 |
The young hybrid was outside again. He didn’t wander far from the tunnel that led to the den he still shared with his brother, sisters, and mother. He liked to know where his mama was if anything should happen, or have half an ear on his siblings, just in case. Useless as he seemed to be compared to Jiro and Keikanei, he was still the oldest brother. It was supposed to be his job to look after them. If only he weren’t so clumsy…
Hikari batted at a leaf, managing to flatten it under his paw. He was getting better at least. But he still couldn’t move as quickly and quietly as Kanie. And he was nowhere near as fluid and graceful in his motions as mama was. But then again, she was the best. He could never hope to be that good. But better than clumsy would be nice. Swiping at a second leaf, the white juvenile missed completely and managed to trip himself up in the process. Maybe he would grow into his paws soon, they were still way too big on him! Could that be what the problem was? He had skinny slender cheetah legs, but big soft leopard paws. At least he hoped it was leopard paws and not, gulp, lion paws. Mama liked lions, but a lot of other pride members did not. Especially aunty. He was afraid of what would happen if he suddenly grew a mane. Or, well, more of a mane.
But cheetahs had manes too, right? Just because he had the start of a mane didn’t mean he was automatically a lion. He might be a leopard…this would be so much less worrisome if he actually had a father. At least then he’d know what to expect, good or bad. Glumly, the hybrid shifted to settle himself more comfortably from his flop, reaching out to very carefully pin the leaf to the ground
Hosoku was out wondering around the pride lands. He knew every inch of this place. He spotted the awkward white hybrid. He hated them. They weren't like him, it was obvious. He was too big to be one of Hosoku's kind . He noticed he was out on his own, Hosoku didn't care if it was bigger and older. His mom ruled the pride and he can do whatever he wants, that’s what he knew and he embraced it.
He didn't understand why his mother even let their kind live in the pride lands, there good for nothing. If it were up to him he would run all of their kind out. He hated hybrids with a passion. "Disgusting creatures..." He mumbled under his breath. He never understood why his mother never chased them off. Maybe she was softer then he thought. He watched the thing in disgust. He wanted their kind to just disappear. Cheetahs ruled. That’s what mattered!
Hosoku swiftly made his way to the.... thing . Watching it more closely as he got closer. What was he doing? Hosoku made his way to him and sat a few feet away. "A stupid game for a stupid creature." He spat those words to him. His words as cold and venomous as they sounded. He glared down at the hybrid. Mother always said never associate with hybrids. She never said anything about teasing them.
Hikari blinked and looked up at the unexpected voice, his pink ears laying flat against his skull as his mismatched eyes met a pair that didn’t seem to quite be friendly. Slowly he lifted his paw off of the somewhat flattened leaf and tucked it back in against the white fluff of his chest as he watched the strange cub anxiously. There was familiarity about him, in his coloring and he thought maybe in the other’s scent. Almost. But not quite. Maybe the cub knew someone that Hikari knew? But he didn’t know that many in the pride. Just his family and then their adoptive family. Mama, Kanie, Jiro, Satomei, Bugie, Dysi, Nanashi, Nyoka, and Mana and Mana’s cubs too. So maybe it was a little bit more than just a few, but it was a big pride and…and…and…
"I’m…sorry?" he tried uncertainly, his soft voice small and meek. Clearly he must have done something to upset this cub, as there didn’t seem to be anyone else around to whom he would be speaking with such cold hostility. Well, whatever he’d done, he hadn’t meant to do it.
“I’m sorry too…. I’m sorry that you’re a waste of my space and my air.” His words just as cold as before. “You’re also an unhappy image in my sight.” Not only was this thing a hybrid but a stupid one too. It was obvious Hosoku was talking to it. Hosoku stood tall, eyeing the creature. His eyes piercing through the soul of this mistake. Why would god create such a disturbing creature? Maybe it was to make ugly cheetahs feel pretty. Who knows?
Just because he was bigger didn’t mean he would let this filthy half-blood scare him. Everything about him pointed to the fact he was a mistake, from the pink in his pelt to the kindness he showed and the unnatural color of his eyes. It makes Hosoku sick. “Why don’t you go back where you came from?” He words as cold as ice and as piercing a dagger. Hosoku didn’t care about his feelings. Why would he? He wanted this infertile disgusting being gone and out of his sight.
Hikari could only stare at this strange cub, his eyes growing wider and wider with every word. Shock and hurt were plain on his features, and he opened and closed his mouth twice before he could decide on what to say. Being mean back was not okay. It was mean to be mean, mama had said. So he wouldn’t be mean back. But he didn’t understand why this cub, whom he was certain he’d never met, would just…just hate him. It didn’t make any sense to the hybrid.
"Do…do you even know my name?" he finally choked. There had to be a reason for this. Maybe he’d stepped on someone’s flower or something and this was their brother come to make him be sorry for doing it. It would have been an accident though, he didn’t mean to be clumsy. Go back where he came from though? This was where he was from! Where else was he supposed to go?
