Vincent snarled as he began running out of the cave, despite the soar state his body was in after the previous’ day’s events. He rushed out into the snow covered canyon. As he got out, however, he was startled by the intensity of the sunlight, relentlessly blinding him by reflecting on the pure white snow. It took a moment before he could adjust to the intense light. Luckily, the very agreeable warmth the sun-rays caused made the otherwise chill surroundings quite bearable. What fortune that the blizzard had disappeared to make way for a clear, blue, cloudless sky. Vincent spotted Kiruhu: he just sat a few yards outside of the cave, motionless. He looked a bit bruised. Vincent sprung forward, intent on pinning him down. Much to his surprise, Kiruhu didn’t move, even when he noticed Vincent was steaming towards him.

 

“Die, traitor!” the hyena shouted as he jumped at his prey. But as he was just about to snap his yaws shut around the non-resisting Kiruhu’s neck, two enormous paws violently pushed Vincent away, into the melting snow. Vincent tried getting up again, but Vitani’s strength and weight kept him firmly pressed to the ground.

 

“Vincent, calm down! What on earth are you doing?”

 

“No! I’ll get that backstabbing bastard! He tried to kill you!”

 

“He did?” Vitani wondered a bit ironically, “You did, cheetah?”

 

Kiruhu,, who had by now gotten up again, just nodded.

 

“You see? Vitani, finish ront of the cave.”

 

“You let him go?” Vincent gasped.

 

“Why wouldn’t I have?”

 

“Because he tried to kill us. He wanted to kill you! And you saved his life! But I’ll take care of that, I will!” Vincent snarled as he began running out of the cave, despite the soar state his body was in after the previous’ day’s events. He rushed out into the snow covered canyon. As he got out, however, he was startled by the intensity of the sunlight, relentlessly blinding him by reflecting on the pure white snow. It took a moment before he could adjust to the intense light. Luckily, the very agreeable warmth the sun-rays caused made the otherwise chill surroundings quite bearable. What fortune that the blizzard had disappeared to make way for a clear, blue, cloudless sky. Vincent spotted Kiruhu: he just sat a few yards outside of the cave, motionless. He looked a bit bruised. Vincent sprung forward, intent on pinning him down. Much to his surprise, Kiruhu didn’t move, even when he noticed Vincent was steaming towards him.

 

“Die, traitor!” the hyena shouted as he jumped at his prey. But as he was just about to snap his yaws shut around the him! Finish that backstabbing piece of filth!”

 

“By dragging me into that cave with you, you saved me life after I had tried to take yours,” Kiruhu suddenly whispered at Vitani, “Because of that, my life now righteously belongs to you. It is your right to do with it as you please…”

 

“You heard the scum, take him down!” Vincent snarled. Viani seemed to be in doubt for one moment.

 

“You stay put…” Vitani instructed Vincent as she took her paws of him and turned to Kiruhu. They faced each other, the cheetah bowing down his head indifferently; awaiting the final bite. Vitani licked her lips, and then suddenly struck out with her right  paw, mauling Kiruhu right in the face. The cheetah fell sidewards, coughing. Blood dripped from his nose onto the white snow. He spat out blood and particles of teeth. Vincent looked a bit disappointed; Vitani just remained motionless after only one blow.

 

“That’ll do…” Vitani grinned darkly.

 

“But... he’s still breathing!” Vincent grumbled disgruntled.

 

“Yeah. But I’m not the lioness to hold a grudge… I’ve been pardoned myself a way too many times for that… Kiruhu, you’re off the hook.”

 

Both Vincent and Kiruhu stared at Vitani in awe and confusion, Kiruhu most of all. Was that the monster he’d been trying to combat all his life? Was that the blood-thirsty enemy?

 

“I-I… Thank you, milady… My life is in your debt once again,” the cheetah stuttered.

 

“If it weren’t for Vitani, I’d gladly make you pay your debt, treacherous swine…” Vincent grumbled viciously.

 

“I wouldn’t know how to ever repay you!” Kiruhu added, ignoring Vincent’s nasty remarks.

 

“Well, you can start by leading us from this blasted Pass, for one, to a crossing. Considering it even exists.”

 

“It does, I assure you, ma’am, it exists!” Kiruhu greedily reassured Vitani.

