I Dream of Leopards, (Open)

[Radien]

The leopard stalked through the dense overgrowth his sleek powerful body moving with perfect pose and control. Each muscle rippled with strength under a powder of dark yellow fur and pitch like spots. Silence reigned around him as his huge padded feet spread his weight keeping the sound from his approach. His prey, a doe. Her head lowered as she nipped at the sweet grass of the spring. The air around him was almost too warm for him, but he did not let anything come between him and his meal. Golden eyes unblinking watched each breath of the deer before him as his body was lowered masterfully to the forest floor. The leopards large rounded ears flicking back and forth listening for any sound around him which would disturb his approach and consequent attack.

Power thrilled through his muscles as he waited, waited his breath held. Like the world was suddenly deaf around him the only thing he could hear was the thud thud of the doe’s heart beat. The black dipped tail of the beast flicked back and forth silently as the doe moved closer to him, closer to her death. A slight breeze picked up around his waiting form the rustle of the leaves around him ignored and forgotten his eyes only for the doe before him. It was coming, the time, the hunt was on him. His heart rate picked up, saliva flooded his mouth as he lifted his agile body from the forest floor and bent back putting all his power into his back legs.

Just one… more…. second…. Then he sprang. From the bushes his form, like a golden blur. The doe had no idea what hit her as the huge leopards landed on her back, razor like claws digging into the flesh of her shoulder blade bathing her sides in blood. His jaw clamping down on the fragile expanse of her neck. Blood flooded his mouth, warm and life giving as the leopards growled low in his throat his body weight bring the deer to the forest floor. The sound of cracking bone and sinew filled the forest as birds and other animals ran for their lives in the wake of the kill.

Thud, thud, thud, thud, the heart beat raged in his ears as his sandpaper like tongue lapped at the spilling blood. His back claws dug into the fragile flesh of the doe’s underbelly ripping through it sending blood and innards spilling over the forest floor. The smell should have turned his stomach but it didn’t it caused a low growl of success to rumble through him.

Thud….thud………thud……………..thud………….. Then silence as the deer’s life ebbed away. The leopard rumbled his satisfaction as he bit down hard on the exposed throat and ripped away the flesh his nose bathed with the warm blood of his kill. Moving down to the ripped belly, he lay down beside his prize as his teeth filled muzzle ripped into the flesh. Warm blood and meat rolled down his throat into his stomach as he purred in pleasure and reveled over his kill.

Radien roared as he thrashed on his bed, clawed hands ripping into the high count sheets which wrapped tangled like a lover around him. Feathers floating through the air as he sat up right panting like he had just finished loving a woman. His heart thundered in his ears yet all he could hear was the thud of the doe’s heart as she died. He could swear the taste of iron coated his tongue. Bile rose in his throat as Radien kicked the sweat soaked sheets from around his legs. Stumbling from his bed he moved over to his dresser and pored cold water from the pitcher into a bowl. He splashed his face with the icy liquid and hung his head. He could feel his leopard just under his skin, the fur almost brushing the flesh of his body. Revulsion rolled through him as he lifted his head and looked at himself in the mirror. Shock and fear drove him stumbling back the bowl of water crashing from the table as he tripped back over the rug on his bedroom floor and hit the floor cracking his head against a small table there.

Swearing eloquently he rubbed the back of his head and winced. His heart beating hard in his chest Radien got to his feet and forced himself to look back into the mirror. His eyes usually dark hazel shone with golden light. The predator gleam encompassed his eyes as he closed them tightly and slowed his breathing. Slowly he opened them again and let out a held breath as his eyes had returned to their dark brown hue. By Slaen he hated his animal half. It had brought him nothing but heartache and pain, he wanted nothing more then to live as a normal human, but no, he was driven my lusts and instincts that were not his own. Damn the Beast Lord for forcing this on him.

It had not always been this way, once he had embraced his beast like so many of his kind. Then of course he started being hunted, then he had run, fallen in love only to find himself hunted again. The breaking point had come when he woke next to the mauled corpse of his wife. He could not remember anything from that night other then the taste of blood in his mouth and the blood sticking to his flesh. He had killed her, he must have. He knew of no reason why anyone else would want her dead. She had been such a light in his life.

He hated what he was, hated and feared and longed for it. He dreamed about the hunt, about stalking his prey about mating with a female. He dreamed about letting his beast free and roaming his lands. Longing like a drug swept through him as the beast purred under his flesh. He wanted to give in, wanted to let the beast have rein. A moan left his throat as he felt his spine stretching his senses heightening. It was a bitter pleasure, forbidden to him but his own rule. Pleasure akin to stroking a woman rolled though him his senses picking up the sleeping forms in the other rooms of the keep. Heartbeats reached his ears and he groaned with need. The sound of claws gouging into wood dragged him violently back from the edge of change.

“NO!!”

