Midnight. The skies above the thicket of the jungle, as clear as the waters of the flowing streams and rivers. Though even with all of its beauty shrouded from those below it thanks to the dancing shadows of leaves, branches, and the occasional members of the nocturnal scurrying amongst the dense foliage of the isolated Tenochtitlan Basin. But even with all of this tranquil, there's still always a sense of uncertainty that plagued those who're small and meek. After all, any creature as small as a house pet would be nothing more than a standard snack in the eyes of any predators that would wander within its reach.
That goes without saying of course for one resident of the Basin. Keeping hidden as best as a young creature could, a scrawny looking skitter of a animal moved along throughout the rainforest in search of food. Caution held over his back like a cloud, his ears perked up and twitching at the slightest of sounds as he kept his footsteps as quick and as quiet as a mouse. Even his own shadow seemed to put him on edge, stopping more than once to spin around at an unknown adversary only to find nothing. Still, there were few emotions that overrode caution tonight for the animal, and that of course would be hunger. It would bring any animal, large or small, to do risks if it meant keeping fed.
Tonight would be no different for the Spotted Fox, Aihue.
Aihue, when not glancing beyond his own haunches for any potential danger, was in a hunt of his own and keeping his sleek snout, pointed like a stick, close to the forest floor. It only took the Spotted Fox a few sniffs before the tips of his mouth curled upwards.
"Hmmmm ... Yes," He said to himself gleefully, "The Talacon Pack's just finished their latest kill. There's bound to be leftovers, I'm sure.~" and his thoughts were emphasized by his tongue sliding along his muzzle. Snickering to himself all the while, he kept his gaze lowered and relied only on the scent left behind to lead him on his way. One of the many reasons for why the Jungle didn't enjoy his company and, while considered an outcast by most, Aihue was never truly driven off as he was no weaker than a dragonfly. And just as quick too.
The looming smells of meat and blood lead the spotted fox further and further along the thickets of the Jungle until he came across the opening amongst the jungle's trees. Moonlight might be blocked most elsewhere, but not along the highland den of the Talacon pack. The light of the night sky shown as freely as the sun during the day. Just the sight of a place would deter most, but not because of the land itself, but for what lays within it.
most, that is, except for Aihue.
"Yes, yes, and just at midnight too!" he thought greedily to himself, "That means that the Talacon Pack would've just gotten back. Oh what could they've brought back? Bull meat? A fresh sow? Oohh what am I waiting for?!"
His tongue lapped at the mere thought of what would wait before him inside. With thoughts of such driving him on, the spotted Fox moved forward, darting this way and that as he made his way up from the soft dirt to the rocky entrance of the Talacon den. So willing was he to sink his needle teeth into such a meal that he had forgotten one slight calculation ...
*GRRRRRRR*
NEVER step into a predator's den without knocking first.
"No, no!" he pleaded, his tail quickly slipping under him, slouched to the ground, "I-It's only me, O mighty hunters. Aihue the Spotted Fox. Hehehe ... eeehhh ..."
Just like that the ominous growling within the darkness of the den ceased, but Aihue still kept himself down at first. The Talacon Den was a den of predators of high rights to the Basin. Aihue moved back slightly to allow the owner of this den to step out from its darkness into the moonlight, and even that alone was enough to present this creature in full glory (and to make Aihue bury his snout into his paws).
This creature seeing Aihue tonight was as regal as it was dangerous, standing firm and still like the royal guards of lands far away, looking down to the peasant with a gaze that would stop a rampaging bull in its tracks. The noble beast looked on with eyes as red as rubies, and its fur as silver as the very moon that casted its glow upon it. Each step was clasped with a firm footing of cloven hooves, curled in such a way to show a set of large claws for each step, and with a set of horns that have their own history of stabbing prey when not using its own teeth. A hybrid of a noble wolf and an adaptable goat.
Aihue was snout to snout, with a silver Cadejo.
"It's only you, is it Aihue?" said the predator, staring down the lonesome creature before him, "You can thank your own luck that we've just finished up our latest kill before you showed."
Just the response that Aihue was hoping to hear him say. Now he was SURE that there was something inside that den. His eyes immediately darted to the den, and he can already smell the lingering scent from within.
"Indeed, and a good hunting to you as well, O prince of the Talacon Pack. And is your wife doing well? I've heard she had been expecting for a few weeks now," Aihue inquired. That however didn't suit well for the Cadejo, and he immediately stamped his hardened hoof into the ground right at the spotted fox's paws. Even if Aihue just stood at shoulder height to the Cadejo, he still felt so small compared to him.
