Hey guys, I'm finally back with another chapter, I'm so sorry it took so long...again. X(
Things just got a little crazy for me, not only with the pandemic still going on, but a little drama came up right along with it. Mostly scares and clashing opinions on how certain situations should have been handled and then some more little things that were just piling up on top which made it really hard to focus on writing.
Things are starting to get better now, but at the time, I kind of fell into a little funk thanks to all that ridiculousness and I decided to take a pause on the story at the time because I didn't want the stress I was feeling to affect my writing.
Now, I know you guys have more than waited long enough for a new chapter, but before I let you go, let me take a short minuet to thank my immensely patient readers who left a review on the previous chapter...
E31174: Oh my gosh, you have? Wow, that's such an honor! :D:D:D thank you so much!
DoctorPony: Thank you so much! And don't worry, I fully intend to continue writing :3
josh100o: Thank you so much for your review! Holy muffins, you have no idea how proud of myself I got after hearing that it was good enough for a binge read! XD XD XD
Takai-taka: Wooo! Thank you soooo so very much! I'm so glad to hear that you like the story so far :D:D:D And I understand about hesitating with OC's, sometimes they're just not your cup of tea. But I am happy you were able to enjoy the read so far and I hope I'll continue to do a good job for you!
Just A Visitor: Thank you so much for your review, hun, it always makes me happy to hear that my story is enjoyed :3 And I'm so happy that you liked Tilly as the villain. It was a different experience, so hopefully I'll be able to keep her as a worthy antagonist for our hero throughout the future chapters!
And thank you so much, I worked very hard on the cover and I'm so glad that it turned out as well as it did*dances*It may take a while, but there definitely will be illustrations for this story(kind of wish FanFiction had a feature where you could post pictures within the text XP). And Oh yes, my goal is to have covers for all my stories, and a new one for 'The Healing Path' is currently getting sketched out.
Oh wow, I'm so flattered that you're asking me for advice =^_^=. Creating characters for your own original story is a little more difficult, but it can be very fun. I find that It's easier for me to model my characters after people I know in real life. Ryan is actually inspired by a family member of mine with differences in appearance and very few minor tweeks in his personality to make him his own character. As for writing dialog, I would just suggest writing in a way that feel comfortable for you, maybe reread some of your all-time favorite books and see if there's a style that most appeals to you.
I'm sorry again that this was so late!
erica. phoenix 16: You're very welcome, and thank you for reading! X3 X3 X3 I'm so happy that you liked that chapter!
Kry Chi: Holy muffins, seeing your review just made me smile ear to ear XD XD XD, to hear that you like my story enough to want to see more of it really made me feel good, thank you so much for that, hun!
I-Love-Trunks1: They gotcha! XD XD XD Thank you so very much for your review, I'm super glad that you liked the chapter!
Well, I'm not really taking on requests for stories when I already have so many that are still in desperate need of TLC ^^; Plus, I haven't watched any of the new DBZ episodes that feature F-Trunks and F-Mai just yet. So as stands now, I'm sticking to the plan of no more new stories(even my own) until a good majority of those I already have posted here are finished. Sorry about that hun.
Steelcode: Oh yes, fingers crossed that he can stay ahead of these guys! XD XD XD
Thank you soooo so very much! I'll do my best to keep doing a good job and I hope you'll continue to enjoy the story!
bored411: Oh I know, even though I'm the one who came up with them, I was still getting angry while writing this XD XD XD Thank you so much for your review, I'm definitely eager to write more chapters! I'm so sorry that I'm not updating as quickly as I'd like, but I hope you continue to enjoy :D
Paul Crew: Thank you so much! I actually enjoy scenarios like that were you might have suspicions at first, but then you kind of doubt yourself until that 'I KNEW IT!' moment XD. I'll try and post more as soon as I can!
Dave Bennett: He has a pretty bad habit of getting himself into trouble, doesn't he? Though I guess that's technically my fault since I'm the writer...I don't know, does that count? XD XD
Jason Chandler: Thanks a bunch hun! :D:D:D Oh believe me, they're not gonna know just how bad they got it coming*rubs hands together while laughing evilly*
Jestalnaker94000: Thank you sooo so much! Hehe, oh, you just wait, they're gonna have a night they'll never forget*rubs my hands gleefully*
Interstate2011: Yep, they're up there on my list of despicable people!
Thank you so much for catching those mistakes for me! I really appreciate you helping me keep the story flowing. XD XD XD
I guess you could say that any sort of relationship they'd have is strictly professional. Professional as Kathrynne has been trying her best to dig up the proof she needs to put her behind bars but Tilly has managed to cover her tracks and stay a few steps ahead of her XP.
Thank you all again so much for your reviews and to those who have favorited and followed the story. You have no idea how happy it makes me to see that and hear your feedback, I would give you all big hugs if I could!
Now I won't hold you here any longer, so go and enjoy the new chapter! :D:D:D
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Chapter 18: Unlikely Allies
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"Hey!"
Ryan jerked in surprise at the loud yell before he felt a sharp kick at his knee and the shock of it, since he had somehow managed to fall asleep, caused him to accidently knock the back of his head against the post he was tied too. And letting out a groan of pain, he glared up at Liam as he loomed over him while holding something in his hands.
Though instead of setting it down normally, Liam deliberately dropped it and let it clatter at Ryan's feet where he discovered that it was a plastic plate that had single, plain ham sandwich sitting upon it. Though, rather haphazard as the bread, meat and slice of cheese came apart after its fall, most of it didn't even managed to stay on the plate and now sat in the dirt.
After staring at it for a few seconds, Ryan lifted his hazel eyes to meet with Liam's icy blue ones with an unamused expression.
"And just how am I supposed to eat like this? With my feet?" he asked, referring to the fact that his wrists were tightly bound around the post behind him.
"Not my problem." The older man said with a sneer before he turned heel and walked away.
Ryan let out an aggravated sigh as he stared down at the sorry looking plate that was "offered" and grimaced as his stomach let out a long growl after a full day of not eating anything. But really, even if he did have the use of his hands, he wasn't sure if he wanted to take a chance and trust any piece of food they tried to feed him at this point.
"How can man like that be allowed to roam free?"
Ryan looked up from the sandwich and over to his right where Nala was as she lay down in her cage a few feet away from him. Her teal eyes cautiously watching Liam with a hardened glare until he disappeared from sight, to do who knows what, before she brought her full attention back to Ryan.
"People like him are hard for authorities to catch." Ryan told her, frustration in his voice as he just kicked the plate away from him. "Trust me, if my mom's been hounding on them like Tilly said, then all these guys would be locked up in a cage of their own if she had her way."
"Are we...are we going to be okay?" Nala asked, her voice quiet and filled with worry.
