Baridi'vijicho:
Baridi slunk into the cave, quiet as a thunderstorm. He didn't need to be silent. His cousin was gone, had dismissed the wounded female, and she couldn't move. Oh how deliciously perfect!
"Seems like my cousin's done with you. Well, if he doesn't want you anymore..." he paused there, leaning down and rubbing his face against the back of her neck. "I suppose that makes you fair game, doesn't it?"

Fususi:
Fu gasped softly when she heard the voice that chilled her all the way down from her ears to her tail-tip, purr at her back. Oh gods! She couldn't move without hurting herself, so she couldn't even flee, let alone fight back. A wave of repulsion and dread washed over her as he continued, felling him rubbing his head against her back as if it were something vile and dirty, rather than soft leotah fur.

Pich'Nkosana:
He had run hard, fast, long, and ended up close to home again thanks to his paws carrying him in a half circle. Why did they take him back to her? She didn't want him, she didn't even like his family. There was clearly something wrong with her, she was a silly female who only made things difficult. Yet, there was something about her...so soft and sweet and fragile. When he was curled around her to keep her from nightmares, or walking with her and making sure she was safe, he felt oddly alive. As if nothing before had mattered, but it had, it had meant so much to him to make his aunt and uncle proud, yet it oddly meant just as much...maybe more that SHE should smile at him, for him. He closed his eyes in confusion and shook his head, maybe once she was gone he would be able to think straight...but that thought was too painful for the moment.

Baridi'vijicho:
Baridi chuckled at the female's frightened movements and purred some more.
"Now, now, you shouldn't be afraid. I'm not going to hurt you," he crooned into her ear and a feral grin spread across his face as he raised one heavy paw.
"Much." He pressed the paw onto her side, knowing exactly how and where she was injured.

Fususi:
Fu closed her eyes tight hoping he would go away. He said he wasn't going to hurt her, but that statement did little to relieve her fears.
And then his paw came down.
The injured cheetah let out a sharp scream as pain lanced from her side. It was like the fall all over again. Only this was so much worse, for she could hear his soft chuckles as he dug his paw harder into her side. And then another paw came down on her neck, pressing on her windpipe, causing her scream to tapper off into a strained hiss as she fought for air and to stay awake from the pain still shooting from her side.

Pich'Nkosana:
His eyes shot open then his ears pricking completely startled, he knew the voice. The scream set his paws in motion before he could fully grasp that Fu was hurt. He was running full speed despite the ache in his chest, he had to get to her! Why wasn't he already with her, he was supposed to be there at her side. His legs pumped like wild before he skidded to a halt infront of the den. "Fu?!"

He leapt inside panting and looking at her worried before he even noticed his cousin there. "Baridi?" He tilted his head and frowned panting still.

Baridi'vijicho:
Baridi had set a paw to her throat not long after she had started screaming. It was a lovely sound, but he didn't want too much attention. He idly glanced over his shoulder when his cousin entered, smiling when the older male spoke his name.
"Oh, welcome back, Cousin. I heard you'd discarded your little toy, so I thought I could play with her now," he said, turning his head to look back down at the softly gasping female.
"She makes the sweetest sounds."

Fususi:
Fu's ears perked when she heard Pich's voice over the thudding of blood pumping hard in her head. She tried to make a whimpering sound, tried to say his name, but she couldn't breathe enough. All she could manage was a soft gasping hiss as her front legs moved slightly in panic. Her vision was darkening at the edges and if the b*****d didn't let up, she'd probably pass out altogether.

Pich'Nkosana:
"Baridi!" He snarled as he realized why fu was in pain, it was his cousin, one thing he loved causing another thing he lo-cared for pain. He growled and leapt without thought to knock his cousin away from Fu and snap his jaws together near his face. He would never actually hurt his own cousin, but he was angry, so angry...why? He didn't know, why would he choose to defend Fu over his own cousin.

"She's hurt! Leave her alone!" He growled and moved away from Baridi to move back near Fu. He could feel his fur bristling in anger, his lips were still raised, why had he tackled his own cousin?

Baridi'vijicho:
Baridi leapt back when Pich lunged at him, snarling.
"You don't want her anymore! What's it to you what I do with her?"he growled, circling around the larger male slowly. Damnit, he had SEEN this. No, it wouldn't happen like he Saw. This female was nothing, he was family. He had every right to take her and do what he wanted with her when Pich was done.

Fususi:
Fu took in a huge gulp of air when Pich chased his cousin off of her, which only induced a coughing fit and then more pain as her lungs pressed against her injured ribs. With a soft mewling sound, she did her best to turn herself and put her back to the wall, still lying on her side, but facing Pich and her attacker.

Pich'Nkosana:
"She's still mine Baridi, besides why would you hurt her?" He snarled softly before frowning and moving back towards his cousin. "I'm sorry...I'm sorry cousin, it's just, she's under my protection and she's already been hurt enough..." He glanced at Fu before looking back at Baridi.

She would be gone soon, his cousin was staying, he was staying, this was his family, his own blood. Fu was just...she didn't...she wasn't staying, she was leaving, leaving him. He looked back at his cousin and frowned, why did he want to hurt Fu anyway?

