by B C Penling
Zen stood, gave his regards to Old Arley and Aunt Merni who was sobbing and waving a handkerchief. He exited the room and padded down the cavernous hall to the central cave and began the climb up the pathway to the exit. Every dwarf watched them leave and quietly waved their farewells.
The cave at the top of the path harbored a chill. Near the end of the hall, weak snow flurries had scattered a delicate dusting of white crystalline flakes upon the floor that melted beneath Zen’s feet as he trod on them. The moonlight had found a hole in the clouds and shined its light through. It briefly illuminated a small piece of the mountainside below them.
“You said Ouris, right?” Zen asked.
“Yes,” Kijo replied. “It’s precisely sunwake from Bledsoe Peak. If that is not clear enough directions then I’ll explain it more.”
“No need. I know exactly where it is.” He unfurled his wings and a gust of wind filled their membranes. Although it was freezing air that filled them, Zen loved the feeling. “Hold on tightly.”
Arley began kicking his feet excitedly in anticipation of flight. “Go! Go!” Arley urged.
Zen couldn’t help but smile at his enthusiasm. It was a feeling they both shared. So, like a riding mount, he yielded to the dwarf’s stubby legs and stepped off the edge. Arley gave a pleased shout of excitement as they dropped slightly before catching the wind currents and turning sunwake into the dark, stormy sky.
CHAPTER 25
FELISIAN HOME
The spread of light blue sky was broken by scattered rain-laden gray clouds. Saia looked at the snowcapped mountains far to the north. The Bledsoe Mountains, in all their grandeur were still massive upon the horizon despite the distance. They had received a new dusting of snow from the prior night’s brief storm. Storm clouds to the sunrest indicated the growing threat of another storm that appeared to be stronger than the last.
The chill wind that blew across the plains gave Saia the hint of a harsh winter. The Plains of Felis didn’t receive snow like the mountains but rather a lot of rain and wind that resulted in the thick, long grass that blanketed the entire expanse of Felis.
She returned her attention to the sparring ring where two young felions were sparring. She was to go after Thera and fight a black felion with gray stripes whose name was Tigen. He had the eyes of storm clouds, gray with an inkling of lightning. He had quite a charming personality and a deep intelligence that rooted him in self-assurance. Although his eyes were fierce, he wasn’t the fiercest fighter in the pride. He was too smart and skilled for sparring and preferred to apply both those abilities while hunting. Because of that, she was thankful he was her sparring partner since she still favored her leg a little. It had mostly healed, thanks to the old man’s secretive ways.
Although she was an oddity even among the felions, they never treated her any different than one of their own. Their expectations of her upbringing were the same as any other young felion. She was to hunt for herself since she was old enough and she also had to abide by restrictions.
Despite being a teenager, she started off her new life in the social rank as a kit, just like all the other felions who were born there. She would have to earn a higher social status through dedication to the pride.
“Saia, you’re next,” the instructor said sternly.
“Yes, Master Leoparld.” She bowed her head and stepped forward into the sparring ring. She was supposed to go after Thera but knew better not to object. She speculated that he had caught her watching the scenery instead of the sparring and chose this as a punishment.
“Grayson,” he said.
“Yes, Master Leoparld,” Grayson said gruffly, stepping forward.
Definitely a punishment, she thought.
He wasn’t supposed to spar until after Saia and Tigen went. He easily weighed more than Saia and knew how to use his bulk to his advantage.
The derivation of his name was simple. His coat was solid gray. There were no rosettes or stripes, no dark spots, no tear marks streaming from his eyes to his cheeks; nothing. Even his eyes were solid gray. Gray was all there was to him; simply gray. He was the third cub born to his family and he was the only son. He was their gray son. Like naming a dog, Dog, their creativity was obviously dismal.
“Three.” Master Leoparld began the countdown.
Saia crouched. Grayson lowered his head and pinned his ears back.
“Two.”
Saia readied herself.
“One.”
