It was done then.
Horowai was a whirl of different emotions. Disgusted, shamed and yet something else, this emotion that kept bothering her. Fear. She hadn't ever been truly afraid in her whole entire life, but now, suddenly, the event of today was putting fear into her veins. She didn't want to be a mother. She didn't want cubs. And here she was, faced with the prospect of bearing a rogue's cubs.
What would the pride think?
What would her sister think?
If she ended up pregnant then they'd all know. And when the cubs were born with foreign markings they'd know that she'd mated with a rogue. And she couldn't tell them the reason why. That she'd had to to uphold her honour. Because that would be admitting that she had lost a battle and more honour would be lost.
The shame of it.
She stood from where she lay and took a few paces, glancing around the jungle, now growing dark, for the sun was fading away.
--
It had been done. She had fufilled the days contract. He couldn't say that it was unpleasant but he could tell that she wasn't exactly experienced. Something he had expected from her views on male kind and the way she acted around him. He grinned as he watched her stand and move about. She didn't go very far, which was rather interesting to him. Of course he didn't mind that much. He had gotten what he had wanted. Yet something bothered him. Was it guilt. No it couldn't be. He never felt guilty for anying. Never.
"What's the matter princess, can't find the way back home?" He asked slidding to his paws himself and stepping towards her. "Or could it be that you just don't want to leave my side?" He joked smirking as he did so.
He needed to keep picking fun at her, to dull the nagging feeling at the back of his head. Was it because he was almost certain that this meeting would result in cubs and they would be fatherless. No it couldn't be. He had no way of knowing afterall.
--
She turned to glare at him, but the fire seemed to have failed her. It dulled her usually sharp tongue and left her looking shadowed. For a moment of two she let his words hang unanswered and then after another brief hesitation she turned to face him fully and took a step towards him - as if to show that she wasn't afraid of him.
"You can't be serious?" She finally mustered the strength to reply. "After our conversation you still do not understand? My pride is based on honour. The Kunanda'nakhun breathes honour and pride and what I have done today..." She shook her head. "Either way I lost honour today. For losing to you, for..." She trailed off. Yes she was unexperienced. She'd never let a male get close enough to accidently brush against her let alone...
She averted her gaze. "When I return, they'll smell your foul scent on me. They'll know I've been close to an outsider. The questions will come and then the secret will be out. I need to think." She shook her head, dismally. "As for you, I'd be quite content never to lay eyes upon you again."
--
He arched a brow amazed that while her fire had dimmed it was still incredibly hot. It interested him. Even in defeat she was still a spitball of fire. "Oh I do, I just wanted to taunt you." He replied stopping a foot or two from her before flopping onto his side. "There shouldn't be a problem with mating with a rogue, especially since males are so beneath you." He shrugged keeping his gaze upon her. "Couldn't you say that you used me instead of me using you?" He suggested not really caring one way or another. This was her problem not his. After all she had been the one that provoked him into challenging her. He had only been looking for one female in particular.
He had just stumbled upon Horowai in the process. It wasn't his fault.
"Or you could say that you tried to shoo me away and had to use force. It's not that hard Princess." He told her sounding bored. "Sure honour is important but can't you twist the truth in your favor. I do it all the time." It was very true, of course. That was how he had his fun. Twisting the word of others and what not.
"It's a shame because I know you're gonna see me again. Whether you like it or not." When he said that he stood moving towards her again.
--
"I can't lie." She said hotly. "Because that would be another dent in my already bruised honour." But she'd lied before, yes. Lieing was the main reason why she was constantly having to meet her toh. It pained her to have to do it but what other way was there?
She had to lie, right? Else all of this would be revealed and she'd be a laughing stock. The stupid gasht who was always getting herself into trouble. The gasht who said she'd never get close enough to a male to breed and have children. And here she was...in this awful predicament.
In a solemn voice she continued. "I'll think of something, no doubt. They won't be surprised in any case. They're all waiting for me to mess up again after last time." She huffed and then lifted her eyes to look at him, meeting his gaze. If she was an ordinary female she may have found him somewhat charming. Maybe, secretly, she did. It pleased her how he called her princess - even if it was meant in jest. It was better than some things she had been called, in any case.
"So, you'll be back?" She pressed on the subject. "Your terms were for me to bear your children. Not for a brief moment of company." She recalled, grimly. "So that means...if this encounter has not done its job..." She swallowed back the lump in her throat at the thought of repeating the process.
She broke eye contact again. "When will you return?"
--
"Ah well if that is what you wish. Lying is so much easier than telling the truth sometimes. Especially if you're good at it." He replied inching closer to whisper in her ear. It thrilled him to watch her squirm everytime he was close to her. Everytime he touched her. "I will, if only because you're so entertaining." He answered grinning devilishly. "Actually I believe that the terms were you'd do whatever I pleased regardless of what it was. I simply chose this time for you to bear my children." He told her with a shrug. Regardless of whether she remembed that bit it didn't matter, her having his kids was more than he needed.
