The night sounds were quiet and methodical, as Ghanima slid from her
coverings and through the many tunnels until she found that which she had
been searching for. Creeping in a serpentine silence, she moved closer,
drawing her crysknife in agonizing slowness, as she kneeled beside the
sleeping figure of the Mi'kiyla.
Something stirred in one of the dark corners of the cavern, and the girl opened her eyes. Blue-in-blue. She saw the knife at her throat, and then glanced toward the bearer.
"it seems I have your attention," Ghanima intoned. She was so wholly centered on this moment she did not notice the feline blur that lunged at her, small as it was.
Ankhar growled low in his throat, and Ghanima turned in time to raise her arm to protect her face. Her pupils were dilated with fear and shock, but no other emotion betrayed her, even as Ankhar sunk his sharp canines into her forearm, his jaw locking upon it. The pain was excruciating, but, she did not utter a sound.
"And it seems I now have yours," Sula repied in a steely tone.
"I could kill this beast."
"Not before he rips out your throat and leaves your water spilled upon the sietch floor." She replied, throwing off her coverings. "Ankhar, to me."
"So you claim some measure of loyalty," Ghanima said, the feline moving toward his master. blood dripping from her arm, pooling on the ground. "So I have one thing to say, and you had better hear it well. If you so much as raise a hand to my brother, I will kill you, and all you hold dear, with no qualms. Bi li kiafa, little Mi'Kiyla. I am always watching."
"And I am always on guard," She returned, showing her the hidden crysknife in her hand. "Do not take me for a fool, or there will be less of your water to count before your death."
"And yours." Ghanima warned, as she turned and left, the same way she had come.
Something stirred in one of the dark corners of the cavern, and the girl opened her eyes. Blue-in-blue. She saw the knife at her throat, and then glanced toward the bearer.
"it seems I have your attention," Ghanima intoned. She was so wholly centered on this moment she did not notice the feline blur that lunged at her, small as it was.
Ankhar growled low in his throat, and Ghanima turned in time to raise her arm to protect her face. Her pupils were dilated with fear and shock, but no other emotion betrayed her, even as Ankhar sunk his sharp canines into her forearm, his jaw locking upon it. The pain was excruciating, but, she did not utter a sound.
"And it seems I now have yours," Sula repied in a steely tone.
"I could kill this beast."
"Not before he rips out your throat and leaves your water spilled upon the sietch floor." She replied, throwing off her coverings. "Ankhar, to me."
"So you claim some measure of loyalty," Ghanima said, the feline moving toward his master. blood dripping from her arm, pooling on the ground. "So I have one thing to say, and you had better hear it well. If you so much as raise a hand to my brother, I will kill you, and all you hold dear, with no qualms. Bi li kiafa, little Mi'Kiyla. I am always watching."
"And I am always on guard," She returned, showing her the hidden crysknife in her hand. "Do not take me for a fool, or there will be less of your water to count before your death."
"And yours." Ghanima warned, as she turned and left, the same way she had come.