With one last excuse and one last effort to win back the heart of Amelia, Maximin. Found his way to the stream where she had been taking her bath. He had left earlier on but neither had he bade farewell to either her or Catori. She knew he was going to return but she couldn’t say how soon. It came to her as shock to take a swim and emerge from the water to watch him squatting and peering at her in the eyes.
” Goodness!” She hushed out and wrapped her hands over her full breast which where bare.
” You have no right to keep invading my privacy like this.” She cautioned and gazed at her red gown in the banks which was some feet’s away.
” Why are you doing this to me. You used to love me.” Maximin whimpered as he gazed at her with the humility of a feline.
” You changed so fast and what i did was care and not necessarily love. I placed my life on the line when you needed me. I’m placing it on the line because Catori now needs it to. I only resent you the more when you ask me to leave with you. I’m not afraid of death.” She said in vicious whisper while gazing him straight into the eyes.
” Don’t sell that story of humility to me. I saved your life and placed my life on the line as well. You are only staying with Catori because you are scared of humans in the city and not because you love him.” Hinted Maximin while gazing at her eyes to decipher the truth in her emotions.
” And I agree with you, what does that prove? That I’m a liar or that I’m a coward. Love is a function of care and sacrifice. Look around you Maximin, this is a jungle. It’s not a fairy-tale kingdom. The earlier you come to terms with that, the better. Now I will like to dress if you don’t mind.” She said with her hands still fastened over her Bosom.
” No one will touch you if you follow me to Cincinnati. Catori can come along if that’s what you want as well. I will be lying to you if I told you I can leave it all behind and start a life in the woods. Perhaps it’s what you want isn’t it.” He asked and stood up slowly.
” Like I said, love is a function of care and sacrifices. Make those sacrifices and we shall see where it takes us to.” She worded, took a deep breath and began to walk straight to her gown with the water edging downwards, past her belly button and gradually down her waistline, till the top of her crotch were now visible.
” Stop. I will fetch it for you.” Said Maximin, walked to the dress, picked it up, walked back to shore the and gave it to her. He didn’t want to get in way of her modesty thus he dropped he threw it and her and stood waiting for her to dress.
” You will have to turn over. Even animals need some privacy.” Said a voice from the behind. It was Catori and he stood at the meadow backing the duo. Maximin turned to see who it was that had spoken and in that short time, Amelia quickly wore the dress over her head and brought it stop over her body to stop . She quickly began to walk out of the water, and freeing the cloth in inches so till she was eventually out.
” You haven’t left yet. Have you made up your mind to stay?” Catori asked and no sooner had Amelia left the waters did he turn to confront his rival.
” Yes I haven’t gone yet. I’m trying to take what’s mine before leaving.” Said Maximin with a vicious scowl on his face.
” Then take her if it’s her will, what are you waiting for.” Said the young Sire and his eyes had an apparition of fury in it.
” You won’t? Then leave my lands.” Said Catari again with the ease of a god.
” You don’t have a land. The Montelbans are the descendants of the Western red Indians of the west. I may look like an European but that’s only because my mom is. A vast tribe of red Indians pay Allegiance to us. You shouldn’t disrespect me.” Said Maxmin and Began to pounce majestically towards Catori who didn’t back down from the challenge.
” Then go to them. This is Cherokee land and I am king. Damn ingrate.” Snarled Catori and pulled his spear out in rage.
” Guys please! No.” Amelia screamed out and rushed to the center, once again putting her life on the line.
” Amelia ! Stay out of this.” Maximin raged out but halted his motions. Catori had a mild smile on his face. For all he cared, he was going to strike down his rival if the lady hadn’t come to his rescue.
” We don’t give shelters to ingrates. You shall leave my land now or you shall die by my very hands.” Said Catori and flung his sword to the flanks. His powerful ripped hands were the weapons he needed to make a kill against a being like Maximin even though he was certain that Maximin was not human.
” Catori stop it please!” She broke down in deep plea and crashed to the floor, holding the foot of Catori while she sobbed loudly in plea. It caused him to immediately halt but kept his guard on high alert as he gazed at his rival with nothing but hate and precaution.
” Tell him to leave and tell him you won’t be going anywhere.” Said Catori as the coloration of his eyes transformed to that of a beast. Maximins eyes were no different. Both men knew what they were. They knew that a fight between the two of them could end up hurting the young lady who was fond of putting her life on the line for others.
” Maximin, Go please.” She cried out amidst her sobs.
” Amelia?” He whispered in wistfulness. Finally she was making it clear to him that his stay at woods was no more welcome. A cold feeling of dejection eloped him as he gazed at her and how the waters had made her black hair so silky. He gazed at her curves and the wet gown had highlighted every details of her countour. He gazed at her crimson lips and her narrow azure eyes. They were too guilty to keep looking at him and they slowly curled away.
” Leave. Please” she whispered back at him, while still bent on the feet of Catori. There were tears in the eyes of the Werewolf who only saw more value in her by the seconds. Her selflessness had won him over and it was going to be over his dead body before any man or beast could have.
” If you care about the lives of your friends and his friends, then you shall follow me now!” He cried out, pointing his muscular hands to Catori. Who fought innately to remain calm.
” Stop it Maximin,” ” This is madness.” She cried. She could feel the feet of Catori Vibrating in rage and she could hardly hold on anymore.
” Please leave. I don’t want anyone to get hurt. I’m not coming with you.” She cried out, sobbing vigorously as she did.”
” Then the battle line has been drawn. You Catori shall soon understand the magnitude of what you have done. You shall live to regret ever saving me from the poisons of a silver needle! ” He growled.
” Amelia ! Stay out.” Catori thundered and Marauded towards Maximin who smiled mildly, turned and leapt into the bushes. Before disappearing in a blink.
“You shall return and I will be waiting. I shall have your head Wolf.” Said Catori as he panted angrily in rage.
” Maximin, I’m sorry.” She called out crying at the top of her voice as she lay on the green plains of the woods. Indeed she could feel that he had left and this time around the emptiness it brought with it, caused her hurt so much. Maybe it was him she truly loved, maybe she was just being a coward and not a selfless hero she thought as she lay on the floor, crying her peace away when all of a sudden, she could hear a beastly growl by her side.