They charged at one another. Grayson leapt over her. As soon as one paw hit the ground, he spun about and swiped her legs with his thick paw. Saia skid along the ground before rolling over and facing her opponent. She curled her lip at his cheap shot.
Grayson eyed her maliciously and charged at her again. Saia returned his energetic rush with one of her own. His front feet hit the ground simultaneously. Predictable. Saia knew he was going to leap over her again. As his hind legs pushed him from the ground, she drew hers beneath her. Right as he was over the top of her, she sprang up from the ground and rammed her shoulder into his abdomen.
Her unexpected attack threw him off his landing, causing him to get a face full of Dagan and sprawling on the ground in a heap of fur. Saia wasted no time and pounced on his neck. She held him tightly to the ground with her arms nearly hugging the life out of him. He growled and struggled but couldn’t manage to counterattack with anything; even a rabbit kick was futile for she had wrapped her legs tightly around his.
She held him there for a few moments before biting at his jugular, signaling a win.
“Let him up,” Master Leoparld boomed.
Saia sprang to her feet, breathing deeply.
“Well done,” Master Leoparld said. “You have defeated the undefeated.”
“Thank you, Master Leoparld.” Saia bowed her head.
Grayson stood and skulked to the other side of the ring, filled with anger and disappointment. He never lost. He hated it.
“Next opponents, Thera and Tigen.” Master Leoparld called out and the next two entered the ring.
Saia walked around the ring’s perimeter to her assigned spot but before she could reach it, Grayson pounced with a fierce growl. She sprawled in the dirt and tried to push him off with her legs. His mouth was agape, snarling and snapping at her. She could feel his hot breath on her face.
“It’s not over!” a small felion hissed loudly.
“He’s got her this time!” another felion called out.
“Unfairly, though!” Thera yelled defensively.
Saia’s leg weakened, the weight of his body strained her leg that was still healing from the bear. His mouth got closer to her throat.
“Let her up, Grayson,” Master Leoparld snarled. “You lost fairly.”
He didn’t listen. If he wasn’t going to heed the rules, then she wouldn’t either. She reached up and grabbed his ear, yanking it hard to the side. Grayson yelped in pain and had no other choice but to follow his ear to the side. That move was not in the rules of fair fighting but neither was attacking outside of the sparring ring.
She kicked him hard in the chest which made him roll onto his back. She sprang up, straddled his chest and let him have it. She punched him numerous times in the face before biting at his jugular, defeating him again.
“Don’t you ever pounce on me!” Saia yelled. She sprang to her feet and took a few steps back before realizing that it was likely that Leoparld wouldn’t like her retaliatory behavior. She was probably expected to allow him to defeat her, illegally, and they would’ve deducted points from his spar rank.
“Grayson,” Leoparld said. “Your disobedience to the sparring rules has earned you the top honors of pouncing subject for two weeks. You will also lose a rank.”
Grayson groaned, grumbled to the dirt, and rubbed his aching ear.
“As for you, Saia,” Leoparld said.
Saia bowed her head. “Yes, Master Leoparld, I’m sorry I acted outside of rules. I couldn’t allow him to treat me that way.”
She thanked him and returned the head bow, respectfully. Saia quickly looked around at the other young felions and found Thera who was bubbling at the rim with excitement.
“Go tell dad!” she exclaimed.
Dad… She meant Ocher.
She spun around and ran north to Panthera after a quick farewell to her now former classmates. She ran up a shallow hill that led into the main pathway through the felion establishment.
“Saia! You’re supposed to be in class.” Ocher’s eyes warned her, like a parent scolding their child after they stayed up counting stars well beyond curfew.
“I’m finished!” Saia cried excitedly. “I’m now a cub!”
Ocher’s facial expression went from stern to surprised and happy. “Congratulations, Saia. You’ve moved up quickly.”
“Surprise attack from Grayson,” she said. “I beat him twice today.”
“That is excellent,” he replied. “Now, who will be your mentor?”
“I’m not sure,” she answered. “Master Leoparld only told me to see Master Therfelis next week. He didn’t mention who’d be my mentor. I’m guessing he will assign me one.”
