Yay! Thank you for reviewing! It really encourages me to write. In
chapter six, { } means that the lion is thinking. First though, to the
reviews!
Guardian Demon – I'm glad you are hooked! And thank you so much for the needed criticism. I'm thinking I need someone to edit my chapters before I post them who knows more about Daine and Kaddar. I had to return my copies of the Immortals to the library, so I am without a muse! If you have anyone, let me know, I'd be happy to change anything in my story.
ponykid – Yes, I have heard of Numair and Daine, and yes, I have read Trickster's choice. I've also heard of the paragraph. I thought the fact that I made spaces between them would be enough to clue you in. Apparently not. I also think that I have the right to have a little fun. Come on, enjoy it!
e-ranney – I knew there were others out there! I KNEW it! I'm glad though, because no one else among my friends seemed to like it. Also, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR STANDING UP FOR ME. This is my first story, and it hurt my tender author heart to hear ponykid's remarks. I'm getting thicker skin though. I will try and get into that slave issue, but they need to be together and in a peaceful environment when that happens! Thanks again!
ellabelle1 – I'm glad you liked my story! I'm also happy you're not opposed to the D & K thing. I like Numair and Daine too, but it's nice to shake it up! :) I hope you like this chapter!
~~Six~~
Once they were outside, Kaddar relaxed visibly and took Daine's arm. He breathed deeply of the scents of his kingdom, and then looked sideways at Daine.
"You look exquisite tonight, if I may say that."
Daine blushed, "You can."
They walked towards the stairs that led down to the palace gardens. Kaddar intended to take a roundabout route to the aviary, as he was one who believed that the starlight should not be wasted. Descending the stairs, he steered the Wildmage to the right and they began to stroll along a path that was shaded with exotic palms.
"It's a beautiful night out." Daine murmured. She was very conscious of Kaddar's presence next to her, and the quiet of the night had begun to make her a little flustered.
"It pales in comparison next to you."
"Kaddar! I'm going to get big-headed."
"I'm sorry Daine, I just – I don't know." He stopped abruptly and pulled away. Then, taking both her shoulders, he turned her towards him. Kaddar took one of her hands in his own and, raising it to his lips, he kissed it softly. Daine felt frozen, but then a burning feeling swept up her body and into her cheeks, and she knew she was blushing furiously.
"What was that for? You make me feel like I'm a court lady."
Kaddar only smiled and took her arm again, leading her on towards the aviary.
~~~~
It sniffed the night air, searching for the Prey.
{He shouldn't be too hard to find.}
The rat-like one had told him that there was a celebration tonight at the palace.
{The Prey will be perfumed and easily overtaken. Prey always feels safe at parties.}
~~~~
Kaddar stopped in a clearing at a junction of paths.
"Look up at the sky Daine! Have you ever seen so many stars?"
Daine obligingly tilted her head back, and gasped involuntarily. It was true, the stars blazed impossibly bright. Each pinprick in the inky blackness seemed as vivid as the sun itself at noontime, only compressed into about 1/100th of the size.
"It's so beautiful Kaddar! Oh, look! There's the Cat." She pointed upwards, indicating the constellation, and a shooting star ghosted past her finger. "Oh! Did you see it? Someone's falling in love!"
"Yes, someone is." Kaddar said. His voice sounded intense. Daine looked back down and met his eyes, twin pools of blackness in the night.
~~~~
{There! There is its scent! The Prey, is it stupid enough to be outside? It is, and with the Cub as well! What silly humans, weak and brainless in every way. Ah, I can smell it so well; they must be close. Wait, there, I see them...}
~~~~
Daine laughed suddenly, all of her nervous energy coming out in the sound. She laughed long and hard, leaning over and clutching her stomach. Kaddar was puzzled, but he started to smile as well.
"Daine, what is it? What's so funny?" His teeth flashed as he smiled, and then he began to chuckle. "Really Daine, you must tell me."
~~~~
{Can it really be this easy to catch? Look at the Prey, standing there looking at the Cub, without even half a nose to it's surroundings. If it had any sense at all, it'd know I was here. But it doesn't, and it doesn't. It's a pity I can't kill it tonight. Tonight is only for the Cub's benefit. A little acting on my part, and everything will be underway...}
~~~~
"Kaddar! I'm sorry, it's just that –" she stopped. What was that noise? Instantly shifting her ears to those of a bat, she sent out a sound wave and waited for it to come back.
"What's going on?" Kaddar sounded mildly worried. He'd noticed Daine's ears go through their change, but he wasn't bothered by it. When she stiffened up suddenly and her eyes riveted on the gardens behind him, his brow drew down in a puzzled frown and he turned around to see what had surprised her so much.