Hosoku laughed at the cub’s facial expression. Why was he being so laid back though. Maybe he really was a dumb cub. That only proved Hosokus first feelings, that they were a mistake of the gods. Hosoku just continued to glare at the weakly cub. He looked over his un-cheetah like features. Why can’t mom just get rid of you filthy things? he thought. He would have to talk to hi mother about this.
His eyes got colder and wider, “NAME?!? WHY ON EARTH WOULD I CARE ABOUT YOUR NAME?!?!” He spat those words as anger grew inside him. Why would he care about what that thing is called! How dare he even ask such a stupid question!!
Hikari quivered slightly as his question only made the strange cub angrier. Alright, so then they really hadn’t met. "B-but…if you don’t know who I am then…then why…why do you hate me?" he asked, thoroughly lost in confusion. There was no reason to hate a stranger. Even a scary stranger deserved at least a chance.
And Hikari knew he wasn’t scary. He was a little bigger than a cheetah, but more slender than a leopard, and his left ear was raggedy from being chewed on lots by his sister. His fur was white and clean and soft, except for the spots of pink along his cheeks and shoulders, and the gray bands on his tail. He didn’t have lots of scars, or patchy blood-smeared fur or…anything that he could think of that might be frightening or upsetting. He’d been teased about the pink spots before, but at least the other cubs had been specific. It felt like…like this cub hated him just for being there.
How was he supposed to not upset someone who was bothered because he was here? It just…didn’t make any sense. He didn’t know what to do…
Hosoku laughed. “B-But…. But…” The cheetah boy mocked him. “You’re a whiney thing aren’t you.” His face grew serious and glared directly into his eyes. “Why you filthy creature, I don’t hate you I hate your whole kind.” He stared at the cub his tone was serious. “You need to leave my home.”
He began to circle the cub, eyeing is feature. “pelt….eyes….personality…. your just all wrong. You’re not a cheetah..." He laughed at the thought and continued with his statement, “If you were you'd be a disgrace to my kind anyway, but you’re not pure-bred anything, so that just means you’re a mistake.” He sat face-to-face with the hybrid. “So why don’t you just go?”
He hated this hybrid, he didn’t care that he was scared or even how he was feeling. He was a mistake and needed to be treated like one. He was just going to be a slave anyway. So why not just start a long-life process that he has to get used to. If anything Hosoku was doing him a favor and getting him ready for his life as a slave.
The days were like spring. She rose up bright and early. The blue cheetah nuzzled up under mother's chin and pushed her head slightly up. "Ma.. Ma.. wake up." But the other older cheetah was tired.. and slightly pushed Emi away. "Dear. Mother needs sleep.." Emi's face fell.. usually mother told her to wake her up. Ears went back.. then nodded. "I'll wake you up later." Pushing her forehead against her mother's. It was really warm but as a cub- and not a healer she didn't know any better. So she licked her. "I'll be back."
She turned.. and saw her brother leave.. She tilted her head. But didn't leave just yet because she was more worried about mother. Sitting down before her and watching for a few more moments.. then licked her again before turning and leaving the den. She knew that she could go about the pride- but not alone. So why was brother going? She turned to see her other siblings still asleep next to mother.. But not as close as Emi was to her. It made her frown.. but she turned anyways back to the pride and took in the fresh air.
"Alright." She announced. Then hoped down in to the path below. Her brother had long since gone now.. and she likely didn't know where he went but she would try and find him but the girl was very easily distracted and followed a set of entertainers the opposite way. Following behind them in secret and watching as they laughed and giggled. "Hi!" She jumped up from under them- two females gasped while the others laughed. "Hello Little one... who do we have here?" Emi smiled brightly. "I'm Emi- please to meet you." "Oh~ ! Nyoka's little one. Such a beauty you are~!" Her ears were filled with compliments as they made their way towards the boys and up in to the den of entertainers. But Emi- didn't go in. She sat outside and ears were pulled down when she was 'denied' entry. Only because they had 'business' to attend to.
Dropping down and on to the rocky terrain. "Work.." She didn't look forward to it but she felt a little left out. Walking away from the den- she heard the sound of. Well. Her brother's voice! She smiled brightly and ran towards his voice only to hear the anger from it which caused her to stop right when he came in to view. A soft bundle of a cub much bigger than he- and yet he was yelling and saying such mean things.
"Brother!" She yelled out then ran right up to them - not in the middle but in the middle NEXT to them. Tilting her head- hear the nasty words. "Brother! Whats wrong?" Then she looked at the cub. He was- wasn't doing anything? What was going on here! Her tail was up and her body was at attention. "What did he do." Very cautious of the bigger cub.. and side stepping near her brother.. Just in case the bigger cub was bullying her brother.
"No, I won’t!" Hikari finally cried, rising to his paws as the fur along his spine bristled. Standing up, he really was bigger than this cheetah cub. "I don’t have to leave! I’m older than you are, I was here first! This is my home! If you don’t like it then maybe you should go somewhere else!" He felt sorry instantly after he’d said it, but there was nothing he could do about it now. He hadn’t meant to yell at the other cub, he just wanted him to stop saying such hurtful things. His eyes abruptly burned with tears. He couldn’t help what he looked like. He knew he didn’t look like mama, not at all. He was white and pink and had stripes on his tail when mama was black and spotty. He didn’t want to be different, he didn’t like not knowing who he belonged to. He hated it!