"THAT isn't your business, you bone-gnawer," the Cadejo growled, his voice low and ghostly.
"O-Of course it's not, absolutely," stammered Aihue, "I-I wouldn't DARE stick my weak nose into business that isn't mine."
"You would, Aihue. And I also know you wouldn't show up if you weren't after something, now what is it?" the Cadejo questioned firmly. Aihue slowly moved forward one paw after the other, making sure not to even remotely appear on equal level with this creature.
"N-Nothing at all, honest ... unless there's mmmm ... a little something left over from your hunt? A few morsels not wanted that I can snack on while you clean up?" Aihue offered. The Cadejo looked around back towards the den, a look that said he wasn't expecting anything different from this spotted fox, but not entirely enjoying it either. However, before the animal could come up with his own answer, another noise was heard from within the den. A sort of stirring, as if their conversation had woken up another from in the darkness nor peering out from the mouth.
"Cujo? What's this all about? We've just came back from hunting, no need to go out again tonight," said a voice as sweet as the morning honey, and at the same time as silver as a snake's tongue. Emerging from the den was another Cadejo, much like the bold male only sleeker, and her fur as smooth as the mountain breeze. It took her only a moment before seeing the situation occurring right before her step.
"Oh beautiful Synth, spare a few scraps to a humble creature such as myself?" asked Aihue. Both Cadejo glanced over to one another and took a silent thought on if they should. No matter who in particular, this still was a fox of some sort. In contrast to the firm state of her mate however, the wise Synth knew that Aihue was smart enough to never challenge a Cadejo on their own grounds.
"Alright, Aihue. Come in, and take what you can find. But it's only fair to say that we didn't leave that much behind from our dinner," explained Synth. But the invitation was enough to bring Aihue right into the den, and even with that information was good enough for him. It didn't take him long before he sniffed out where the scraps laid within the den, nothing left of the kill but bones of what he can only assume was a decent-sized stag. Just the sight of it made him eager to dig in like a starving vulture.
"Maybe not much for a Cadejo," he said as he got settled in, "But for a humble person such as myself, just a dried up bone is all a feast one could ever want."
Of course the pair didn't share the same enthusiasm as the fox, but they didn't bother him as he gnawed away at what meat remained on the bones of their kill. No point in spilling any more blood on an already reddish rocky den. Aihue meanwhile was surely enjoying himself, chewing away at the bone and licking each one clean in his own version of a feast.
But as he was enjoying himself, he had something else on his mind, turning his gaze over towards the Cadejo as Synth and Cujo settled down for a rest close by, keeping an eye on him.
"You know," he stated with his muzzle full of a dried bone, "it's only fair I should tell you the news. If you want to hear it."
"News? What news?" questioned Cujo. Aihue took a extra second to drop his bone before talking again.
"So you haven't heard the news? Well, there's going to be a temporary resident in this part of the Basin. Nothing to worry you all of course," Aihue stated, but that alone wasn't enough to satisfy either horned wolf.
"It's always a concern whenever anyone ventures into our domain. Now WHO is it coming here?" Cujo asked once again. Both horned hounds waited on Aihue's word, which to the spotted fox was always a pleasure when someone relied on him for information.
"It's Okpe. eh, the mountain? He's going to be in this part of the Jungle until the next season, or so I've heard," Aihue said.
Just the name of the newcoming "visitor" was enough cause for concern for the Cadejo. Okpe was an outcast of the Basin, much like Aihue, but there were other more disturbing reasons for his outcasting, much more so than the peasant that was telling them all this. Cujo could feel the sides of his jaws lift as a ominous growl emitted from within him.
"Okpe?" repeated Cujo. Aihue cowered a bit along the walls of the den, his tail curled back and huddled together.
"Now now, like I said, this shouldn't be of concern to any of your pack," Aihue reminded swiftly, "After all, he's a specialized hunter of ... very special prey."
"Very special - ... no you don't mean ..."
Aihue simply nodded his head to confirm the Cadejo's suspicions, but even if right it wasn't making the situation any more pleasing. With that in mind, Cujo went right outside of the den and back to the moonlit world outside, this time his eyes in focus for any new predators that wandered within the Cadejo domain. If even half of what Aihue said was right, then it could mean a number of things for not only them, but for everyone in the basin.
"That bulbous fool," Cujo snarled, "He has no right to change his hunting grounds without warning. How does he expect any other predators to continue hunting with him snorting about?"
"Shall I tell him your concerns, O prince of the Cadejo?" Aihue offered. It was here though that Aihue stepped a bit too far, and suddenly Cujo was on top of him.