Baridi'vijicho:
Baridi's eyes narrowed to slits, the cold, merciless look in them his namesake. Cold eyes. Even when he was enjoying listening to the pain of another or the thrill of a kill, they remained cold, never warming within their depths.
"She's pathetic, weak. Look at her, curled up and mewling like an unweaned cub. She doesn't deserve the time of day from you, from any of us. Watching at the life slowly, painfully leaves her, can't you see the beauty in it? To watch as she slips away, feeling the fleeting heartbeat under your paw until it stops? Don't you get it?"

Fususi:
Fu was doing her best to stay conscious. Heck, she'd even managed to sit up, kind of, with her back still against the wall. The things Baridi was saying, they chilled her more than freezing rain. If Pich hadn't heard her scream, hadn't come to her rescue, she'd most certainly be dead, or worse.
"Gods," she managed to whisper, her voice laced with a fear she hated showing but could not suppress.

Pich'Nkosana:
He could understand his cousin, but why fu? The pleasure, the thrill of victory was over their enemies, over those who were strong enough to pose a thread. Fu was weak, she needed to be defended, protected, not destroyed. She wasn't a wicked cunning lioness, or even the mildest danger to their family. He growled softly and shook his head. "Theres no sport in killing her Baridi, you said so yourself, she's defenseless, if she poses no threat to us she's to be left alone. Go play with something else!" His ears flattened in annoyance.

He loved his cousin, but honestly it was hard not to pin him down and smack him around for hurting the injured female. He moved to crouch near Fu and frowned, "are you alright?" He leaned in closer to give her cheek a soft lick. He should have stayed by her side...but how could be have guessed his cousin would want to pick on her? She really was weak, curled up, pathetic...it tugged at something deep inside of him, the urge to protect.

Baridi'vijicho:
Baridi frowned at Pich's words, but held his temper. Fine, he would find something else to play with.
At least, that's what he thought until Pich turned his back on him. Turned his back on him! How dare he dismiss him so easily! All for that stupid toy!
With a snarl, he lunged at his cousin, not caring who he was attacking, or the small space he had to fight in.

Fususi:
Fu did her best to manage a smile for Pich. He was a lot of things she wasn't sure she liked, but right then he was her hero. When he licked her cheek, she let her head lean against him.
She saw Baridi coming even before he snarled.
"Pich!" she gasped in warning, eyes wide.

Pich'Nkosana:
Pich rolled easily and snarled lashing out with sped to grab his cousin by the back of his neck. He growled into the soft fur his ears flattened and eyes narrowed in anger, what was Baridi thinking?! He tugged him away from Fu and shoved him towards the den entrance before letting him go and crouching infront of him with a growl. "What do you think your doing!?"

His own words echoed back at him, what was he doing? Usually he let Baridi have his way, from the day his cousins had been born he had indulged them. Like younger siblings he had tousled with them, watched over them for his aunt and uncle, and defended them. Most of all he loved them, as if they were really his own siblings, he never thought he would seriously face his own family like this. He slowly rose form the crouch and frowned.

Baridi'vijicho:
Baridi twisted away with a growl and paced away from his cousin. So this was how it was going to be.
"Watch yourself, Cousin, and you're little female if you want to keep her breathing. I'll see you again, I promise," he growled and turned his back on the cheetah he had once called brother. No, not really. He knew deep down Pich was just another toy. And as he leapt into a run from his parent's territory, he grinned, relishing in the thought of returning someday and breaking Pich. Bit. By. Bit.

Fususi:
Fu stood up fully, ignoring the pain in her side and neck, and made it to the cave's entrance just in time to hear Baridi's words and watch him run off. She shivered and looked to Pich's back. Should she say anything, if she could? No, she wouldn't, even if she was capable. He wouldn't probably be angry, though on the whole this wasn't her fault. Still, tears streaked down her face as the realization of what had almost happened really sank in.

Pich'Nkosana:
"Baridi!" Pich took a few steps forward before slowing and stopping, no his cousin hadn't meant it...he was just angry. Still there was sincerity in his voice, real anger, real threat. Had he turned his cousin from him for...he slowly turned to look at Fu and frowned.

"You should lay back down...you'll only hurt yourself like that." He moved closer and frowned at her tears. "Did he hurt you that bad? Come on let me see." He frowned and nudged her to moved back and lay down. If Baridi had really hurt her he would...no...no he wouldn't hurt his own cousin. Still he tensed at the sight of her tears and softly nudged her. "Shh it's alright now, I'll stay here with you, you'll be alright."

Fususi:
Fu didn't move to lie back down, she simply fell against him. Her tears were quiet, but she shook softly, an after-effect of her fear.
"He would have... If you hadn't..." She couldn't see to finish the statements. Fu pressed her face into his fur and shook her head. It hurt her neck to do so, she probably had a bruise now, but it was nothing compared to the ache in her side. And yet she didn't want to move, not yet.
She mumbled something, but with her face where it was all that really came out was "Don't... na lea... you."

