The Sigil Makers

Prologue

A dark-furred, muscular saber-toothed cat stood firmly before a thick patch of thickets. The gentle wind sent whiffs of flora and fauna scents flying past his nose, but he stood still.

A scrawny vole treaded into his field of vision. It looked around, its nose twitching as it examined the wind for any smells, then it locked its eyes on the dark smilodon and quickly fled back into the undergrowth. 

The smilodon flicked his ear; he could have easily caught that vole, but had ultimately decided not to. He would most likely still be able to track it down if he went after it. But he didn't, because he had more important matters to take care of.

The shrubs in front of him rustled, the leaves trembled and stems bent. The dark tomcat took a careful step backwards, allowing the newcomer to step out of the bushes.

There, an even more muscular, yet paler saber-toothed cat stood in front of him, glaring at him as if he was hunting the darker tom. Yet the smaller smilodon didn't move, he kept his back straight and posture firm.

"I'm surprised you came here before me", the bigger cat murmured. His voice was deep, almost like he was growling yet there was a hinge of affection in it.

"I wouldn't want to keep you waiting", the darker tom purred. He relaxed his tensed muscles and flicked his ear, sitting down.

"I suppose you're wondering why I wished to speak with you", the bigger cat also sat down, neatly placing his short tail beside his hindlegs.

"I am, indeed", the darker cat briefly scratched the behind of his ear.

"It's about the new cubs", the bigger smilodon stated. The darker cat finished grooming himself and looked at the bigger cat with a questioning yet curious look on his face.

"What about them? They're all healthy and happy. You should be joyful to have such healthy cubs", the dark tom exclaimed and flicked his ear again.

"Obviously, I am joyous that the cubs—my cubs—are healthy, but I can't help but wonder.." the tom's voice trailed off and he looked away from the darker cat. His eyes filled with doubt as he looked back at his companion, "What if the cubs aren't mine?"

"What? Of course the cubs are yours! Why wouldn't they be?" the dark tom raised his voice and almost lifted his hackles. He lashed his tail, thumping it against the dusty ground.

"None of them look anything like me", the bigger tom said, suspicion clouding his gaze.

"Every cub is pale when they're born. How do you not know this?" the dark cat rose up and shoved his face near the bigger one's nose.

The bigger smilodon pulled back, the sunlight momentarily reflecting off his saber-teeth. "You're right. I suppose they'll grow to look like me when once they've reached adulthood"

"I know they will. Now, maybe you should study some more cat biology so you don't make a fool of yourself again", the darker tom sat down again and licked his shoulder. 

The bigger tom nodded and turned around, lashing his tail once as a farewell and slipped between the undergrowth and thickets to go back the same way he had come from.

The dark tom looked after him and once the shrubs and leaves stopped rustling, he got up and looked up at the sky. His heart had began to race when the bigger smilodon mentioned that the cubs might not be his. The dark tom shook his head and cleaned his chest before rising up and following the scent trail of the bigger cat, hoping that the paler tom would reach their camp before he did.