Darkness crept over the camp as the four young animals stood together. Desta's eyes were dull and lifeless as she stared into Imaire's. She stood with Akua, Imaire stood with Maliki. Her claws sank into the grass.
Maliki swallowed nervously, clearly watching them. Akua started. "We're hungry, we need food" she began.
Imaire breathed out. "Yes that's obvious Akua" he said a little impatiently. Maliki saw Akua's face contort in frustration. Desta growled. "Let her finish!" She said sharply. Akua nodded at her sister. "Cyan is sick with hunger, we've run out of emergency prey, we've got nothing"
"You can see your bones through your fur" Maliki commented dryly, though shock ran through her as she heard about Cyan. Imaire spoke her thoughts. "What's wrong with Cyan?" He asked, worry edging his voice.
A wave of satisfaction seemed to wash over Desta as she retorted. "Nevio's brother...right Imaire?" She said coldly. Imarie shook his head hastily. "No! I care for him just as much as Nevio!" He protested, supporting Maliki as she swayed jauntily.
"We're getting side tracked -Desta!" Akua yowled. Detsa turned her head. "Right, we made a decision, we...we're going to save the pack"
"What do you mean by that" asked Imaire icily, eyes narrowed into slits. "Since Maliki can't seem to hunt" Desta continued, fixing Maliki with a glare. "It's up to us, you both know, and we know, that while we have been starving to death there is an abundance of prey just waiting for us"
"We weren't supposed to be there it wasn't in our territory!" Maliki suddenly shouted at Desta. Desta didn't retaliate with claws. "Was that my fault then? Like you said earlier? Is it now the sacred spirits paying us back? Wake up Maliki. We don't care about your stupid leg"
Maliki gave her a throaty growl. What was bad was that Desta knew just how to hurt her, and what's worse that was she was right.
"Maliki is right!" Imaire yelled, jumping to her defence. It made her feel more powerful to have him by her side. But she felt like she could handle this mess on her own. "She knows what pain feels like, how would you like to loose Nanda, I certainly wouldn't! And unlike some, she's selfless enough to try to save you from going through the same pain!"
Maliki closed her eyes. All this anger was just making it worse. There was no need for any of this. A half grin flickered onto Desta's spotted face. He sharp white teeth gleamed in the moonlight. "What did you say brother? Selfless? I heard selfish!" the paw she'd been cupping to her ear was brought down into the grass. Maliki remembered her pack mates words, she said them now, ignoring the raw anger that raged up her throat, claws sharper than brambles. "Empty bellies makes hearts cold and tempers bad"
Akua's gaze flashed past hers. Staring straight past her brother. Unable to force her dark green eyes to make contact. "Your wrong" she said quietly. "Both of you are wrong, you try to pretend to have honour and to save the day with your...kindness. We've passed that" Maliki was shocked at how dark the young leopards words were, the cold hatred in her eyes.
"If we don't eat soon, we'll die. If Cyan doesn't eat tomorrow, he's dead" she closed her eyes. Maliki could see the pain she was going through. She was so brave and loyal. And Maliki admired that. She was willing to betray the trust of her friend and her brother for the safety of her pack. She was still the dopey, playful funny little cub inside. But it was masked by her loyalty. Desta nodded to her sister, "We're going to help our pack. All four of us had the opportunity. Only two were corrupt" she looked in Maliki and Imarie direction haughtily. She stood up and made her way out, back to camp, her big white claws unsheathed, clawing at the grass.
She stopped to give them a look of satisfaction and fixed Imaire with a hard stare, then after pausing for a brief moment she jumped after Akua. Maliki hung her head as the two dissapeared. The hunger pangs had come back, coming in sharp waves. She put her paw over her stomach, feeling goose shivered, suddenly realisng how cold she was. Imaire sighed, closing his eyes, and sat next to Maliki, letting her nuzzle into his smooth flat fur.
"At least we tried" he said after a few silent moments, after the loss had sank in. Maliki smiled, and purred throatily. He looked lovingly down at her, his eyes full of affection. He was so strong, yet she could feel the shape of his bones under his pelt as his flank heaved. "Your hungry" he said to her. Maliki's jaw dropped slightly, how did he know? Maybe it was just obvious everyone was hungry.
"Yeah" she said airily, nibbling at an itch. "So are you!" she grimaced as she made it sound like an accusation. He rested his chin on her shoulder. "Yeah, it'll all be over some day"