Bonds as strong as Time [[For LoneDigger and Myself]]

[LoneDigger]

A shiver ran through the prince's body as he felt himself literally being frozen in place, he couldn't move his legs at all and if he tried to struggle it only hurt him more. As if to make matters even worse suddenly there was a cage of ice surrounding him.

Whining loudly he stretched his head through the bars to look out and see where the other had gone.

 

"Katsu! I'm too cold for this!"

 

The cub complained. Just thinking of an excuse to get out because in reality somehow he was still perfectly warm. Any normal creature from the Savannah should have already been chilled to the bone from being in the snowy mountains, but somehow it was as if there was a fire burning within that kept the hyena hot. So much in fact the ice around him seemed to slowly begin to melt, as if unable to stand the heat.

 

"I've got you now, old cat."

 

Dakari smirked softly to himself as he patiently waited for his temperature to rise higher, the ice melting around him just fast enough to be effective, but not enough so to be obvious unless someone was really paying attention.

[Full_Moon_Rising]

Keeping a silent, watchful eye on the cub still trapped in the cage of pure ice, Katsu breathed out a soft puff of frozen air. He wasn't blind nor was he senile, even he certainly was old enough to have the potential to be....if he had been anyone else that was. He could see how Dakari wasn't as truly affected by the icy prison he was locked into. His keen cold gaze was quick to catch the way his ice slowly began to melt around the cub's paws and he quickly latched onto the cunning gleam in his opponent's young gaze.....however, he didn't comment on it. The old snow leopard simply kept his place neatly sitting in to the wintery landscape as he waited for the little one to make his next move.

 

With the wind blowing forcefully yet at a much calmer pace than it was before, the Sentinel once again raised his eyes to the cloudy white skies as he sank into a bit of a meditative mindset. He wouldn't make another move until the little one squirmed his way out of this situation. Only then would it be time to move onto a more hand to hand lesson. After he was satisfied that Dakari had learned at least a smidgen of how to defend himself properly while away from his family, then they would head to the Tower to feed. Hopefully the allure of food would be enough to motivate the cub for the duration of this training period.

 

"If you are cold, then I suggest you figure a way out of your current predicament, little one. Only then will you no longer be enclosed in your current icy prison" the sentinel called out to the young Prince calmly enough. Closing his eyes, enjoying the feel of the wind causing his long hair to sway in its bitterly cold touch, the Sentinel relaxed as much as he dared around this little bundle of fierce energy as he continued his patient vigil.

[LoneDigger]

Dakari felt like the other was playing with him, but that was just Katsu. He could never seem to out smart the cat, so his fall back was his own stubborn determination and sheer force to get his way. Which was just something he was all too used to.

The hyena cub growled out at the leopard, biting at the ice and causing it to crumble away. It didn't seem to hurt his teeth surprisingly, they were worse than steel his little jaws.

If he had just waited his own body heat would have melted the prison but the young cub had little patience. Once he was free he trotted up to the sentinel, still as cocky as ever.

[Full_Moon_Rising]

Blinking open his eyes from where they had fallen shut the moment his sensitive ears distinctively caught the sound of small teeth on a hard surface. Katsu had to admit that he was rather amused as he watched the young cub literally bite his way out of his prison. And of course, his actions showed just how truly lacking in patience the little one still was. They would have to remedy that little matter, but the snow leopard suspected that would time and plenty of patience on his end. Dakari was still too young to understand just how smart doing nothing in some occasions worked better than forcing your will.

 

Smirk toying at the corners of his lips, the Sentinel wasted no time in reacting as the cocky little cub trotted towards him. Where there had once been nothing, now a sword created of pure ice capable of freezing anything with the slightest knick, was lifted to point directly at the cub. The tip of it just inches away from the vulnerable neck of the young Prince.

