[PRP] I Am Greater (Jalal and Inam'ul Haqq)

[Ameh]

It was another afternoon in the Ukuucha'Wafalme in Akram'raja's den, and one of his sons had decided to wander out to the entrance after an afternoon nap. His identical twin, Jalil, was still inside; such a pity Jalil had to feel lazier right now. He could have done with some travelling outside with his favorite twin. Ah, well.

Though Akram'raja ran the den like a strict camp, always punishing them whenever anyone said something remotely out of line or acted without poise and respect, the young pads were still allowed some things. Their father was still proud of them, and he was lucky to have been blessed as a son from Akram'raja's first litter. He and his twin could not get the title of firstborn son, though, but they were still regarded highly. It was more than he could say for even Akram'raja's females. A smirk appeared on his face as that thought crossed his mind. Ah, what a beautiful day to be a pad.  

[Bronze Coffee]

Pad, shmad. Inam'ul Haqq could care less about being a pad because everything slid off of his shoulders like water. Yes, his father ran a very strict den, but that's how he liked it. Why would he be mad about that? Their father had a specific way of how he wanted his family to act and why shouldn't he? Pads could do that. Until he was out on his own, he would have to follow his father's rules.

Who knew? Maybe he'd run his own den like this. Though, he had a feeling not all of his siblings enjoyed being told what to do every minute of the day. Today, however, was a better day. Their dad was gone and the atmosphere just shifted into one of relaxation. Something that the older ones seemed to love.

Inam'ul didn't care. He played all the time when he could. There was hardly a restful day to the little juvenile. Between getting trained in hunting, being taught how to capture a female and how to treat one, Inam'ul was one of the more put together of the youngsters in the den. Why everyone had themselves all stressed out was beyond him.

Stretching out as he emerged from the den, he spotted Jalal and grinned. Time to play! He tried to sneak up behind the moon marked male, intent on pouncing on his back and digging his claws in 'riding' his brother until he got bucked off. He just hoped it worked that way!  

[Ameh]

Hmm... He sensed something was amiss just a few moments after he stepped out into the open. Akram'raja was away somewhere, always on his important duties. He breathed a sigh of partial relief; though he admired his great pad of a dad for all his reputation, Jalal appreciated not being on his toes all the time and watching how he acted at times. It wasn't that he disliked times when his father was around; it was that when he was around, there were high expectations and though Jalal could live up to them, he still had youthful energy in him that made him want to be lazy sometimes, too!

He was almost lost in thought. He was almost lost in thought because he was still able to sense something was amiss, which is why he stopped his thought process and perked an ear. Were they the small steps of paws coming from inside the den? Surely there were many back there to come out suddenly, even now. But it was not Jalil, for he knew these things. Both of them easily were able to tell when the other was near, or even what the other was thinking. In a way, he was very grateful to have an identical twin, and though he wouldn't admit it, he was also grateful to be the elder one!

"HEY!" he yelled suddenly, turning back with a fierce stare at the dark brown splotchy half-brother when he realized what was happening.

Jalal moved a paw to swat at Inam'ul Haqq's side, trying to push the juvenile over to the ground. He frowned, not finding the moment particularly endearing.

"Pesar Inam'ul Haqq," he said his half-brother's name with disappointment in his voice, "Are you daring to get your dirty paws on me?"

His frown widened, and his teal eyes stared skeptically at the kajira's son. What a pity he had to live with these things that were half related.  

[Bronze Coffee]

When he was swatted and pushed to the side, Inam let out a growl before getting back up and shaking himself off. God, Jalal could be a bit of a jerk sometimes! Frowning, those odd colored eyes of his looked to his paws, inspecting them. They weren't that dirty. He'd had a bath this morning and he'd just finished grooming himself. So they had dust from the den floor on them. Big deal. What made Jalal the best in the pride when father left?

Wrinkling his nose, he sat down and shrugged. "What, too good to play with your brother?" he asked, tone neutral. He wasn't trying to start anything, but he just wanted to play. The atmosphere certainly was right for it. His cub brain couldn't understand why Jalal wouldn't want to play with him. Didn't everyone play at some point?  

[Ameh]

Great. He had the kajira's kid growling at him and taking him literally. Jalal rolled his eyes. Jalil might have been a bit too easy on Inam at times, but Jalal knew that everyone in their den had a place they belonged in, and Inam was definitely not someone he should pay heed to.

