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A Tale of Jaguars	By : Aline Category: +S through Z > Thundercats Views: 13095 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I don't own Thundercats, or any character or event associated to it, and I'm not making any money from this fiction.

Chapter List
- 4
- 5
- 6
WARNINGS: This contains Slash, and abuse, as well as mpreg. It is dark and treats themes only for mature audience, such as rape and sex with a minor. Do not read if you don’t like it.
*Disclaimer: I don’t own Thundercats, or any character or event associated to it, and I’m not making any money from this fiction.
Note: For the record, Jareid is pronounced the same as Jared :) Thanks

CHAPTER 05. JEALOUSY AND ITS CONSEQUENCES.

The hunters were gathering slowly in the courtyard. It was still early in the morning, but the practice was going to take all day, it was better to have a good start.
Tygra was waiting for everyone to be prepared. He was doing warm-up exercises while he waited. A few of the other trainees were doing the same, and one or two were still half- asleep. Tygra had been strongly reminded of Lion-O when he had seen those last.
Someone put a hand on his shoulder, and Tygra turned around to see Xalu. He was one of his fellow trainees, and one of the few friends he had made. He was a few months older than Tygra, with chiselled features, and a mane that fell down to his shoulders, often in a pony tail.
“Hey Tygra. How are you feeling? We thought you weren’t going to make it today. Many were almost certain that you’d be in the Shamans’ wing.”
Tygra huffed in annoyance. Time had gone by rather quickly. Soon it’d been nine months since his arrival, and some cats still saw him as a weak little kit. Even the ones his own age like Xalu.
But this time he couldn’t blame his friend for his concern. He too had been worried about his own physical integrity. The previous day they had been training on combat, and Jareid had intruded. Without so much as an excuse me, the prince simply had taken a staff, and put himself on guard in front of Tygra. The tiger had been scared out of his mind, but he couldn’t refuse. Not in front of the entire group of his fellow trainees.
So, they had fought. Tygra had been practicing and could handle the staff much better than the first time. He had been able to give a good combat. However, when he finally had been on the ground with Jareid over him, he had started to panic. Jareid had been very excited by the fight. So much in fact, that he had kissed and bitten the tiger’s neck right there. In front of everyone!
It had been the first time that Jareid displayed their relationship in public. Tygra had been aghast. For a moment he had been convinced that Jareid was going to continue and claim him right there. Fortunately for him, Jareid was not that much of an exhibitionist. But he did carry Tygra out of the courtyard over his shoulder, declaring that training was over for the day. Tygra just knew that everyone in the palace was certain this time that Jareid had fucked him. Which he had done. Roughly. But surprisingly he had had the presence of mind to prepare Tygra, so he hadn’t tear the teen apart like the first time. Tygra was very sore, but not incapacitated. It helped that he was more or less getting used to Jareid’s size.
“Yeah well I’m not. And there’s no reason for me to lose practice.”
The young jaguar looked at him in concern.
“Are you sure? I don’t want to pry, but I have heard that the prince can be pretty rough.”
The tiger flushed in embarrassment. He was never going to be comfortable discussing his sex-life. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see many of the other trainees taking an interest in his talk. He wanted to growl at them. While he could see that Xalu’s concern was genuine, the rest only wanted to get a juicy piece of gossip.
“Yeah, I’ve heard that too. But I’m fine. There’s no need to be concerned Xalu.”
The jaguar narrowed his eyes, but nodded and let the subject drop.
“Oi, I heard that in a few weeks it’s going to be your birthday!”
Tygra groaned, but smiled at the same time. It had been Lion-O’s birthday some days ago, and the lion had made sure to tell everyone the date of his brother’s. There had been cake, and even some presents, so the young lion had been happy enough.
Tygra dreaded his birthday. He was going to be sixteen, and it’d also mean less than three months for the official ceremony of his mating. Though he didn’t know why he bothered. It wasn’t as if Jareid hadn’t already laid his claim on him. What could be the worst that could happen after all he had been through?
