AN: Yeah... I really need to stop taking so long between updates. Oh well, let's get this rolling.
Chapter Four: Run Away
"Simba, that thing is gonna find us here!" Nala said as she and Simba struggled for room in a gap under a large boulder. "We can't stay under here anyway. we have to help the others!"
"I know, I know," Simba said, "but that will be kinda hard to do from the stomach of a monster."
Boom!
Simba and Nala's eyes whipped forward as the ground around them shook. They could see the legs of the Kituko walking around right in front of them after its hard landing. The two cubs pressed themselves as far back as they could, hoping that they wouldn't be noticed. The Kituko stopped right in front of where they were and lowered its head to the ground, its eye staring right at Simba and Nala.
Simba gulped. "Uh oh..."
The Kituko screeched at the pair, shoving its beak under the rock to try and get at them.
"We're trapped! What are we supposed to do now?" Nala asked.
"I'll distract it," Simba told her, "you run."
"You'll get yourself killed," Nala told him.
"Maybe," Simba said, "but you'll escape. Okay... Here it goes."
Simba waited for his opening, and when he go it, he darted out from underneath the rock and under the Kituko. It took a snap at him as he ran by, but he just managed to escape its beak.
"Come and get me you freak of nature!" Simba yelled at it, trying to lure it away from Nala.
It turned around and quickly started to go after Simba, it's beak wide open and ready to kill.
Malka had finally thought he put enough distance between himself and the Kituko to stop and catch his breath. Dumping that extra load off his back certainly helped him ensure his safety. He already knew how he'd spin it to Tora. Sure she'd be devastated, but Malka would be there to comfort her.
"Not a huge loss..." Malka said quietly to himself. "As far as Tora will know, that thing snatched him right off me and there was nothing I could do..."
"Is that the best story you can come up with?"
Startled by the voice, Malka jumped a little before facing the speaker.
"Oh, Sora..." He said nervously, noticing Kora with him. "You found your brother! What a relief!"
"Oh shut up," Sora said, "I saw what you did, I'm not an idiot. You're a selfish rat, and when I tell Tora what you did, she'll tear your throat out, if I don't do it first."
"Really?" Malka smiled suddenly. "And just why do you think you're telling the truth?"
Sora rolled his eyes. "Uh, I'm her brother?"
"And I'm her boyfriend," Malka said, "and you've made it no secret that you don't like me. Who's to say she just won't think you're trying to get her to break up with me?"
Sora let a growl escape his throat. "I should just slash your throat now..."
Malka just laughed off his threat. "Go ahead, runt. But you know as well as I do that you wouldn't put your sister through a tragedy like that."
Sora turned around, he just wanted to get away from Malka. "If you ever do anything like this again, I will end you, no matter the consequences."
"Simba!" Nala yelled as the Kituko sped towards Simba.
Simba started to run, but his paw got caught on a tree root sticking out of the ground, causing him to fall on his back.
"No!" Simba cried, frantically trying to get back up, but his panic made him keep stumbling.
The Kituko was closing in, its sharp beak ready to slice through the cub's flesh. Simba shut his eyes, unable to get away, waiting for the moment to come... Until he heard something else.
"Gotcha!" Haiba yelled as he leaped out of the tree. He landed right on the Kituko's face, sinking his claws into it. The Kituko started flailing wildly, trying to shake Haiba off.
"Simba, Nala, run before I lost my grip on it!" Haiba told them. "I'll catch up in a minute, don't worry!"
After Simba and Nala were a safe distance away, Haiba dragged his claws down, scratching deep into the monster's eyes before launching himself off, breaking into a sprint as his paws hit the ground. The Kituko cried and thrashed in pain, unable to see anything around it.
Haiba ran and ran, soon managing to catch up to Simba and Nala. He noticed they had managed to meet back up with Sora, Kora, and Tora. They appeared to be in the midst of a conversation.
"Why do you have Kora?" Tora asked her younger brother with worry. "Where's Malka? Is he okay!?"
"Oh, don't worry, he's fine," Sora said disdainfully, "I'm sure he'll be here soon."
"Here I am!" Malka said, walking toward the group.
"Malka!" Tora exclaimed as she ran over and nuzzled him.
Malka and Sora exchanged glares, making the tension between them extremely clear.
"Hey, isn't that them over there?" Kulaani motioned in front of him.
"Yeah, it is!" Vitani exclaimed. "Let's hurry and get out of this nightmare."
"Hey, guys!" Kulaani yelled as the duo ran toward the group, but before they could reach them, something large crashed down in front of them.
Kulaani looked up and pinned his ears back. Looking down on he and Vitani through bloody eyes was the Kituko, and it wasn't happy. It let out one of it's deafening screeches and prepared to attack.
AN: Okay, I plan on having this story finished today so I can finally be on to the next on, so expect a second update later.