"OUT! OUT OF HERE, YOU MONGREL!" Cujo barked, the sheer force of it alone enough to make Aihue stumble back and roll right off of the edge of their cliff and down the cliffside. Cujo and Synth both heard the spotted Fox stumble and fall until they both heard a notable thud upon landing.
"I-i-i-i-i'm ok wolfie," muttered a dazed and dumb voice. That should be enough to keep him away, but that hardly made Cujo feel any better. Synth moved out and stood alongside her husband, giving her beloved Cadejo a few gentle rubs of her head to help calm him down.
"... What do you think, Synth? Is there a way to convince Okpe to return to his hills?" Cujo asked.
"Do not underestimate him, my love," said Synth, "He may be old, but he's as powerful as the mountains where he lives. Even if he's hunting ... very special prey."
"That makes it worse! If THAT'S the prey he's hunting around here, then it will bring more of them and when that happens ... no one will be safe here."
Predator and prey alike all had their fears and worries, but none of them more sound and more pronounced than this "very special prey" that only something as wicked as Okpe would dare to try and eat. Okpe, some would admit might not be the first predator to try at such a thing but success was hardly any and only seemed to bring dire trouble wherever they go. Not that it bothered Okpe though, and Cujo and Synth knew that it probably never will. They could only hope that Okpe wouldn't find that much food.
*SCREEEE!*
Speak of the devil.
"Synth. Go back inside," Cujo instructed.
That screeching squeal was the mountain in question, sounding not even half a mile from their den. Synth, troubled by the noise, moved back into the safety of their den as Cujo kept his lone visual over their territory. The screams of the latest struggle of Okpe echoed and rattled the trees of the basin, any animals who wished for a good nights sleep woken up to goosebumps of such a savage. Cujo might not be able to see what was happening in their territory but he didn't need to, as the feared screams and hunger-filled squeals were more than enough ... followed by silence. Not even a full day and Okpe was already making things difficult for the domain. There wasn't much Cujo could do now with his hunt over, but just before he could make his way back into the den to settle down when -
*rustle*
Something was coming. He couldn't tell what it was exactly, but with what he just heard he wasn't willing to take any chances. Especially with his wife and mother-to-be sitting helpless inside the den. With his hooves scraping the ground, the Cadejo lowered himself til he was one with the floor, waiting for the slightest moment of the invader to rear its head. One good strike of his teeth or better yet, a spearing of his horns would be enough to send this intruder away.
He waits ... he strikes!
*mwaaah?*
He stops? He ... stares confused?
"A ... A No-Hoof?"
And it was a No-Hoof indeed. Just older than a newborn foal. Not the common term for many others outside of the Basin to use, but to the Cadejo and those within the Basin it was a fair assumption to make for this small frail creature climbing up right towards the Cadejo den. Cujo just stood there puzzled at this small infant, its legs stickly like branches, daintily moving as if it hadn't even gotten used to its own legs yet. Not even the eyes of the prince of the Talacon were enough to sway this No-Hoof. In fact, it almost seemed amused by the creature, a end of one of its legs brought up and playing with the beast's muzzle.
"Is THAT a No-Hoof foal?" asked Synth upon investigating from the den, "It looks so small. And yet, there's no fear in those eyes."
"Very brave," Cujo muttered, "But not smart enough to let go of my mouth."
As if understanding the Cadejo, the No-Hoof released the jaws of the predator, only to start swatting at the animal's horns instead. Cujo raised his head before it could be messed with any further by this No-Hoof. As a matter of fact, the foal started walking right into the Talacon den right then and there, not even fazed by its foreboding darkness or whom it might've belonged to. When Synth and Cujo ventured back in to see, they soon found that their uninvited guest was already settled down on the comfy rock that was their bed.
"Well would you look at that. So frail, so thin. Are all No-Hoof foals this small when they're born?" Synth asked, as both Cadejo ventured closer to her. This would be the first time that any No-Hoof, let alone one of this size, would've walked right into their den without any fear.
"I'm not sure. But I do know that this one is either too young, too brave, or too naïve to know where she is," Cujo said. Synth though felt a bit of sympathy for the young animal, resting alongside her. As if by instinct or just to feel warm, the young No-Hoof cooed slightly, and gently moved closer to the to-be-mother. Even one like Synth can't help but feel a smile form across her face.
"Whatever it is, Cujo, you can't deny that this there is no fear in this one's eyes. Look, she keeps close and yet not scared," Synth noted, as the young creature rested its head on the mother's fur, an ear hearing more than one heartbeat from inside of her.
"Very much true," Cujo agreed, "I could destroy her with just a single glance if I wanted to, and yet she is fearless same as any other Cadejo ... but what to do with her now?"