“Yeah. In just two weeks actually.”
“Cool.”
“Hey you two! Lieutenant Kab wants everyone in the south court!”
The two teens obeyed, and joined the rest of the team to start the warm up and receive instructions.
Meanwhile, another set of eyes observed the proceedings from one of the palace’s windows. Eyes that followed Tygra’s form with loathing.
Mai was one of Jareid’s last conquests from before the war with Thundera. One that was mightily pissed at the prince’s betrothal. She had believed herself practically on the throne, and was not taking well the news that it wasn’t to be. She had never had a chance to begin with, but she had deluded herself with the idea that Jareid was in love with her. It had been quite a shock for her that Jareid had not run into her arms the moment he had arrived home.
She gritted her teeth while she looked at the hunter’s trainees. She couldn’t believe that a child had taken her place beside the prince! What had the king been thinking making such a pact? They could have easily erased Thundera from the face of Third Earth! They didn’t need any alliances with the damned lions!
Mai had been convinced that the king had forced his son into an unwanted arrangement, and had waited for Jareid to look for her, desperate for a way out of the mating contract. She of course would help him find one and be done with the tiger cub. But as the months had gone by, and no Jareid had come knocking to her door, she had grown upset.
She had gone to Jareid then. She had intended to remind him of the time they had spent together, to make him see that he had no reason to put up with his father’s pact. But she had been brushed aside. Jareid had told her that he didn’t have any more use of her, now that he had a mate.
She had been furious. How dare him replace her with that kit! The boy couldn’t possibly be attending to his needs! Surely he didn’t even know how!
There had been much talk around the court. The majority of the nobles were under the impression that the king had forced his son into a binding contract, and that somehow he was restraining Jareid and preventing him from acting as he used to. The older cats all thought that it was about time. The heir prince couldn’t be allowed to go prancing around like a common whore! Baal should have reined on his son’s urges long ago!
But some of the younger nobles weren’t so happy. Mai among them. One or two of Jareid’s occasional bed partners had still been nursing the fantasy to become the future king’s mate. Some had looked for Jareid, as Mai had, and had received the same farewell words as her. They were frankly puzzled at the prince’s behaviour. No one really believed that a young teenager like Tygra could possibly be enough for a cat like Jareid.
They of course had taken upon themselves the task of making the Thunderian prince aware of their existence. The brat should know what he had been signed into with a partner like Jareid. They had been sure that the boy would be freaked out to know about Jareid’s escapades. They thought he would ask Jareid for explanations and deny to share a bed with him, causing a rift between them that the nobles of the court would be quick to fill.
But apparently such thing had not happened. Tygra seemed immune to the court’s gossip, or he simply was ignoring it. The noble jaguars were miffed. Many of them had decided to ignore the boy. The fact that he’d be mated to the prince was inconsequential after all. Jareid was going to tire of him sooner or later, and would start to look for entertainment. There was no mating that couldn’t be broken later, and a consort was only a step away from being a mate.
Mai was not willing to wait. She was not going to debase herself to be a consort. She was meant to be the queen! She was not playing second fiddle to anyone, much less to some stupid child! She was going to recover Jareid. She only needed to dispose of the obstacle in her way.
She smiled evilly as she watched the group of trainees heading outside. The jungle had always been very dangerous. Much more for an outsider, who was still learning to find his own way through it. Accidents were bound to happen.
&&&&&&&&
Tygra ran as fast as he could through bushes and overgrown plants. He had almost died falling from a tree. He had been trying to avoid waking up an Iknal, a large, bad tempered animal that looked to him like a mixture between a reptile and a wild cat. He had run head first into poison ivy, and had found a colony of fire ants.
