Chapter 7: Tears of Blood

Stirring under the warmth of the rising sun as it began to set the world ablaze. It was a beautiful sight to behold. Stretching my body presented an unusual bust of energy. I guess my sleep was better than I previously intended I guess I will go for a run. Surveying the savanna I spotted a hill in the distance and wondered what was over there. I bounded off into the grass as the morning dew brushed against me causing my fur to mat. Digging my claws into the soft soil I pushed myself harder as the rush of wind broke across my ears. My nostrils flaring as they engulfed the morning air still cool from the night. My muscles clicked as my relenting pace became constant topping the hill I leaped off blasting "YEAAAAAHHHHH" letting the whole savanna hear my cries.

I continued my pace until I found a pool of water and a tree within reach of it. The sun was rising causing the heat to intensified drastically producing a small inferno in my lungs. Drinking my fill of water I looked around to see if I could spot a landmark to gage how far I went. Unable to see anything probably because I was in a low lying spot I found something to divert my attention. There was a boulder that was sticking out. I went over a put my forelegs on it and pushed. To my dismay it bugged with minimal effort. Now I wanted to see how strong my muscles were. With a great heave I muscle it out of its resting place causing it to roll a little bit. Once out of the ground I really took into account how massive the piece of stone was. I continued to roll it round my new found grove my muscles surged with blood all over my body as I rolled it.

After what felt like an hour I yielded to the weight of the stone as my body was on fire from the lactic acid coursing through my veins. It felt amazing as I trotted over to the pool to look at myself. I leapt for joy as my pride was boasted at the sight of my pumped up muscles breaking out from my fur. I contracted them causing them to flex as I inspected them overall joyed with my new found body.

I laid down in sheer exhaustion underneath the tree allowing my belly cool on the ground that was not touched by the sun. Right as I was about to doze off, then my ears twitched to a rustle in the grass with in my proximity. I got up to investigate the nose slowly and delicately placing my paws so they would not give me away. Brushing through the grass the nose of chewing and shifting of dirt grew. My stealth paid off as I found a rabbit carrying unaware of death looming behind him not even two feet away.

My stomach began to turn as the scent of the rabbit filled my nose. Uncontrollable I began to lick my lips in anticipation of the approaching meal. I inch ever so carefully so it was in reach of my deadly grasp. I exhaled slowly as I lashed out catching its hind end with my claws ripping through the flesh. It let out a god awful scream of agony as it came to.

"Please don't kill me. Oh God I don't want to die. I'm too young." I shook my head in disbelief as I understood every word that parted from that rabbit's mouth. It sent an unsettling feeling washed over my as the rabbit cried out in agony. I was hard to watch as his forelegs tried to claw its way away from me dragging his managed legs behind him. It was hard I knew I had to kill him for one because he would suffer more and eventually die and I was really famished as it's been two nights since I had something to eat.

"You know I have to do this I don't like it as much you like it either. I promise it will be swift and you will be with the gods."

"I don't want to die why does it have to be me I didn't do anything wrong."

"I know it's hard on me I promise but it's the natural order of things and I'm really hungry." He looked up at me knowing that there was no way he was going to survive this. Humbleness came over his face as he accepted his fate.

"The least you can do is making this suffering end."

"I promise that your death will be swift to end your agony."

"Well may I as what your name is?"

"Kiburi"

"So Kiburi do what you must, I can see it is as painfully for you as it is for me. I know that I would not last long anyway in this condition because hyenas or jackals or wild dogs will surely get me at least you will be kind."

"Thank you so much for understanding I don't want it to be like this. May the gods truly bless you."

Walking over I gently ran my paw across his face before I placed it on top of his head and pressed down with all my weight in a swift motion. Bones snapped and crackled as his body convulsed and spasm as the last of its fight sure came to death. The involuntary coughing and dry heaves riddled my body as my mind registered what I did as my bloody paw left marks amongst the soil.

Fighting back I came too and looked to the body with a flatten blood head laying there. I closed my eyes I knew what I had to do next I could not let it go to waste. I scooped him up in my jaws and bite down. The taste wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be since it was raw it was just really crunchy. I guess the eating part wasn't hard as the killing part hopefully I will get used to it or I just won't have prolonged conversations with my meals before I kill them.

It was a drop in a bucket as far as meals go but I felt really accomplished as I finally got my first kill with relative easy. I know my luck will not be like that with the big game though hopefully I will get some lessons before I attempt that again. I bounded off to pride rock to see what they do during the middle of the day.

Upon my arrival I saw everyone was precariously placed everywhere underneath trees or on rocks sunning themselves. I could really get use to this. I made my way through the beaten path as everyone looked at me with weird gazes like I had something on my face or something.

Trimmers of words broke out as I passed the lionesses causing me to become very wary of what was about to happen. Finding a spot away from the throng of lionesses I laid down allowing the heat of the sun warm my back relaxing my muscles and putting me in a good mood for a nap.

Before I could close my eyes I heard the patting of paws making its way in my direction. The only thought that came across my mind was this can't be anything good.

"Hey where did you go?" The sultry sound of Kiara voice instantly lifted my spirits as I lifted my head to meet her gaze.

"Oh never mind."

"What! What's wrong?"

"Um you got something on your face."

"What."

I ran my paw all over my face scrubbing intensely to rid whatever that was causing this embarrassing monument. Pulling my paws away the only thing I saw was dried blood from the rabbit.

"Is that better?" Chuckling at my attempts to clean myself she then inspected me some more, she licked her paw and whipped my nose.

"Their, that's better. I see you have had an eventful morning."

"Yeah you can say that."

"So what did you get?"

"Um a rabbit."

"Wow really." It felt like her words were dripping with sarcasm.

"Yeah it's no big deal."

"Well yeah at least you killed something I haven't."

"Really is it because of your dad?"

"Well yeah he won't let me do anything. I go out with Uzuri so I can learn but he's constantly afraid that I will get hurt"

"I understand my parents were the same way. At times they would say no I would still do it I have to learn my own way eventually."

"Yeah I know right, but I'm a princess everyone is constantly watching me and expecting me to be something that I don't know I can be."

"Hey I have an idea."

"What"

"Let's sneak out tonight after everyone is asleep." She paused for a second weight the idea every second that she sat there anticipation was building to a point that it was about to burst.

"Sure where are we going."

"You will see just meet me here."

"Okay" Simba came out and beckoned for her to come to him. She smiled at me and left. After all these years I final have a date.