#kanika

“Akin has sired six healthy cubs and one of his daughters Kanika, who left Winchester in 2016, recently gave birth to a female cub at Santa Barbara Zoo in California.

Carrie Arnold, carnivores team leader, said: “Akin was a majestic, fearless leopard who loved lazing around in the afternoon sun. For 19 years our guests have been awe-struck by his beauty and strength.

Akin will be sorely missed by his keepers and everyone who knew him."

"What in the world where you thinking, Zed?!"

Zed let himself fall on the bed, gritting his teeth and pushing away the helping hand that reached out to him. He had been holding his bandaged side; the white linen was stained with red as his wounds had unsurprisingly reopened in that short time he had been in the dungeons, casting his fury over their noxian prisoner.

Kanika was angry too, exuding a fiery aura from her small, round body that the Master of Shadows had grown used to, born from honest feelings of concern. One that, despite that, was unwelcome.

"You should be resting, not interrogating prisoners after being heavily wounded!" The woman continued to scold him, pushing him down on the mattress despite Zed's signs that he wanter her to keep distance. Yet her medic was unrelenting; he might be the leader of the Order, but at the nursery, her word was law.

"It was necessary". Zed found the need to justify himself despite all, muttering darkly behind his clenched jaw and his pain as he brushed the sweat away from his face. He realized too late that his fingers were dirty, smearing red, irregular patterns of blood on his already marked skin.

"It could have waited! I don't think he was going anywhere inside his cell!" Kanika tried once more to reach for her Master's injures, but he rejected her touch again, slapping her hand away with stubbornness. The woman's face was lit with a pained wrath, and with her hands closed into fists, she turned to face the third person in the infirmary.

"You were supposed to watch over him, you useless husband!"

Niraj adjusted the glasses on his face, later rubbing his trembling hands in an uncomfortable gesture. Despite that, his wrinkled features were as calm as ever, and his voice unwavering once he spoke.

"I followed orders, Kanika".

"That's the worst excuse you could have-..."

"Enough", Zed barked, breaking into the couple's quarrel. He was not really in the mood for that, feeling a bitterness deeper than his wounds. "I do not want to hear another word".

Silence fell over them like a bucket of cold water. The Master of Shadows meet Kanika' scolding gaze, defiant. She finally sighed, like a dragon letting out the heat in its lungs, giving in.

"I'll go look for clean bandages", she said still angry but there was also a sense of defeat in her voice. "You better stay this time, Zed. And you, keep an eye on him!".

Kanika pointed at her husband with the same threat as she was holding a sword. Niraj obediently nodded as she stormed out of the room, her heavy steps echoing away. Zed sighed, exasperated, but did not try to slip away now that he had the opportunity. He closed his eyes, with his arms curled around his abdomen, stubbornly trying to stop the bleeding on his own. He felt the shadows twisting inside him as they battled to mend his broken flesh, slowly and  clumsily trying to repair it. It wouldn't be enough, he knew. But for the moment, he wanted to linger in the pain. To feel it and use it as a bitter reminder of the mistake he had committed.

"I apologize for her demeanor, Master Zed". Niraj spoke after a while. The ninja didn't bother to open his eyes and met his honest dark eyes. "Though she has her right to be concerned. You are being reckless".

"I did not ask for your opinion", Zed said, bluntly, shifting slightly as he tried to find a better position over the mattress. The blood was slowly sliding down his skin and past the bandages, staining the blankets under his body.

Niraj tilted his head slightly. "No. But is the duty of a healer to warn their patients. That is not a light wound, Master. You could have died".

Yes, he could have died. Zed was very aware of that. He growled but said nothing, and the other man saw it as an opportunity to keep talking.

"It is not like you to lower your guard like that". He might not be as obvious as his wife, but Zed knew what Niraj was doing. Pushing him discretely in order to find answers.

"It will not happen again", he replied, spitting the words like a venomous promise. He had been foolish to let himself be lured by the pleasure and the opportunity to simply forget his troubles for a night. The Master of Shadows should never forget. That was his unending duty.

"Did you find out how the noxian managed to slip into the Monastery?"