He was tired, but he couldn’t afford to stop. They had been told to go north. They had to cross the jungle and arrive at some unidentified spot about 10 miles from the starting point. They had to be quick. They had been given a 10 minutes distance from each other, and were supposed to keep the pace. If the jaguar behind them caught up there was going to be hell to pay. Tygra was being followed by Xalu, who was faster than him, so he couldn’t stop to rest.
He came across the river, and stopped to consider his options. Xalu hadn’t caught up to him yet, but Tygra suspected that was due to him being lost. It was the first time he saw the river. It was huge, easily eight meters wide, and its waters were running fast. If he tried to swim through it, the current will trap him and take him down the river, probably crushing him against the many rocks that littered the rapids.
He turned to one side and then the other. He couldn’t see anything he could use as a bridge, and there was no telling how long the river ran. He’d have to cross it.
He surveyed the rocks. He could use them. He’d hop from one to the other until he’d reach the other side.
Tygra jumped to the first rock. He almost lost his foot upon landing, but regained his equilibrium quickly. The surface was slippery, he had to be careful.
He almost got to the middle of the river when he heard a strange noise over the roar of the waters. The next second, pain coursed through his right calf. He cried out and slipped, falling into the water.
He desperately tried to keep afloat. The pain on his leg was killing him. He impacted against a rock and held onto it for dear life. He tried to climb it, but he couldn’t move easily. He could now feel that something was piercing his right leg from side to side. He was just trying to identify what it was when it was pulled hard. Tygra cried at the pain the pull provoked. The thing wouldn’t go out of his leg. Someone was trying to pull him.
He couldn’t grab onto the rock any longer. One more pull and he was under the water again, moving his hands desperately to try to get his head above the current. He hit another rock and this time he felt a hand around his ankle. He was pulled upside down out of the water, and he coughed a couple of times. He looked at his captor’s body, and recognized the uniform of a fully trained hunter.
“Look at this. I got myself a skinny fish.”
“Cough… cough… wha… what are you doing?”
Tygra tried to lift his head. He could see now the harpoon going trough his leg. He recognized the cat holding him. His name was Bali. He was one of the best hunters in the forces.
Bali took the harpoon and pulled it out of Tygra’s leg. The tiger screamed at the muscles being torn in such a way. The jaguar smiled maliciously at him.
“I’m just getting rid of the trash. Our prince deserves better! The alligators will take care of you.”
He lowered Tygra again, until the tiger’s head was once more under the water. Tygra moved his arms and left leg, desperately trying to free himself. He bent at his stomach and grabbed his legs to get his head out of the water.
“Oh no, you won’t.”
Bali captured the back of Tygra’s head and let go of the leg. Then he submerged the boy again and tried to keep him under the water. Tygra’s hands managed to grasp the one that was holding him down and scratched desperately. Bali roared in anger and pulled him out again to hit his face with a closed fist. Twice. The third hit went to Tygra’s abdomen, getting the air out of his lungs. The tiger’s body tried to curl in reflex and Bali pushed him under the water again, hitting the head against the rock for good measure.
Tygra couldn’t breathe. He was going to drown and there was no one to help him. The hit against the rock got him fully on his left temple. The world around him blackened out.
Bali was satisfied that his prey had stopped struggling. He’d hold the boy under the water for a few more minutes, just to be sure that he had drowned, and then he’d let him go.
Suddenly, a rock impacted with the back of his head. He released the tiger and turned around to see a net closing over him.
Xalu had been about to caught up to Tygra. He had been the last one to start the race, so their trainer had been right behind him. Xalu had reached the river just in time to see Bali holding Tygra from his bleeding leg. At first he hadn’t understood what was happening, but when he realized that Bali intended to drown Tygra he desperately looked around, trying to find a way to stop the jaguar. He was already prepared to throw a rock to the hunter when his trainer finally caught up to him.
They lost no more time. Xalu threw the rock and immediately dived into the river to intercept the tiger’s body. Kab had his weapon loaded with a fishing net, and shot. Bali was caught nicely. Kab pulled and dragged the other jaguar to his side of the river. There was a short fight between them that ended with Kab pressing Bali’s head to the ground, and calling for reinforcements via radio.
