A Beast of Lon: pt. 2
A short story
The next morning, the Head Archivist Luppa, Asha, and Vedra were informed by the Empress that they could draw one of the beasts of Lon and interview them to update their drawings, as well as historical data. Of course, they jumped to the opportunity. The majordomo of the palace led them to a large gazebo in the back of the large palace, filled with cushions and stools for them to sit on. Unlike their home, it wasn’t hot as it would be that time of year. In fact, it was comfortable with a cool mountain breeze stirring the leaves of the shade tree they were under. Luppa had a shaw with her.
Once they were settled down, a squat display table was brought, and Ri’gel followed. He stepped on the table and presented himself to be sketched.
He wasn’t wearing any of the jewelry he had the night before, save the chained tail rings. His mane had been combed, that longest portion of his mane going down his neck had been braided. The fur on the rest of his body had been brushed and oiled because his coat gleamed like polished onyx.
“He’ll do any pose you wish, just ask,” said the Majordomo. “If you need anything, just ring the bell,” she said, bowed, and left.
Luppa clapped her hands together when they were alone. “Alright, Vedra you can do the sketching. Asha, you can write the descriptions of what she is sketching. And I’ll go through the information I brought with us on what we know about the Lon.”
Vedra nodded and sat with her sketchbook. Ri’gel looked forward with the same apathy as before. He was a statue with only his tail flicking occasionally, but was still for the most part. She did a full body sketch first so he could sit as soon as possible.
“I would like to sketch your paws,” said Vedra.
He lifted a single paw up for her to view. It was larger than her hand. It also reminded her of the cat-like lizards called rotusks that rammed their lands. They would attack grazing beasts, as well as her people. However, they weren’t intelligent. They were just animals of a very brutal nature. She saw her first one up close as a child when a hunter killed one. They showed her its retractable, vicious hooks. However, Ri’gel paws manicured claws were blunt on long toes.
“Can you flex your toes,” she asked him.
He did, and she discovered that he had no webbing between them as a canine would. They claimed the beasts of Lon were canines or some kind of wolf. She had doubts about that from what she could see. Even his snout didn’t look very wolf-like. It was blunt and bear-like.
“Thank you,” she said.
He didn’t say anything other than watch her sketch out the shape of each of his feet at rest, flexed, and then his paw pads underneath. It was a long session of sketching and labeling all they could until it was time for the midday meal.
Platters were brought in to eat filled with dried fruits, bread, cheese, and what Vedra assumed was some sort of bean soup. There was absolutely no meat anywhere on the platter. Asha frowned and waited until the servers left to voice his displeasure.
“Is it me or is the assumption that we are rabbits is pervasive in this country,” he said. “I noticed everyone else had roasted duck at their table. I wanted some.”
Vedra would’ve loved some roasted duck. “They are trying not to offend. They do not realize rabbit ears don’t make us rabbits,” she said.
Asha was still unhappy and slapped the top of his bowl of stew with the flat of his spoon.
The Head Archivist took a spoonful of her stew and ate it. “It isn’t that bad. They did season it with ham.”
Asha looked at his bowl with incredulousness. “They seasoned it with ham and feed us like vegetarians? That makes sense.”
Vedra knew he was likely going to go to the first food stall back home and gorge himself on meat skewers.
“I can always ask them to bring you something,” said Ri’gel.
He was brought a bowl of raw meat of some kind.
“They always have some kind of meat to feed us and the cook pieces for themselves,” he said. “I think today is mutton.”
“I’ll take it,” said Asha before Vedra could decline. She didn’t want to impost. Luppa looked like she had the same thought in mind. They stared at him. He then told them unapologetically. “What? I’ve been looking forward to tasting Gaolian rich dishes. If I wanted to eat like this, then I would’ve stayed home.”
Ri’gel went to the rope bell and rung it. A servant appeared. He spoke with them, and they left. The beast then walked back to where he had sat and plucked a chunk of sliced meat from his bowl and ate, saying, “We don’t get Chevs here often. In fact, I don’t think any reside in the city aside from the ambassador in the embassy. He was the one that told them what to include in your meals.”
“There are those among our people who choose a vegetarian lifestyle,” said Vedra. “It’s not by choice. Usually, meat is harder to digest. Bird meat and fish meat are the usual choices. Lamb as well. Mutton can be if you like strong.”
“Do you have a lot of fruits,” asked Ri’gel with his tail wagging.