 

Blinking at the young one, eyes half lidded and gleaming in a mixture of what appeared to be cunning nature and lazy intent, Katsu smiled slowly. "Take this as a friendly warning, little one. Never drop your guard in the middle of a spar or a fight. Never assume that your opponent won't attack just because he or she is familiar and on most occasions, a friend. You'll live longer if you keep that lesson in mind" he remarked calmly, lowering the blade just slightly but giving no intentions to fully having it vanish from his grip.

 

"Now attack me....try and land a solid blow. The moment you manage to land a proper attack on me, we will go eat. Until then, you have an hour. Should you fail, then I suppose I can give your portion of food to Kisame or the others" Katsu spoke, eyeing the young hyena with mischief.

[LoneDigger]

Dakari seemed blissfully unaware that he was walking right into another trap. He naively assumed that they had enough lessons and that breaking free would mean he had passed the challenge or whatever.

However having a shard of ice pointed right at his neck was enough to make the cub freeze in his tracks and instinctively curved his head down to protect his neck, which wasn't so easy since it was kind of long in comparison to the rest of him.

Stupid dirty tricks! It wasn't his fault that the snow leopard took his name way too literally and controlled the element.

Instead of attacking the other Dakari did the opposite, curling against the snow as if trying to hid in the whiteness from the blade of ice that was still materialized. He was too scared to move with anything sharp pointed at him so it seemed he were either hiding or submitting to the threat.

A low groan left him at the worst threat of them, his portion going to someone else... that was just mean! He was starving and this place was freezing!

[Full_Moon_Rising]

Watching the cub seemingly submit, Katsu raised a curious and somewhat suspicious brow before he was lowering the blade ever more. Of all the reactions he had expected from the little one, fear had not been one of them. Dakari had seemed rather fearless, ever since Katsu had first met the boy in the palace gardens. However, things had changed just a bit since the boy's run in with his treacherous guard. Maybe there was more to the cub than Katsu had previously thought. Maybe the brave front the boy pushed forth was hiding the innocence he still felt. Still, as much as Katsu wished to clear that fear from the cub's mind, if it was genuine fear, their world would not be as forgiving.

 

Weighing what his next few actions should be, the snow leopard's attention was taken by the roaring call that sounded at a distance. Hiyori. His sister was clearly calling them back to the Tower and the reason behind her call was more than likely due to the fact that the food was ready. With a soft, instinctive cuffing noise slipping out of him in response to his sibling's roar, Katsu climbed to his feet gracefully and lowered the blade fully. An action that had the weapon vanishing from his hand in an array of snow flakes before his hand was comfortable hanging against his side.

 

"Come, let us return to the tower. Our lessons are done for today, Hiyori won't be made to wait longer than she has to" Katsu commented, running long fingers through his long locks of black hair. Taking just a moment to bring the shift from his human to his leopard body once more, Katsu briefly shook his fur out before confidently padding to Dakari's side. Leaning down, he briefly rasped his tongue between the young one's ears in a mild sign of comfort while saying "You did well. There is still much you must learn, but you did not perform horribly....Now try and keep up if you want to have any food".

 

With that small tease laid out, Katus wasted no time in quickly taking off into the barren landscape. His paws flew above the slow, not sinking like any other animal would and while he did not run off at his full speed, he didn't slow down dramatically for Dakari to catch up either. The cub would simply need to find a way to keep up. He was getting too big to carry and Katsu had meant it when he said he wouldn't quite baby the boy while he trained him.

[LoneDigger]

Dakari only scrunched himself down further into the snow when he felt the other approaching him. He didn't want to fight anymore, so he was trying to make himself seem smaller. Anything to diffuse the situation. A soft whine escaped him when he felt the other's tongue brush over his head. Though he was quick to forgive and slowly crawled his way out of the snowy cave he had partially buried himself in. Trudging through the whiteness much less gracefully, acting more like a snow plow. Snorting whenever it would cover his face and shaking it off. The ridge of fur along his back bristled up from the cold, and he was feeling a bit defensive. His only beacon was the snow leopard's long tail, he watched as it would dip and sway, giving the feline that agility to walk above the snow without breaking it.