Zed opened his eyes and looked at the man seated at his right. It was an important question, as it concerned the whole Order. If someone managed to slip past their defenses and the shadows' detection, it was possible that someone else could do it again. His gaze travelled to the table at his other side. A shattered sword rested on its surface, dimly reflecting the light of the candles. Once brimming with a dark power, the weapon was dead now by Zed's own hands. The silk strand attached to the hilt was stained with blood, never to be cleaned again.

"He had a weapon of the Order. Nakuri' sword. He used it to get inside".

Niraj's gaze rested now on the blade, his eyes narrowing slightly. "I see".

A blade, cursed by betrayal. When Kayn had returned from Vindor, carrying the same weapon Zed had ordered to steal from noxian hands, he had answered with disdain when asked about his comrade. Nakuri was killed by the other ninja, that was left without doubt, through Zed still questioned the motives that drove his apprentice’s hand. Ironically, it had been the sword left behind that day the one that nearly stole his life tonight. A blade for a blade, weapon for weapon. Noxians didn't let anything go to waste.

None of them talked for a few seconds, reflecting the gravity of the situation. Then, Niraj said: "I never expected the noxians to be able to control it. Nor anyone else outside the Order, really. It is concerning".

Up until now, Zed had trusted that none of his techniques could be stolen, as few in Ionia dared to even approach the shadow magic. But not only his own weapons had been used against him, it also had been through those wretched noxian’s hands. A double hit to his pride and conscience. He didn't know how the assassin had managed to use a magic he could not understand, but one thing was for sure: there would be more. It Noxus had something, it was its great amount of expendable soldiers.

Suddenly, Zed felt tired. With every drop of blood, his anger was dissolving into a soothed exhaustion, heavy in his heart, as if he was drowning in a puddle of mud.

"We shall be careful from now on", he said, raising a hand. Despite the black marks on his fingers, he could still see the red. His hand trembled when he tried to close it. "If our weapons can be used against us, then we shall ensure that they are not taken away. We must increase our vigilance too. I will not let another rat inside".

"Of curse", the medic conceded with a nod. "But you need to rest first, Master. Please. Let us treat your wounds".

He didn't want to, but Zed had to oblige. He let his hand fall at his side, sighing in defeat. Through his mind crossed the face of the noxian prisoner, golden eyes twisted in anguish; then a paler one, a sly smile, heated kisses as the shadows tingled beneath his skin. Something in his stomach twisted, feeling nauseated for just a second.

Niraj saw his silence as a permission to get closer and he did, standing up to approach and start undoing his ruined bandages with his trembling fingers. The man hadn't been able to perform his profession ever since he was injured in the war. Zed knew how much of a personal shame it was for him and still, the man tried. The healer's hands attempted to move with a smoothness learned through countless years but that they were not able to reach anymore. It was a sad sight to behold. Zed didn't know if he should praise him for his effort or call him a fool.

He growled, grimacing as if he had tasted something sour. "I... made a mistake". It was strange for the Master of Shadows to admit his flaws but here, dizzy, injured, in the company of a man who had seen him in worse situations, it felt like he had nothing to hide. He couldn't. Niraj could see his shame even if Zed buried it in the deepest part of himself.

"Erring is proof of one's humanity, Master. Don't blame yourself for what happened". The words were so soft that Zed didn't understand what he was saying at first. "None of us will blame you".

Zed huffed. "Not even if it was selfish?"

After struggling for a bit, Niraj finally managed to undo the bindings. Zed knew he'd have to get up, but he let himself linger in the comfort of the bed fora bit longer. Once again, he found the other man's gaze, staring down at him with an intensity than usually didn't show up in his tired eyes.

Poisonous Werefrog Kanika

Inktober Day Three's prompt is "Poison" I give you a poisonous were-frog! Poor Kanika turns into a humanoid poison dart frog on full moons. I had a bit of fun with detail using a sparkly gold Gelly Roll pen. Shiny! 

The lady (and particularly her dress) are based on a character I play in Guild Wars 2. Yup, sneaking in a few fan art pieces during Inktober as well! It’s all some Halloween fun and non-canonical. ;)

One of three ORAS teams I’ve raised. One is already up, so here’s the first.

Team Omega