” What?” Amelia breezed in excitement. She was glad that Maximin was finally awake but couldn’t help but marvel at what he had said.
” What are you? I knew you were different.” Said Catori as he stepped backward in bid to master her balance.
” What are you Catori? And what are you Amelia. ” He asked as he gradually sat on his back and groaned slightly in pain.
” What’s all this stuff identity, you two are asking. It’s scaring me!” She said and began to step backwards in fright while she gazed at the two men in contempt. They were the only helpers she had. If they turned against her, then her life was truly over. For a while both of the men were silent while they gazed at themselves and nodded in a silent truce.
” Amelia, you get scared too easily. How did you manage to fare the woods on your own for many years.” Said Catori and surprisingly had a smile on his face.
” Catori smiling? He never smiled” her mind warned causing her to move further backwards from the duo.
” Amelia. Why do you look so scared. Don’t get caught up in men’s gist. You won’t make it out hahahaha.” Said Maximin and staged a laugh so fake it almost made her want to run. ” To where ?” Was what she didn’t know thus decided to just exist along the seconds of shock before she knew what next to do.
” The both of you are acting strange. I want a female in this gang cause I swear I don’t feel save between your giant egos. You aren’t a human huh, I’m sorry you aren’t a lion either.” She said and loosened up a bit. While still gazing at the men in fear.
” Well you want a female friend. I will be done meditating tonight and would return to my people at the rock. I have no doubt Luitsi would like you. You will have to agree that myself and Maximin aren’t so strange after all.” He said and turned to take his leave.
” Brother, thank you.” Aired Maximin in appreciation to the savior of his life.
” Welcome. You should rest. Then find a way to feed. The bushes are rich with swift gazelles. I won’t advice you chase one though.” Said Catori and began to walk away with his spear, held vertically in his hands.
“Chasing a gazelle is not strange? Why would anyone chase a gazelle like some wolf. Its hunted down not chased, you weirdos. I’m so hungry Catori. You haven’t done too bad but no food has came to me since I’ve been here.” She chuckled and made a face. Her pride was only going to starve her to death.
” Oh sorry. It skipped my mind. What would you eat.” He asked her in a hospitable tone.
” Anything you eat is fine by me. I’m not choosy.” She murmured.
” Okay then what part of humans do you like?” Catori asked, gazing at her straight into the eyes. She paused yet again in shock, peering at the seriousness of his face and quickly relating it with all the stories of Cannibalism she had heard in the past.
” Stop it Catori I’m going to run away. I swear your jokes aren’t funny.” She proclaimed and her breathing was held in a tense state.
” A joke? With what I eat?” ” Does a man play with his stomach?” Catori asked as he turned his gaze to Maximin.
” Not on his life. No man plays with his stomach.” Averred Maximin and smiled to lighten the setting of Catoris play. Gradually Amelia was taking steps backwards and it was only going to be matter of seconds before she lost it and took to her heels.
” Hey are you trying to run? His just joking.” Maximin chuckled as he gazed at Amelia, verily he had seen her take to her heels in a similar manner and knew it’s replica was on the way if he didn’t do something quick.
” Well brother I’m not.” Said Catori in an effortless declaration of majesty.
” What?” Maximin asked in mild shock as his gaze swayed to meet those of Catori. For a while, the scene was silent and just when Amelia had reached her breaking point to run away, did Catori call his joke a day.
” What, I can’t believe I got the both of you simultaneously. That’s really a win. For me.” He said and didn’t even smile.
” Enough of the weird jokes. You leave a lady starving and still try to gift her a heart attack. It’s not done!” She declared and stomped her feet in rage, causing her to immediately fall to the floor in pain. Both men rushed to raise her up but paused in the center when they realized they were all after a common goal.
” Feel free to tend to her. I will get her some food.” Aired Catori, flexed his spear and walked away leaving Maximin standing blankly. Something was raging between the two men and it wasn’t going to end so well, was the thought of Amelia as she quickly helped herself up. At this point she didn’t know what she really want. Love or no love, she just wanted to be free.