 

"If Kisame touches my food he's dead..."

 

Dakari huffed, immaturely thinking he should bite the other's tail to prove his point. But he didn't.

[Full_Moon_Rising]

"Come now, Princeling, there's no need to be rude. You need only to make it to your food in time and he won't take it from you. I'm sure Hiyori will help you" Katsu chuckled, flickering his gaze back at the cub. Watching the less than graceful trudging the little one was doing, the leopard slowed down just a touch to walk in a bit more of a side to side fashion. His bigger form blocking out the cold wind that rushed across the mountain surrounding them as they made their way to the Tower where food and warmth would surely be waiting for them. Things that would do Dakari some good after this training.

 

"I'll keep Kisame from bothering you too much but the best advice I have for you is to ignore him. You are the youngest amongst us, and sharks don't care about manners or politeness. Just enjoy your time in the tower and I'll keep that fool at bay" the snow leopard added after a moment, tip of his tail twitching as he said those words. Kisame was a pain, but he was important to him and his friend, so Katsu would try and keep the shark from overstepping.

 

"What is it of him that you dislike? I must admit I find myself curious of your displeasure towards him? Surely its not just his attitude" Katsu asked curiously seconds later, lowering his gaze to the cub.

[LoneDigger]

"Y... you said you were going to give him my dinner...!"

 

The cub yelled as if the answer was obvious and having to explain it was the most exasperating thing that the elder could have done to him.

Ehem... Welcome to Katsu's world, Dakari.

The hyena then stubbornly closed his mouth, refusing to give anymore reason why he despised the shark when to him the other reasons were just too hard to explain and made his chest hurt when he thought about it. But even the prince was too young to understand why this was the case, or to comprehend that he was feeling for the first time in his young life true jealousy.

No one should ever behave the way Kisame did around Katsu, he didn't even know how it was the two acted, but it made him feel a burning inside. He gritted his teeth at the thought and suddenly unable to control his own temper combined with being hungry turned him into a little brat, screaming out as he charged at the snow leopard's back legs, biting him. Though thanks to the snow it slowed him down and he barely got anything. Also his cries were making it impossible to sink his teeth properly.

[Full_Moon_Rising]

"And I also said that if you got to the food before he did, he wouldn't be able to touch it. I recall saying as well that I wouldn't take it easy on you while you trained with me. Consider this still part of your lesson" Katsu remarked, shrugging his shoulders a bit at that.

 

While he hadn't been lying about making sure the cub learned well and fully while he was under his tutelage, that didn't mean he would honestly give the little one's food away. Sure, he might let Kisame tease him a bit over it but at the end of the day, Katsu would make sure that Dakari ate. He, after all, did care about the young Prince's welfare while he was in his territory. That didn't mean he couldn't have a bit of fun at the younger male's expense every now and then though.

 

Ears flickering back to the cub, Katsu felt surprise ripple at the younger male's outburst before he found himself reacting. Quickly pulling away from the young hyena's temper tantrum...at least that's what it looked like, Katsu hissed softly and batted sharply at the cub with large paws even if he kept his claws carefully sheathed. He had no intention of hurting the boy, but he wouldn't just let him try to bite at him without rebuking.

 

"Dakari!" The snow leopard quickly snapped, ears flat and fur bristling with clear irritation... even if it was mild. "A Prince does not act like this. If there is a problem, use your words. How am I to know what's the matter with you if you suddenly throw a tantrum?" Katsu asked.

[LoneDigger]

Dakari halfhearted snapped at the paw that had knocked him aside in the snow, his ears were also pinned tightly against his head and the fur along his spine stood up. He hated being scolded like this, even if he knew he had lost control of himself Katsu didn't understand, and that somehow upset the cub even more.

 

"You wouldn't care anyway!"

