(Backlog)
They ran, dart around the trees as they escaped from danger. When Izrail looked back to make sure Daiyu was alright, he saw that she was right on his tail. However behind her was an angry looking leopard. She quickly darted ahead of him and directed where they should go.
“This way!” She called out as she took a sharp right. In front of her was a river with a fairly heavy current. She didn't bother to slow down and started to wade across it. Izrail was more hesitant, but instincts kicked in and he started to swim across. He couldn't get caught by the leopard. Not here.
As he waded across the river, he heard the growl of the leopard.
“I would keep your attention high. I am not the only one after you.” The leopard yelled in a threatening tone. Izrail looked back to him once he crossed the river. The leopard was older, had many scars on his fur.
“Why did you come after us?” He yelled, making sure his voice was heard.
The leopard gave a smile. “Bounty on you and your friend. Who ever brings you back alive gets food and treasure. What more incentive does a leopard need.”
“Izrail we should get out of here. We don't know how many more there are around here.” Daiyu hissed at him. She had no idea who would want to capture them. There wasn't anything special about them. Except. She looked at Izrail. He was Majanga's son. If the jedi got a hold of him they could hold them hostage.
They didn't know about the lack of bond between father and son, she thought. Majanga would just laugh if they got captured. He wouldn't bother with even a rescue.
“You go ahead.” Izrail said as he eyed the leopard. “Who sent you after us?”
Daiyu gasped in shock. What the hell was Izrail doing? Was he trying to get them killed? They needed to get as far away from here as possible. Neither of them would be able to survive a fight. “The jedi! The jedi would be the only one with motive to go after us. Come on Izrail.” She gave him a pat on the back. “We need to get to your father and tell him what is going on. This is important.”
Plus it would give her a reason to get away from this place and back to the safety of the pride.
The leopard looked cursively at the two of them. “You're lucky I'm not a fan of water or I would have gone over there and hurt you by now.” He sat down. “As it is, I don't want to get my paws wet. I'll answer your question. I was sent here by Lord Majanga. He said to bring back his worthless son and the useless cheetah alive so he could be the one to tell them that they were banished from the pride. He said that he was going to let the pride members chase you out and if they caught you. Well they would get to decide your fate. And what I saw of them, it didn't look like anyone of them would let you walk out unscathed.”
“He's lying. Lord Majanga would never do that.” Daiyu said hushly.
He would though, Izrail thought. This was the test. Majanga wanted them to bring back pride members, but at the same time they were being hunted. “Daiyu stay here unless more come. Then run and never come back.” Izrail said. He would prove to his father that he had some use.
He started to go back toward the leopard.
“What do you think you're doing?!” Daiyu shrieked as he waded. He glanced back and gave her a smile.
“I have to prove I can do more then hunt. I will defend you and myself. I'll show my father even if I get hurt in the process.” He said before continuing. The leopard gave a laugh.
“Now that's the spirit!” He stood up getting ready for a fight. Izrail felt the stranger was too eager to fight.
Daiyu felt useless watching Izrail getting ready to fight. It couldn't be true that Majanga had sent them. He had no reason to. However, she felt it was brave that Izrail was going to fight, even though he wasn't any good at it. If he did lose, she would run back to the pride and get help. That was the only thing she could do to help after all.
Izrail took a deep breath in and got his claws out as he reached the shore. 'Treat this just like a hunt' Izrail though. 'He's your prey and you have to defeat him if you want to live.' Before he could strike, the leopard already pounced on him, throwing his balance off. The leopard pinned him and took a couple swipes at him.
Izrail was able to push the leopard off him and he regained his balance. He then took a swipe and got the leopard on the side, opening up an old wound. The leopard snarled and went to scratch his face, but Izrail dodged and attacked, digging his claws into the leopards skin and ripping.
He could feel freshen blood coming out of the new wound. The leopard pulled away, his hind leg limping. “He said you couldn't fight.” The leopard said, with confusion.
Izrail walked to him and slapped him across the face with his claws. He then pinned the leopard down, his right paw on the leopard throat his other on the stomach. “I'm a hunter. If I have to I will hunt and kill my prey. You have two choices. I can kill you here and now and drag your body back to my father or you can come with us alive and swear loyalty to Lord Majanga.”
The leopard was breathing heavily. “You can't kill me. You won't”
“I won't if you come with us.” Izrail responded calmly.
“Fine. I'll come with you, just get your paws off me.” He spat out. Izrail moved the paw from the stomach and put it on the leopard's injured hind leg and slammed his paw into it, crushing it with all his might. The leopard let out a yelp of pain.
“That's to make sure you can't run away.” Izrail backed away from the leopard to allow him to get up. “Daiyu come over here and watch him. I want to clean up before we head back.”
Daiyu was still in shock. She didn't expect him to do that. It was something Majanga would do, but she didn't think Izrail had it in him to do something like that. She swam across the river and stood next to the leopard. Izrail went to the river, a little down stream to clean up. She wasn't positive, but she thought that she could hear him crying.
He hadn't killed anyone, she thought. But he had done something so unlike himself. She wouldn't be surprised if he was having a hard time with what just happened. When he came back she saw his eyes blood shot and she was sure that he had been crying. She went over to him and gave him a nudge. “You were protecting us. We are going to be able to go back to the pride as heroes. Your father is going to be so happy.”
Izrail gave a weak smile. “Yeah I guess you're right. I just-” He couldn't finish the sentence. All he wanted was to make his father proud and yet all he felt was an emptiness in him.
(WC: 1,283)