With a roar he ripped the top of the chest of draws off and threw it across the room.

[Sage]

She was out this night as she was most nights, prowling under the crescent moon, hunting, though she kept close to their home. She listened to her parents in that she didn't go far from the castle, but not in the fact that they'd forbidden her to go out in what she considered to be her natural form. In the castle and in her room though was apparently permissible.

Sage gave an annoyed huff, the air puffing from her slightly parted jaws, the slightly fluffy end of her tail flicking in annoyance. They were supposed to keep secret, and keep safe, but the only thing that happened when you held in or caged your beast was what was happening to Radien. Oh my foolish, foolish brother.. She could not and would not believe that he had killed his wife though. The man had loved her deeply, and she could not see his other half as being so blood thirsty as to do it without the human sides knowledge or consent. She knew the other half of her brother nearly as well as she knew the human part, maybe more. She spent as much time as she could in this form after all.

Though of course... if Radien knew she was out here he'd be angry too. She was in the woods though, away from human eyes, and if she occasionally killed a deer so what? What would the locals think? Feral dogs or a wolf pack before anything else and she knew it. Humans always went to the obvious first, it was in their nature. Sure they knew of Beast Kin, but their kind were secretive enough now that they were rare. Beast Kin didn't live openly as themselves anymore. It was impossible. The Slayers would kill them as soon as they possibly could. That.. well it angered her. She'd never lived during a time when they could live free, but it still made her so, so angry.

Her ears pressed back to her skull, and the sleek, female leopard hissed as she batted in sheer ill humor at a tree, scoring deep lines in the bark. It helped, letting out her anger and frustration in ways she couldn't among the human nobility. Oh how she had to hold herself back from slapping some of the purely arrogant little chits sometimes.

"Oh let's do beadwork now!"

"Or play the harp?"

"No no lets work on that quilt."

Sage shuddered just remembering their voices. That memory would have been so much better if she had said "Oh blow me," shifted in front of them, and scared one or more into a catatonic state for awhile. But she had not be because she could not. Their continued living required keeping a low profile and if she was anything but the perfect little noblewoman there would be gossip and-

Her head shot up, rounded ears swiveling as she heard her brother. What was wrong with him now, she had to wonder, but despite the annoyance at being interrupted in her thoughts she loved her sibling, and so headed back in that direction. His room faced the forest, his one concession to his beast she thought, and it was only a few yards between the edge of the trees. The tall willow outside his window was perfect, and she jumped into the low-hanging branches, moving as far out on a limb as she could before jumping onto the wide ledge and letting out a silent 'merow' and head-butting the glass gently, exactly like an overgrown house cat.

Him knowing she was out here bedamned, she was more concerned for him than hiding.

[Radien]

Radien knew his staff would not come, he knew if his sister was awake she would be in his room in minutes. The staff believed him mad and getting worse. Hell they were not far from the truth. Only a mad animal killed its own mate. He put his back to the wall and slid down until his ass was on the floor. Knees brought up he held the bridge of his nose and rubbed slowly trying to ease the pain which was a constant companion since he had locked away his beast. Opening his honey eyes he looked around his room. Feathers from his mattress lying all over the floor, his sheets in tatters and now the top of one of his own handmade desks was in bits against the door. His servants would clean up and set the room to rights then they would talk about the crazy lord of the manor who killed his wife.

Of course they knew better then to push the issue with him. In their minds he might be nuts but he kept a roof over their heads and paid them well. All in all they were happy to work for the insane lord as long as he kept to himself. Which was becoming more and more common as the years progressed. He rarely left the Shire and he would never do so if he felt his beast was too close. What little his sister knew about his condition she had found out on her own. She knew his denying his beast was causing him to lose his mind in dreams he did not want to crave. She didn’t know however of the constant pain in his head from holding back the urges his beast put on him. Monster was a very loose term for what he was sure people would be calling him if he lost control.

The room was chilled and soon his heated flesh became cold, goose bumps rising over his skin. He should stoke the fire as he knew his maid would not enter this room until he left it. Sighing deeply he ran his hand through his hair, ironically the colour of his leopard fur and had been since he started caging his animal. Two days worth of stubble grazed his chin giving him a rough look which he was happy to hold as it kept most people from annoying him. Closing his eyes he rested his head back against the hard stone of the wall and listened to the house. Even in human form he could hear the chattering of the maids who were preparing for morning chores. Words like, Madman, monster, Beast reached his ears but they no longer held the same sting they once had.

He was almost to dozing against when he heard the muted noise at his window. Opening his eyes he turned in head and then narrowed his again. Sage. The large cat was trying to get in, she got to his feet and took a quick look at the door ensuring it was closed before he moved towards the window. It was clear from the storm look of his face he was in no mood. He unlatched the window and in a hissed voiced.

