The Jaded Leopard

Chapter 7

Woot, chapter seven! :D

Well, the above image is of our lovely stranger from the village of Hilfling, or somewhere along those lines ;3 You can see why Roksana had a tad bit of trouble hating him XD

And here's chapter seven, the not very action-packed chapter! :D Don't let that put you off, lovelies, it won't be boring ^-^

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"You!"

Roksana found herself once more face-to-face with this boy's angry face. She glared at him.

"I had that all handled, you know!" She spat, standing so as to be closer to eye level with him, though she was a few inches shorter than him.

He crossed his arms across his chest, scoffing. "Handled? I had no idea 'About to be killed' was the definition of the word handled!"

Roksana glared at his through narrowed eyes, sapphire locking with brown. "I would've been just fine if you hadn't rushed in here, trying to play the hero!"

He rolled his eyes. "I can't believe I was worried about you! Then again, I had no idea that it was you! If I did know, I would've just left you there. Less trouble for me."

Roksana groaned in exasperation, stomping off and settling herself down near the fire, deliberately turning her back to the boy. He scoffed, throwing his hands in the air in exasperation. He picked up his pack where he'd dropped it earlier, sheathing his sword. "You know what? Fine. I can just leave you nere and go merrily along my way without having to worry about a girl lost in the mountains." He started to trudge away through the snow, Roksana paying him no heed. Kuzma, however, had realized something, and bounded off, blocking the boy's path, growling softly. The boy tried to step to the left to avoid Kuzma, but Kuzma followed his path. The boy stepped to the other side, and once more Kuzma blocked him. He groaned.

"Could you call off your cat?"

Let him go, Kuzma. We don't need the likes of him with us. Roksana growled to the leopard. Kuzma snarled slightly, still not budging.

Don't you see, child? He's a mountaineer. He knows the area. We need his help if we're ever to reach our destination.

The boy was staring wide-eyed, his gaze flicking from Roksana to Kuzma, back and forth as they argued. "Did you just...growl at the leopard?"

Roksana stood, walking slowly towards the boy, pointing her hunting knife at him. "His name is Kuzma. And get used to it, Sparky, because you're coming with us."

The boy laughed, clutching his stomach. "I'm coming with you? Fat chance."

Kuzma growled menacingly at him, taking a step forward as Roksana did the same with her hunting knife. The boy groaned, rubbing his gloved hands on his temples.

"Fine. Fine!" I'll go with you. Just don't let your leopard eat me."

Roksana returned to her place near the fire. "I can't promise that."

"Great, just great ." The boymoaned, sitting near the fire as well, but cautious to keep a safe distance from Roksana and Kuzma. The great leopard settled himself behind Roksana, and was quietly licking his wounds clean, eyeing their newest companion warily.

Silence enveloped the tro as both Roksana and the boy gazed into the fire, lost in thought. Tension hummed between the two, a massive ball of energy waiting to explode, to devour anything in its way, so much like the crackling flames of the fire. The two were sizing both one another and the situation up, testing strengths, weaknesses. Roksana leaned back, settling herself against Kuzma's side. The leopard rumbled slightly. At least introduce yourself, child, it doesn't do to be rude to the person guiding us through these mountains.