“Yes, it’s warm enough that we can grow anything we want,” she told him. “All kinds of melons, plums, and some tropical fruits.”
“I’ve read about the melons your people grow. They sound exquisite. Due to our climate, not a lot grows in terms of fruit. Plants that grow here have short growing seasons as well as surviving harsh winters.”
“Does it snow a lot here,” broken in Luppa. “I’ve always wanted to see snow.”
“Every year, the ground is covered in snow for months. In the tall peaks, snow stays for most of the year. Then it’s summer for about three months and the snow comes back. Very few live up there. In fact, in a couple more months, it’ll start to turn cold. The elk herds will move south, and the packs will go to our winter home. I, a few others, and the De Mora will stay here.”
“Why,” asked Luppa.
“This is just our summer home. We normally don’t live here year around. However, the de Mora and a few other females had late pups this year. They are too young to go to the mountains. The Gaolians help us with food and help keep the caves warmth. Some of the other packs aren’t fond of our arrangement. They think it weakens us. However, we are one of the largest and strongest packs out there so we can’t be too weak.”
Luppa wrote everything she just heard down. “Also, this brings me to a question. Do all the dons get a chance to sire pups?”
“No. Typically the prime don will sire the most pups. The De Mora will choose another if that is what she desires.”
“So, none of the previous pups of the de Mora are yours?”
“No,” he said. “I’m actually one of her sister’s pups. I am too closely related to Sire her pups. We don’t like inbreeding. It weakens the pack.”
Asha stopped stuffing his face and asked looking curious. “Then why choose you as a don?”
“My coat color.”
“So you function in the pack is just to look pretty,” asked Luppa.
“I’m also a teacher. Normally, I’m with the De Mora’s pups to make sure they have knowledge.”
“So, you dance and teach, I assume when everyone comes down the mountain, you stay here, asked Luppa.
“Yes,” he answered.
“What do you do here during the winter when there is no one from your pack here,” asked Vedra.
“I read in the library. Study maps. I suppose I should take you there. I am here to serve as a guide,” he said, though he didn’t sound very interested in doing so.
Asha then asked. “So, if you are here all winter, doesn’t that mean you miss your peoples breeding season?”
“Yes. It’s done purposely. Coal colored coats aren’t desired. Not all Gaolians hold us to such esteem. There are hunters who go up in the hills to kill us for pelts and trade them in black markets. Coal colored coats are highly desired.”
Luppa looked up. “Wait. Given your people’s hierarchy, doesn’t that make you one of the lowliest of all the dons?”
“Correct,” he answered in that same flat voice. Looking at Luppa but not actually regarding her like he had done Vedra.
“Surely you engage in, for lack of a better word, off-season mating.”
“It would be wrong for me to not be allowed. It’s a method of bonding. However, the other dons and warriors are given preferential treatment,” he said, in a monotone voice that suggested he was holding his tongue.
For the rest of their session, he didn’t appear happy. In fact, his ears and tail were just low. He wasn’t proud of what he was doing. In fact, all the other beast they had seen had their heads, ears, and tails tall. He only showed life when they told him about their lands.
“I just don’t know if he is happy,” she told Asha and Luppa while they were in their room getting ready for the night. She had finished her journaling for the day and finished the details of one of her sketches.
“Seems like he’s more duty bound to me,” said Asha. “I mean, the beasts of Lon have a strict society. Everyone has a role assigned and they perform it. And since he is like us, a keeper of information for the pack. You should get all the information you can from him.”
“Oh, I will. It’s just that there isn’t much of a spark in his eyes like he is disinterested in his life,” she said.
Head Archivist Luppa then leaned forward on her, “Whispering to beasts again, I see.”
Vedra had the skill of actually understanding the beast that she studied. Many thought she was trying to put personality of something sentient on them. However, she understood beasts in their terms. However, Ri’gel was very sentient, and it didn’t take her much to know what his ears meant. Why his tail was moving the way it did? It bothered her to him the way he was.
“A little,” she admitted.
“There isn’t much you can do about it. We are here only for a few more days, and it’s back home,” Luppa reminded her. “Try not to think too much about it. Different culture and all.”
Vedra nodded. She would try, but she couldn’t get his behavior out of her head. Those green eyes of his that looked through here until he looked at her. That sad look. That acknowledgment that he wasn’t in a good place within his pack.