Haracha loomed over her kill with pride. It had been ages since she had dropped out a tree onto her target, and it filled her to the brim with happiness to know that she still had it in her.
She ripped through the hooved beasts tanned flesh, ingesting hair and tissue alike. Haracha didn't have long at all to feast before she would have to move on, so treeing the meal wasn't an option. Manners and decorum flew out the window. The only thing that mattered at the moment was filling her stomach, and getting the hell out of town.
She couldn't do it. She wouldn't do it. The last few days she had spent in Izin's company were some of the best she had ever had, and though she did not love the leopard, she felt something akin to friendship for him. A protective need to shelter him from the horrors that were trying to ******** with his life.
Haracha lifted her muzzle for air, instantly drooping her head with shame. She couldn't, she just couldn't...
Where was she? Izin had been searching all day, scouring the parched terrain in the heat until the sun began to set. The night before he had just convinced Haracha to sleep next to him in the den, and now...Now he couldn't find her. He panicked. She was on her own somewhere in the rogue lands, and sure to find more trouble than she could handle on her own.
Of course it occurred to him that she had left of her own free will. It hurt less to imagine her being kidnapped, but it didn't make it right. Haracha wasn't happy with him and his family. It was as simple as that. However, he wouldn't let her die on her own. As capable as she was, anything could happen to a lone female in the darkness.
He picked up the trail of blood and followed it, hoping beyond hope that it wasn't hers. In his frenzy he couldn't tell, so it was a huge relief to the love sick male to have found his Juliet. "Haracha!" Izin squeaked, bounding over to her side. "Where have you been? I've been looking for you all day!" Seeing the look she was giving him, he gave a half-hearted chuckle. "If you wanted to hunt I could have helped you." Even to his ears, his voice sounded small. He wanted an explanation, but he didn't want to make her mad.
The leopardess licked the blood from her muzzle, her tongue running over a piece of meat that she later slurped up. She simply stared at the leopard before her before giving in to a deep, profound sigh. He was worried about her. He had problem panicked, screamed and raged to his family before running off after her. It was sweet, truly it was, and it made her heart ache. However, he couldn't have picked a worse thing to do.
"I'm leaving." She stated bluntly. "It's been fun, but my time here is up." Lies. You could stay longer, if you wanted. Be safe. Cared for. Loved.
"Wha-what?" Izin's hesitant smile slipped away. It felt like his heart had started to tear at the seams. Bit by agonizing bit, she was digging her claws through the soft tissue and leaving gashes in her wake. "Why? I thought you were happy with us?" With me?
He stepped forward, ears folded against his head as his lower lip quivered. Izin didn't want to admit it, but it was clear that he was on the verge of a break down. "What's wrong? What did they say to you? You can tell me. I won't tell, I promise."
"Stop that s**t, it's embarrassing." Haracha turned her head to the pitiful display. It burned her soul to watch it, in more ways that one. "Did you really think I could love someone like you? A sad sap of a runt who can't let go of mother's tail?" She snapped. Get angry. Be vicious. Make sure you hurt him as much as it's all going to hurt you.
"I came here under Xandeleigh's orders to seduce, and trick you into doing her bidding. Gods alive, you're so stupid! Couldn't you even see when someone was faking it?"
"So you were lying this entire time?" Izin was shaking. His entire body vibrated with a torrent of emotion, sending tears streaming down his face. "You lied to me?!" He screamed. "I told you everything. I told you things about myself that I would never dream of telling anyone else, and do you know why? Because I love you! I love you so much Haracha that it hurts, and you just..." He dipped his head down and bit his lower lip. He didn't want to say all these mean things to her, but he just...he couldn't stop himself.
"I hate that I love you. I HATE IT. Why couldn't you just tell me? If you did, I would have helped you. Liars ******** up my family from the start, and you know what, I'm ******** tired of them. I'm tired of YOU. If you're so dead set on ruining whatever life you could have had here, then get out!"
"FINE." Haracha screamed, sending a flock of birds fluttering around her. Her fangs were bared, standing paw to paw with the bawling leopard. Something about his eyes settled her, though. As furious as he looked and sounded, his eyes were still soft, still crying. She had broken his soul, and she wanted so desperately to fix it.
"You deserve someone better than me, damn it!" She shook her head, closing her eyes before her own tears emerged. "I don't love you; I can't love you, but I don't want to hurt you. Can't you see that? If I stayed, you would only get into worse trouble. Xandeleigh would come after you and steal every cub you ever had. Do you want a life like that?"
"That's what this is about? Xandeleigh?" He took a deep breath to steady his frayed nerves. "You're afraid of her, aren't you?" When she shook her head, he stepped closer. "You are! Admit it! She's help you by the neck for a while, and you're starting to see what life would be like without her."
When he was close enough to lick her, Izin turned her head to face him. "Please, don't leave me." Izin sucked in a breath, and exhaled on a hiccup. "I know I said some really bad things, but I still do love you. " He gently reached up to caress her face. "It doesn't matter if you don't love me. I'll give you anything you ever want, so long as you stay. Family, food, shelter, and someone to talk to. Isn't that what you really want?"
"Yes...No...I don't know." Haracha shook her head, breaking free of the hold he had on her. "I don't know, okay?! Is that what you wanted to hear?" She couldn't stop the tears now. They felt warm and heavy on her cheeks; symbols of the hate she felt for herself finally starting to burn away. "I don't want to do this anymore. I don't want to be her tool any longer. She terrifies me, and hurts me so I'll do what she wants, but I can't take it any more!"
"I just want to stay here, with you. I've never felt as accepted as I am around here, but I feel so lost when you tell me about "love". I just...don't feel it like you do."
Even without her consent, Izin wrapped his paws around the misting leopardess and pulled her close. "That's okay. We can be there for each other, and so long as you don't cheat, it's okay. Anytime you want to go, you can, but for right now, I need you. And I know you need me too." He nuzzled into her fur, wiping away the remnants of his own tears. "You're like poison, Haracha. Taken in small doses I think I can build up a resistance." He smiled.
She chuckled lightly. "Oh, do you now? I'm more of a toxin, any way. Watch out for my fangs or you'll never come back out of this alive." Still, she fell back into his embrace with a nervous heart.
It felt good to be there like that, nestled up close to him, and to still feel free. One day, with his support, she would break free from Xandeleigh for good, but right now, it felt right just staying with him. To know that she didn't have to hide anything anymore, and could still feel secure in a relationship.
"Poison, huh? Only the sweetest for my man." She joked.
(WC: 1457 )
