Chapter 8Outside in the fields, guarded by the swaying pines of the leopards lands, Brandon was getting the work out of his lifetime.The cart that Ezekiel had agreed to haul out to Erin and Drin’s home in lue of the upcoming Clan Celebration was indeed large....and as Ezekiel had guessed it was “as heavy as a horse”. Brandon and Ezekiel both stood shoulder to shoulder, pulling on the long wooden handle, and marching the cart forward beneath the pine trees.Ezekiel and Brandon traveled along a well-trodden path of firm earth. Brandon had been informed by Ezekiel earlier that morning that paths such at the one that they traveled crisscrossed all of the Leopards lands and that many of them had appeared over time as traffic from different areas created divots in the earth. Rainfall and wind had seemed to do the rest.Halfway to Erin’s home Ezekiel stopped and handed him a chilled water canteen.Brandon was damp, his shirt felt glued to him, so with a few deft flicks of his fingers he un
Chapter 9Chapter 9And suddenly Erin was standing there. Standing in a long bright orange sundress, that was split along he calf’s and sporting golden lace up saddles she looked just as lovely and Amazonian as Brandon remembered seeing her nearly a week before. “Ezekiel! Brandon!” She called as she left her front door open behind her and quickly walked down the steps of her front porch.“Erin...slow down!” Ezekiel intoned from the cart, as the young Leopardess nearly stumbled down the steps, her long legs moving far too fast as she rushed up to them. She wasn’t showing, so unless Brandon had been told he wouldn’t have been able to guess that the bubbly girl skipping towards him was quickly on her way to motherhood.Her hazel eyes were glowing with a slight ember light and a large smile was plastered across her face which showed off the small fangs that were growing. Her excitement was instantly infections as she nearly danced to a stop in Brandon’s wake and waved. A frilly, bubbly en
Chapter 10After that Ezekiel and Brandon delved into a silent rhythm.The soft sun beat down on them and the grass, warming it, so that every blade that brushed against Brandon’s ankles felt like the warm brush of a breath. And Brandon found the work and view to be a calming affair all around.Even Ezekiels company calmed him. His presence perhaps calmed Brandon most of all. Mostly because Brandon found that he craved proximity to the Guardian that went beyond his own understanding.Even though Ezekiel held himself in a brooding silence as they worked.But this was understandable considering the fact that the two of them had only just gotten over a large...and mostly unresolved argument, minutes before arriving at Erin’s cabin.And for the most part, rather then continue to fight, Brandon allowed him to stew....especially seeing as Brandon had done everything in his power to aggravate and upset the guardian in the first place. So for a long moment they sat in shallow companionship, a
Chapter 11Somehow feeling like the lamb to the slaughter as Ezekiel playful offer tried to take root Brandon shook his head. “No. Not on your life.”“No? Why not?” Ezekiels tone took on a slightly goading overture. “You can’t be afraid to spar with me are you? You seem to know how to handle yourself in a fight.....”Something about the way that he said this sounded like a clear challenge. And damn him....but Brando had never been able to turn away from a challenge. “I do know how to handle myself!” He replied sharply.Knowing that he had won part of the battle Ezekiel smiled, like a Cheshire cat. “Well then...” HE intoned putting out his hands to his sides, palms up. “Spar with me...”“Are you serious? You really want to do this?” Brandon sighed.“Well were out here for the rest of the afternoon.” Ezekiel said back dropping his hands and motioning to the sun that wasn’t even halfway past the wide clear sky. “And it will be a good way to pass the time...”“And I guess that’s important
Chapter 12The beast was thrice his size, with creamy yellow fur dusted with black splotches, triangular ears, tufted with soft white, long silvery whiskers trembled against his skin, while ferocious fangs gleamed, and dark blue eyes glared at him. Brandon stared in shock into the beasts gaze, until a tongue was suddenly lapping across the tip of his nose and a long soft snarl filled the air.“WHOA! “With a shout of surprise Brandon shoved and kicked out ward, while scrambling backwards and he was moving in such a panic that he soon slammed back into a pine tree.His first thought was to get up onto his feet, but he was frozen in mid scramble as a vicious rumble vibrated on the air. Slowly, afraid to look at the beast, Brandon glanced up and was horrified to be staring into the angry, tail lashing, snarling, three hundred pound face of a Leopard, with eyes that glowed a supernatural tint of blue.The moment Brandon looked at the Leopard head on, it got riled up. It snarled and roared
Chapter 13“The leopard made YOU Shift?” Brandon asked him, glancing down at Ezekiel’s hands. Somehow he strangled the growing need to reach out and un-ball the hard fist that Ezekiel had formed. The same need that had urged him to reach out and pet a giant snarling Leopard, instead of run.But a moment later Ezekiel had dropped the fist with a curse. “Damnit!” Ezekiel growled in sudden and visceral agitation. He reached out, possibly intending to touch Brandon’s cheek, but at the last moment a look of guilt flickered across his face and he pulled back. “Did he hurt you...?” Ezekiel asked him softly, looking Brandon over for injuries as he spoke. “Our strength....our anger....I can’t control them when I’m Shifted.”Hoping to sooth Ezekiel’s obvious anxiety Brandon shrugged both of his shoulders and shook his head. “No I’m fine.” He reported, then feeling a small smile growing on his face he said. “When he first appeared he did sort of swipe and snap at me. But then he just sat on top
Chapter 14After arriving back at the Mansion Brandon and Ezekiel silently agreed on heading up to the second floor. The sun was setting. Night crept up over the home and in the silence their beds called to them.The smell of burning candles and soft pine danced all along the halls as Ezekiel and Brandon stepped off of the top of the staircases and Ezekiel walked beside Brandon to his room.The moment Brandon saw the door to his room, he mumbled a quick good night to Ezekiel and tried to disappear, but his name on Ezekiel’s lips held him in the hall, before he could manage to even turn the door knob.“Brandon? Wait...please.” Ezekiel called as they started to part ways. The call was a question and a demand all rolled up into one.All throughout the hike back to the Mansion it had seemed he wanted to say something, but until now the words had remained unspoken....and because Brandon partially feared what he would say....he had allowed Ezekiel to remain in silence.Brandon sensed someth
Chapter 15That night, after a slow afternoon of quiet patrolling alone, Ezekiel retired to his room.Snarling and hissing he prowled in the confines of his room, eventually forced to admit to himself that he was in fact avoiding dinner, his family....and the one man that was making him feel just a little bit insane. Not to mention tense, and pent up, and on edge.Ezekiel didn’t want to be around his family feeling the way he felt. He didn’t want to be around Lander thinking what he was thinking. He didn’t want to be near Brandon with the heat of his body only a few hours forgotten.So, not bothering to remove his clothing and feeling bone tired, Ezekiel crawled into his sheets, punched a few pillows into shape beneath him....and promptly collapsed in exhaustion.IT was sometime later before he began to stir. He moaned, tossed in his sheets and bit his lip in his sleep.In his mind he felt the electricity running down his spine, gathering in his gut, tightening his balls, emanating fr