Cry Of The Pride

| 1 ₹ heaven sent |

If there was an art work that resonated with him, this was it. A lion and his lioness out in the veld as they eyed her prey.

However his bout of admiration was not long lasting she she took her place by his side, "it's beautiful, isn't it?" She asked.

He nodded and sipped on his champagne glass, bubbles ran down his tongue as he thought of a response "I have eyed this painting for seven years. Each time a detail makes it's self known to me."

He heard her hum,"i find something strange." There was an allure to her voice, the tone and hum that came with every vowel sound she uttered.

He looked at her, her dark curly hair the first thing he notes. Then were her matching eyes with a sparkle that threw him off, she was exquisite. "What is it?" he asks.

"The most handsome guy on site is here, alone. Eyeing a still of wild cats." she said her eyes still held him but he couldn't help but to question her presence.

He breathed deeply, but it did not go with out purpose. He was sniffing her, a hunter.

That scent was deeply ingrained into her, the essence of murderer etched deep into her blood as if one with the cells.

"Lions are powerful, afterall. They reign over the bush, they are the face of courage and are with out doubt lethal," he said the last word a bit too seriously.

This girl however, she was unfazed. Almost as if she had no clue of her identity and what the world existed beyond that of humans.

A slight laugh slipped past her lips, she took a slow blink as she spoke again "i wouldn't know. Bravery and stupidity go hand in hand."

Altan was s surprised and raised his eyebrow, this was a refreshing change. That over came how offended he was ought to feel. "People who go out on the battle field are brave, diplomats, tamers, hunters..." she said the last softly almost suggestively. His eyes gravitated back to the painting.

"I dont deny that," she sipped on her flute. Her purple lips staining the glass. His eyes followed the print on the glass leaving her face for sometime, there was something about this woman. The colour suited her, he decided. "We all have to be a bit thick to wonder into danger."

He analysed how the lioness was closer to the viewer, her still prance poised as her golden eyes scanned the veld. He wanted to run his hands over her, caress the queen in the hides and speak to her... Learn her. It was his madness speaking to him.

This girl's eyes were different, not green or honeyed like those of his race.

They were a dark grey, like a demons eye colour. Trying but failing to achieve the ice like transparency of angel eyes. "Like yourself?" he tried.

She giggled, "like myself."

Altan offered his hand, "my name is Altan."

She met it with her own, squeezing, "a pleasure to meet you Altan." she let go eventually. He was compelled to look at his palm, to see what was responsible about the warm feeling in in his limb.

He was surprised she hadn't shared her name, many were eager to be known by him until they realised he was not an alpha. Had she made the connection?

"Altan!" a panicked voice called for him. Altan turned his gaze to the archway where a panicked Ilona stood. Worry dressed her feature as she wrung her hands. "It's Nesar, something is wrong."

Altan raced to his brother's aid, what could worry Ilona?

He found his brother slouching in the patio lounge chair, the cool night air calming as a mist ghosted over their dam.

The pregnant alpha rushed to her mate's side, "i ordered human alchohol." she said as she tried to keep Nesar's eyes open. Her hands would lightly slap his cheeks to rouse him from whatever was pulling him to a worrisome state.

Altan reacted calmly as he had been taught, he knelt before his brother and held Nesar's face in his hands. Altan widened one of Nesar's eyes and took note of the red rim around his pupil. His brother's pupils were beyond dilated. "It's poison," he said.

The Alpha female's hit his ears sharply, Altan looked to the door and saw his companion standing there. Her eyes seemed worried but she stayed back. "Please lower the blinds and shut the doors." he asked her as he rolled the sleeves of his shirt to his elbows.

The unknown girl did so with ease, Alan would let his eyes sweep to her every now and then as she worked the strings blocking the veranda from the inside. He watched she as she completely shut the folded doors and stood out side with the three. "Ge' ranu." he said to her.

She nodded slowly as seriousness masked her once easy expression, Altan was glad that he wouldn't shock a dormant.

He phased in the blink of an eye, his body hair thickened and turned golden. A beard and a mass amount of hair on his head came through as he was bigger in every sense, his muscles, height... He had exposed his felinor to this stranger and his Alphas.

His claws were shinning under the lights, he held Nesar's head again and ran his thumbs under Nesar's eyes cutting the skin.

Coin like pieces of flesh fell out, and Altan caught them immediately the colour was different from what he was used to perhaps it was a different poison from what they were used to. "Othin." the hunter said to herself, though Ilona and Altan heard her clearly.

She bounded over to Altan and examined Nesar herself. "You need to make another cut below those, just a centimeter." she advised.

"How do we know what you're saying will be of help?" Ilona asked. "Altan already got the parasites out!" she was close to crying as she held her pregnant belly.

"Its because I designed this breed," she said solemnly to Ilona.

Altan did what the stranger had said, low and behold another pair fell into his hands the coloring the same as the pair before. He crushed them into his hands to phase into his human form.

Ilona rushed to sit next to Nesar and held him close to her as the cuts began healing. Altan watched the woman craddle the alpha as she examined any other part of him that may be injured.

"How could he be poisoned so easily," the stranger asked.

Ilona looked up at her, "how else?" She looked angry at this point. "Looking for another addition to his harem, as if the six he has after me isnt enough."

Altan looked away, this was their way of life afterall. Nesar did things differently, unlike all the other lion felinics he wasn't over possessive over his harem. Rather, any one can do as they please... Do who they please. "He should be alright now," the hunter spoke.

Ilona nodded, "thank you." as she uttered those words her gaze held specticism. Altan could read it clearly, and much like the Alpha female he wondered why she was here, why the creater of such a drug was conveniently at the right place at the right time. Saving a strong alpha's hold on their pride.

Altan chose that time appropriate to ask for her name. He turned to her and approached her slowly, "who are you?"

She gave a rueful smile, fingers and thumbs twiddling.  "My name is Nuria."

Altan felt his breath hitch, also that of Ilona. She was a hunter, one sent to kill them.