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 Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2008 8:00 am
She had underestimated the heat of the desert sun. It was so hot that it hurt, so hot that they could only travel in the early hours of the morning and then in the evening before it got dark. Then, to make things worse, the night brought with it a terrible, bone-aching cold.
The pair would huddle together as if their lives depended on it. And their lives did depend on it.
They'd feasted on the odd lizard that they had found and after many days wondering helplessly lost, things were starting to look up. On the horizon were the dark jagged mountains that Jini's mother had spoken of.
The home of the Firekin.
Ever since those jagged peaks had come into sight the girl had become broody and quiet. It was finally beginning to sink in. They were going to try and kill a Firekin.
They'd made a lucky kill earlier between them and Jini was picking at its bones to pass the time. Finally, she looked up and glanced across at her mate.
"I never would have made it this far without you, you know." Her heart was in her voice. "Thank you, love."
Tope felt a bit uneased by this traveling, and a small moment of his time was spent on wondering if they were going the right way. After all, Jini had never been to the land where her mother was a slave-but he trusted her. Considering he had no clue at all, where they were headed, but all he knew was that avenging her mothers death-was like avenging his own mother. Everything felt right, and he could almost hear his mother's words in his head-speaking of spirits. If there were spirits, they were trying their hardest to deter them from this mission. He spent many nights laying over his love, to keep her warm... and his dark pelt made the sun unbearable during the daytime.
Now, he lay in a moment of quiet as well-they had both been silent it seemed.. and he was starting to feel the ache in his massive shoulders... the tiresome sleepless nights-all hoping to achieve this goal so his beloved would be at peace. This all depended on finding this land... He sat, his pink eyes half lidded in thought-when his eyes gazed over at Jini... and for a moment he could see her as a cub again... and he had to shut his eyes to block the vision out, perhaps the sun was in his eyes.
He looked up at her warily. "I would do anything to make sure you were happy Jini, you know that... " He said with a grin, lifting his adult frame up to go beside her-leaning down to give her a kiss on the cheek. "This is what we have been waiting for-they won't suspect a thing..." He lifted his head and looked into the distance. "Imagine it, the spawn of a slave, killing a noble firekin..."
She nodded drowsily. "Yes. They'll never suspect it." That old feeling of anger returned to her, remembering her mother's kindly face, her gentle eyes. She had wanted her mother to be with her forever but the Firekin had taken her away from her.
And why?
Because she wasn't red? Because she was not born in the desert?
Jini did not understand the politics of the Firekin but she knew it was wrong. She knew it with all her heart.
"Maybe...once we do this thing, it'll change the way they think. They'll have to come to realise that they can't call us slaves anymore. Else that'd be saying that one of their's was killed by a slave."
She paused. "Tope...I'm scared...but we have to do this. For my mother and for all the other slaves that have suffered at their paws."
She stood and glanced to the horizon.
"It's so close. Maybe we can make it to the borders before nightfall and huddle there in the dark until first light. We could take one by surprise come morning." She was shaking now, but she didn't know why.
Excitement?
Fear?
The realisation that she was finally going to get the revenge she had so lusted after all her life.
Tope knew that this one act would slur the torment in her heart-and perhaps an itching in his own too-something he got from his grandfather. A terrible itch to do wrong and this one act-this one time-he would get to ensue this act and to slur his own thirst. He smiled to her and stood, shaking the horrible sand from his pelt. Already, he could see his body losing its usual bulk, the heat and lack of food was starting to eat away his muscle... that once sat so thick and tough was now starting to leave him. He was a bit self concious of this.
He smiled. "Do not be scared Jini... this is what 'we' have been waiting for." He said, looking over his shoulder at her with a grin. "We will do this and get that horrible weight off your chest and then we can go home-and we can start a new life..."
"We better start off then, if we want to get this done before my paws burn off in this horrible heat.
She nodded, and keeping close, she moved forwards across the sand. The exercise had affected her leg a little but slowly she was learning to ignore the pain and force the limp away - though that was near impossible after she'd been lying down for a while.
