AN: First of all, I don't own anything except Stoka. Clare Bell and her publishers own Ratha, Fessran and the Named. Alain Boubil and Claude Schonberg own the rights to Pirate Queen. The only thing I own is Stoka and her clan.
AN 2: OK so this is going to require a little explanation. Basically the background to this scene is, Ratha and the Named have come across yet another tribe of intelligent cats who are led by a female. Both clans share the same territory, but Ratha considers this area to be her territory. The other clan is nomadic. In retaliation for a skirmish between the two clans, their leader was taken, but later released when a young male came and offered to change places with her. The other female, whose name is Stoka, comes to meet with Ratha, to explain the situation. I used the words from the song and modified some of them. If it looks like it's from the song (Stuff in italics is lyrics from the song. Otherwise I changed it up.) Ok there you go. Now, on to the scene.
Ratha's eyebrows rose and her brow furrowed in anger as she saw the smaller female stepping up to the sunning rock. "What are you doing here?" she spat. "I let you go back to your clan just two months ago. And now here you are, back, after I spared your life."
Fessran growled as she stepped up beside Ratha. "Well, the Un-Named one, at last on clan ground," she said scornfully.
Ratha shot the chief firekeeper a warning look. "She risked death to speak with me."
Fessran chuckled dryly. "Uhh," she said.
Ratha turned her burning gaze back to Stoka. "So speak."
Stoka stepped forward, bowing. "Thank you clan leader. It's true you sent me home to my cubs, and for that I'm grateful. But I must ask another favor from you." She took a breath. "I came to speak on behalf of my clan. I did not come here to be mocked." She sent a glare in Fessran's direction.
"She'll hold her tongue," Ratha promised. "Now continue."
Stoka nodded. "Very well. I think it's time for us to meet, put aside our pride and the wrongs we've done each other, and finally find a truce achieved. Clan leader." Stoka bowed. "Shall I go on?"
"Proceed," Ratha said.
"My cubs go hungry every night," Stoka said.
"You think my heart is made of stone? I'm sorry for them, but you took our herdbeasts."
"Yes, because your herders have plundered my territory. They take our kills, the best of our beasts. Shall we starve to feed your clan?"
"You attacked us first; that's the price," Ratha said.
Stoka snorted. "We did not know the land was claimed and we've tried to make amends. Your herders not only take our beasts, they disrespect our females—which I find particularly insulting." She glared pointedly at Ratha.
Ratha's haunches rose in indignation. "If what you say is true, rest assured I'll see them punished," she said. Shifting her position, Ratha made an open space beside her on the sunning rock.
"Clan leader. Who knows what we could do," Stoka said.
"Come sit beside me so we can talk," Ratha said.
"Neither as raider," Stoka said.
"Nor as clan leader," Ratha replied.
"Female to female, face to face." they said in unison. Stoka climbed onto the rock beside Ratha.
After a secret discussion, Ratha and Stoka worked out a truce. Ratha released Stoka's mate, and Stoka agreed to leave the Named herds in peace. Ratha promised to keep her herders away from Stoka's territory.
AN 3: This is based on the song 'Woman to Woman' from Pirate Queen. Elizabeth I and Grace O'Malley did have a secret meeting, the details of which remain unknown. I hope you enjoyed this and please R and R (read and review.) Also, I know Ratha is pretty OOC in here but the scene wouldn't leave me alone!