Chapter 18 Mkuu and Kitisha:
The evening came quick and Mkuu remembered that he had to see Kitisha and he had to stay with her.
“Father, I must go to bring Kitisha back.” Mkuu said.
“No, she must stay out there for a week. It is a Kingdom law!” Julian growled.
“No that’s not true! Who made that up?! And when?!?” Mkuu roared.
“Me! I made it up now!” Julian said back.
“You can’t make up a law just because you don’t want Kitisha back!” Mkuu cried.
“I’m the King I can do what I want!” Julian defended.
Foxy came out of the cave.
“Julian, it is an unfair law! She is an innocent lioness! She hasn’t done anything wrong! She-“ Foxy was interrupted by Julian.
“Oh hush up!” he growled.
Mkuu roared at his father and bolted away. Foxy was about to run after him until Julian pushed her from doing so. She fell to the ground in deep pain.
“I need to defenders to stop Mkuu and two to take Foxy into the cave!” he commanded “NOW!!!!!!!!!” he roared.
Two defenders took Foxy into the cave.
Hayyann waited for the other defender to leave.
“Are you all right?” he whispered.
“No. Julian pushed me into the ground while I was running.” She answered slowly.
“Why that old blood slobbering jerk-“ Julian entered.
“What did you say?” Julian growled.
Hayyann bolted out of the emergency exit at the back of the cave.
He knew Julian would’ve executed him immediately and he didn’t want that to happen or see it happen. Nor did Foxy.
Hayyann didn’t always like King Julian. He adored his family because they were kind unlike Julian.
Meanwhile, the other defenders and some hunters blocked Mkuu from getting to the jungle. He struck them and bolted to see Kitisha.
The jungle wasn’t apart of Bora and other lions weren’t allowed to go there so the defenders and lionesses stayed put.
Mkuu dashed to the jungle. Kitisha wasn’t there.
“Kitisha!” he called. He heard no response. Just his echo. “Kitisha?!” he called out again. There was no response. Unexpectedly, he heard a yelp and then a fierce growl and another yelp.
His eyes widened. “NOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” he yelled. He tore to where he heard the noise. He saw Cokelat trying to kiss Kitisha. At once, Mkuu struck him and tore up his face even more. Blood streaming out of his face, he slowly closed his eyes.
“Kitisha.” He said as he hugged her lovingly. “What happened?” he asked.
“That vermin tried to kiss me! I was just wading in the water and he came up to me and tried to drown me! Then I got back up into the grass and we started to attack each other. I pinned him down. After I though he was hurt. I went away. Then, he pounced on me and knocked me out. He dragged me here and tried to kiss me. Then you came and saved me.” Kitisha explained.
“Oh. Well the vermin is barely breathing so I think it’s safe.” Mkuu said.
Kitisha pinned him down.
“You’re my hero.” She said nudging him. He got up back on four paws.
“’Tisha,” he said.
“Yes, Mkuu.” She replied.
“My father says you can’t come back for a week.” Mkuu confessed.
“Why?” she asked.
“He made up some stupid law.” Mkuu said “We’ll have to stay here for the whole week.”
Kitisha sighed.
“What’s been happening to him?” she asked.
“It seems like darkness is rising in him.” Mkuu said.
“Same with Mtu.” Kitisha added.
“And Shadow.” Mkuu said.
“Well, Shadow was dark and evil from the start. He can’t possibly get any worse.” Kitisha said.
“I believe he can. If he builds an army and tries to murder things will be a lot worse.” Mkuu said.
“Don’t you think that creepy rouge looks like Shadow?” Kitisha asked.
“Yeah, Cokelat does look like him. I’ll check it out. Stay here.” Mkuu said.
Mkuu walked to Cokelat. He grabbed his neck.
“Hey Scarface! Who’s your father!?” he threatened .
“Um-“ Cokelat was cut off.
“Spit it out vermin!” Mkuu commanded.
“Shadow.” He said quite slowly.
Mkuu let go of his neck causing Cokelat to fall.
“I knew it from the start.” Mkuu laughed. He walked away leaving Cokelat in the dirt. “We was right. His father is Shadow.” He told Kitisha.
“Oh.” Kitisha said. She yawned and stretched. “I’m going to sleep now Mkuu.” She told him.
“Same. Good night.” He said and licked her cheek.
“Good night.” She whispered and licked him back.
Mkuu settled down into a soft area of grass. Kitisha snuggled up to him and fell asleep in his arms. Mkuu sleepily closed his eyes and slept.
Mkuu awoke and saw that Kitisha was still asleep. It was barely dawn. Mkuu fell back to sleep and awoke in the next hour.
The sun was rising and it shined over Mkuu and Kitisha. He licked her head. Kitisha soon awoke and turned to Mkuu smiling. He smiled back at her.
“Good morning.” He greeted.
“Good morning.” She greeted back.
“Let’s seize some breakfast.” Mkuu said. Mkuu bolted off to a grassland with plenty of wildebeest grazing in the grass. Kitisha ran after him.
He crouched down and pulled down Kitisha.