These kids weren't evil. They weren't bloodthirsty and they wouldn't enjoy this in the fact that they'd enjoy ending a life.
The very thought of doing it scared Jini, made her sick to her stomach, but she couldn't rest...she couldn't live her life until she'd put this behind her. She needed to know that her mother's suffering had not gone unavenged.
She needed to give her mother rest.
Poor Jini...she'd never realise that if her mother could see her now, she'd be turning in the grave.
"Lets head for that dune over there, Tope. We can watch for there and see if there are any closer hiding places." And she quickened her pace, suddenly eager to get this over and done with.
She didn't even consider the fact that they could fail.
With a flick of her tail she trotted the long stretch to the dune, slowing as she pulled herself up the incline to crest the top and glance around the lands.
"What a harsh place..."
Tope felt that somewhere far away, someone was waiting for them to return safetly and he would do anything to make sure that happened. The nice thing about them being away from everyone else, was the fact that they did not have to keep this act much of a secret. It was rather a nice thought-knowing that no one would ever know except for the one they managed to kill. As far as Tope was concerned, he had already ruined his ties with his father and mother-so he really didn't have anything else to look forward too... except for his life with jini.
"Harsh isn't the word. This place is as desloate and cruel as those who live here." He said, standing up atop the dune-gazing around curiously.. his pink eyes scanning protectivly. His deep chest filled with the dry air, scenting... for anything. "I certainly hope we find 'one'..."
She purred at his words. They meant a lot to her. “I’m so glad you’re here with me, Tope.” And she’d said it before and she’d say it again. He was her rock, her stability. Without him she’d have tried this and lost her life to the desert. “When this is over we can finally look to the future.” She planned a happy future for the both of them. A pride, some cubs, maybe some grandcubs someday. There would be family all around them always and she’d sleep easy knowing that her mother was content in the after-life.
“I hope so too. If they’re as protective of their desert as they say, they should have them guarding the borders. If we go into the lands we’ll be killed. Our only hope is to catch a solitary one unawares. We’ll have the advantage of numbers and surprise.”
She turned to survey the lands.
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Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2008 9:54 am
She needed to stop for a breather.
Her leg was hurting her and the breath was hot in her lungs from the short dash away from the lands. She’d been afraid that someone might have seen her leaving. Afraid that she’d be called back and her golden son would be discovered. Luckily the pride was small and many of them had more important things to do than watch an elder Firekin moving across the sand.
She had the golden cub by the scruff and he swung a little as she drew to a stop and set him down on the sand.
He was…beautiful.
He had his father’s green eyes. Bright green eyes that were so full of confusion and innocence. He didn’t understand why he’d been taken from his den or away from his siblings. He’d been playing with them quite happily until half an hour ago – until he’d been snatched by his mother and carted by the neck across the desert.
He was weaned now – small, but strong enough to live without mother’s milk. He’d be okay.
“You’ll hate me too, I know.” She replied with a choked wheeze. “You’ll think I’m a heartless creature who left you with strangers. Listen to me, child, I’m doing this from love. I did this with Azarax too, long ago. The difference is I left him to slaves. I will leave you with your brother in a pride that will take care of you.” She touched her nose to his forehead – to that little blaze of red in his mane. “I love you. That’s why I have to do this.” She sniffed and felt tears gather. “You saved me, you know that, child?” Her voice was so quiet that it was no more than a whisper.
“You’re a symbol that Finar-Si just doesn’t care. I’m nothing more than a pawn to play with. I sinned long ago, but have I not done enough to show my loyalty? I have sacrificed so much for her and she dare not even show her face to her people.” She put a forearm around him and pulled him close.
“My son, I am free. I am no longer chained to a Goddess who will do nothing to save her people. But I cannot leave them. I must return and face the path that I chose. I have to stay with my mate and my other children for their safety. For how will it look if their mate and mother takes off to live with the enemy?” She smiled softly, her scarred face looking suddenly old. “But you know nothing of our politics, child, and I see you don’t know what I am saying.”
