Spotted Eagle Mountain groundlight

^____^

The physical torment seemed to melt the boy — he was completely stationary other than what the cougar moulded him to, and his sweet and stifled cries sounded as if he were ice and Shardul burned him. When he was left alone, Ishi — a mess of red and white — drifted into a state of half-consciousness, wishing that it would all be over soon. He saw each instance of pain as trial to be conquered. And when Shardul called him king of fools, he thought the cat was being self-deprecating by calling himself a fool for torturing his king. And yet it continued regardless.

Consciousness came to him again at the low, cruel whisper of his subject. Ishi blinked (though there were no tears in his golden eyes). Have I passed the test yet? his voice was weak, but his tone was eager.