When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain

In the vibrant, myth-laden world of the Singing Hills Cycle, the cleric Chih finds themselves in a perilous predicament. While traveling, Chih and their companions are ambushed by a pack of hungry, sentient tigers. To stall for time until rescue can arrive from mammoth-riders, Chih must employ their renowned storytelling skills. They begin to unravel the intertwined and often contradictory tales of the formidable White Tiger and her audacious human lover, a scholar of exceptional courage and intellect. As Chih deftly navigates the differing accounts presented by the tigers themselves, they delve into the nature of truth, memory, and how narratives are shaped and reshaped by history and perspective. This mesmerizing novella explores themes of queer love, survival, and the profound power of stories to preserve, transform, and even create reality, all while Chih struggles to keep their audience – and themselves – alive.