She drew her face close to his and the golden cub did not shy away. “Know only this, son; I will love you always.”
The golden cub did not understand.
She had not yet named him, probably because she was uncertain what to call him. A Firekin gave their child a traditional name but even Azarax had more red on him than this fellow. The cub did not know this, however. He looked to that scarred face with adoration and a little mew erupted from his little mouth.
He did not understand words but emotions were easily conveyed and he could tell his mother was upset. Tell that something important was happening.
Then, his line of sight was drawn from her face to the top of a dune where two figures had just emerged. His eyes widened and he gave a squeak of surprise.
Ripuka turned at her son’s exclamation to see the two rogues side by side. Any moment now and they would see her. Her orange-red fur was contrasting with the dunes and she was not foolish enough to think that she could fight them in her condition.
But she also couldn’t run.
Acting on instinct alone she shoved her son backwards into the sand until he was completely hidden from view. Then, trying to ward the rogues away from her son’s location, curved around another dune to put a little distance between her and her child.
And Jini’pomoka had spotted her. She saw the lioness stalking across the sand. Obviously alone. Obviously not in the best of health. What better chance did they have than this? She turned to look at Tope with excitement coursing through her.
“What do you say, love? Should we go introduce ourselves to the lady?”
Tope smiled over to her, his pink eyes so soft and gentle, though soon they would show the fury of his being. He went to her and nestled his jaw behind her ear. "I am only for you Jini... " He said softly, nuzzling her. He had made a pact with himself-if one of them were to die-it'd be him. He would make her leave and then take the blunt of the enemy if needed-Tope was willing to die for his love.
He lifted his head to gaze over the dunes and spotted the feeble lioness. His pupils dilated. This was it.. this was there chance. "Yes, lets let her kind know that 'slaves' can do more than intended. " He said, walking in front of Jini-down the slope... his massive shoulders heaving and sweaty-already from the sun.
Ripuka lifted her head to watch the rogues approaching. She did not yet know their intent…but she could guess. Why else would rogues be here? Even if Kidondo was taking rogues into his pride he certainly wouldn’t take these two. One was as brown as the dirt in the outside lands and the other…
The other…
Ripuka’s eyesight was not as good as it had been. Blind in one eye and hazy in the other. However, the creamy coat of the petite lioness walking just behind the male was familiar. She scented the air and found that familiar too. But where had she seen her before? The way she limped…had she been a slave, once? Or had she simply been one of the many rogues who had dared to come close enough to the borders to get into a scuffle with one of the reds?
She moved towards them, for even though she was outnumbered, weak and old, she had pride in her. Maybe the legend of the firekin would help enhance her being. Besides, if they thought they were going to get an easy fight they’d be sadly mistaken. She was old but she had something to protect.
“I know you.” She growled. “I’ve seen your face before.”
She halted a good few strides away, hackles up, teeth bared.
“Not I.” Jini replied with a snarl. She was shivering again, with utter rage. This was one of the brutes who had hurt her mother. One of the ones who had made Kiburi suffer because she was not of the desert. She was so close to the Firekin that it was hard not to spring at her and end it then and there. But she couldn’t. Not yet. This female had to know why they were here.
“The lioness you are referring to is my mother. Kiburi, daughter of the Pridelands. She was a gentle soul, a dream-chaser. She never did any harm to anyone. Then you enslaved her, took away her dreams, took away her freedom. But you weren’t happy with that either. No. You had to take her life from her too!!” She was screaming now and tears were running down her face. She’d held this pain in for so long. Finally, the very figment of her hatred was standing before her in physical form.
If she killed Ripuka the hate would die with her.
“I watched her die. A few weeks old and I watched my mother die!!” She moved up to stand alongside Tope, taking strength from his bigger, stronger build. Together, they could do this.
“I’ve come to get revenge for what you Firekin did to her.” She moved forwards. “We’re here to kill you.”
Ripuka, knowing that her chances were slim, did the only thing she could do.
