Light and Dark

Chapter 5: Meeting in the Moonlight

It'd been a month after the deer incident, and Leru was still thinking about that old deer who'd spared her life. She and her litter mates were now six months old and could now go on hunts with their mother. And they could also go to the Moonlight Meeting.

The Moonlight Meeting was the meeting when black jaguars met yearly to mate, mingle, and/or play. Anaiyu had told them that they were allowed to leave her sight at the meeting, but they could not leave the sight of the meeting spot.

"There'll be many other cubs there for you to play with, too," Anaiyu told them. "Good! Cause I'm getting tired of looking at their ugly snouts everyday," Ifrit said, a teasing look in his eyes. "Jinkx, you're in charge of your litter mates," Anaiyu told him. The oldest brother puffed out his chest proudly. "Big mistake," Shade whispered to Leru, a little too loudly. Jinkx heard it and pounced on his younger brother.

That was two nights ago. Now, tonight, they were walking through the forest to the meeting spot. The forest always looked so different at night. The moon tonight made everything glow silver. Especially Leru. Her albino white coat shone in the moonlight, making her look like a star. Leru loved these moments; the moments where her being an albino wasn't a disadvantage.

They all followed behind their mother, who seemed like she knew exactly where she was going. Anaiyu led them across creeks, through trees, and over fallen logs to the meeting place. Finally a break in the canopy up ahead gave her a new skip in her step.

The trees opened up onto a cliff. A very big cliff top that was covered in stone. And jaguars. Black jaguars were everywhere. Cubs and adults. Everywhere. The family came up to the tree line and stopped. The cubs were shocked. They didn't know what to do. They were suddenly very shy. Anaiyu laughed and walked into the fray. She turned back to them and said, "Remember: you can go play with other cubs, but that's it." And with that, the cubs lost her in a sea of black fur.

Jinkx led the way into the fray and wandered aimlessly. The three brothers took turns leading the four of them, trying to find the other cubs. The whole time, Leru was getting stared at by a lot of jaguars. She felt so out of place here. She was like a rose in a garden full of hibiscuses. She didn't belong there. Oh how she wanted to go back into the forest and disappear into the moonlight.

Finally they found the other cubs. The moment the others saw Leru, they swarmed her and bombarded her with questions. Finally, everyone calmed down and they got right on to playing. Her brothers were fitting in perfectly: Jinkx made fast friends with a couple older cubs, while Shade and Ifrit were introducing themselves to a couple other cubs. Leru was left standing there, feeling completely awkward.

"Well, if it isn't miss goody-four-paws?"

That voice. She'd heard that voice somewhere before. But where? She turned and saw a familiar face: Vine.

"Hello Vine," she said. He bowed to her, earning him a couple stares. "What're you doing here?" Leru asked. "Why so interested? Have you fallen for me already?" He asked. Great Jaguar Gods, this cub was cocky. And it was getting really annoying. Already after only 5 seconds of talking with him was she itching to scratch his muzzle to make him shut up. "Seriously though, I came here cause my brother and mother forced me to," he said. "I would much rather be at home with Mother. She's sick and needs someone to hunt for her." "Oh what? I thought you were enjoying my company," Leru said sarcastically. Vine chuckled. Leru snorted. He winked at her and smirked.

"Um, excuse me?" Leru heard a small voice behind her. She turned around and saw a small cub, not four months old, staring up at her. She had ice blue eyes that made Leru shiver. "Hi, I'm Leru. And this," she jerked her head to Vine. "is Vine." The other cub looked around Leru at Vine and nodded, giving him a smile. "Hi there! It's nice to meet you! I'm Saffi," she said. Leru and Saffi both sniffed each other's muzzles then Vine and her did the same thing.

"So, what's it like being an albino?" Saffi asked. She, Leru, and Vine had all sat down together near the edge of the meeting spot. "Dangerous, vulnerable, pampered," Vine listed. Leru swatted at his ears. "You know, if you're just gonna be rude, why don't you find Snake?" She asked, irritated. "What? And leave you here alone? What kind of mate would I be if I did that?" Vine asked sarcastically, faking hurt. Great Jaguar Gods, this male was confusing. "Wait you two are arranged mates?" Saffi asked, confusion showing clear on her face. "No. We almost were," Leru answered before Vine could say something snarky.

Leru and Saffi had gotten up and were walking the perimeter of the meeting place, with Vine trailing them. "If he doesn't like you, then why is he following us?" Saffi whispered. Leru turned to look at him. "I don't know." "You two are horrible whisperers, you know," Vine called from behind them. "I'll be right back. I need to find my mother for a quick second," Saffi said. The little black jaguar scampered away into the fray of the adult jaguars. Please don't leave me here alone with Vine! Leru silently begged her friend.

She continued to walk the perimeter. She was lost in her thoughts when she was pushed to the side. Leru fell on the stone ground with a thud, and looked up and saw Vine. She was about to ask why in all the stars he did that, when she saw why he did it. He was swatting at a scorpion. Leru realized she would've walked right onto it had Vine not pushed her out if the way.

Vine picked up a stick in his mouth and poked the scorpion with it and the scorpion waddled off. He spit the stick out of his mouth and Vine walked over to Leru. "You alright?" He asked. Something flashed in and out of his eyes. Worry...? Leru thought then dismissed it entirely. "Yeah. I'm fine. Thank you," she said as she got up.

"No problem. It's what a male does for his female," he said with a smirk. Great Jaguar Gods, this male was surprising me in every which way tonight.