its sharp mass of pointy teeth and Zanas looked into its gleaming slivery eyes. It placed one muscular paw forward, its backbone tensing as it prepared to leap on her, its growl echoing the chamber.
Anger began to boil inside of Zanas. There was a challenge in that low grow, in the baring of the teeth. A challenge of dominance. It didn’t matter that she had never been in this place before, that she had no claim to this terrain. Her vision began to redden as she felt her muscles tense, her hands flexing in the air, preparing to spring for her weapon. Her anger boiled over. She felt the rumble in her vocal cords and the echo of her growl of fury.
The animal jerked to a stop, its pointy ears flattening. Its eyes began to gleam brighter, and then they dulled, changing color to a deep sea blue. The creature shook its fur again and changed to a soft glowing red, the low growl turning to a purr. It slowly walked towards her, no hint of the previous aggression showing. Zanas could almost feel the emotions the canine was omitting. She reached out with one hand as it placed its wet nose on her, breathing heavily on her arm.
A shock erupted through her body, as her vision went black and she began to see images. She felt herself small and weak, as she was sent down a tunnel of light. Zanas could not open her eyes but sensed that there was someone near her. She lay there blind, and then she felt a wet soft touch that left her shivering, as the cold air swam around her body. Only she was not her . She was Maleek, a male cub, silky and strong.
Zanas watched as other flashes crossed her mind, Maleek learning to hunt besides his beautifully strong mother. She felt the pride that flowed through him when he overtook his first kill. Zanas saw him grow older, more deadly. Then she saw through pain-streaked eyes as his mother left, the wild look back in her eyes. It was back to the solitary life that their kind lived. His long roaming began, as he lived his lonely life in the dark. He was a magnificent creature, strong and lethal, with eyes that could decipher any kind of movement in the long dark tunnels. The last thing that Zanas saw was how Maleek had first seen her, standing tall and beautiful, her black hair trailing to her knees, a fierce look in her eyes. The low growl echoed the cave and she felt a memory surface…mother.
Her vision cleared and she came back to the present. Maleek began to nudge his nose against her hand, and she scanned his face. She stared into his blue eyes; the large eyes staring lovingly back at her. She moved her hand along the side of his face, stroking his cheek, and then scratching behind his ears. He let out a low rumble as Zanas continued to pet him. She almost felt guilty in thinking that she was petting him. He was far too glorious a creature to think of as a pet. No. It felt more like she was being allowed into his world.
When she got up to leave and continue on, he rose and followed her. She smiled as he took lead, shifting his color once again, giving off a vibrant glow that brightened the passageway around them. Zanas felt a wave of relief as they began to pick up pace, Maleek shinning the way.
They continued on for days, taking time to rest and eat. Maleek had no trouble drinking the glowing water that they found trickling down in some of the cavernous rooms they passed. He had lived beneath his entire life, and his body had adapted. She wondered in what other ways he had been changed by Alwahi, it was obvious he could see in the dark, as well as camouflage himself to hide. As she thought this Maleek turned his intelligent eyes on her and gave an almost toothy grin, pawing at the water.
Zanas finally succumbed, and took the translucent liquid into her hands and drank deeply. The water had a slight coppery taste. She expected to start feeling disorientated, as she had with the Klah. But this was something much different. She felt her insides sucking in the water;
Anger began to boil inside of Zanas. There was a challenge in that low grow, in the baring of the teeth. A challenge of dominance. It didn’t matter that she had never been in this place before, that she had no claim to this terrain. Her vision began to redden as she felt her muscles tense, her hands flexing in the air, preparing to spring for her weapon. Her anger boiled over. She felt the rumble in her vocal cords and the echo of her growl of fury.
The animal jerked to a stop, its pointy ears flattening. Its eyes began to gleam brighter, and then they dulled, changing color to a deep sea blue. The creature shook its fur again and changed to a soft glowing red, the low growl turning to a purr. It slowly walked towards her, no hint of the previous aggression showing. Zanas could almost feel the emotions the canine was omitting. She reached out with one hand as it placed its wet nose on her, breathing heavily on her arm.
A shock erupted through her body, as her vision went black and she began to see images. She felt herself small and weak, as she was sent down a tunnel of light. Zanas could not open her eyes but sensed that there was someone near her. She lay there blind, and then she felt a wet soft touch that left her shivering, as the cold air swam around her body. Only she was not her . She was Maleek, a male cub, silky and strong.
Zanas watched as other flashes crossed her mind, Maleek learning to hunt besides his beautifully strong mother. She felt the pride that flowed through him when he overtook his first kill. Zanas saw him grow older, more deadly. Then she saw through pain-streaked eyes as his mother left, the wild look back in her eyes. It was back to the solitary life that their kind lived. His long roaming began, as he lived his lonely life in the dark. He was a magnificent creature, strong and lethal, with eyes that could decipher any kind of movement in the long dark tunnels. The last thing that Zanas saw was how Maleek had first seen her, standing tall and beautiful, her black hair trailing to her knees, a fierce look in her eyes. The low growl echoed the cave and she felt a memory surface…mother.
Her vision cleared and she came back to the present. Maleek began to nudge his nose against her hand, and she scanned his face. She stared into his blue eyes; the large eyes staring lovingly back at her. She moved her hand along the side of his face, stroking his cheek, and then scratching behind his ears. He let out a low rumble as Zanas continued to pet him. She almost felt guilty in thinking that she was petting him. He was far too glorious a creature to think of as a pet. No. It felt more like she was being allowed into his world.
When she got up to leave and continue on, he rose and followed her. She smiled as he took lead, shifting his color once again, giving off a vibrant glow that brightened the passageway around them. Zanas felt a wave of relief as they began to pick up pace, Maleek shinning the way.
They continued on for days, taking time to rest and eat. Maleek had no trouble drinking the glowing water that they found trickling down in some of the cavernous rooms they passed. He had lived beneath his entire life, and his body had adapted. She wondered in what other ways he had been changed by Alwahi, it was obvious he could see in the dark, as well as camouflage himself to hide. As she thought this Maleek turned his intelligent eyes on her and gave an almost toothy grin, pawing at the water.
Zanas finally succumbed, and took the translucent liquid into her hands and drank deeply. The water had a slight coppery taste. She expected to start feeling disorientated, as she had with the Klah. But this was something much different. She felt her insides sucking in the water;
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