“It’s not much further.” Yuma informed, stepping up the pace a little. The firm ground beneath his paws felt alien. Yes, he’d been born far away in the Pridelands but he’d not been outside of the Tuiat’tekam since he had arrived there before the vultures were chased from the temple. He’d never even considered that he might leave it again. But here he was. Doing his duty in the only way he knew how. He cared for Anya and he cared about her safety and health. If what he was doing now would help her, then he would gladly do it. He just hoped that Altair would return home in one piece.
“Thank you again, Yuma.” The dark lion replied. “You’ve been a great help.”
“I’m just sorry I can’t be of more use. I wish I could be there when you face your brother but I stand no chance against a fully grown lion, particularly one who shows violent tendencies.” The jackal paused and cast the grey lion a look. “Do you mind if I ask you something? Why is he doing this? What drove him to hunt down his brother with the intent to kill?”
“Oh, that’s right. You were not there when I told the story to Runako.” Altair replied. “He’s…he’s seeking revenge. I tried to kill him, once, and almost succeeded. I damaged his pride and, because I failed, I fled. My pride would not have allowed me to live. After all, to kill one of your own is to be a traitor. I ran away and lived as a rogue, always worried that he might catch up with me. I made myself a promise that I’d never settle. Always run. I broke that promise…”
“What happened to make you break it?”
“I fell in love.”
“Ah.” The jackal clicked his jaws closed, but opened them a moment later. “Another question, then. You don’t seem like to type to attack another without a reason. Why did you do it?”
“Hala was…I caught him with a female I’d had my eye on. I realise now that she was purposely manipulating us.”
“Why would she do that?” Yuma replied.
Altair sighed. “Can I be honest with you, Yuma? I’ll need to speak the truth to my family when I return anyway and I could do with a practise one if you’d humour me.”
“You have my word that what you tell me here will go no further.”
Altair nodded gratefully. “I’d appreciate that.” Then, clearing his throat, he began to speak of times long gone. Times that he’d hidden away in shadow. “I was born and raised in a pride of assassins. My brother and I were extremely talented in the…art.” He was ashamed to say it now, but back then, he’d been incredibly proud of his skills. “We worked as a team, took down our targets. We were regarded and revered as what all young lions in the pride should strive to become. I can only assume that the female was jealous of our achievements and that she sought to tear us apart. She took interest in me and we met at every opportunity, and, when I asked whether I could take her as a mate, she told me I had to earn her. I loved the sound of the challenge and fell for her even more. Shortly after, our pride met for a celebration and I went in search of her. There, in a clearing, I found her with my brother. Enraged at his treachery, I leapt at him and would have killed him if she had not warned him in time. We fought briefly and then, hearing the sounds of others approaching, I realised what I had done and fled. I kept on running until I came to the Tuait’tekam, fearing he was chasing me down.” He growled softly. “And I was right. I always hoped it was just my paranoia but it seems he did throw away his life in the pride to seek vengeance. And that is it. My story. I was a killer who attempted to assassinate his brother and failed.”
“You? An assassin? You seem far too much a gentleman to have ever been in that line of work.”
“We were not thugs.” Altair replied. “We were elegant and silent as the dawn. Skilled and light-footed. We were deadly only to those who were targets. Gentle to those who were not.”
“Well, it certainly makes sense. So, when you find him, what do you plan to do?”
“I will try to reason with him. It may be impossible, but I will try. He was once my dearest friend. We looked out for one another. Perhaps I can get him to remember those times. Perhaps I can reach him. But…ultimately, I do not want to lose my life. I have a mate and cubs and a duty to the pride. I will not just stand and do nothing if he attacks me. If it comes to it…I will kill him.” He spoke with no emotion in his voice, his eyes not cold but hard. Yuma could see the lion’s transformation into the silent assassin he had once been.
“Perhaps you should not have come alone.”
“Perhaps not, but it’s too late now. Besides, how could I ask Runako to come with me? I could not put his life in danger when Anya needs him so dearly. To lose him would be a terrible blow to her and she has suffered enough because of me.”
Yuma nodded. “You are thoughtful, indeed.”
They walked in silence the rest of the way, the jackal padding ahead with a tireless gait. It was midday by the time the gorge came into sight and Yuma paused to direct Altair’s gaze. “There it is. See that rock there, the gorge is just behind it.”
“Thank you, Yuma. I mean it.”
“If you don’t mind, I’ll stay a while and help you look for tracks. My sense of smell is keen and my eyes aren’t that bad, either.”
“Very well, but if you have the slightest suspicion that he might be close by, get away as quickly as you can.”
“Gladly.” The jackal joked.
It did not take much searching to find the makeshift den that Hala and Anya had used during their time here. However, it had seen many residents in recent days and the scents were too mingled to be of any use. And, by the time the sun was dipping again, it looked as if any chance of finding a trail was slowly being lost.
“Wait. If Anya was pushed over the gorge somewhere and left to…to die, it’s very unlikely he would have bothered to cross or walk around it. He probably headed that way.” The jackal pointed. “How about we check the paths there and see?”
“Better than doing nothing.”
“Okay.” The jackal sprinted ahead, pressing his nose to the ground and tracking through the dust. A footprint here and there was indistinguishable. A tuft of rabbit fur caught on a bramble was quickly dismissed with failing hope. Claw marks on a branch – far too small to belong to a fully grown lion. And then – just as he was about to give up – something caught his eye. A tuft of fur. He homed in on it, pressing the small piece to his nostrils and inhaled deeply. The scent was not as strong as it might have been, but it was familiar to Altair’s in a way that made it impossible to think it would belong to another. “Altair! I think have something!” The thud of the lion’s paws shook the ground beneath him.
“It’s his.” Altair confirmed. “Well done!”
“If he passed this way it’s likely he took the trail down through the undergrowth. It’s not a lot to go by but it’s something, at least.”
“Something indeed.” Altair agreed. “This is it then. I’m on the trail. You’ve done all you can for me, Yuma, and I thank you for it. I doubt I’ll ever be able to repay you for what you’ve done here today. Just know I am so grateful.”
“We are of the Tuiat’tekam. You would have done the same for me if the situation was reversed.”
Altair bowed his head. “Travel swiftly and safely, my friend.”
“You, too. Take care of yourself out there, Guardian.”
The lion parted from his companion and moved to follow in the footsteps of his brother. He did not pause to look back, but if he had, he would have seen the jackal standing there, watching him, until the last moment. With a low growl, Altair hastened away.
“Well, look who’s hunting who now, brother.”
