After a while Darkness stirred awaking from his slumber.
I lifted my head and smiled as I watched him stretch and pad out from between my paws. He turned back sitting and looking at me, "Why?"
I tilted my head trying to understand what he was asking, "why what Darkness?"
"Why are you being nice to me?"
I shrugged in reply, "I just am."
He nodded a bit seeming to absorb the answer I gave, "thank you Watcher,'' he smiled.
I stood up with a great stretch, shaking my head as I looked down upon the cub, "you're welcome cub."
I raised my head and scented the air for a fast tasty soul to eat, "I'll be back okay,'' I smiled reassuringly at him.
"You promise," he asked in a small voice looking at me with kitty cat eyes (A.K.A puppy dog eyes).
"I promise," I repeated.
He gave a nod, "okay I'll hold you to that then," he padded away towards a different area.
I watched him leave me before turning away and slipping back into my normal shadowy form as I floated away to devour my dinner.
Once I finished with my dinner I returned to the pride to keep watch over Darkness.
'Why do I seem to care?' I questioned myself, 'because he doesn't fear you,' a small side of me spoke, 'that's because he has no idea what you really are,' another side sneered. I frowned knowing that both sides spoke true but not yet knowing which one spoke more truth then the other.
The sun had set over the savannah wilderness, cloaking it in a silent starlit night. I stared up at the moon as if it could give me the answers to my questions, (yeah I really did that sometimes I still do since I'm still confused as to why…well I can't tell you just yet read on and find out.) the moon gave no reply, I sighed and climbed into a nearby tree, where I draped myself on one of the thick limbs, as I waited for the sun to return and give life to the land once more.
After hours passed the sun began to rise up once more peeking through the foliage taking the cloak off the land.
I looked down at the clearing watching and waiting for anything.
I watched as Darkness tumbled into the clearing, (literally I still mock him about that to this day), he tripped over his paws as he stumbled around eyes half closed in exhaustion. I laughed silently watching the scene before me.
Once he righted himself he padded away to a new area, I followed him with my gaze still unseen. He stopped by a crack in a rock, he quietly pulled out a carcass of an eagle. I smirked watching him attempt and fail to drag it back the way he came.
I leaped out of the tree and padded towards him, sitting behind him I cleared my throat, making him jump in the air before turning to look at me.
"What was that for?" he hissed in an annoyed manner.
"Nothing, nothing," I waved a paw before placing it back on the ground.
He turned away from me and grabbed the eagle in his jaws dragging it a bit closer before giving up and looking at me.
"You haven't eaten,'' he stated, he then looked at the carcass then at me once more silently implying that I should eat.
I smiled softly and gave him a quick like between the eyes before lowering my head and ripping a piece of flesh off the eagle.
I watched him smile from the corner of my vision, I lifted my head and looked at him, "aren't you going to help me out?"
He nodded quickly and jumped beside me lowering his own head and ripping a bit of flesh from the carcass.
Many months went by like that, me silently watching over him but not interfering. I asked once if he would like for me to 'handle' the pride.
"No, they may be mean but…they still deserve to live their not all that bad.'' That was the first and last time we spoke about the subject.
As the months flew pass, I was forced to sadly watch from the shadows as lions and lioness alike attacked and roared at him for things I knew he didn't do.
After a while I had to say good bye to Darkness and leave to handle business elsewhere.
"You'll come back right?" Darkness pleaded looking at me with unshed tears.
'Maybe, we'll see,' I thought, but instead I answered, "of course I'll return kitten," I laughed quietly seeing him scowl at the nickname I had saddled him with.
"I'm not a kitten," his tail swished in annoyance, "I'm almost a year old not a kitten,'' he stated glaring at me.
"You might almost be a year but you'll always be a little cub to me… kitten," I added earning myself a playful swat from Darkness.
His expression changed to sadness once more, "you have to promise to return please Watcher."
"I promise Darkness I'll return," I promised, placing my forehead against his, "I always keep my promises."
I pulled my head away from his and smiled sadly before turning and padding away allowing the night shadows to consume me as I vanished.
