As he laid there listening to Cay he started to understand what she meant. Her voice was bewitching. As she sung he could help but stare in wonder at her. She was amazing, not only at singing but at dancing. Her body swirled around as she swayed around the cave. Meris couldn't keep his eyes off her. Was it real? Was she some sort of monster that lulled male and stole from them. It didn't matter what her motives were, he knew that she was going to get her way.
Her dance started to slow down and she made her way closer to him. She put a cloak over him. “My love, do me a favor and get me a meal? I'm awfully hungary after all that dancing.” She laid down next to his feet. Everything was happening perfectly. He would come back and when he did she would know he was hers. It was much more simple than she thought it was going to be. She expected him to struggle, to avoid her gaze as she danced, but he seemed intent to prove her wrong. That proved to be his down fall.
Meris didn't want to leave, he wanted to stay there and listen to her sing. She made it obvious though that she was not going to continue until he came back with a meal. He got up without saying a thing and left. Once he found a meal he would hurry back and bring it to Cay and she can continue her performance. Than what, a voice inside his head asked, you'll be stuck with her forever you know that right? You already have fallen for her and if you continue you'll end up becoming her mate. Do you really want that? More importantly do you deserve that.
As the ran hit him as it crushed down he had to stop and think about what was happening. It wasn't love that was happening to him right now it was lust. He wasn't going to return to Cay, he was going to continue on his way. He still needed to find his brother and return what was taken from him. The necklace.
Cay watched him leave, than went back to her cave. She went to her stock of fruit and cracked one open and sipped the juice out of it. Before she came back in her love stopped. She wondered what he was doing. He should be in a hurry to return to her, but instead he was stopping and thinking. Was it because he didn't love her as much as she thought he did. No, that wasn't it. He would come back to her, she just had to give him a chance.
Even if he didn't come back for her, he would be back for his necklace. She went over and carefully picked up the necklace. It had been through some hard times, she noticed. There were parts that seemed chipped and the color of the stone seemed faded. When he returned she would have to ask him about where and how he got the necklace. It would be a fascinating tale, one that their cubs would love to hear again and again.
He would have to return to her. He had to get the necklace. How could he be so stupid and not grab it before he left? This time he wouldn't fall for her trap. He would stay away from her, take the necklace and leave. She would not get to him. She would not make him want to stare at her as she dance and sing. He could just imagine her smiling when he brought her her meal. “No!” he shouted out loud. He would give her a meal in return for letting him stay with her, but he would not stay. He continued to hunt.
Than he saw an antelope. His mouth watered at the sight. It was beginning to look like he was in luck again. Quietly he stalked the prey until he was close enough than he went after his kill. Once the creature was dead he picked it up proudly. 'Now to get my necklace back' he thought as he headed back toward the cave. Unlike his brother, Meris was born with an almost unnatural sense of direction. He could find his way almost anywhere.
She saw him from a distance coming back. He was carrying a delicious looking antelope. With skills like his she would never have to hunt again. He would be able to teach their cubs how to hunt just like him. It must have been destiny that brought them together. He was everything she wasn't. Her perfect opposite. Quietly she started to sing, so he could find his way through the rain. That and lull him back to his sense of safety. With him gone so long, he might have had a chance to rethink his choices.
He heard her singing again. At first he wanted to run, run far away, but his body kept going toward her song. He saw her waiting for him and his heart pounded. Even he deserved something nice right? Perhaps by now the gods would forgive him for his actions he had done in the past. That or maybe this was his punishment. Either way he kept going.
When he entered the cave he gave Cay a sheepish smile before setting down his prey. “I'm back.” He felt himself wrapping his tail around hers, so soft and warm he thought. “I hope this is enough. It was the first creature I found and it looked delicious.” He didn't even notice her wearing his necklace.
She returned his smile, with her own mysterious smile. “It is perfect my love. Now why don't you clean it while I sing. I hate having to clean meat. Such a boring task.” she complained in a singsong way. He nodded his head. Than she begun to sing. As he cleaned he watched her and she watched him. He was so silly, thinking he could escape her. What she wanted she would get. He was hers now and forever.
“Isn't it nice to be here with me.” she said with a purring voice. “You get a chance to stay here forever with me, to do what I say and love me. We are going to have so many cubs my love and they will be just like you, just perfectly like you.”
Meris nodded his head. What she said sounded nice. He would love to have a life like that. It was much better than be stuck traveling from place to place trying to find his brother who might be dead for all he knew. Having a family was something he always wanted and this was his chance. Carefully he cleaned the meat as he imagined their lives together. He had forgotten completely about the necklace and his brother.
WC: 1,153