She summoned her strength and threw herself at Jini, hoping to take them both by surprise with the sudden attack. Her fangs were bared and her claws unsheathed, dark, deadly hooks ready to latch onto flesh. She couldn’t die. Not yet. She had to live long enough to see her son to safety.
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Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2008 8:59 am
Tope took in the sight of this old female. She smelled of sand and sun-and he despised her already; for how she was speaking to Jini. Of course she would remember her-she looked like her mother-didn't she? He felt an uneasy growl escape his throat momentarily upon their exchanging of words-but he kept his maw shut. This was Jini's time... he was there for the brawn. His pink eyes stared into the strangers face-knowing all well he would soon taste her blood and slur Jini's revenge. And he was darn sure-it was going to be him and only him-who may not go home. He would defend Jini to the death.
He caught moment out of the corner of his eye-as Ripuka sprang in fury. Before he knew he was in flight himself-he was coliding with the lioness in fury... how dare she make the first move. "You even play dirty when fighting... what else do your kind do that is so disrespectful wench!" He growled, wrapping his thick front paws around the lioness, holding her so Jini could attack.
Jini was surprised, and frightened, when Ripuka lunged for her. For a beaten old hag, she sure had a kick to her. She supposed this was what Firekin were famous for. Even the oldies still packed a bite.
She leapt away from the advance, seeing the flash of teeth and claw aimed for her. Her weak leg buckled as she landed and fear gripped her intensely.
A moment later and that fierce face was concealed by Tope's giant form. Relief hit her and she regained her balance in time to leap to her mate's side, afraid Ripuka might somehow overpower even him.
But no. He had her, his strong arms around her, holding her back, though it seemed she would tear free at any moment.
"My mother told me all about you. All about the cruelty of your kind." She gave an almost hysterical laugh. "Do you know what else she told me?" She snorted. "She told me not to blame you. Do you see? All your cruelty and you didn't break her! She was sweet and kind until the very end!"
She lashed out, striking Ripuka across the face. The scars from the old lioness' battle with the rebels opened up, spilling blood to stain the sand.
Ripuka heard the lioness speak and ceased to struggle against Tope's hold. For a moment she went limp, almost as if she were giving up. As if she were ready to submit to them.
She'd never admit it, but the girl's words were awakening something inside of her. Something akin to guilt. Her abandonment of her faith had cleared her vision somewhat and her understanding of Kidondo's actions had enlightened her.
This is what slavery does. She thought to herself. Hate. It spreads hate. Not fear. Fear has nothing to do with this. Kidondo was right. He said this would happen. That if we didn't embrace outsiders then they would come to claim us.
Then the pain struck. Wounds opened along her muzzle, on her blind side so she could not see the damage, even if she were to look down at her nose. The strike invoked her Firekin sense and, as an automatic reflex, she gathered her strength and retaliated.
She burst from Tope's grip, though it took her all her strength to do so and knocked Jini to the ground. There was no hesitation. She went straight for the kill.
But Jini was quicker. She raised her head and sank teeth into Ripuka's ruined shoulder.
She tasted blood for the first time.
Ripuka roared in fury and pain, knowing that the brown male would soon be upon her.
Tope held onto the old lioness-older than his parents-who were old as is. He felt her hide under his claws and was tempted to dig them in-to make her squirm. This was the end of all Jini's pain and torment-the starting block for their happy life together. This was the end of this lioness. He gazed over her form at Jini-seeing her fury and anger at this lioness. If Jini's mother had not escaped them-Jini too would be a slave-wouldn't she? He felt the answer dwell in his chest-stinging him. Suddenly, the wicked form went from limp to animated-his grip was lost and he stumbled to his feet-just enough time for that horrid female to get ahold of Jini.
It didn't matter if Jini was okay or not-Tope's own fury and anger fall from him. He raged forward-wrapping his front paws around the strangers shoulders and wenching her back-away from Jini. His eye flashing with rage-he threw her down hard, holding her down with his weight and his claws-growling into her face.
