Blue Sky, Hidden Cloud

The lone figure sitting on a stone bench sketched quietly. The lines on his pad of paper mirrored well the statue that he studied. The artist stopped drawing, and appraised his work, tapping the thin stick of charcoal against his chin in a nervous habit that left a dark smudge on his orange fur. Strong features. Powerful chest. Ridiculous pose, the young Thunderan thought in judgement. My illustrious ancestor would most surely be embarrassed.

"Have you caught him, cousin?"

The red tiger dropped his charcoal in surprise. He scanned the hedge that bordered the secluded section of the park, and searched for the source of the feminine voice that had disrupted his concentration. "Show yourself, mystic!" he growled.

A white tigress crossed through a wooden arch in the greenery with some difficulty, her tallness hampering her movement. Once through the low opening, she straightened to her full height of seven feet. She walked forward with jaunty steps, her belt tassels swaying gently against her blue robe as she approached. "We are in a deplorable mood today, aren't we, Tygra."

"My name is Sky!" he answered gruffly, trying hard to ignore the teasing that had marked their relationship since their days as kittens.

The female sat next to him. She nudged his left shoulder affectionately. "But everyone calls you 'Tygra'. All you have to do is look at that statue to see why. The Architect is your twin." She added with a smile. "However, unlike you, his eyes were matched in color."

Sky's hands tightened on the pad as he tried to convince himself that he shouldn't strike the mystic with his art. "Red tiger blood mixed with white; northerner combined with southerner; with my heritage is it any wonder that I have one blue eye and one amber one."

Te'mira's hand found its way over his. "Sorry, I pushed too far," she said, sensing his displeasure. She made little circles on his wrist with the tip of her claw, moving the cream colored fur into odd patterns. "Something really bothering you, cousin? You're usually not this sensitive to our play."

He placed the pad on the grass. The dew of early morning dampened the edges of the paper slightly, and blurred some of his well-placed lines. "Can't fool a mystic," he answered with a small laugh.

Her azure eyes unexpectedly widened in enlightenment. "Are you ready for awakening?" she asked, hesitating slightly upon broaching the delicate question.

His mouth twisted into a frown. "No more than you are ready for fertility!" he rebuked.

The mystic raised her hands in a gesture of peace. "Considering your age, the question is not that far-fetched."

"You are older than I. You will reach full adulthood first."

She smoothed the folds in her robe. "I have developed physically as any female should, but considering the smallness of my breasts, and the narrowness of my hips, it may take me longer to blossom fully on all levels," she remarked, a touch of hurt shading her reply.

Causing you pain is something I never wished to do, Sky thought with guilt. He playfully tugged one of the mystic's tassels. "Consider your equally famous ancestor. Even though he had known awakening in the proper course of time, look how long it took Tir'shan to actually become fertile."

"I don't have to be reminded of the Ri'sar'ri's amazing reproductive history or life," she sniffed as she skillfully dismissed his analysis, and shifted the discussion away from her problems. "They are as well known as the mysteries surrounding your ancestors."

Sky nodded in agreement, knowing that she had effectively broken that branch of their conversation. The tiger rubbed his slight paunch which stretched the fabric of his red robe. "Unlike you, I am too well-fed," he observed.

Te'mira chirped, her mood improving. "I am surprised that you actually took some time today to indulge in your passion for drawing. You normally spend too much time in your genetics laboratory. Granted your work is important. Maybe, one day, because of your discoveries, all of our people will possess mind gifts. But why do you think your father keeps pestering his guards? It's to make sure that you get some exercise." She poked the extra flesh that thickened his waist. You have the sweet tooth of your ancestor, and the merchant does not discourage it."

"Don't speak ill of Ba'sir," Sky replied. We may soon need his help, he thought. How very little you know of him, cousin. He is indeed the legend, not just the namesake, and that story has grown far too complicated for a simple telling. The tiger added, "He has his faults, but he is my friend."

Te'mira frowned. "The panther is certainly successful. Besides the conceit of bearing the same name as the illustrious merchant of our history, he also conducts himself like that one: he is gluttonous, obnoxious, and pompous."

"The original Ba'sir did do some good in combatting slavery. Surely you will give him that," Sky reminded her.

She shook her head in agreement. "Yes, that is so. He did have some noble qualities, but imagine, some of our people have now made of him a god of wealth. They invoke his name for luck in business. That is ridiculous!" She leaned over, and wiped the grey smudge from Sky's chin with a handkerchief she had pulled from a pocket in her robe. "Still, this current Ba'sir is your friend, and while he has not freed any slaves, I should not criticize him just because I disapprove of his manner. I'm sorry for the insult." She appraised Sky coolly as she put the cloth back in her pocket. "Well done, cousin. You are becoming as crafty as Ba'sir. You still haven't told me what troubles you."

"Dreams," Sky replied softly. "They tell of the rising of a great evil."

Te'mira dismissed his concerns with a gesture. "When have any of your strange dreams ever borne fruit? Everyone has nightmares, sometimes recurring ones. Stress is usually the culprit, the origin of the trouble." The tigress shrugged her shoulders. "Besides, what can harm the people? Seti, the greatest evil this world has known, left the land long ago. There are no Mutants. Others who have threatened us have found us to be fierce in battle."

"You are probably right," the tiger answered, knowing that he lied. "I think that I shall further set aside my work in the laboratory, and rest for a few suns. Perhaps I will go east to Tabbia, or south to the King's city."

"An excellent suggestion! I'll come too. Shopping is a fine cure for overwork." Te'mira grasped his wrist, and pulled him to his feet. "Come. It's a wonderful day. Let's go for a walk along the beach. Maybe we'll find that cave that your ancestor hid out in so long ago."

"Seems that I have no choice," he said, freeing himself from his taller cousin, then picking up his paper and charcoal.

"Good. You can sketch me by the sea." Te'mira pointed to the statue. "No disrespect to the Ancestor, but I'm a far livelier subject."

Sky laughed, and felt an easing of the weight that had burdened his heart. You are the crafty one, Te'mira, he thought, not I. I know that your flightiness is merely a performance for my benefit.

He looked at wispy white clouds that painted the blue sky. For a few suns maybe I will be able to forget the dreams. The hairs on his neck rose unexpectedly in apprehension, and he sighed. But afterwards, I will talk to Ba'sir the mage.