“Sage! Slaen be damned! What the hell are you doing? Sitting on my window sill like a damn house cat… get in here….”

He grabbed the large leopard by the scruff and aided by pulling her into the room. He ignored her huffing in protest and looked out the window making sure no one saw her enter. He closed the large panes of glass behind her and turned looking at her.

“Sage… what do you think you’re doing? You know the rules… what if someone saw you? What then?”

In his frustration with his sister he had forgotten the mess in his room. No doubt she would have a comment or two. He hated the fact she was so comfortable with her beast form. Hell just seeing her like this made him long for a time before he murdered his wife, a time before when he was one with his beast. But those days were long gone. His beast stretched under his skin and he rolled his shoulder as he pushed the animal back. He ignored the low whine in his mind as his beast submitted. He refused to listen, pain throbbed behind his eyes and as he turned from his sister and braced his hands against the window frame looking out at the forest.

[Sage]

Oh he was mad... She knew it as soon as he looked up but at the moment she really didn't care. She was concerned for him. His attacks or whatever they were were getting worse.

“Sage! Slaen be damned! What the hell are you doing? Sitting on my window sill like a damn house cat… get in here….”

She would have done something but he dragged her in by her scruff and she mewled and growled in annoyance and protest. How DARE he? He was not their father! Anger she could see but- She hissed and arched her back when he turned on her, speaking again, even going so far as to bat him (claws sheathed). Oh now she was mad too.

“Sage… what do you think you’re doing? You know the rules… what if someone saw you? What then?”

Radien turned from her then and she huffed, looking around the room, feline eyes widening and she let out a concerned mewl. What was happening!? There was so, so much damage and she wasn't sure what to make of it. It almost looked like his beast had gone crazy but... Her anger forgotten she sidled over to him and head-butted his leg, purring in concern before backing off. Walking over to where she saw a robe she shifted quickly and slipped it on, moving quickly back towards her brother.

"By the gods Radien... what happened?" She placed a hand on his shoulder and squeezed gently, her eyes glowing the concerned, bright amber of her beast. The other side was concerned too. There almost wasn't another side, that's how close her and her beast were and it pained her to see her brother like this. "And don't worry about me. I'm careful. But of course I know the rules, I just don't listen to them."

She took a step back and looked around the room, shaking her head. "It looks like a hurricane came through here..," she sighed, "how can I help Radien. I'm sure you know what the servants say and it's getting worse... If they start to gossip in town.. Slayers need less and less..." She was deathly afraid of Slayers.

[Radien]

He narrowed his eyes at her as she batted at him. His beast tried to surge to the surface but he pushed it down forcefully ignoring the throbbing pain which radiated from his head. Turning his eyes back to the forest he watched the darkness as his sister let out a concerned sound and moved towards him. He felt her butt his leg with her large head then she was gone. He knew she had seen the damage and was now worried about him. Waiting as he felt her power roll over his skin. He held his control in an iron grip the feel of the magic enticing him to chance, he ignored it. He felt her warm hand touch his shoulder and her concerned voice reached through the haze of pain.

"By the gods Radien... what happened?"

He knew she was worried about him. Since their parents passed away and he became Lord of the manor he had more and more things to deal with. She helped run the house and made sure that it was well looked after, he ensured that the crofters had land for their sheep, that they were able to harvest the grain, collected rents. And now she was rebelling against the rules which had kept them alive and safe since they were children. He sighed and dropped his head to his chest. What was he going to do about her? Hell if he lost her he knew he would lose what little of his mind remained. Too long he has heard the whispers of the people around him, the mad Lord, Black Baron, the names were becoming more and more interesting.

Hell his new black name was giving quite the reputation among the ladies, more and more wanted his favor and they all talked about how handsome he was, shame he was mad. He turned and looked at his sister, she was beautiful and in truth should have been married off years ago. But he could not drive her to mate with someone, he would not force her. She was the last line to his sanity, he truly believed that.

"And don't worry about me. I'm careful. But of course I know the rules, I just don't listen to them."

He rolled his eyes and gently gripped her shoulders making her look at him.

"It looks like a hurricane came through here.., how can I help Radien. I'm sure you know what the servants say and it's getting worse... If they start to gossip in town.. Slayers need less and less..."

“Sage… the rules keep us safe…. What if somebody saw you? You claim the slayers need less and less? One sighting of a leopard in the forest and they would descend on this town and this house….

I can’t lose you… if anything happened to you… nothing in this world would stop me ripping a wave of death through this Shire.”

He was scared she would one day go off on one f her rule breaking runs and get killed or captured. He could not deal with it. The worry of losing her like he lost his Wife. All because of what they were, oh how he hated it. he wrapped his arms around her and stroked down her hair then her back. He held her tightly like he was afraid to let her go his body shaking slightly. Pulling back he looked down at her and kissed her forehead before resting his forehead against hers.

"I can't lose you.... I would never survive it...."

