Birth Rite - The Pards Saga

Chapter Four

Copyright all rights reserved 2012

Chapter Four

The smell of a new day, just as the sun rises is one thing that is that is unique to this part of the world. The sun has yet to heat the earth and dry the dust to stifling clouds hanging heavy in the air. There is no disturbance of mixed scents or royal duties to be preformed, there is just freshness.

Heading out the front door I inhale and devour as much of this delicious untarnished air as I can, in this moment I feel free- I feel alive and untamed. As I fill my lungs to capacity I set off around the side of the house and towards the fields. Treading lightly through the back garden and past the pard quarters where over ten sleeping leopards swindle their last moments of rest in dreams. The pard quarters was my favorite place to be when I was younger, I loved the feel and sensation of being surrounded by my pard. The quarters was warm and inviting and unlike the big house entirely. Once I reach the gate and unlatch the snig, I slip through. A breath that I hadn't known that I was holding forced its way out of me and I relaxed. Now I could let myself go, now I could run and just be.

Hundreds of acres of canola stretched out in front of me, its beauty staying me momentarily. Along the left field boarder and around the rear of the property is a dense forest edging, spanning a couple of kilometres wide. I felt the pull of my leopardess wanting to run and reacquaint herself with the bushland. As tempting as it was, today I would stay in the field. Pushing the most basic of urges away I head off up the access row. The morning sun is glorious this morning and warmed me through. The canola flowers seemed to come to life at the slightest touch of the warm rays of gold. Dew dripped from the vibrant yellow petals and birds began to chat amongst themselves.

I had decided on only a short run today and followed the access path around the first segment field, about six kilometres in total. As with almost all of my runs, the end started of come into sight long before I was ready to finish and I cursed myself for not going on a longer path. As I rounded the third and final corner I slowed my speed so that I might enjoy the last of it. Even this early in the morning you could feel the air start to warm and the sun change form being a soft life giving glow to a unrelenting source of heat. Gone were the sounds of the small field birds nestled in the large forest boarder chatting happily amongst themselves and in their place was the distinctive cackle of the native kookaburra and the infamous call of the crow. As soon as I came through the gate I know that life is stirring in the quarters. As I slip along the path towards the big house, I can't help but shake the feeling that I am being watched. Glancing back as I round the corner of the house, I can only just make out his figure as the curtain falls in front of him - Curtis.

As soon as I am in the comfort of my own room I peel off the layers of sweaty clothes as I cross the room to my bathroom. I was still layed out exactly as I remember it was, freshly washed towels waited alongside my fluffy purple robe. The water was deliciously warm and refreshing and if time had no constraint then I would happily spend hours washing the day away. Stepping out of the shower into the steam filled bathroom, I wrapped one of the towels around my head and slipped into my purple robe. I actually felt relaxed for the first time since the phone call two days ago. Opening the door the first thing to give him away was his scent and then my eyes caught up with the assaulting stench that invaded my nose. Sitting on top of my bed was none other than Curtis.

'Get out'. I hissed as I crossed the room to my dressing table.

'Catherine, It dosn't have to be like this, I am your regal royal and one day your husband. You should at least try to get use to the idea'. He casually answered, as if it was the only thing to be expected. I spun on the ball of my foot with my teeth bared, years of frustration at the situation washed over me and I couldn't hold my tongue.