CHAPTER 2. LIES AND DECEPTION (part 1)

Aride sat and continued to tap his paw nervously but at a slower rate. Kapeil stood tall in front of him nearly shadowing his tiny frame. He swallowed and looked sternly over the horizon as if something he hated so greatly caught his attention and he growled. He sighed.

"Aride. I knew this day would come, and its finally time for you to know the truth. The truth about our heritage, our father…and your fate."

"MY WHAT!" Aride exclaimed. ". .I don't understand. W-what's going on here?" he asked feeling a little out of place.

"See Aride this is why I didn't tell you earlier. Our father wasn't all I said he was."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, I mean that he was… let's just say in his life time he was a pretty sinful tormenter."

"SO YOUR SAYING HE WAS EVIL!" he shouted half startled and surprised. "What are you talking about?"

"Yes. I-I mean no! He wasn't evil nor was he a tyrant. He was just a bit iniquitous. But the stories I told you yet, were half true. He was a mighty warrior…"

"…But he was still evil… which changes everything." Aride interrupted trying to comprehend all of this disturbing info into reality. "Why didn't you tell me before Kapeil? Why did you lie to me!" he exclaimed raising his voice.

"I already told you. You were just to young to be told the whole story. Besides I didn't want this to cripple your cub hood even more then it had become when you were born. But there's more."

"… Great."

"You Aride, inherited the same blood that is currently coursing through your veins now which he had when he was alive. You were blessed with a curse, but then again I know something good can come out of it if you-.."

"NO THIS CAN'T BE TRUE, YOU'RE LYING AGAIN!" he roared. "Why am I blessed'? What have I ever done!" Tears were simply begging to fall from his face now.

"Aride please calm down. Let me tell you a story. A true story about what happened to mom, and fathers return." Aride sniffled and rested his head on his paws passively to listen to his brother's story.

LIES AND DECEPTION (part two. FLASHBACK)

Kapeil closed his eyes trying to remember the day of his Fathers return, and the day of his mother's death. He took a few deep breaths to get himself ready to tell the story.

"Aride, on an evening like this all our drama began. Father was away doing his dirty work and I was near mother's side, always. Exactly two years ago. Mother was busy nursing you and I was watching out for any strangers lurking by, aiding her if she needed it.

"It was so peaceful that day. Actually it was peaceful for weeks..." He sighed deeply as he began to remember and visualize the events that took place that evening.

"Kapeil, honny can you do me a favor?" she asked.

"Sure mum, what is it?" Kapeil replied.

"Can you pass me that bunch of weeds over to me?" she asked smiling sweetly at her son.

"Yes mum." He said obediently. He dropped the weeds in front of her and she placed the defenseless three-month-old Aride beneath them.

"Mum?" Kapeil asked. "Why are you hiding him?"

"Your father sweetie…" she paused and sniffed the air and continued. "He will be here soon and I can't let him be seen." She perked up her ears so she could keep alert to hear him coming.

Aride bustled about in his sleep crying out for attention. The once peaceful afternoon sky began to shift into a more purplish-blue omni-sky. The sun quickly vanished behind the clouds and thunder clashed against the winds but not a single drop of rain fell. The trees began to sway violently in their roots and the few golden brown grasses struggled to stay in the ground. She continued to look out at the while noticing the weathers dramatic change. He was near. The leafless trees began to tremble and break in their roots. Kapeil looked around nervously, scanning the dark open land for him, at the same time he stood strong with his fur raised in fear.

"Mum, what's going on?" Kapeil whispered.

She answered with a nod and stood up.

"BACHII!" a loud voice roared and echoed across the plains simultaneously clashing with the raging thunder. She ran up to him with her ears flat beside her head submissively and obediently.

"Yes Shakka?" she said rubbing her head under his chin making an effort to comfort him and keep him calm.

"WHERE'S MY SON!" His voice boomed causing Kapeil to shiver and duck for cover as if something was going to attack him.

"He's over there…" She pointed her head in the direction. "Where have you been? It's been three months. Kapeils been wondering where you went off to and I have… missed you so much."

"Hmm"

"Shakka talk to me I can help you! Why have you become like this WHY?"

"IT'S NONE OF YOUR CONCERN NOR YOUR PROBLEM!" He shouted.

"It's every right to be my problem. They need their father and I need you back. Please."

"Argh I told you… hold it. They? Are you keeping something from me Bachii?"

"Shi-!" she said noticing she made a horrible mistake. He darted past her toward the two brothers.

"Shakka no! Please he's only a baby."

"I told you I only wanted one child and you disobeyed me!"

"Wha? I can't control what you do to me…"

"What was that?" he asked as he stopped to turn head back for her. "What did you say to me?"

"Shakka…" She looked up at him with a build of tears that filled her eyes. "Shakka, even your eyes have grown mad with anger and hatred. And you look a mess. And…I really don't care what you did. That's all in the past now. I-I jus want my handsome husband back other wise I'd do anything for you and our cubs, just tell me what you want me to do!" He gave her a disapproved frown and turned his head in denial. "What happened to the sweet, loving warrior I met four years ago!" She got closer to him, making him feel highly uncomfortable and he could tell she was up to something. "Remember the oath that we made after kapeil was born?" He stood in silence still frowning. "As long as we are still together there's nothing that can defeat us. As long as you're beside me my love will guide you through all odds... Don't you remember?" He took a step backwards.