*SCREEEEE!*
Fate would bring trouble to the Cadejo den on this night. The squeals of the newcoming beast threaten both parents, and easily enough to startle the foal awake. Even if this squealing wasn't enough to catch their attention, it made sure it was known by the moonlight quickly blocking off the insides of the den by a large lass covering the hole. The scent of fresh red started filling in the air of the den along with a strange mix of gravel and salt, as both Cadejo were met snout-to-muzzle with the head of a colossal pig. Head alone so large that it blocked off their only exit, a large snout peering in with ears blocking the ominous eerie glow of the predator's eyes, with a gaping jaw filled with rocky teeth and a drooling saliva dripping at the Cadejo's doorstep.
Synth instinctively kept close to the young No-Hoof as Cujo himself took steps forward towards this invader, but not too close in case it decided to have a horned hound for a midnight snack. IF it were desperate enough.
"I know it's in here! GIVE IT TO ME!" the beast bellowed, the voice gravelish, raspy yet as strong as the crash of a collapsing tree. Cujo mentally armed himself against this beast, for they all knew that piggish face all too well.
"Okpe. It's an honor that you'd pay us for a visit unannounced like this."
"Don't give me formal greetings, give me my prey!" Okpe bellowed again.
"What prey?" questioned Cujo, as if he needed to ask as he glanced back behind him to see the foal with them. Okpe of course knew this too.
"You know what it is, you thieves! That No-Hoof in that cave of yours, don't hide it from me! I can smell her frail meat," Okpe said, his large head-sized nose sniffing in deeply of every scent in the den. Cujo started brushing his hoof harshly on the ground, ready to charge at a moment's notice as a snarl sounded out as warning.
"Cadejo are a free kind, Okpe, we take no orders to any other animal except our own kind! The foal is ours to eat if we so choose. Besides, by the smell off of your own snout you've already eaten your fill. Why go after this one?"
"I didn't: the parents managed to get away from me," Okpe grizzly spat, "and now that foal is mine to eat. I've worked hard to get that No-Hoof, now HOOF IT OVER!"
Okpe tried his hardest to move into the den further, but his massive bulk beyond his own head forbade any animal of his size to venture into such a place. A good advantage for the Cadejo in the den, but by no means were they going to leave this titan alone like this.
"You'd better go now, Okpe, before you get stuck in our doorway."
The pig snorted loudly. "I'm not shoving my snout in your dog's den just to chat away the night! Don't forget it's Okpe you're talking to!"
The mother Cadejo have had enough of this noise. Angered by both disrespect and such savagery by him, Synth stood right up, and without a moment's noticed stepped before the giant hog, horns and hooves sharpened and teeth barred like blades on a killer.
"And don't forget it is the Synth from Tartarus you're talking to," Synth snarled in primal warning, "You rule over no one in this pack, Okpe, and this foal is MINE to eat if I so choose! She'll hunt, run, and live with the pack, and be warned you bulbous pile of rocks, that the day will come that when she's grown that it'll be YOU who she'll hunt. Now go, Okpe, or by the FIRES OF THE SUN I'LL STRIKE YOU BLIND AND MORE TOOTHLESS THAN YOU ARE NOW!"
Even such a beast like Okpe could feel himself freak out staring at the eyes of the demon hound in front of him, scared just long enough to finally make him back away. Even with all that, Okpe didn't just walk off yet, as that fear remained for only that one moment. As ferocious as she was, she can't fight while carrying cubs anyway, yet they still won't give up his prize. For now, at least.
"Find another tree to bark at, Cadejo. You two may have accepted that No-Hoof, but you still have the entire pack to answer to, and believe you me they will NOT let a leaf-muncher run with a pack of dogs. Remember THAT, you white-coated thieves!" Okpe warned. With that statement floating in their den, Okpe turned and walked off, the sounds of his own hoofsteps breaking the quiet until he moved back into the jungles of his new hunting grounds. Cujo stepped out of his own den to make sure that he did leave, and sure enough the only thing remaining was a trail of dented hoof prints.
"Thieves. PAH! I know the jungle law better than anyone," Cujo said, scoffing at such an idea before going back into the den again, only to find their new foal now playing around with the mother Cadejo, Synth finding it fun seeing this frail animal stumble around the place. Looking at the No-Hoof made those same words echo in Cujo's head one more time.
"As disgusting as Okpe is ... he's still right. Sooner or later we have to show her to the rest of the pack. You know, if we really are keeping her here," Cujo said.
