Chapter 2
K’var parried a blow from Traggen’s sword, panting a little but grinning at the same time. The two circled each other warily, both getting a bit tired but not ready to quit just yet. They were almost evenly matched now, and their bouts were sometimes long. Sweat gleamed on Traggen’s forehead, and stuck his black hair to his skin. His dark-blue eyes gleamed. He was enjoying himself thoroughly, as was K’var.
They came together again in a clash of blades. K’var found himself panting a little. Seeing this, Traggen called a halt to their practice. “it’s almost dinnertime anyway, K’var,” he told the young wereleopard. ’Your father and J’Dran should be returning from the village soon.”
Seeing where the sun was in the sky, K’var agreed with him. He sheathed his sword(he and Traggen used real swords instead of wooden practice blades now) at his waist. “I’ll go and rouse father out of his study. He forgets the time,” K’var said, then waved and trotted away toward the house.
Traggen sheathed his own blade and followed more slowly. His eyes caught sight of movement in the trees, and he halted as he saw his mate and Z’sharan emerge. J’Dran was carrying a haunch over his shoulder, of what Traggen recognized as plains elk. His eyes lit up. He really loved elk meat - it was heavy and a bit smoky-tasting, with an underlying sweetness that seemed to melt in his mouth. He grinned as he began to walk toward the two wereleopard.
“I see you brought me a gift,” he said to J’Dran as he approached them.
His mate grinned toothily. “Of course,” he agreed readily. “I know how much you like plains elk. So tell me, little one - what will you give me in return?”
Traggen’s eyes took on a naughty gleam. “I can think of a few things,” he said in that tone of voice that always made J’Dran squirm a bit.
Z’sharan shook his head. “I’ll leave you two to this conversation,” he said as he strolled away.
J’Dran chuckled as his brother left. Then he stepped forward and lowered his head so that Traggen could kiss him hello. Their tongues mated together as their bodies had so often done before, and Traggen nipped lightly at his lower lip before disengaging. “Now that’s a good welcome home,” J’Dran noted in satisfaction.
Traggen poked him in the chest. “Come inside and get cleaned up before we eat,” he told his mate. “You still have streaks of blood on you.”
“Will you help me clean up?” J’Dran asked hopefully.
“Of course I will. But only a little, as I want to get to the table before the food gets cold,” Traggen said teasingly.
Z’sharan entered the house and found himself being pounced on by his energetic son, who greeted him like this almost every day. “Father!” K’var cried, hugging him.
“Hello, Cub.” Z’sharan patted him on the back before pushing him gently way.
“How was your day?" K’var asked interestedly.
“Actually, there’s something that I want to talk to you about, K’var,” Z’sharan said, and his grave tone of voice made the younger wereleopard look worried.
“What is it, Father?” he asked, his eyes searching Z’sharan’s face.
“Come in here with me and I will tell you,” Z’sharan led the way to him and Avhonari bedchamber, holding open the door for K’var. His son gave him a rather wild-eyed look before entering the room, clearly feeling anxious about this unusual behavior on his parent’s part. Z’sharan sighed softly and stepped into the room, closing the door behind the two of them.
K’var turned to face Z’sharan, anxiety clearly written on his face. “Father? What is it?” he asked worriedly.
Z’sharan sighed. “Cub, I was speaking to R’shan earlier,” he began.
K’var’s brows lowered, and anger sparked in his golden eyes. “What?! Why would you speak to HIM?! Father, he hates me!”
He shook his head. “No, I don’t think that he hates you, my son,” he replied as gently as he could. “I merely think that you frustrate him a good deal. You’re young, and impulsive; and R’shan worries that your behavior might lead to actions that could hurt the tribe.”
“I would never do anything to hurt the tribe!” K’var protested.
Z’sharan nodded. “I’m sure that you wouldn’t do so deliberately, K’var. My only worry is that you might do something reckless that ends up hurting our tribe whether you meant to or not. And K’var…” his face became grave, “I have to know. R’shan said that he doesn’t believe that you think of yourself as being part of the tribe. Is that true?”
