Safi stalked through the undergrowth with all the grace of a pissed elephant. Even though he was externally quiet, inside he was screaming. Why?! Why would they even THINK about having cubs if this.....if this was going to be the result?
Isit lifted her head smelling Safi. A smile grew on her maw as she slowly pulled her tail up out of view. When he got closer, she carefully snagged a piece of fruit with her claws and then let fly. SPLAT!
Bright orange juice and fruit pulp appeared on his snow white coat as Isit rolled form the tree to land before him, a playful grin on her face, though it faded seeing the turmoil in her twin's eyes. She ducked her head in apology for pelting him with fruit.
"WHO THE HEL-?!" Safi roared, swiping fruit pulp from his fur in quick, agitated swipes. He was mad enough to kill whoever had dared - "Oh." He stopped when his twin appeared, and a part of him instantly felt guilty for taking the playful grin from her face. "Hey, it's fine. Who knows? Maybe it might sweeten me up some."
She immediately went to his side with a smile to help groom the ick from his fur. She flicked her head, pink eyes asking him what was wrong even as she worked the mess from his white fur.
His own orchid eyes traveled over her dark fur, and with a sigh he sat down to give her better access. "Have you...ever thought about your future?"
She paused mid-lick to look at him for a moment. Future? She shrugged and returned to her grooming. Her future was here, with the family.
Safi shook his head, tossing his thick, coarse mane into the humid air. "Did you know that hybrids can't have cubs? Or at least, that it's freakishly rare?" He prompted, his voice thick with irritation. Not at her, obviously, but at the circumstances gifted to him by the Gods.
Isit stopped again blinking surprised. She couldn't have cubs? Her tail twitched for a moment as she thought of it, then shrugged again. If she couldn't have them, she couldn't have them. However, she could see this was clearly upsetting him.
The ivory leopon leapt to his feet and turned on his sister. "Doesn't that bother you?!" His voice rose so quickly a flock of birds scattered from the trees. "Everyone else has it, BUT us. Hell, even the bugs can reproduce, but we can't." Why am I the only one that sees the problem?
She flinched away from him eyes wide in panic for a moment before relaxing. The rest of the world she would stand up to and kick their asses, but him..not so much. Her ears flicked for a moment before she nosed the scars on his shoulder her eyes sad. She nearly got him killed that day, she couldn't protect him so how could she protect a family?
"Get away from me." Safi stepped back. The last thing he wanted right now was someone trying to comfort him, or worse, drag him back into his memories. He had bigger fish to fry. "I should have just died," he growled. "It would have been better. At least then I wouldn't be looked at like a sterile freak."
Her eyes were stricken but she stepped back from him as asked, ears disappearing back into her thick fur. She hunched down miserably watching him.
"Seriously?" Safi started to pace, the fluff around his body shifting around his scarred flesh. "I just...and it....Argh!" He swiped at a tree, then pulled back with a wince when his shoulder gave out.
Isit huffed then her annoyance growing. Well he certainly didn't have to have cubs, he was doing fine acting like on right now.
Safi stretched up against the tree, his forepaws scaling it as high as they could until he was standing upright. With a huff, he leaned his forehead against the bark. "You know..." He pondered. "I could just pilfer a couple, you know."
She nodded at that ears slowly perking again. She wouldn't mind helping him if he wanted her to steal some cubs for him to raise.
He turned around slowly, his eyes sparkling sapphires with impish glee. "Are you up for it? We'll only take a couple, and only from a large litter. And while we're at it, how about strong cubs. No runts."
She gave him a arched look, what was this we? He wasn't suited for night pilfering while she was. Thinking she held up one claw. They would take one from each mother. A pang went through her chest thinking of their own mother and how her heart would break if she had lost one of them, but anything to make Safi happy again.
"What? Someone has to distract the mother." He grinned. She would leave her den at some point, and if he could keep her away long enough for his twin to sneak away with the prize...."Fine. One it is. And don't look like that. A single mother with a large litter won't be able to give them all the love they need, anyway."
She pointed at him again and made a face. Especially one like him, a brat! Her nose wrinkled in a smile as she nodded. Besides she was sure their father wouldn't object to some new, strong blood being brought into the family.
Safi just rolled his eyes. "Whatever. Just get the job done right." He padded past her, brushing his tail up against hers in the process. "Come on. We have work to do."
She butted her head affectionately against his jaw, glad he was back in good spirits, giving him that rough/scratchy sound that was her purr as she licked his shoulder and bound off into the night.If he wanted cubs, then by the Gods she would find him cubs and just hope their father didn't disown them for bringing back more brats!
(word 100 cool