 

He snapped immaturely, having no other way of explaining himself better since right now his emotions had taken over his logic and he was just snarling at the other, yet the way he was pressed down against the snow showed clear submission. It was as if the hyena cub couldn't even make up his own mind on how to behave, a part of him wanted to be forgiven, yet the other side of him was too defiant.

[Full_Moon_Rising]

"And how do you know this? When have I ever acted in a way that would make you think I don't care?" Katsu demanded and damn it, he couldn't help but feel a smidgen of hurt by the cub's words.

 

Truly, he had thought he had been doing well with the Prince. He had been treating him well, tolerating the child's displays of aggression and even agreeing to teach him. Hell, Katsu had even saved his bloody life when anyone else could have done so. And yet, it had appeared something had triggered the cub and Katsu had no idea what. Honestly, there was a reason he preferred to live left alone in the cold desolation of his barren frozen lands. He wasn't good at dealing with others outside the Sentinels. Hiyori had always been better at that than he was.

 

Shaking his head in frustration, Katsu sighed as he straightened and forced his fur to lay flat. Looking at the clearly conflicted view of the younger male, the snow leopard had no idea what he could say. Even if he tried to show comfort or affection, he was sure Dakari would simply attack him again. Shaking his head once more, Katsu turned and began to walk away from the hyena...clearly not willing to engage any further.

 

"Once you decide to get over your little temper, you can follow my tracks to the Tower. I am tired and I am hungry, I am also in no mood to argue over something you won't explain. Do as you please" the feline tossed quietly over his shoulder even while he continued to walk away from the young Prince. He didn't know what had triggered the male and even if he asked again, he doubted he'd be given a proper answer. There was little he could do in this situation but let the boy be.

[LoneDigger]

Dakari kept his snarl pointed at the snow leopard, but he didn't dare move otherwise. Keeping his belly pressed firmly against the snow even if it was uncomfortable because of the cold. But the coolness eventually seemed to help calm his own heated temper, almost literally so. He didn't want to go anywhere or even look at Katsu, but the falling snow would soon cover the snow leopard's tracks so he forced himself to rise and follow the prints back to the tower. He hesitated to go inside, even if his stomach was growling he simply curled up outside by the entrance, falling asleep. He couldn't show his face in there after how he had acted, but he wasn't ready to apologize either.

[Full_Moon_Rising]

It didn't take long for Katsu to reach the Tower and shift into his human form. By the look on his face, Hiyori knew off the bat that her brother wasn't in a good mood and Kisame had a frown playing on his lips at the look his friend sported. They didn't ask but by the lack of the Prince, they knew an argument must have occurred and by the frustration in Katsu's cerulean gaze, it was clear he had no idea why it had started. The trio ate quietly with their followers but the light nature of their usually gathering wasn't there. Katsu was silent throughout the meal and while his sister and best friend managed to pull some words from him, they didn't know how to make him snap out of whatever mood he had fallen into.

 

By the time Dakari's scent filled his nose, Katsu had held himself back from going to retrieve the boy when it became clear the child wasn't coming. He waited for a short amount of time before he finally conceded to his more protective nature and the knowledge that the cold was no good for the cub. It surprised him a bit to find Dakari sleeping out by the entrance of the tower and with a soft exhale of exasperated breath, the Sentinel wasn't little time in scooping the hyena cub into his arms and bringing him into the tower.

 

Taking Dakari straight up to his bed chambers after asking Natsume to have the cub's food brought over as well, Katsu gently laid the cub down on his bed and momentarily brushed his finger's through the hyena's fur.

 

"You know, you could have just placed him in one of the other rooms....You didn't have to bring him in here" Kisame's cool tones filled his ears and without looking, Katsu knew the shark was leaning against the doorframe.

 

"I'm more at ease having him here than where I can't see him. Besides, it not that much of a problem. I have work to do, it's not like he's kicking me out of my bed" the snow leopard murmured quietly, gazing thoughtfully down at the little one even while Natsume brushed in and set a tray of food on a nearby table.