Xalu was already fishing Tygra out of the river. He struggled with his friend’s weight, and was close to drown himself while trying to keep them both afloat. Kab helped him once Bali was restrained and got both teenagers out of the water. Xalu coughed his lungs out, while Kab was desperately giving Tygra first aids and mouth-to-mouth respiration. Xalu joined in once he got himself somewhat under control. Between the two of them they managed to get Tygra breathing again.
The young tiger expelled a good deal of the water that had filled his lungs and coughed uncontrollably. Xalu helped him to lie on his side, as the reinforcements arrived and the royal guard took command of the situation.
&&&&&&&
Tygra woke up with a terrible headache, and feeling his lungs burning. He moaned in pain and immediately heard Lion-O’s voice at his side.
“Tygra? Ben! Tygra’s waking up!”
The tiger moaned again and opened his eyes. His entire body ached, and his mouth and throat felt dry. Lion-O was looking at him with tears in his eyes.
“Wha… ‘ppen?”
“Tygra you asshole! Don’t scare me like that!”
“Come on prince Lion-O, allow your brother some space. I need to check him.”
Tygra saw Bengali coming behind Lion-O. The young lion unhappily made way for the Shaman to check the tiger over, while Tygra remembered what had happened. At the end, the white tiger helped him to sit up on the bed, supporting his back with the pillows. Lion-O took his place again, sitting beside his brother.
“For all the spirits Tygra. You gave us a good scare this time.”
“’s not my fault.”
“Of course not. Thankfully you didn’t drown. Your face is a disaster right now though. You have several bruises, a concussion, and one deep gash on your right calf. The muscles are going to take sometime to heal. Your lungs are clean now, only a bit sensitive. You’d be better in no time.”
“What happened Tygra?” Asked Lion-O in concern. It wasn’t like his brother to have an accident, and no one had told him anything.
Tygra was about to answer, and inquire about his attacker, when the door to his right opened and an irate Jareid entered, yelling to someone at the top of his lungs.
“Don’t give me that shit! No one is stopping me from seeing my mate!”
The jaguar approached the bed decidedly. One young apprentice behind him, looking helplessly at Bengali.
“I’m sorry Shaman Bengali, he insisted.”
“It’s ok Sarai, you can leave.”
The girl scurried away as fast as she could. Bengali looked disapprovingly at his prince, but Jareid didn’t pay him any attention. His entire focus was on Tygra.
The tiger trembled. It was evident that Jareid was very angry. He swallowed a couple of times, but didn’t dare to open his mouth.
Jareid approached the right side of the bed, working himself into quite a state as he inspected the damage his mate had taken. It did nothing but fuel his anger to see Tygra’s face. The tiger’s head was bandaged. He had a purple eye and cheek, and evidently a broken nose. Jareid lifted the bedcovers in one violent movement and his face contorted in fury. There were many minor bruises, a mayor one on the teen’s abdomen, and his right calf was heavily bandaged.
With a low, angry growl, he let the covers go and looked at the face of his trembling mate, fists clenching and fur standing on end.
“Who did this?”
Tygra was very scared. He knew that Jareid was easy to anger, but he had never seen the jaguar this furious. He didn’t know how much of that fury was directed at him, so he started talking, telling everything that had happened until he had lost consciousness. Jareid’s growl intensified and turned to Bengali. By then Lion-O was trembling too, and hugging his brother tightly, looking at the jaguar with wide, fearful eyes.
“Where is he?”
Bengali blinked. He had seen his fare share of Jareid’s anger, but nothing like this. He felt confused, realizing that only his training was keeping him from shivering and exposing his neck in submission. It’d be a very bad idea to deny Jareid anything right now.
“Bali is in a holding cell. The king is waiting for Tygra to wake up to question him… Jareid wait!”