 

“But do try not to get us lost this time, backstabbing bastard…” Vincent grumbled. Not that it would really matter that much: the storm was over, so the mountain couldn’t get them anymore. And their timetable mattered neither, as it was (thanks to their little delay atop the White Pass), already too late to stop Shenya. Butcent looked a bit disappointed; Vitani just remained motionless after only one blow.

 

“That’ll do…” Vitani grinned darkly.

 

“But... he’s still breathing!” Vincent grumbled disgruntled.

 

“Yeah. But I’m not the lioness to hold a grudge… I’ve been pardoned myself a way too many times for that… Kiruhu, you’re off the hook.”

 

Both Vincent and Kiruhu stared at Vitani in awe and confusion, Kiruhu most of all. Was that the monster he’d been trying to combat all his life? Was that the blood-thirsty enemy?

 

“I-I… Thank you, milady… My life is in your debt once again,” the cheetah stuttered.

 

“If it weren’t for Vitani, I’d gladly make you pay your debt, treacherous swine…” Vincent grumbled viciously.

Vincent nor Vitani knew that, so they continued their journey in ignorance. As they were slowly making their way down (now guided the right way down), Vitani suddenly spoke to Kiruhu.

 

“Kiruhu?”

 

“Milady?”

 

“I bet you won’t like to bring it up, but I was just curious, why did you try to kill me anyway? I mean, it does seem to happen a lot to me lately…”

 

“Doesn’t it figure?” Vincent interrupted rudely.

 

“What?”

 

“Isn’t it obvious why he tried to kill us? I mean, isn’t it the same sorry story everywhere? We’re all out to get vengeance… and we all have some lame-ass story to justify it. I doubt our little ‘friend’ here is any different,” Vincent snapped bitterly, “I bet some lion at one point in history took down a handful of his relatives, or something alike. It’s all so transparent, so routine, isn’t it?”

 

Kiruhu seemed to have trouble responding, as Vincent’s words had been deadly accurate at silencing him. Just another sorry-ass excuse… Kiruhu distanced himself from his two companions (or captors) so he could come to terms with his emotions on his own.

 

“You’re stone-cold sometimes, you know that?” Vitani grumbled at Vincent as they continued following Kiruhu, who was now at a little distance because he preferred some privacy and Vitani had granted it. Vincent just mumbled something incoherent, avoiding Vitani’s remark.

 

“And then again, sometimes you’re as vulnerable as a cub…”

 

“And you never give up, lose faith or let off, do you?” Vincent responded a bit annoyed.

 

“Not yet. That might change; everyone changes… And sometimes, that happens really fast too. Like just now in the cave, where you were shivering and on the edge of crying in your sleep at one time, and attacking me franticly only moments later.”

 

“Oh yeah… Sorry ‘bout that…”

 

“What was that all about anyway?” Vitani wondered.

 

“A dream… A vision… A nightmare…”

 

“Ah… You wouldn’t want to talk about it by any chance? I mean, we’ll be on this journey of us for quite some time still, so a little talking won’t hurt…”

 

Vincent wasn’t sure. Of course he wanted to talk to Vitani, if he could he’d tell her anything there was to tell. But he knew he couldn’t. He couldn’t just share visions he himself hadn’t come to terms with yet, like the second part of his dream. The recollection of the events to take place during the day of the Battle of Priderock had already come to visit him in his sleep on numerous occasions. But the encounter with the strange voice, or the surreal fight with Vitani were something new. And until he knew what that was all about, he’d keep it to himself. But he would still tell her the first part of his dream, the one he already knew by heart.

 

“I wouldn't quite know where to start... Well, maybe something that gets you thinking; those make great openers.
Days of great change are, without exception, never acknowledged for what they are when they take place, and they always leave those who are to take part in them oblivious until after the events that were to shape history have already come to pass...”

 

 

The Queens of Priderock

 

“I guess this calls for some sort of congratulation...”

 

“Please ma'am, don't bother. I'm merely following orders.”

 

Shenya frowned, then looked at the Pridrock which was still only partially visible in the dark. She turned back to Shetani.

 

“Still... it is amazing, you getting us here whilst leaving them clueless. The whole clan in the shadow of Priderock without getting spotted, who would have ever dare hope for that...” Shenya contemplated as she looked at the clan, scattered and ducked into cover behind her, “And all that in under three sunrises time... that reminds me, we got to get everyone ready before the sun comes up.”

 

“About that...” Shetani kindly interrupted.

 

“What?”

 

“I'd like to alter battle plans a little, if I may?”

 

“Isn’t it a bit late for that now?

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