K’var hesitated. “I…well, I do,” he began uncertainly. “But sometimes I don’t. Because I was raised here, Father Z’sharan; and because Father Avhonari is human…”
Z’sharan held up a hand to stop him in his fumbling explanation. “Enough. Cub, when he became my mate Avhonari became as much a part of our tribe as I am. Yes, he doesn’t live in the jungle itself. And he doesn’t hunt - mostly because he cannot Change, and his hunting abilities are…almost non-existent. But he contributes to the tribe with his histories of our people, and he supports them in any way that he can. The same for Traggen, when he mated with J’Dran. If they are part of our tribe, even though they are human, YOU must see that you are a part as well. Always, not just at the times when you go to the village to attend rituals or gather for ceremonies. And you must think of the welfare of the tribe before your own. Do you understand?”
His severe words made K’var visibly wilt. “Yes. Father,” he said miserably. “I understand. I’m sorry…”
“There is no need to be sorry,” Z’sharan said tenderly, stepping forward to hug him. “Only change your way of thinking and I will be pleased. This is an important matter, K’var. Our tribe is our life. We must always think about what is best for the tribe, and only then what is best for ourselves. And please remember, my cub, that much of R’shan’s ire toward you is because he believes that you don’t put the tribe’s welfare first. He is simply worried that you will do something foolish that could endanger us all. Not that I believe that myself, but you can see where he is coming from, can’t you?"
K’var sighed, laying his head on his father’s shoulder. “I suppose so,” he whispered. “But why does he have to lecture me every time that we meet, Father? He’s always so grumpy,” he added with a grimace.
Z’sharan’s lips twitched a little. “I think that R’shan is just very serious, Cub,” he replied aloud. “And one of those who perpetually worry about things. I understand that, as Avhonari has always been very serious-minded as well. I’ve had to work hard to loosen him up over the years,” he said with affectionate laughter in his voice.
“Yes, but you love Father Avhonari,” K’var pointed out. “So you like how serious he is. Besides, Father Avhonari may be serious, but at least he’s not always grumpy like R’shan is!”
“That’s true,” Z’sharan agreed in a voice that only wavered a little as he fought suppress laughter at his cub’s expense. An indignant K’var was just too adorable for words. “Perhaps there is some way to to make R’shan less grumpy? You might think about how you could do that. Maybe he might be more bearable if you could find a way to take his mind off of his worries for awhile.”
K’var considered this statement thoughtfully. “Maybe,” he conceded. “I’ll think about it. And I promise to think about what you said about our tribe, too, Father,” he added, lifting his chin decisively.
Z’sharan smiled at him affectionately. “I know you will, my cub. For now, though, let’s go and see Avhonari together.” he remarked, looking forward to his favorite part of the day. He loved to spend time with his mate and child in the evenings.
K’var brightened up and nodded. “Yes, let’s go!” he cried, skimming out of the room like a particularly energetic butterfly.
Z’sharan shook his head, although his eyes were smiling. His son always had this effect on him - and on everybody else, for that matter. Well, ALMOST everybody. Because R’shan seemed immune to K’var’s charms. He wondered briefly why that was as he left the room at a more sedate pace than K’var just had.
K’var was chattering away at J’Dran. Traggen smiled at the sight, but then his face went more thoughtful as he studied the younger wereleopard. Sometimes all of them forgot that K’var was a grown creature, he mused to himself. He still seemed so very child-like in many ways…but his lithe young body had widened across the shoulders over the years, and he’d grown to the point where he was as tall as Z’sharan. He’d never be a giant like J’Dran…but he WAS an adult. In body, anyway. His mind, not so much…or not yet, anyway. Traggen understood. He’d been a sorry little brat and a total pissant until he’d had adulthood thrust upon him when his uncle Avhonari had decamped to run away with his wereleopard lover, leaving Traggen with all of the duties and responsibilities of his title and position. He’d done a terrible job, but he’d also been forced to grow up swiftly from the rude awakening he’d gotten. He’d pretty much had adulthood forced on him, and he’d matured a good deal because of it.
