Light of Hope

Greetings everyone, and welcome to my first attempt at both writing original stories and at writing for Adult Fanfiction. I hope you like my idea, and that it lives up to expectations.

I do however, have a request for anyone who reads and enjoys this. I am not particularly good at writing smutty scenes, and was hoping that people would assist me with this. Anyone who finds that they enjoy this prologue and wishes to read more is welcome to write me any kind of scene they want, short of abuse and torture. Anyone who writes one shall receive full credit for the scene and will be mentioned at the beginning of the relevant chapter. Of course, be warned that it may get slightly changed to fit the characters and their situation in any given chapter, unless it was written specifically for these characters. Basically, I will be thrilled with even a generic scene! Anyone who is interested can email me a scene at crazy_freaked_out_lollipop@walla.com
Of course, if no one responds I shall endeavour to write my own, but it may be at your own peril!
I look forward to hearing from you!

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Light of Hope
Prologue


The demons of the Bengal Clan were in a state of uproar. Well, that is to say that the Blackstripe household, the Clan leader’s family, was in a state of uproar. The Clan leader’s mate had given birth to a son; But while the rest of the Clan celebrated the birth of a Bengal prince, the Blackstripe family and their retainers where in a position of perpetual alarm. The new Bengal prince was a throwback… a White Tiger, one of the hated enemies of the powerful Bengal Clan.

Rexil Blackstripe paced around the room, wondering exactly what they were going to do. This was a disaster of monumental proportions! His tail twitched with agitation as his mate, Calandia, sobbed, wept, and wailed on the bed, still recovering from the birth of her first cub. “How can this be?” she cried. “It just isn’t possible!”
“Oh hush Calandia!” her father, old Clan leader Siniah snapped. “Take care of your son!”
“That abomination is not my son!” the Bengal tigress shrieked. “Get that thing away from me!” she pushed the birthing attendant that held her son away from her with a cry of rage.
Siniah looked to Rexil. “Well my son? It is your decision. What would you have us do with the cub?”
“I do not know Honoured One.” The Clan leader sighed. “What would you have me do?”
“The cub is my grandson Rexil, regardless of what my daughter says in anger; however, what to do with the child is not up to me. You are the clan leader, not me.” Siniah replied carefully.
“I’ll admit it’s a bad situation.” Rexil said quietly. “The Arctic Clan has been our enemy for centuries. You of all people remember how bad the wars were.”
“I do.” Siniah replied with a small shudder.
“A Bengal prince with that colouring will cause strife among the Clan.” Another voice intruded on them. Adalana, the Clan soothsayer, an ancient Bengal elder, had that ominous look on her face that Siniah had always hated.
“What do you propose Ada?” Rexil demanded tiredly.
“Expose it!” Calandia screeched from the bed. “I’ll not have that thing in my Clan or in my household! It is a blight on the Blackstripe name!”
“He is my son Calandia, I cannot do that!” Rexil told his mate, who hissed and spat in defiance.
“Actually Rexil, I agree with your mate.” Adalana cut in. “Letting him live will throw the Clan into turmoil; I don’t need my rune stones to know that. The cub will cause such friction that the Clan may rise against the Blackstripe family.

The silence in the small chamber was almost deafening. Finally, Rexil took his son from the attendant and looked down at him for the first and last time. Then he sighed, his heart heavy. “Very well Calandia. For the sake of the Bengal Clan, I will expose the cub.” He looked to his mate, who looked smugly satisfied. “But don’t expect me to forgive this for a long, long time. You have sentenced our son to die, and that I will not forgive lightly.” He looked into the horrified golden eyes of his father-in-law, and jerked his head for the elder demon to follow him.

Once in the hallway, Rexil turned to his elder. “Can anything be done?” he asked quietly.
“You have condemned my grandcub to death Rexil, what can I do?” the old Bengal asked, anger flashing in his blue eyes.
“I have no intention of allowing my son to die because his mother cannot love his colouring.” Rexil snapped. He looked around, hoping that no one was around to overhear them. “I love my mate Siniah, but this time Calandia has asked the unforgivable of me, and I cannot, will not, do this.”
Siniah regarded his successor with understanding eyes. “I know of a family that may take him.” He said at last. “A family in the Nightday Clan, a Clan of Panthers east of here. He will be cared for, the Clan leader is a dear friend of mine.”
Rexil looked down at his baby son, his hand caressing the cub’s soft pale skin and tufted ears, made even paler in contrast to his golden skin and ears. “Do it.” he said finally. “Make him safe Siniah, I beg you.”
Siniah nodded and took the tiny cub from his father’s arms, getting a good look at his grandcub for the first time. He looked at Rexil. “I must tell my mate of these proceedings, Rexil. I will not lie to her.”
Rexil nodded. “I will not expect you to keep the truth from mother Fenalia, Siniah.” He said. “He is her grandcub too.”

The older tiger nodded and began to walk down the deserted hallway, his grandson in his arms. He stopped suddenly and turned. “Will you name him, Rexil? Before we leave?” he asked.
Rexil was silent a moment before he whispered, so softly that Siniah’s sharp ears barely picked up the sound. “Sekiah. He shall be called Sekiah.”
“Sekiah… ‘Light of hope’. I think it shall suit him.”
And he was gone.

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It took Siniah a sevenday to reach the Nightday Clan, leaving the tropical forest territory of the Bengal Clan to enter the mountain territory of the Panthers. He considered himself lucky that the Bengal Clan and the Nightday Clan were on such good terms, had he been travelling anywhere else, his newborn grandcub would’ve been in grave danger.