"If I allowed Okpe to take her, then more No-Hoofs will come and seek revenge on all of us. Of course I'm keeping her! Besides ... what kind of harm would this sweet little No-Hoof do?" Synth said, giving her new "cub" a few licks to the face. The foal took each one with a smile, but even licking her was enough to make her stumble on her own hooves, leaving her laying down on the rock again for a good nights sleep.
"In that case, we should call her something besides "No-Hoof", you know," Cujo said.
"Oh that's right, we haven't named her yet. Hmm, let me think here ..."
All of this excitement and they forgot the most important thing for any infant. Both parents took a minute to think over the kind of name there could be for this No-Hoof foal, but when she say her cuddle up to the mother once again, a name started to pop up in both of their heads.
"Sila. The thin one. That's what we'll call her," decided Synth.
"It's a fitting name, Synth. Now it's up to the pack to decide the fate for our little Sila," decided Cujo.
The time spent in the Cadejo Den for the young No-Hoof lasted well on through the next cycle of the moon, spending much of her days hidden away within the darkened hidden rocks and corners of the den she had adopted into her home. Both Cujo and Synth took care of her throughout these feeble weeks, and while taking care of a No-Hoof was a fair challenge for a carnivore to handle, that challenge turned into a sort of "practice" by the time the true cubs of the Cadejo pair were born. For each day the father or mother would do their hardest to keep them all safe, as any parent of any child would do. But for every day and every night that passes by, and every other inch that both the No-Hoof and the Cadejo foals grew, is just another day closer for the time when the parents must bring them forward.
And that day was about to come, possibly sooner than the parents would've expected.
On the first light of the secondary moon cycle, the Jungle was center stage for the year's gathering of the Cadejo pack. Male and female, all members sleek and white in the light of day, all gathered in a circle with a space opened for their special event. One of the Cadejo laid on a tall curved rock, which to the pack was only set for the leader of the Pack to speak and observe those around him.
As for the leader, he was a fine specimen of any Cadejo, more fine than many of those around his council rock. His fur appeared brighter than his subjects, as if dirt can't even land on his fur without disappearing, flowy like a river and as delicate yet as sturdy as a spider's silk. There was a reason he was named Widow after all. And it was through him, along with all others present in the council, that will decide the fate of any newborns old enough to walk.
This includes Sila. Sila, while old enough to keep her balance steady on her thin legs, was kept down by a stern look of Cujo whenever she tried to move away herself.
"Keep still, Sila. It's not your turn yet," Cujo quietly told her. It's hard to say if she understood him or not, but she sat down next to her "mother" anyway, alongside the other small pups by her side. She'll have to wait her turn same as everyone else.
"Look well, pack of Hoof and Horn," announced Widow, "Look well to the next generation before you!"
This statement was repeated over and over again with each new parents pushing their offspring to the center, just enough so everyone else could take a good look at them. Each young pup, plucky and bright, was accepted in without a fuss from anyone in the pack. Good time so far, but fairly soon it was Cujo and Synth's turn. As soon as Widow was finished speaking the statement to look, they nudged their cubs forward.
They only had three cubs this year, and at first the council and the pack itself didn't seemed to be bothered by any of them ...
But then it came to Sila.
For a start she bounded forward herself rather than be pushed out, standing up and looking around to all of the Cadejo around her. This already began causing some ruckus amongst the pack.
"Wait ... is that a No-Hoof?" asked one of the Cadejo.
"What're those two thinking bringing one here?" questioned another.
"She's not even a hunter, let alone a Cadejo," remarked another.
Things like this spread around in the pack quietly, though they all can hear the main message quite clearly: this No-Hoof wasn't gonna just be brought into the pack so easily. The only one who wasn't surprised was Widow, who simply stared down at her with a knowing look.
"Look well, pack of Hoof and Horn, look well!" Widow repeated. They were looking, but they weren't exactly thrilled by the idea of a herbivore, No-Hoof or not, to be even this close to the pack. As for Sila she didn't seem to care, as she wandered around the circle and occasionally playing with the other Cadejo, bounding about and basically acting as if she were a pup.
"Psst. Synth, Cujo," whispered a nearby mother to the two, "What's that doing in your family group? Unless you're planning to have a snack afterwards."
That only got Synth growling a little, "That No-Hoof is saved from that dreaded Okpe. If we'd let him have her, it would bring even more of her kind to the Jungle."
"But to put her in the pack?" the other mother questioned again.
"Either that or let Okpe have his dinner."
"Quiet down," Widow shouted. The casual talking must've gotten too loud for his liking, and it was mostly down to the council anyway to decide the fate of this creature. With a silent signal of his head, the council went forward and moved away all of the accepted Cadejo pups to their own spot in the meeting, leaving only Sila standing alone in front of everyone.