Pich'Nkosana:
He frowned as she leaned against him confused for a moment before slowly slipping his paw around her to keep her close and softly nuzzle her. He licked her cheek desperate to stop her tears, and the sobs, he cringed thinking of her injuries. "Shh come lay down...your alright now..." Yet her words chilled him, would his cousin really have killed her? She had been laying there defenseless...and in his heart Pich knew that his cousin would indeed. How often had he turned a blind eyes or smiled with tolerance as his cousin viciously attacked a weaker creature, or performed some cruelty on their still living prey?

He lowered his head and tried to catch her words his she was mumbling into his fur. He licked her cheek again and gently tried to push her back into his pile of furs. "Come on lay down and let me check if your okay...I won't go anywhere...and besides I can't hear you when your face is buried in my neck. He smiled softly at her and gently placed his paw on her shoulder to guide her down.

Fususi:
Fu nodded slowly, once, and turned. She moved a little bit farther, back into the den and carefully lying in a spot by the wall, this time remembering to put her back to it. She curled up slightly and watched him. He was smiling again, so maybe he wasn't angry with her. He had said he couldn't understand her words and in part she was glad for it. She didn't know if she could say them again and if he had heard them, there would have been no going back. How had things gotten so screwed up.
But then she realized Baridi was gone, and his sister had left to be on her own as well, leaving only Pich and his aunt and uncle. Of the family, it had been the youngest pair who had frightened her the most. And now Baridi would be after her. She was safest with Pich.
And she hadn't yet decided why that didn't seem like such a bad thing.

Pich'Nkosana:
Pich waited until she was laying down before looking over her carefully, he frowned and put his nose against her throat. His cousin had hurt her, already under her pale fur he could see the place he had been trying to crush her. No doubt it would bruise, he frowned and looked down over her side. "Sore?" He sighed and moved to lay down beside her.

"I'm sorry...for everything...once your better...I'll escort you safely away..." The words were so hard to say, he wanted to ask her to stay with him. How could he though, what would he do about his family? Of course the truth was...he had another family, his mother and father maybe even missed him a little, and he was full grown, his aunt and uncle had raised him well. He could go back home and show his parents, show them how strong, smart, and fast he was. He could have Fu meet his mother, she had been so soft, so kind, so spirited. No! No what was he thinking! Fu wasn't some female he was wooing, she was his prisoner, she wanted to go home, and he had promised her she could.

Fususi:
Fu closed her eyes as he inspected her.
"Mmhmm. Nothing feels damaged," she whispered in reply. She flinched when he brought up taking her home. What was she going to do? She had gotten accustomed to him being there, of the flowers he brought her, of his care. She still couldn't understand his offensive tactics towards lions, but she was hurt, she could be slightly irrational. And whether he wanted to admit it or not, he'd changed, too.
"I can't. I can't go back," she finally sighed, eyes opening just a little, though she kept her cheek pressed against the fur beneath her, eyes looking away from Pich.

Pich'Nkosana:
"Oh? Why n-Well no matter, you...you could always stay...with me?" He glanced at her quickly before looking back at her side trying to pretend interest in anything but her eyes. If he looked into her eyes, he knew, he just knew something inside him would change, he would say or do something stupid, like curl up around her, bring her a flower, or worse...fall in love.

Fususi:
"I can't leave because I don't think..." Come on Fu, she needed to say it. It was crazy, absolutely insane, but she knew it would hurt to be away from him. They were so opposite from one another, and yet she couldn't help it.
"I don't think I can leave you," she finally mumbled, closing her eyes so that she didn't accidentally look at him, for fear he would have a look on his face that did not reflect her feelings.
But only for a moment, for then she remembered she was a lady, regal and proud, and as such she shouldn't cringe in the face of uncertainty.
So she opened her eyes again and glanced towards the male who had no doubt stolen her heart away.

Pich'Nkosana:
Fu looked up at her, oh no he wasn't supposed to do that! Yet her eyes, he looked into her eyes and slowly leaned in to nuzzle her. "I don't want you to go Fu...I...I want you here with me..." He curled closer around her and licked her cheek softly.

Fususi:
Fu closed her eyes again when Pich curled around her. He was warm and strong and, in all honesty, safe. He would protect her physically, and she would hope he would guard her heart just as well.
"I'll stay," she decided aloud. She still missed her family, but surely Pich would come with her if she wanted to go see them. How would she explain? No, that was a worry for another day.
"I love you," she murmured in an off-handed and sleepy manner. It took her a minute to realize she had said that, and when that realization hit, she jerked slightly and her eyes snapped wide before squeezing shut again.

Pich'Nkosana:
Pich smiled softly when she said she would stay, he slowly moved to rest his head beside hers. She was going to stay with him, she wanted to stay with him. Of course that meant they could be together...go anywhere, see her family, see his. That was best left for later though, for now she needed rest. Her was about to close his eyes when her voice reached his ears and her jerked his head open for a moment.

Finally he settled back down as she closed her eyes and softly licked her cheek. "You should sleep..." He slowly moved his tail to drape over hers. Finally when her breathing evened out and he was sure she was sleeping he settled his head down and gazed at her. "I think...I love you too Fu." He sighed softly and let himself drift into a light sleep.