Why didn't you kill me instead? (Mini only)

[Xarae]

A shriek echoed through the clearing, piercing enough to be heard from miles around, even with the roaring of the falls. Annika sobbed, sobbed harder than she had ever had before, even when her mother died. Gut wrenching screams still seemed to rebound off the granite of the falls. Streams of tears gushed from her eyes. All her litter except one, were stillborn, and the one live one was inexplicably marked by the goddess. "DAMN YOU RIKUANU!" Screamed the leopards. "Burn in hell!" She added.
"I hate you! Die die die die die die!" She screamed, falling back against the tree roots in the den she had birthed in. She was still crying, trying desperately to keep her one cub alive. "I..hate..her.." She said quietly, knowing she would repeat the above phrases when she shared her dreams with the goddess as well. Her chest heaved up and down as she glanced forlornly down at her mutated son. "He desvered better." She whispered, tears falling down onto the cub's fur.

[Mini]

A large shape ran full speed towards the den, his pale eyes wide as his mate's cries resounded off the falls and trees that surrounded them. He stopped near the den entrance, breathing heavily. He lowered his head, his face shadowed. "Annika?" he asked quietly, moving to step into the den. Rift lowered his head to peer in, and his heart stopped for a moment. He saw Annika sobbing in the back of the den, and six tiny bodies laying next to her, all apparently gone. A tiny flare of rage flickered inside him, and he backed up, turning his striped muzzle to the sky. He let out a roar that echoed back to him, just as loud. Rikuanu! he roared, his fur bristling. Six tiny cubs, each one small and beautiful, and some with the mark of the enraged goddess. Four tiny females, one missing an entire half of her head, yet she would have been a beautiful she-leopard when she grew up had she survived. Two males, only one survived. Even he had a mark, an 'X' shaped scar across his face, and a twisted paw, and when he opened his eyes, who knew what they would find? He might be blind, or he might have nearly no eyes at all.

[Cascade]

ooc: I shall be playing the part of Rikunu for now, seeing as both of you can not as you are biased

ic: ::"It serves you right, you know" the voice echoed in the heads of both cats. "Rift, you know you are forbidden to mate...and with a healer no less! Have you learned nothing from the lessens I taught you?" the voice came from nowhere in preticular, and it was attached to no body...surely Rikuanu, the godess, was speaking. "You two dare to defy my direct word, and this is your punishment. I have spared one kit death...but as you will soon see, perhaps death would have been better. I have marked him with my curse, and let it be known to all that this cub shall be scorned as a traitor and an outcast."

The voice grew dark and dangerous, "Do not force your hatred on me, this was your doing. You broke the sacred law and you were fittingly punished. Honestly, did you think I would not notice? Did you htink you could go on breaking the sacred laws ad come out unphased? Let this be a lesson to the both of you, for if you try this agian I will do much worse than kill your cubs."

The voice, as quickly as it had entered their heads, vanished. A large thundercloud rolled overhead and rain as black as night began to fall...it was a sign of death to come.

[Mini]

Rift growled as the voice entered his head, his striped tail lashing. I have learned, and I acted irresponsibly. But, please, reconsider. Just because I am a messanger, and she is a healer, which are basically just special titles with special powers, does not mean we should be deprived of joys that every other cat experiances! he roared, his silver fur bristling with anger and frustration. He shook himself for a moment, then entered the den, sitting down near his mate, staring out of the entrance of the den.

[Cascade]

"Silence!" the goddess roared, "When you became my messanger you agreed to the sacred law. You swore never to have a mate or cubs. And Annika took the same oath when she became a healer, as is customary. You both agreed to this, and now you have broken your agreement and met with the consequenses. As for reconsidering, I will not. Your cubs are dead. Death is a one way path, and not even I can change it, even if I so desire."

The voice was suddenly heard only by the healer, "Annika, there is a healer's meeting tonight. No matter the circumstances, you will be there on time. Defy again and you will rue the day you crossed paths with the goddess Rikuanu!"

[Xarae]

Claws scored the sand as rage devolped within her breast, her eyes flashed brightly and she wanted to throw herself against the walls. She released hjer rage with a deep sigh, looking down mournfull at her dead cubs. "They deserved so much better.." She whimpered, rolling them slowly out of the den. "Rift...watch the cub...I-I..must go to the meeting." She whispered, stepping out slowly and padding away, continually glancing back.

[:: Tanette ::]

((Sorry to butt in, but Rikuanu sounds kind of evil right now.))

[Xarae]

((She is supposed to be a vengeful goddess, anyway, this cub is stir things up a bit. ))

[Mini]

Rift gently licked Annika's cheek as she padded by, standing up and turning towards the den. He looked sadly down at the stillborn cubs, shaking his head and padding into the shadows of the den. He sat down by the one surviving cub, lowering his head to nuzzle him.

The cub squirmed, wondering where the familiar scent and warmth of his mother had gone. He squealed as his father nuzzled him, not knowing who this larger, strange-smelling cat was.

ooc: EDITNESS

bic: Realizing that he needed to be present at the meeting, Rift stood up. He looked down at the cub, wondering what he should do. He looked around, wondering if the den was hidden enough in the night. Probably not. He sighed, lowering his muzzle and picking up the cub, lifting him gently by the scruff of his neck. The teopard exitted the den, trotting off towards the rock formation where the healers would be gathering soon.

*RIFT AND CUB HAVE LEFT*