"Cujo. Synth. Explain yourselves," Widow said. They expected him to be upset, but Widow kept his anger down. Cujo was the one who stepped forward, clearing his throat as the rest of the pack looked on.
"Chief Widow. I know this is unorthodox, but my wife and I had to keep him to ourselves, otherwise that cursed Okpe would've eaten her. He is hunting once again in these hills, and if it weren't for us, he would've gotten his prize," Cujo explained.
Now that this is made known, the other Cadejo started realizing the pressure that came with that choice. Sila may be a herbivore all and all, but the largest law in any wild Jungle, nevermind the Basin, was to not kill or devour those of Pony kind, for that would force more to try and venture into their territory and take control to make their lives at peace ... and make those living there more troubled. Not that it would matter to one like Okpe, but it mattered most to the council.
Speaking of, Widow looked down to Sila again, the No-Hoof sitting down and looking up to him as if silently admiring him.
"I see. ... A wise decision, father Cadejo, but there's still the word. Talacon Pack. Who amongst you speaks for the -"
*SQUEEEEE!*
Before he could even finish, the horrid screeching sounds of Okpe's squealing broke up the quiet, even making some of the pack jump aside as he plowed through the foliage towards the No-Hoof. Just one rough nudge was enough to knock over a tree, which made some of the pack scatter to avoid getting crushed. Sila spun around, but didn't bolt away on sight of this large rocky pig, snorting and drooling with anticipation.
"I knew you'd drag my prey out of your dog's den. Give that No-Hoof back to me, thieves!" Okpe demanded in a gravel-ish bellow. However, Okpe wasn't alone, as the head of one Spotted Fox Aihue poked out, and he slinked over towards the side of the large bulky animal. No guess as to how Okpe found them now.
"Not on your life, lame one!" Cujo warned, getting in between the pig and the No-Hoof. "Why should we reward you for breaking the law of the Jungle?"
"Why should YOU be rewarded for stealing my prey? Give that No-Hoof to me or I'll -"
*HOOOWWWWWL*
Widow's howl finally silenced the would-be chaos. Even if she wasn't scared of the creatures at first, even Sila felt humbled hearing such an ominous and ghostly howl emit from this otherwise holy being. It was enough to make Okpe shutter in his rocky plating.
"Okpe. You have no right to speak at our council, AND YOU KNOW IT," Widow made crystal clear. Okpe, as rebellious and hungry as he was, knew the law of the Cadejo too but that didn't mean he was gonna give up.
"O-Ohh, magnificent and wonderous Widow," Aihue said, "I have no right to speak, but isn't it also true that two more must speak for the child to be accepted into the pack?"
Aihue kept behind Okpe just in case any Cadejo suddenly got hungry and wanting a spotted snack. However, Widow settled down and looked amongst the Cadejo hunters and huntresses again.
"We were just getting to that. Who amongst the Talacon Pack will speak for the No-Hoof?" Widow asked.
This law was more than just the Talacon Pack, but for all parents of animal groups in the Tenochtitlan Basin. This law dictates that if any young child, cub, foal, or otherwise has any doubts towards ownership by members of their group, then there must be two or more to speak on their behalf for acceptance, besides the mother and father. But the question now was who was going to speak for him? Surely Widow himself wasn't going to do that, and many of the Cadejo didn't seemed too fond of the idea either.
Good news for Okpe and Aihue, but terrible news for the parents trying to protect her. Okpe couldn't wait to take that No-Hoof away for his long-awaited meal, his drool dripping like dew off a tree after rainfall.
Seconds ticked by, and still no word ...
Until ...
"... N-Hoof? A No-Hoof? ... Why, I speak for the No-Hoof."
"What?" snorted Okpe.
While many animals weren't allowed to be more than observers to such a council meeting, there was one who was allowed to speak freely in the pack that actually was NOT a Cadejo. The pack turned their heads towards a spot by the council rock, and found another creature lumbering over towards the center of the area. None of the animals could forget this creature. His back was covered in fresh green leaves like the quills off a hedgehog, walking slow with a large pair of webbed feet in the back, and some strange digits at the front (five links - four even at front with one on the side). He lumbered forward on all fours at first, but when he got close to Sila he reared back perfectly on his back feet, making him taller than many of them but not towering over enough to be taller than Widow on his council rock.
Typically an animal like this wouldn't come forward, but the Cadejos made it an exception for Mu, the Kayeri. Kayeri don't really compete with Cadejo for the same food anyhow, plus Mu in particular had a history with these pack members that earned him a spot in their council meetings.
"Mu. Speak then."
