The bulky leopard had taken a break from his work as a Shifter in the Ulili-Mlindaji, taking an ancient pathway up away from the young pride’s new homeland and into the jagged, snow-covered peeks that stood guard high above. By noon he had left the familiar rocks of home behind and stood high up on a neighbouring peek, the valley of the Ulili-Mlindaji spread out like a tapestry far below. The brown-furred male was not a leopard that required company all the while and the solitude high above the world was peaceful to him, calming after the frantic day to day toil of a shifter. Not that he disliked his role in the pride, he held great respect for his pride and knew that while his was not the most glamorous job, it was vital for the wellbeing of the pride.
Yet every so often it was nice to take a break, slip out of the work harness he had made some time ago to aid with the heavy lifting demanded of him, and simply escape into the clear, sharp wilderness of the mountains they all so loved. He was not afraid of becoming lost, or of straying too far, these jagged peaks were his home and just as he respected them, he also trusted in their enduring agelessness.
This morning the sky was crystal clear, affording him a gods-eye view of the rolling hills and flat plains to the east and the yellowed vastness of the prairie to the south. Behind him the mountains rose up in their everlasting glory, an army of strength and endurance. The burning heat down in the lowlands did not reach up here, where the chill of winter remained throughout the year. The crisp freshness was refreshing to Katashi and he knew he would spend the day up in the mountain heights. What he hadn’t counted on and certainly hadn’t expected, was the sudden scent of another wild thing up here. A red-blooded hunter of tooth and claw. Turning he faced into the wind, scenting the air with that peculiar, totally feline manner in which his long pink tongue lolled out and his lips drew back from needle-sharp canines. Panting in short, sharp bursts he drew the illusive scent closer, allowing it to fill his mouth and nose with that distinctive musty smell of lion. Turning he faced a nearly invisible faintly winding pathway that led from the small plateau upon which he stood, and trailed away into the rocky scree of the mountainside.
Not ten minutes later the solid, steady beat of paws reached the alert leopard and he shifted, putting the trail before him and the safety of the mountain behind, having no desire to chance upon a rogue gone mad and be barrelled over the cliff edge by mindless rage. Instead, a few minutes later, a big black and blue-coloured lion strode confidently round the corner, yet there was no madness to him. His expression was calm and sane, his dark coat healthy under the fine mountain dust that clung to it. His body was muscled and sleek, certainly well fed for a rogue. Green eyes met pale blue as the two large predators regarded each other. The leopard, at home in this mountain wilderness where agility and quickness were paramount… and the lion, Lord of all, a creature of brute strength and endurance.
Kato was the first to break their silent stand-off, relaxing the muscles of his shoulders and allowing a grin to flicker across his muzzle. Katashi, with all the reservation of his species when confronted with the king of all beasts, took longer to relax, drawing his haunches close under him until carefully he sat, tail curled loosely about his hind quarters. “Greetings. I did not expect to see another up this high.” The quiet, calm politeness of the shifter’s tone was only slightly altered by this most unusual of meeting places, his tone a touch reserved instead of the friendly distance he usually displayed. Never one to be overly emotional, he waited for the lion’s response. Kato, as full of personality as the leopard seemed to lack it, grinned wider at the other male’s reserved manner of speech as if amused by it. “Nor did I. Certainly not a pridal cat.” Kato smirked at the faintly surprised look in the leopard’s eyes, even though the brown stranger did not show much emotion, it was enough to cause Kato to chuckle to himself. “Aye, I know you come from that pride with the stones… I’ve seen you working.” Ok.. so Kato had only seen him late yesterday evening and had assumed the fact that the leopard was part of the pride he had heard tell was in the area, but there was no need for the stranger to know that. Better to appear to know more than you did, than to seem ignorant.
Katashi, momentarily surprised by the lion’s knowledge, recovered his composure and simply nodded. “I am part of the Ulili-Mlindaji, the shrine-keepers. You know of us then?” Relaxed now that it was clear the lion was not crazed or hungry, or simply annoyed enough to pick a fight, the over-sized leopard was curious. He had not seen this black male around, but then, being as he worked in the ‘non-public’ areas of the pride where incomplete shrines were located, it was hardly surprising that he did not see many of their visitors.
Kato gave a lazy, non-committal shrug. “Your pride keeps shrines to the gods, and allow others to come and visit them.” So yes, he did know a little about them, his mother had made him learn by rote the prides that were around her main stalking grounds, and that had included those that were further afield but may be useful to know about. For some reason Kato had never figured out, she had made sure he had learned of several unusual prides… and this one, the ‘shrine keepers’ had seemed to hold a peculiar fascination for her. He had never understood her emotions but had dutifully learned the names and general locals of each pride she deemed appropriate.
Katashi nodded, glancing down the mountainside towards where the finished and unfinished shrines of his pride lay like miniature piles of pebbles a distance below, framed by the rich emerald of the mountain grasses. “Indeed… there are shrines to many gods, some well known, some obscure. Anyone can join and devote themselves to a shrine and because of that we have a very eclectic collection.” Here the leopards eyes crinkled with a silently amused smile. Some of the shrines he had built had been dedicated to deities even he had found surprising. But he was not there to judge others, only to provide a service. “You are more than welcome to visit.” He added, even as the lion chuckled again, the sound deep and amused.
“I just may.” Kato replied, pale eyes sparkling with mirth. “I just may at that.” He repeated a little quieter, thoughtfully this time. Nodding to the leopard he continued along the path, pausing just as he reached the far bend. "Farwell."
Katashi nodded, a faint smile curling across his maw. "Safe journey." He replied, though the dark lion was long gone.
(Word count = 1,210)
