I sat in First Squad's meeting room with Azaan, his head in my lap. First Squad was currently out on some rescue mission for ApeTrully again. Someone needs to put a collar with a bell for this guy so they know where he is. I petted Azaan's mane, and he closed his eyes and fell asleep. Razaan and Dazaan were exploring, hoping to get some intel on the place before First Squad came back. I gently woke Azaan up.
"What is it?" He yawned, standing up and stretching.
"Now's our chance to make a move." I growled. Making sure no one was around, I turned into my lioness form. Most of the members of Big Green were asleep, since it was probably well past midnight. The hallways were dark as I stalked through the shadows, Azaan behind me. I was about to turn a corner when I heard faint footsteps coming, and I pressed close to the wall, making myself unseen. The caution wasn't needed as I saw Razaan and Dazaan stalk past.
"Dazaan! Razaan!" Azaan hissed. Both lions looked towards the sound of his voice. Razaan and Dazaan immediately changed directions towards us.
"What are you doing, mother? You're going to get caught!" Razaan said immediately.
"I'll be fine." I rolled my eyes. "Have you gathered any information?"
"Yes. The medallion guards will be changed in about five minutes. We have until then to find the library and a very short time then to get the medallion." Dazaan answered.
"Good job. Let's get going"! I said, looking both ways before turning left and bounding quietly down the hall, towards the direction of the library. I quickly found the porthole to the library. I pressed my ears against the wall and listened. No one was in there. Azaan opened the porthole with his paws, and I jumped through, landing quietly. All three lions followed me, and then Razaan shut the porthole. I stalked forward and was about to grab the medallion when I heard footsteps within the library. "Hide between the book shelves!" I hissed. We all hid a second before two guards walked into sight. I didn't bother to listen to their conversation as they left. I was about to step back out but another person came into the library. I recognized the short stature of Woo the Wise.
"Will this place ever clear out?" Azaan growled quietly.
"Hush." I snapped, leaning forward to hear Woo the Wise talking to himself.
"I must tell ApeTrully. I had no idea myself there was even a Northern Kingdom, let alone a Southern Kingdom as well!" The short man stated. I whirled around to face the three lions behind me, all whose eyes were wide.
"A North and South Kindgom?" Razaan said, shocked.
"We must get the medallion now, and get back to Highroller before First Squad is sent to either kingdoms. If we wait, our side of the war will have a greater chance of losing!" I snapped. "Razaan, distract him, I will get the medallion." The white and gold lion nodded, before stalking behind one of the bookshelves. I heard something fall and shatter on the ground, and knew the coast was clear. I darted out towards the pedestal the medallion was placed on. I turned into my human form, grabbed the medallion's ribbon and yanked it down. As soon as the medallion left the pedestal, a loud blaring alarm sounded through the base, and lights flickered on. Woo the Wise immediately ran into sight, his eyes wide.
"Lei? What are you doing?" He asked, shocked. I said nothing, only turned into my cougar form, the medallion gripped between my jaws. "Y-you're that lion? You worked for Highroller this whole time?" I spun around without answering, and my three lions bounded after me. We all leapt through the porthole, and sped down the hall, dodging members of Big Green.
"Do not stop for anything!" I hissed back at the three lions behind me. They nodded, running as fast as their paws would take them. We arrived at the dock sooner than I expected, and I used my power over ice to create a bridge over the water. (Don't give me a look. I don't know where the power came from, either. I've always had it.) We jumped and landed on the ice with no problem, using our claws for traction as we ran along the sheet of ice. My paws hit sandy ground, and the four of us split up. I ran forward, and clouds passed over the moon. It was pitch black for a while, and I looked back behind myself to see my boys had ran off in other directions. That was good; I did not want them to be found. I turned around right as I ran smack into someone, and the medallion flew out of my jaws. I hit the ground, and the air rushed out of my lungs. I scrambled to my paws, dazed, and found the members of First Squad looking at me, shocked.
"What the?!" The one I had ran into was Mighty Ray. He rubbed his head, and picked up the medallion. "What is this doing here?" I snarled, eyes flashing and claws out.