Mu sat down comfortably, patting Sila on the head after he did so.
"This youngster's thin but she's a brave one," Mu said, "I don't have a talent of words, but I speak the truth. I've heard through the grapevines that No-Hoofs are plenty smart, and can adapt quickly. Let her run with the Talacon Pack, and of no one wants to, I'll teach the young No-Hoof myself."
Sila laid her front legs on one of Mu's big feet, not afraid of him in the slightest as Mu gently fluffed her head. After that speaking, the pack waited some more for anyone else to step forward, but not much was spoken after Mu's word.
"She's a playful one too," Mu chuckled, taking time to even play with the little No-Hoof some more. But playfulness doesn't mean that much for the Cadejo, so they just moved on.
"That loud-mouth rodent, blabbering for MY PREY," Okpe rumbled.
"Easy, master," Aihue snickered, "He did speak yes, but that's still one. She needs two, remember?"
Okpe just snorted but kept quiet yet.
"That's one who speaks for this No-Hoof. Anyone else speak besides Mu?" Widow asked towards his fellow Cadejo hounds. It was so quiet even a pin landing in the soft grass can be heard, as the Cadejo didn't utter a single word above a mouse's whisper. The more seconds ticked by, the more Okpe felt like this deal was done.
"Go for her, Aihue. No one else is speaking for her," Okpe quietly ordered. Aihue was just about to do so with a sinister smirk, but this was quickly stopped thanks again to Synth, snarling at him.
"Don't you dare intervene," she warned. This time Okpe wasn't letting her anger get in the way, and he shoved the Cadejo aside with a whack of his huge head.
"No one else talks for her. Then SHE IS MINE. That's the law!" Okpe reminded to not just her, but everyone else amongst the council meeting. The rest of the pack, to make matters worse, didn't stop Okpe's advances towards the young No-Hoof, even with Mu standing right there beside her. The sight of this lumbering mountain of a predator made the young No-Hoof slowly start to back up, one hoof at a time to Okpe's two. It didn't take more than a rabbit's hop for Okpe's large and disgusting muzzle to be inches from this No-Hoof, and not a single voice would speak of her behalf aside from Mu. Her fate seemed almost sealed ... ALMOST. ...
hehehehe "And is it also the law of the Jungle that only pack members can speak in a council meeting?~"
Now who said that?
The voice that seemed to come from nowhere along the wind got the pack to turn on edge, even including the pack leader himself as he bolted up to his hooves, ears erect and senses sharpened for this newcoming creature. No matter who seemed to look where, there wasn't any animal in the area that could've spoken those words, or at the very least spoken from any voice they could normally see. Not even their sharp sense of smell could pinpoint this voice's origin amongst the many pieces of foliage around them. That didn't mean this voice kept itself hidden for much longer; as he cowered and hidden away in the shadow of his master, Aihue started to feel something gently brush against his back. It was enough to make the spotted Fox jump in a startle, as quick as a spring hare to spin around and find ... a tail. Not just any tail, but a braided one, tied in a ring of knots that almost appeared like the coils of a rattlesnake's rattling tail, or even a string of No-Hoof-made beads. And as for the owner of this string of beads, well she took it upon herself to move out into just the right amount of sunlight through the trees to have the world below see her in her glory.
Standing diligently up on a sturdy tree limb stood the feline that the beaded tail belonged to, looking down to all that she could see with a smirk only belonging to the slyest of animals. The light slid along her back like water, and flowed in such a way that almost made her glow in hues of midnights of blue, purple, and green. Her eyes shined above it all though in an emerald glow.
"O Widow," she cooed, her voice making any fem fatale envious of the talent she brought forward, "Council of the Cadejo. ... I myself don't usually have the right to speak. But I ask this time for permission on behalf of ... Your little No-Hoof."
"Why can YOU speak? You're not even a Cadejo!" Aihue managed to bark. All that did was humor the fluorescent feline.
"Look who's talking now. Eh, Aihue?~ Okpe?~"
... Well she got them there. Okpe and Aihue moved back a bit, realizing that there really wasn't any room to talk anymore with this creature. As for Widow, the head Cadejo calmed down and settled once again on his throne, as the rest of the pack warningly considered to let her speak or not. They did kinda allowed Okpe to speak amongst them yet they said nothing for them, so denying this creature the chance wouldn't paint them well beyond hypocrisy.
"Very well, Santer. You may speak amongst the pack meeting," the head of the Talacon decided.