"No. I have no recollection of this." he said coldly.

"What… no… this isn't happening…"

Kapeil held his ground, periodically checking on Aride whom was already getting anxious and feisty under the bunch of weeds.

"Hey little man stop fidgeting for a few minutes will ya. We could get caught. Eh…" Kapeil gave up. Aride couldn't understand a word he said. He knelt beside him to keep him quiet and out of harm's way. Aride looked up at his brother with a small glimmer in his eyes and smiled. It seems he is totally oblivious to the situation out of hand. Aride looked up at his brother with a small sparkle in his eyes.

"K-Kap-eil…" Kapeils jaw dropped in awe, as well as in excitement that that was his first word!

"Wow what a day…"

The storm continued to rage on but for a second it seemed to have calmed down but soon after another clash of thunder the storm seemed to worsen as Shakka's temper grew.

"Grr, you wouldn't understand Bachii!"

"Tell me Shakka. Look into my eyes and tell me what I wouldn't understand. I would if you'd just tell me.

"Shut up! He yelled."

"Is that all you can say to me Shakka?"

"I said SHUT UP!" he yelled again, striking her, knocking her into a bush of sharp pointed twigs jutting out from up under the broken ground. She fell unconsciously hitting her head hard on the ground and on the twigs, tearing through her upper thigh piercing halfway through flesh and bone. She lay unconscious bleeding profusely from her wound but worse she was pinned and unable to move. She watched as Shakka moved closer to the brothers. She hissed at him with a mix of whines and angry growls and feel back unconsciously but he didn't seem to care. Kapeil jumped out snarling in front of Shakka startling him.

"What? Kapeil what are you doing? I am your father."

"NO you're not my father! You've done something with him! My father wouldn't hurt mum like that!" Kapeils body trembled with fear and rage but he couldn't help him self to lunge at his father. Shakka sidestepped allowing Kapeil to go soaring flying past him, landing right beside his mother. He gave them one last look and headed for Aride whom was playing peacefully with his tail. Kapeil turned to look back at Aride but he just couldn't leave his mother bleeding to death on the ground. Raindrops slowly started to fall as Shakka approached Aride slowly but he wasn't paying attention as he was looking up at the rain trying to catch a drop in on his tongue.

("Kill him!")

"No I cant!" Shakka shouted to himself.

("Kill him now he's a danger to us all!")

"How? He's only a cub! ...he's my son…"

(WHAT! What is this weakness you're showing? You coward. You weak little coward. You WILL finish the job now or else I'll do it myself!")

"No! You will not lay a paw on my family." Shakka looked down upon Aride who was finally looking his father in the eye for the first time with a blank confused expression on his face. "Aride…My son…"

Bachii snapped awake, totally missing kapeil whom was trying to get her attention; she used all her strength to lift her self up and rushed over to Shakka. Even with parts of the twigs in her leg she managed to bolt to her son's safety.

"MUM!"

("This is your last warning Shakka. You are a great apprentice but I'll do what I must to get what I want.")

"I don't care what you do to me I won't let you hurt my family!"

("Hmm. Okay. Your loss.")

"What!" His paw began to slowly rise off the ground on its own above Aride.

"Shreader please!" Shakka cried. Bachii set her self directly in front of Shakka's attack. She looked up at him and snarled. As his paw was on a one-way course for her she smiled. Her plan worked. She was brutally bashed in her face, throwing her about twenty feet head first into a boulder.

"NO!" cried Shakka. "You will pay for this!" He gave one last glance at Aride whom was about to cry. Shakka shook his head and turned the other way and ran off into the distance. The storm that raged went off after him "Bachii…so that's what you were up too…" he said smiling understandingly. "You fought for me…for our family, and for that I am thankful."

Kapeil ran over to pick up Aride and bring him over to Bachii.

"Mum? MUM?."

"Sha-k…?"

"No mum its me Kapeil, and Aride's safe here too."

"Oh my sons. I'm so sorry."

"Mum you will be alright!" He grimace the open wound on her head that was gushing out blood that made him feel nauseous. He didn't say anything to bother her about it. She smiled at him.

"Y-you know I love you two very much. I'm proud of you"

"But…"

"Kapeil. Promise me you will look over your little brother and never tell him about this day."

"But… Yes mum I promise. But what about dad."'

"Don't worry about him. We will soon meet again. Do you understand?"

"I understand…"

"That's my boy" She chuckled faintly. "May I see Aride?" Kapeil picked him up by his scruff and dropped him near her side.

"H-hey little man. Promise me you'll grow up to be strong like your brother and live on. Promise?" Aride cocked his head and laughed.

" Heh I take that as a yes…Aughh."

"Mum!"

"I..l-lo..love…you two…always" she smiled with her last ounce of breath and peacefully closed her eyes and quietly passed away. The bleeding from her open wounds began to recede. Kapeil held his tears for another day, but now it was time to move on. The sun came out from up under its dark hiding place to shine brighter than it has ever shined since he was born. He knew this must be a good thing.

"Thanks mum."

"Kapeil!" Aride shouted at the same time falling backwards. Kapeil laughed

"His first words…what a day…"