The sun shone brightly, the heat from its direct rays almost merciless. An orange-brown lion, panting from the warmth, sought refuge under the jungle canopy. The shade, and the cool, sweet breeze he found there, made Dhoru sigh with relief.
"Oh, come on. My pelt is black and I'm not that hot."
Dhoru chuckled at Hasi's scoffing. He didn't need to say aloud that, of course, the monochromatic lioness wouldn't feel the heat. Being as how she was wasn't really there. He knew full well that she was only trying to tease him; luckily, she had warmed up to him in the time since The Lifting, so her jests were actually all in fun.
Usually, on days when he wasn't treasure hunting, the chocolate colored thief would be by his mate's side from dawn until dusk. Today, however, he had decided to visit the secluded little clearing he had found as a cub and let Nema rest. She had been especially tired today - most likely a combination of her late nights, the extreme warmth and their expected litter. Dhoru smiled to himself at the mere thought.
"And there's that goofy grin, again. You haven't even met the cubs yet; how do you know you'll love them? Or even like them?" Hasi taunted.
"Oh, Hasi, I know that I love them already the same way you know you love them already." Dhoru smirked when the spitfire lioness didn't answer after a brief pause. "Come now, you don't need to be embarrassed that you care for other lions."
"I'm only embarrassed because you're so weird," she shot back.
"There's the Hasi I know!" Dhoru exclaimed, laughing aloud. Suddenly, he froze - he scented something. Or rather, some one. The scent was strong, so it was nearby, and it was fresh. There was a rogue nearby, and close to the pride's main camp. Instantly, he dropped into a crouch and quietly started to follow the scent.
She had finally arrived. She was back where it all started.
'Zuni could hardy believe that she had actually gone through with it. She had been traveling for nearly a moon, but now she had reached her destination - the place she was born.
She had arrived near moon-high, and had found herself padding down the familiar path towards the secret grove she had shared with her mother and siblings. She reached it just as the sun was beginning to rise. Exhausted, she had leaped into a nearby tree - being sure to hide herself well among the higher branches - and prepared to go to sleep.
As the sun reached it's zenith, she was still asleep. Actually, it would be more correct to say she was asleep again. With her constant night terrors, she had awoken and fallen back asleep many times. Even now, she was firmly gripped in the claws of fear - she watched herself, as a small cub, racing panicked through the undergrowth, trying desperately to escape the psychotic rage of her father. But no matter how fast she ran, she could hear his massive form crashing through the foliage just behind her.
'Zuni jolted awake. Blinking her eyes open, she glanced around. Her heart beat faster than a sprinting cheetah and her claws were buried deep in the bark of the branch she rested on. Sighing, she took a few deep breaths to steady herself, all the while silently chanting, It was just a dream, it was only a dream...
Suddenly, she froze, catching her breath as every muscle tensed. She could still her the rustle of plants as a large body pushed through them. Someone really was coming closer. Her golden eyes darted back and forth, desperately searching for movement. Her fear only heightened, to an almost unbearable amount, as she caught a voice. And a name.
Hasi.
Terror like she hadn't felt since that dreadful day hooked it's fangs into her heart. Then all sound died away; she could no longer hear the stranger's approach. Retreating along the branch, 'Zuni pushed up against the tree trunk and shut her eyes tightly, all the while praying that the beast below her wouldn't find her.
Dhoru padded softly into the meadow - ironically, the very place he had been heading - with Hasi at his side. She, of course, had no need for stealth, and so was walking normally. Occasionally she had mocked his sneaking. As they neared the source of the scent, she became very serious, her eyes narrowed in some emotion he couldn't put his paw on.
He had recognized the scent as lion, and female, but it had recently become tinged with a very sour taste. He had determined the rogue was hiding in a tree, and crept slowly toward the specific tree. The closer he got, the more certain he was that it was fear - no, terror. Curious, he relaxed his posture until he was walking pretty much normally, with just a hint of tension in his muscles. Whatever creature was hiding in this tree must be paralyzed in its fear, and couldn't be too much of a threat.
Suddenly, he felt Hasi stiffen. He turned his head toward her, one eyebrow raised in question.
"I knew it. I just couldn't believe it. I know that scent. It's 'Zuni!"
All caution abandoned at the reveal that Hasi knew the rogue, Dhoru sat back and returned his gaze to the tree. Looking up, he caught sight of a black form huddled against the trunk.
"'Zuni?" he asked aloud, wondering if it were possible that the two black lionesses were related.
As Hasi confirmed Dhoru's suspicion on the ground, above in the branches, 'Zuni thought her heart might burst from beating so quickly.
He knows my name. There's no way he isn't a threat. No one know our names. Oh, Gods, what's going to happen?
Her pelt was spiked, and she could almost imagine the pain of claws tearing through it. Dozens of fear-induced scenarios whirled through her head and she struggled to focus on what was happening below through them.