Santer found those words comforting to her mind, and she began to make her way off of her comforting tree branch towards the pack. Her movements could not be tracked by even the sharpest of eyes as only the faint glimpses of her could be seen without the light to show off her outline. Santer only became visible in full once she moved out of the shade and into the light, showing her full feline body to all. She may not be as large as Okpe or Mu, but she did stand just above the height of an average Cadejo, yet sleeker than one herself as she moved in such a way she almost appeared to slither along. Sila was a bit more wary of this creature, hunkering down as Santer looked her over with intrigue.
"Talacon Pack. ... She is such a frail and thin No-Hoof, her legs as thin as the branches on that tree. What shame it would bring to your pack if you went ahead and killed her now," Santer emphasized.
The second she mentioned "shame" made the entire pack squirm. The vice towards any animal with a self-aware mind is pride, and anything that can make that tainted was avoided as much as they could help it. Of course, Santer knew this better than any in the Basin, and she also knew that no creature valued that more than the Talacon Pack. That one point alone would be enough to turn to the vote, but Santer wasn't completely finished yet. Her vote doesn't technically count in the pack, so she began to settle herself.
Santer actually laid down right next to Sila, her tail making a gentle coil around Sila as she stretched her legs along the ground, giving one of her forelimbs a moment of grooming before she spoke again.
"Now then. Talacon Pack. Mu has already spoken on her behalf, but that's still only one, and according to the law it takes two ... However," and she licked her leg again before speaking, "The law also states and I quote: if there is ever a dispute for the ownership of any child of any species. Then the life of that child may be bought at a price ... but it doesn't say who will pay that price. Am I right?~"
Cujo and Synth nodded in agreement to the statement alongside several other members, and Widow could possibly already guess to where Santer was going with this as she sat back up. Some of the Cadejo licked their muzzles on what Santer said next.
"In addition to Mu's generosity and kind word. I myself will add one juicy. Fat. Freshly killed Giraffe, not even a mile away from here, only if you accept the No-Hoof into the pack according to the law. Dinner's on me.~"
To Cadejo of any nature, a Giraffe was the hardest prey to catch and take down, so just the idea of a freshly killed Giraffe waiting for them made them all feel hungry. It's such a large delicacy and a rare one at that. Despite this though, some members of the Talacon Pack were skeptical of this news.
"You sure now? As a delicacy as it is, it's hard for one feline to capture and kill a Giraffe. You have any proof of this catch, Santer?" one of the Cadejo questioned. Santer's grin reached just beyond her muzzle before she turned to an unlikely source standing just a bit aways.
"Okpe?~ Take a whiff of the air, about to the north. If anyone could prove there's fresh meat, it would be you," Santer bribed. He didn't know if she was being stupid or not, but Okpe decided to humor her anyway and brought his flattened yet large nose skyward, taking a few deep breaths of the air around him. Such a tracker his nose, it would be impossible to avoid any scent from his snout.
In short time, they all started to see a stream of drool drip from his hungry old muzzle. Whether he wanted it or not, that was enough proof of a fresh kill nearby.
"What is the decision of the council?" Widow questioned.
The highest ones underneath the leader of the Talacon pack started to consider their options some more. They could see that the other pack members were at the very least swayed by the thought of Giraffe meat, but the idea of a herbivore joining a carnivorous pack was a little bit more to consider. They all looked over to Sila one more time before they began to make their opinions known.
"You know what? ... How much harm could a measly No-Hoof do to us anyway?" questioned one of the council.
"Yeah. she'll probably get swept away in the next rainstorm," agreed the second.
"Either that or just shrivel in the sun's heat," added the third.
There was some more banter between them for the next half a minute, before a representative of the council stepped forward towards Widow and spoke their decision, to which the leader himself addressed everyone there.
"It is decided! The No-Hoof will run with the Pack," Widow announced.
Synth and Cujo breathed a sigh of relief, as Okpe could only groan. No way he can just snatch that No-Hoof meal now, no matter if he found her first or not. The Cadejo, each one hungry and ready for a good feast, started off towards their awaited meal, each member following their sense of smell towards the waiting giraffe meat. Okpe will have to wait a bit longer for any chance, but for now all he could come up with in his rocky head was a rough snort, before turning and making his way back into the Jungle, but not before giving his piece of mind.
"This is an OUTRAGE! I can't have her now, but you can't hide her from me forever. And when the day comes for that No-Hoof to be casted out, I'll have her. Just you watch!"
Santer snickered as the large rock boar moved out of sight. "Keep squealing, my rocky pig. Before you know it, she'll grow up, and we'll just see who'll be hunting who.~"
Hehehehehe~ "If I don't know the Equestrian Ponies~"
And so it came to be. Sila was accepted into the pack, thanks to the price of one Giraffe, and Mu's kind word.