“I’ll put in a good word for Tig.” Ocher smiled.
“That would be great! If he doesn’t mind, since he’s done so much for me already.”
“I’m proud of you, Saia.” Ocher wrapped his large arm around her and pulled her close to his chest. The feeling was something she welcomed; the feeling of family, of love and acceptance despite being weird. Her heart swelled with euphoria.
“Ocher,” Saia said, muffled in his mane. “Thank you, for everything. I now remember what family is.”
“You’re welcome, my cub.” He released his embrace, smiling kindly at her.
She smiled back at the felion who was the first intelligent being to not judge her by her appearance.
“Uh, Ocher,” Saia began. “I’ve been thinking.”
“Uh-oh, that can’t be good sometimes.”
“I decided that I don’t want to be bound to my old life. I decided that I want a new name to go with my new home. My life is here in Panthera, as part of your family. I feel that a new name could reflect that.”
Although she had rehearsed it multiple times in her head, it sounded rather lame to her after she said it. She looked at him hopefully.
“I cannot think of one right now but give me some time.” Ocher smiled at her. “I’ll speak with Leona tonight. She’s good with things like that. She should return from Lipanth this evening.”
“Thank you!” She hugged him tightly. “I’m going to go find Tig. I can’t wait to tell him I’m a cub!”
“Yes, he’ll be pleased. He’s north, hunting Eland.”
“Thank you!” She called as she rushed off to find Tig who had quickly become her best friend. She ran over the hills and entered the fields, pacing herself so she wouldn’t get too tired or make her leg ache. It took her slightly over a half-hour to crest a sloping hill before it became a shallow decline. From atop the hill, she easily found his dark body in the tall grass. He was stalking up to a herd of eland that was grazing peacefully in a slumped depression bordered by rolling hills.
She crouched low in the grass so she wouldn’t spook the prey animals. Tigthero was nearly at their throats, ready to kill, when the wind pulled a trick. A gust blew from the south, directing his scent at the eland. They promptly went on alert and began trotting away. Tigthero sprang up from the cover of the tall grass and sent the herd scattering. He gave chase and attempted to wean out his intended target, an eland with a gimpy rear leg.
The lame eland ran in a semicircle before doubling back in an attempt to thwart Tigthero. He managed to separate it from the herd which was now springing its way north at a frantic pace. He lunged at his prey. It leapt to the side and sprang up the hill.
The eland zigzagged up the hill, attempting to shake off its pursuer. Had it known there was another one waiting in the grass, it would’ve chosen another direction. By the time it saw her in the grass, it was too late to do anything but leap over her.
Do it! She thought suddenly.
A wave of emotions struck her at once. Predatory instincts awoke like a dormant volcano and rushed forth with equal ferocity. She sprang up from the ground, much like she had done to Grayson, only this time she grabbed the eland by the head. It struck at her with its front legs but didn’t hit her. She grabbed its horn and yanked sharply. Its neck snapped like a tree branch.
Saia landed on her feet beside the eland which crumbled to a stop in the grass. It was much larger than she initially thought it to be. She cocked her head and stared at it.
“Saia!” Tigthero shouted. “What do you think you’re doing?”
Her heart was beating rapidly, adrenaline still coursed her veins. It was much more exciting to hunt big game than it was to hunt rodents and rabbits.
“You could’ve hurt yourself!” he exclaimed.
“But, I didn’t,” Saia said.
“But, you could have, Saia,” Tig replied. “This eland is easily my weight.”
She looked from Tig to the eland and back to Tig. He was right, they both knew it. Her lips slowly stretched into a grin.
“Don’t worry, I won’t be hunting you,” she said.
“You arrogant twit!” Tigthero burst out laughing. “Well, you killed it, you have to carry it home.”
Saia’s smile faded and she stared at Tig with a dazed expression.
“What?” Tig asked. “Relax, I was only joking. I’ll help you.”
“Tig,” Saia said quietly. “This is my first big game kill.”
