Title: Littermates
Author: kira
Rating: OT
Words: 500
Characters: Soma, Agni
Summary: The death of a tigress brings a dangerous rivalry to light…
Warnings: None
Author's notes: More back story…
888
It had been an easy matter to kill the tigress. She was lame and had taken to preying on unwary villagers. Soma's eldest brother, Debden, had shot her right between her eyes. While the maharaja congratulated his heir on his kill, Soma wandered off. Agni followed him. They may have killed the man-eater, but she could have a mate nearby. Apparently the time for that had passed, for Soma was foolishly trying to pick up her cub. "My prince, that's not Priya's cat."
"I know it's not my sister's cat, Agni, but the poor thing has no mother now…" Soma reached over to pat its head. The tiger cub, tried pouncing on him as he did so, making the prince laugh. "I think I'll keep him."
"You cannot, my prince. For one thing, how are you going to get him back to the palace?" Agni shook his head in disbelief. "For another, he's not going to stay a cute little ummm…'pussycat' for very long. And what are you going to feed him?"
Before Soma could come up with a reply to that, Debden stepped out of the brush and into view. "Aaah… I see you've found the bitch's spawn. Good work, Soma, despite your foolishness of going about unarmed. Then again, I don't think father trusts you with a gun."
"Debden…?"
His brother grinned at him as he brought his rifle up and took aim. "Move away from it, Soma, or I'll shoot you as well."
The sixteen year old shook his head. "No!"
"Prince Soma, do as he says," Agni said as he placed a hand on his shoulder. He had seen that look in Debden's eyes before and he knew the man would carry out his threat if Soma did not move.
"No, Agni!"
"Too late for you grow a set of balls, Soma, so listen to your 'woman' and move. I'm warning you, I'll shoot you if you don't."
"Debden…"
"My prince, listen to him…"
"But, Agni…"
"Just listen to him." Agni continued to watch Debden warily.
The tension grew and the silence that settled between them as Debden continued to stare them down was broken only by the forest sounds and the soft growling of the tiger cub. Agni tightened his grip on Soma's shoulder, silently pleading with him to move away from it. He had the feeling they would both end up dead if he did not do as Debden asked.
Without warning Debden squeezed the trigger and a shot rang out, shattering the cub's skull.
Soma leaned against Agni's leg. Closing his eyes, he panted loudly, his body trembling at his brush with death. Dazed, he wondered how managed to escape, for he had lunged for the cub at the last minute. He started to cry.
"You two look like you both shit yourselves." Debden laughed. "I'll see you 'women' back at camp." He left.
"Agni…"
"Sssh… You are most brave, my prince…" And you, Debden, are a dangerous man, in need of watching…