He didn’t think that K’var needed a reality check, per se; but maybe he DID need a good swift kick on the behind from the universe at large to wake him up. For example, the cub showed no interest in either the opposite or his own sex, and the closest he’d come to it was his indignation at the hunter R’shan. He was still curiously innocent and unawakened. Traggen shrewdly thought that R’shan might be able to help with that, if only the hunter would pull his head out of his ass for five seconds and realize just why he was always getting on K’var’s case about everything. But the wereleopard hunter seemed as clueless as K’var, so who knew when either of them would come to some understanding about their situation…
Traggen sighed internally and shook his head. He’d considered intervening in some way, but had decided not to in this case. He might only end up making it worse if he did that. He wanted his cousin to naturally come to understand about sexual attraction and desire, not have it forced upon him in any way. But as this was going, K’var would only grow into his sexual adulthood when Traggen was dead of old age and in his grave…
J’Dran laughed and began to tussle with K’var, who squeaked and squirmed as he wrestled with his much large uncle. His giggles made Traggen smile fondly at the pair of them. He’d sometimes thought that perhaps he and J’Dran should adopt a cub, too; his beef-headed mate adored children and was very good with them. But before this, Traggen really hadn’t felt ready for fatherhood. But now…he’d been here for almost a decade, and he’d matured even more. Maybe it was time. He’d have a talk with J’Dran about it soon. K’var would be very happy to have a cub about the place to play with, since all he’d had so far were adults unless they were in the village where he could play with the other children.
He glanced over at his uncle and Z’sharan, who were occupying the other bench on the wide porch. “Who is the bigger child here?” he asked with a wry smile as he nodded at the pair wrestling in the yard.
“That would be my brother, at least physically,” Z’sharan noted dryly.
Traggen chuckled. “Yes. Definitely.”
Avhonari looked at his son and brother-by-mating thoughtfully. “Being a bit childish is not bad, most of the time,” he said. "Especially when they are not spoiled or mean-spirited in any way.”
“You mean, unlike me when I was younger?” his nephew asked him shrewdly.
He shrugged, refusing to be drawn out by this question. “You had some growing up to do, that is all,” he said diplomatically.
Traggen laughed. “Is that your polite way of saying that I was a worthless spoiled brat who needed to be taken over someone’s knee?” he asked in amusement.
“Perhaps. But I much admire the man that you have grown into, Traggen. And you did most of that growth on your own, which is to be admired.” Avhonari pointed out.
He felt somewhat embarrassed by this praise from his uncle, who he had always secretly admired(even when he’d still been trying his best to drive him crazy). Traggen shrugged and dropped his eyes. “I suppose. I simply had nowhere to go but up,” he said.
“Yes, but you DID go up. Many people go through their entire lives without trying to grow or change their lives for the better,” Avhonari pointed out gently but relentlessly.
Traggen would have squirmed like a misbehaving child if Z’sharan hadn’t rescued him just then. “I spoke to K’var earlier,” he said tactfully, making them both look at him.
“About what?” Avhonari asked.
Z’sharan explained what R’shan had told him, and his resulting conversation with his cub. They listened with interest to this recital, and at the end of it Avhonari said: “I never thought about the fact that K’var might not feel like he was a member of the tribe. Living away from them as he does…”
“Yes but you are a member of the tribe as my mate, and you don’t live with them,” Z’sharan told him. “Nor are you even a wereperson. Yet you have always been a part of the tribe, ever since I declared you to be my mate before the other members and the Elders approved of our mating.”
“That’s true. Your people have always been very welcoming. I appreciate that fact, being an outsider. They didn’t have to take me in as they did.”
“Of course they did; you are my mate,” Z’sharan replied simply. “As you are J’Dran’s,” he said to Traggen, glancing at the younger human. “Nothing else matters except for that fact.”
Traggen grinned suddenly. “Well, maybe K’var should get a mate. Somebody from the tribe. Maybe then he’d feel more attached to it,” he said teasingly.
Z’sharan frowned a bit. “The cub has never shown any interest in anyone in the tribe,” he pointed out to Traggen.
Traggen’s eyes were dancing. “Oh, I don’t know about that,” he remarked, making them both give him puzzled looks. But he only grinned and refused to explain. Parents, he thought to himself, were almost always the last ones to know…
K’var slid through the jungle swiftly and silently. He was so intent on his destination that he didn’t catch movement out of the corner of his eye, or hear the very faint rustle of bushes as a large leopard emerged from them and stood looking after his retreating form. The big cat paused for a moment, and if a beast could be said to be frowning then this one definitely was. Then it turned and glided after K’var smoothly and silently, shadowing the other wereleopard as he darted through the foliage on his way to who knew where.
