Shambe scowled as he moved further into what he had decided must surely be the lands of the group he had heard of. He had found scraps and trinkets and carcasses in various stages of decay, sure signs of habitation. It had been a few days since he had left his daughter with the female from the Kuroi and while he had initially reveled in the silence, it was disturbing now. Everything seemed too quiet. Perhaps that was why he had come this way, in search of ghosts and gossip. If he could steal from thieves perhaps the rush would return.
“Arrrrrrgh!”
No, that wasn’t right.
“ARRRRGH.”
Still no. The cub growled and kicked a small pebble as he patrolled the edges of the pride. Moth - /Makena/ had been smothering him with love again, which he wasn’t appreciative of. And now she was in possession of awesome shinies and he wasn’t! But one day, Makena, one day they’d be his foreveeeer . . . Although Cortez was happy to fiddle with them in her presence in the meantime, utterly kitten-like in his curiosity.
In the meantime, he had been trying to practice his piratey sounds, which . . . weren’t working out so great in his squeaky voice. “AAAARRRGH DANGIT.”
At first he had thought the sound was some sort of dying waterbuck, but as he approached the source he was amused to find a small dark cub. So he had been right, it was inhabited. Cubs usually meant a mother about, he made a note to keep watch for her. Mothers didn't typically like their kin associating with him, something about bad influences. He had never been the type to care. "Whatever you're trying to do," he called out, tossing his mane as he approached, "You're doing it wrong. Very wrong."
Even as the first syllable slipped out of the stranger’s mouth, Cortez’s fur bristled. Look at him! Seriously, he had the look of an annoying guy. Well, according to the cub anyway. An annoying guy with way too much hair.
“Yeah? Well /yer/ wrong,” he snapped, stamping his paws a bit as he approached the cheetah head on. Not that he knew what that was, this was the first time he had ever seen the long-limbed things. “And it’s none yer bizniz what I’m doin’, see? So you turn ‘round right now and head back to Mamby Pamby land, Goldilocks.”
Shambe stared at the cub blankly for a moment then burst out laughing, tipping his head forward as his body shook. "Oh, oh that's good," he cooed, sucking in his breath, "You had me there for a second little brat." It wasn't every day you came across a cub with such a mouth on him, he definitely had the right place. It took guts to stand up to someone who could throw you without much trouble. "Goldilocks, haven't heard that one before," he told him, settling down from the laughing fit, "It sure is my business when you're wailing across the land, interrupting the good folks' peace."
Laughter wasn’t what he had been looking for! “’Scuuuuse me? This is my pride’s land right here!” Cortez exclaimed, drawing a line just before him with a huff. “Maestros del Mar! Commodor Pirata’ll have yer hide if you come in.”
Why? Heck, the weird lion probably would give the cheetah one look and think he was hallucinating.
“Not that you are, ‘cause yer not getting’ past me!” the cub added. “Only thievin’ pirates’re allowed in, y’see.”
"Well a thief I am," Shambe countered, "But I doubt any of you could catch me if I took off, well rested you see." He stretched forward, limbering up his legs in what was mostly just a show. There was no real threat from one cub and he could see the adults a long ways coming if they acted like this one. "So the rumors are true then ah? I had to see for myself, the world is full of thieves that all appreciate the skills of your kind you know."
”Well yer not a very /good/ thief,” Cortez retorted with a smirk, though covetous eyes lingered on the gold bracelet on the cheetah’s tail. “Me mom’s got twice the stuff you have, /and/ she has a better cloak thingie.”
Well not true, he was rather attracted to this red cape, but he didn’t need to know!
“And the commodore’s got just as much as her /and/ parrot feathers. I think you need lessons.” Though what was this about a world of thieves? Well obviously if this guy came from it, they weren’t all very good as far as Cortez knew. Thooooough – “Rumors?”
"Words, stories people tell," Shambe explained, sitting as he did. This cub seemed interested, and as long as he could keep him talking he was safe. "And not everyone carries all their things with you, I keep things hidden all over the place," he teased, flicking his tail at his side so that the cuff clicked softly against the ground. So this cub was born to the pride, that said something about how it was developing, they might start seeing them around sometimes. He'd already heard about the vikings coming around, the world was becoming an interesting place.
He bobbed his head in understanding and HEY HE KNEW WHAT RUMORS WERE. “Yeah well, I /guess/ I know what ya mean,” Cortez grudgingly answered as far as the storing treasure was concerned, glaring at the golden bracelet as it dangled before him. There was a growing urge to paw at them as he did with his mother, but no way was he playing that game with a stranger who laughed at him! That was personal to him. “Who /are/ ye anyway, stranger?”
"You can call me Shambe, I'm a merchant of sorts," he said with a teasing bow, "Though not everyone gets the good end of the deal." His craft was a little more refined than simple pillaging, but this cub hadn't outright attacked him yet so he seemed to want to know things. "And you are little cub?" he asked back, offering a peculiar grin, "Can't spread your name around if I don't know it."
“I like Goldilocks better,” the cub said with a smirk. “But alright then, Shambe. Y’better remember this face well: I’m Cortez, but in the future ye’ll here brave lions cower from Cap’n Bloodback!” he announced quite dramatically, even so much as to pose. “Pirate n’ plunderer extraordinair~! I’ll be getting’ me somethin’ like that stuff you got on, so I hope ye like a trade or two with me later on – bet ye’ll like what I’ll be stealin’ too.”
But he liked that idea, having his name spread even as a cub. Aaah . . . a whisper now, but soon a cry of fear as he grew up! Cortez looked quite pleased with the imagery he conjured up for himself.
"I'll keep an ear out then," he agreed, shifting his back so that his cape straightened out wide, "I'm sure you'll be hearing from me again in the future if you hold up to that claim." He wasn't sure why but he believed the cub, usually those that were so ambitious either failed miserably or succeeded, and he had a feeling this one would succeed. He glanced at the horizon, sensing movement, "Well, Captain Bloodback, keep to your word and we'll meet again. Until then I've got deals to do." He turned away, starting to walk, "Big deals you know, where I get more things like this cape you want so much. Work well and you'll get one of your own."
The cub’s smirk widened at the idea. “Aww yee-uh.” But far more than just capes. Why, Cortez was envisioning massive gold trinkets lining his den, the ultimate no-girls-allowed place where he and his pirate buddies could hang out and be the most epic and feared lions on the plains. And Mom would /not/ be trying to clean him all the time, or smother him with affection. “Well try not to get caught, Goldilocks, y’got it? I need ya later on,” he called after him.
And now he could tell Makena he had a contact from the outside world already! Forget parental guidance, he was doing pretty swell on his own.
