The poachers almost had Azi in a cage when he found them. One of the poachers had shot Malik, but not before he got Azi out of that cage. It was Azi who had come home covered in blood, who took the tribesmen to the spot where Malik’s body lay in death. It was the same spot where Azi had made his first kill, as two of the poachers had been torn to shreds, one still holding the gun he used to shoot Malik in his hand. The tribesmen tracked the rest of the murderers who lived, and when found they suffered a horrible lingering death.
Now, here she was in the middle of the desert, almost lost. Nothing like the jungle home she knew so well. Arimus seemed to have charmed her into agreeing on going to his village. She could not, and would not, go there now. She would not lose sight of the reason for her journey, and nothing would stop her from finding her father and the truth he held for her. Not even a handsome man like Arimus.
Arimus was worried he had upset or frightened Shani. The look in her eyes held so much pain for one so tender and strong. Not quite knowing how she did it Shani was getting under his skin. He could have sworn she had leaned towards him and wanted him to kiss her. Wishful thinking. Running a hand through his hair he sighed loudly, staring into the sunset. Arimus was always calculating, cool, unnerved. Even when his captures held him tied to a tree. He knew better than to come on too strong to a strange woman, especially one with a huge panther for a companion. He also knew better for many other reasons. Rasheem would thoroughly be angered if he knew his son was thinking of a jungle woman in such ways that he should be thinking of his future wife.
That sobered him. My future wife. Liana was too afraid to tell her father that she loved another, not Arimus. She did not want the families to feud over an arranged marriage. She would suffer being his wife if that is what her father bade her to do. Arimus had other ideas. He would not marry someone he did not love, or one that loved him even less. He and Liana were friendly enough, but that was all there was to their relationship. Friendship. He had already planned his words carefully and recited them to the air on his way home. Rasheem was in for a big surprise when Arimus saw him again. He would refuse to marry Liana. Simple enough. And if her father wanted an explanation he would make that woman tell the truth about whom she loved, and if she needed, he would help her to convince her father.
The memory of the mask Shani wore when they met came to his mind. A smiled stretched about his lips. Why do my thoughts go back to her every time? The smile turned to yawn and he meant to only rest his eyes for a minute. He wanted to be sure Shani was alright when she returned from her walk.
Walking back to the campfire Shani dried her eyes completely, leaving no trace of the tears that fell. Damn him! As she walked up to the fire her eyes would not look away from Arimus. He had chosen to wear less clothing to bed this night, at least from the blankets allowed her to see. His hair draped over a shoulder as he lay on his side, his breaths coming in the rhythm of deep sleep. He shifted in position, causing her to startle a bit, and rolled onto his back. His chest and shoulders were larger than the tribesmen she had seen. His arms strong but not overly large. Stomach all muscle. He looked amazing for a man who lived in the desert. Tanned skin, not very dark, but almost bronze. He must spend most of his time in the sun, without clothing she assumed, as she saw no lines of a tan along his neck.
She finally found herself and looked away. It was not right to look at a man half naked while he slept, least of all a stranger. Heading for her blankets Azizi laid at the head of them. Lying on the ground he curled his body slightly, as Shani lay down also and placed her back towards Arimus pulling the blankets to her chin. She laid her head on Azi’s belly, the rhytym of his breathing helping to lull her to sleep. Tomorrow morning she would inform Arimus that she and Azi would head straight for Covarte, and not visit his village. He would protest, and she would make sure to not allow his charming smile to win her over this time. And if Azi took Arimus’ side, then he was in for a fight as well as Arimus.
Azi flicked his tail lightly, watching the shadows around them. No trouble brewing in the wind of the desert tonight. He was growing fond of the sand, so much softer than the dirt at home in the jungle. No trees to lie in lazily, but so much running space. Maybe tomorrow his mistress would let him run for a while. His new friend, Arimus, could be trusted with her life. He yearned to run like he did in the jungle. He would not leave her side though. This was his family, and with her he would always be. Azi yawned, flexed his front claws digging into the sand, and then laid his head atop his paws. Slowly his eyes dropped and he joined the others in sleep.
Shani smiled at herself. Proudly. She would startle both of them in the morning. But for now what she needed most was sleep.
They went from shop to shop, Shani’s eyes wide while taking in all she saw. She was perhaps the tender age of four? Shani yanked hard on her mother’s hand when they passed the candy store. All of the neatly shaped candies that seemed to dance in her young mind. “Please.” And another small yank. They went in. The shopkeeper instantly fell in love with Shani and offered her a small chocolate. Christina nodded her head and Shani took it from his hand, inspecting the shape before eating. Christina bought a few things and then decided it was probably best they start heading home.
Laughter. Love. Smiling eyes. A tickle here and there in Shani’s sides and belly.
A sudden change in mother. Her hand was stiff and strong against Shani’s. The man who stood in her way smiled and commented on Shani’s chocolate ringed grin.