The jaguar roared and got out of the clinic with murder in his eyes. Bengali stood looking at the door, plain and utterly baffled for several seconds. Then he grabbed his communicator and pushed a few buttons quickly. Tygra looked at him, still in fear, and trying to soothe Lion-O.
“Hello Jeron. It’s Bengali… Yes, he’s awake, but listen. You have to seal the holding cells and enforce the guard. Jareid is on his way there, and he’s furious…. I know that King Baal has not passed judgment yet! I don’t think the prince cares! … Just do as I say! Believe me, if Jareid gets to Bali’s cell you’re not gonna like it! … Yes, I’m going for the king.”
Bengali cut out the communication, and gave a deep breath. Then he looked at the two siblings and sighed.
“I have to go and get the king. You two are going to be alright?”
Both cats nodded and Bengali smiled at them. He got out of the clinic in search of Baal.
As soon as they were alone, the brothers breathed better, and Lion-O reclined his head on Tygra’s shoulder.
“Tygra, what’s he gonna do?”
The tiger sighed. He wasn’t sure where Jareid had disappeared to, but he was glad it was away from them.
“I don’t know. But don’t worry, he’s not gonna hurt you.”
The two siblings relaxed and stayed in each others arms for a while.
&&&&&&&
Jeron was puzzled at the amount of urgency and panic in Bengali’s voice. He ordered to double the guard, but sealing the cells seemed unnecessary. He thought that the Shaman was exaggerating. That was until he saw Jareid walking down the hall. He couldn’t even react on time.
The guards never knew what hit them. One moment they were standing on duty, and the next they were a crumpled pile on the floor, trying desperately to untangle themselves from one another while hearing loud roaring and terrified screams from one of the cells.
&&&&&&&
King Baal looked in astonishment at the bloody mess that had been Bali’s cell. He wasn’t against the final result. He had already decided that Bali was to be set as an example. Treason was not tolerated, and Tygra was already part of the royal family, the people had to get that fact into their collective minds. He had just not expected the kind of example his son had provided.
He long ago had accepted the fact that Jareid had some serious anger management problems, but honestly! Had it really been necessary to scare the prison guard out of their wits?
Granted, it had been the prision’s commander’s own fault. The cat had already reported, still trembling with adrenaline, that Shaman Bengali had called before Jareid’s arrival, and had strongly suggested to seal the cells. Suggestion that had been ignored because… well, because no one had really expected Jareid to do something like this! Not even Baal had expected this kind of reaction. Sure, he had known that his son was going to scream for blood at the top of his lungs, but the last thing he had expected was for Jareid going feral and extracting the blood himself.
And just to make things more interesting, Bengali had called by the radio not two minutes ago bordering on hysteria. Apparently, once he had finished in the cells Jareid had sequestered Tygra from the clinic, and was now secluded in his rooms with him. So now they also had a very upset and scared lion demanding to see his brother.
The king sighed and shook his head. This was going to require a long talk with the counsel, some bribery, and strong threatening for no one to go outside the palace telling tales that the prince had gone mental. He will of course talk with the guard to do damage control. Also, he and his counsellors had to prepare what to say to the people. They had to give a very good reason for an execution not being public, specially considering the crime. He hoped that the Shamans would be able to do something for the body to be presentable; otherwise they were going to have a hard time explaining this mess to the deceased’s family. He’d leave the lion to his queen to sort out. Xilara had always been good with kits.
Baal grunted and left the cell. It seemed like he was always cleaning up his son’s indiscretions, one way or the other. Oh, fatherhood joy!
Well, at least this time it wasn’t someone claiming to be pregnant.
&&&&&&&
Tygra was trying to put his breath under control, calm himself, and think. The smell of blood, fear, and anger was making it very difficult.