"Attack her again and I will strip you of your pelt-you wretch." He growled-making it a point to grind his claws into her wounded shoulder. "I am not against stripping you of everything you have-but my mate has that privalege... not I."
The tearing motion of Tope dragging her back and of Jini's teeth in Ripuka's shoulder was devastating. Her shoulder was torn deeply, so deep that - even if she had lived - she'd never be able to use it again. Blood surged from the open wound. Ripuka tasted blood in her mouth as she choked on the pain. She'd bitten her tongue as she was pulled apart from Jini, but the realisation was lost beneath the flare of agony in her ruined shoulder.
With a scream of pain-filled fury, she struggled in a vain attempt to get free. But this time Tope was too strong for her. This was it then. The last of her energy was flowing away from the open wound.
She spat blood. "Everything I have?" Her head shook grimly from side to side.
"You...don't know what you're doing." Her face was creased in pain and breathing was so difficult it was hard to speak. "What do you think the Firekin will do...w-when they f-f..." She paused to catch her breath. "Find me. T-they'll come for y-you."
"Shut your mouth!" Jini hissed.
A moment ago she was unsure whether she was going to get herself out of that tangle. Now her mouth was filled with blood from the wound that both she and Tope had inflicted between them. She was trembling again, with fear, anger and the realisation that this truly was it.
The end.
"They won't find you here. This is too far from the pride. They'll think you abandoned them for another life." She cast a look to Tope, gratitude in her eyes. What would she have done without him? Lost her life to a crippled, half-blind Firekin? Maybe it was true what they said. That the Firekin were strong. Stronger than any other lion. Even still, that did not give them the right to enslave others.
"Can you hold her, just a little longer, Tope?" She was aware that the wound on Ripuka's shoulder was bleeding badly. Aware that it might be enough to finish her.
Behind them, still out of sight, the little cub had stirred from his hiding place. Rising up from the sand - drawn to the scary noise of lions and the smell of blood. It was terrible and a part of him had wanted to stay hidden. But he couldn't!
What if his mama was over there? What if she was the one roaring in pain?
He'd not heard the sound of fighting lions before, nor smelt blood in the air. But he knew both of these things were bad because of the terror it instilled in him. Somehow he knew that his mother leaving him in the desert was something to do with that. She'd never been truly affectionate towards him, but she wouldn't leave him, would she? Not alone here in the middle of nowhere. She'd promised!
With this thought in mind, the clumsy cub moved across the dunes, driven now by the sound of voices. His mother's voice and...a stranger's. But his mother's voice sounded different. Sounded hurt. Tears bit his eyes and a pain throbbed in his chest.
Where was mama?!
Tope stared down at the lioness-who's lifes blood was fading away under his very paws. In his head, his fury and anger was slowly fading away-something it had not done ever in his life. This was it-this moment would rid him of his tormented soul and his fury. He laughed at her. "They won't come for us. They do not know where we live-eh!" He let out a guffaw. "In fact, you know nothing of us-so how would we fear anything from you... "
He lessened his grip on the dying lioness-though kept sturdy paws on her. It wouldn't be long now-she bled throually from that wound. Tope could see her life ebbing away-and it was covering his paws. "You are dying 'Miss Red Queen of the Sands'. He said quietly, looking down at her. "You are dying-for I will never meet my future mother in law..."
“You won’t get far.” Ripuka wheezed. “We k-know the sands better than any other. They’ll t-track you.” She lifted her head, wincing at the pain lashing across her torn muzzle. “I never killed your mother. If you think us wrong for judging outsiders as weak, what gives you the right to judge all Firekin as evil? I-if you met Kidondo…” She paused. Speaking was becoming difficult. Near impossible, in fact.
“People…people can change.”
She had changed.
It had happened over a long stretch of time. Maybe it had been happening since her birth, since her first streak of rebelliousness as a youth. She had done so much to prove her loyalty. Her faith. But now her faith was gone. All she had was her family – her torn family. Wakia and Azarax living a life elsewhere and now her new litter…destined to live without a mother.
