Something was on the edge of the swamps, near where Ahli'mtima lay sleeping. But he had crept away quietly, feeling something nearby he was on the defensive. Not only was Ahli here, his love, but their family, his family was nearby as well. New cubs were afoot, and it would not be well for a trespasser to be near.
Of course, any who tred here did so lightly, the swamplands were not an area easily navigated or escaped from when pushed into the depths of the muck and water. Ears attent, his soft eyes searched through the moonlight, a pair of white shown back to him.
It was a vacation, he told himself. To get away and think about his light for a few moments, a few short moments away from her being so near and confusing his mind. She was his toy, plaything afterall, and he should not feel closer, more protective, he just wanted to keep her to himself in more ways than one. But he couldn't act on his wants now, no, so he took a night off from the baiting and seduction and found himself flown here, perching in a tree.
"Very good, now if only others weren't so awake as you, I would stay," this mortal looked at him with a disgust, it was because he was hidden by the trees and branches. Only his white eyes shown through. "Nervous, boy?"
"No."Majini'wazo spoke firmly, watching and waiting. He snarled once and took a few more steps. Whoever this one was, he was male, and wished not to reveal himself. "You are on pride lands now, the Jini-msemi, I advise you to leave now," they had a deity afoot, from what Majini heard through the vines. Though he had not seen her with his eyes.
"Leave," he spoke again. But a laughter echoed from the branches and he was offended, grinding his jaws together. "What do you want here, there is nothing welcome here for those who wish mischief on this pride, and I will not stand for it."
"Temper, temper. I wouldn't dream of doing such a thing, at least. Not to you, in particular," Katana'k moved from his perch, almost slithered into the shadows on the nights. His armor was hidden from the light of the moon and he grinned in delight. "Now now, what I would be more interested in, perhaps, were a female, I smell one on you. However, I know another lurks here I do not wish to find, so-"
He jumped to his perch once again, tail hanging down, wings upon his back hidden, "What to do. Ah yes, test you maybe? Would you like that?" THough his time here would be short. Although he was on the borders, he did not wish to dwell for long. "A game?"
"No games, just go!" Majini snarled and reached up, though the great tree was so much larger than his own form. "Do you like this, coming into lands where you are not welcome to play tricks? Ones like you are not welcome here! Leave! Before I call any others leave now!"
He was getting angry, angry he couldn't reach this strange fellow in the branches and even more upset that he could not protect Ahli when she was co lose. He was even surprised she had not woken yet. This male, hidden by shadows was strange and made Majini feel weak, he wanted to be strong for his family, and he wanted to protect them no matter what.
"No games, well, that's no fun, I wonder if your female would have liked it," he said with a murr at the end and laughed, his voice echoing through the underbrush. "No matter, another things has come up, your stature, your pride, boy, is weak, you doubt yourself and your abilities, why?" Katana'k stayed where he was, out of reach though this swamp male was not out of his reach.
"I don't like it when others lose faith in their own pride, it makes me, stubborn, defensive, and angry," disappointed as well, but, that wouldn't be much of a word for description would it? He did, afterall, have a reputation to uphold of his own stature.
"I have faith in myself, and more when I am with her, you leave her alone and leave these lands, do it." Majini'wazo went to turn away but he felt this male was different, something was strange. He did himself and feared one of them here, it seemed. But his form was hidden, there was no way to prove his theory, now way to tell if his thoughts and ideas were true of what was going on.
"These lands give me strength, and so do my family, when I am without them I feel smaller, and you should as well. You, who hides in the trees afraid of another, hiding like a hare in its den, a leopard waiting outside. You are not strong, and you have no faith in yourself, you run and hide and then leave. You are the weak one!"
A great roar sounded from the trees and Katana'k thrusted himself down onto the ground that trembled under the sudden weight. His wings spread out beside him, great and large, a snarl on his lips, elongated sabers gleaming in minimal light. HIs armor was heavy but shined, and his eyes wide and glowing white with anger.
"Do not mock the immortal boy!" he snarled and took a step," or would you rather I teach you otherwise with using your female as a plaything hmm? Where is your confidence now?" he snarled.
Majini'wazo did not move. He stood his ground and growled, snapped his jaws and his eyes narrowed. "You go near her and I will destroy you, if not myself with the help of my pride. This pride is my family, she is my family, and those related to either I or her are family. Do not threaten them!" the fact that wings were wide before him were no matter. It felt like a dream.
"You who hides, who have so much to say yet you do not move. I do not fear you, nor respect you," Majini straightened himself, turned and faced his back to the dark male, clad in metal. "You and your words mean nothing to me, leave now. You are never welcome here." Majini turned and walked away, and the god did not move. He felt light headed as he lay beside Ahli again. It felt like a dream.
As the male turned and left, Katana'k smiled, and walked away as well. His work had been done. He wondered how many mortals resented him now? Too amny, by his count. Though he knew in the world there was at least one that seemed fond of him, adn he should return to her. His light, he called her, waited for him in her pride where he dwelled now, hidden, but she knew the truth adn did not fear.
If only more were stronger like her. His wings spread wide and he took to the sky, flying to what he, at the moment, called home. The pull of his brother, he did not feel now, he was too far away, or it was not important at the time. No matter, these swamps would be left behind him for this male to guard. At least the male's pride had been fired up again.
