Poem: "Paper and Tiger"
marina_bonomi started by requesting a villainess that would require both the Origami Mage and the Kirigami Mage to defeat. my_partner_doug provided her character class. marina_bonomi then sponsored the poem. This is written in tanka verses. Read about Yìnglóng online. You can find other poems in the Origami Mage series through the Serial Poetry page.
Paper and Tiger
Origami Mage
listened to the rumors and
hid in the village
where nobody could see her,
not even the Moon Rabbit
Kirigami Mage
also heard the rumors and
hid in the forest
beyond the village market,
hoping no one would find her
Burning Tiger stalked
through the village square,
looking over goods,
taking all that she wanted
and leaving merchants weeping
she took the last eggs
from the chicken farmer and
all of the silk from
the poor tailor and his wife,
whose children would go hungry
no one dared stop her --
one ronin touched his sword hilt
and she burned him up,
the tiger tattoo blazing
as it prowled across her back
when Burning Tiger
grabbed the baker's cringing son
to make him her slave,
Origami Mage burst from
hiding and cried, "Let him go!"
Burning Tiger turned
with a sneer and flung fire
at the upstart mage --
only to be blocked by wings
as paper geese beat out flames
her dark eyes narrowed
and she cast another spell
burning the paper
that held the mage's power,
leaving her helpless at last
Kirigami Mage
dashed into the market square,
faced the Burning Tiger,
flung paper to her rival
and hissed, "Hurry! Do something!"
Burning Tiger snarled
at her new opponent and
set her robes ablaze --
Kirigami Mage fell down
and rolled on the ground, screaming
thunder split the sky
as Yìnglóng responded to
unfolding summons,
filled the air with his cold rain
and crushed the Burning Tiger
"But I only asked
for a modest summer rain,"
Origami Mage
said as she helped her rival
stand in the slippery mud
"Shut up," her rival
advised her as they stared at
the rain-dragon-god
and the fire witch's corpse
and the frightened villagers
Yìnglóng just chuckled,
like bubbles of springwater,
and healed the mages
with two cool flicks of his tongue
over their burns and bruises
Origami Mage
bowed to her rival and left
Kirigami Mage
silently watched as she went
then folded into a bow