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K’var parried a blow from Traggen’s sword, panting a little but grinning at the same time. The two circled each other warily, both getting a bit tired but not ready to quit just yet. They were almost evenly matched now, and their bouts were sometimes long. Sweat gleamed on Traggen’s forehead, and stuck his black hair to his skin. His dark-blue eyes gleamed. He was enjoying himself thoroughly, as was K’var.
They came together again in a clash of blades. K’var found himself panting a little. Seeing this, Traggen called a halt to their practice. “it’s almost dinnertime anyway, K’var,” he told the young wereleopard. ’Your father and J’Dran should be returning from the village soon.”
Seeing where the sun was in the sky, K’var agreed with him. He sheathed his sword(he and Traggen used real swords instead of wooden practice blades now) at his waist. “I’ll go and rouse father out of his study. He forgets the time,” K’var said, then waved and trotted away toward the house.
Traggen sheathed his own blade and followed more slowly. His eyes caught sight of movement in the trees, and he halted as he saw his mate and Z’sharan emerge. J’Dran was carrying a haunch over his shoulder, of what Traggen recognized as plains elk. His eyes lit up. He really loved elk meat - it was heavy and a bit smoky-tasting, with an underlying sweetness that seemed to melt in his mouth. He grinned as he began to walk toward the two wereleopard.
“I see you brought me a gift,” he said to J’Dran as he approached them.
His mate grinned toothily. “Of course,” he agreed readily. “I know how much you like plains elk. So tell me, little one - what will you give me in return?”
Traggen’s eyes took on a naughty gleam. “I can think of a few things,” he said in that tone of voice that always made J’Dran squirm a bit.
Z’sharan shook his head. “I’ll leave you two to this conversation,” he said as he strolled away.
J’Dran chuckled as his brother left. Then he stepped forward and lowered his head so that Traggen could kiss him hello. Their tongues mated together as their bodies had so often done before, and Traggen nipped lightly at his lower lip before disengaging. “Now that’s a good welcome home,” J’Dran noted in satisfaction.
Traggen poked him in the chest. “Come inside and get cleaned up before we eat,” he told his mate. “You still have streaks of blood on you.”
“Will you help me clean up?” J’Dran asked hopefully.
“Of course I will. But only a little, as I want to get to the table before the food gets cold,” Traggen said teasingly.
Z’sharan entered the house and found himself being pounced on by his energetic son, who greeted him like this almost every day. “Father!” K’var cried, hugging him.
“Hello, Cub.” Z’sharan patted him on the back before pushing him gently way.
“How was your day?" K’var asked interestedly.
“Actually, there’s something that I want to talk to you about, K’var,” Z’sharan said, and his grave tone of voice made the younger wereleopard look worried.
“What is it, Father?” he asked, his eyes searching Z’sharan’s face.
“Come in here with me and I will tell you,” Z’sharan led the way to him and Avhonari bedchamber, holding open the door for K’var. His son gave him a rather wild-eyed look before entering the room, clearly feeling anxious about this unusual behavior on his parent’s part. Z’sharan sighed softly and stepped into the room, closing the door behind the two of them.
K’var turned to face Z’sharan, anxiety clearly written on his face. “Father? What is it?” he asked worriedly.
Z’sharan sighed. “Cub, I was speaking to R’shan earlier,” he began.
K’var’s brows lowered, and anger sparked in his golden eyes. “What?! Why would you speak to HIM?! Father, he hates me!”
He shook his head. “No, I don’t think that he hates you, my son,” he replied as gently as he could. “I merely think that you frustrate him a good deal. You’re young, and impulsive; and R’shan worries that your behavior might lead to actions that could hurt the tribe.”
“I would never do anything to hurt the tribe!” K’var protested.
Z’sharan nodded. “I’m sure that you wouldn’t do so deliberately, K’var. My only worry is that you might do something reckless that ends up hurting our tribe whether you meant to or not. And K’var…” his face became grave, “I have to know. R’shan said that he doesn’t believe that you think of yourself as being part of the tribe. Is that true?”