 

"You still don't know what got him riled up with you?" Kisame asked a beat later.

 

"I haven't got the least of a clue...and I suppose that's what's most frustrating. The fact he won't speak of it, does not help matters. It only makes things worse" Katsu replied with a drawn out sigh, running his hand against the top of Dakari's head as gently as possible.

 

"Well, then let him throw a tantrum. Its clearly burned him out, he'll probably be back to his mouthy self when he wakes up. For now, I guess you should just let him sleep. Come on, there's nothing else you can do for him. Besides, we have more important things to do than babysit" Kisame huffed, straightening from the doorway and motioning for Katsu to follow him.

 

Hesitating for a moment, Katsu blew out a breath as he nodded and turned to follow Kisame out the room. He knew his sister would check in on Dakari a bit later but at least he knew the boy was inside the tower now and safe.

[LoneDigger]

Dakari again was surprisingly not freezing when the elder found him asleep underneath a soft layer of snow that blown over him. In fact he was still warm, no longer hot like before, but just heated enough to be comfortable enough to drift into sleep. His own outburst had exhausted him, even if he wasn't a baby, he was still a child. Which seemed hard to believe with how he acted at times, like nothing could faze him. Even the cub struggled to understand why he was so upset when he thought about Katsu and Kisame together. He was just too immature.

 

When he was picked up the cub let out a soft fussing whine. Making it clear he was still grumpy and not ready to behave less like the child that he still was. Yet even though he made a soft ruckus of protest he never once squirmed or tried to bite the sentinel. In fact he seemed limp and calm in his arms, when he was placed down the noise stopped and the hyena curled back up against the blankets, Katsu's scent was strong here and so was Kisame's the latter of which caused him to bristle all over again as he rubbed his face against the spot, unknowingly trying to replace his own scent there.

 

But that wasn't enough to stop the real Kisame from appearing in the doorway and adding in his two cents on the matter. Dakari snarled at the shark, no longer was his temper directed at Katsu but at the other. He was too tired to do more than show his teeth off, and when the snow leopard stroked him he couldn't help but settle down. But when he felt the other's weight shift from the bed he let out a soft whine, but the platter of food by the bed proved a good distraction for the hungry prince as he tucked into his very belated dinner.

[Full_Moon_Rising]

Observing the way the cub seemed to react at the scent of Kisame on the bed sheets as well, Katsu felt a brow raising in surprise and confusion. Dakari's actions were peculiar, almost as if he was displeased by the scent of another in Katsu's bed. But why? What would make the little one grow so agitated because another had laid here with him. Had Dakari been older, Katsu would have attributed it to jealous, that perhaps the cub was jealous of Kisame being around him. But surely Dakari was too young to feel that way, he was still but a child. Feeling more confused than enlightened, Katsu stored this little reaction of the cub away the moment Kisame made his presence known.

 

And my, if Dakari's previous reaction had been confusing, his reaction to Kisame's actual appearance was more so. Frown tugging Katsu's lips down, the snow leopard didn't know what to think about what he was seeing in the cub. He was reacting in ways a potential mate would if their chosen one was being entangled by someone else. Yet Dakari was a CHILD. It didn't make sense that he would be showing such levels of possession just yet. Maybe he was jealous in an innocent way? Perhaps he didn't like Kisame taking Katsu's time because he childishly wanted it all to himself. Still, that thought itself was an odd one as well and it didn't quite fit.

 

Shaking his head on his way out of the room, momentarily torn after hearing that whine from the cub, Katsu turned his gaze back yo the young one who was eating. "Get some rest after you eat....or explore the Tower if you like. I'll be in my work chambers, you'll know where to find me if you need me. Hiyori will be around to check on you soon" he called to the little one before leaving the bedroom behind. Joining Kisame's side, Katsu didn't blink when the other man leaned his weight against his as they walked down the hall towards their destination. And by the time they arrived in the room, leaving the door open in case Dakari wished to join them, the distracting soft peppered kisses Kisame was placing on him was enough to have his attention taken from all thoughts of the cub.

