Panter's Pride:
Hunted
by T. S. Hubbard
Disclaimer It's still mine. Note: Panter's Pride must be read first, as this is book 2.
Thanks to Thorie for volunteering to proofread yet another story.
Email address: thubbar2@insight.rr.com.- comments welcome.
Chapter Four
Thira studied the bottom of her tankard intently; trying to ignore the stares she had been the occasional recipient of. She continued to ponder on what had happened a little earlier. After dropping her verbal bomb the Goddess had said little more before she had departed. To even think of being family in any way with Panter made her uneasy, she had thought of the woman as an enemy for a long time. Although it was true that before being sent here on her "mission" she had never known of her. Then again, she had been raised in an almost exclusive clan environment. Her first exposure to outsiders had been difficult at best. Being used to a more non verbal language had made it hard to understand and get along with others, so she tended to try to distance herself as much as possible. It was much easier then to try to fumble her way through and end up angering someone with her ignorance. Her incomprehension of humans had remained an ongoing problem. But following the slaughter of most of her village after it was inadvertently discovered; she had felt justified in turning that into a smoldering distrust.
"May I join you or would you rather be left alone?" A warm voice intruded on her musing. Thira was startled; someone had gotten close without her senses alerting her. She automatically started to tell them to leave her be as she looked up but it died unsaid on her lips when she met the dark eyes watching her. Thira paused then muttered her acceptance of the offered company. She watched quietly as the woman settled into the chair across from her. Auburn shoulder length hair was pulled back into a neat braid that was flipped back over a powerful shoulder as the woman sat back comfortably.
" Thira right, I'm Alesia" She leaned forward as she reached out her arm in greeting.
Thira's left eyebrow raised as she realized this woman was greeting her as someone would from her birthplace. She reluctantly reached out in reply. Her response to the feel of the smooth skin that encased the strong forearm didn't show on her face. Casually, she disengaged from the contact moving back into her own space. Her eyes flickered as she tried to disregard the warmth that lingered on her own arm.
Thira cleared her throat. " You must know Panter,"
Alesia smiled. " Yes, she's my friend. Actually it's more like family"
Inwardly Thira winced at that response. She obviously didn't know what had occurred earlier with her friend and her mate. If she did she wouldn't be here now. Or maybe she did know and was here for another reason. Thira carefully looked for weapons of some kind. She must have been a little too obvious about it when Alesia spoke.
" I know what your thinking about, and no I'm not here to even the score" Alesia grinned widely. " But if what I've been told is true, I doubt I would have a chance of doing that anyway. By the look of things, it was " Alesia laughed. "Besides as you know, weapons have to be left at the door anyway."
Thira studied Alesia as she waved over a waitperson and requested two platters. At her inquiry Thira accepted another ale. It's light sweet taste was pleasant.
Alesia took a drink from her own mug and then looked at Thira intently.
" So how much like Panter are you?" she questioned in a low tone so their conversation wouldn't be overheard.
Thira body jerked in reflex at the abrupt inquiry. She had to consciously tramp down her fight or flight impulse. She chewed the inside of her lower lip as she considered how to respond. Thira's gut feeling prodded her to answer. Somehow she wanted to tell her. Silence dominated the table, it seemed even the server could feel the tension as she hurriedly put down their platters then left.
Alesia watched the shadows pass within the eyes in front of her. The flicker of movement as they morphed then returned to normal reinforced the story she had been told by Akil. She hadn't been able to talk with Panter long after that except to be told that since space was at a premium Thira was temporarily being housed at Raven's Claw. Curious she had decided to track her down and see her for herself. She had not expected the striking woman that sat tensely in front of her. They started to quietly eat. Alesia enjoyed the purring tones that interlaced Thira's words as she finally spoke.
" Like humans we are just as diverse" Thira pushed some vegetables aside on her platter as she searched for more of the meat. "Coloring, size" She glanced up with a wry smile " Temperament. I'm sure that Panter told you only the females are gifted?"
