"Back when tigers smoked the pipe" is a phrase my grandparents are as familiar with as I am with "once upon a time." Once shared and passed down, these beginnings of folk stories have faded in many mixed-race families. In my biracial upbringing, I often found myself in a household without the common knowledge of either culture's norms. The tiger, a sacred symbol in Korean culture, represents power, fluidity, and adaptability, much like the women in my family. In Korean folk stories, the tiger is a shapeshifter, embodying multiple archetypes. Unlike European tales, where animals represent distinct roles (like the wise owl as the sage), the Korean tiger shifts to whatever role is needed -- warrior, caregiver, mother, or trickster. The tiger mirrors the women in my life, who've become protectors, nurturers, guides, and warriors as circumstances demanded. They've adapted to help my siblings and me navigate the liminal space of being biracial, shifting as needed to meet the moment.