“She is none of your concern.”
“She should have been.” His eyes narrowed.
“I don’t care what you want or who you think you love. I want you to stay away from me.”
“I have proven to you over and over just how deep my love is for you, Christine. Why do you rebuke me every chance you get?”
“You are a horrible man. I would never love someone like you!”
The man’s face contorted in anger. He stared down at Shani and sneered at her. “So this is your child?”
“No.” Her mother answered. “This is mine and Jason’s daughter. Something you can never have from me.” Her voice was hard, and scared.
He grabbed her mother’s arm, noticing the tribal bracelet on her wrist. “You would rather live in a hut with a jackass rather than come with me? I have everything you could possibly want. A mansion, servants, money. You choose to wallow and waste away in a jungle?”
“You have everything I could want?” Christina’s voice was now shrill and filled with anger and excitement. “You have no heart, know nothing of love. All you care about is your status among the elite. I have more important things to tend to. YOU are not one of those things. Now let me go or I shall scream.” The defiance was strong in her mother’s voice.
The man threw more than he let her mother’s arm go. He looked at Shani again then snorted in disgust. “Go ahead. Live like a scavenger. Remember one thing, and this I promise you.” He pointed a finger at her mother’s chin. “You will live to regret the decision you have made. You and Jason both!” The man stormed away and Christina gathered Shani in her arms, tears in her eyes. She started to shake uncontrollably when a figure came into view. She could not see the figures face, but knew they must have been a friend of her mothers since Christina finally broke down sobbing in the figures arms.
It only took him a few minutes to finish what he started when he heard muffled sounds coming from the campfire. He dressed quickly and went to investigate. He roared with laughter at the sight before him. Shani and Azi were wrestling. She was trying to capture her friend with her blanket but was failing miserably. Azi pounced, knocking her backwards and then tried to walk away. Shani grabbed a back leg and his tail, pulling him to the ground. He growled slightly and then snapped his fangs in the air above her head, showing his displeasure but not attacking. Arimus watched for a few moments before they realized they had an audience. Both suddenly stopped and just looked at Arimus. He just couldn’t stop laughing at them. Such a sight, a small woman fighting a panther so large, and besting the cat.
Arimus was so busy laughing he didn’t see the subtle hand gesture Shani gave to Azi, who in turn narrowed his eyes and flicked his tail, lowering his body to the ground.
“What do you find so funny?” she finally asked.
“You two!” he exclaimed between gasps of air, his sides starting to hurt now.
“I don’t think it’s that funny.” She stated simply. “The least you could do is help me up.” One hand gestured as to how entangled she had become in the blankets while wrestling with her friend. Arimus went over and offered her his hand. Azi suddenly swatted at the joint behind Arimus knee knocking him down and Shani slammed him with an unused pillow.
He said something in Arabic she was sure she didn’t want to know what, and then realized she had better escape and quick. Too slow. “So you two are ganging up on me now?” he said in mock surprise as he grabbed her arm and pulled her back to suffer what she started. Azi let out a friendly growl and poised to lunge when Arimus pointed at him. “You will get yours later, my new feline friend. As for now,” nodding his head towards Shani, “she gets hers.” Arimus thought to just sit on her, which proved easier said than done. She wriggled like a worm on a hook, almost as slippery. Once she almost got the best of him, coming from behind and covering his head with a blanket. She was still tangled in the blankets, somewhat, which hindered a quick escape. He managed to finally sit on her stomach and hold her wrists in his hands. Shani was not used to being sat on so she brought up her knees behind Arimus’ back and pushed him forward in an effort to thwart him off of her. All she had done was bring him falling down forward with his head landing next to hers. Arimus finally did win.
“Azi!” she cried out, “help me!” she was laughing hard and begging her friend for help. Azi just looked at them, yawned, lifted his body, and walked away. Shani was in total shock. “Where are you going?” No answer or recognition that she spoke came from the cat.
“Now,” said Arimus as he looked down at his capture, “what shall I do to make you pay for dragging me into this wrestling match?” They were both breathing hard, trying to catch spent breath.
She offered her thoughts. “Nothing would be good if you ask me.” She wished that she never had started this. He hadn’t lifted his head yet, trying to catch his own breath, and he spoke directly into her ear. She was trying to be calm but with him this close. Arimus lifted his head and looked at her. Both just stared at each other, his eyes on her mouth. No. she thought. He lowered his head and gently kissed her on the forehead, leaving her surprised and, shocking enough to her, disappointed.
“You will make breakfast.” He smiled as he let her go and stood up, offering her a hand to help her stand also.
“That is my penance?” she laughed at him. “You’re too easy with punishments.” Then she took his hand and stood up.
He watched with a smirk as she brushed the sand off of herself and headed for the campfire that had burned out in the night.