The wind shifts as you wander away from the warriors, your paws carrying you toward a quiet spot on the outskirts of the territory. You've been restless all day, the noise and constant sparring wearing on your nerves. The idea of some solitude, away from the ever-watchful eyes of Avanor’s warriors, is appealing.
You slow your pace as you approach a more secluded part of the territory, near the old trees that stand like sentinels along the hillside. The shadows have lengthened, and a strange sensation crawls up your spine, a sense of being watched. Your instincts heighten, your paws growing lighter as your eyes scan the trees. The rustling of branches high above causes your heart to skip a beat. You spot dark shapes looming above—several of them—silent, assessing. The shadows blend with the foliage, and for a moment, you wonder if your eyes are playing tricks.
Leopards? You squint, trying to make sense of what you’re seeing. But no, these shapes are too large, too powerful. Leopards don't move like that, and there are far too many of them clustered together. One figure, larger than the rest, sits with its tail flicking lazily from side to side, two gleaming eyes locking onto yours from above. A heavy feeling of uncertainty settles in your gut.
You take a step forward, trying to appear calm, but the weight of so many eyes following your every move unnerves you. Something isn’t right here. You don’t belong in this part of the pride’s land. These figures... whoever they are... they don’t seem ready to tolerate a lion wandering near their perch.
Your paw touches the ground softly, but the crunch of dry leaves underfoot sounds deafening. One of the figures shifts. Instinctively, you lower yourself, preparing for the worst. But before you can back away, a voice echoes down from the treetops.
"Whoa, easy there! No need to get all jumpy."
Startled, you look up again. The dark shape that had been watching you jumps gracefully from the tree, landing with a soft thud several paces away. You take in the sight of the massive feline before you, unlike any you’ve ever seen. His coat is sleek, with spots that swirl and blend into black patches, giving him a majestic but foreign look. He’s not a lion. Not a leopard either. This is... something else entirely.
“Let me guess,” the cat says, his tone oddly cheerful. “You’re wondering what we are, right?”
You stare at him, your brain scrambling to connect the dots. This creature stands before you with an air of confidence, despite being smaller than a lion, and though he doesn't seem hostile, the sheer strangeness of him makes you uneasy.
“I—” You hesitate, unsure of what to say. “I thought you were leopards...”
The spotted cat chuckles, shaking his head. “Leopards? Nah, mate, we’re way cooler than that!” His tail flicks with amusement, and he strides forward, eyes glinting as he introduces himself. “I’m Mateo, the jaguar. You’ve probably never seen one of us before.”
A jaguar? The word feels unfamiliar on your tongue. The memory of Avanor’s explanation about Naqila flashes in your mind. Suddenly, things start to click into place. This cat—this jaguar—is part of the group Avanor mentioned. The jaguars that washed up on the shore...
Naqila's father must be one of them, then.
The realization makes you take a half-step back, and Mateo’s face softens as if sensing your unease.
“Hey, hey, no need to be scared,” he says, sitting on his haunches to appear less threatening. “We’re not here to cause trouble. Avanor’s letting us stick around for a bit. We’re just... trying to get our bearings in this place, you know? A whole new world and all.”
Your tension eases slightly, though you remain cautious. “Avanor told me about jaguars, but... I’ve never seen one. I didn’t know what to expect.”
Mateo smirks. “Bet you didn’t think we’d be lounging in trees, huh? We’re pretty good at that. Jaguars love climbing—helps us stay out of trouble.” He glances back up at the trees, where the other shadowy figures remain perched, still watching you.
You look up at the figures again, their gazes no longer as intimidating now that you understand what they are. The jaguars in the trees shift slightly, but none of them move to engage. They seem content to let Mateo handle the introduction.
"Yeah, my crew can be a bit... reserved," Mateo admits with a casual shrug. "They’re still getting used to being here, and most of them aren't too keen on chatting with lions.
Mateo’s casual tone doesn’t completely erase the tension that lingers in the air, but you can feel some of the weight lifting off your chest. You let out a slow breath, watching him closely. His demeanor is relaxed, almost friendly, but there’s a certain sharpness to his movements, an awareness that suggests he’s constantly calculating his surroundings.
“So... what brings you out here?” Mateo asks, his amber eyes locking onto yours again. “Not every day a lion goes wandering off alone, especially not into our neck of the woods, so to speak.” He grins, clearly pleased with himself for the joke.
You shift your weight slightly, glancing back toward where the warriors were stationed, now distant enough that their presence feels like a far-off memory. “I was just... looking for some peace and quiet,” you admit, keeping your voice steady. “Didn’t realize I’d be wandering into jaguar territory.”
Mateo nods, his tail flicking lazily behind him. “Ah, yeah. You wouldn’t know, would you? We’re a bit out of place here, after all.” He gestures with his head toward the others in the trees. “It’s been a long journey for us, and not all of my kin have settled as easily as I have. Some still don’t trust this land, or its lions.”
You glance at the trees again, feeling the weight of their gazes, and nod in understanding. “It must be difficult. Being so far from home...”
Mateo's expression softens a little at that. “You have no idea. We were shipped across oceans, stuck in a metal cage for what felt like forever, and then—” he stops himself, his eyes flicking to the horizon as if recalling something unpleasant. “Well, let’s just say we’ve had better days.” He sighs, shaking off the memory. “But now we’re here. And we’ll make the best of it.”
His words hang in the air for a moment, and you realize that this jaguar, despite his confident exterior, carries the weight of his group’s survival on his shoulders. Just like Avanor leads his pride, Mateo is responsible for these jaguars, ensuring they adapt to this strange new world.
You lower your head slightly in a gesture of respect. “I didn’t mean to intrude on your space. I’ll leave you be.”
Mateo’s eyes widen slightly, and he shakes his head quickly. “Oh no, you don’t have to go! Really, we’re cool. Besides,” he adds with a mischievous grin, “I don’t get to chat with lions much. Most of them give me the cold shoulder.”
You let out a small chuckle despite yourself. “I can imagine. Lions aren’t exactly the friendliest bunch when it comes to outsiders.”
“Tell me about it,” Mateo laughs, sitting more comfortably on the ground now. “But you seem alright. Not like the others we’ve run into before. Maybe you’ve been spending too much time with Avanor and his royal attitude.” His teasing tone lightens the mood, and you can’t help but smile.
“Avanor’s a good leader,” you say.
Mateo’s expression softens again, this time more genuine. “Yeah, he’s got a good head on his shoulders. Can’t say I’ve met many kings like him.” He stands up, giving himself a good shake before looking back up at the trees. “Well, since you’ve wandered all the way out here, how about I introduce you to the rest of the gang? They’re not as talkative as me, but maybe they’ll warm up to you.”
You hesitate for a moment, glancing at the other jaguars still perched in the trees. They don’t seem hostile, but the idea of meeting so many at once feels... intimidating. Mateo seems to sense your hesitation and laughs softly.
“Don’t worry, they won’t bite. Unless you ask nicely,” he adds with a playful wink.
You roll your eyes at his humor but nod. “Alright, lead the way.”