"What are you doing here!? How did you get into Big Green!?" I heard ApeTrully cry out frantically. I leapt at Mighty Ray and snatched the medallion from his hand, and whirled around to face them, jaws parted in a snarl and claws extended.
"I have my ways." I smirked before turning around and running into the forest. I heard someone shout after me, and kept on running as I heard First Squad give chase. I dodged in and around trees and bushes, winding through the undergrowth. I kept my grip on the medallion's ribbon tight, hoping to pass it off to one of my boys and lead First Squad away from them. I stopped dead in my tracks as I heard a roar of pain. I quickly pinpointed toe location, and sped towards Razaan, hoping nothing was wrong. As I ran, I yanked my head up and let go of the medallion, letting my head go through the ribbons so it wasn't in my mouth. My heart nearly stopped as I came to the place where Razaan was. The undergrowth was crumpled, and I sprinted over to the spot. I looked down and saw Razaan's beautiful coat bloodied.
"No…" I whispered, horrified. "My beautiful baby…" I murmured, tears coming to my eyes.
"…M-mother?" I heard Razaan wheeze.
"Hush, now, Razaan. Save your strength." I said quietly, relieved he was still alive.
"M-mother, I did it for you…" The white lion groaned.
"Hush, hush, I know. I know, baby." I crooned.
"I hope I helped you get away… Goodbye, Mother." The white lion sighed, and his chest became still.
"No, no… no… no!" I let out a howl of heartbreak and pain, throwing my head up in the air. As I looked down at Razaan's still body, I used my paw to close the majestic lion's glazed eyes, and looked where the source of blood have come from. I immediately found the wound, which was in the center of his chest. I quickly turned into my human form, and used my fingers to dig out the sharp object that was embedded in my adopted son's chest. As I pulled my hand back, I recognized the object as a bamboo shoot. I knew only one person who used these…
"Lei? Get away from that thing! He attacked me He's a traitor!" I stood still as I heard Lin Chung's voice. My shoulders shook as I laughed quietly.
"You wondered where I had been the past few years, Lin. You still want to know?" I voice grew hard and cold. Without looking at him, I stood up, and turned into my lioness form. I finally looked at him, and saw the shock on his face.
"You… you work for Highroller?" He asked.
"Yes! That's the whole reason I even 'joined' Big Green!" I snarled. "I joined to spy!" I hissed, claws out.
"Why…? Why would you betray me?"
"Because I am not on your side of the war!" I roared. I heard the bushes rustle violently behind me, and turned my head to see Azaan and Dazaan.
"Brother!" Dazaan cried, running over to Razaan's side.
"Mother! What happened?" Azaan snarled.
"Mother? You're their mother?" Lin Chung yelled.
"Oh, you haven't met my other adopted sons, Lin? Amazing how they look like me. I see you've met the oldest." I snapped, tears coming to my eyes again. I ducked out of the medallion, and grabbed it in my jaws before turning to Azaan. "Go! Take this to Highroller!" I commanded. Both brothers looked one last time at Razaan's body, before turning around and running. Lin Chung prepared to run after them, but I stepped in his way.
"How could you do this?" He yelled.
"How could I do this? How could you kill my son!?" I snarled.
"He… I didn't mean to! He jumped me, it was a reflex!" Lin defended himself.
"So, it's a reflex of yours to kill!?" I hissed.
"How could you betray us like this?" He asked quietly. I sighed before speaking.
"You're on Big Green's side of the war. I'm on Highroller's. We each do what we can to make sure our own side wins." I snarled coldly, before whirling around on my paws and running in the direction Azaan and Dazaan had taken. I screwed my eyes shut against the tears; it was breaking my heart to leave Razaan behind. I followed the two lions' scent trail, and found their scent getting stronger. I soon broke into a clearing and, through my blurry eyes, saw Aslan, Yeshai, Azaan, and Dazaan. Aslan took one look at me, walked over, and touch his nose to my ear. I sobbed, and he let me lean against him.
Razaan was gone… my beautiful baby, lost in a war he should have survived. This is the last time I will let anyone hurt me. No more. This is the last time I have been hurt. I will no longer be the victim.