K’var hesitated. “I…well, I do,” he began uncertainly. “But sometimes I don’t. Because I was raised here, Father Z’sharan; and because Father Avhonari is human…”
Z’sharan held up a hand to stop him in his fumbling explanation. “Enough. Cub, when he became my mate Avhonari became as much a part of our tribe as I am. Yes, he doesn’t live in the jungle itself. And he doesn’t hunt - mostly because he cannot Change, and his hunting abilities are…almost non-existent. But he contributes to the tribe with his histories of our people, and he supports them in any way that he can. The same for Traggen, when he mated with J’Dran. If they are part of our tribe, even though they are human, YOU must see that you are a part as well. Always, not just at the times when you go to the village to attend rituals or gather for ceremonies. And you must think of the welfare of the tribe before your own. Do you understand?”
His severe words made K’var visibly wilt. “Yes. Father,” he said miserably. “I understand. I’m sorry…”
“There is no need to be sorry,” Z’sharan said tenderly, stepping forward to hug him. “Only change your way of thinking and I will be pleased. This is an important matter, K’var. Our tribe is our life. We must always think about what is best for the tribe, and only then what is best for ourselves. And please remember, my cub, that much of R’shan’s ire toward you is because he believes that you don’t put the tribe’s welfare first. He is simply worried that you will do something foolish that could endanger us all. Not that I believe that myself, but you can see where he is coming from, can’t you?"
K’var sighed, laying his head on his father’s shoulder. “I suppose so,” he whispered. “But why does he have to lecture me every time that we meet, Father? He’s always so grumpy,” he added with a grimace.
Z’sharan’s lips twitched a little. “I think that R’shan is just very serious, Cub,” he replied aloud. “And one of those who perpetually worry about things. I understand that, as Avhonari has always been very serious-minded as well. I’ve had to work hard to loosen him up over the years,” he said with affectionate laughter in his voice.
“Yes, but you love Father Avhonari,” K’var pointed out. “So you like how serious he is. Besides, Father Avhonari may be serious, but at least he’s not always grumpy like R’shan is!”
“That’s true,” Z’sharan agreed in a voice that only wavered a little as he fought suppress laughter at his cub’s expense. An indignant K’var was just too adorable for words. “Perhaps there is some way to to make R’shan less grumpy? You might think about how you could do that. Maybe he might be more bearable if you could find a way to take his mind off of his worries for awhile.”
K’var considered this statement thoughtfully. “Maybe,” he conceded. “I’ll think about it. And I promise to think about what you said about our tribe, too, Father,” he added, lifting his chin decisively.
Z’sharan smiled at him affectionately. “I know you will, my cub. For now, though, let’s go and see Avhonari together.” he remarked, looking forward to his favorite part of the day. He loved to spend time with his mate and child in the evenings.
K’var brightened up and nodded. “Yes, let’s go!” he cried, skimming out of the room like a particularly energetic butterfly.
Z’sharan shook his head, although his eyes were smiling. His son always had this effect on him - and on everybody else, for that matter. Well, ALMOST everybody. Because R’shan seemed immune to K’var’s charms. He wondered briefly why that was as he left the room at a more sedate pace than K’var just had.
K’var was chattering away at J’Dran. Traggen smiled at the sight, but then his face went more thoughtful as he studied the younger wereleopard. Sometimes all of them forgot that K’var was a grown creature, he mused to himself. He still seemed so very child-like in many ways…but his lithe young body had widened across the shoulders over the years, and he’d grown to the point where he was as tall as Z’sharan. He’d never be a giant like J’Dran…but he WAS an adult. In body, anyway. His mind, not so much…or not yet, anyway. Traggen understood. He’d been a sorry little brat and a total pissant until he’d had adulthood thrust upon him when his uncle Avhonari had decamped to run away with his wereleopard lover, leaving Traggen with all of the duties and responsibilities of his title and position. He’d done a terrible job, but he’d also been forced to grow up swiftly from the rude awakening he’d gotten. He’d pretty much had adulthood forced on him, and he’d matured a good deal because of it.