“Stay still. Keep quiet. I’ll get the first meal and then we’ll take after the herd. Got it?” he said.
Kitisha nodded.
“Good.” Mkuu said. Still low on the ground, he took a step back and pounced on a large wildebeest that was grazing in the warm savannah grass.
“Move it!” Mkuu commanded.
Kitisha bolted after the herd and snapped at her prey’s tail. She managed to grasp it with her teeth and tried to pull it back. The wildebeest was strong and pulled her forward. She was dragging across the grass. She grabbed the wildebeest’s back and climbed onto it. She pounced off it’s head and landed on another wildebeest. She bit it’s neck and her prey fell to the ground. She dragged it back to Mkuu. She showed off her massive prey that was much bigger than Mkuu’s. She stared at her in awe.
The two adolescents had a nice and slow morning feast.
“Ah. How refreshing.” Exclaimed Mkuu.
“Yes.” Kitisha agreed. Mkuu decided to splash in the water and pulled Kitisha in. Kitisha gasped for breath and splashed Mkuu who then splashed her back. The “Aqua Battle” continued until Mkuu and Kitisha stepped out of the water. She shook her wet fur and purposely got Mkuu’s wet. By then it was past afternoon quickly heading into the evening.
Chapter 19 Love Will Find a Way:
Kifalme (who is a just bit younger than Mkuu) snuck out of the cave to find Mtu (who was Mkuu’s age). She hadn’t seen him in a while. Secretly he was exiled from the kingdom because everyone thought he was evil.
Her father and her brothers still hated him. Kifalme was in love with him. Mtu loved her dearly. He would always comfort saying “Everything will be fine. I promise.”
Kifalme was crying.
“You said everything would be fine. You lied!” she sobbed. She looked all over the kingdom for him. She checked the dangerous gorge and the cold depths of old caves. She searched through all of the savannahs, grasslands, and plains. She searched the breezy shores. Mtu was no where to be found. She finally gave up her search and started almost started to cry again until she heard paw-steps or some kind of steps in the misty ground. She didn’t turn around. She absolutely refused.
It’s probably just the wind she thought.
The noise grew louder. She turned around slowly. It was Mtu! At last he was found! Mtu grinned at Kifalme and Kifalme smiled back. They bolted to one another.
They nudged each other. Kifalme licked his muzzle. Mtu smirked at her. Mtu chased her to the waterhole. She pinned him down. He licked her.
“Where were you?” she asked. He sighed.
“Julian exiled me secretly. So I had to become a rouge again.”
“Again? What do you mean?” Kifalme questioned. She was confused.
“I was a rouge when I was a young cub then Julian took me in the pride.”
“Oh, right. How could I forget? Why did my father exile you?” Kifalme asked.
“I don’t have a clue. Perhaps he didn’t like me anymore.” Mtu said.
“No. Why would he?” Kifalme asked.
“I don’t know. I’m sorry. I just-“ he paused. “I just don’t.” he sighed.
Kifalme licked his muzzle.
“Mkuu can convince my father to let you back in. He’s very persuasive-“ Kifalme convinced.
“Your brothers all hate me!” Mtu said.
“No. That can’t be true.” Kifalme said.
“I’ve over heard them talking about me. Saying stuff like ‘ I’m evil ‘ and ‘ darkness is lurking inside me ‘ and ‘ Shadow is my father ‘ and ‘ I’m really a hyena ‘.” Mtu explained.
“Mtu, they’re probably just joking around. They always joke around.” Kifalme reassured. “Especially Prince. Not anymore though.” She paused.
“What do you mean?” Mtu asked.
“He made up a rumor about Kitisha and then my father exiled him because it is against Kingdom laws to make up rumors.” Kifalme said. “How could your father do that? He’s still a cub!” Mtu said.
“I don’t know why he did such a thing.”
“We don’t need our pride anymore! Julian’s rules are obnoxious and unfair. We’ll leave! We’ll run away together! And start a pride all our own.” Mtu said.
“I don’t know Mtu. We have to return but-“
“But what?” Mtu asked nudging her.
“I don’t want to return. My father is abusing my mother, Prince is gone, Kitisha has been gone for quite a while and Mkuu is with her.”
“What would the answer be then?” he asked lovingly.
“N-Yes.” She stumbled. “Yes.”
Chapter 20 Prince:
Prince shivered in the frigid darkness of the night. He longed to be home with his family, snuggling up with Kasa and slumbering in a toasty cave. He was near the Pridelands and hoped to stay in their cave. Prince suddenly remembered the law: Once exiled they may not join another pride and the only way they can have a pride, is if they create one of their own. But Prince knew that there were no rouges that were cubs. He would have to wait to start a pride. He had to be much older to create one of his own.
The young cub searched for some shelter. None was to be found. Quivering, Prince climbed up a small tree, curled up and quickly closed his eyes.
