Under the attack of the blistering sun, many souls scurried for what minimal shade the grass lands had to offer. Unlike the others, however, was a leopardess who merely wanted a safe haven. Her body ached with fresh wounds that left trails of blood behind her. Large, terrified eyes searched through the dry grass in vain. There was simply no telling when her attacker would strike next, and that thought alone terrified her.
All she could see in her mind was a pack of vicious dogs, snapping at her heels and chasing her out of her den. Sangria....that wild black dog with a face like a skull. She was the mastermind behind it all, and had been the only one to sink her fangs into her. What had provoked them? Hadn't she been doing her job? What more did they want from her?
With heavy breaths, Haracha managed to pull herself into a hollowed log. One end was pressed against the bark of another which left only one hole for her to guard. Hopefully it would be enough to save herself.
"Nai nai, li lai lai, ni nai nai nai~" A silken voice sang out into the copper scented air while obsidian paws beat out a rhythm. A large shape moved before the log, dancing along the trail of blood before taking a mightly swipe out of the end. The form revealed in the terrified look of it's prey, and merely replied with, "You've been a naughty, naughty girl, Haracha."
Xandeleigh sauntered closer to the wounded leopard, her face an angelic mixture of innocence and concern. "Did my dogs get to you? Oh, Haracha. I thought you were stronger than this."
"What do you want from me?!" She screamed, fear taking away any semblance of sanity she had left. To have Xandeleigh herself gunning for her...that could only mean she was a few minutes away from death's door. "I've done everything you've ever asked! I've killed for you, fought for you; I even found your brother. What more do you want?"
Haracha tried to move herself further back into the log, but found that her legs had started to stick to the walls. That was bad, right?
"It's true that you've been helpful to my cause, but I'm not done with you yet." For the smallest of moments, Xandeleigh's orchid eyes betrayed the insanity that claimed her own mother's soul. That crazed gaze never strayed from the leopard. "You're work isn't nearly finished, dear. I've come too far to let you ruin everything."
She stepped forward and carefully pulled away the top of the decayed log. She cursed. "Sangria was only supposed to scare you, not maim you. I swear, dogs can't be all the way there." When Haracha started to struggle, Xandeleigh placed a firm paw onto the back of her neck, effectively halting all progress. "Stay."
This was it. This was the moment she'd fear since first eyeing Xandeleigh all those years ago. She'd been only a tiny cub then, attached to her mother's leg. The lioness that made her mother cry and took their father away from them. The lioness that forced her mother to become a demon.
"If you're going to kill me, do it soon," She murmured. Haracha closed her eyes against the world, content enough with the darkness over her boss' legs.
"I'm not going to kill you; I'm saving your life." Xandeleigh shifted her paw to Haracha's leg to apply pressure. She searched around briefly before finding the natural elements needed to create a temporary covering. It wouldn't stop the bleeding entirely, nor would it fight against infection, but it would do until she could get proper treatment.
"I need you well in order to defeat the enemy. Once your mission has been accomplished, I could care less what happens to you. Until then, you're mine."
That was surprising. Haracha had been ready to voice her regrets in life when she found herbs being shoved into her mouth. As much as she tried to fight it, eventually she was forced to swallow, and after all while she even started to feel a little numb.
That was the thing about Xandeleigh. She could be down right sadistic when she chose to be, but at other times she was like a mother. The tenderness this lioness was paying to her wounds gave Haracha mixed feelings about the whole deal. Was she supposed to be terrified, or releived that she was being saved? How would it turn out?
She could hear the howls of her dogs on the wind. It was an empty, hollow sound filled the the bone shattering promise of their kill. Good. Haracha would need a good meal if she was going to heal.
"You're going to have to climb onto my back, alright?" She bent down infront of her in the log. The dogs would be looking for her soon, which would end badly if Sangria were amongst them.
Haracha acted in a flash. She wasted no time at all in diggin her jagged claws into that black fur. Even as Xandeleigh cursed the very heavens, she remained seated. It made her grin. She could have walked on her own, but why should she when the b***h was offering?
"Whenever you're ready, mistress." She replied coolly. "I don't even understand why you picked me. My brothers would have made better slaves."
"They probably would have, but they're not nearly as cute as you are." Xandeleigh turned back to look at Haracha with a smile. "Plus, it helps that you're half-way intelligent. I've seen more than one of your relations trip over their own paws."
When she was able to, she stood and started to walk into the bright world. "Just take a nap, alright? I'll need you rested for tonight."
"Whatever." She had to admit, she was pretty tired. The emotional ups and downs of today, on top of her wounds were starting to get to her. Sooner or later she was bound to crash. Might as well now that she had someone to look after her. "Just don't give me to Sangria when if I never wake up..." Haracha yawned, her head laid up on Xandeleigh's shoulders.
"Wouldn't think of it." She smiled. It wasn't too long before she heard the roaring snores of her leopard companion. "Loud even when you sleep, huh? Typical."
(WC: 1063 )