He had been terrified when Jareid had shown up in the clinic, entirely covered in blood, and had proceeded to lift him from the bed, and carry him outside. Lion-O had yelled, and Jareid had growled menacingly at him. Tygra had wriggled, trying to fight the jaguar’s hold, but Jareid had bitten his neck, and the sheer amount of adrenaline that the prince had been exuding had nearly knocked Tygra out.
The tiger was still trembling with fear. He didn’t know where Jareid had taken him. He only knew that he was horizontal and Jareid was practically curled around him. The jaguar had taken off the head bandage, and was now grooming Tygra’s head and face. The tiger was afraid that Jareid had gone psychotic on him. Luckily, the older cat had apparently calmed down. Now Tygra wanted Jareid off him, but he didn’t know what he could do, or say, that didn’t make the rage return.
“J… Jareid?”
The jaguar grunted and lifted himself a bit. Tygra could see his blood splattered face, and blue eyes that still had a hint of madness in them. He licked his lips nervously.
“Y-you… are dirty.” He pointed out lamely.
Jareid blinked at him, and then chuckled.
“My little tiger. Yeah, I suppose I could use a shower.”
He got up, and released Tygra. The tiger sat up quickly, and followed Jareid’s movements with stolen breath. He felt like prey that had been taken to the predator’s den to be consumed. Jareid took his chin, and kissed his lips tenderly.
“You wait for me right here, understood? I don’t want you wandering around and hurting your leg.”
Tygra nodded. The smell of blood still had his nerves on edge. He was starting to wonder where all that blood had come from. The jaguar didn’t look injured. He looked as Jareid hopped down and walked away to disappear through a door, and then released his breath.
What had happened? Tygra needed to see his brother and check if he was alright. He hoped that Bengali had gotten a hold of the lion.
The thought of the white tiger made him groan. Bengali was not going to be happy to not find him in the clinic.
Well, it wasn’t exactly his fault, was it? Jareid had clearly gone mad on them. Tygra shivered again and tried to forget the blood, hoping against hope that the jaguar hadn’t done something terrible.
He looked around him for the first time and gulped. It definitely was Jareid’s room. It was an ample space, which central piece was the huge bed where Tygra was presently sitting at. It was covered with forest green sheets. He didn’t recognize the wood it was made of, but the design of the frame resembled strong vines curling around themselves. It was on some kind of platform, so it gave the impression to be floating. The carpeted floor was also a dark green.
Behind the bed, was a full wall window. It, combined with the white walls, inundated the room in light, and made it look bigger.
There was a big mahogany cabinet to his left, just beside the door that clearly was of the changing room and the bathroom. At the other side of said door, was a chest of drawers. On the front wall was a set of shelves with several weapons in display, and a painting of the river and the jungle. Close to the painting there was a small table, a cosy armchair and an ottoman. To the right was an arch that led to what looked like a study. There were no more doors in sight.
Tygra sighed, and looked at his leg. It felt dull, it was probably full of anaesthetics. He didn’t think that he could walk, besides, he wouldn’t dare to disobey Jareid so soon after seeing that display of rage.
He tried to make himself comfortable, and arranged the pillows to recline on them. The bedding was light, but he didn’t need any covers, despite being only clad in comfortable shorts. It was warm in the room.
Jareid finished his shower and went out of the changing room wearing a pair of purple pants. Tygra was still on the bed, evidently nervous, and biting his lip self-consciously. Jareid smiled at him, and tried to not get angry again at the sight of his mate’s injuries. There was nothing more to kill after all, and he needed to reassure his tiger.
He was mostly dry, so he returned to the bed and started to massage the back of Tygra’s neck to make him relax.
“How are you feeling?”
“I… a bit scared actually. What did you do?”
Jareid kissed his temple tenderly, and nuzzled his cheek with his nose.
“Don’t think about it. You’re quitting the training. You’re not leaving my sight anymore.”
“W-what?!”
Tygra bristled. He forcefully pushed Jareid away, and growled at the same time as the jaguar.
“No! My leg will heal soon enough! I can return then!”
