about that bothers me." Chinter brushed her non-wounded shoulder against Gotto's. "I mean I don't know Ikuta, but the way Ekene described her... why would she want to do this?"

            "Maybe she went on a power trip?"

            "You don't think..?"

            Gotto offered her another shrug. "Why not? Power's everything."

            Chinter shook her head sadly. "No, it isn't."

            The pair fell into an uneasy silence as they continued to walk ahead, keeping their eyes open for either Shadowland lions or Ekene. Chinter had to pause to clean her still bleeding wounds, and while she did so, she couldn't help but admire Gotto as he waited for her to finish. He was just as cut up as she was, yet he wasn't letting any of it bother him. His wounds were oozing blood, and besides the occasional abrupt pause to lick away at it, he didn't complain much about it. She had to keep him credit for that.

            She sidled up to him and licked his wounded shoulder, invoking a sudden cringe from the older lion. "Are you okay?" she asked.

            Gotto held her gaze for a moment, and then abruptly turned away. "It's fine," he replied gruffly. "C'mon, we have to find the rest of the pride."

            "Oh, no you won't find them. They've already fled."

            Gotto and Chinter whirled their heads in the opposite directions as the gray lion and his group surrounded them.

            The gray lion approached them, his teeth gleaming. "I have to admit, I expected more from the great Outland pride. Guess I was wrong."

            Gotto bared his teeth, but he felt Chinter press against him, could feel her shuddering against him. They weren't going to make out of this alive.

            "I thought we were going to end up having more fun today," said the gray lion. "But your pride just had to run to the river. Too bad we can't swim."

            The river? Of course, the Riverlands! Gotto nudged against Chinter, who turned to face him. Her pupils had shrunk in fear, and her shuddering was becoming more blatant. For some reason, it twisted at his heart to see her in such a weak state. The Chinter he had always known never allowed herself to show fear. And she never backed down, which made him admire her in a way.

            They can't swim, but we can, he thought.

            "Chinter," he whispered. "The river."

            The pale lioness's eyes lit up.

            "Boring," yawned the gray lion. "How about we just take care of you now? Get rid of them."

            "Now!" cried Gotto, throwing his weight into Chinter to get her moving. The pair bolted through the circle as the lions charged at them.

            He didn't know how close they were to the river, but if they could make it there, then they were safe. Gotto clenched his teeth as his wounds began to act up. They were aching, begging for rest. But the Shadowland lions were at their heels, claws extended, ready to tear them apart.

            It didn't take him long to notice that he had lost his momentum in the sudden sprint. Panting, Gotto was dropping speed, and he realized that the same was for Chinter, who was rapidly dropping alongside him, even past him. They weren't going to make it to the river after all.

            Gotto closed his eyes and thought about Ekene. He wanted Gotto to look after Chinter, especially when Winta arrived. It had become something like his duty now, to look after her and ensure her safety before his. He remembered, years before, when he wandered with the lion, Leo, and the lioness Nabila, and how the trio got along with one another. He had changed so much since then, grown up a little. Maybe not losing that snarky attitude, but he had certainly grown past being the cold, reserved type.

            Nabila was dead because of them. But Chinter could still live...

            Abruptly, Gotto swung his body around, facing the crowd of lions and lioness rushing at him.

            Chinter came to a sudden pause, startled by Gotto's sudden move. "Gotto, what're you-?"

            "Keep going!" he snarled, not looking back at her.

            Realization dawned on Chinter. "N-No, you can't fight them all!"

            "Just go! Get to the river!" he cried out.

            Chinter took a tentative step back, studying the brown lion that now put himself in between her and their impending foes. "G-Gotto!"

            "Go!" he roared, finally whirling his head to face her. She saw something flash in his eyes, something she had never seen in them. It unfroze her, brought her back down to earth. Chinter quickly turned her back on Gotto, tears running down her cheek as she abandoned him.

            Her wounds were acting up, and she felt on the verge of imminent collapse. But she could smell water, and could hear the waves of the river. Her heart began racing, and she thought of Gotto. We were so close!

            She heard cries from behind her, and knew the lions were gaining. But she was almost there at the river. One forward leap...

            A lioness had lunged out to grab her by the hind legs, but Chinter had already surged forth, pushing her legs off of the ground to reach the river. Her pale body flopped into the waves, and sunk below the surface for a moment before her head emerged. She was not a Riverland lioness, and not well-experienced with the waves, but Chinter maneuvered herself to a close rock, allowing herself to watch as the Shadowland lions gathered on the edge of the river, staring out at her with cold eyes. Their jaws were drenched in blood.

            The gray lion appeared from the crowd, a bored look on his face as he gazed out at Chinter. "Remember this!" he cried. "That the great Ashiki chased out the Outland pride!" With those words, he turned his back on her, and led the group off.

            Tears were now free falling from Chinter's eyes as she watched them disappear. The fog finally cleared, and she could see back across the river. Once she deemed it safe, Chinter began to paddle back to her side of the river, sinking into the ground, exhausted from her run.

            Gotto!

            Catching her breath, Chinter began to retrace her steps back to where she had left Gotto. She limped back, not in a race to discover what awaited for her.

            Finally, she came upon him. Her mouth fell as she watched him struggling to rise. He wasn't dead, but he wasn't fully alive either. His head slowly rose, and as soon as their eyes met, his form shuddered, and Gotto collapsed onto the ground.

            Forgoing the limping, Chinter raced over to him. "Oh Gotto, look at what they did to you!" He looked unrecognizable to her with the amount of wounds he now had riddling his body.

            He weakly chuckled. "Should've... seen the other... guy."

            "We're close to the river! Ekene'll help you! Let's go!" She tried to maneuver herself underneath his form, but found it difficult when he was of no help to her. "Gotto, please! We have to get out of here and across the river!"

            Gotto's scarlet tongue rolled from his mouth. "You think... I'm going to make it."

           

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