Iregi was the sole child to Shakra and as far as he knew his father wasn't in the picture and never would be. When he tried to bring it up with her on rare occasions she would just switch the subject. Perhaps she was bitter about how the whole thing went down? Life for a single mother and a growing cub had been quite the hardship and he had to learn fast in order to survive. He had never been schooled in pleasantries so he always just spoke his mind and it seemed to get the job done so he never thought to do any different.
As he got older his curiosity for his "absent" father was still in the back of his mind and it seemed a twisted form of fate would give him the direction he needed.
He was curious and he wanted to know. She had been pushing of the subject for so long and he had a right to know, he deserved to know and he wanted to get an answer this time. "Why can't you just tell me and stop being so stubborn Mother!" His tail lashed wildly as he stood before demanding to be told. He watched as she smiled and shook her head and that just got him even more agitated.
"Why do you wish to know about a Male that didn't stick around long enough to see you born? To get to know his son? You are better left without the hopes of seeking him out hoping he would open his arms welcoming his "long lost son"." She was tired of these games with him and she wished he would just give up hope. She couldn't bear to know that if he sought him out, hoping that he would have a father, only to get turned away like he was nothing. It broke her heart to think of it and she would not be able to bear it if it came to pass. She looked at her stubborn son and she wished he could see the pain within her heart and know that she was only trying to keep his best interest in mind.
"I have a right to know! Let me make my own decision on this!" He planted his foot firmly as he spoke and as he watched her shake her head and turn away. He huffed and sauntered away in the other direction with an angry growl. Why couldn't she just answer him? Would it be so hard for her to do? He just wanted to know a name, or even a general location. He felt it should at least be given that much. Instead she wanted to treat him like a child. He was an adolescent, nearly and adult and he had every right to know about his father. So he up and left, that didn't mean she had to keep everything about him from his knowledge! He just wanted a name at least, or something. Did he even look like him?
After thinking about it for an hour or so he decided he'd find her and tell her that perhaps she was right. Perhaps he should just let it go, however it seemed things were about to change.
He was focusing on how to tell her he was sorry that it took him a second to realize what had happened in his short absence. Eyes widened as he looked around in disbelief. There had been some sort of a fight and he could only imagine who's blood it was that covered the ground and he realized with a sinking feeling that it was probably his mom. She hadn't ever been much of a fighter and she was daintier than most leopards. "Mother?!" He shouted not thinking that the possible perpetrators might still be nearby. At this point he didn't care. He dashed over to where they normally spent the night and it was there he found her, horribly hurt and a dead hyena nearby. He rushed over to her and laid beside her and felt her stir. He leaned his face into her neck and felt the tears on the brink of streaming down his face. "I'm sorry Mother, I shouldn't have left like that. If-" She cut him short.
"It's not your fault.." Her breathing was labored and she was beginning to stop feeling the pain and she knew that she was going to die soon. "Head east..."Her voice was failing her. She gave him a reassuring smile in this moment, she knew she would be gone from this world soon but she knew he was strong and would make the right decisions. She coughed and her breathing labored. She had to tell him, she had to at least let him know. Perhaps there was still a chance for him. Her voice was so weak though, she did her best to speak to him in her final moments.
He felt his heart aching as he knew she was dying and as her voice was beginning to fade he leaned in so he could her what she was trying to tell him. She whispered a name and he felt her go still and he realized she was gone. Not wanting to leave her in the open to be torn apart by animals he moved her close to the rocks and covered her body in them and headed in the direction she had given him, looking for a name in the fading light of the sun.
- - - - -
He opened his eyes as the sun set its final rays upon the distant horizon and the adult looked around. It wasn't often that he dreamed of his mothers death but it seemed that tonight was going to be the exception. With a sigh he stood up and stretched. He thought he saw two figures in the distance and he figured he'd head that way and see if perhaps they knew where he needed to go. With that he headed towards the two pale, yet brightly colored females in hopes they might be able to give him a sense of direction.