The Sigil Makers: Borderless

Chapter 10

Killa bolted through the forest, her heart beating hard in her chest. She made sure to walk through the most unobscured  path that led back to her own territory, and hoped that nobody was following her.

She could already see the wasteland ahead and it wasn't long until she had passed the border. She still kept running as fast as she could, in case the Sigil Makers were done with the Mbyai pack's disrespect toward their border, and decided to disregard the border themselves.

The make-shift camp was quickly advancing in her field of vision and soon enough she could already see the entrance. She stopped before it, gathering her breath and quickly smoothing out her pelt. She walked inside the camp as nonchalantly as possible and tried her best to look like she had just been out for a late night walk. 

She thought that every smilodon would still be out to finish the pack hunt, but to her surprise, everyone was inside the camp.

Jasy was conversing with Itaju and Phaxsi and looked up, smiled warmly at Killa and flicked her ears as a sign for her to come over.

"What's going on? Why is everyone still here?" Killa asked as she laid down beside the other two smilodons, and hastily brushed off a small bur from her pelt.

"Kamachiq cancelled the pack hunt for a reason or other", Phaxsi shrugged. He was fidgeting a small stick with his claws, which had all its bark ripped off. "I don't know why, though. Would've thought he'd tell me out of all felids",

Itaju visibly rolled her eyes. "You really do think so",

Phaxsi side-eyed the small smilodon, "What do you mean?"

"She means you're delusional to think Kamachiq gives any more isopods about you than any other smilodon in this pack", Killa put in. She knew that would anger her brother, but that's what she kind of wanted.

Phaxsi gasped offendedly, "You have no idea what you're talking about!" he snapped, "Once he's off the senses, I'll be leading this pack and you two are the first smilodons I'll exile!" he stood up and stormed off, his short tail lashing angrily behind him. It looked kind of hilarious.

"Well, he's more hot-headed than usual", Killa pointed out.

"Maybe it's reality finally hitting him?" Jasy offered, "Or maybe he's mad that Kamachiq hasn't given him any special treatment ever",

Killa chuckled, momentarily forgetting about how she had just ran away from the camp of Sigil Makers. Maybe the members of the rivaling pack hadn't followed her after all—or maybe Glee had been able to stop them. 

"Speaking of the devil", Itaju nodded sideways at the other side of the camp, where Kamachiq, the marigold-tinted male was padding toward the younger smilodons.

Killa quickly sat up and brushed her chest fur with her paw. Jasy heaved herself to stand upright and shook off some of the dust that had gathered on her pelt. Killa leaned forward to flick a small twig off of her sister's pelt. Jasy nodded gratefully.

Kamachiq walked up to them, and looked down, first eyeing Itaju and then turning his head to look straight at Killa and her sister.

"You didn't come for the pack hunt", Kamachiq said to Killa. "Why is that?" his voice was as emotionless as a snake's mugshot. 

"I wasn't feeling very well", Killa uttered, trying her best to keep her voice from trembling. She wasn't afraid of her father, but she didn't know how he would react to her going out to visit the Sigil Makers.

Kamachiq glared at her, "Well enough to go hang around tar piles?" he asked, and Killa felt like his eyes were piercing right through hers and looking deep into her soul, searching for the truth.

"Uhm, I heard that sniffing tar might help with headaches", she took a step back, "It didn't work, for the record",

The edges of Kamachiq's mouth rose up to a crooked smile and he chuckled. Not an amused chuckle, though, more like the one you give when you can very obviously sense someone lying.

"Did you also hear that visiting the Sigil Makers' territory helps with a sniffle?" he tilted his head to the side as if he were actually curious, rather than taunting Killa. 

Itaju and Jasy gasped at the same time and Killa could feel herself shrinking underneath her own fur. Her sister looked so betrayed, while as Itaju was just confused—and angry, definitely angry. 

"I didn't- I thought- They were-", Killa tried her best to utter out an excuse, but all she could muster up were crooked tries of justifying it being Sigil Makers' fault.

Kamachiq's smile grew, "I'm not mad, child. I like the way you think", he assured and crouched down slightly, to stand at the same height as Killa and Jasy. 

"What?" Killa asked, genuinely confused. Is he not mad at me? I thought he'd be. But she couldn't see a hint of resentment or anger behind his cold eyes.

"Trying to blend into the Sigil Makers. That is a genius plan. Give them a small push toward what we want. Make them think that joining us is the right decision", he voiced, now a small hint of pride glowing in his eyes. He's proud of himself for coming up with this plan, not for me. 

"I wasn't trying to do that", Killa raised her voice, "And I don't plan on doing so, either"

Kamachiq chuckled again, but this time it felt more colder and menacing than before, "Oh, dear child, but you will", he whispered, "Because I said so",

KIlla took a step back again, lowering her tail and pushing it against her inner thigh. She pinned her ears against her skull and lifted her shoulders. Kamachiq just laughed in his iconic, menacing way, the way he always does when he has successfully scared someone into doing his bidding.

"You'll leave in two days. Say you were exiled and need a place to stay. Woe is so empathetic but oh, so naive. She'll let you in without a second thought", Kamachiq explained, not even looking at Killa and grinning to himself. "Then you give them small, but not obvious pushes toward complying with us", 

Killa looked in his permafrost eyes, and couldn't help but nod in agreement.

"Splendid", Kamachiq grinned again, turned his tail and started padding away, leaving Killa frightened and Jasy and Itaju confused.

What have I agreed to?