” Amelia are you okay?” Maximin asked as he lanced towards her with the grace of a tiger.
” I’m fine. How have you been. It’s been so rough for us hasn’t it?” She said with a smile on he face as she stood up and scampered quite away from the proximity of Maximin. With all what she had heard them claim to joke about? She was in no doubt to get scared.
” Don’t be scared of me. I can see through your heart. I know you didn’t poison me on purpose. Like I said I have an innate will to survive when I’m at the lowest of my strengths. It’s almost independent of my control and I can’t blame it for looking over me.” He stated and slowly gazed at the mound of herbs that covered his injury.
” I’m sorry about that. I didn’t know what those needles where made of. It appeared as any normal steel needle.” She said bowing her head to the floor in guilt. ” No problem.” He said in a sotto voce and gazed at the skies above. ” The thing in you which you talk about. Is like a sickness or some spirit in you. It was scary and I don’t think you wouldn’t have snapped me In two if you had caught me.” She said in soft time as she raised her face to gaze at him.
” It’s neither of the two. It’s just who I am. Well I will get going. My brother has declared battle on me and I can’t be caught hiding in the woods. I would have to face him like the man I am.” Said Maximin and sighed softly. His sight had caught the attention of a bolder and he wanted to sit on it for a rest.
” You aren’t so strong yet? And I thought you were taking me along with you. Have you changed your mind?”she asked him while still gazing at him.
” It’s your choice. I see how he looks at you. He likes you very much and I can tell he is a good man. The both of you look happy together. I’m just in the way of a good thing.” He said and sighed softly in exasperation.
” He is a nice guy. He is my friend just like you are. Aren’t you ?” She inquired with the absence of a smile.
” I’m Afraid he wants more than friendship.” Maximin said and picks a small stone on that lay on the floor.
” And you? What do you want.” She asked in a soft tenor as she gazed at the eyes of Maximin.
” Nothing. I just want to go home.” He said and picked up the stone before throwing it across the meadow.
” Oh nothing huh. I see then.” She said and packed her face in a scowl.
” You would enjoy all the shoulder rides he can give you.” Said Maximin without looking at her. She returned her gaze to him, realizing that he had seen when she was carried in the arms of Catori.
” I want to give the city another try. The past days at the wood has really been hell. If humans will treat me a little mercy than they always do, then I will stay with them. ” She said in a manner that made Maximin gaze at her. ” Why do you call humans like you are any different from them. Aren’t you human.” He asked In inquisition.
” Those humans don’t see me like humans. It’s why they tried burn me in a stake. If they tried to make a bad barbecue out of me then how human did I really look to them?” She sniffled and winced softly trying not to get emotional as she reflected on her past.
” That’s in the past. If the city is where your heart is then come with me. No one would know what you are again.” He purred.
” Too risky. Someone may tell them. They may find out on their own and I will be left with no one to save my life. ” There were arguing when Catori returned with a bunch of grape.”” Here you are. Grapes are what I could get at the moment.” Said Catrori and stretched the grapes to her. ” Thank you for your help brother. I will soon be on my to the state. I have scores which I shall settle alone.” Said Maximin and stood up on his feet.” I’m afraid you aren’t still strong enough to travel on your own. It’s against my medical ethics to let you go just after administering my herbs on you. The least you can go is tomorrow In the morning. It’s just a couple of hours away.” Said Catori
” Good and fine. I won’t be in defiance of your orders. I will live by tomorrow morning then.
” Good. My stint here has come to and end as well. Let’s be on our way. Brace yourselves, my people may be quite hostile on the outside. They are nice on inside.” Said Catori and slowly turned towards the mountain.
” Hey have some of this grapes. The vitamin C would do you good.” Said Amelia and threw a small cluster of grape at him. He picked up and thanked her. It was as much as he did with it when she could see him.