[Sage]

“Sage… the rules keep us safe…. What if somebody saw you? You claim the slayers need less and less? One sighting of a leopard in the forest and they would descend on this town and this house….

I can’t lose you… if anything happened to you… nothing in this world would stop me ripping a wave of death through this Shire.”

She sighed as she was wrapped in his arms, but started to purr as he stroked through her hair and down her back. He was holding her tightly, which she didn't like, but she tolerated it because he was her brother and because she knew he needed the contact. It wasn't just the fact he didn't shift.. well, ever. It was the fact he didn't touch or hug or anything really and leopards needed that.

"Radien... they don't keep us safe. If I did not change I would be in the same boat as you, and we both know that eventually the Slayers will investigate. So yes, if I am seen Slayers will descend but they will eventually anyway. I would rather control my demise than to have it control me. And if I am captured and die don't fight. Run. Promise me."

The leopardess sighed, her feline eyes gazing into her brother's. "I am begging you. Again. Please Change. I can keep you from harming anybody Radien and you'll feel so much better." Anticipating his protest she growled. "You did NOT kill her. No way. Your leopard is not that viscous."

"I can't lose you.... I would never survive it...."

"You would," she said softly, purring loudly and trying to be reassuring. "Because if you did not I would have to brow beat you in the afterlife." Oh wait.. "Besides, what will you do when one day I find a mate Radien? I won't be dead then but I will be gone..." She loved her brother, and it was really the only reason she hadn't run off to search already. But it was also part of why she broke the rules. She hoped to meet others that way. Sage loved her brother but it was lonely much of the time with how much he shut himself away. Plus the longer she went without a mate the more the rumored whispers she'd been hearing lately would grow, that she was sleeping with her brother...

"If you won't Change... Come for a ride with me tomorrow. Being on horseback helps.. trust me." She smiled and pulled back just a bit from him. "Promise me you will. Though even if you say no I will still drag you out of bed anyway."

Of course she had a plot too. There was one, rather.. energetic horse that she thought might give her brother a challenge. Maybe even enough of one to take his mind off things. Now Sage liked to ride, but cursed the fact that because of her station it had to be in skirts and with a thrice damned side saddle.

[Radien]

"You would, because if you did not I would have to brow beat you in the afterlife. Besides, what will you do when one day I find a mate Radien? I won't be dead then but I will be gone..."

She was right of course. He signed and closed his eyes resting his forehead against hers. He might not allow his leopard free rein but these moments with her calmed him. His beast accepted them, for this was as close as it would get to another of his kind. When she left him? Hell he didn’t want to think about the madness that would sweep through this home. He knew he would not be able to live long without her. Even losing her to a mate would kill him. Radien knew he had become almost reliant on his sisters presence. She gave him something else to think about, someone else to worry about so he did not think all the time about his own issues.

Little did she know he was not going let her get away that easily. As her brother he had rights over who would marry her. He would not just let any cat some around sniffing. Whoever the beast was who found his sister he would not allow just anyone to take her from him. He knew he was having to do the job their father should have been doing. Hell he knew any man who found his sister was in for a treat and was not going to find some docile biddable woman, his sister was a minx, plain and simple. Her voice pulled him back from his thoughts and he opened his eyes.

"If you won't Change... Come for a ride with me tomorrow. Being on horseback helps... trust me. Promise me you will. Though even if you say no I will still drag you out of bed anyway."

He chuckled lightly and hugged her to him again. Even though she was purring he knew she did not enjoy being held so tightly. He stepped back and ran his hand through his hair.

“I feel sorry for any male you might attract Kitten. They are going to find it hard to tame one such as you… and I would have it no other way Sage….”

He looked around the mess of his room and sighed.

“You realise that Franklin is going to sigh and go red in the face again this morning?”

Franklin, his butler. Given the fact the man could turn the colour of a red apple he was actually a nice man. He never made any comments about damage in his room and he even kept the servants talk down. But of course that would only last so long. People in the village were already talking. He knew if he kept this up then someone was going to accuse him openly, then he knew something might happen to Sage and that was not acceptable. Turning from his sister he sighed again. The pain in his head increased after he stopped touching her and he refused to let her see his pain. But the tense in his shoulders and the lines around his once happy eyes were very telling.

“I will only ride out with you if you accompany me to the Brandish Ball tonight. I know you did not want to go, but I have to…. And dear sister if I have to undergo the torture of a public appearance… you have to join me….”

There was a hint of teasing to his tone. But in truth he did not want to go to the ball alone. He did not know if his beast would co-operate with his choice. He had to make an appearance for the local gentry, had to show his face. And had to put up with the woman whispering behind their fans and the men looking down their noses at him making comments about the Lord who killed his wife. The Beast, Dark Lord. There were a lot of names that he was not called. He knew he could not do this ball alone tonight.