The days had come and gone, the shadows shifting across the wasteland, pivoting with the sun to offer a little respite from the sun's hot rays. Wind came in from the east, scattering dust to hide the paw prints that had passed across the surface of that thirsty land where green had turned to gold and the rivers had run to muddy swamps that threatened to suck at hooves and paws and hold captives. The same wind now whistled through the bars of an exposed rib cage of an animal caught in the mud, picked clean by vultures and - perhaps - other carnivores who had been stupid or starving enough to risk their lives for a meal. Still, despite this area clearly in need of a drink, the dark clouds brewing on the horizon spelt better times ahead. A rainstorm to bring the grass and flowers. And with it the insects and the birds and the herbivores and so the circle of life would continue on, flourishing - if only for a short amount of time.

Merikh was looking leaner than he had before, his head slightly stooped from having the huge python looped around his neck, her tail tapping against his chest and her head resting against his back, her chin upon one of the bumps of his spine. It was not because he was fond of her, of course. It was easier to carry her. Faster. Besides, what a sight it would be to behold him, wrapped in the coils of a fierce, scarred snake whom looked big enough to fear nothing. Strangers would not know the truth of it. That, despite her fierce appearance she was, in fact, a rather sweet and sensitive creature who was only a danger to rodents and birds and perhaps, on the odd occasion, a rabbit or two. Watching her eat the larger prey was certainly a sight to behold and, though he knew she meant him no harm, it still sent a shudder down his spine.

"Rain," she hissed softly from her place on his back, "the taste of it is on the air."

He gave only a short huff of breath in response and padded on, trying to forget the gnawing hunger in his belly and the dull ache pounding with each step that he took. His paws, it seemed, were still needing to toughen up.

"Are you well?" she queried.

He gave a snort in response but slowed his pace a little, hiding a smile from his face as she briefly tightened her coils in something akin to an embrace. Was it weak of him to so readily accept her as a companion? He had pretended not to care. To want nothing more than to be rid of her. Yet, despite the pretence, it seemed that Panna had seen right through him. She knew he had been lonely. Knew he had needed a friend. After a moment he gave a sigh and drew to a ragged halt, hopping up onto a flat slab of rock where he slumped to take a breather.

With a soft hiss, she loosened herself from about his neck and dropped down into the dry grasses, touching the air with her tongue. Perhaps she had also scented food.

What she said instead was; "lion."

"Anyone you know?"

"No."

He paused to scent the air, though it took him a great deal longer to catch a trace of it on the breeze. Strangely, the scent was familiar. "Hm."

She turned her head curiously but he looked away and, after a time, she declared her wish to hunt and slipped silently into the grass. He watched her go and, after giving it a moment or two, gathered his paws back beneath him and turned in the direction of the scent.

He was travelling perhaps thirty minutes before he came upon a male. Alone, though there was another scent about him. Merikh knew the male. Anger stirred within him. A surprisingly murderous rage that had him charging out towards the other, declaring a challenge with a growl like approaching thunder.

The male startled a moment then froze and for a long moment the two males did nothing but stare at one another, a cloud casting them into shadow before revealing the sun once more. Distantly, a flock of birds took to the sky with a clamour and, at last, the males squared off.

"Why, if it is not Tomorbaatar, a long way from home."

The male seemed surprisingly nervous- not at all the confident loner he remembered from his past. Perhaps it had something to do with the female he smelt on him. An affair outside of the pride? Not strictly forbidden, of course,
but not strictly by the rules, either.

"What's wrong? Do you not remember me?"

There was a long moment when he thought that the Nergui spy did not know him and then, recognition flared in his eyes and he knew that he was remembered. He closed the distance between them, filling the silence with a warning growl that signified - very clearly - that this was not a joyous reunion.

"Little kruvvuda," Tomorbaatar replied, his dawning smile cruel.

"Sad. You give me insult and I once called you friend and brother."

"You brought insult upon yourself."

"Shut your mouth!" Merikh roared, lunging forwards.

The Nergui stayed put, setting his paws firm against the ground and lowering his head.

"What? You mean to kill me? As if I were to blame for your failures? You have no one to blame but yourself."

"Spoken like a true follower of Tra Ord Omak."

The steel-blue male gave a dismissive shrug.

"What are you doing out here?"

"I am shuko. I have a job that takes me far and wide."

"And to another female?"

Tomorbaatar sneered, "what is this? Some pathetic attempt at manipulating me? I care nothing for outsiders except for the information they can provide. I wonder if the horde would be interested to hear that you survived."

"Probably not," Merikh replied, "take back my head and you might get a few laughs out of some. Nothing worthy of promotion." And what could be said to that? Nothing, for it was truth.

"You would be wise not to attack me."

"I would kill you," Merikh replied without hesitation. The fury brewing in him was enough to drive him to it, he was sure. Whether he would escape unscathed, however, was another matter entirely. He noted the cautious light creep into his adversary's eyes, however and took pleasure in it.

"You have no warm words for me, then?"

"Why would I?"

He wasn't sure why he felt so betrayed, but he did. "You left me."

"It is the Nergui way."

Merikh knew it, but that made nothing better, "I have hated you since that day, brother."

"Your hatred means little to me."

"I will make you pay for it, someday."

"You against the horde?"

"Me against you. Out here there is no horde to protect you. I should watch your back, if I were you."

"What is the need? You are easy to leave behind."

Merikh lost it, then, throwing himself at the spy with all the strength he could muster. The pair clashed in a flail of limbs and though his teeth sank down into a thick tuft of mane, he felt claws run sharp, hot lines on his underbelly. There was a brief scuffle and then Tomorbaatar was free and making a getaway, leaving him lying on the ground with a spinning sky above his head.

Coward, he thought, closing his eyes against the revolving sky. and old hurts torn wide open

/fin