Light and Dark

Chapter 17: Revenge Isn't That Sweet

Leru and Vine wound up falling asleep out of exhaustion. They fell asleep with Leru laying her head and her paw on Vine's back as he slept under her. It was dawn, and the birds had started their morning songs.

Vine stirred, and that caused Leru to grumble. He immediately froze. He chuckled. I'll never get tired of her silliness, he thought wistfully. He looked around as slowly as he could do he wouldn't wake Leru. His surroundings caused a flood of emotions to rush back to him. Of yesterday. Of Snake.

"You thinking of him, too?" He was startled to hear Leru's scratchy, tired voice. She got up and stretched. And so did he. He marveled at how her muscles moved under her pelt, and how lithe her figure was.

Whenever Vine wasn't looking, Leru would sneak a peek at him. She loved the way his eyes looked like they were shifting every time he blinked. She loved how smooth his voice was, and how it got huskier when he got close to her. In that moment, Leru realized, I want to be with him forever.

Vine sighed. "I'll never be able to apologize. He and I bickered all the time. Mostly, over you." He said the last part more quietly. Leru closed her eyes, remembering Snake's confession of his love to her. How he had laid his heart at her paws. How he had jumped in front of her to take the fire stick's force himself. She had never given him an answer. Leru and Vine were both feeling guilty about Snake's last moments.

Vine suddenly spun around and looked deep into Leru's eyes. There they go; shifting again, she thought. She stifled a giggle when she saw how serious Vine looked. He stared at her for the longest time. Finally, he whispered, "He loved you, you know. For real."

Leru put a paw over his mouth. "Please don't. I know that he loved me. And that he wanted me to choose him-"

"Would you have?" Vine cut her off without blinking.

Leru looked at him with shock. She couldn't believe that Vine really thought that she would've chosen Snake. He could never know that she wouldn't have been able to choose either of them. For fear of tearing them apart and for fear of tearing herself apart.

"What...? What do you mean?" She lied. She wanted to make sure those were his true intentions.

"You know what I mean," he said in a serious voice. "Would you have chosen him? Or me?"

Leru scoffed and shook her head. The nerve! "Look Vine, I would've chosen you! Okay? Are you happy?!" Leru broke his gaze and exploded her anger and frustration to the forest. She padded a little ways away and continued. "I mean, are we honestly doing this right now? Your brother is no more than 24 hours dead, and you're asking me to reject him in death?! Well, then here it is." Leru turned to face Vine.

With a straight face she uttered, "I love you, Vine." She started to cry. "You will be my mate and I will love you with all my soul. I reject Snake's confession. But I pray that the Great Jaguar Gods will reward him for his sacrifice for me." Leru said these words with so much emotion that she thought she'd fall apart.

Vine immediately was at her side. He regretted making her do this, but he had to make sure or else he would've had doubt in his heart for the rest of their lives together. He wiped away her tears with his paws. He hated to see her cry, especially when it was him who made her do so. Vine pressed his forehead to hers and uttered in a husky voice, "I'll love you forever, Leru. And I'm sorry for all that I did, and I promise you that when we are mates I will make you the happiest jaguar alive."

Vine's confession made Leru nuzzle his muzzle. She loved him so much. Vine was sorry. He regretted all his mistakes and was willing to put them all in the past. For her. She didn't want to lose him.

The two of them just stayed there, in each other's embrace. Nothing could end their love.

Suddenly, a jaguar pounced out of the bushes and barreled Leru over. The attacker landed on Leru and pinned her down with her paw on Leru's throat. Vine was about to attack when he recognized the unknown jaguar.

Ice-blue eyes pierced into his soul.

Leru noticed them, too. She was able to tilt her head up just enough to see her attacker's face. Blue eyes, mesmerizing eyes.

"You! Get off of her right now or you're gonna regret it!" Vine threatened. He had his white teeth bared and his long claws unsheathed.

Leru's attacker merely laughed. "Not a chance! She must pay for what she did!!!" The attacker screeched, looking down at her captured albino.

"You were with Snake, weren't you?" Leru choked out. The fact that Leru was choking made Vine angry.

The female leaned down and whispered in Leru's ears, "What was my name?" Leru struggled to recall this female's name. Until the silence was broken by the female's screech.

"I am Asteria! And that is the last name you'll ever hear!" Asteria lifted her paw to strike. Asteria's mind was swirling with rage. This jaguar caused Snake's death! And here she is nuzzling with his brother! She's a fool for not choosing Snake! Her mind kept repeating that over and over again. Asteria wanted closure. Asteria wanted blood. Asteria wanted revenge.

Before she could strike, however, Vine tackled her to the ground. He had her pinned down in 5 seconds. Vine was so close to ripping Asteria's throat out. But he wanted answers.

"Why are you trying to kill Leru?" He asked.

"She made Snake die. He jumped in front of her to protect her," Asteria said through gritted teeth.

Leru was surprised. She knew it was her fault Snake was dead, but she didn't expect how bad it was going to sound when someone else said it.

"Anything else you'd like to say before your blood flows?" Vine asked, lifting his paw for the final blow.

Asteria looked back at Leru. She smiled wickedly and said, "He would've chosen me. If you'd rejected him, I would've been his mate! I never really understood what was so great about you, until I saw that you were an albino. But even though you're an albino, I'm still better than you!" Asteria had started to laugh maniacally. "But before I die, let me say this: I hope Snake's confession haunts you forever, Leru, you gutless flea!!!"

Vine had heard enough. He was not about to let Asteria keep on chastising his mate. He brought his claws down and sliced her throat. Blood poured and flowed all around her neck. As her last breaths were breathed, Asteria looked at Leru and smiled. Then her sides went still, indicating that those ice-blue eyes would never show life again.

Vine, stone cold expression, uttered, "I guess revenge isn't that sweet."