The Prophecy of Water | ✔️ 🎖 [2018 Wattys Shortlister]

CHAPTER 37-The Hideout

Why can't they see we created this world? We changed every aspect of it and now it's different. But if we don't do something, someone will take our world from us! 

Nature is cruel like that.

LoG, 421

Drian was still speechless when the cheetah reiterated. "What DO you know about The Shape Changers? Have you ever wanted to learn anything about us at all?" Her voice was full of disdain.

The challenge of the cheetah's words hung heavy between them. Drian somehow fought off an increasing fear of a huge carnivore and her teeth prancing joyfully right beside his jugular.

This is what it must feel like to be a prey.

Drian gave his reply with a trembling voice. "You think I wanted to come here? I didn't! I had no choice. My father was ..." Drian bit down hard on his lower lip to stop himself from telling her. "Nevermind. Then, your Elders offered me a deal and ..."

"Yeah, I know. That was so dumb of them. And they didn't even consult us. 'We are working in the interest and well-being of the whole village' blah blah blah'," the cheetah spat out.

Drian thought she actually did a superb imitation of Loko's accent, but he couldn't think of anything to say. She's upset by my presence. She doesn't like what I've been up to.

Drian could somewhat understand her. Nevertheless, he felt anger that the cheetah rejected him a priori. She named him a foreigner, someone who wasn't "them." This insult led him to turn against her.

"Then why are you here at all?" He sat on a wooden chair and passed his hand through his hair. "If you are waiting for everything to be over so that I may leave, isn't it better to pretend that I'm not here? Why did you even enter this place?" Drian's voice was conciliatory as if he were surrendering.

"Cats are curious by nature," the cheetah hissed, twisting her jaw in a mockery of a smile.

Drian found himself smiling as well. "Interesting. That rule doesn't seem to apply to me," he pointed out as if he wanted to allude to his own ability to transform into a panther. Drian didn't even know why he was underlining that. It was perhaps because he needed to feel equal to her. Probably because of her need to humiliate me, lower my worth. That is why I desire to grow in her eyes. Action and reaction.

"You aren't a Shape Changer yet. Not to me. No matter what anyone says. When you learn to control your transformation, then I might consider your case," she said with contempt. "But it's not important. I didn't even come here to talk about it. I came to see how your ... The project is progressing. Is there any end to this drawing or you are ... Just abusing our hospitality, free food and water, and cowardly hiding from The Second Water War in our Settlement?"

This last wicked remark particularly hit him. "Don't worry; you'll get rid of me soon. I'm finishing the painting today. I don't know if this crazy Loko's idea will turn out to be true. I don't know if you'll really be able to get in and out of here as you please. What I do know is this: The Hideout as such is a finished project," Drian threw the piece of charcoal into the bucket and rubbed his tired joints, yawning. 

He glanced at the drawing, not without pride. "I'm happy with how it looks. I've put a lot of time and effort into it."

"That's why YOU look miserable. You're all shaggy, with overgrown hair," the cheetah giggled. That chuckle came out of her throat as a yapping growl.

"Is there anything else that you would like to laugh at, while you're already here?" Drian added sarcastically. He felt as if every word the cheetah uttered was the continuous sinking of her claws and teeth in him. They mercilessly cut his ego, although she was now sitting in the corner of the room and staring out the window, far from him.