 

Chuckling softly at the shark's comments while he perched himself on his desk and continued to bestow affection touches and pecks here and there, Katsu tried to turn his attention on his work. The sooner he was done here, the sooner he'd be able to get some rest to. And the sooner he could potential figure out what was going on with the cub.

[LoneDigger]

Dakari felt much better after having ate something, and he didn't let any go to waste. Every crumb was gone and the bowls licked clean. He wanted to go find Katsu again, but being full made him sleepy again so he curled back down on the bed to take a short nap. His lips twitching up in the faintest of snarls when Kisame's scent would tickle his nose. But he didn't understand why it bothered him so much. He tried to just focus on the more comforting scent of the snow leopard. Though it was all too distracting to get any rest so he soon stretched. He should have turned back into a human now. But it was easier not to have to talk while in the body of a hyena so he decided to keep that way awhile longer, maybe forever because he still didn't have an answer for Katsu's question.

Yet he still wished to see the elder so he trotted off to find him. He knew the shark would be with him, but he tried to keep his nerves steady this time. Telling himself over and over again to keep his head as he walked down the hall, but when he saw through the doorway that Kisame was touching Katsu all of his meditating went out the window as his fur bristled and the cub suddenly seemed to puff up, strutting over to the shark with his head and ears high and teeth bared. This wasn't even a warning, this was an attack. And if the other had or hadn't noticed was too late for him to crash right into his legs with a surprisingly force. He was small, but chubby and sturdy. After trying to knock him off balance he grabbed the other's leg and bit down hard. The bite force of a cub was far from deadly yet, but it would still hurt .

[Full_Moon_Rising]

Katsu had noticed Dakari's scent growing closer and he knew Kisame had taken notice of it as well, but neither had thought much of it. Katsu had honestly thought the cub had just finished eating and had taken to exploring the Tower to pass time. Yet when he caught the change in the cub from the corner of his eye the moment Dakari had walked into the work space, Katsu had no time to question it or much less react. And neither had Kisame it seemed.

 

Watching in disbelief and shock as Dakari knocked Kisame's balance off before the shark had time to prepare for the assault, a sharp intake of air was as all the reaction he could afford the moment Dakari bite down into his friend's leg. The sharp, loud sound of pain that escaped Kisame at the attack bounced around in Katsu's mind even as the shark reached down quickly to literally rip the hyena cub off his leg and toss him across the room. The scent of blood that lifted into the air was alarming and it was that that snapped Katsu into action at that moment.

 

Blood oozed down Kisame's leg and by the pinched expression on his face, it was clear he was in pain. But that didn't stop the shark from advancing on the cub. Deadly, furious intent showing in his livid steel colored eyes as he peeled his lips back to show rows of sharp, lethal teeth. It was clear Kisame had ever intention on putting the young Prince in his place but before he could take more than a few hobbled steps, Katsu was between them. The anger in those cerulean blue eyes was intense and by the tension escaping him, it was clear the snow leopard was pissed off. However, he was still standing between Kisame and Dakari, facing the shark more so than the Prince. Almost as if he were protecting the little one from the other Sentinel's rightful rage.

 

"Enough" Katsu breathed out and the sheer cold in that single spoken word was enough to freeze just about anyone in their tracks. By the Gods, it froze Kisame and Hiyori as well as their followers from where they had hurried into the room at the sound of Kisame's pain.

 

"Hiyori....please take Kisame to get his injury patched up. Make sure there is no danger of infections or anything else of the sort. Report back to me once it is done" Katsu commanded, it was in those moments that any visage of the easy tempered, somewhat lazy Sentinel he appeared to be vanished. What took its place was the firm, leadership of the Sentinel of Ice, an Alpha spoken of in awe filled hushed murmurs and deep admiration as well as fear.