Anger flared but it died as quickly as it came. She didn’t have the strength now to harness it.
She could see clearly but the sight had come too late. She was to die, here, on the brink of a new realisation with no chance to redeem herself.
She opened her mouth again--
--And that was when she saw it. But it wasn’t an “it”. It was a he and the “he” was her son.
A heart wrenching grief struck her and the sound she uttered were as if someone had driven a barbed steak into her chest. “Stay back. N-no!” She leaned against Tope’s hold, somehow hoping that the pressure would be enough to force him to release her. “No. Please, Finar-Si, no. Not him.”
Jini hissed. She didn’t want to hear it. What was this lioness trying to do? Make her feel bad for what she was doing? “People don’t change! Once evil, always evil! You, you are evil and you must be stopped. If we don’t put you in your place how many others will have to suffer at your claws?” She was shaking again. “Tope, let’s end this now, once and for all. I don’t want to hear her filthy voice any more.” She shook her head and advanced.
She’d go for the throat, quick, easy and relatively silent. Sure she might bleat and wheeze like a prey-beast, but she wouldn’t be able to call out or summon the breath to roar. Then they could be away from this place.
She was moving in for the kill when Ripuka cried out in despair. Jini hesitated, flinching as if something had swatted the air in front of her nose. What was--?
Him?
Her heart filled with terror and her imagination leapt instantly to the form of a gigantic male Firekin stalking up behind them. With a yowl of anger and fear she whipped to face her new adversary. But the roar died in her mouth.
“What is this? Who…who is that?”
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Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2008 10:27 am
The “he”, happened to be a cub. Not a monstrous Firekin male capable of causing vigorous bodily harm. A cub whose fur glimmered as it had been woven with sunshine. He had bright green eyes – the colour of the jungle that the Firekin are so wary of – and a streak of red that blazed through the white tuft of hair that would one day be a mane.
He was moving clumsily across the sand towards the three, occasionally losing his footing so he snubbed his nose against the ground. But he was clearly determined and after a few more steps he was in easy reaching distance from the group.
His bright eyes passed across the two strangers, sparing them little time, until they came to rest upon his mother. He didn’t understand what was happening, but he knew what he sensed. He’d heard those terrifying roars and the sound of angry voices. Now he could see for himself the terrible scene.
His mother was trapped by that big, strange male and there was a foul, metallic scent that surrounded her.
Something was wrong.
Terribly wrong.
He yowled with fright and, driven by instinct, raced to his mother for comfort.
Tope could barely contain his anger now-she brought it back with her words. How dare she, trying to scare them even now as she lay dying under his paws. He had the right mind to shake her life from her with his jaws-but he would let Jini have that privilege. He kept his feet on her as she babbled and he could see it-her light-dying slowly in her eyes. Something about it felt good... Something...
His ears shot up and he was ready to attack instantly. He was off the red lioness and before he knew it, hovering over the little cub as it ran past him. He stood, blinking dumbly at where the little cubs paw prints lay in the sand-before he turned and felt something else spring up inside him-but he would never admit it.
A child. She had a baby with her. What were they going to do now? He wouldn't kill a cub... "Jini... this must be her's... what'd she say? Finar-Si... " He said softly. Then, he turned to the lioness. "Fire lioness-we would never dream of killing a cub... ever. " He walked over to where they were, looking down at her. "We are not cub killers."
"Stay back..." Ripuka whimpered, though she released a sigh of relief as Tope released her and the sand nestled her in its comforting embrace. Her head lolled across its uneven surface and she turned her good eye upwards to watch as her son approached, moving as a cub does across a ground it is not used to.
But that would soon change. Firekin were quick to adapting to the ways of the desert.
She whispered. "Please don't hurt him." She tried to rise to meet him as the cub reached her, his little nose prodding at her face.
Tope's words caught her attention and she turned her gaze to him, anger in her face. Her protective instinct was rising again. "Never kill a cub?" She hissed viciously and, much to her surprise, she rose onto her three working legs and stepped forwards to cover her son. "No, y-you couldn't kill a cub, could you? B-but you w-wouldn't hesitate to k-kill a cub's mother!" Spittle gathered on her teeth and for a moment it looked like she migh reignite the fight.