~~~~
{There it is, like a plump chicken. The Prey has no clue... but the Cub knows. It looks right at me. The Prey is turning! He still can't see me, foolish animal. I'm coming for you Prey! You too Cub, you too, but now is just for fun. Now is just for fun, *only* for fun.}
~~~~
Daine could "see" something in the bushes directly behind Kaddar. As he turned and she collected the sound waves that bounced back, a grainy image formed in her mind of a shaggy beast that seemed twice as big as a full- grown man. Daine opened her mouth to cry out when a dark clot of shadow coalesced in the foliage and, without warning, threw itself on Kaddar.
The Night Lion's gruff growl rang out into the darkness that had been scared into stillness. Daine couldn't make her legs move as she watched the beast open its mouth. Two-inch long incisors gleamed in the starlight as the lion lowered them to Kaddar's throat.
~~~~
{Why isn't the Cub stopping me? I'll be forced to kill the Prey, and then I will have to find new Prey. This is only for fun! Only for fun.}
~~~~
Daine finally found her voice, and cried out, "Stop!" in the human tongue. The lion seemed to hesitate a second, but then he continued. His paws on Kaddar's shoulders kept the emperor from moving, and if he had, he would have injured himself on the lion's sharp teeth. Daine could hear Kaddar's harsh breathing. She attempted to force her will upon the lion, but was given yet another shock when her magic bounced back and the lion continued to menace Kaddar. With nothing else to do, she tried to speak to it again, in the speech of the People.
Stop! Please stop! You're going to hurt my friend.
The lion stopped this time. He raised his head slightly and the glowing green orbs of his eyes popped into view.
You dare speak to me? It said.
I dare, noble lion. Please, stop. This two-legger never harmed you!
It doesn't matter to me whether the Prey harmed anyone. All that matters is he is fresh.
The lion started in again, but Daine rushed forward and grabbed two fistfuls of his coarse mane. Looking down towards the fallen man, she saw the flash of Kaddar's eyes. New sweat gleamed on his forehead, and she faintly heard him swallowing convulsively.
You touch me? The lion sounded amused. Cub, I could swallow you in one bite.
But you won't, Daine said. I know you won't, you're curious. I want to talk to you about how you've been living, what you've been eating.
My Prey? What's wrong with my Prey?
The lion shook its head free of her grasp and stepped disdainfully off of Kaddar. Kaddar continued to lie on the ground, his chest rising and falling rapidly. Daine sensed that his eyes were closed.
Your prey is two-leggers, that's what's wrong. They are just as smart as you and they don't appreciate it when their own are killed.
Are you saying that my life is in danger? The lion cocked his head and bared his teeth in something that resembled a grin.
Yes.
Silly Cub, I can't be killed.
Yes you can! Haven't you seen humans before?
Yes. I can't be killed. He turned suddenly and licked a shoulder, before eyeing her lazily once more. I'll spare the Prey this time, but only because you said so.
Daine relaxed. She knew that the Night Lion would see the reason in what she was saying. After all, he *was* one of the People.
Thank you. The lion turned to go, but Daine called out to him. Lion! May I ask you your name?
He turned back and smirked in the way that only a lion can. You already know my name.
Then he was gone, the blackness that was his being fading into the night.
~~~~
{Perfect, the Cub thinks I can be talked to. She thinks she reasoned with me! Silly animal. Stupid humans. I'll go speak to the rat-like man. He'll tell the Other that it is time to set our plans into motion. The Cub will help us; I know that now.}
~~~~
Daine rushed to Kaddar and dropped to her knees beside him. "Are you all right?" She asked, running her hands over his brown chest to check for anything broken. Her fingers touched something sticky by his neck, and she started when she realized it was blood.
"He only nicked my neck a little." Kaddar put a hand to his injured throat, and then sat up and looked at Daine. "You talked to him? Will he go somewhere else?"
Daine looked down at her hands, squinting through the dark. "Oh... I forgot to tell him that. I was trying to keep him from eating you." She laughed softly, and looked at Kaddar's face again. "He didn't say he'd stop hunting, he only said he wouldn't kill you. He thinks he can't be killed by us, that's why he attacks every human he sees. I think he might see us as rivals."
"Of course, they're extremely territorial." Kaddar started to struggle to his feet and Daine stood and helped him. When he was upright and leaning on her, he turned and hugged her. Daine stiffened, her nose buried against his collarbone, but then she loosened up and hugged him back. She was very glad he wasn't dead.
"Thank you for saving me Wildmage." Kaddar said softly above her head. Daine smiled against his warm skin.
"It was my duty, emperor. Now, let's go get your neck tended to."
