Chapter 10: Falling Skies
Since the following night my spirit was at its pinnacle making it hard for me to sleep or even lie out in the sun and relax. Pacing around I tried to find something to release all this pent up energy that was rushing through me. In the midst of my thought I saw the lionesses forming a line with Simba and Nala at the helm.
Curiosity overcame me as I made my way over so I could get a better vantage point. Seeing Kiara descending from the cave and making her way between the lionesses as they showered her with praises as she passed them.
"Wow how you have grown so much."
"You are truly beautiful."
Making her way to the feet of her father conversing with him probably over the details of her first hunt as she gave him a stern stare most likely making him promise that he would let her do this by herself. Now seeing the proceedings happening for real I began to ponder why Simba let her hunt by herself and not with the pride sisters. My best guess was that he did not know what happened to Avina when she hunted by herself. Shrugging off the thought I made my way over to my cove seeing that I was not going to see Kiara for the rest of the day.
In my cove I pushed myself to sheer exhaustion with the bolder causing my muscles to pulsate under my fur, it was the only way I could think of to keep my restlessness under control until Kiara came back. Making my way over to my pool drink the cool morning water restoring what energy I had left.
Thoughts began to pour in about what was going to happen.
Why does Simba let Kiara go without Uzuri?
I thought if she was going to be a part of the pride sisters she would have to work as a group.
I would assume that Simba knew what happened to Shaka and Avina, on second thought I bet Sarabi never told him or got the opportunity.
Then why didn't anyone protest.
I should go find her... wait no. Simba sent Timon and Pumba to watch her and with me there it will only make it worse.
Tremors in the water seized my attention as they grew in force. Seeing that an outside force was the cause I readied myself for whatever pending danger that awaited me. Crashing through the grass in a mass panic antelope broke through plowing through my cove. In the wake of the unabated force of the stampeding hooves side stepping through the masses narrowly avoiding the horns that wish to gore me through.
One was almost successful in his efforts as he lowered his head and collided with mine sending my whole world spinning momentarily. Throbbing pain radiated from my head fueling my anger. Spotting a victim in my wake I laid patiently as it barreled down at me.
Sided stepping I wrapped my foreleg around its neck using my momentum to carry me over his back. Digging my teeth into his muscular neck enveloped my mouth with warm fresh blood. Under my shear weight he collapsed as blood sprayed from his neck under the excursion of his struggle to break free.
Readjusting my mouth as he was pinned to the ground I closed down on his throat with vice like force. Cracking and ripping radiated from my teeth as I clamped down harder feeling his desperate breaths passing over my tongue. With his last gurgling breath he departed this world and hung limp in my jaws. Letting go watching him collapse to the ground without a fight I was over zealous at my very fortunate success at killing him.
Padding of paws drew my attention away for a moment waiting for whatever beast wanted to steal my kill. My fear was short lived as Kiara broke through the grass first looking at the antelope and then at me with a very distraught face upon her.
"How... what... what are you doing out here?"
"What, I come out her all the time."
"Really! My father didn't send you to spy on me."
"No I promise I didn't."
"Really what do you come out here to do?"
"Well... mostly think and pick up heavy stuff and put them down."
"That makes no sense; I thought I could trust you."
"You can I just didn't know you would be out here. I mean I knew you'd be out here and Timon and Pumba would be to, but I didn't know you'd be here."
"So you did know. Well tell my father that I'm leaving to hunt outside the pride lands." Tears enveloping her eyes tearing away from me.
"Shit... Kiara wait..."
Through the thick grass her golden body made it damn near impossible to follow her. My best bet was to run in the direction that she left in and hope for the best.
As minutes turned to hours my legs began to fatigue it felt like I was running around in circles the golden grass taunting me to run in their direction. My eyes were deceiving me as any movement I believe it was her only to yield crushing disappointment. Spotting a grass knoll up ahead I climbed it so I could get a better vantage point of the savanna.
My efforts were immediately rewarded as I spotted a lioness in a dash towards my direction. Upon further investigation I saw she was accompanied by a lion with darker color and a mane black as charcoal. As they closed the distance to me I saw that they were carrying branches ignited in flames.
Something clicked in my head as I realized it was Vitanni and Nuka remembering what they were tasked to do I went down to confront them to prevent any harm to Kiara. They're startled faces were all that I needed as I bounded down towards them teeth flaring.
"Leave this place." Mustering the deepest voice that I could fathom.
"Who the hell are you?"
"That is none of your concern leave now!"
"Oh yeah why don't you make us."
"Yeah make us, AHAHAH."
"Be my pleasure."
Lunging at them caught them a bit off guard as Nuka flailed about trying to avoid my initial attack. Vitanni was much more composed as she held her ground and returned blows for blows. Seeing that she had the advantage wielding the fire in her mouth she pressed it into my face causing me to go on the defensive. In an effort to prevent her ignition my mane on fire I swung at her mouth dislodging the branch from her mouth.