Tigthero smiled toothily. “You’re right. Mom and dad will be very pleased and very proud.”
Mom…
Dad…
Proud…?
Back in Ouris, nobody, including her parents, was ever proud of her. Tears threatened to blur her eyesight but she fought them back. This was her home now. She had a new family; a family that cared for her even if she was different from them. Her old life was no more. Her old life should be erased from her memories. It was time for her to move on. She belonged with the felions. She belonged with Ocher, Leona, Thera and Tig.
“Oh!” She exclaimed suddenly. “I’m no longer a kit! I beat Grayson twice and now I’m a cub!”
“Are you serious?” Tig asked.
“Yes! That’s why I came to find you!” She said.
“That’s excellent, Saia! I’m proud of you!” Tig wrapped his foreleg around her and pulled her to his chest. She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him in return. She enjoyed every moment of being swallowed up by his mane’s long hair.
“Well, let’s bring home supper.” Tig released her, stepped over the eland and took it by the throat. He rolled over the top of it and dragged it along with him so when he stood, the eland was across his back. “He’s heavy.”
“More meat for everyone,” Saia replied.
They walked side by side back to home. Along the way, the clouds had lowered and began to release the occasional large raindrop that impacted the grass with a crisp snap. Far in the distance, the thunder rolled lowly and the clouds flickered internally with lightning. It was late evening by the time they walked into the entrance of their cave.
“Dinner for the whole family?” Ocher inquired.
“Courtesy of Saia,” Tigthero replied. He shifted his weight and dumped the eland onto the cave floor. Thera bounded up and pounced on it playfully.
“This is your kill, Saia?” Ocher asked.
She nodded enthusiastically and Ocher looked incredibly pleased.
“Saia,” Leona said. “I am not proud of any one, single thing you did today. I'm proud at all your accomplishments today.
You’ve excelled against odds. First, you defeated Grayson which made you reach cub and then you made your first big game kill. Today has been a very good day. Many successes in one day and we have a feast for our cub that was caught by our cub.”
“Thank you,” Saia said, humbly. “Tigthero gave chase, I sprang up from the grass and just…” She trailed off and mimicked snapping the eland’s neck. Tigthero clicked his tongue to add the sound effect.
“We should call you Adder,” Ocher said. “Small but fatal, strikes from grass.”
“That’s not very felion,” Leona commented. “I was thinking Panthigra. If I ever had another female cub, her name would’ve been that. So, I find it suiting for you, Saia.”
“Yes, sounds good and it’s suiting,” Ocher agreed.
Saia’s heart fluttered. She stood a moment, frozen briefly in a surreal chapter of her life. They named her. She had a new name, a new identity. No longer did she have the weight of Saia’s past on her shoulders. No longer did she have to live the history of lonesomeness and exile.
“Panthigra. I like that.” Tigthero agreed.
“Me too! Me too!” Thera shouted.
“Thank you. I am honored to have that name.” She hugged Leona and Ocher.
“Come,” Leona said. “Let’s quarter the eland for supper.”
Leona, Thera and Panthigra went out of the cave and into an adjacent cave where the family would process game and eat. Basically, it was a kitchen of sorts. This was done to keep the smell out of the main cave where they slept, even though the entire process was very clean. The carcass was hung on hooks over a canal that led outside. Innards would go into this canal and get pushed outside into large buckets using a pushing rod. After that, the blood was washed down this channel to join the innards. Later, it was all hauled to a communal dumping area far from the community and was typically taken there by the head of the family or the oldest offspring, in that case, Tigthero.
Upon finishing the task of processing the eland, they called for Ocher and Tigthero to join them. As the rains began to patter down thick and heavy, they feasted on the eland while telling stories. Ocher told the story of his first big game hunt. Leona followed his with her own story. Tig went next, making everyone laugh. Then, it was Panthigra’s turn. Her felion family listened intently and repeated how proud of her they were. For the first time in a very long time, she felt absolutely loved, cherished and, above all, a part of something wonderful.