 

"Everyone else, help Hiyori in what you can. However, I request to be alone with Prince Dakari....I believe there is much we need to discuss" the snow leopard added a moment later, his body turning to allow his eyes to land on the cub. The disappointment and anger were undeniable in them.

 

It took just a heartbeat of time for his orders to be followed. While he protested sharply, fury still lacing his every word, Kisame allowed Hiyori and the others to pull him out of the room. When those doors had shut, Katsu narrowed his eyes on the hyena cub.

 

"Change back now or I will find a way to make you. You will explain just what the hell you thought you were doing by attacking a Sentinel" he all but growled at the young hyena, not in the mood to give the younger male even the slighest of an inch. Not after what he had just done.

[LoneDigger]

Dakari didn't care if Kisame was clearly bigger and stronger than him and that he was probably already dead the moment he e even dared to charge at a Sentinel. But he didn't care, he wasn't being controlled by logic but a pure rage he felt whenever he laid eyes on the shark. He still couldn't comprehend his own aggression, and it seemed almost uncanny that someone as young as him could feel such a thing that should have been reserved for at least a teenager.

 

Too bad he didn't get a solid hold of the man's leg or else even at this age it would have been near impossible to pry the cub's jaws off his leg. But the taste of blood was all the hyena needed to loose all control. Even as he tumbled against the floor he sprung right back up ready for more. Laughing manically as he grinned at the shark, but it was hardly more of a creepy smile than it was a snarl.

 

He should have been submitting, he stood no chance against the much older powerful creature. But Dakari was clearly in fight and not flight mode as he had been earlier with Katsu. But it seemed the snow leopard was the only thing that could bring him down from his own insanity. Maybe it was his presence, or something to do with the fact that he really did deep down respect the elder. Even if he did act like a brat around him more than half the time.

 

When the other's disappointed gaze landed on him the cub seemed to deflate immediately, his fur and ears going down as he pressed himself as hard against the ground as he could manage, avoiding his eyes and letting out a pitiful whine. But it was probably much too late to appease the other with this kind of display. And the fact that hyenas by nature could flick from being aggressive to submissive at the turn of a dime only made them harder to read, they were hardly very genuine creatures. They tended to fit the moment as it suited them.

 

Reluctantly, the prince shifted back into a boy. Though he still kept himself tucked against the ground, too scared to do much else than to listen while remaining small.

 

"... wanted to teach him a lesson... he was doing it again, you know... He shouldn't act like that..."

 

The cub's words, were spoken so quickly, yet each explanation was broken up by an inappropriate long pause. As if he were struggling to explain.

[Full_Moon_Rising]

Patience was something Katsu prided himself on having but at that moment, patience was the last thing he had on his mind. His irritation and disbelief at Dakari's behavior was too prominent to push away in favor of any prior softness he had had for the little one on other occasions. Katsu could tolerate stupidity around him, he could tolerate the cub's acts of misplaced dominance and the such...what he would not tolerate was unprovoked assaults like the one Dakari had just launched. That was not something he would ever turn the blind eye too. Especially when the cub had attacked a Sentinel. That was one of the worst things anyone could ever do.

 

"He was doing exactly what again, Dakari?" Katsu all but snarled in frustration at the boy. He didn't approach him or try to make any physically threatening movement, but his glare alone was evident that he wouldn't be pacified by the briefest of explanations from the child.

 

"Explain to me because I truly lack the understanding that motivated you to attack a bloody Sentinel, of all things! What was it he shouldn't have been doing? What actions caused you to act in such a foolish way? You've just done something that can not be so easily forgiven and I will not tolerate such disrespect in my Tower. So explain your reasons! Surely they are good enough for creating such an offense with such little provocation" Katsu snapped, eyes flashing in temper and impatience.