"No what are you going to do?"
"Haha nothing you idiot."
Looking down at where the branch landed caused it to light the grass on fire and it was spreading unabated. Nuka immediately dropped his and followed Vitanni away.
"Thanks for the help big boy!"
There mocking tones just further my pain as I was the cause of the thing that I was trying to prevent. In an effort to subdue the flames I began to kick dirt and stamp what I could out with my paws. My efforts were in vain as the dirt did little to snuff the spread of the flames and the pads of my paws were beginning to burn under the intense heat of the grass fire. Looking up to see instead of a small grass fire a ragging inferno. The wall of flames began to press upon my position evaporating the moisture from my eyes the only thing I could do was retreat.
Passing by the various beasts as they attempted to out run the grass fire causing me to lose what bearing I had on where safety was. Everywhere I looked was fire the smoke was beginning to blackout the mid-day sky turning it to night almost instantly.
Spotting a gap in the flames I made a break for it amongst the collapsing trees. Weaving in and out of the burning branches and grass something caught my eye below my position. A dark colored lion with a blacked mane carrying a lioness across his back. Making an effort to call out to her but my efforts yielded nothing as the smoke and heat destroyed what moisture I had in my throat rendering it useless. My best effort was to cut him off and save her myself.
Sliding down the dirt mound I fell into step behind him. Noticing my presents on his heels he turned around and snarling at me and doubling his efforts to separate from me. In my efforts to keep pace with him, inhaling droves of smoke that saturated the air causing my lungs to burst into flames.
Pushing through the pain, I managed to get alongside him to see Kiaras body lifeless body. My greatest fears where washed away as her eyes opened and locked with mine drawing a smile across her lips. As quickly as that moment started it ended as a branch weaken from the flames crashed on my head. The sheer weight of the branch slammed my head forward into the ground with the momentum of my hind legs causing me to flip onto the burn branch. Excruciating pain erupted from my back as my body took over and flung itself from the branch.
Pain and hazy lights was the only thing in my world at that moment. My saving grace was that I hit the ground running even thought I didn't know which was I was running as what little light I had begun to disappear.
Pain radiated through my body as flames brushed against my charred fur and mane. My lungs were at their breaking point as they made any effort to draw what little oxygen I inhaled to my blood. The only thing that I was hopeful for that my legs would not stop running. Adrenaline was the only thing that kept me alive as death was all around me blacking out the world once again.
As hope began to evaporate with the flames my forelegs missed solid ground sending me into a free fall. Fear and panic set in as my weight less body fell in the blackness. The worst thoughts paraded around in my head tell me the end was near as deaths icy grip caressed my body.
'CRASH'
A forceful impact of hitting something solid exploded across my burned back as unfathomable pain overwhelmed my sense releasing my hold on reality. Cold water washed over me as I involuntary inhaled air after the impact of the water causing water to fill my lungs.
Terror caused me to fight the water as I battled trying to find the surface. The moment that I thought I was going to drown again I broke free allowing the rush of air into my lungs purging the water. Choking on the water as I fought like a cornered rat praying to all the gods that I would find land.
My prayers where heard as my forelegs struck muddy dirt of the river bank summoning the last burst of energy to drag my haggard body on land. Collapsing no more than a couple inches from the water line in the muddy dirt I laid in utter darkness.
My eyes were trying to produce what tears they could from the moisture that my body withheld to ease the pain. My breaths were short and shallow as a panic attack began to set in immediately seizing my lungs. Why did I have to fight so hard to have it end on this river bank? As my brain began to sink into insanity to save what little hope I had splashing of feet seized my attention by the throat.
"Hey who's that over there?"
I don't know but he's really hurt."
"Rafiki... I need Rafiki." The harsh words felt like razor blades as I uttered what I could in an effort to save myself.
"Timon go get Rafiki I'll stay her with him."
"Why do I have to go why can't you."
"Fine I'll go."
I believe that Pumba used one of his looks to coax Timon into getting Rafiki as in a moment's time with felt like an eternity he returned with mandrill. His rough hands placed on the side of my face causing me to whence under the pain.
"This is not good; we have to get him out of here."
"Rafiki I can't see don't let death take me again, please I can't see." The sounds of a frightened child choking on his words left my mouth as I pleaded to be saved.
"SHHH, child you will be fine Aiheu will hear your prayers."
Howling in pain as Pumba dug underneath me to prop me on top of him. I fought to hold on to what I knew was consciousness focusing on the unbearable pain with each step that the warthog took. After a couple of steps I felt the pain subside as what muscles were still ridged fell limp letting me slip into unconsciousness.