Treize had crept away from the pride early in the morning to look for the god the dying Lioness spoke of. It was dawn but stars still twinkled in the morning light, going out one by one like fireflies. The large male, however, didn't take notice, walking on as he moverd to seek the large male, quietly.
Primitus haunched over the leopardess quietly, sheilding the sleeping female csalmly. He could smell she came from far away, and she was raised by lions. The scent of a male caught his attention and he shifted, only to see a male with a similiar scent, if but muiddier, one ear pricking. Treize spied him after spying the bright nmeon spots of Ilse, and he rushed over, growling.
"What are you doing with my little sister?" Treize growled. Ilse was his sister by adoption, and he was fiercely protective. Primitus studied him, and frowned.
"I merely found her sleeping." Primitus scowled. "Nothing more. What draws one out so early?" Primitus could sense... Somethinmg about the boy, the mark of his domain, and chose to play along. Treize squared his shoulders.
"I seek bthe God of Leadership for advice."
Primitus studied the younger male silently, frowning. The younger male bore the scent of betrayal, hatred, tyranny. Everyt5hing he stood against, and Primitus growled.
"I have no words for a tyrant and no advice. You would do better killing yourself and sparing the world."
Treize scowled, squaring his shoulders.
"If that is the attitude of the Gods, maybe the Gods don't understand love, then."
Primitus froze. What did love have to do with him...? Then hje frowned.
"Explain."
Treize turned, squaring his shoulders elegantly, looking much like the kind of lion one found on pedastals.
"My pride will kill the female whom I wish to mate, wether or not I lead them. I want her happy. I want her safe. And I want to use my position to do it." His face wasn't angry, but his tone was sharp. Primitus, though, seemed to get itr. The male was in a pivotal point whereing it could turn either way, and he nearly botched it. Primitus spoke finally.
"Laws can be made. Punishments can be assigned. Do what is right for your people, though, and not what is right for yourself. Do you know the correct course or is this for personal gain only?"
Treize went silent. Why was he doing it? He shut his eyes. Ardewn was to be Governess, ruler of the colonies. If he continued as tradition dictated, ultimately, it would only be a one hit wonder. Then he looked at Ilse, sleeping at the god's feet.
Ilse was a special case, expected to mate her kind only. The only Leiopardess in the upper class. But what good was purity? He knew his sister could only love a lion, they were what raised her. And disease was frequent for aristocrats, some were week with the pace they sometimes bred, binding, obliterating clans. But the colonies with mixed blood were stronger. The Sanc was stronger. He thought on this. Perhaps whjile infertile, Hybrids meant healthier young? A better future? Disease was a common fear among the aristocracy. Even adoptions from the Colonies ended with the adoptees being Healthier. Perhaps if given the choice to maintain traditions or accept cross-breeds openly....
"...Perhaps both. Our upper class is weak.. But I can't remember how to breath without her."
Primitus was silent. Well, he was honest.
"If you do it for both, you must accept it will lead to war, to suffering. Creatures will die, and your people may turn to you for strength. If you are prepared for that..."
"Treize is strong." Ilse had woken, and was slowly rising, the Leopardess looking at Primitus calmly, nodding gratefully before padding to Treize.
"I believe in you, brother. Maybe you were drawn out of the pride for destiny. For a reason." She smilerd softly. Treize was silent, aware Primitus was watching them, then looked at her.
"I've fallen for a descendent of Wing. The Colonial Governess to be." He confessed. Ilse chuckled.
"Oh, really? That's good. If you like her, she's a nice girl."
"I'm not, though, Ilse. I helped try finishing off Governor Yuy."
"You were obeying orders. You won't be so weak when you return. They can't force you to harm someone. Your the Heir, you make the law. For all we know, father is dead and you ARE our leader."
"Don't talk like that, Ilse..."
"But it's true. Your stuck on a what if. Just because the last colonist you slept with for fun was framed and killed doesn't mean the Governess will be. Nobody would touch her without someone attacking. They learned after Governor Yuy. The Colonists are more protective, I'm sure of it. Do you want this girl to hope for love and then have that shattered? It would break her heart. You have the power to lessen the divisions, Treize, the power to prevent a war from destroying us all. Don't let it get away. If not for your people, for her. She's an innocent, Treize. Don't let the pride's ways hurt her.,"
Treize stared at Ilse, trhen Primitus, and sighed.
"I don't know how. And I'm afraid."
Ilse gave a 'pbbbt' sound, swatting him.
"Dorkass. Just be with her. Everything else will fall into place. Hell, you might even get yourself a legacy and put the family in power permanently. And it would make the colonies happie3r. Which makes her happier."
Treize blinked. He hadn't thought of that, and nodded.
"...Your right. If the colonies are happy.. She's happy. And her happiness matters to me." He mosed, returning to be with Arden, seeming to stand a bit taller. Ilse eyed Primitus, before smacking the god with a paw, startling him.
"What was that for!?"
"Accusing my brother of being a dink." With that, she pad after him. Who knew? they could be a piece of tail!
Primitus sighed, and shook his head before disappearing himself into some trees. Some mortals were just weird, or insane, or both.
-FIN-