 

It was without his knowledge that he had began to pace in the midst of his clear agitation. However, it was an action he couldn't quite control as he continued to wait for answers from the little hyena.

[LoneDigger]

"He was touching you! I don't know why you let him because he isn't your mate! Or is he? I just don't like it!"

 

The boy cried out, now that he was human and not just an animal his words seemed to come back, but so did his emotions. Hyenas couldn't she'd tears, but a child could.

[Full_Moon_Rising]

Pausing in his pacing, Katsu turned his gaze once more on the child and felt his heart tighten at the sight of the tears. Sighing heavily, shoulders slumping and anger rapidly lowering at the pitiful sight the little one portrayed, the snow leopard shook his head and prayed for patience before closing the distance between them. Crouching down just in front of the child, Katsu hesitated for a moment before reaching out to gently, soothingly rest his hand on the young Prince's head.

 

"Dakari.....Kisame and I are not mates, but we share many things with one another. We are both very old, much older than you can imagine and he is my closest friend. Though we won't ever be able to love each other as mates, we do care deeply for one another. And the fact that neither of us are mated gives us more freedom to find relief and release with one another" Katsu tried to explain as clearly as he could without coming out to say the pair were known to sleep together.

 

Dakari was still just a child and Katsu didn't think putting the open idea of sex happening between two male Sentinels would be a good idea. However, he had to be as clear as he dared to.

 

"I understand you might not like it, but that does not give you the right to attack him. He did nothing to you. What he and I do with one another should remain between Kisame and myself.....a Prince should not interfere in the personal affairs of two Sentinels. It is not your place" the snow leopard added, tone much more gentle and soothing now than he had before as he tried to make Dakari understand.

[LoneDigger]

"I don't know why... But I don't think it should be that way... When he looks at you I feel sick..."

 

Dakari tried to explain in between sniffles and sobs, the comforting touch only allowing the prince to pour out his thoughts even clearer. Now that he knew the other was no longer as upset he was more open to telling him how he felt.

But he was still bitter at Katsu and found himself unable to look the elder in the eyes, instead choosing a random spot on the floor to stare at as he fidgeted with his shirt.

 

"I know I'm not supposed to be like that... but I can't ignore it! I tried to, I really did... but when Kisame touched you it hurt me!"

[Full_Moon_Rising]

Watching the Prince had sympathy and the need to make the situation better tugging at his heartstrings. He didn't know just what kind of solution he could possibly come up with, but the sight of Dakari's tears was enough to make him want to move heaven and earth to make the little one stop. Running his fingers through the young Prince's hair, Katsu exhaled softly before lowering his hand to gently cup the boy's chin and try to tilt his head up to be able to look him in the eyes. He knew Dakari hadn't yet forgiven him but he had to at least try and pacify the boy as best he could.

 

"If it bothers you that much, I'll try and keep my interactions with him to a minimum while you are here with us. I do not wish to cause you any discomfort, if it is something I can avoid. But what else would you have me do? How else would you prefer me to handle this situation?" He asked softly, blue eyes holding some of his usual patience for the boy in them.

 

He couldn't just stop all his interactions with Kisame out of the blue. It wouldn't be fair for either of them involved and he didn't want to hurt his old friend either. But if there was something reasonable Dakari would ask him to do, then he would do his best to accomadate the Prince.

[LoneDigger]

Dakari tried to pull away his head from the other's hands, but the prince made the mistake of glancing just once into the cerulean orbs and suddenly he felt his own anger begin to melt and his own honey brown gaze though teary stopped crying.

There was just something about the Sentinel's eyes that was calming, they could be just as scary when he was displeased, but right now that wasn't the case.

 

"He can't kiss you... that's all..."

 

The cub hiccuped softly, being much more reasonable now that he had calmed down. He understood the shark couldn't disappear completely so he would have to tolerate him as long as things didn't get too out of hand. It really broke his little heart seeing them together, but again, he had no such concept of that.