"I can't really say. A few days, a week, a full moon circle. It just depends on how I'm feeling." He stated pressing his nose against her cheek before moving back. "I think it'll be a the next new moon. Might be soon, might be later. Dunno." He commented with a smirk. He wanted her to keep guessing, to always be on guard waiting, waiting for him to return. To commit another dirty deed. "Of course next time we could always duel again on different terms if you'd like. Maybe then you'd get to have me dote on you just like you wanted princess."
--
She growled, puffing herself up at his words. He was getting to her, that much was clear. She was trying to be civil but it was impossible. Especially with him and his stupid mutterings. Why couldn't he just be blunt and to the point? She was good at that, talking simply, not flowering up a conversation.
"Duel again? Just to have you twist it into your favour? We shall see, male." She wouldn't completely disregard the idea, despite what she'd been through this time around. Attention was her life's goal and what was the point in achieving it if a little risk weren't involved?
"I'm curious." She continued, taking a step away from him. "Why do you want this? Why do you want to sire children in females you do not know? Why me? Why now? And what do you intend for any cubs I might birth?"
--
"Perhaps," He told her with a shrug brushing her question away. "I just thought that it was something you would like. Help restore your honour or whatever." That wasn't the complete truth but if it made it seem like he cared maybe she'd take the bait and he could hold another thing over her. That would be deliciously delightful.
"Curiosity is a dangerous thing Princess, could easily be the death of you." He pointed out before tilting his head at her question. Why did he wanted? To spite Kagami of course, but the purple female didn't even know this female, at least he was sure she didn't. Why did he pick her? Because she was interesting, because she was fiesty and he liked that in a woman. What did he intend...probably nothing, perhaps many things. "I have a score to settle with someone. I chose you because you're interesting, you're firey, quick to temper and amusing. Everything I like in a female. Why now? Why not now?" He paused still thinking about the last question. "I don't know honestly, but I'm sure the next time we meet I will have a plan for at least one of them."
--
She held herself remarkably still, face shrewd and unkind. Again she thought of lashing out, of striking him across the face. She couldn't bare to think that she'd have to see him again, that she could be carrying his cubs.
The fear unsettled her again but she pushed it roughly away, smothering it with anger instead. Anger she could deal with. Anger felt good. It was hot and fiery and gave her life. Fear did nothing but unsettle her.
"So, you use me to hurt another. You have little honour, male. Little honour at all. Very well, you may come, you may see if this deed has accomplished what you have wanted. If it hasn't I will not let you touch me again. I will fight to the death before I submit myself."
She leapt backwards at his last words and hissed, fully enraged. "Don't even think it. I will not let you take them. Not one." Motherly instinct or just a desire to keep him from what he wanted? Maybe both. Probably the latter.
"I'm going now. Do not follow me. I will pass by this area now and then to see you, but if you are not here I will not come searching. Understand?"
--
"Not neccesarily to hurt her, just to taunt her. Like she taunted me." He replied his features twisting with rage for a brief moment before it all vanished and his normal, smirking, expression returned. "Perhaps I don't but it doesn't matter to me. What good is honour when it gets you no where?" He asked not thinking about her at all. Thinking more so towards himself. When he had tried to uphold his own honour in his pride, when he had been the crown prince, it had resulted in him ultimately hurting the person most important to him. It had left her mute and in pain. It had cause him grief and regret. When he tried to remedy things it had been too late. Honour had simply damned him. He saw no need for it any longer.
"I never said I would take one." He pointed out calmly enjoying watching her reactions to each and every one of his words. "That could easily be arranged princess." He told her when she told him she would fight even if it cost her life to do so. "Don't think I won't fight to get what I want."
He wrinkled his nose as he stepped back. "Be my guest. I'm not stopping you." He told her before tilting his head slightly. "Of course Princess, I understand." He would be back, he had enjoyed the female's company too much to not return. When he did he knew he would have just as much fun if not more. Especially if she was pregnant. "Until then. Fare well my lady." He said with a mocking bow.
--
She shook with rage. He thought nothing of honour? Then she really was on a different side of the spectrum to him. She'd have nothing more to do with this rogue - except for a meeting or two to confirm that she was indeed carrying his cubs.
Though silently she hoped she wasn't.
"Don't threaten me." She snapped. "I have a pride behind me to back my cause. Who do you have, rogue? No one, because you taunt and hurt them. Try to take or hurt or manipulate any offspring between us and I shall see to it you pay."
And with a snarl, she turned away from his bow and leapt away into the trees.
/fin.