"They're not gonna hurt you or your baby." Ryan assured her with confidence. "To them, you're way more valuable alive and in good health."
"What about you?" she asked.
"Honestly? I'm surprised they haven't ditched me anywhere by now." Ryan stated truthfully.
Nala didn't seem to like that answer, but she said nothing and started to groom her fur to calm her nerves. Though when she reached her head around and started cleaning at her belly, Ryan couldn't help but wonder about the new life she was currently carrying.
"Speaking of baby…how long?" Ryan asked, making her pause.
At first, she seemed confused about what he was talking about, but then it came to her and she settled back down with a soft sigh.
"Not too long." she finally said. "I only found out myself a short time ago."
"Does Simba know?" Ryan questioned, only to look at her in surprise when she shook her head.
"I didn't intend to hide it, I just wanted to wait until the right time. So much bad between Zira, Sarabis' death and then the painted dogs showing up in the jungle…I thought there would be too much anger and fear for him to truly enjoy the thought of a new life." Nala explained, though she seemed very regretful. "I was planning to tell him yesterday because that new game you taught us really did him some good, but then…"
Then Ryan got them both caught.
The young man hung his head in shame, feeling absolutely miserable about the whole thing because this was all his fault. He was the one who didn't tell anyone about his worries, he was the reason Nala followed him out to the trap that morning and got mixed up in this mess. He didn't even know what to say to let her know just how sorry he was that he got her mixed up in this mess and put her family at risk...
"You know, considerin' the money boots like these go for," Ryan and Nala quickly looked over to see Tilly, who was casually leaning against a tree and staring at him with a fake expression of hurt as she tapped the toe of a snakeskin boot on the ground. "I don't much appreciate them gettin' called 'ugly'."
"Well you should get your money back. " Ryan mumbled as she began to walk closer. "Because they're the ugliest boots I've ever seen!"
"Now sugar, there's no need to be so crass." Tilly stated, shaking her head in disappointment before she stopped and looked down at the plate Liam had brought.
"Oh that childish-I told him to make sure you were fed proper!" She tsked in annoyance as she putt her hands on her hips and sent a glare over to the spot Liam was last seen. "I swear, whatever I tell him goes in one ear and out the other; I'll get'cha a fresh one if you'd like."
Ryan didn't answer as he refused to even look at her, which made Tilly let out a long sigh.
"It would be so much easier on you if you'd just go along with me, hun. I'm pretty much the only friend you got out here, and I like to think I'm bein' as fair as I can." the older woman said as she knelt down in front of him. "If you ask my opinion, you may want to act a smidgen more appreciative."
"Well I didn't!" Ryan snapped. "And you're not my friend; So drop the stupid nice act and buzz off!"
At that, Tilly smile dropped into a scowl before her arm flew up lightning fast and Ryan felt a tight grip around his jaw. He struggled at first, but he stopped when she squeezed so tightly that he was able to feel her long nails even through her gloves as they dug painfully into his cheeks.
"Ryan!" Nala snarled as she rattled the bars of her cage.
But Tilly didn't even seem the least bit concerned about the lioness as she made Ryan look at her, nearly nose to nose with him. And though he tried to put up a brave front, it was hard to fight a shiver from running through him as her eyes glinted with that same intimidating coldness he saw just the night before when he was barley able to convince her in keeping Nala alive.
"I don't know why you insist on pushin' me, Ryan. But I am a hairs width away from havin' just about enough." Tilly started, her voice low and threatening. "I've put up with your sass if only because you're young, dumb and mistakes are to be expected, but even my patience has its limits! I don't like back-talk. I don't like snippy quips. I don't like insubordination of any kind and, I'll have you know, that I am the sole reason you still have the breath to bellyache with!"
Ryans' heart almost shuddered when she raised her voice and gave him a rough jolt near the end of her sentence. She was so close that her floral perfume was the only thing he could smell and he was unable to look away from those blue eyes as they bore into his own.
"That being said, it would be best for you to start shown' a little more gratitude and a lot less attitude." Tilly warned, giving him a look that was almost daring him to challenge her. "Wouldn't you agree?"
The young man would have scowled at her if he could, and he had plenty of choice words in mind that he wanted to share. But it was like his voice was stuck in his throat because, while he wasn't very proud to admit it, she scared him.
Looking back during all this time out here, Ryan had taken on three hyenas at once, wrestled with a fully grown lioness, escaped from the wrath of a wild dog pack on two occasions and faced down crocodiles, and all those times Ryan was sure that he came super close to loosing his life...but Tilly made him feel a different kind of fear. Unlike himself, she was too good at hiding her deceitful and cruel nature behind a kind façade and pretty smile and it made him both shudder to think what she could have done before they ever crossed paths and dread what else she was capable of to make sure she wouldn't be caught by authorities.
"Well?" Tilly stated, her impatient tone breaking him out of his thoughts. "I'm waiting!"
"Yes." he finally answered in a reluctant whisper.
"Yes, what?" she questioned, making the young man wince as her grip on his cheeks tightened once again.
"...Yes ma'am." Ryan ground through his teeth.
"That's a good boy." She said, letting go of his face and giving his cheek a firm pat while that disarming smile came back to her red lips. "Let's try and get along now, shall we?"
Ryan just as he glared at the ground, feeling angry and ashamed of his own meekness until a loud rev of an engine rumbled through air. They look over to see the jeep, which Bill and Roy took early that morning, zooming back towards camp with a large cloud of dust trailing behind them. They were finally back from setting the new traps as Tilly ordered.
"Took you boys long enough, it's nearly dark!" Tilly yelled over the motor before they shut it off and climbed out. The both of them looked rather sheepish as their ring leader glared at them with her hands on her hips. "Just what were y'all doin' out there? It don't take a whole day to set traps!"
"No ma'am, it don't, but you asked us to find out where that pride was, right?" Bill explained as he reached in the back of the vehicle and picked up a small sack. "It took a while followin' her trail, but I'm pretty sure we found out where she came from."
"Oh, so so that means you found her pride?" Tilly asked, looking pleased. "Where were they? Did'ja get a look at the male?"
"Well..." Bill started slowly, looking a bit sheepish. "No."
"We didn't see any lions, but there were tons of prints." Roy explained. "Must've been out huntin' when we got there, so we just looked around the area a bit."
Or Simba and every available lioness were out there looking for Ryan and Nala when they never came back yesterday. But either way, Ryan let out a quiet breath of relief that Roy and Bill had missed and the frown on Tilly's face deepened. Though before she could go off on them for wasting so much time with nothing to show for it, Billy quickly stepped forward and held up the bag he had in his hands.