She didn't mention that another part of her magic had not worked on the lion.
Guardian Demon – I'm glad you are hooked! And thank you so much for the needed criticism. I'm thinking I need someone to edit my chapters before I post them who knows more about Daine and Kaddar. I had to return my copies of the Immortals to the library, so I am without a muse! If you have anyone, let me know, I'd be happy to change anything in my story.
ponykid – Yes, I have heard of Numair and Daine, and yes, I have read Trickster's choice. I've also heard of the paragraph. I thought the fact that I made spaces between them would be enough to clue you in. Apparently not. I also think that I have the right to have a little fun. Come on, enjoy it!
e-ranney – I knew there were others out there! I KNEW it! I'm glad though, because no one else among my friends seemed to like it. Also, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR STANDING UP FOR ME. This is my first story, and it hurt my tender author heart to hear ponykid's remarks. I'm getting thicker skin though. I will try and get into that slave issue, but they need to be together and in a peaceful environment when that happens! Thanks again!
ellabelle1 – I'm glad you liked my story! I'm also happy you're not opposed to the D & K thing. I like Numair and Daine too, but it's nice to shake it up! :) I hope you like this chapter!
~~Six~~
Once they were outside, Kaddar relaxed visibly and took Daine's arm. He breathed deeply of the scents of his kingdom, and then looked sideways at Daine.
"You look exquisite tonight, if I may say that."
Daine blushed, "You can."
They walked towards the stairs that led down to the palace gardens. Kaddar intended to take a roundabout route to the aviary, as he was one who believed that the starlight should not be wasted. Descending the stairs, he steered the Wildmage to the right and they began to stroll along a path that was shaded with exotic palms.
"It's a beautiful night out." Daine murmured. She was very conscious of Kaddar's presence next to her, and the quiet of the night had begun to make her a little flustered.
"It pales in comparison next to you."
"Kaddar! I'm going to get big-headed."
"I'm sorry Daine, I just – I don't know." He stopped abruptly and pulled away. Then, taking both her shoulders, he turned her towards him. Kaddar took one of her hands in his own and, raising it to his lips, he kissed it softly. Daine felt frozen, but then a burning feeling swept up her body and into her cheeks, and she knew she was blushing furiously.
"What was that for? You make me feel like I'm a court lady."
Kaddar only smiled and took her arm again, leading her on towards the aviary.
~~~~
It sniffed the night air, searching for the Prey.
{He shouldn't be too hard to find.}
The rat-like one had told him that there was a celebration tonight at the palace.
{The Prey will be perfumed and easily overtaken. Prey always feels safe at parties.}
~~~~
Kaddar stopped in a clearing at a junction of paths.
"Look up at the sky Daine! Have you ever seen so many stars?"
Daine obligingly tilted her head back, and gasped involuntarily. It was true, the stars blazed impossibly bright. Each pinprick in the inky blackness seemed as vivid as the sun itself at noontime, only compressed into about 1/100th of the size.
"It's so beautiful Kaddar! Oh, look! There's the Cat." She pointed upwards, indicating the constellation, and a shooting star ghosted past her finger. "Oh! Did you see it? Someone's falling in love!"
"Yes, someone is." Kaddar said. His voice sounded intense. Daine looked back down and met his eyes, twin pools of blackness in the night.
~~~~
{There! There is its scent! The Prey, is it stupid enough to be outside? It is, and with the Cub as well! What silly humans, weak and brainless in every way. Ah, I can smell it so well; they must be close. Wait, there, I see them...}
~~~~
Daine laughed suddenly, all of her nervous energy coming out in the sound. She laughed long and hard, leaning over and clutching her stomach. Kaddar was puzzled, but he started to smile as well.
"Daine, what is it? What's so funny?" His teeth flashed as he smiled, and then he began to chuckle. "Really Daine, you must tell me."
~~~~
{Can it really be this easy to catch? Look at the Prey, standing there looking at the Cub, without even half a nose to it's surroundings. If it had any sense at all, it'd know I was here. But it doesn't, and it doesn't. It's a pity I can't kill it tonight. Tonight is only for the Cub's benefit. A little acting on my part, and everything will be underway...}
~~~~
"Kaddar! I'm sorry, it's just that –" she stopped. What was that noise? Instantly shifting her ears to those of a bat, she sent out a sound wave and waited for it to come back.
"What's going on?" Kaddar sounded mildly worried. He'd noticed Daine's ears go through their change, but he wasn't bothered by it. When she stiffened up suddenly and her eyes riveted on the gardens behind him, his brow drew down in a puzzled frown and he turned around to see what had surprised her so much.