“You’re not Tygra! You’re not setting foot in the jungle again, you hear me!”
“No! You can’t do this!”
He tried to wriggle out of Jareid’s reach, but the jaguar held him by the arms, and pushed him flat on the mattress. Tygra cried in outrage and frustration.
“Listen to me! I’m not letting you go where you can be so easily hurt! You’re staying here, safe, even if I have to lock you in the room!”
“I’m not a bloody kitten! I can take care of myself! Aaaugh!!”
Jared bit him on the neck. Hard. It was agony, and Tygra’s instincts kicked in, forcing him to go limp under the dominant male. Tears clouded his eyes and he made an effort to stop them from shedding. He breathed deeply as Jareid released his neck, still growling at him.
“I’m not loosing you Tygra! Do you understand that? No one is taking you away from me! Not ever!”
Tygra was dumbfounded at the desperation in Jareid’s voice. He had never wanted the mating, but it seemed that for Jareid it was much more than it looked. He breathed again and tried to reason with the jaguar. Jareid loved to see him submissive, maybe he could use that to his advantage.
He let his tears fall and exposed his neck, carefully avoiding looking directly at the older prince.
“I’m not going anywhere. Please, I’m not a decoration. I can’t live in a cage, however beautiful it is. I’ll go insane if the door never opens. I love the activity. I need to do something to keep my mind away from worrying and thinking too much. Please, don’t take that away. I promise to be more careful, and to not let my guard down. Please…”
Jareid growled again, this time in frustration. He licked the ghastly mark he had done in the tiger’s neck, and Tygra gasped.
“Infuriating little cat.” He sighed and fought with himself for a minute. “Fine. But you better keep yourself in one piece.”
Tygra released the breath he had been holding, and rubbed his cheek against Jareid’s jaw.
“Thank you.”
“You’re such a piece of work. And you’re staying here from now on. I don’t care if it’s not official yet! My mate is sleeping with me!”
Tygra managed to gave a small ok. Lion-O wasn’t going to be happy. Bengali either. But it probably wouldn’t matter. Tygra had already learned that Jareid always got what he wanted.
The jaguar gave a low purr of contentment, and curled himself again around his mate, effectively isolating them both from the rest of the world.
&&&&&&&
Meanwhile, in another part of the palace, the Chief Commander Myron walked into the wing destined to the court.
Many members of the council, and some high-ranking officials, had sets of rooms assigned to them in the palace, and used them frequently. Some of them even lived there and were rarely seen in their own homes. Myron didn’t really like it, but it was convenient to have a place to stay when the guards were long or some emergency required his presence. Though lately it was an excuse for his daughter to stay in the palace ‘till un-namely hours, claiming that she didn’t want to stay alone in their home.
The commander clenched his fists. He should have paid closer attention to his offspring. He had known that letting her stay was calling for problems!
He entered his rooms, and there was his daughter in the sitting room, chatting with some of her friends, no doubt already spilling gossip about the recent events. Myron coughed loudly, and the talk stopped. Every set of young eyes looked at him startled.
“If you excuse us ladies, I have something to say to my daughter.”
“Oh daddy, you can tell me in front of them, they’re my best friends…”
“This is private! So, ladies…”
The females scurried away, sensing the commander’s bad mood. As soon as the last girl closed the door, Mai looked reproachfully at her father.
“Dad, what is this…?”
“Shut up! Are you aware of what had happened today?”
The girl looked affronted, and then shrugged trying to fake ignorance.
“Well, some say that there was a commotion in the cells, and that Jareid’s little pet was in the healer’s wing. Surely the brat had an accident and some poor guy is going to take the blame for it…”
“Enough! There was no accident, and you know it pretty well.”
Mai looked taken aback. She almost stuttered as she tried to collect her wits.