Dhoru listened in awe as Hasi explained who 'Zuni was - and she was dead certain that the lioness above them was her. Dhoru had to admit that he believed her.
"Erm, 'Zuni?", he called out. He had to attempt to reach this lioness - but he wouldn't be stupid about it. "Listen, 'Zuni, my name is Lightningclaw. I don't know why you're so frightened, but, I promise you, I don't want to hurt you."
It was too late for 'Zuni to pretend she wasn't there. And this lion seemed certain of her identity, so there was no point in pretending there either.
"Don't even try it! I know you're working with my father - I know you're hunting me and my brothers. How else would you know my name?" She snarled the words through clenched teeth, fully suspecting a lie in return.
Dhoru pondered for a moment how to respond. Apparently, 'Zuni and Hasi's father was trying to finish what he had started. He hadn't wanted to bring up Hasi so soon - even his pride mates, who were familiar with a degree of insanity, thought it odd. But it was definitely preferable to having 'Zuni think he wanted to kill her.
"Well. This is going to seem odd. But I come from a pride - a pride whose lands you're actually in right now. We were blessed by the Goddess of Insanity and, long story short, your sister's spirit is attached to me. I don't know how much about how it happened either. All I know is Hasi has been a part of me for my entire life. I didn't know your name. She told me."
He waited, his fur burning, for a response. He was well aware of how crazy his pride was, but trying to explain it to someone just made it seem all the more so.
'Zuni's fear was momentarily pushed away by shock; she raised her head and looked down the tree, her golden gaze meeting Lightningclaw's green eyes for a moment.
Could it be?
Her fear came pounding back and she quickly curled back up, once again making the only part of her body that was visible to Lightningclaw her rump. The honesty she had seen in his eyes had soothed her and scared her all at once. Curling up more tightly, she closed her eyes and forced herself to pretend the lion below her wasn't there, battling with the doubt that maybe he wasn't just trying to lull her out of the tree.
Dhoru waited below for several heartbeats. After seeing the lioness' face, he was certain that Hasi was right - this was her sister. It broke his heart to see the terror in her eyes, and the sorrow and rage mingling in Hasi's.
"Hasi.. I'm sorry," he muttered, quietly enough that 'Zuni couldn't hear him. "I don't think we'll be getting anything more out of her today. Let's go."
He turned and padded regretfully away, resolving to come back the next day to try to talk to 'Zuni some more. Once she'd had some time to think things over. Hasi remained in rooted in place for a few heartbeats, gazing up at her sister, before tearing herself away and following, glancing back hopefully every few steps.
"Oh, come on. My pelt is black and I'm not that hot."
Dhoru chuckled at Hasi's scoffing. He didn't need to say aloud that, of course, the monochromatic lioness wouldn't feel the heat. Being as how she was wasn't really there. He knew full well that she was only trying to tease him; luckily, she had warmed up to him in the time since The Lifting, so her jests were actually all in fun.
Usually, on days when he wasn't treasure hunting, the chocolate colored thief would be by his mate's side from dawn until dusk. Today, however, he had decided to visit the secluded little clearing he had found as a cub and let Nema rest. She had been especially tired today - most likely a combination of her late nights, the extreme warmth and their expected litter. Dhoru smiled to himself at the mere thought.
"And there's that goofy grin, again. You haven't even met the cubs yet; how do you know you'll love them? Or even like them?" Hasi taunted.
"Oh, Hasi, I know that I love them already the same way you know you love them already." Dhoru smirked when the spitfire lioness didn't answer after a brief pause. "Come now, you don't need to be embarrassed that you care for other lions."
"I'm only embarrassed because you're so weird," she shot back.
"There's the Hasi I know!" Dhoru exclaimed, laughing aloud. Suddenly, he froze - he scented something. Or rather, some one. The scent was strong, so it was nearby, and it was fresh. There was a rogue nearby, and close to the pride's main camp. Instantly, he dropped into a crouch and quietly started to follow the scent.
She had finally arrived. She was back where it all started.
'Zuni could hardy believe that she had actually gone through with it. She had been traveling for nearly a moon, but now she had reached her destination - the place she was born.
She had arrived near moon-high, and had found herself padding down the familiar path towards the secret grove she had shared with her mother and siblings. She reached it just as the sun was beginning to rise. Exhausted, she had leaped into a nearby tree - being sure to hide herself well among the higher branches - and prepared to go to sleep.
As the sun reached it's zenith, she was still asleep. Actually, it would be more correct to say she was asleep again. With her constant night terrors, she had awoken and fallen back asleep many times. Even now, she was firmly gripped in the claws of fear - she watched herself, as a small cub, racing panicked through the undergrowth, trying desperately to escape the psychotic rage of her father. But no matter how fast she ran, she could hear his massive form crashing through the foliage just behind her.
