The young Pesar lingered not too far from the den he’d been born in. Ordinarily by now he would have slipped off, vanishing into the pridelands to wander and watch until twilight, or occasionally a growling belly, drew him home. There was far too much to do and see to sit around the den all day, even when he’d been just a small cub he had known this. It had led him into all sorts of near-trouble, but more importantly it had brought him ever so many fascinating tidbits about the world, and about people in the pride.
Like how his father and the other Vizier, which was the brother of the sultan, were on rather poor terms. Why this was he’d yet to discover, but he knew that there was something being done about it, he’d…ah…overheard the sultan talking to Faiz about it. Perhaps Uggi would be returned, though it seemed more like one of the Vizier’s daughters was to be exchanged…? No matter, he’d find out sooner or later. Just has he’d learned about Mother Weyard, long gone though her cubs that were not father’s remained. They seemed sad to him, no wonder though, they’d none of Tariq’ in them. Tragic to not be a part of father… And then there was that Pad with the thick full mane, the one the Sultan’s returned sister had been given too. He was a…god. Anwar hadn’t quite yet determined what that meant, but it was impressive nonetheless. The Pad was able to fly with wings like a bird’s, though they vanished easily, and to turn himself into a preybeast and then back like blinking an eye. That bore further investigation as well.
But for now, the dark furred young male was crouched, almost laying, on the lowest branch of a nearby tree. He’d learned his lesson about climbing too high already, at least the soreness had faded. Only Rahim would have been able to guess where the light limp came from, and he’d been too proud to express pain to those who weren’t there to witness his fall. Especially father…and Obadias. And Zarha, he had a feeling she would have laughed at him. But not all knowledge could be easily discovered! Pain could bring wisdom too, and it was worth it. Every bit was worth it.
His claws kneaded lightly against the bark, his deep crimson eyes gleaming from the shadows under the leaves as he watched his newest siblings playing. They belonged to Mother Orah, the odd one. She was the only Banu ever to be missing from the den when Obadias woke him in the middle of the night to choke out some horror he’d seen in a dream. Where she went, he didn’t know. But it made him curious about the cubs…they were striped like father, true, but Orah was striped. And one of them was spotted. No one else had spots, not in his family. Where did the spots come from? Was Orah like Weyard, only sneakier? He would never ask of course, no, better to wait and watch and listen until he learned on his own where his other mother vanished to in the middle of the night.
Until then, he was satisfied to wait and watch from his perch up in this tree. Waiting…watching… His patience was endless for a cub. Or a juvenile, as he was now. He was growing up, and his mane was growing in. Pale yellow, he was the only one to have the pale yellow color in his mane, though Rahim had it through his fur. That was from mother, he knew. Ukoo had pale yellow markings. He could see his mother and father both in himself and his siblings. And he could see Mother O’tep and Tariq’ mixed together in her cubs, his first batch of half siblings.
But Weyard’s cubs…now they only looked somewhat like the pink Banu who’d mothered them. Not a hint of father’s dark stripes or the rich black of his fur. They only looked like her, with some odd bits added in. From their father, he could only presume. A father who was not his. She was gone now, he knew not where, just that her cubs remained. He felt sorry for them, truly he did. They weren’t part of their family, not at all. He didn’t hate them for having a different father, instead, he pitied them. Tariq’ was the greatest, Anwar’s entire life was dedicated to making him proud, somehow. Somehow he would do it, and father, whom he’d barely ever spoken with, father would love him then. He’d prove himself worthy, he would.
Zarha, oh, she was key to his plans. Together they would be unstoppable. Her clever ideas with his steadily expanded knowledge…what could they not achieve together? Alliances, power, rank, position…anything. Everything! His father would be proud of him if he because a Vizier himself, wouldn’t he? Yes, he and Zarha, really he must speak to her father, Pad Vu, about her, would accomplish so very much. And soon too. His mane wasn’t impressive now, nothing like the god’s had been. But it was growing in, he could feel it. Soon he would be off on his adolescent quest, his quest to prove himself worthy of being a Pad. And he knew just what he was going to bring back…
…he would bring back a star. A fallen star, he and Obadias had seen it late one night. It blazed like a streak of white flame or a flash of sunlight across the midnight sky. He’d marked the direction with great care, and the two of them had solemnly agreed to find it’s resting place and return it to the pride. And wouldn’t that be something glorious?
