A Heart’s Lesson

Jay sat transfixed on Crystal, hiding back in the shadows watching her. Her sleek body and unique fur pattern shining in the moonlight. She was the size of a leopard and had the spots of one, yet she too had tiger stripes going down her back and tail. She locked gazes with one of the larger camp guards who wasn't too happy with them being there. Her violet eyes were burning with a fire Jay had never seen before. He quickly looked away and shook his head. "No," he thought to himself. "I mustn't get close to anyone."

After getting everyone settled, every cat gorged on the water buffalo and antelope that Jessie and Spears had brought back. There was a shabby second camp Logan had been working on for new additions to the group maybe 50 yards from the other one, though he didn't know he would need it so soon. Brian would not leave Jay alone, chatting on and on about how amazing, smart, and respectable Diamond was. His brother gave him a ridiculous look and said "BUT YOU JUST MET HER." Brian just brushed off his comment and went on how she was helping him doctor people and a bunch of other great qualities Jay was sure. He had stopped listening; he was caught in his own inner thoughts. He dare not tell his brother about the heavy sorrows laying on his heart.

He saw his brother sneak off the following morning to do "doctor business" and check on everyone. But Jay knew exactly who he was going to see. That boy was love struck, he chuckled mildly to himself. He just didn't want his naïve brother to get his heart broken. Though Jay had no more experience than him, he had spent a great deal of his years observing people. Jay still held out a small hope of not spending eternity alone. When he wanted someone to talk to he often went to Uncle Victor. Victor was good at listening and giving advice, and had mellowed quite a bit in his older age. They often just sat back and contemplated life together.

"So tell me about yourself," said Diamond. Brian gave her a shy glance and began to tell her all of the interesting things about his job as they strolled along a well walked path around the outside of the two camps. She seemed quite amused at how excited he was getting. "Wow, you've really been out in the world quite a lot then?" she said. "Yeah… I guess so," he replied. She gazed off into the distance, imagination whirling. After a long pause, he said "I also write music, perhaps I could sing to you sometime." Breaking from her trance she perked up and said "I would love that!" "We sort of have party concert gathering things every now and then too. I imagine that we'll have one soon as a welcome party...After everyone's feeling better of course," he said, glancing down at her injured leg. "That sounds awesome," she replied. Feeling a bit embarrassed for being improperly forward Brian looked back towards camp and said "I really should be getting back," taking a moment to sigh, "I really do have a lot of patients to check on. Might we continue this conversation tonight, perhaps after dinner?" She grinned at him and said "I look forward to it." He smiled back at her with his perfectly white teeth and turned, jogging back to camp. Diamond sat back giggling, fondly watching him go. She then laughed some more in disbelief that he, a prince, may actually be interested in her.

Brian returned to camp to see a rather irritated line of patients waiting for him. Almost the entire new group was composed of females. Their scent and herbs filled the medical den's air along with the crisp breeze of winter on the rise. Hunting parties were sent out sparingly with others waiting for the skins to make blankets for everyone. At the very end of the medical line was Diamond. "Sorry," she said. "The wound was itchy and the stitches started to bleed on my walk back." "It's fine. I needed to change the wrap anyway. It itches because it's infected." he answered. After re-applying the bandage she waved goodbye with her tail and yelled over her shoulder "see you tonight!"

Jay walked in after she left. "Be cautious brother. We don't know these people or how long they'll stay." "What are you saying?" "Just...don't get too attached. I don't want to see my favorite person hurt in a place that never fully heals." "You're one to lecture me brother! What would you know of matters of the heart?! Sometimes I even question if yours still beats." "You wouldn't know how I feel Brian! You stopped understanding me long ago." Upon this statement, still appalled by his twin's harsh words, he turned eyes brimming with tears, ran from the den.

Blinded by rage and betrayal, Jay ran aimlessly and ended up completely tackling Crystal. Howling in surprise she scrambled to her feet ready to chew out her attacker. Eyes wide, "Jay...are you alright?" she asked gently, full of concern, obviously seeing how distressed he was. Without a reply or even a sorry, he continued to run off towards the tree line and cliffs at the foot of the mountain.

Crystal pulled herself together for the first time since she had met Jay. She had to stop and make a serious decision. His secluded character and odd manor had puzzled her for days now, but she was determined. She ran after him and found him slumped over in a circle of tall pine trees, silently weeping. She cautiously walked up and placed her paw on his back gently stroking it to calm him down. "Won't you tell me what's wrong?" "Why should I tell you, a total stranger?" he lowly growled. "Uhh, excuse me but how are you ever going to make friends with an attitude like that?! And besides, what do you have to lose? It's not like my judgement will be altered. Like you said, I know nothing about you." Seeming satisfied with her answer and mild scolding, he replied "it's just an argument with my brother. He just doesn't understand...nobody does. I am like none other…" He turned regretfully away from her. "...and believe me Crystal, you don't want me as a friend...or anything else for that matter. Everyone I get close to gets hurt or worse." He tried to get up and walk away, but she ran and cut him off. "Firstly mister, I can make my own decisions about who is a worthy friend, and secondly, I can handle myself quite well, thank you very much," she cracked, tail held high in a sassy defiant manor as she stalked back towards the camp. Jay was astonished at her audacity. No one had ever stood up to him like that. He felt that the only thing keeping him from going everywhere at once was his skin. She had no idea what he was, just that he needed a friend. Should he risk it? "It's all or nothing," he whispered to himself.