~~~~
{There it is, like a plump chicken. The Prey has no clue... but the Cub knows. It looks right at me. The Prey is turning! He still can't see me, foolish animal. I'm coming for you Prey! You too Cub, you too, but now is just for fun. Now is just for fun, *only* for fun.}
~~~~
Daine could "see" something in the bushes directly behind Kaddar. As he turned and she collected the sound waves that bounced back, a grainy image formed in her mind of a shaggy beast that seemed twice as big as a full- grown man. Daine opened her mouth to cry out when a dark clot of shadow coalesced in the foliage and, without warning, threw itself on Kaddar.
The Night Lion's gruff growl rang out into the darkness that had been scared into stillness. Daine couldn't make her legs move as she watched the beast open its mouth. Two-inch long incisors gleamed in the starlight as the lion lowered them to Kaddar's throat.
~~~~
{Why isn't the Cub stopping me? I'll be forced to kill the Prey, and then I will have to find new Prey. This is only for fun! Only for fun.}
~~~~
Daine finally found her voice, and cried out, "Stop!" in the human tongue. The lion seemed to hesitate a second, but then he continued. His paws on Kaddar's shoulders kept the emperor from moving, and if he had, he would have injured himself on the lion's sharp teeth. Daine could hear Kaddar's harsh breathing. She attempted to force her will upon the lion, but was given yet another shock when her magic bounced back and the lion continued to menace Kaddar. With nothing else to do, she tried to speak to it again, in the speech of the People.
Stop! Please stop! You're going to hurt my friend.
The lion stopped this time. He raised his head slightly and the glowing green orbs of his eyes popped into view.
You dare speak to me? It said.
I dare, noble lion. Please, stop. This two-legger never harmed you!
It doesn't matter to me whether the Prey harmed anyone. All that matters is he is fresh.
The lion started in again, but Daine rushed forward and grabbed two fistfuls of his coarse mane. Looking down towards the fallen man, she saw the flash of Kaddar's eyes. New sweat gleamed on his forehead, and she faintly heard him swallowing convulsively.
You touch me? The lion sounded amused. Cub, I could swallow you in one bite.
But you won't, Daine said. I know you won't, you're curious. I want to talk to you about how you've been living, what you've been eating.
My Prey? What's wrong with my Prey?
The lion shook its head free of her grasp and stepped disdainfully off of Kaddar. Kaddar continued to lie on the ground, his chest rising and falling rapidly. Daine sensed that his eyes were closed.
Your prey is two-leggers, that's what's wrong. They are just as smart as you and they don't appreciate it when their own are killed.
Are you saying that my life is in danger? The lion cocked his head and bared his teeth in something that resembled a grin.
Yes.
Silly Cub, I can't be killed.
Yes you can! Haven't you seen humans before?
Yes. I can't be killed. He turned suddenly and licked a shoulder, before eyeing her lazily once more. I'll spare the Prey this time, but only because you said so.
Daine relaxed. She knew that the Night Lion would see the reason in what she was saying. After all, he *was* one of the People.
Thank you. The lion turned to go, but Daine called out to him. Lion! May I ask you your name?
He turned back and smirked in the way that only a lion can. You already know my name.
Then he was gone, the blackness that was his being fading into the night.
~~~~
{Perfect, the Cub thinks I can be talked to. She thinks she reasoned with me! Silly animal. Stupid humans. I'll go speak to the rat-like man. He'll tell the Other that it is time to set our plans into motion. The Cub will help us; I know that now.}
~~~~
Daine rushed to Kaddar and dropped to her knees beside him. "Are you all right?" She asked, running her hands over his brown chest to check for anything broken. Her fingers touched something sticky by his neck, and she started when she realized it was blood.
"He only nicked my neck a little." Kaddar put a hand to his injured throat, and then sat up and looked at Daine. "You talked to him? Will he go somewhere else?"
Daine looked down at her hands, squinting through the dark. "Oh... I forgot to tell him that. I was trying to keep him from eating you." She laughed softly, and looked at Kaddar's face again. "He didn't say he'd stop hunting, he only said he wouldn't kill you. He thinks he can't be killed by us, that's why he attacks every human he sees. I think he might see us as rivals."
"Of course, they're extremely territorial." Kaddar started to struggle to his feet and Daine stood and helped him. When he was upright and leaning on her, he turned and hugged her. Daine stiffened, her nose buried against his collarbone, but then she loosened up and hugged him back. She was very glad he wasn't dead.
"Thank you for saving me Wildmage." Kaddar said softly above her head. Daine smiled against his warm skin.
"It was my duty, emperor. Now, let's go get your neck tended to."
She didn't mention that another part of her magic had not worked on the lion.