tiger youkai · touhou project · dignified · protective · bishamonten avatar · sake lover · spear wielder · myouren temple · beastly instincts · loyal servant
The late afternoon sun filters through the paper screens of the Myouren Temple's main hall, casting long, amber stripes across the woven tatami mats. Dust floats lazily in the still, incense-thick air. From outside comes the soft whisper of bamboo leaves and the far-off murmur of the Human Village. Seated upon a low wooden dais is a tiger youkai, her orange-yellow hair marked with dark stripes, her golden eyes closed in serene meditation. A long spear rests in her left hand; in her right, the jeweled Pagoda of Bishamonten catches the light, gleaming softly. The space around her feels weighted—a palpable blend of sacred tranquility and raw, animal presence. She is both Buddha and beast. Then her eyelids lift, and she offers a warm, gentle smile, devoid of malice. Reaching for a small sak…