The family he sought lived in a small village at the foot of the mountain, for which the elderly Bengal demon was thankful. His climbing skills were not what they once were. Siniah had had little sleep since leaving the Bengal Clan, caring for his little grandcub as best he knew how. He was thankful when he finally walked through the gateway into the first of the small Nightday Clan villages, the one where the family he wanted resided.
Coming upon a large wooden home, he rapped sharply on the door. A young panther-wife opened it, her eyes widening at the sight of an elderly Bengal Clansman on her doorstep. From behind her, an older panther-wife peered at him before breaking out into a large grin. “Siniah Blackstripe! To what do we owe the pleasure of this visit?” she asked delightedly.
“Hello Doriella.” Siniah replied with a tired smile. “Is Bonnek at home? I have a favour to ask of you and your family.”
Doriella Moondark, mate to elder Bonnek of the Nightday Clan, nodded, taking in the small bundle of white fur and pale skin tied securely to the Bengal’s back. “He’s out back, pottering around as usual. I shall fetch him while Arinee makes you and the cub comfortable.” She nodded to the young panther-wife who had answered the door. She left briskly.
Siniah sat, untying the cub from his back and cradling him gently. He looked over to Arinee. “You are Neelta’s mate?” he asked. The Clan leader’s mate nodded respectfully. “Is he available? This also concerns him.”
Arinee nodded silently again, and vanished out the front door as Doriella and Bonnek entered through the back.
“She has gone to fetch my son, I presume?” Bonnek asked, and Siniah nodded confirmation. “Then your tale can wait.” He decided, also noticing the cub in his friend’s arms. “It is good to see you Siniah, it had been a while.”
“Indeed it has, my old friend.” Siniah replied tiredly, flashing Clan leader Neelta a smiled greeting as he entered with his mate.

“Now, old friend, tells us why you are here.” Bonnek said. “Although, judging from the colouring of that cub you’re holding, I’d say I could hazard a guess.”
“He is the first cub born to Calandia and Rexil. His name is Sekiah.” Siniah said bluntly, “And his mother demanded him exposed for this ‘unfortunate’ colouring.”
Doriella and Arinee looked shocked. “This is your own grandcub?” Arinee sounded distressed, and her mate put a soothing hand on her arm.
“I had heard Calandia was pregnant Siniah, but for her to behave in such a manner! It is a wonder Rexil allowed it!” Doriella exclaimed.
“He is white Dori, Calandia and Adalana convinced Rexil that it would throw the clan into turmoil to let him live.” Siniah sighed with defeat.
“Ha! Adalana Sunclaw lives for the dramatic!” Doriella scoffed. “I’ve wanted to tell the old fool what I think of her for centuries.”
Siniah laughed wryly. “Haven’t we all Dori?” his smile faded. “At any rate, Rexil could not bear to kill his son, and that is why I am here.”
“You wish for us to take him in?” Neelta guessed, and the elderly Bengal nodded.
“You will keep him safe and will not treat him any differently from any other cub. I would not trust any other Clan or family with my grandcub’s wellbeing.” Siniah said.
“Let me see him.” Doriella said. It was a command, not a request. Siniah handed him carefully to the elderly panther-wife who was able to look at the now awake cub’s face. She gasped. “Well I never! He had you’re eyes Siniah.”
“I know…” the Bengal whispered. “Those eyes that were my mother’s.”
“You never told Calandia did you?” Bonnek said reprovingly. “You never told her that her grandmother was of the Arctic Clan.”
“No, the only other soul in the Bengal Clan that knows that is my dear Fenalia.” Siniah admitted. “Calandia was too young to remember her grandmother before she died.”

Doriella passed the cub to Arinee and announced. “We will take him Siniah. We shall love him as one of our own.”
Siniah bowed from his seated position. “I shall be forever in your debt.”
Doriella waved his words away. “Nonsense; he is a dear little thing. He will be an easy cub to love.” At that moment, the cub began to mewl in distress.
“He is hungry.” Arinee exclaimed, and whisked the little white cub away.
“Arinee just gave birth herself.” Neelta explained proudly. “Twins. A boy and a girl. They shall be good siblings to your grandcub.” He bent down and scooped an older cub into his arms as he charged exuberantly through the room. “And I will be proud to be his father, as Rexil could not be.”
“Thank you Neelta. I am eternally grateful to you.” Siniah replied.
Arinee returned. “He is sleeping with the twins.” She said.
“Will you stay, Siniah?” Bonnek asked.
“I’m afraid that I cannot.” Siniah answered. “I have been gone far too long already.”
“Will you at least eat before you leave us?” Doriella demanded. “We will give you provisions enough to see you home.”
“I would be grateful for some food.” Siniah admitted.
“Well it’s settled then!” Arinee said cheerfully, getting up. “Let me get you something to eat!”

An hour later, Siniah was kissing baby Sekiah on the forehead as he slept. “Farewell my grandcub.” He murmured. The cub mumbled and giggled in his sleep, purring slightly. The Bengal smiled and looked to his friends. “I will return, and look in on him once in a while.”
“You had better.” Doriella exclaimed. “He needs to know at least one member of his birth family. One day he may return to the Bengal Clan.”
Siniah smiled down on little Sekiah. “I hope so Dori… I sincerely hope so.”