Shifters

Chapter 2

Just a heads up, there are only the two sections, one Zarrac and one Kitana, because each scene is a longer scene and it didn't make sense to me to intersperse the scenes and have two things happening at once. I hope that makes sense.

~WingedAlphaWolf~

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Zarrac: I walked into my mother's chambers. She'd summoned me once I got back to the palace. "Mother, you called for me?"

"Where have you been?" she demanded, not beating around the bush.

"I went hunting."

"Without an escort?"

"Mother, I know how to defend myself. I am not a little child anymore. So to answer your question, no I did not have an escort. Besides, they would have scared off the game."

"There is more than just game in the woods. There are bears and other predators, other hunters. You could have been shot or mauled or, heaven forbid, killed! I can't imagine my only son being found—half dead or—worse."

Her words made me think of the wolf that saved my life. She could've killed me, but she didn't. She saved me, and then she led me off the mountain. My mother would never let me out of her sight if I told her about the wolf though, so I said, "Mother, I had everything father taught me to have on a hunt. I was safe. I love you, Mother, but I am not a child anymore. In three years I will be king. I think I can handle a simple hunt."

"And what do you think would happen if you didn't last those three more years?"

I thought about the cliff again. But I kept the memory off of my face. "Mother, we all know that I could die at a meal. If someone really wanted me dead, they would poison me."

"That is what the food tasters are for, my son."

"Yes, I know that, but everything has a chance to fail. My point is that I am no safer here than I am out there."

"Enough! I want you to return to your chambers and stay there for the rest of the week. Your meals will be brought to you and you will leave for no reason other than if I summon you. I know you're going to argue, but save your breath: my decision is final."

"You don't have power over me, remember? That is the law of the land. I could leave if I wanted to, but I won't do that. I will do what I like, when I like."

"You are still my son, and as you are not yet king, you will obey my orders! You are dismissed!"

"Mother, you are being ridiculous!"

"That's enough, Zarrac!"

The steward came into the open doorway. "Is everything alright, your majesty?" he asked his queen.

"Remove the prince, steward. Take him to his chambers and make sure he stays there. I warn you, though, he will fight back," my mother replied.

"Yes, your majesty." The steward turned to me. "Your highness?" He gestured out of my mother's chambers.

"Father would never treat me this way for doing what I enjoy," I told Mother.

"Your father's death is exactly why I don't want you out alone, Zarrac! You are so much like your father, and I don't want you to die like he did!"

"He died because of an accident. We prayed for three agonizing days before the infection took him. I may be like him, but I will not suffer the same fate."

"The only way to be sure is not to take the risks that he did!"

"If I don't take risks, I will look weak. I will go hunting whenever I like and you can't stop me." I turned and started for the door.