Asking For Peace

They would be in their respective positions by evening. Maybe they could still turn this around. Still prevent war. They trained daily to keep busy. Keep ready. In the down moments, Zichri tried his hardest to think of another way the Zuled hunters might listen. Especially if Geran were still the one leading this attack. His head bowed as he thought. His mouth turned down more as he thought of Sibbecai and their unborn child. A furry head lifted his chin. Supi sat before him.

"You know how to speak to the one who troubles you this way," Supi said. "Worry not for Sibbecai and her child. I will keep them safe."

"Thank you, Supi."

"Just be cautious, Zichri."

He nodded then left the camp. He traveled toward the Zuled village a ways before whistling in a warbling fashion. He repeated the call a few times before Geran and several other hunters came through the trees. Geran glared at him.

"I want to understand, Geran," Zichri started. "I want to know why you feel this battle is necessary."

"As if you don't know," he seethed. "You've thrown away our traditions. Turned them into an abomination by wearing the tiger as you do and calling it worship."

"You know the Tiger is part of me, Geran. You watched my mother change at the Tiger Guardian's insistence."

"Anaya didn't have a choice!"

"And you believe I did?"

"Of course you did. How long have you been sneaking off to see her?"

"I knew nothing of her existence until she knocked me down in the forest that day."

Geran's glare deepened.

"Geran, you know me well. Better than those who follow you. If you believe the Tiger in me to be false, come and feel for yourself."

"Why should I?"

"If that is all the proof you need to stop this pointless battle then come."

Geran took a step forward. He walked around Zichri once. Zichri never turned to follow where his friend was walking, but his ears twisted towards the sound of each of his steps. Geran circled again, his hand touching a patch of fur here, a patch of fur there. He even tugged on them to see if they could come off. They didn't though Zichri's body jerked some with how hard he pulled. For almost a minute Geran stood behind him. A soft, low growl came from the trees behind them.

"It's okay, Sibbecai," Zichri said.

The growling stopped and Sibbecai stepped into view. "Leaving yourself vulnerable while this hunter unsheathes his knife to stab you in the back is okay?" she asked.

Zichri turned then. Geran did have his knife out, but didn't stand in any kind of defensive or offensive form.

"Is this proof enough for you?" he asked his friend, paying no heed to the knife he held.

Geran's hand tightened on the handle of his knife. The hunters shifting behind him.

"I came here, hoping for peace between our peoples."

Geran shifted.

"It is clear you have no honor," Sibbecai said softly. "You would kill a fellow warrior, a friend, a father in defense of personal pride."

"Zichri is no friend. A true friend would not have abandoned his people!"

"I have not abandoned those of the Zuled tribe," Zichri said. "I believe and worship as you do. It is the Zuled tribe who has rejected me for changing as the Tiger guardian wished of me."

Geran shifted on his feet, but still didn't make any move to attack.

"Would you leave my wife a widow, Geran?… Would you leave my son, my daughter, without their father because you could not accept this external show of my devotion to the Tiger Spirit?"

He huffed for a moment before he put his knife away. He signaled to the other hunters and they left without a word.

Zichri embraced Sibbecai tightly. "Thank you for having my back," he said.

"Always, Zichri."

He kissed her forehead and rubbed her back. "I take it Supi is nearby?"

A tug on his tail answered his question.

"Come, we should go."

He walked with Sibbecai back to camp. "I need you to return to the village now. Do not come out again. We did not have to fight today, but I'm not sure if our words reached Geran's heart. Take care of yourself," he said rubbing the side of her expanding abdomen.

"Alright, Zichri."

They kissed deeply.

"I will be home for the birth of our child," he promised.

"You better be," she growled playfully.

Zichri kissed her one final time before a few of the hunters escorted her back to the village as a precaution.

They continued to train. They continued to wait. An entire week went by before Geran approached the camp alone. He came in unarmed. The Harend hunters watched as Zichri met Geran in the center of camp. He held out his hand to Zichri. Zichri clasped his arm close to the elbow.

"You have your peace," Geran said.

"May you find yours, Geran," he replied.

They released their hold and Geran walked away.

"We can return home. War is not coming."

The other hunters nodded then left. They would celebrate once they returned.

Sibbecai was one of the first to greet them home again. Zichri smothered her with kisses and her rounding belly as well.

They celebrated for several days. Despite the celebrations, Sibbecai seemed very thoughtful throughout it all.

"Is something wrong, Sibbecai?" Zichri asked.

"Something doesn't feel right. Geran may have agreed to peace, but…. I can't shake this…."

"Is it because of how the Zuled tribe has acted these last several weeks?… The threat that they presented?" He ran his hand over her belly.

"Possibly."

"Geran would not have come to me if he could not help ensure they would not return."

Sibbecai nodded.

For several months life seemed to go back to normal. Zichri hunted for food, leaving Sibbecai to stay in the village. But more often then not, she would not be in the village when he returned. It wouldn't be until evening time that she returned. Her abdomen gradually expanded until it was almost time for her to deliver. Sibbecai tried to be happy, playful when when he was there, but he could tell she was still on edge. He did his best to get her mind away from her worry. To get her to focus on their baby and it worked; for a while.

He left the next morning to go on a hunt. He and the other hunters were about to take down their first kill when a cry made his blood run cold.

"The Village!!"

He turned to see the distant smoke. 'Sibbecai! Mother!'

He ran ahead of the others. Tepees were burning and a few cries and screams could be heard. He and many of the hunters killed the men who attacked the village. They left them where they fell while tepees were beaten down to prevent the fire from spreading further.

Once the fires were out, Zichri looked around. His own tepee had been one of those burned. He searched the rest of the village, hoping to find Sibbecai and his mother alive. Many bodies were found, but the animal markings had been burned away. Only a single earring marked a few of them. The bodies that were found were ignored when he saw the women and children returning. All of the pregnant women were there, save Sibbecai. He found his mother.

"Have you seen Sibbecai?" he asked, still searching the mob for her.

"Last I saw her," Anaya said, "she was entering your tepee."

Zichri felt sick and returned to the ashes. Digging through them he found a limb. Pushing the ashes aside, he uncovered a body. "No," he cried. "No! Sibbecai!"

He felt a light tug on his tail and turned to see Supi.

"You swore you would protect her. Why didn't you protect her?!" Zichri yelled.

"She didn't need protecting."

"Didn't.... Sibbecai is dead! She...," his voice caught and he turned back to the body.

Supi moved closer to the body then tore an arm off.

"What...?"

"Look closely, Zichri. It's a decoy."

Sand and rocks fell from the opening. His head came up, but Supi was gone. If Sibbecai wasn't here, where would she go? She hadn't been with the others. Would she have remained closer to where the village had been despite her concerns that the war had not truly ended? Did he dare search for her? Through his tears, Zichri could see the other tiger couple. Her arms full with her brand new baby girl. That would be Sibbecai soon.