It was an ordinary day, although it was not as it seemed. The breeze blew slightly, and the rocks and grass were cool, not hot and stinging as they usually were. Misk enjoyed Spring, when all was ripe and fresh, when color began to re-enter the world after a harsh and cold winter that had whiped out everything with it's snow.

She's known Spring and Fall as her favorite seasons, the seasons that brought joy to everything around her. The cool air, and the colorful leaves. But soon she would find nothing but sweet Spring to favor her, a season short yet mind-blowing.

She walked out of the den where all the lionesses slept, and one male in whom was her brother, Forka. He was darker than most males, and usually males would be sentenced to journey alone to another pride in which they were to rule. But it was different for Farka. He'd tried to be normal and find his pride to rule, but he was turned down by every female he approached, and so he came back. Misk's father, who was the king at the time, had shwon no want in him leaving, so let him back in with open arms.

Misk sighed in pain. Her father had died from an African Elephant attack last year, a herd had passed through the territory, and the pride faught them off. But the King was found dead a few moments later.

Misk wasn't sure if the theory that the Elephants had killed him was true or not, but she knew it as logical. Elephants were huge and strong, and had those massive tusks. And it was also logical that he was murdered, but she tried not to think of it that way.

She ventured out into the open, where the air was crisp andfine-smelling. There was a scent of antilope in the air, and she rounded up the lionesses for a hunt.

Misk was the leader of the lionesses, she would lead the hunting parties. But Farka lead them in battles. The current King was Judar, a abnormally large male with a strange and thin mane. One of his ears was missing and his eye was sealed shut from a long scar that from the top of his eye to halfway down his neck.

Misk and Karsa stood side by side during the hunt. They waited for the perfect time to attack. Finally, the herd was in range.

"Now." Misk muttered to Karsa.

Karsa nodded and flicked her tail. They all attacked.

Misk ran at a full grown buck, Karsa on the opposite side of it. The attacked from both sides, slamming their jaws into the buck's flanks, causing him to slam into the ground on his face.

Misk and Karsa gave one last bite and it was over. There were two other kills, and the lionesses dragged them back to the base with pride.

"Very good, all of you." Judar announced when they returned.

Misk smiled and bowed her head. "Thankyou Judar. Is there anything else you want us to do?"

Judar smiled. "No, Misk. You may rest now...all of you may."

Misk smiled and ran to meet Karsa, who was settled on a large rock that was nice and cool.

"It's a lovely day." Karsa said, raising her head to feel the breeze.

Misk nodded. "Sweet Fall."

Karsa nodded. "Sweet Fall..."

The two drifted into a light sleep, still able to hear what was going on around them. But soon, the sleep was deep and lugurious.

Misk woke to the sound of a screaching lioness. She leapt to her feet her eyes flying in every direction. She looked over to where Karsa was.

"Karsa!" Misk's eyes widened as she noticed her friend's tail on the rocl. Only her tail, and nothing else. "KARSA! Karsa, where are you?!"

It was late at night, and flames had caught on one of the Umbrella Trees that were scattered across the territory. She heard roaring all around her, and at that moment she'd felt an overwhelming fear. She'd never felt it before. Yes, she'd felt fear, but not like this. It was like a dream. It was like a nightmare, more likely. She could hear an evil laugh that was almost like a whisper in her head, but she didn't know where ir came from. She knew that who ever it was coming from was  real, and he would haunt her for the rest of her life.

Misk ran to the first lioness she saw, one she didn't know very well, and couldn't recall her name. Misk looked around and saw fighting going on, it looked as if between themselves, but she didn't know why her pride would fight each other. She saw some lionesses that were fighting something she could barely see, like a spirit of some sort.

"HELP!"

Misk whipped around to see a cub pinned to the ground. Misk looked at it harder. There was nothing pinning it down, but when Misk walked closer, she thought she'd seen something that looked a lot like what most would imagine the devil looked like. Misk screached in terror, but she tried to be brave. She flung herself at the creature, and it fanished.

No! Misk wailed to herself. She'd put to much force into her attack, thinking that that "thing" would have put up a nasty fight. She had sent herself off the side of the cliff.

 

Misk woke up when she could feel the slight heat of the sun on her fur. She was lying on a rock. She tried to stand, but fell back with a wail of pain. She looked at her side.

"What the...?!" She didn't even remember being jabbed in the side with a rock. She must have passed out before it happened...

She grasped the rock in her jaws, her body tense and ready for pain. She jerked her head sideways, yanking out the rock. With a loud yowl of pain, she struggled to her feet. She made her way up the cliff back to where the pride was. She saw that everyone was wonded and terrified. She walked over to Mimi, a farely young lioness that had little fighting experience.

"Are you okay?" Misk asked, looking at Mimi's shivering body.

"Those things...they were...they were...they killed...and...and they didn't even fight to kill...they want..." Mimi fell silent and her eyes widened.

"Mimi...Mimi are you okay? Mimi, please tell me what they want..."

Mimi remained still, unblinking.

"Mimi please..." Misk begged. "Mimi. Mimi! Mimi, tell me what they want!"

Mimi finally looked up, her eyes fear stricken, and clouded with pain. "They want the blood of the King's decendent! They will kill us all in the worste way possible for nothing at all until they get it! Inocent blood will spill without being spilt...they will kill them from the inside...they will torcher us mentally....they will get into our dreams, and our nightmares!" Mimi gasped and collapsed on the ground.

"Mimi!" Misk rushed to her side.

"Please, Misk, leader, can I have some water?"

Misk was puzzled. She had just spoken words of fear and terror, and now it seemed that Mimi was calm and unharmed. Misk nodded and walked over to a small puddle and gathered water in a leaf for Mimi. Had it really been those evil spirits speaking through her?

ettled on a large rock that was nice and cool.

"It's a lovely day." Karsa said, raising her head to feel the breeze.

Misk nodded. "Sweet Fall."

Karsa nodded. "Sweet Fall..."

The two drifted into a light sleep, still able to hear what was going on around them. But soon, the sleep was deep and lugurious.

Misk woke to the sound of a screaching lioness. She leapt to her feet her eyes flying in every direction. She looked over to where Karsa was.

"Karsa!" Misk's eyes widened as she noticed her friend's tail on the rocl. Only her tail, and nothing else. "KARSA! Karsa, where are you?!"

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