"And before you say anythin' else, we brought'cha a little present..." Bill said.
"Right." Tilly said crossly. "It'll take more then few pretty flowers to get back in my good graces!"
But she allowed him the chance to open it up anyway as he reached in and began rummaging around.
A tiny and familiar voice began mewling, and upon hearing it, Nala and Ryan both gasped in fear and disbelief. It shouldn't have been possible for them to have her, but it was the horrible truth when little Kiara was pulled out into view by her scruff.
Tilly, on the other hand, lost her disapproving expression and became genuinely delighted to see her.
"Oh my stars, look at you!" the older woman gushed as she reached over, cupped her hands around Kiara's face and gently massaged her furry cheeks with her thumbs. "Why, you're just about the sweetest little thing I've ever laid eyes on; she was out there on her own?"
"Yeah, hidden in this shallow hole underneath rock and tree roots." Roy said. "Never woulda known she was even there if she didn't start kickin' up such a fuss."
"Tell 'er what happened next, Roy." Bill snickered, unable to contain a big, crooked grin as Roy sighed in annoyance.
"When I reached in to grab her, this bird with blue feathers suddenly flew in out of nowhere started attacking me." Roy, not nearly finding the whole thing as amusing as his friend.
He must have been talking about Zazu, and as the big man raised a hand up and gingerly rubbed at his head, Ryan could barley contain a smile from the satisfaction he felt upon noticing that the hornbill had managed to inflect a few scratches along his bald scalp.
"You'll never guess what happened after!" Bill added in, rather excitedly. "After the thing started dive bombing Roy, this huge warthog came chargin' in with some scrawny rat on it's back, craziest thing I ever saw!"
That was definitely Timon and Pumbaa.
"Big guy tried ta gore us a few times, but a few shots of ol' reliable managed ta take care of 'em right quick." Bill said as he proudly patted the gun at his belt, which made Nala and Ryan look at each other with worried glances. Pumbaa, Zazu and Timon were fast and hard to catch, so with that in mind, they both latched on to the little hope they had left that Bill had only scared them off and not...
"Yep, there's a reason humans are the dominant speci-Oh shut up, will ya?!" Bill snapped, cutting off his own sentence as he gave Kiara a rough shake because she was still mewing and steadily growing louder in volume. "You made such a racket the whole way back and I ain't gonna hear it no more!"
"She's hungry, you moron!" Ryan yelled, unable to stop himself. "Give her to her mother so she can eat!"
"And how ya figure that, you little jerk?!" Bill demanded indigently. "She could belong to any lioness!"
The raven haired young man fell silent as didn't know how to answer after his out burst. He didn't want to give away just how well he knew Nala and pride, even though he was fairly sure they wouldn't have believed that he had actually been living with them anyway; Thankfully, he didn't need to come up with an excuse because that was when Tilly intervened and plucked Kiara out of his grip.
"Billy! Now you know better than to treat a baby that way, and don't you remember that he said mama had another cub before? At the very least, we should make sure that this is her first or not." Tilly chided before she looked down to the crying infant and began to soothe her by gently rocking her arms from side to side. "There, there, come on angel, let's see if we can get you a nice little somethin' for that hungry tummy."
She looked to Roy and nodded, a gesture as he reached up and unslung the dart gun he had at his shoulder before he trained it on Nala while Tilly pulled a ring of keys from her belt and unlocked the cage. The teal eyed lioness growled deeply, the hairs along her back bristled and her wrinkled muzzled pulled back over her sharp fangs as Tilly slowly opened the door, but she made no movement while the larger man had that dangerous stick pointed at her.
And more importantly, she didn't want to do anything to cause Kiara harm.
The young princess began sniffing the air, and once she realized that her mother was near, she became more animated and her cries louder with excitement. Once Tilly set her down inside and closed the door, Nala took the chance to move and swept her front legs around her daughter, nuzzling and cleaning her face to give her comfort.
Though it seemed that as much as Kiara appeared to enjoy her mothers touch, she had something much more pressing to take care of as she crawled her way to Nala's middle, growling a bit between suckles a she quickly drank to satisfy her hunger.
"Well, it seems you were right, sugar." Tilly said after a short while of watching Nala care for her, an unnerving smile appearing on her face. "I have half a mind to believe that you know more about these lions then you've been lettin' on, so you can bet we'll have ourselves a little sit down later on."
Ryan only glared at her, but shifted his attention to Kiara as she soon started to slow down and take slower drinks, but the feeling of calm was short lived. At some point, Bill had picked up a Ketch-All pole from somewhere and managed to sneak up behind the cage without either Nala or Ryan noticing as their attention was solely on Kiara; And once the little cub had finally eaten her fill, Bill reached in, looped the wire around Nala's neck and pulled her hard against the cage.
The lioness, startled by the unexpected grab, let out a roar as she began to struggle and reach up with her claws to get whatever was holding her off. And Kiara, though she still couldn't see or hear very well, seemed to sense that something was wrong and she shrank back from her mothers flailing body.
"What are you doing?!" Ryan cried out, but he was ignored as Tilly reopened the cage door.
"Easy girl, don't fight so hard." Tilly said, ignoring Ryan and reaching in to scoop Kiara up into her hands. "It'd hurt my heart for that little bundle inside to be in distress."
Once Tilly had the cage closed and locked up tight, Bill let the wire loop on the pole go slack and allowed Nala to free herself. Once she realized that she couldn't feel anything around her neck anymore, Nala surged forward and latched onto the bars of her prison with her fangs, desperately trying to ripe them apart and take Kiara back; but she barley even managed to leave chips in the steel.
"Well hello again, sweet pea, do you feel better with a full belly? I'm sure you do." Tilly cooed, tossing Roy the keys to the cage and lightly bounced Kiara in her arms. "Ooo, Auntie Tilly's just gotta love on you some, yes she does!"
"You can't just take her baby like that!" Ryan shouted as Nala gave up her attack on the bars, panting from exhaustion and anxiety.
"Oh but I can, see, it's a little somethin' I picked up during work, animals out here are too used to doing as they please, but, if you have the right incentive..." she tickled Kiara's round stomach, causing a smile to appear on the cub's face before she batted at Tilly's hand with her paws. "Then they learn to be as good as gold."
"No, give her back!" Nala began, her eyes pleading as she never looked away from her cub. Of course, all Tilly could hear from her was a distressed groan, but she was still able to understand what it was that she wanted.
"Aw, relax mama, I'll take good care of our sweet little darlin'." the woman promised in that sickly-sweet voice and nuzzling Kiara against her cheek as though she were a beloved pet.