"Play?" he questioned the word, a little disgusted that he could be associated with that childish term.

"I'm a pad now," he stated, "And if I did play with someone, it would most certainly not be..."

Jalal paused. He then sighed, giving in a little reluctantly. Although Inam came from the kajira, his father still wished his sons - all of them - to be treated with dignity. They were, after all, his children, and anything with his blood was bound to be great. His father wouldn't have had it any way. Even he could combine blood with a kajira and make her legacy a lot more decent. He better not just shrug off Inam; and if Inam was here for the moment, he might as well entertain the situation.

"Well, Pesar Inam'ul Haqq," he said again, looking at the brown thing that almost eerily looked a lot like their father, but with splotches, "I always did think you were the better looking kid from her. Aren't you grateful to look a lot like father."

He sighed again, looking away to the outside, "Dare I ask what is your suggestion? I know you are privileged to be father's son, but I am not so sure you are allowed outside by yourself just yet..."  

[Bronze Coffee]

The insults stung, though they were not really said. Just the implied insults were what cut the cub down. Looking off to the side, Inam just shrugged and sat there, sighing, defeated that his own brother would imply such things.

Then the way he spoke about him and his siblings, it made Inam uncomfortable and defensive. His fur bristled slightly and he looked up to his elder brother. He'd always been looking up to the elders because they were model Pads. What he should aspire to be. However, how Jalal was not something he wanted to be. The snide remarks, the insults, the tone he took.

"....Nothing. Nevermind. It doesn't matter anyway," he said, getting back to his paws. "I don't want to do anything with you." He didn't even want to call Jalal a brother anymore. He was wounded. His pride, his feelings. He was a Pesar despite his mother being a Kajira. He just felt like going to curl up with his siblings and crying. It was stupid, to let these remarks hurt. But he heard the whispers before. It was pent up hurt that was threatening to break the wall he built in himself.  

[Ameh]

Jalal was simply oblivious to exactly how much of a put down he was giving Inam. Even their father might not have approved of any of it, although competition was encouraged among the boys; whoever came out on top surely would win father's greatest blessings.

He turned a blind eye to the sighs, the shrugs, the angered expressions. What did make him notice was Inam's reply. Jalal actually took a moment to look at Inam, turning his head completely, instead of gazing off to the side absentmindedly. Now that was a complete and quick change of mind. He wondered why that was.

"The abruptness of your paws and the rash sentiment. You are so sure, Pesar Inam'ull Haqq? We do share the same blood and den, so I believe it is nigh impossible to not have anything to do with me. Come, I will escort you out and show you some of the ladies I've been astounding."

He raised a paw outwards to the brown little juvenile, a kindly gesture of what he could muster.  

[Bronze Coffee]

So he was going to brag about the females he'd been talking to? Like the dark cub wanted anything to do with that. His fur bristled as he swiped at his brother's paw, shaking his head. "Go get your own den already! I don't know why I even bother with you. You're never nice, no matter what anyone says to you. You don't really care about me, so stop acting like you're a good brother. You're such a jerk!"

Inam's good mood was ruined by his brother's words and actions. He stayed where he was, making no move to leave. Seriously, why didn't Inam just move out into his own den already. The stupid jerk had to stay around and be near him all the time. "Maybe I'll start sleeping somewhere else! I don't need you. I don't need you or anyone else."

His voice started to shake like he was going to start crying. In all actuality, he probably was going to. But his head was hung and he hoped what mane he did have covered his face enough that the tears weren't seen. "Just go away...."

His last words were just full of sadness rather than the anger. His anger was flooding out of him with every tear that streamed down his cheeks and managed to get soaked into his chest fur.  

[Ameh]

When Jalal's paw was met with a swipe that he considered uncalled for, he frowned and retracted it, almost wanting to swat back at the younger lion's face. But he resisted, knowing someone would have watched and gotten him into trouble - not that he thought his father would get particularly mad, since Akram'raja did physically punish signs of disrespect. Perhaps that's what he should have done, then? Jalal just huffed, taking in Inam's foolishness.

"While I may not care about you, half-brother, I acknowledge that we are part of our father's prestigious family, and I would caution you to hold that tongue of yours before he comes by and catches it," he said sternly.

He didn't really notice what Inam was doing until some seconds of silence passed and he glanced once more at Inam. His frown lengthened and frustration rose when he realized his half-brother was crying. Oh, the foolishness of it all... Where was Jalil when he needed his twin?