Alesia finished her mouthful of food, and then set her fork to the side. Taking a sip of ale she settled back with the cup in hand as she considered the question. " Yes, we have talked about that before. She told us the story of how it had all happened. That your Goddess made you in her image, to protect you when your ancestors first arrived in your homeland." She set her goblet back onto the table as she watched Thira drain the rest of hers in several deep swallows. " Let me guess, alcohol doesn't affect you either?"
Alesia caught her breath at the full smile she received in return, Thira's canines flashing as they caught the low light. She suddenly had a small idea what Tera was feeling when Panter did the same thing. Warmth settled low in her belly from her reaction to that smile, dangerous though it could be.
"No, not really we have to drink a lot before it would have any effect at all" Thira resumed eating as she watched her tablemate subtly. What she had told Alesia was true; everyone was different in some way. The gifts she had received while similar to Panter's, they weren't. Her senses were of course much more powerful then humans. Her sight was incredibly acute but her sense of smell was less developed than Panters she was sure. Panter had tracked her effortlessly. But it was good enough to pick out Alesia scent from all the others crowding the air around them. The light musky smell suddenly had Thira sub vocally growling low in her chest. She hastily wrestled it under control. This was not acceptable at all. She barely understood humans as it was, to add an attraction to it was begging for trouble. For her. A passing server with a platter of drinks caught her eye. Fishing out a copper bit she timed it then swiftly reached out retrieving a drink and leaving the bit in its place. The server continued by unaware of what had just transpired. Thira took a deep drink from her new cup of ale.
"By the Gods, that was incredible!"
Thira cautiously met Alesia's gaze. Expecting disgust and horror, she found instead awe and acceptance. Shocked, Thira was without words for an instant. " This doesn't bother you?"
Alesia frowned. " Of course not, why would it. Besides you're forgetting about Panter aren't you. If she doesn't bother me then why would you?"
Alesia changed the subject when Thira just nodded and seemed to be thinking about something.
"So your all about speed. How does that effect fighting in your human form?"
Thira blinked at the off hand comment. " It of course gives me an edge on the hand to hand fighting. At the height of my speed every thing seems to slow down giving me plenty of time to act. I can't keep it up forever as it can drain me of energy but I tend to recover fairly quickly."
Alesia shifted her weight forward resting her chin on her clasped hands. "What weapons do you use?"
"I prefer knives but if needed I have alternative weapons" Thira lifted a hand in explanation; relived when all Alesia did was nod and smile.
"I like the bow and sword myself, I'm not the best but I think I do alright"
Thira studied the play of muscles across Alesia's arms and shoulders. Somehow she got the idea she was much better then "alright". Thira wanted to test out that theory but decided to stay with a safer topic of discussion. " How did you meet Panter?" She pushed away her half eaten meal, settling back in her chair with the rest of her ale in hand.
Alesia was a bit startled by the abrupt change of subject but readily answered the question. " A unit of our rangers had been out scouting after a large cat had been sighted hanging around the perimeter of our village. One of them injured it; we found a fresh blood trail but no body. After reporting the sighting, Tera decided to follow it, the blood trail ended shortly after but enough ground cover had been disturbed to still be able to follow it somewhat."
Thira raised an eyebrow in faint admiration. " You must have had a very good tracker to still be able to follow so well"
Alesia flushed slightly. "I guess we did"
Something in the way Alesia evaded her eyes answered an unspoken suspicion. " It was you wasn't it?"
Alesia forced herself to meet Thira's intense gaze. " Yea, It was"
Thira's brow wrinkled in puzzlement. " Why not say it was you to begin with?"
Alesia shrugged. " Didn't think it mattered"
Thira wondered briefly why she was even having this conversation in the first place given how she tried to limit the contact with humans. What was it about this female that had her so intrigued, enough to ignore her base instincts. She pushed the worry aside for now and replied.
" It does, nothing is wrong with admitting your own abilities"
" I guess you have a point" Alesia shifted in her seat uncomfortably. "Anyway to continue the story" She was startled but enjoyed the accolade. " We followed the imprints for almost two days. It led to a small glade backing upon a range of hills. As we scouted the area nearby Rena was attacked."