"I'll even reward you regular visits with peanut, here...of course, that's only if you shape up and start treatin' us nice." She took Kiara by the scruff and dangled her close to Nala's cage right before her nose. and even though she still had the smile on her face, it was little more than a simple mask for the cruel maliciousness they could clearly hear in her voice. "Otherwise, I won't feel so inclined to let her stay with you even when it comes time to find buyers. I will go out of my way to make sure you never see either of your cubs again if you so much as put one toe out of line!"
Nala felt a cold feeling wash over her as she tried to figure out if she was bluffing or being serious, but after a moment, she bowed her head in defeat. She already lost one cub, she couldn't even bear the thought that she might loose Kiara and her new little one too if she did anything to anger them.
"Not to worry, though." The woman assured, once again her tone light and friendly as she cradled Kiara in her arms and began to stroke her fur. "I won't have to resort to such ugly extremes so long as you behave yourself."
"You're a monster!" Ryan snapped, earning a laugh from her.
"No, sugar, I'm resourceful." Tilly corrected. "It don't matter if it's man or beast, there's always something I can use to make things go my way."
"Okay boys, go ahead and get her inside for the night." Tilly told Bill and Roy as she turned and began to walk away with Kiara. "Give her a big ol' helping of dinner, too."
"Yes ma'am." Bill and Roy said together before they hefted Nala's cage up and started carrying her back to the warehouse.
"Stop!" Ryan yelled, meeting Nala's eyes one last time before the moved her out of his sight. "Give her back to her mother! Tilly!"
He let out an angry yell as he began fight against his retrains, twisting his hands around in order to force them through the ropes. When that didn't work, he maneuvered them around until he had an awkward grip on the pole with his fingers and began to push himself up into a standing position with the intension to pull it up from the ground.
But it was no use, in was stuck deep into the ground and he wasn't able to get a good hold if it; Plus, it didn't take long for his boots to slip on some loos dirt and fall right back down where he had been. So there Ryan sat, his chest heaving with rage as his wrists burned from rubbing against the rope and tears of helpless frustration began to well up in his eyes.
He squeezed them shut and bowed his head down to hide his face because the last thing he wanted were these creeps to catch him crying, but that was all he seemed able to do.
He hated feeling so powerless!
Just when he began to feel like giving up entirely, he jolted when suddenly felt something lightly touch his knees, and with a short gasp, he quickly lifted his head and blinked in confusion to see that a small monkey with brilliant amber eyes was sitting there before him. He didn't know what to say at first, but as he looked over the monkey more, he realized that it looked exactly like the patas monkey he had rescued and brought back to his camper on that fateful night.
"Mufasa?" Ryan whispered. "Is that you?"
The monkey said nothing, save for a short chitter and blinked it's eyes only once.
It wasn't really an answer, and yet, Ryan just had a feeling that this really was the late king of the Pridelands; but considering the less than stellar situation he was in, Ryan wasn't able to feel thrilled or relived to see him as he instead averted his eyes and stared solemnly at the ground, completely unable to face the one who entrusted him to protect his family.
A task he utterly failed.
"You must be so mad at me, I really messed up here…this whole thing is my fault." Ryan stated quietly with shame "Why did you choose me the help when all I do is make a mess?"
For a short while, the monkey just sat there staring at him, almost like it was contemplating something until, finally, it climbed up into his lap, placed it's paws over his cheeks and gently guided his head down until its fuzzy brow was pressed against his own. At first, Ryan just awkwardly sat there, feeling both a little confused and very unnerved by the fact that the monkey's eyes were still open and staring intently into his own.
But just when started to ask what was going on, a warm feeling suddenly rushed over him and his body immediately relaxed, like he had just been wrapped up within a big, soft blanket and his eyes began to feel too heavy to keep open...
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This felt nice...
He wasn't sore, he no longer felt hungry, he just wanted to lay there and enjoy this sense of quiet peace while he slept on this soft, cushy pillow...only something running over his hair was keeping him awake, and when he opened his eyes, he winced at how bright it was.
'What's going on?' he asked, as he reached out to make whatever was touching his hair to stop. 'Who's that?'
'Don't worry, Ryan,' a very familiar voice assured, and as his hazel eyes finally adjusted to the light, they immediately widened to the size of saucers to see none other than Sarabi looking down at him which left him speechless and unsure if this was really her. He quickly sat up to get a better look, it certainly looked like Sarabi, but younger as her fur was bright, healthy and free of age while those vibrant topaz eyes regarded him with friendly affection. 'It's just me.'
'SARABI!' Ryan finally cried and threw his arms around her neck which earned a laugh from her.
'Easy now, there's no need to get so excited.' The lioness told him, though she place one of her large front legs across his back to hug him as well.
'Yes there is! You have no idea how much I've missed you!' Ryan stated firmly, tightening his grip. 'What are you even doing here?'
'I wanted to see you one last time.' Sarabi told him, gently pulling away and giving Ryan that warm smile he missed. 'to tell you goodbye and how proud I am for keeping Nala safe.'
At that, Ryan's smile and the happiness he felt upon seeing Sarabi again slowly faded as he remembered everything that happened before this. Letting her go, Ryan sat down on his knees and turned his gaze downwards with a guilty expression.
'No I haven't…' the young man sulked. 'I kept my suspicions about poachers to myself and she got captured trying to save me. Now they got Kiara and Simba and the others are in danger too!'
'Hmm, yes, it would have been better if you had trusted your instincts more.' Sarabi agreed without any hesitation, which made Ryan feel even worse before Sarabi gave him an assuring nuzzle. 'But it is also because of you that Nala can continue her journey through the circle of life. And that is something that we are grateful to you for.'
'We?' Ryan asked.
Sarabi nodded her head before she turned her gaze, and following her, Ryan looked out to see that they were sitting in a misty field of orange and yellow flowers. It took Ryan a moment, but when he spotted that solitary acacia tree that rested at the top of a gently slopping hill, he realized that they were back at Sarabi's' special place where she had passed away.
And there, sitting directly under the arch of it low hanging branches, was a large lion with a bright red mane.
The young man only took a single step forward before he froze, unable to move anymore as his stomach twisted up into knots. Was his first thought correct? Did Mufasa bring him here because he was angry at him for being unable to protect his family? The uncertainty was enough to make him break out in a cold sweat.
'It's alright, dear, he only wishes to speak with you.' he heard Sarabi say in a soothing tone behind him. 'Farewell, and take care.'
When he turned back around, he felt a little disappointed to see that Sarabi was gone, but her parting words were just enough to help settling his nerves in order for him to work up the courage and start up the hill to Mufasa. It also helped that Mufasa wasn't staring him down while he waited; Instead, he was looking away from him, and as Ryan got closer and closer to the top, the breath nearly left him by the sheer awe he felt.