'Zuni jolted awake. Blinking her eyes open, she glanced around. Her heart beat faster than a sprinting cheetah and her claws were buried deep in the bark of the branch she rested on. Sighing, she took a few deep breaths to steady herself, all the while silently chanting, It was just a dream, it was only a dream...
Suddenly, she froze, catching her breath as every muscle tensed. She could still her the rustle of plants as a large body pushed through them. Someone really was coming closer. Her golden eyes darted back and forth, desperately searching for movement. Her fear only heightened, to an almost unbearable amount, as she caught a voice. And a name.
Hasi.
Terror like she hadn't felt since that dreadful day hooked it's fangs into her heart. Then all sound died away; she could no longer hear the stranger's approach. Retreating along the branch, 'Zuni pushed up against the tree trunk and shut her eyes tightly, all the while praying that the beast below her wouldn't find her.
Dhoru padded softly into the meadow - ironically, the very place he had been heading - with Hasi at his side. She, of course, had no need for stealth, and so was walking normally. Occasionally she had mocked his sneaking. As they neared the source of the scent, she became very serious, her eyes narrowed in some emotion he couldn't put his paw on.
He had recognized the scent as lion, and female, but it had recently become tinged with a very sour taste. He had determined the rogue was hiding in a tree, and crept slowly toward the specific tree. The closer he got, the more certain he was that it was fear - no, terror. Curious, he relaxed his posture until he was walking pretty much normally, with just a hint of tension in his muscles. Whatever creature was hiding in this tree must be paralyzed in its fear, and couldn't be too much of a threat.
Suddenly, he felt Hasi stiffen. He turned his head toward her, one eyebrow raised in question.
"I knew it. I just couldn't believe it. I know that scent. It's 'Zuni!"
All caution abandoned at the reveal that Hasi knew the rogue, Dhoru sat back and returned his gaze to the tree. Looking up, he caught sight of a black form huddled against the trunk.
"'Zuni?" he asked aloud, wondering if it were possible that the two black lionesses were related.
As Hasi confirmed Dhoru's suspicion on the ground, above in the branches, 'Zuni thought her heart might burst from beating so quickly.
He knows my name. There's no way he isn't a threat. No one know our names. Oh, Gods, what's going to happen?
Her pelt was spiked, and she could almost imagine the pain of claws tearing through it. Dozens of fear-induced scenarios whirled through her head and she struggled to focus on what was happening below through them.
Dhoru listened in awe as Hasi explained who 'Zuni was - and she was dead certain that the lioness above them was her. Dhoru had to admit that he believed her.
"Erm, 'Zuni?", he called out. He had to attempt to reach this lioness - but he wouldn't be stupid about it. "Listen, 'Zuni, my name is Lightningclaw. I don't know why you're so frightened, but, I promise you, I don't want to hurt you."
It was too late for 'Zuni to pretend she wasn't there. And this lion seemed certain of her identity, so there was no point in pretending there either.
"Don't even try it! I know you're working with my father - I know you're hunting me and my brothers. How else would you know my name?" She snarled the words through clenched teeth, fully suspecting a lie in return.
Dhoru pondered for a moment how to respond. Apparently, 'Zuni and Hasi's father was trying to finish what he had started. He hadn't wanted to bring up Hasi so soon - even his pride mates, who were familiar with a degree of insanity, thought it odd. But it was definitely preferable to having 'Zuni think he wanted to kill her.
"Well. This is going to seem odd. But I come from a pride - a pride whose lands you're actually in right now. We were blessed by the Goddess of Insanity and, long story short, your sister's spirit is attached to me. I don't know how much about how it happened either. All I know is Hasi has been a part of me for my entire life. I didn't know your name. She told me."
He waited, his fur burning, for a response. He was well aware of how crazy his pride was, but trying to explain it to someone just made it seem all the more so.
'Zuni's fear was momentarily pushed away by shock; she raised her head and looked down the tree, her golden gaze meeting Lightningclaw's green eyes for a moment.
Could it be?
Her fear came pounding back and she quickly curled back up, once again making the only part of her body that was visible to Lightningclaw her rump. The honesty she had seen in his eyes had soothed her and scared her all at once. Curling up more tightly, she closed her eyes and forced herself to pretend the lion below her wasn't there, battling with the doubt that maybe he wasn't just trying to lull her out of the tree.
Dhoru waited below for several heartbeats. After seeing the lioness' face, he was certain that Hasi was right - this was her sister. It broke his heart to see the terror in her eyes, and the sorrow and rage mingling in Hasi's.
"Hasi.. I'm sorry," he muttered, quietly enough that 'Zuni couldn't hear him. "I don't think we'll be getting anything more out of her today. Let's go."
He turned and padded regretfully away, resolving to come back the next day to try to talk to 'Zuni some more. Once she'd had some time to think things over. Hasi remained in rooted in place for a few heartbeats, gazing up at her sister, before tearing herself away and following, glancing back hopefully every few steps.
