shadow 1 (revamped version)
#1 of shadow
Shadow
Prelude
Shadow slept peacefully in the sunlight flowing through the open window of his room. The sheet had fell to the floor in the night revealing the muscular build of the jaguar lion mix. His black pelt of his fathers side was dotted with intricate golden patterns. These patterns accented his long flowing mane of his mothers side that he grew past his broad shoulders. The thick patch of golden fur that covered his chest, and trailed down to another thick patch at his massive manhood was matted down with sweat from the summer heat.
A hot breeze blew in from the open window blowing a strand of Shadow's long mane onto his face. In his sleep Shadow heard a gentle female voice. "You need to get your mane cut child. You know how your father hates when you let it get so long." the voice said as a soft lionesses hand gently moved the lock of fur from Shadow's face.
Shadow let out a sigh, "What does He care.".
"He cares more than you think child. He just has a hard time showing it.". The lioness replied as she placed her paws on either side of Shadow's face. She smiled down at Shadow and kissed his forehead, "I love you so much child."
"I love you too Mother.", Shadow replied just before the alarm clock went off.
Shadow stretched as he woke while the alarm continued to sound. Reaching over he turned it off, noting that it was 11:15 am. Not having to go to work until that afternoon he decided to stay in bed a little longer. As he lay in bed another hot breeze blew through the window, reminding him to call the landlord to get the central air fixed.
As he began to doze off a familiar scent of sandalwood filled the room. Shadow's thoughts turned again to his mother, who always burned incense when she tucked him in as a cub. He remembered asking her why as he drifted again into sleep.
"It will help to keep away bad dreams child.", the lioness said as she walked to where cub Shadow once was lay in his bed.
The young Shadow, a cub of only eight, looked up at his mother. "Read me a story."
"I would love to read you a story child, but your father and I are going out tonight.". The lioness smiled. "How about I get Grams to read to you tonight?"
"It's not the same." Shadow sighed as he looked away.
"Elaine, we're going to be late." the deep voice of Shadow's father bellowed from downstairs.
"I'm coming love." the Elaine called back. Turning back to Shadow she placed her paw on his cheek turning his face towards hers. "I must go child," she told him before kissing him on the forehead.
Shadow watched as his mother stood and walked to the door. She stopped in the doorway and turned to her son. "I'll send Grams up to read to you child." adding "I love you so much.".
"Elaine." his father bellowed once more.
"Yes love, I'm on my way." she replied as she walked out of the room.
The young Shadow was awakened later that night by raised voices coming from downstairs. Curious he got up and made his way out of the room and halfway down the stairs. Sitting on the stairs he could see into the kitchen above the bar top counter that divided it from the living room. His grandmother was seated at the table and his father paced in front of the refrigerator a bandage wrapped around his head.
His father was clearly upset speaking in very loud tones. "You know more than you're saying." the jaguar bellowed pointing at the old lioness.
Shadow noticed that his father's right forearm was bandaged. Hints of red stains had reached the outer layer of the bandages. Shadow knew his father had been injured and wondered where his mother was. As he silently listened as the conversation continued.
"You had a car accident Xavier, your head injury is causing you to not think clearly.". The lioness began to stand seeing the stains of the bandage on the Xavier's forearm becoming darker.
" I know what I saw, and don't try to blame me for this.". Xavier uncrossed his arms, his face showing his pain as he placed his left hand onto the injured forearm.
The old lioness gathered various fresh herbs from the plants on the counter and began placing them into a new bandage. "No one is blaming you, but honestly a creature made of fire ramming the truck causing you to crash is a little far fetched.". Finishing with the new bandage Grams turned to Xavier. "Now sit so I can change that."
Xavier sat as instructed. "I know how it sounds but I didn't imagine it.", he said as Grams cut the bandage off with one of her claws revealing several deep gashes in the jaguars forearm.
Shadow let out a loud gasp at the sight of his fathers injury. The sound made his father and grams look towards him.
Xavier rose to his feet. "Shadow......".
"SHADOW...WAKE UP." a voice called out.