It was like he was in a land of clouds that were not only in white, but in pastel colors of pink, purple and sunlight gold as they swirled in gentle winds. More amazing then that was what he could see of the sky through them. On one side, he could see the faint glow of the moon as stars were twinkling against the night, and on the other, he could see the crystal blue morning with the warm rays of the sun just barley streaming through.
Right in the middle of this fantastical sight, Ryan could see that Pride Rock was sitting upon the horizon. Or, the image of it at least, as it seemed like they were looking at it through a misty veil.
Ryan came to a stop beside Mufasa, feeling a bit awkward. Even more so as the lion turned to meet his eyes and it felt like his brain had actually forgotten how to think and make words.
'So…this isn't like another one of those cryptic dreams, huh?' the boy hesitantly asked after a while. And for the first time in any vision he had ever seen of him, the former kings' usually serious expression broke into a smile which was followed by a short chuckle.
'No. We may speak freely.' Mufasa assured, turning back to the hazy image of pride rock while Ryan took a seat beside him. 'Tell me what troubles you.'
'Everything, I messed up so bad...' Ryan began miserably. 'Because of me, Tilly's gonna sell Nala off as soon as her new cub is born, and not just that, but she's trying to hunt down the entire pride and there's nothing I can do to save them...I've failed you.'
'You haven't failed. Not when there is still time for you to change the odds.' Mufasa said, his deep voice was firm, but kindly as he looked down at the boy with a knowing glance. 'But that's not all that has been bothering you, is it.'
Ryan nodded as he let out a long sigh.
'Why did you choose me? Of all people?' he asked. 'You said I was worthy because of courage and kindness, but my mom's like that and more. She even has a whole team who're trained for this kind of thing for crying out loud!'
'Be that as it may, I wanted it to be you.' the lion said, making Ryan look at him like he was crazy.
'But why?' Ryan asked, a bit more demanded than he intended to. 'What the heck makes me so special?!'
Mufasa took in a slow, deep breath, a contemplative expression on his face as he kept his gaze on Pride Rock. The silence between them seem to drag on so long, Ryan was worried that he would end up waking from this dream without an answer...
'I saw much of my son in you.' Mufasa finally confessed. 'At one time, he too was lost, and afraid to accept his role in this world because he saw himself as unworthy. But when the time came, he was able to find the courage within himself to fight and reclaim his place in the circle of life.'
'It is time for you to accept your worth as well. You know your fellow man better than even the wisest of animals, and now, you have a greater understanding of our world like no other before you.' Mufasa said as he turned to face the young man. 'This is a battle that can be won because I have faith in my choice.'
'Well that makes one of us…' Ryan said, still apprehensive about the whole thing. 'I'm just one person, Mufasa, I can't beat these guys on my own.'
'And you won't have to.' Mufasa said, lifting up his forearm and placing his large paw upon Ryans' shoulder. It was heavy, but the gesture still brought him a sense of comfort as a warmth spread through him and seemed to chase away his fears. 'Just as long as you hold onto your courage and have faith that this is a battle that can be won. Then, even the most unlikeliest of allies will be inspired to fight alongside you.'
The young man didn't know what to say...on one hand, Mufasas' belief in him sparked a renewed sense of determination to save Nala and everyone he saw that those poachers abducted. On the other, he still felt scared because he didn't know how he was supposed to 'battle' three fully grown adults who had a heap of fire power behind them.
But he never had a chance to talk about it more when he suddenly felt dizzy and tired, which made him slump over with an exhausted groan. Mufasa kept him from falling and help to lay him down gently upon the soft grass, and when his stomach ached with emptiness and his wrists, arms and back were beginning to fee sore again, he realized that he was starting to wake up.
'The Pridelands are with you, Ryan, as am I.' Mufasa said, an encouraging smile on his muzzled as the vision of him began to blur. "Remember that."
'I...I'll find a way to save them...' Ryan whispered before everything stated fading away. 'I...promise.'
...
...
'I know you will.'
…
…
Ryan let out a gasp as he woke with a start, the monkey from before was nowhere to be seen and the young man shortly began to panic when he could feel something roughly tugging at his wrists from behind.
"Hey!" he cried out, turning his head left and right in order to see what it was. "Hey!"
"Shhh! Quiet kid, or you'll give us away!" a whispered voice hissed before Timon jumped up on his shoulder. "It's hard enough tryin' ta bust ya outta this without you wigglin' like that!"
"Timon!" Ryan stated, feeling over joyed at seeing the little meerkat. "You're okay!"
"I am too!" came Pumbaas' cheerful voice from behind before he went back to work on the ropes.
"I was worried about you guys." Ryan stated, giving them a sincere grin. "I tried not to, but I thought you might've gotten hurt by Bill and Roy."
"Pff, those two bozos? Those guys may be big, but they ain't all that bright in my opinion." Timon said as he waved it off, but he did wiggle a digit in his left ear. "Although, I still don't think I can hear right, yet. Those sticks they got are loud!"
"And deadly, you're lucky they didn't shoot you!" Ryan told him. "Where's Zazu? Is he here too?"
"He went looking for Simba while we followed 'em." Pumbaa explained as he continued to saw at the rope with his tusks. "But that big, loud thing they were riding was too fast for me to keep up. But lucky for us, it left tracks for me to see."
Ryan could have cried from relief as his restrains finally snapped, allowing him to bring his arms back around and stretch out the knots in his shoulders and neck.
"Thanks guys, you really came through!" Ryan told them with sincere appreciation as he got up and crept along the ground as quietly as he could to get closer to the campsite.
"So what's the plan?" Timon whispered, Pumbaa and himself staying close to him.
"The plan is you and Pumbaa get out of here while I free Nala and Kiara." Ryan answered, coming to a stop at a large tree and kneeling down to his two friends. "We'll catch up with you."
"What?! We're not gonna leave ya alone like this!" Timon said, looking at the young man in disbelief. "You're our friend, and friends stick together 'till the end!"
"No, I'm not gonna put anyone else in danger!" Ryan said in a firm tone before he peeked around the tree to check out the campsite. So far it looked like everyone was down for the night. "It's my fault Nala and I are in this mess in the first place, and I have to make it right. I can't ask you to help me fix my own mistake."
"And it's our fault they ran off with Kiara." Timon insisted, stubbornly. "We have problems to fix too, so I guess you have ta let us help, now!"
"Why do you have to be so stubborn?!" Ryan demanded, why wouldn't they just listen to him and go already?
"C'mon, Ryan, let us help?" Pumbaa asked, his eyes pleading. "There must be somethin' we can do."
Ryan let out an irritated sigh, running his hands through his raven hair in exasperation. But after thinking it over carefully for a few moments, an idea popped into his head and he looked back to Timon and Pumbaa.