"As you wish, then," he said simply, just wanting to retire out of the scene.

It was a little too much for him. What was he to do in front of a weeping half-sibling? Both of them knew it would bring Akram'raja's name a shame, so maybe he wouldn't even bring it up to anyone other than Jalil. Jalal then stood up slowly, eyes closed, and walked out of the den.

"Enjoy the rest of your afternoon, Pesar."  

[Bronze Coffee]

It wasn't his fault what his mother was. It wasn't his fault... So why did it always land on him? Why was he the one to carry the burden? His other siblings didn't have it this bad. Was it because he looked the most like father? He hated it. He hated his family. Every single member of them but his litter mates.

His stupid half siblings were all jerks who picked on them way to much. Their father paid little attention to them aside from making sure they were fed. Even the other den mothers didn't look after them. Surly he wasn't the first in this position, but he felt so isolated and alone.

Stupid Jalal. Ruined his good mood on a perfect day like today. He let out a whining sound as his brother turned around before he spoke up again, voice thick with tears. "It's not my fault! It's not... Stop acting like it is..." He coughed between words and gasped for breath he was trying to stop crying so hard. His body was shaking. He tried to step after Jalal, but his footing was shaky and he fell onto the ground with a lifeless thud. Closing his eyes, he had the notion to just stay there and wither away.

"I didn't do anything..."  

[Ameh]

Jalal was just going to let the situation pass, leave Inam to himself, and just walk away... The whine he let go, but the crippled voice that drifted towards him made him stop his tracks. His ears flattened as if ashamed of what was happening, and he waited for Inam to finish speaking before he turned back tentatively to the crying and coughing kid. It made him feel pity, definitely, and second, embarrassed. He looked around, surveying the scene. Thank the goodness no one was around to witness this interaction.

When the juvenile fell down, Jalal stared at the quivering form in some form of disbelief and bewilderment. It definitely was not his duty to take care of a crying cub, especially one of the pesars that hung around the den, but... He wasn't sure of what to do at all.

"Inam," he said informally, "I most certainly did not say anything was your fault and am not sure what you are talking about. Put yourself together, Inam, I know you can do it because we are all strong here. Right?"

He sighed, walking up to the juvenile, though staying in a standing position so that he didn't get attacked in a vulnerable spot in case Inam wanted to take a swipe again.

"Just get up and we'll forget this happened."  

[Bronze Coffee]

He looked up at his elder half-brother and sniffled, letting out another noise as he looked away from him, cheek pressed to the ground, getting mud from a mixture of dirt and tears. To forget this all? Maybe Jalal could, but Inam knew he couldn't. Still.... His father wouldn't be happy to hear of his actions and this display of open emotion.

He was supposed to bottle up these feelings.

Flattening his ears against his head, the brown cub got up into a sitting position and stayed looking away from his brother. "...." What could he say to that? His brows just knit and Inam's chest hurt. His breathing was coming in odd patterns because he stopped to cough every once in a while and sniffle.

Strong here? They were all strong here? Hardly. Inam wasn't strong. He may have his father's blood in his veins but he had none of the strength. Why did he have to carry such a name at such a young age? Why did his mother have to be a Kajira? Why wasn't life fair and fun like it should be? The other cubs all managed to have fun, so why was it harder on Inam?

These questions would never have answers. "..... I'm going home," he murmured, turning around without another word. He would go back to the den and clean himself up. Then he was going to go to his little corner and just sleep the rest of the day and night away. Jalal was going to tell everyone, despite what he said. Or at least his twin. Then his twin was going to tell everyone. Either way, he knew sooner or later father was going to come scold him. He didn't have the energy to think about that anymore.

So, off he went, tail between his legs, head hanging, into the darkness that was the den.  

[Ameh]

Although Jalal's advice was met with cold silence, he couldn't have made any further remarks, else risk having the poor half-brother cry more than he already was. When Inam finally elected to go back into the den, Jalal nodded and waited until the smaller figure disappeared into their home. He wasn't quite sure if he could comprehend all the turmoil that occurred within Inam, but he didn't even want to bother with it. So, all was well.

"How troubling," he murmured to himself as he stepped back towards the middle of the pride where he had been headed towards, once he sensed Inam's presence was no longer there.

It was just a difficult situation, and perhaps one that only needed to be said to Jalil. Even Jalal did not know how Akram'raja would take to this, but either way it was not good for their reputation. How many banu would look away if they knew he made children cry!