He didn’t think that K’var needed a reality check, per se; but maybe he DID need a good swift kick on the behind from the universe at large to wake him up. For example, the cub showed no interest in either the opposite or his own sex, and the closest he’d come to it was his indignation at the hunter R’shan. He was still curiously innocent and unawakened. Traggen shrewdly thought that R’shan might be able to help with that, if only the hunter would pull his head out of his ass for five seconds and realize just why he was always getting on K’var’s case about everything. But the wereleopard hunter seemed as clueless as K’var, so who knew when either of them would come to some understanding about their situation…
Traggen sighed internally and shook his head. He’d considered intervening in some way, but had decided not to in this case. He might only end up making it worse if he did that. He wanted his cousin to naturally come to understand about sexual attraction and desire, not have it forced upon him in any way. But as this was going, K’var would only grow into his sexual adulthood when Traggen was dead of old age and in his grave…
J’Dran laughed and began to tussle with K’var, who squeaked and squirmed as he wrestled with his much large uncle. His giggles made Traggen smile fondly at the pair of them. He’d sometimes thought that perhaps he and J’Dran should adopt a cub, too; his beef-headed mate adored children and was very good with them. But before this, Traggen really hadn’t felt ready for fatherhood. But now…he’d been here for almost a decade, and he’d matured even more. Maybe it was time. He’d have a talk with J’Dran about it soon. K’var would be very happy to have a cub about the place to play with, since all he’d had so far were adults unless they were in the village where he could play with the other children.
He glanced over at his uncle and Z’sharan, who were occupying the other bench on the wide porch. “Who is the bigger child here?” he asked with a wry smile as he nodded at the pair wrestling in the yard.
“That would be my brother, at least physically,” Z’sharan noted dryly.
Traggen chuckled. “Yes. Definitely.”
Avhonari looked at his son and brother-by-mating thoughtfully. “Being a bit childish is not bad, most of the time,” he said. "Especially when they are not spoiled or mean-spirited in any way.”
“You mean, unlike me when I was younger?” his nephew asked him shrewdly.
He shrugged, refusing to be drawn out by this question. “You had some growing up to do, that is all,” he said diplomatically.
Traggen laughed. “Is that your polite way of saying that I was a worthless spoiled brat who needed to be taken over someone’s knee?” he asked in amusement.
“Perhaps. But I much admire the man that you have grown into, Traggen. And you did most of that growth on your own, which is to be admired.” Avhonari pointed out.
He felt somewhat embarrassed by this praise from his uncle, who he had always secretly admired(even when he’d still been trying his best to drive him crazy). Traggen shrugged and dropped his eyes. “I suppose. I simply had nowhere to go but up,” he said.
“Yes, but you DID go up. Many people go through their entire lives without trying to grow or change their lives for the better,” Avhonari pointed out gently but relentlessly.
Traggen would have squirmed like a misbehaving child if Z’sharan hadn’t rescued him just then. “I spoke to K’var earlier,” he said tactfully, making them both look at him.
“About what?” Avhonari asked.
Z’sharan explained what R’shan had told him, and his resulting conversation with his cub. They listened with interest to this recital, and at the end of it Avhonari said: “I never thought about the fact that K’var might not feel like he was a member of the tribe. Living away from them as he does…”
“Yes but you are a member of the tribe as my mate, and you don’t live with them,” Z’sharan told him. “Nor are you even a wereperson. Yet you have always been a part of the tribe, ever since I declared you to be my mate before the other members and the Elders approved of our mating.”
“That’s true. Your people have always been very welcoming. I appreciate that fact, being an outsider. They didn’t have to take me in as they did.”
“Of course they did; you are my mate,” Z’sharan replied simply. “As you are J’Dran’s,” he said to Traggen, glancing at the younger human. “Nothing else matters except for that fact.”
Traggen grinned suddenly. “Well, maybe K’var should get a mate. Somebody from the tribe. Maybe then he’d feel more attached to it,” he said teasingly.
Z’sharan frowned a bit. “The cub has never shown any interest in anyone in the tribe,” he pointed out to Traggen.
Traggen’s eyes were dancing. “Oh, I don’t know about that,” he remarked, making them both give him puzzled looks. But he only grinned and refused to explain. Parents, he thought to himself, were almost always the last ones to know…
K’var slid through the jungle swiftly and silently. He was so intent on his destination that he didn’t catch movement out of the corner of his eye, or hear the very faint rustle of bushes as a large leopard emerged from them and stood looking after his retreating form. The big cat paused for a moment, and if a beast could be said to be frowning then this one definitely was. Then it turned and glided after K’var smoothly and silently, shadowing the other wereleopard as he darted through the foliage on his way to who knew where.
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