"Well, if you insist on staying, maybe there is something you can do." Ryan told them as he got back up to his feet. "Follow me."
With Timon on his back, Pumbaa stayed on Ryan's heels as they crossed the large clearing until Ryan held up a hand that made them pause while he silently tiptoed up to one of the tents.
The young man fought the urge to roll his eyes at how much smaller and less extravagant it was compared to Tilly's, but waved Timon and Pumbaa to come join him before he pulled back the tent flap and they took a peek. It was still pretty dark inside, but after Ryan pulled the door open a little more, the fire that still burned behind them provided just enough light for them to make out the three sleeping figures of Liam, Roy and Bill as they all unsuspectingly snored the night away.
"You see that guy over there?" Ryan whispered, pointing over to Roy who was sleeping at the far end of tent. "He's the one with the keys to unlock the cages. If we can get them without waking anybody up, we can free Nala and everyone inside the warehouse and slip away without them ever knowing."
"Great, I like that plan, that's a good plan!" Timon said as he hoped off of Pumbaa's back and stared at the three large, hulking and, previously proven, trigger happy giants. before he gave a concerned hum. "Question. How're you gonna get them without wakin' these guys up?"
When Ryan didn't immediately answer, he glanced up to see the boy looking down at him with an expectant gaze. And when he looked up to Pumba, who also had the same expression, he finally caught on to what they had in mind.
"Oh no. No, no, no don't even think about it!" The meerkat vehemently stated as he furiously waving his arms in that 'no way!" fashion. "My waltzin' into spaces filled with predetors who're levels higher than me on the food chain ended the moment I somehow survived doin' the hula for an entire clan of blood thirsty hyenas!"
"You're the only one here who's small and light enough to pull this off." Ryan explained, and even though he would do it himself, Timon was the most logical choice for the plan to go smoothly. "Even if they wake up, you can easily hide."
"Oh, well if it's that easy, then you do it!" Timon snapped, crossing his arm and turning his nose towards the air with a huff. "Let me know how it works out!"
"Do it for the girls?" Ryan asked.
At first, Timon said nothing as he stood there with his back to him. But after he seemed to think it over, the thought of doing it to save Nala and Kiara appeared to convince him and he slumped over with a defeated sigh.
"Alright, fine..." Timon agreed reluctantly, shooting Ryan a dirty look. "But you're gonna owe me big time!"
"Anything you want, we just gotta save Nala and Kiara first." Ryan promised before he looked down to the red warthog. "Pumbaa, I'll need you to keep an eye on that big tent across the way. If you see a light turn on, or any movement at all, let me know!"
"You got it!" Pumbaa said with an affirmative nod, standing at attention as he stared unblinkingly at Tilly's tent. Once that was settled, Timon looked despairingly into the darkness as he tried to scrape up enough nerve to take the first step.
"Ov vey, the things I do for family..." Timon grumbled, but he quietly slunk inside and began to make his way towards the bald man with the keys.
It seemed Ryan was right as Timon was able to move without making much noise, but even still, the meerkat was having a bit of a hard time navigating through this complete dump of a tent. Everywhere he looked was a like a land mine waiting to be tripped with piles of trash and personal belongings that were haphazardly strewn about, At one point, Ryan lost sight of Timon as he was forced to crawl through opening between a pair of boots with camo green pants that were left on top of it and he came up on the other side with long white sock on his head.
The poor meerkat blanched as the rank and musty smell assaulted his poor nasal cavity, and he quickly yanked it off and threw it aside.
"Woo, and I thought nights after dung beetle frittata's were bad!" Timon whispered to himself, shuddering in disgusts as he tried to wave the last of the smell away from his nose. "You'd think they'd smell better then most when they barely have any fur ta keep up with..."
But when he took a step to continue on, a loud CRUNCH! under his foot him made him freeze rigidly on the spot as his eyes moved down to see that he had accidently stepped on a single, forgotten pack saltine crackers. And he winced when he suddenly heard one of the men wake up with a startled snort from the sudden noise before he began to stir.
Ryan held his breath when he saw that it was Liam who was slowly sitting up and quickly moved away from the opening of the tent, but he was forced to keep holding on to the flap as he didn't want him to notice any kind of movement while Timon was still in there.
And Timon, standing still as a statue, gulped down at the lump that appeared in his throat and his brow started sweating profusely as he watch the man from the corner of his eye groaning with sleepy annoyance as he looked around the room. And he could have had a heart attack right then and there when the mean looking behemoth looked in his direction.
"Sonafa!" Liam spat angrily as he reach a hand down towards Timon, making the meerkat whimper and squeeze his eyes shut; this was it, good bye cruel world!
...but to his surprise, he didn't feel the hand grab him.
"Stop eatin' so loud, ya idjit!" the man gruffed, making Timon peek an eye open just in time to see Liam tossing one of the boots he had crawled under Bills sleeping form and hitting him in the side of the stomach. "fourth night in a row with those stupid crackers!"
"Ow, man, waz'at fer? Ain't even do nothin'!" Bill whined drowsily, but he just nudged the boot off his cot and grumbled as he settled under his blanket before he almost instantly fell back asleep.
Liam was right behind him as he flipped over in his cot with an agitated grunt, and before long, Timon, Ryan and Pumbaa all let out the breaths they were holding when the sounds of sleep once again filled the air.
Timon waited a few seconds more before he was back on the mission and taking much more care in where he stepped until he finally made it to Roy's cot. This guy seemed to be the loudest as his rounder belly moved up and down with every grinding snore. He still wore the cloths he had on that day, with the exception of his boots, and hanging right over the edge of his cot were the metal keys as they dangled from his belt loop.
"Alrighty, just grab the keys and go. Easy-peasy..." Timon assured himself as he reached up and grabbed one of the keys. But it turned out not to be that simple as no matter how hard he pulled, the ring just wouldn't come off.
Suddenly, Roy began to move, and Timon had to fight hard against the urge to cry out as he held on to the belt loop the keys were fastened to when the large man settled back down on his side. When the little meerkat was sure that he had fallen back into a deep sleep, he looked own at the keys, as they almost tauntingly glinted in the light, and began to work on them again.
But he had to stop once more when he suddenly heard a light clinking sound from behind him, and hesitantly gazed over his shoulder to see what it was.
Unfortunately, It was way too dark to really make out anything besides large piles of what Ryan called cloths that sat around the back of the tent. There didn't seem to really be anything he should be worried about and figured it must have been something falling over, but as he gave a shrug of his shoulders and turned back to the task at hand, he failed to notice two bright golden eyes opening up from within the darkness and glaring at him...
