Nikki watched as the only male she would ever love walked away from her.She was a young lioness, just on the verge of adulthood, living in a small territory with her father. Oh, he wasn't truly her father, she was smart enough to know that and just clever enough to get the truth out of him. When she was a young cub, barely weaned, her father had found her. An eagle had tried to carry her off, but when another huge bird attacked it, the little cub had been dropped. It had been the most curious thing. The huge bird had swooped down, caught her and set her on the ground safely. It almost looked like it had been sorting out her fur before her father came upon it and chased it away. He said he only saw the bird once more after that, some days later with another, smaller bird. They looked satisfied for some reason before flying away, neither returning.
When her father began growing old, he allowed another male entrance into their lands, a younger, stronger male who could help with the hunting. Leinikki, or just Nikki as her father called her, came to realize that the young lion would do anything she asked of him, without complaint. His name was Pardel.
But she never called him that.
She just called him Hunter, for that was what he did for the most part. He would hunt for her father, he would hunt for her, food, trinkets, herbs, whatever she asked for. Whatever order she gave him, all he said in return was, "As you wish."
Such a simple phrase and yet so deep in meaning that it took her so long to see the truth in it. Everything he did for her was a sign of his devotion and it didn't take long for her to realize just how deeply she had come to love him in return. They grew closer after that, opening themselves to one another only strengthening their bond. When her father died, she wasn't alone, she had someone to cling to. Pardel was the only one in the world who knew what she could do, how she Saw her father's death before it came. She had been terrified and yet he soothed her.
And he had left her. Nikki knew why, and yet it still hurt. Her lands were fertile enough, with just enough food to support the two of them together, maybe even a family. But they knew they wouldn't be able to protect it. Her father had only been allowed his territory by another lion, from a larger pride. It was this lion that made sure no others would try to take it. With her father dead, Nikki's lands were forfeit and Pardel had no claim to them. He left to find a territory for themselves, or even a pride that would suit them, somewhere they could live in safety.
Her heart ached, watching him go. He wouldn't let her go with, it was too dangerous an adventure and they both knew while she could fight against preybeasts, she couldn't go against the rogue lions that might attack them and he couldn't fight and protect her at the same time if there was more than one enemy.
So she stayed behind, hoping the king would not hear of her father's death for some time, waiting for her true love to return.
Nikki moved to her den and walked around it, climbing on top of the hill it was dug into. She watched him walking, towards the rising sun and the sea, joined by several other lions no doubt also looking for their fortunes. It was odd, he was so far away now, but he seemed so close. The shadows of dawn were still wavering on the land, slowing disappearing that she didn't notice the shadows moving until they set upon his group. Nikki wanted to scream and run to him, but she was frozen in place, her voice strangled by horror as several lions attacked her love, her only love. He was a brave fighter, but no match for the brutes ganging up on him and his fellows. His group was struck down, all she could see was shapes now, of lions and leopards slashing into some of the group, of wild dogs cornering others before tearing out throats. And Pardel...
She watched him fall, struck down by the heavy paw of a huge beast of a lion. Her heart crumbling away, she watched as the monster put a paw on her true love's throat, pressing down until Pardel stopped moving.
Leinikki woke with a scream, her eyes wide. She was in her den, it had just been a dream!
She looked around quickly... But Pardel was gone. All that was left was the strip of red cloth he had given her, to think of him while he was away. A wail left her throat as she buried her face in the cloth, her heart shattered at the knowledge that her beloved was gone, taken from her. She knew the markings on those creatures, the adornments through ears and weaved in manes. They were pirates, pirates had murdered her love.
She felt hollow, she wanted to die, but she couldn't do anything but lie there and sob.
The only thing she truly knew at that moment was that she would never love again.
Word Count: 1,030