Alligator and a rather thick furred bison is what everyone had for dinner that night. They had been pit roasting the gator since midday. Diamond had never tasted it before and she rushed over to Brian, exhilarated at the delicious revelation. But more importantly she just wanted a reason to spend more time with her new flame. They had a small chat about favorite culinary delights, but when it finally died down, he added "sorry for being such a chatter bug this morning on our walk. You now know probably more than you'd like about me, what's your story?" "Oh nothing really. I've never even left home. I had to help raise my two younger sisters and learn more traditional skills." "Well that's alright, this place is full of new experiences. You know, sometimes I even regret becoming a doctor." "WHY EVER WOULD YOU SAY THAT?!" "Because… I left my brother when he needed me most. My father just wasn't prepared for his curse emerging. His was different and worse than ours. I missed out on so much." "Worse than foot long metal claws that come out from between your knuckles?!" she gasped. "Yeah. But, it's not my place to speak of it," Brian replied, ending the topic. (Yawning) "Ahhh. Sorry Brian, but I think I need to go to bed. I've been told I have an early border patrol for the first time tomorrow." "Really! You're gonna love it. In that case, let me walk you home."

The next few days Jay simply avoided Crystal and therefore the problem altogether, not having yet mustered the courage to face it. She would often catch him off alone on the stage behind the camps by himself playing guitar passionately, but not interrupting. He was quite confounding to her; a perplexity that needed immediate solving. She eventually did cut him off while walking and demanded why he was avoiding her. "It's really quite rude," she said. He replied sharply "Why are you so determined to converse with me anywise?" "To make out your character." "And what have you discovered?" "Very little! I've heard such few but different accounts about you from everyone but YOU, and it's puzzling me exceedingly. Won't you tell me who you really are?!" "...I'm afraid that if I did, everything would be different." Sorrow filled his gaze and he looked away, plucking aimlessly at his instrument. She left him to sulk, while she pondered his words. "What is he so afraid of?" she thought.

Lucky for him, the next morning Crystal was assigned to help Brian gather herbs, there was no chance to awkwardly pass her in camp. They were in the middle of hunting for Thyme when they heard a terrible yowl from across the plains. Brian instantly dropped what he was holding and ran towards it, Crystal racing at his heels. He dove into the battle they found waiting for them near the border, tearing a rather rough looking lion off of Draken, one of the camp's security guards. As soon as Brian showed up, two of the other assaulting lions bailed and ran back to their own territory. Jessie and Diamond sat back winded and bloody from the fight. Brian nodded to the whole rest of the group. "Escort this scum back to camp for punishment."

"Where's Dad?" Brian asked Jay as the escort walked up. "He's out hunting." he replied, still in a mood. "Spears!" Brain yelled, "Go get Logan as quick as you can." Appalled at seeing the bloody ruffled state of the group, Jay turned towards the captured lion, snarling, "You'll pay for attacking us!" The rogue glared back at him and then at Diamond. "I told her and that patch of filth to never come near our territory again," he spat. Jay ferociously roared and jumped at him, his sunglasses being torn off in the cios. Muscles rippling he bared his teeth and pinned the lion's throat down, metal claws shining bright in the sunlight. He growled close to his face, "they are part of us now and if you threaten them or the rest of our family again… I will tear your throat out." Brian just sat back with no words, shocked at the leadership his brother was taking, speaking for the entire clan, but with a complete lack of diplomacy.

"What's going on here?!" Logan demanded as he trotted up. Jay spoke smoothly, not moving an inch, eyes piercing the hide of the shameless lion. "He and his goons darned attack us for helping others that they turned away...Cowards" While Logan pondered his decision on what to do with the lion, Brian gathered himself and leaned over and whispered "brother, your glasses…" Jay gasped, panic stricken out of his hatred trance, he looked straight up blue eyes gleaming, and who should be standing there? None other than a very startled Crystal, witnessing the whole scene. He instantly let up off the creature and backed away frightened, running away towards his cliffside escape. Emotions of shock and confusion were running through Crystal. What was this side of him she had just witnessed? She desperately wanted to process it all and confront Jay, but first she wanted to see what happened to her sister's attacker. Finally making a decision, Logan nodded, turned and raked his claws down the haunches of the lion, deep enough to make a permanent scar. "I think Jay stated it well enough. You are now marked. Any further offenses against us will result in your untimely death," Logan said. "Escort this criminal back to his border and throw him over it."

The matter having been settled, Crystal rushed off after Jay, while Brian immediately attended to the wounds of the border patrol, still ruffled with adrenaline.