filled her lungs. The sound of scurrying rats made more sense to her than the noises the young one was making at her. She listened closer and the noises started making sense.

"...'k? Miss? Are you alright? Should I get help? ‘S not safe here with the sun going down. Hello... Miss?"

Slowly she sat up, trying to make sense of her surroundings. She had no idea where she was or how she got there. When she went to wave the girl away, she noticed her hand was different from the child's, remarkably so.

"I'm fine, just a little... lost"

The child tilted her head and looked thoughtful for a moment, then she smiled. "Maybe we can find someone that can get you un-lost then." She reached out her hand. "I'm Amy. What's your name?"

She opened her mouth to answer, but the knowledge of who she was skittered away like a frightened deer. "I... I can't seem to remember." She reached out to grasp the hand of the youngster. Both of them gazed at the contrast. Her long, slender hand with the fine covering of black fur and claws at the tips of her fingers gently encasing Amy's small, pudgy, pink hand. She was about to comment on the difference when the panicked screaming began.

"Amy! Get away from that... that... thing! Oh my god... Amy!" A woman was at the mouth of the alley, clutching her hair and screeching at the top of her lungs. Then the woman advanced and started to throw things: garbage can lids, stones, her shoes, and anything else she could get her hands on. Even in her panic, the woman's aim was true three throws out of five.

All she could think to do was to hide, but there was nothing around her but the gathering shadows. Her mind was screaming in panic, "I can't get away! Blocked in! Not here... not here... nothing here." She let go of Amy's hand and cringed away, trying to blend into the darkness that was creeping in as the sun set.

Amy blinked in confusion, wondering where her new friend had disappeared to. Her mother stopped throwing things, and grabbed her into a hug. Her eyes darting constantly into the corners, trying to find the beast who had had her daughter.

"nothing here, nothing that shouldn't be here... "

The woman shrugged and pulled Amy along as she headed toward the police station. Even with that thing gone, it had been there, and who knew where it was now?

"nothing... "

Let the authorities know about the beast that was shaped like a human, but covered with fine black fur. Let them know about the pointed ears, and the almond shaped, slit pupil eyes that had glittered at her like polished gold coins.

"go away... nothing here... "

Warn them about the sharp claws at the tips of fingers and toes as well as the fangs. Then to home, to safety, with the deadbolts thrown.

"nothing here, no one is following... "

She carefully crept forward. Everything around her was strange. She quietly followed the two, hoping that they would guide her to an area more open...

Awareness

later that week...

Her stomach rumbled. Darting forward, she grabbed the squirrel as it dashed toward the tree. "Nothing here... " Deftly she snapped its neck and, with dinner in hand, scurried to her hiding place, a hollow area in the midst of several dense bushes. No one could see within, no one to scream and throw things that hurt, but she could look out. Nothing she saw made sense to her, nothing triggered knowledge of who she was, where she was, or why she was there. She watched the sun setting over the water, wondering if she had seen anything like it... before.

She heard footsteps, heard them gain speed. Heard the panicked, gasping breath of the young woman as she pounded past the cave within the bushes. She could also hear the quickening footsteps of the two men who followed. She pondered the quality of their laugher. It could only be described as evil. She crouched further back within the shadows. "nothing here, look away... " She heard someone fall, the footsteps stopped, the laughter grew louder and nastier.

"Oh god... NO! SOMEONE... HELP!" a woman screamed. There was the sound of flesh striking flesh, of ripping cloth.

Something within her snapped.

"nothing here... do not see... do not hear... "

She burst out of her hiding place, choking back the snarl that rose to her throat. With claws extended she slashed at the attacker's backs.

"nothing here... "

As they turned, she struck at their temples with her fists.

"nothing here... just the shadows... "

As they fell, bleeding, to the ground, she dashed back to safety.

Beth carefully rose from her prone position, warily eyeing her fallen attackers. She stared for a moment then rushed to the nearest phone. As she dialed 911, she wondered if the police would ever believe her story. She could hardly believe it herself. How could she begin to explain the slender shadow with the golden eyes that rescued her?

"nothing here... "

Thus began the story of the person who would be called Eve Smith. She was found by the Wardens and after learning to trust Tom Sawyer, she joined the group on January 7, 2001. Shadow Tiger's adventures with the Wardens are chronicled in the Wardens Chronicles. She left the Wardens on September 2, 2002 to take on a new mission with the Warders.