But the strengths in her legs weakened and she was forced to put all of her remaining energy into standing. "Don't you see, "Jini", you're no better than a Firekin. B-because of y-your actions today this cub will grow up to be like you." She sagged. "Filled with anger at his m-mother's untimely killing. Now, if your mother was so kind and good, do y-you think she'd approve of that?"
Jini's eyes darted to Tope. There was clear hesitation in her eyes, and fear too. This was something neither of them had expected. A cub. She had a cub with her? And now...now he had witnessed this act of cruelty...
Because that was what it was.
Cruelty.
The emotions swelled in her. She shifted her eyes from the golden cub to his mother. That blaze of red in his mane was the same shade as Ripuka had on her pelt. There was no mistaking it, despite his odd colourings. And what did that odd pelt mean? Did it mean that she had bred with a rogue? Did that mean she had changed.
Ripuka's words hit her hard and for a moment it seemed like she might burst into tears. Another second later and she did. Killing. They'd killed a mother and now...now that cub was going to grow up like her.
What had she done?
She though of her mother, Kiburi, and her gentle words. She'd never held any malice in her and Jini had tried her best to be the same. But she couldn't. She hated them for what they had done. And she hated them still for ruining her final moment to bring this all to an end.
But now she knew she couldn't do it. She couldn't end the female's life here and now. Not in front of the cub.
"Shut up!" She blurted finally. "It's too late for that. Don't try to make me feel guilty for what's already been done. You're dying! Deal with it." She cast a glance to the cub then turned to Tope, tears streaming.
"Let's go. It is done." And with a pained sob she turned and bounded across the sand - or as well as she could with her eyes full of tears and a limp in her leg.
The cub huddled against his mother's good foreleg, mewing frantically. He knew some words but not enough to tell her what he felt. So instead he had returned to his desperate mewings.
He watched the female turn and go and huddled closer, thankful for getting his mother back.
"Mama..."
Tope looked down at the pathetic excuse for a mother. She was old... what the hell was she doing giving birth? He shook his head, feeling anything but pity for him. He wasn't aware of the colors being a major part of Firekin life-if anything he rather liked the boys pale coloring. He watched the small thing walk to his mother. 'What in your right mind made you come out to the middle of this place with a cub so young?" He asked her, his voice disapproving. As far as he was concerned-she spelled her cubs future and not them. "If you'd left him home-he'd be fine."
He looked to see Jini breaking. He opened his mouth to comfort her-but shut it quickly and went to her... nestling his muzzle against her. Oh, Jini. That firekins words stung her didn't they? He turned to give the firekin lioness a good hit with his paw-it was lifted in everything-but Jini began to run away. He lowered his paw, looking to his mate and then to the lioness. He stood in silence-looking to the young boy. "Perhaps he will grow to know that slavery is wrong... for a good reason." He said coldly. He turned from them and began to follow JIni.
Their deed was done. They had fulfilled their mission. They could go home.
Ripuka’s eyes filled with tears. Desperate tears. She moved to press her face against the cub’s body, seeking strength from the contact. She looked up, glad that her words had moved the female into hesitating. Glad that maybe the arrival of her son and her jibe about Jini’s mother had prevented her death for the time being.
She snarled as the male questioned her. Stupid rogue. What did he know about the ways of the Firekin? Her son would be dead if she let him out into the Safi lands. What was she supposed to do? Keep him in the den for the rest of his life?
She saw him raise his paw and growled angrily, tucking her son beneath her, pressing him to her chest – to her heart.
“Don’t you—“ But the sentence was never finished.
The male had lowered his paw and was speaking again. But she did not answer. What could she say to that? That she was finally seeing the truth? That slavery was wrong?
And as they walked away she released a wrenching sob that racked her body. She held her son closer, weeping as if her heart would break.
“My son, I’m so sorry. So sorry.”
/Fin
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