lupei
What the truth is, I can't say anymore
And the Lord God said to the serpent: Because thou hast done this thing, thou art cursed among all cattle, and beasts of the earth: upon thy breast shalt thou go, and earth shalt thou eat all the days of thy life.
His eyes, hard and untrusting, watch the two slithering creatures approach the shore. It’s clear that the darker one wears the pants - that arrow-like head rising above the pale one to flicker out an introduction. He snarls, lip curling above his fully-grown canines in a thinly veiled threat. He can smell them, the legless fiends, and it irritates his nose. The wolf quivers, tongue flicking between his closed front teeth while his ears lay flat against his upturned fur. It’s understood that he’s not comfortable with them, either of them, and he shakes with the combined effort of controlling his fear and keeping them at bay.
“No closer.” He rumbles, tail low and sweeping over the water to disturb the calm surface. He doesn’t know why they came, or who sent them, but he won’t be the fool who so carelessly extends his name to them. He’s not sure how to continue, how to dance around what he’s doing out here or who exactly he is. He’s not ready to take a single step. Lupei only knows to hold his own and to fight until death, and he’ll do that if it comes to it. “Who sent you?” He snarls, the guttural noise escaping his gut in a ragged sentence.
Another noise causes his head to whip around, he snaps, taking a step back with wide eyes as the panther descends into view. Was this an ambush? Had they been sent to drag him back to their respective kingdoms so that he could face judgement? Just who had he slaughtered out there on the beach? She pads closer, the night-washed feline, and her silky voice echoes over the tepid lake. He huffs, finds his courage, and chooses to face them as a man and as his true self. His head dips, shakes to the side, and then his body contorts until he’s wholly horse. He’s back to his blue-green self, curling, wet mane clinging to his mint green neck as he inhales and stands his ground.
“I’m Lupei, and I’ll not be taken easily.”