Timon glared down at the stubborn keys when they still wouldn't give, and after spit in his hands and rubbed them together, he grasped the metal ring and use every ounce of strength he could muster in one hard yank. Unbeknownst to him, the belt loop had been starting to tear at the seam, so when he tugged the keys as hard as he could, it finally ripped off and Timon disappeared from sight.
Ryan blinked in surprise as Timon had been there and then suddenly not, but he saw the little meerkat crawl back up into view and held the ring over his head triumphantly.
"Way to go Timon!" Ryan quietly praised as Pumbaa could hardly contain himself with excitement.
Timon grinned proudly, but just as he lifted his foot to take that first step to get down, a snarl suddenly ripped through the silence, making Timon gasp and whipped around to see teeth snapping at him while the dark, hairy figure they belonged to strained against something that was holding it back. But once it realized that it couldn't reach, it dropped down to all fours and began to let out booming, growly whoops as though it were sounding an alarm.
A very effective alarm because Roy, who was closest to it, woke with a start and turned his body so quickly that he managed to fling Timon right off of him, causing the meerkat let out a terrified scream as he sailed through the air until he landed heavily right on Bills face. And once a still half asleep Bill realized that he had a small animal on him, he let out a scream himself and began to panic.
"It's a rat!" Bill screeched, flailing his arms in terror even after Timon managed to scramble off of him.
Liam, who had woken up in the middle of the confusion managed to catch sight of the fleeing little suricate and watched as it ran towards the exit. But when he saw Ryan scooping him with the keys they used for their cages, he clenched his teeth in outrage.
"It's that kid!" Liam roared angrily as he flung his blanket off and made to get up.
"Uh, Ryan?" Pumbaa began when the lights in the other tent switched on. "I think we got more trouble comin'!"
Ryan took a fast glance to Tillys' tent, and sure enough, he could see her shadow moving around rapidly as she was probably dressing before she came out to see what the commotion was. And turning back to Liam, the second the older mans bare feet touched the ground, Ryan reacted quickly and zipped the door way shut and grabbed the top of the tent with both hands.
He then pulled down as hard as he could until he felt something snap where all at once, the entire front of the tent collapsed, and he could see the figures of all three men struggling under it in a panic.
"Later guys!" Ryan laughed triumphantly over their shouts before he led Timon and Pumbaa towards the ware house and burst in through the door.
Then, after he toppled over a couple of heavy shelves to slow them down at the entrance, the three of them ran all the way to the back where they were keeping Nala, the cheetah and the two pups.
"What's going on?" came the sleepy voice of Akachi before she and her brother lifted their heads up and looked around.
"Ryan?" Nala asked in surprise as the boy and her friends ran up to her cage.
"Sit tight Nala, we're getting you guys outta here!" Ryan assured her as he brandished the keys with a big smile.
But his smile faded when instead of looking happy and eager to escape, a trouble expression fell over her face.
"I'm not going." she said.
"What?!" Ryan, Timon and Pumbaa explained in shock.
"Kiara, she's not here, she never brought her back," the lioness explained, looking like she was close to tears. "I can't leave!"
Ryan looked in Nala's cage and saw that she was indeed the only one inside of it, and when he looked around the area, the only other animals he could see were the cheetah and the two pups. He thought back to when Tilly carried away and realized that, if she never gave her back to Nala, then he had no doubt that she was keeping her in her own tent.
A loud clatter at the entrance of the warehouse followed by a pain filled yelp and colorful swears from tripping over the fallen shelves told him that the three men had managed to free themselves from their tent and he looked down to Timon and Pumbaa.
"Can you guys keep them busy?" he asked.
"Our specialty!" Timon assured as he grabbed hold of Pumbaa's ears as the red warthog charged at top speed through the warehouse with a loud battle cries.
Ryan would have laughed at the shouts of surprise as the dynamic duo dropped in on them, but he wasn't able to find any humor in the situation when the one they wanted to rescue the most was refusing to leave.
"Nala, we don't have time for this!" As he reached for the lock on the cage. "After we get out, we can come back for her with Simba and-"
But he stopped and looked at her in shock when she suddenly bared her teeth and gave a warning growl. After she saw that he wasn't gonna try and free her anymore, she relaxed.
"I'm sorry, but I'm not leaving this place without my daughter. What if they hurt her? What if they send her away before we can save her?" Nala stated bowing her head mournfully before she turned and lay down with her back to him. "There are too many risks, and I will not lose another one of my cubs...I can't!"
Ryan stared at her, his initial shock upon her actually growling at him giving way to feeling awful that she was so scared. But even though he could understand her fears, but he was so sure that Tillys' threat was nothing more than a scare would never hurt Kiara as she needed her to be in pristine health, and there was no way she would have enough time to find someone to sell her to by the time they came back for her.
However, he didn't have the time to convince the lioness as pounding footsteps made him turn to see Liam standing there huffing. And if looks could kill, Ryan would probably be deader than dead and buried 10 feet under.
"You!" Liam shouted, his blue eyes glittering with rage.
But as he made to run at him, Pumbaa popped up and zipped through under his feet, causing him to trip and land flat on his face. And It looked like Ryan didn't have to worry about Roy and Bill at the moment either as Bill was trying to chase down and help a screaming Roy as Timon crawled around inside his shirt, biting and scratching where he went before the both of them tripped over Liam and fell heavily on top of him.
It wouldn't do any good to try and force Nala to go if she had no intention to leave, so he came up another idea and moved over to the cheetahs' cage. But when he opened the door, she hissed aggressively at him as she squashed herself against the bars of the cage, her tail puffed out and thrashing and the spotted fur along her back and neck standing on end.
With Tilly and her men being the only type of contact with humans she must have had, Ryan held up his hands, bowing his head a bit to make himself appear as nonthreatening as possible.
"I know you have no reason to trust me, but I need your help." Ryan began in with a calm and low tone. "Do you know who Simba is?"
Those green eyes narrowed suspiciously, but she eventually nodded in affirmation.
"That lioness is queen Nala, and their daughter is also trapped here with these poachers." Ryan explained. "In return for freeing you, will you tell him where we are?"
Slowly, her fur flattened back smooth and sleek along her body and she lifted herself up slight from that defensive position. Though she still didn't seem to trust him as she tilted her head and eyed him up and down, as if she were trying to pick up on any hint of deception.
"Please!" Ryan started, his voice desperate for an answer, for some form of assurance that help would be coming. "Will you tell him where we are?"
"Oh no ya don't!" Liam shouted as he tried to pulled himself out from under his friends. but a loud snorting sound make him look up to see Pumbaa glaring down at him from the top of one of the crates before he leaped off if it and did pretty impressive belly flop right on his head.
