Tale of Panthera Regina (Remake)

Chapter 12: Sirens

POV: Rex

"Now, the Native-like name makes sense," Mendax remarked. "However, that name is not truly native to this island. Is your pod just visiting?" He asked. Rex stared at him with a shocked expression. "What?"

"How do you know that?" Rex paused. "I don't even know that." The brown tiger asked, being very confused then feeling bad.

Mendax could be of higher rank than he first thought. Yes, the white tiger did say he had no rant. His tribe could be kinder than others and taught everyone the same way. Rex knew that wolves, dingos, and African wild dogs do this as it was a way to ensure that everyone knew what was going on. It was a strategy used to better hunt. However, he didn't think any felines did this, but maybe Mendax's tribe was just different.

Kadupul wasn't that knowledgeable, and she was considered low rank. However, if she knew about these things, maybe other tribes don't care about ranks as much and taught everyone the same. However, something did trouble him. When Rex was in lessons, the creatures were mixed bags of low, middle, and high with the prince and Regina having the highest rank. Rex shrugged. Maybe some creatures allow no ranks to attend lessons.

Unda and the otter Kate were signing back and forth. Kadupul was by the Sea Otters. Despite being blind, it seemed that she was interested in knowing how deaf animals can communicate. Rex was curious as well but felt like he couldn't act so intrigued. However, Siren Kate made a splash in the water with her tail to get their attention.

"Look! Sirens can live in fresh-water. So, your friend here could have met a pod. However, they are rarer." Kate, the Siren illustrated. "But it does happen." She paused for a minute. "And to answer your upcoming question about my name. When my mom was carrying me, she was traveling in Europe. My mom heard the females talking about somebody else named Kate. And liked it and gave me a mainlander's name."

Mendax sat down, and Rex followed his lead. "That makes sense, but why does the Otter pup have your name?" Rex asked in a curious tone that was like someone trying their hardest not to be excited, but it clearly is.

It was at this point that Kadupul and Unda holding Kate, the otter had their heads turned in their direction. The fox had her head tilted but looked past Mendax and Rex. The otters seemed to be looking back and forth between the tigers and the siren.

"Yeah, it is uncommon to be given a Native's people name," Kadupul pointed out with a bark.

This was true. The Native people's names are generally different from the creatures on the island. However, the animal's names are often Latin, the theme of species, or after nature. Sometimes even combined all three. Much like Velox, the Snow Leopard Prince, the name meant Speed or fast or quick, and he was, or like Mel, the Cheetah, who had honey color fur.

*I wonder what the story is here?* Rex thought, but as he was about to ask his question. Kadupul asked for him.

"If I may, but Unda, can you explain to us. Why did you name your daughter a Native people name?" Darwin's Fox asked, tilting her head but not quite, looking at Unda.

Rex was surprised that no one brought up the Mainlanders having names. He wondered if they had their own naming system, or have territories much like the island. The Prince was super curious as to if he was a bird. He would like to travel to the mainland and study them. He had about a million questions that Mason couldn't always answer.

The Siren whom now Rex noticed had green eyes traded glances with Unda. Were they hiding something and thought Rex would tell his mother which he wouldn't. And the naming issue is not an issue at all. There is no law saying that a Native person can have an Island name, and a creature has a Native person's name.