It was irrational. Completely, totally and utterly irrational. For at least two weeks now, Zyanya felt no pain in her leg. A couple days ago she had found she was even capable of hunting rather normally. But she still insisted on limping a bit when those eyes were watching her, once or twice had even tripped herself and fallen over. What was going on?
The cheetah stomped about on the floor awkwardly, staring at her paws as she went. Usiku would be sleeping now, so no need to worry about being watched. She supposed part of the issue was that she worried about being watched. Why would it be bad if he saw that she had finally recovered? That she could survive on her own?
Zyanya was ashamed to find that the reason was that then he would know she no longer needed him. Because he had told her he would take care of her as long as she needed him. She didn’t care about the being taken care of part. She cared about Usiku just being around. Whether she cared to admit it or not, Zyanya had grown extremely attached to the leopard that had helped her so much, without ever getting anything in return. She found that the idea of having to split with him was extremely upsetting. She felt sad and uncomfortable. So here she was, like an idiot, pretending she was still injured.
The cheetah sighed and looked up at the sky. “Stupid Zyanya. Very stupid. This is wrong.” She scowled at a random cloud, until a movement caught her attention.
Usiku watched from a tree as Zyanya chased the hare, ears laid back as he thought. He thought he had noticed a change in the way she walked a few days ago, and now he had confirmation. The cheetah was all better now, just fine. So it was very strange to him that she hadn’t said a word about it. She had been so excited before when she was able to just trot, and what a lopsided trot that had been. He imagined that, if her leg had fully healed, she would have come racing to him to show him. Yet instead, she was… It seemed like the same as lying.
He scowled. Why? Why would she lie to him about this? He would be just as happy for her recovery as she would. And he deserved to know. Usiku was the one who saved her from the wildebeest and kept her protected and fed. Stayed up during the day more than he liked so that they could head north. He didn’t deserve this kind of treatment.
Zyanya had managed to catch the hare and pin it to the floor, then simply let it go. He figured now was as good a time as any to go confront the cheetah, so he quietly slipped back down the tree and headed her way.
When he arrived, the cheetah was still panting from her little chase, watching the hare as it continued to run in the distance. It probably wouldn’t stop until it found a hole to hide in. Some times, he might be gentler and make a sound indicating an approach, but now he was a little cross with her. So, instead, he stood behind her for a while before speaking.
“That was very good.”
The female nearly jumped out of her skin, bolting forwards a couple paces before jumping into the air, apparently turning at the same time. Usiku might have laughed, but, once again, he remembered he wasn’t very happy with the her. Zyanyas fur was all fluffed up now, and she looked at him with wide eyes, then down, almost ashamed. “Oh. Uh, yeah. I guess so.”
Hmph. “So I guess your leg is all better, then.”
He noticed the hesitation before she spoke. “W-well, yes. Kind of. It still hurts a little. I think. The…uh. The hare got away.”
He felt even more annoyed that she would actually lie to his face. At first it had just been concealing information, now it was a real lie. “Oh really?”
“…Yes?” She looked like a cub, caught breaking rules.
“Tell me, Zyanya, why are you lying to me?”
Now shame seemed to finally catch up on the cheetah, and she sat, looking down at her paws, head low, ears back. She didn’t answer him. “I saw you a couple days ago. And yesterday and today confirm it, you are definitely all better. Why didn’t you tell me?” He pressed on. “Don’t you think I’d like to know?” He huffed, irritated.
Usiku found he felt a little hurt and used. He wondered how dramatic he was coming off at, and why he even cared so much. Usually, if people bothered him, he would just leave. “You’re just using me.” With that little conclusion, he turned to leave, fur bristling on the back of his neck. Stupid cheetah. Stupid.. being kind. It seemed like no good deed went unpunished in some way.
“Usiku, wait! It’s not like that!”
The dark leopard considered whether or not he should. He really wanted to leave now, but, for whatever reason, stopped and turned his head. “So what is it like?”
Zyanya stood now, but under his hard gaze, she shrunk back a bit, uncomfortable. “I only lied to you because I…” She hesitated again, then seemed to decide to approach this from a different angle. “You said you’d take care for me as long as I needed you. So I figured that when I got better you’d leave.” She continued to look at her paws. “And I didn’t want you to leave, I guess, is what I’m trying to say.”
She really hoped he could forgive her. Usiku remained silent for what felt like a long time, each second seeming to drag on. And he just kept staring at her, Zyanya wanted to just shrink, get so small she would just vanish. That would be so convenient right about now.
Finally, he spoke. Or more, made a sound. “Ah.”
She looked up, trying to read his expression, but only catching a glimpse before he turned away again. At least it seemed like his features had been softer. Maybe she still had hope.
“ You should have just been honest with me.
“I know, I’m sorry I lied…” She wanted to say more, to apologize more, but she didn’t have that chance.
“I need to go think, and I’m tired.” Zyanya couldn’t say much about this, so she just nodded, even though he wasn’t even looking at her. “We can talk later.” Another nod.
And so she watched Usiku stalk away through the long grass once again. She wondered if they really would talk, or if this was the last time she would see him.