It wasn’t like him, not really, to share such a plan with another. But…Obadias…he was special. Very, very special. Anwar grinned, a cold satisfied smile with none of the childish innocence he’d almost had once. That was gone, aside from the mask he wore on occasions. Obadias. Oh, yes, his dear little brother…
…he was so very useful.
At first, Anwar had been puzzled. He remembered clearly the way he’d woken up to see Obi slinking out of the den, shocked and upset about something or other. Curious as always, and unable to sleep regardless, he’d risen to follow. It had been the work of moments to have the black cub spilling everything, the nightmares that he had, the way his dreams were real. Their mother had them, he’d said. She’d told him what they were. Obadias called it a curse, looked to be on the verge of tears. And Anwar had been swamped with envy of his brother’s ability. He’d have happily traded right then and there, his empty meaningless, dreamless sleeps for the ability to discover new things in his dreams.
He’d soothed the other cub then, whispering stories of their family, of things he’d seen, watching the stars moving slowly across the sky that night, and promising to listen. To always listen, to always be there for him. ’You can tell me anything, he’d said softly, cuddled up against his brother, easing his fears with his own warm presence much the way their mother had when they were new.
And Obadias…he did. He told Anwar everything, came to him often with questions, with fears, with his nightmares. And Anwar listened, and soaked in the adoration that his sibling held for him, swelling with pride and exalting in the power that came with the knowledge he’d earned. The way his knowledge could be used, could help another and bind them ever more closely to him. Love, he’d determined, was a much more powerful motivator than fear. It was the one singular thing he had ever mildly disagreed upon in regard to his father. Obadias, he loved him. And that made it so very easy to learn from him.
Not that Anwar intended to hurt him. Though it defied logic, and logic was the only rational way of making decisions, he felt a cold harsh sensation twisting like fangs in his stomach at the idea of his brother being hurt in any way. Why? Why did he feel this? It was…a strange sensation.
The outside world he would soon master, but his own self…he could not understand so much of what was within. Why was he the way he was? How did he come to have this quick mind, this thirst for information, the means to possess it? Why did he not have the sight Obadias had? And why did his heart beat faster, or his stomach clench, at some ideas? Excitement, anticipation, pride, fear…those he understood. But what were the others? The feelings…emotions…so strange, so foreign to him even now.
But someday he would know! He would know everything, everything! For now he would hold firm and refuse to worry. Such things as feelings, his own weren’t important. Knowing the means to soothe those of others was, and that he was successful at. Making people happy, keeping them calm, easing their fears… so simple really! It was amazing how naturally such things came to him now. His half sister Pari, his brother Obadias, that little Banu Suha… learn what they needed and give it to them and then…ta da.
Pari had shown him a new place to explore, a strange game to play and provided him with several days of study. All he’d had to do was assure her he wasn’t upset, though he had been, and offer to play her game. Obadias…all he had to do was listen. That he was good at, oh so good! The Banu Suha as well, she’d just wanted someone to listen, and in return had shared such a strange story with him…
…what had Rahim been doing with her out near the borders anyway?
Anwar licked a paw as it twinged in memory of the sharp pain of falling from the tree he’d climbed for a vantage point. He never had found out…though the two of them seemed rather close. Suha was a daughter of the Sultan. By his Sultana, if Anwar was not mistaken. That silver color… Aysel indeed. He’d not met the Sultana, but any Pad ought to know who she was. It was only asking for trouble otherwise.
Well. Perhaps he’d find that out sometime today as well. Or tomorrow. Or the next day. Really, he’d plenty of time. A lifetime, in fact, though he planned to learn before his time was up. What good would his knowledge do him when he’d passed on? No, no he had things to do now. Goals to reach, Pads to impress…and he’d yet to find a way to make his father proud. Not yet at least. But he was growing up, he would learn and learn soon. He’d bring back a fallen star and a Banu from his quest. And he’d persuade Pad Vu to give him Zarha, so that the two of them might be able to work together in the flawlessly cunning manner they had before. Obadias would keep him informed of the visions he had… yes.
Everything would come together. Soon… and then father would finally be proud of him. Very soon now. Very, very soon...
FIN