"Rena?"
" She's was Tera's second of command in the village at the time"
" And now?"
"She remained in the village as Tera's proxy since a few of our people wanted to stay."
" So the village I followed Panter too is the new one I take it"
Alesia frowned as that reminded her of the scare Thira had caused.
" You know if it wasn't for Panter and Tera a lot of people would have made you pay for what you've done. Attempting to murder one of our rulers is payable with your life"
Thira stiffened, as the feelings that had been running rampant inside her froze then shattered. Her face hardened causing her high-planed cheekbones to stand out in relief. Eyes that had darkened to a near black locked with Alisa's. "As a HUMAN you have no concept of what happened. The Goddess herself said it was a FAMILY matter. You are nothing to me, so your laws mean nothing to me as well."
Thira's chair fell to the floor with a clatter as she shot to her feet. Alesia flinched at the cold look she received. A flash of movement signaled Thira's abrupt departure.
Alesia rested her head on a shaking hand. Tears suddenly burned the back of her eyes. She cursed herself for bring up the subject. She hadn't meant for it to come out like that, she had just wanted to warn Thira of how some of the people felt. Not Alesia herself. With Panter as a friend she did have a small inkling of what the real problem had been, and still was. Her chest tightened as she realized that the chance of getting to know Thira was probably gone. Rising from her seat she threw a handful of coins on the table, grabbed her weapons and headed for the manor to her quarters. Right now she just wanted to be alone for a while.
********
Thira ran as if the hound of Hades were at her heels. Her throat burned with the effort of keeping her scream of despair inside. Using the advantage of the darkening evening she kept to the alleyways, making her way to the outer walls of the city. The buildings and crowds of people pressed in on her like an invisible weight. She needed to get out of here; she felt the rein on her animal self fraying, the threads snapping with the pressure one by one.
Alesia's words warred with the scent that still lingered in Thira's memory.
She had felt pulled to Alesia but now it seemed that it was not the same with the other woman. For a few moments it had almost been like a connection of some kind had been there. But now… Thira reached the wall finally. Barely looking she took a chance no one was there and leapt.
On the rim of the wall she paused then dropped over the side. Gaining the trees she pressed close to an oak trying to absorb the strength it inherently had. Thira mouth parted as she panted, drawing in the nearby smells that surrounded her. She pushed her forehead harder into the trees bark. A groan of pain echoed the shattered feeling inside as she finished her thought. But now she knew what she had felt was not real, only a fragment of a wish that she knew had died long ago. A time before her world had been torn apart, a time when she believed.
Moving away from the tree she stripped and hid her clothing under a bush next to the tree, finally allowing her animal side the freedom to surface. Lifting her head she gazed at the rising moon. The night was her true friend; it allowed her to roam free under its blanket of protection. It permitted her to be who she truly was without conjecture or scorn.
Bones moved under her skin as her body shifted. Fur flowed over her skin, claws emerged and her canines lengthened. Feline eyes glinted as the moons radiance shone down on the cat that now sat in the woman place. Thira hissed as her feelings once again centered onto Alesia. Even in this form she still felt the ache of being so wrong. Paws dug into the earth as she pushed herself using all the speed at her disposal. But no matter how fast she ran those words still echoed in her ears.
********
Alesia sat in the dimness of her room looking out the window a drink clasped in hand. Her eyes didn't see the people roaming below her window or the city lights in the distance. Instead she only saw the look that came over Thira's face at her misspoken words. The shock and anger that had shone briefly on her features had been eclipsed by the coldness that had taken their place. Her biting words still stung. Thira had been right she was only human and not family of hers in any way. Even with Panter she really wasn't family in any meaning of the word. Just simply a friend. A close one granted but in no way kin.
Shaking her head Alesia lifted the goblet to her lips only to find it empty. She reached for the chilled bottle on the small table next to her chair and refilled it. Raising it to her lips she paused at the knock on her door. Alesia set the cup back on the table reluctantly; she wasn't in any mood for company of any kind. She emerged from her bedroom and stopped, as she considered not answering it. She stood in her main room in a quandary of indecision. Another knock made her start towards the door then stop once again.
