Anika
Chapter 17
Almost five years later Sesshomaru found himself doing border patrol with his father.
"Father what is that noise?" Sesshomaru couldn't place the sound.
"I don't know Sesshomaru let's go check it out." Touga also had heard the sound.
"Father I think it is coming from the shore." Sesshomaru turned his head in the direction of the ocean. Touga and Sesshomaru set off at an easy lope towards the ocean where the sound was emanating. Laying in the wet sand caught on some rocks lay a lioness whose collar chain was wedged between the rocks.
"The collar is too tight and is causing her to choke. Sesshomaru can you go and see if you can free the chain while I go check her health?" Touga saw the big feline's distress. Sesshomaru wasted no time in following his father's orders. Touga cautiously approached the lioness and watched as her amber eyes glared up at him. Once Sesshomaru freed the chain the lioness slid down the slope she was on. Touga got worried when the lioness didn't get up immediately and cautiously approached the cat. As Touga walked forward the lioness's tail twitched as she tried to get up and only succeeded in sitting up. With her ears laid back and her large canines bared Touga understood a warning when he saw one.
"Easy there, I'm not going to hurt you." Touga spoke in a calm voice. With a deep guttural snarl the lioness quickly lashed out at Touga.
"Father I think we should leave it alone." Sesshomaru was becoming unnerved by the strange creature.
"Sesshomaru, go home and get some food." Touga could see the cat's ribs outlined in her tan pelt. Sesshomaru quickly sprinted off. The lioness slumped back down on her side as her struggle to free herself left her exhausted. Touga noticed the cat's bleeding paw pads and wondered just how long she was struggling. Sesshomaru came back with the food and Touga offered it to the cat. The lioness licked her chops when she smelt the meat but she was too tired to eat and just lay in the sand trying to gather what little strength she had left. Finally after much effort the lioness was finally up on her feet and slowly making her way to the plate of meat. Snarling possessively the lioness snapped up the meat quickly hardly chewing it. Licking the plate clean the lioness sniffed around for more meat. Touga had snatched a piece off of the plate when his son handed him the plate and he now held it out towards the lioness. Licking her snout the lioness slowly approached Touga as her rumbling snarl could be clearly heard. Touga began to slowly back away leading the lioness with him. The lioness picked up her pace as she followed Touga who led her to the castle.
"Father, look at her right flank. She has been branded." Sesshomaru saw the mark and wondered what it meant. Touga had successfully led the lioness to a large empty stall at his stables. Flinging the piece of meat on the straw covered floor Touga quickly closed the stall door after the cat ran into it. Once the lioness ate the piece of meat she quickly went to the water filled pail and took a long refreshing drink. Touga ordered for more meat to be brought into the cat's stall. The lioness ate until her sides bulged with her full stomach. Laying down in the sweet smelling hay the lioness soon fell asleep.
"Father what type of cat is she?" Sesshomaru had never seen a lion before.
"She is a lioness. They live in Africa which is why I am wondering what she is doing all the way over here." Touga explained to his son.
"Do you think Anika should know about this?" Sesshomaru peered at the sleeping cat.
"She will eventually find out so it is best we inform her soon." Touga had been pondering the same question for a bit. Just then Anika flew into the stables and calmly landed in the lioness's enclosure.