Amnextria sulked around her chambers. Since returning from her hunt, she had coupled with Lion-O. It was a necessary evil in her mind. She had refused to bed him for the past several weeks. It would have soon become the talk of the palace. She removed her clothing and eased into her bath. She hated the stench of him, of any male. She scrubbed her skin furiously. The thought of mating with him again almost made her physically ill. The only pleasure she took for it was the thought of keeping him from his female lover. Her scent was all over him. She hoped it would repulse his lover.
She rose from her bath and dressed quickly. Lion-O, if he held to his recent pattern of behavior would soon leave the palace. Tonight, she would find out who his lover was. She looked herself over in the mirror and left her chamber. She quickly walked down the halls of her wing in the palace. This side of the palace belong to her and her attendants. Lion-O's was on the other side, for he and his guard. In the middle was the accursed suite they shared. Turning down a hall, she quickened her pace. The maiden's chambers. The Huntresses of Bastet, by tradition served the queen. She commanded their loyalty, she hoped. It was her duty to select huntresses from the noble family. With her haste in planning her wedding, she allowed Cheetara to select this group. In the future, only lionesses would hold this honor, she told herself. Damn what the rest of Thundera did or thought!
There were two huntresses on duty, a wildcat and a tiger. She tried to hide her disdain for the wildcat. Her stripes and spots were so irregular it was impossible to tell which species of cat she belonged. Such was the trait of wildcats. So varied was their parentage, you could never tell what bloodline ran through their veins. Two of Lion-O's closest friends were wildcats. Mongrels, she thought. Only lion blood ran in her veins.
The beautiful maidens bowed. Amnextria purposefully spoke to the tiger, "Where is Lady Taramis?" she asked.
"She is within, my queen," the tiger responded with a slight bow. "Her duty just ended."
Amnextria strode into the room. She was queen here no place in the palace could be denied her. The room was spartan in decoration. Each of these maidens was a princess in her own right, sent here to serve the queen and hopefully learn humility. She snorted in disgust. Several of the young maidens were laying about on pillows, chatting and giggling. The young females lived dormitory style in the palace. The queen's attendants' chamber was much more plush and ornate. Here only the basic comfort was provided. There was a bath chamber just beyond the sitting area and Amnextria spied two females cleaning themselves.
Upon seeing the queen, the maiden cats immediately grew quiet and stood rapidly bowing before the queen. Amnextria saw the young ocelot she sought in the bath chamber. She waved the other cats off and walked to the bath house. There, the beautiful ocelot huntress was rising from her bath.
Amnextria admired her lovely form. Lithe and slightly muscular was this maiden. Her ocelot markings were black, brown and the occasional white. Her long dark hair fell down her back almost touching her shapely buttocks. Were it not for the code requiring them to remain maidens, Amnextria would have...she shook her head as if to banish the thought. All her lovers had been lionesses, but this female flamed a desire deep within.
"Lady Taramis," she called out. The young ocelot was wrapping a towel around herself when the queen called. Being caught off guard the young huntress fumbled the towel and simply let it drop. She was a Thunderan female, there was no nudity taboo so she was not ashamed of her body. That glorious nubile young body, Amnextria thought to herself.
"Leave us," she commanded the other female in the bath, a bobcat by her markings. The female quickly grabbed a towel and left the chambers. Amnextria turned to see the other females in the sitting room were gathered close by. She gave them a look and they all scattered, like prey fleeing a predator. She turned and faced the ocelot.
"I have need of your service, young huntress," Amnextria thought, the double meaning of her words clear only to her.
"You honor me, my queen," the young huntress said, her head bowed.
"First a question...where does your loyatly lie?," she asked.
The young female raised her head, her face amass with confusion, "My queen?", she asked
"Answer me!" Amnextria demanded.
"With you milady. A huntress's first loyatly is to the Queen of Thundera by tradition. We all swore that oath. Have you reason to doubt me, my queen?," she asked.
"No as I said I have need of your service. It will require the utmost discretion," Amnextria continued. "Get dress, young huntress. I will tell you what I require as we leave." Amnextria waited for the ocelot to get dressed, watching her with an appreciative eye. After the young female was dressed, she led her down the hall and informed her of what her duty would be...
Lion-O ran through the forest. He had bathed quickly, hoping to remove Amnextria's scent. He felt ashamed, guilty like it was Kareala who was betrayed not his wife and queen. Never had he experienced such passion, such need. Kareala's touch flamed his whole being. She ignited a burning in him that would not be extinguished. This was love. He simply had to have her. His whole body ached for her. Being with Amnextria was cold and mechanical. He abhorred it. Just thinking of Kareala aroused him like nothing else.
He made it to their hidden grotto and found the leopard female swimming nude in the clear crystal pool. He removed his tunic and dove in the crisp cool water. He came up next to her and kissed he on the cheek, wrapping his arms around her. She layed her head on his shoulders and buried her face in his neck, kissing it softly and then abruptly stopping.
"You mated with her again," she said, sounding disappointed in him.
"Because its the only way to end this. Once she is with child, You and I will not have to hide anymore," he said pulling her close. "I hate it and you know that. After what you told me, I now know why she hates it as well. We are both trapped. I hope she is with cub soon. I can't endure this anymore. Being away from you is sheer torture."
Kareala relented. She and Lion-O swam to the banks of the grotto and there renewed their passion. He ferociously made love to her. Their need and desire more important than anything else at the moment.
Taramis catiously moved through the trees around the palace. She was an ocelot. Climbing and travelling through trees was second nature. Her species skill and agility were well known among the Thunderans. She did this with a heavy heart.
Her queen ordered her to follow Lion-O and report what she saw. Something wasn't right about this, but her duty came first. Lion-O was moving quickly through the forest. She could have been a clumsy mutant thrashing through the jungle and he wouldn't have paid attention. He was clearly on a mission but what and where? She followed him easily. Leaping and jumping from branch to branch being as quiet as possible. She finally reached a clear grotto.
Lion-O was disrobing. Taramis did not hide her face. Though she was a maiden and would remain so for the next several months until her duty was over, the nude male body did not shock her. Some other cat was in the water, but whom? Another female and the voice sounds familiar. She must get closer. She leaped to another tree for a better view. The moon shone down brightly on the hidden grotto, it was a perfect spot for lovers have a clandestine meeting. The light reflected off the clear water and Taramis got a clear view of Lion-O's lover. She nearly fell from the branches from the shock. She watched as the two made love furiously and blushed slightly. Though she had seen many nude bodies, she had never seen two cats in the throws of passion.
With a sick feeling in her stomach, she made her way back to the palace. The news she would give her queen and the friend she would betray...
Alright, I have many hits but only seven reviews, what's up with that. And a special thank you to Leanna for your inspiration. I would like some honest feedback about my writing. If you think it sucks fine, just tell me why. It's hard to get better when no one offers any critique. Thanks to those that have offered their opinions, its really helps.