The lioness heard the black panther’s soft foot falls before she saw her red eyes, gleaming in the darkness that surrounded them both. She had taken what shelter she could under a small overhanging of rock, but the wind and rain still stung her eyes and paws no matter how closely she clung to it. The storm had begun almost as soon as He had left, just as He told her it would. And now, she was here. Thorn.
“Well, little cub, what are you doing caught out in such a storm? “ she hissed with laughter. The lioness stood, and her eyes, the same golden hue of His, shone through the darkness.
“He has asked me to wait for Him, and so I shall,” she answered in a growl. The panther drew closer, her red eyes widened in amusement.
“And did He tell you, how long you must wait for Him? How long you must endure this storm?” she asked. Something inside the lioness’ heart wavered, and Thorn noticed. The panther drew closer, her tail twitching rapidly.
“No,” she answered. Her voice was not as strong now, and trembled. Her eyes fell from Thorn’s unrelenting gaze, and she heard her hiss in delight. The panther drew closer, her fangs bared.
“And wherever is your dear Protector?”
“He is with me, as always,” she answered back stronger. The panther only laughed at her, and continued her advance. She could barely contain her excitement. She had drawn blood from the lioness before, when she had strayed from His side, and every time, it was sweeter.
“Of course, but...oh, you cannot see Him, can you? And you cannot hear Him, can you? And you cannot feel Him, can you? How ironic, the differences between Him, and I. Shall I name them off for you, little cub?” she snarled. The panther drew closer, drawing back one paw, ready for the first strike.
“No,” the lioness roared. Caught off guard, the panther jumped back, and braced herself. The lioness advanced, and the panther tripped over her own paws, in her effort to escape the lioness’ range. But the lioness stopped, just outside her shelter. The wind rang in her ears. The rain stung her eyes. The cold bit at her paws. The darkness would have been undisturbed...if not for the light, His light, shining from her.
“No, I shall name the differences between you, Thorn, and Him. He died and rose to give me life, while you try again and again to take it away. He is faithful to restore me, while you try to leave me ruined and empty. He loves me, fully and completely, and you hate me. But try as you will, you will not destroy me,” she roared. The panther roared back, and leapt to her paws. Within a moment, her fangs were an inch from the lioness’ throat. The lioness had not flinched, and now looked at her with such fury, that the panther’s red eyes couldn’t meet their gaze.
“I...can hurt you,” she snarled. Her voice was quieter, as though she needed to convince herself. The lioness smiled.
“Oh yes, you can, Thorn. Go ahead. Curse me. I will not be crushed beneath it. Oppress me. I will not be driven to despair. Mock me. I will never be forsaken. Strike me. I will not be destroyed. No, not by anyone. I am His. You cannot touch me,” she whispered. The panther drew away, farther into the storm.
“You...you will wait for Him here? In this tortuous place? Why?” she called over the wind. Her eyes, now barely visible, were wide with fear and uncertainty. The lioness smiled, and the light shone all the brighter around her.
“Because I love Him.”
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