"I…I’m sorry I yelled," he mumbled. At least his mama had taught him what was and was not ‘acceptable behavior’. This cub’s mama was probably not doing a very good job with that. All of his brothers and sisters knew. And Mana’s cubs knew. And…that was all the cubs he knew. But still! Still it wasn’t…wasn’t right…it…
Sniffling faintly, trying very hard not to blink, Hikari turned to see another blue and spotty cub arrive. Oh great, he had a sister. Now what was he going to do? Maybe he really should just leave. Maybe Jiro or someone would be at the den for a change and could keep him from being lonely for a little while.
Emi was taken back by the point of entry and then right when she had happen to be here.. Her ears went forward and with a sneer she growled. Even if she was smaller than both of them. She puffed her chest up and moved beside her brother. "I don't know WHO you are! But you leave my brother alone!" Her fur bristled around her and she looked more like a puff ball with a mohawk. Her shoulders went up and she hissed again but took a step back. "Stop saying mean things! You don't seem sorry- if you said them!" Even after he tried to apologize. "Your- Your-" SHe was so angry to hear someone was bullying her brother. "YOUR THE MEANEST CUB I EVER MET!" She yelled out- more like a burst like her chest was about to explode!
Hosoku laughed, this turned out better than planned. His little sister the Nice one was being mean. A smirk grew across his face. He chuckled. “Why don’t you just take your filthy half-bred self and go back to your den and never cross my sight again.” His sister was such an airhead at times. But this time it worked out in his favor. What made it even more fun was the fact that Hosoku was actually the mean one. He just hated hybrids, but his sister all ‘lovey dovey’ with all of god’s creatures stood up with him.
He just laughed, what a great day this was turning out to be. Maybe he would actually leave the pride. My… My… what a splendid job he was doing. He was so proud of himself. Mother would be so proud. He stood close to his sister. “I….We think you should go now.” His tail flicking back and forth. “Isn’t that right sis?” He looked down at his fluff ball of a sibling.
She bad somewhat of a barking sound but let him go on about his sayings but when he said filthy half breed- it sounded very mean. "Brother-" She tried to stop him because that comment seemed a little out of line. Their family- Tsura and Vailea were also hybrids weren't they? They weren't fithy.. but with the other BIGGER cub being so mean. I guess.. being mean back WAS called for. Values like that were often twisted in that way.
When he stood next to her and asked her to back up him up. She nodded. "Yea.. why don't-" She lowered her voice.. as if something was amiss that she was missing. But the other cub plainingly was just out of control on the mean. "Why don't you just.. go on." She tilted her head towards her brother. "And stop being so mean.. because- because that isn't nice." She nodded. Tail coiling and then padding afterwards trying to calm herself down.. Just those words the other said unnerved her. Taking her paw back and sitting beside her brother finally. Looking at the cub for a long long moment before leaning against her brother.
Hikari was floored by the combined aggression of two strange cubs he’d never met before. Why did they hate him? How did he make them hate him? What did he do wrong? He tried to protest, tried to explain, tried to say something, anything. But his throat wouldn’t work. There was a great huge lump in the way that made it impossible to talk at all. It made it hard to breathe too, and his nose getting all stuffy wasn’t helping matters much at all. The pair of angry blue cheetahs blurred, becoming four and then fuzzing out into a hazy blob until he had to blink to see anything at all. The wetness ran down his cheeks, following the pink marking that traced his muzzle. Mama had a marking like that. At least it was something of hers that he had. It was better than not having anything to mark him as belonging to someone.
Even his voice was failing him now. He might be a clumsy cub who didn’t look like his mama and didn’t have a father, but he’d always been told he had a great talent. And now he couldn’t even utter a single word to defend himself.
Maybe it was just as well. Maybe he should just go. Everyone here had been avoiding him lately, or so it had seemed. Mama was busy, he forgave her that. Kanie and Jiro were training, Satomei was with Nanashi as always…even Dysi had seemed like he didn’t want to talk to him. Maybe it was a hint. Maybe these two were only the first ones to be honest. Maybe his father wasn’t the only one who didn’t want him…
Ears laid back with misery, his gray barred tail dragged in the dirt, Hikari backed away from the angry duo and, choking on a sob, turned to bolt. Where he would go he didn’t know, but he couldn’t stay here anymore. Not if no one wanted him around.
Hosoku watched as the hybrid ran, he chuckled a little. "Good riddance, the less of his kind the better. Isn't that right Emi?" He looked down at his sister for a moment. He was actually proud of his sister, she finally stopped acting like a whimp and stood up, mother would be so proud.
He smiled and sighed, "Well that concludes my fun for today, i'll be with mother if you need me." He gently nuzzled his sister against her head before walking toward the den. It was fun to watch the filthy hybrid cry. On less of them was exactly what Hosoku like to see. And now his sister was joining in on the fun what pleasure. He was oblivious to the fact that being mean to the hybrid was unsettling with his sister but he didnt care, he simply just turn his back to her and made his way home.
|
 |
Reply