Speedily, he fell asleep. He started having a dream. He didn’t quite understand it at first. But then, he saw an image of an evil face. A familiar face. It was Shadow! Shadow had a full mane and his fur was cleaned. His scars were gone and he looked like a normal lion. He gave a sinful grin at Prince. Prince started to bolt away (like he did when he was in the gorge). As Shadow started to run faster and faster, he became more gruesome. His skin came off and revealed an evil menace with dark gray-blue skin, brick eyes, and gnashed his savage teeth. This demon chased Prince until this savage opened his mouth and was about to bite Prince and… he awoke. Prince gasped, shivered and slowly returned to slumber dreaming a new dream. He tossed and turned and fell off the tree, but he was still sound asleep.
Bluntly, he awoke again wondering why he was awaking frequently. He soon realized he was on the ground and he assumed he had fallen. He stretched his scrawny legs and yawned quietly.
The sun hadn’t risen yet but Prince knew he had to get some food, and quick.
He stayed low to the ground so that his prey (if he had any) wouldn’t see him.
He saw a glance. Of something. Something brown, or red. He couldn’t tell. He tracked it down and when he saw it again, he POUNCED! He rolled over something. He quickly got to his feet. He rolled over a young lioness. A beautiful young lioness, his age with ruby fur. He slowly walked over to over to her, and nudged her.
“Are you all right?” He asked, a bit cautioned.
She slowly rose to her paws.
“I guess so.” She said slowly.
Prince could obviously tell that she wasn’t. He noticed a scratch on her back, dripping blood. From him. He gasped.
“No you’re not, I’ll help you.” Prince said.
“Who-who are you?” the young lioness asked.
“I’m Prince. And you are-“
“Joka.” She answered.
“Joka, are you a r-“
“Yes.” She paused for a few seconds. “Are you a rouge too?”
“I am now.” He said.
“What do you mean?” Joka questioned, wondering why he has a rouge now. Wondering about his story. That is, if he had one.
“I was a Prince but, I-“ Prince stopped and sighed. “I made up a rumor and, I was exiled from my kingdom.” He sighed again.
“I’m so sorry.” Joka calmly spilled out.
“It’s not your fault, it’s mine. I shouldn’t have started it in the first place. And I told my big brother. I’m such an idiot-“
“No you’re not.” Joka said nudging Prince. Prince thought it was a bit awkward but he didn’t mind. Prince liked Joka. He had only hoped she had feelings for him as well. She probably didn’t considering that the two cubs had just met one another.
He nudged her back.
She flashed a quick smile.
“Well, we’d better take care of that scratch of yours.” Prince said. He leaped at a tree and snatched a very large leaf from it. He took the leaf and stuck it in his mouth. He wiped away the blood from Joka’s back and then, spit out the leaf.
“There. All better.” Prince said.
“Thank you, Prince.” Joka gladly responded. She nudged him again.
“Wait here. I’ll fetch us some breakfast.” Prince said, winked at her then crept down close to the ground and searched for some prey.
Wow. Joka thought to herself. What a gentlemen.
She lay down underneath a small tree and waited for Prince to come back.
Chapter 21 At Bora:
Julian lovingly nudged his injured mate.
"Dear, I'm so sorry. Really. I don't know why I did that. Please forgive me Foxy." Julian said has a few salty tears dripped down from his eyes. "Please." he said softly.
"I f-"
"Just leave her alone you savage beast!!" Hayyan spilled out of his mouth, interrupting Foxy.
"What did you say?" Julian snarled at his defender.
"Please sir! I didn't mean it! Really, I swear!" Hayyan said to his ruler.
"Hm. Fine. You get a small punishment. You must leave the pride." Julian told him.
Hayyan's jaw dropped.
"For about a few days." Julian added. Hayyan was relieved, then left because he was told to do so by his liege.
"Do you forgive me, Foxy?" Julian asked.
"Yes." she confirmed.
"Thank you." he whispered to her. "Thank you thank you."
Suddenly, Garth bolted into the cave,
"My liege! Kifalme is gone!" he announed.
Julian stopped nudging Foxy and rapidly turned to Garth.
"WHAT?!" Julian roared. "Sorry. I'm not mad at you but, where is she?"
"I don't know sir. We asked Feline and Kasa, they think she might be searching for Mtu." Garth explained.
"No. She may NOT love him. I MUST set up an arranged marriage. Garth, get a search party. Try to bring other lions along." Julian said.
"I'll do my best sir." Garth said, about to leave when Foxy spoke up.
"My friend Zathra could help. Well, she's a hunter but she'll manage just fine." Foxy said.
"Genius!" Julian said.
"Yes I agree. Where does she live?" Garth asked.
" Very close to here. West of the waterhole. There are other lions and lionesses who also live nearby, whom I also know. I know Ajali, Carey, Niekka, and a small cub called Tomvi." Foxy told Garth.
"I'll find them right now." Garth said as he bolted out of the cave, to the west of the waterhole to find the lions and lionesses. There, he saw a white lion with orange paws, yellow underbelly, red tail, two lionesses of brown and gold, a tan lioness, and a yellow cub with a brown tuft on his head.
"Are you folks Ajali, Carey, Niekka, and Tomvi?" Garth asked almost out of breath.
They nodded their heads.
"I need your help."