The Birth of the Princess
The sunlight was weakening and the Demon Lord of the South quickened his pace through the forest of trees. Branches and vines snapped harmlessly on his shoulders and his paws increased their tempo as he carved a way through the forest. If he was late… but no, there was no point in thinking those thoughts. Flaring his nose he caught the scent of panther demons and he slowed and walked into the clearing, seemingly indifferent but prepared nonetheless. The truce was so weak at this point in time and he had to cement the loyalty of the panthers.
Fading sunlight flared brightly causing Levielan to slit his eyes. An amused purr broke the coming evening's silence, "Levielan, how nice of you to join us, especially with Nerali's birthing so close." A small (for a panther demon) panther stepped into the clearing shadowed by a much larger one; both comparable to that of the Lord of the South. The male said nothing but carefully guarded emerald eyes slit as he concentrated on the dog demon.
Levielan narrowed his eyes slightly and his hackles rose, "Mishka…how strong you've grown. Do you think to test your claws against me?" The larger panther's twitching tail stilled and his body grew tense. Mishka shook her head even as she shrank back a few feet to brush fur with the larger shadow behind her.
"You misunderstand. However, you know as well as I that the truce is weak. We control our clan but unless our needs our met we will not be able to control them for much longer." Mishka spoke quietly all traces of amusement gone and Levielan watched them carefully for a time before nodding his head and relaxing. This time it was the male that stepped forward.
"Levielan, Nerali and you are powerful. The most powerful in the South but you ought to remember the time when the Dogs and Panthers fought. It was bloody and there was much loss on either side." Levielan nodded his head for the cat to continue, "We agreed to the truce but still nothing has been done to meet our demands."
The sun was tracing an even lower arc in the sky and Levielan's voice broke through the male's monologue. "Time is of the essence. You told me you had needs that had to be met to cement the loyalty. Speak." His words were brusque: a leader demanding action. The male panther acquiesced.
"The guardianship and sovereignty of the forests must remain with the panthers to an extent. You will still be high ruler… its your birthright," the male suavely inserted before continuing, "but the forests have always been our domain and as you will need our cooperation to hold back the demons of the North it is just that we remain in our homes. We will be the first barricade against the North for we would gladly give our lives."
Levielan said nothing but continued watching the panther with amber eyes. He continued, "If that and our next demand our met with your approval there will be no problems from the panther tribe."
"The next demand being…" The dog demon again cast eyes to the sun, displaying a somewhat worried (weaker one might say) countenance to the two in front of him. The two panthers exchanged looks for a long moment before a small 'mew' brought the dog's attention back to the cats. From behind the male pounced a younger panther… hardly more than a kit. Levielan's eyes instantly shone with understanding, "You can't possibly…"
The male panther broke in, "Yes, we can. The next demand is that you protect our son in your castle. It needn't even be protection, just keep him away from the forests. He's been trained to be a protector…for your newborn. We just want assurance that at least one of the panther tribe will remain safe in the battle to come. There are dark rumors from the West."
The dog began to pace across the clearing. Eyes occasionally lingering on the small black panther kit that sat watching him with unblinking emerald eyes. Levielan's black fur seemed to absorb the sunlight turning him into a shadow like the panthers. "What you ask is understandable. However, the question must be said, have you prepared this kit to be a protector with all of his strength?" The ruling pair of panthers nodded. Levielan nodded once. "It is done. The forest shall remain yours and your son will be coming with me. Now."
Mishka turned sorrowful eyes to her kit and caressed him once with her muzzle, "Be safe my kit. Protect the prince or princess with your life, Raziel." She turned to her mate and her next words were mumbled into the forest, "Levielan…keep him safe."
The Lord of the South nodded once, "Good-bye Reeve and Mishka, you are welcome at the palace at any time that you wish. Young kit-Raziel was it?- let's be off. My Lady will be vexed if we are late." A sudden howl shattered the quietness of the approaching evening and Levielan's eyes shone with worry. With a final nod to the panthers he had snatched their son into his mouth and was once again loping through the forest-back to his castle, his wife, and most importantly his coming newborn.
Raziel swung from his mouth and spoke in an irritated tone, "I'm capable of running, Sire." Panting was all the reply he received before the forest grew to a blur as the Lord sped up. Raziel admitted defeat, "Perhaps not this fast though…"
The castle came into view and the Lord was through the main gate in little time. Reaching the inner chambers the male Dog demon deposited the small kit to the floor, "Raziel, you may well have been able to keep up with me but I wasn't going to waste precious time to find out. Nerali would be vexed." A low growl echoed from the dark curtained room in front of them and the murmur of midwives met their ears. Raziel cocked his head to the side listening to the pained pants. He opened his mouth to ask something but Levielan beat him to it, "She will be fine. She is the Lady of the South after all."
Nerali did indeed turn out to be fine and had a successful birth. That night Levielan entered his chambers to meet the eyes of a tired looking female. Her piercing emerald eyes kept him in his place, "You were almost late." A simple statement, that belied none of the emotions that were meant to be present as a wife scolded her husband. The husband replied in kind.
"Dear One, it was business with the Panthers. We have a truce at last, one that will remain for a long time; long enough to see our child grow up in peaceful times except for rogue demon attacks. Will you keep me from my daughter?" The mother softened and moved across the dark tiled floor holding a swaddled child. Nerali deposited the child into her mate's arms but he reached out and rested a hand upon her cheek for a moment. "She's nearly as beautiful as you are, my love. She has your eyes…" The child had indeed been staring up at her father gurgling quietly to herself with wide emerald eyes, except this time bright golden amber flecks mellowed the piercing green. Levielan smiled in spite of his position as stoic leader of the Dog demons of the south.
Nerali moved closer to her mate watching him watch his daughter in rapt attention. Her mate had since showered and changed from his foray through the forest and now wore his customary blue kimono with a simple chest plate as his only protection apart from the sword at his side. His Mokomoko flared out from his right shoulder and the child was reaching for it with a curious expression on her face. Levielan smiled when her hands fisted through the dark fur. Nerali spoke, "She has your fur and look at her marking." Levielan peered closer into his daughter's face and saw a faint tracing of a sunburst.
The proud mother continued reaching for her child, "She was born just as the sun was setting, the midwives said it was a good omen that the sun chose to rise on her forehead. Hers will be a path of light and strength." She quoted the last as the child gurgled and then turned to a shadow at the doorway. "Raziel, come forward to see your new charge."
The young panther demon moved with swift assurance to the center of the room and knelt before rising to his feet. He glanced at the proffered bundle and then smiled slightly when the small dog demon child wrinkled her nose and sneezed. Still, she took his proffered clawed fingers with her small hands and stared at him amazed. The couple glanced at the two children with knowing expressions. It was indeed a fine decision to have this protector come to the castle, already the small child had him wrapped around her fingers.
Little did the proud parents know that the fate of those children became intertwined that night and would remain so until death changed the bond to something different.