Alara Unbroken - Doug Beyer [8]
Ajani had no breath to answer.
Tenoch’s gang looked around at the scene. The dead behemoth. Ajani’s splintered axe handle sunk up to the blade in the beast’s forehead. The broken trees and trampled forest floor. The blood spatter on Ajani’s fur.
“He’s killed a gargantuan?” whispered one of the nacatl.
“By himself?” hissed another.
They were not the brave warriors that most nacatl prided themselves in being. Tenoch’s gang members were the idiot-toughs of Ajani’s pride. Individually, each one was a coward, but together they could mean grave danger. They were exactly the element of his pride that Ajani had hoped to win over with his feat, but also the worst to anger if they weren’t impressed.
Tenoch scanned the faces of his gang behind him. Their mouths were slack with poorly hidden awe. For the moment, their leader was forgotten.
Tenoch snapped back to Ajani, and his eyes narrowed.
“This is fine meat, White-Fur,” said Tenoch evenly. “What did you plan to do with all of it? Were you going to sit here and gorge on it yourself?”
Ajani spoke, recovering his breath. “It’s … for the pride. For the Festival of Marisi. I’m … glad you found me, Tenoch. You can help me field dress it and carry the good cuts back to the den.”
Tenoch padded closer to Ajani, so close that their whiskers almost touched. The gang pressed in around Ajani, like a closing fist. Tenoch hissed a laugh through his teeth. “No,” he said. “I’m glad you found us. I’m glad you came upon us just in time to witness our great triumph over this frenzied behemoth.”
Tenoch’s gang didn’t get it at first. But then grins spread across their faces.
Ajani’s eyes blazed.
“The pride will be so proud of us,” continued Tenoch, “when we return to the den with our prize. And once again, the shameful brother of the kha will pull up the rear, useless as usual. In fact, just like when those no-furs chased us, I think you needed saving yet again.”
Tenoch’s gang snickered.
“This is my kill,” snarled Ajani, standing up to his full height. The fur stood on end along his neck and arms. “This is my offering. You’re not taking credit for it at the festival.”
“You think they’ll believe you killed this thing?” Tenoch shouted into Ajani’s face. Then, more calmly, he said, “We’ll see. I think you won’t even tell them we took it from you. I think the honor of the kha means too much to you—nobody wants to be the brother of a snitch. You want to be part of our pride, don’t you? So you won’t squeal to the others, either. This will be our little secret. But don’t worry—I’ll invite you to have a taste of our generous feast after Jazal’s speech. Take him.”
Tenoch stepped quickly aside. Ajani didn’t have time to grab Tenoch’s throat or to reach for the axe that was plunged into the beast. Someone shoved Ajani from behind, toppling him into the dirt face first. He tried to push up onto his hands, but the gang held him down. All he could see was clawed feet.
“It should have been me in charge of the pride,” said Tenoch’s voice somewhere above him. “Not some family cursed by the likes of you. You’ll bring bad luck to the pride, so it’s only right that we bring you a little misfortune. Roll him onto his back.”
Ajani struggled, but claws gripped his limbs and turned him, slamming him onto his back. Tenoch’s gang held Ajani’s arms and legs fast, leaving his torso open and vulnerable. The dust of the brawl did little to obscure his stark white fur—it shone in the jungle shade as it always had.
Tenoch leaned over him, his face hanging upside down above Ajani’s own. He brandished Ajani’s axe handle, retrieved from the beast. He held it near the head, wielding the long handle like a bloody, pointed club.
“What’s the matter?” said Tenoch. “Scared of your own stick? Scared of a little trouble? What’re you going to do? Run to your brother, and tell him how scared you were of your own pridemates? Oh, I know. You’ll probably have him punish us, won’t you?”
Ajani’s face was pure intensity. “I won’t,” he said.
“Oh, I think you