" Alesia, I know your there"
Alesia winced as she shut her eyes in resignation. Now there was no choice but to answer it. But for some reason she still didn't move.
"Alesia, open the door I can smell your here"
Steeling herself Alesia pulled the door open to reveal Panter's worried face.
" What do you want?" Alesia asked listlessly.
Panter's eyes narrowed as she studied Alesia's washed out features lingering on the obvious signs of tears.
"You didn't show for dinner or send back a reply with any of the stewards we sent to check on you. You didn't have to be there but some kind of response would have been much better then none at all."
Alesia bit her lower lip as she tried to keep it together for a bit longer. Never had she been emotional like this in anyway. To be like this was fraying her nerves but for some reason she couldn't stop it.
"Alesia" Panter tilted her head up gently with a finger. "What's wrong, I've never seen you this upset before?"
Alesia took a deep breath then forced herself to meet Panter's eyes. " It has to do with Thira"
She watched Panter's eyes flicker. Then continued. " We had a fight earlier"
"What!"
*******
Tera felt her mates presence even before she came through the door to their bedroom. She set aside her book as she took in the worried look on Panters face. She restrained her questions until Panter joined her in bed with a sigh. Turning toward her she met her lips with her own, basking in the warmth of their bond for a brief time. Easing away she rested her head on Panters chest feeling the rumble of a soft purr under her cheek. Tera let the silence drift before finally disturbing it.
" You were gone for awhile, anything wrong love?"
She felt her pillow halt in mid breath then continue. Pressing a kiss to Panters breast she prompted her again. " What's bothering you?"
"I went to see Alesia"
"Is everything alright, I was getting a bit concerned when she didn't show for dinner or send word?"
"I found her in her rooms"
Tera didn't reply knowing more was coming. By the way Panter tensed up just now probably not good.
"She was crying"
Tera raised her head to met Panter's troubled gaze. " Why?"
"Alesia went to Ravens Claw to see Thira. Curious about her I guess"
Tera smirked." Who wouldn't have been?"
Panter smiled faintly. " True" She sobered. " From what she said things seemed pretty good at first. But after awhile they started talking about how we met then it got bad."
"What happened?"
"They were talking about the old village when Thira asked if the new village was the one she had seen."
Tera winced. " I can almost imagine what happened next" She laid her head back down.
" Alesia brought up that if it wasn't for us people would have made her pay for attacking their regents. She said Thira got angry, said something about her being only human and in no way family so what she said meant nothing to her. Then she took off"
Tera brow creased. " That sounds pretty bad but why was Alesia crying?"
Panter slid her fingers through Tera's hair as she breathed in its scent. "Do you remember when we first saw each other?"
"Mmm.. Yes, I couldn't keep my eyes off you half the time and my hands to myself the other half."
Panter laughed quietly. " I know, but I liked it when you touched me. I had never let anyone close enough to do that. With you it just felt right"
" It did but why did you" Tera stopped short. " You think Thira and Alesia?"
" Could be mates" Panter finished. "I have a feeling by Alesia's reaction, they might be"
"That's good right?"
" Yes, if nothing happens to prevent it from forming but from the little Alesia told me that might just be happening. And to ignore a bonding can be devastating to them both"
" All they need to do is talk it out. It sounds like a big misunderstanding to me"
"Unfortunately when I sent someone to check in on Thira she was nowhere to be found."
Tera sat straight up. "Then we have to look for her"
Panter pulled Tera back down into her arms. " Amare, it's not up to us. If things are to be resolved they must be the ones to do so. All we can do is be there to support them if we can. Now sleep, there is much to do tomorrow"
Tera stayed awake awhile after Panter had fallen asleep just thinking of all the things that had happened since they had met. All of the small quarrels and disagreements they had meant little in comparison with what they had now. Everything that had happened had been worth it. Everything. Closing her eyes she relaxed further into Panters arms, smiling as Panter hugged her closer in her sleep. The steady beating of her loves heart lulled her swiftly into slumber.
Continued...