“Dad, I-I don’t know what you…”
“Don’t you dare lie to me Mai! I saw you whispering with Bali yesterday after the prince’s rather rash display of affection, and very early this morning! I didn’t think too much of it, until midday when hunter Kab called because of an emergency. I got to talk with the cat without witnesses because I was the one to take him back to the palace on my pod!”
The female jaguar fidgeted nervously, knowing very well that her father would not approve of her method to have Jareid back. He had never approved of her liaison with the prince at all. Still, she was ready to try and deny whatever Bali had told her father, but the next words of the commander froze her.
“I’ve never been most ashamed in my entire life. I’d never thought that I could ever rue the day you were born. You! I’ve raised a traitor! And still I can’t help but being grateful that the prince finished Bali off before king Baal had a chance to question him!”
Mai gaped at her father. He had never spoken to her like that. She awkwardly tried to compose herself, to say something in her own defence.
“I-I… I’m not a traitor… I’m not! T-that brat…!”
“Is Jareid’s betrothed! As much part of the Royal Family as the prince is! Couldn’t you get that through your head?”
“He’s an outsider! He doesn’t have any right…!”
“He’s part of a peace treaty! A peace that would have been broken when the lion king were informed of his son’s demise!”
“So what? We can easily destroy them!”
“We can! That doesn’t mean we need to! And beyond that Mai, do you realize that you intended to terminate two lives without reason? Bali would have ended up dead anyway! Jareid was feral when he attacked him! What did you expect the prince to do to someone who had attempted against his betrothed’s life?”
“Jareid was never to know! It’d have been an accident! And you know how he is, he’d have forgotten all about the brat soon enough and go back to his usual self. He’d have returned to me!”
“Don’t you get it Mai? A cat is dead because of you! Because of your stupid fantasy that somehow paints the prince in love with you!”
“It’s not a stupid fantasy! Jareid loves me! And I’m going to be his queen!”
“He’d have no queen! He’d have a royal mate, and surely at least one consort, but not a queen! And I’m going to make sure that you don’t cause any more unnecessary deaths!”
Mai was going to protest. That Bali was dead had not been her fault. The stupid cat was not supposed to let anyone know that he had killed Tygra, much less Jareid. But before she could open her mouth, Myron grabbed her wrist and pulled her out of the rooms.
“Wait dad! Where are we going?”
“You’re going to see exactly what you provoked. I can see that you still don’t understand.”
“But… but dad!”
“Silence!”
Myron dragged his daughter to the cells. Bali’s body was just about to be collected. The Chief Commander asked for the High Shaman to give him a couple of minutes, and the cat acceded a bit doubtful.
“Are you sure you want your daughter to see this Myron? Not only it’d be a shock to her, also the King wants this to be conducted with the most discretion.”
“Have no fear Xiar. She’s not going to say a thing. I’m tired of her joking around with her friends about how amusing it’d be to have the prince angry with someone. They had been planning to incite rumours about Tygra fooling around with one of them. Perhaps seeing what Jareid is capable of would dissuade her from spreading lies.”
The Shaman looked at the girl disapprovingly. Mai crossed her arms and turned away.
“Very well. But be quick, we need to start on the body right away.”
“Of course.”
The Shaman left them alone and Myron dragged his daughter to the cell, and practically pushed her inside.
Mai froze in shock. Everything was covered in blood. What remained of Bali’s body was scattered around the cell. Bones, entrails, fur, everything. The girl put a hand over her mouth. She was going to be sick. She wanted to turn away, but her father held her in place.
“Take a good look Mai. Tygra is betrothed to Jareid. Jareid considers him his. This is what the prince does to cats that try to take away what belongs to him!”
Mai stuttered and was sick on the stone floor. Her father pulled her up un-relentless.
“You’re going to the house, and you’re staying there for good! You’re never entering the palace again, and you’re never talking to any member of the Royal Family, or the court. If you do, I’d tell the prince that the entire attack on his betrothed was your idea!”
Mai could only nod in fear.
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A Tale of Jaguars