"Run, they can't keep that up for long!" Ryan cried, and even though she still didn't give him an answer, he got out of the way to let her walk out. "Get out of here!"
The cheetah didn't need to be told twice before she darted off in a black and yellow blur, kicking up dust as she disappeared from the back exit of the warehouse. and feeling good about getting at least one animal free, Ryan quickly ran over to the cage that held little Akachi and Akuchi, who were smiling as their little tails wagged back and fourth in excitement.
But just when he found the right key to stick in the lock, he felt something grab him by the hair and yank him back. He cried out in pain and tried to twist away before he came to an immediate stop as something cold and very sharp was pressed against his neck.
"Now I've had enough..." Came Tilly's voice in his left ear. She sounded mad.
Ryan grit his teeth in pain as she pulled out some hair while making him move, and she gave an exasperated sigh as Liam, Roy and Bill, all looking pretty disheveled, had Timon and Pumbaa in their clutches
"Honestly, if sense was leather, y'all wouldn't have enough to saddle a Junebug! Now quit messin' around and get them beasts in a cage!" Tilly ordered angrily. "If nothin' else, we at least have some live bait to lure in that male lion and maybe make up for my king cheetah you let slip away!"
Ryan wasn't able to contain a chuckle because there was no way Simba would even dream of hurting Timon and Pumbaa. And when Tilly heard his laugh, she pulled his head back even more.
"Is there somethin' funny you'd care to share, sugar?" she asked in a warning tone, slightly moving her knife as though she was reminding him of the rather dire position he was in.
"No. Just that your 'live bait' plan won't work." Ryan told her, that daring feeling he got overpowering his fear. "Pretty stupid, actually."
As soon as Timon and Pumbaa were locked up, Tilly practically threw him at Bill and Roy who gripped his arms in a secure grip before Liam walked up and sent a swift uppercut into Ryans' gut, knocking the wind completely out of him. The young man buckled as he slumped over on his knees, Bill and Roy still holding a tight grip on his arms as he struggled to breath as Tilly stood over him.
"You still don't realize the position you're in, do you?" Tilly asked menacingly. "It is because you have a death wish? Or are you just that thick?"
"You think...you're so tough with all your guns...so smart because you haven't...been caught." Ryan started between gasps. "But take all that away...then what are you really?"
His breathing became easier and he lifted up his head and fixed both Tilly and Liam with a chilling glare.
"You're nothing but cowards who think living, breathing animals are all 'things' you can snatch up or take apart to make a buck with!" he stated venomously. "And I won't let you get your way anymore!"
"Well bless your little bleedin' heart." Tilly cooed, and even though she seemed tired and bored as she most likely heard the same thing before, he could tell that she was starting to get annoyed. "You'd be surprised just how much someone is willin' to pay for somthin' as simple as fangs and furs, sugar. I've grown quiet accustomed to this line of work, and I don't see how some empty headed boy is gonna stop me from makin' money."
"It doesn't look like I'm all that empty headed since you're down a cheetah!" Ryan snapped back. "And I'll keep going! No matter what you to beat me down or lock me up, I'll make sure you never make another penny off an animal!"
They were in a stare down, hazel eyes clashing with blue. But after a few tense moments, Tilly was the first to break it as she let out an irritated sigh.
"Well, I'm sorry to hear that you'd just be more trouble than you're worth." She stated with a disappointed shake of her head. "Liam, I believe little Ryan has overstayed his welcome..."
Nodding, Liam reached around and pulled out the pistol from his belt. But as he stepped forward and took aim at Ryan, Tilly reached over with lighting quick speed and grabbed his wrist in a tight grip.
"That's not what I meant, idiot!" She hissed. "We can't leave clues for the authorities to find!"
"This brat's already cost us money because you wanted to keep 'im around!" Liam shot back indignantly. "We do it my way now, before he's got a chance to do anythin' else!"
"How many times do I have to remind you that I'm the one with more brains between us?!" Tilly shouted as she glared up at her brother before she flung his arm down. "We ain't shootin' him and that's final!"
She took in a breath like she was feeling a head ache coming on, taking in a step back and smoothing down her dark curls before her face seemed to light up as a perfect thought came to her mind.
"And why would we when I just remembered that I haven't gotten around to feedin' poor Elliott in a while? So be a dear and fetch him from your tent for me, heaven knows he must be ravenous." She looked over at her brother when he didn't move at first, raising a questioning brow at him before she made a shooing motion with her hand. "Well? Go on Liam, bring him over for us."
Liam visibly bristled, but he turned around and stalked away to do as she said before she looked back to Ryan with her red lips turned up in a deceptively kind grin.
"And I'm gonna need you to give us your sweater, hun." she told him, making Ryan stare at her in confusion.
...
...
...
A Short Time Later...
...
...
...
Ryan grunted in pain when he fell over onto the ground after Bill had Roy had shoved him out into a small clearing serval feet away from the campsite. And as he picked himself up, he couldn't help but shiver from the cool breeze as it blew over the damp skin of his arms because they, for some reason, had forced him out of his hoodie before they dragged him outside on Tillys' command.
"It's really a shame..." Tilly started setting down a lantern she had been carrying while the two men spread out to different sides in a wide circle before putting down their own. "I could have taken you under my wing, really shown you the ropes of the business."
"I have my mother for that, thanks." Ryan stated dryly.
"The apple really don't fall far from the tree." the woman tsked. "It's too bad, but I just can't have you rollin' back to give us away."
"C'mon ya dumb mutt, hurry it up!" came Liams' shout as everyone looked back to see him walking over to them with a four legged figure slowly trailing bind him.
Liam gave a frustrated growl and yanked roughly on a chain he held in his hands, causing whatever it was to give a small whine of pain and Ryan's eyes to widen in surprise as Buziba stumbled into the light.
So this was where he disappeared to, but as Ryan looked him over, he couldn't help but notice that he seemed to be in rough shape; His fur was dusty and beginning to mat in places along his body. And even as Liam yanked on the chain leash hard enough to make the barbs of a choke collar the put on him jab into his neck, he barley even reacted to it save for a short whine.
Although, when he made eye contact with Ryan, it was then did a semblance of the lycaon he had encountered before return as angry recognition ignited in his gray eyes.
"How do you like my new guard dog? Ain't he beautiful?" Tilly asked as she took the leash from her brother. "I realize it ain't too good for business keepin' him, but I figured I already got me enough pretty furs in stock, and I've always wanted my own exotic pet; oh, and do you get his name? Sam Elliott is a western hero and a personal favorite of mine."
"Sorry. Action and ghost movies are where it's at for me." Ryan said truthfully. "Probably only seen one cowboy movie start to finish, but that's only because it had aliens."
"Kids these days." Tilly stated under her breath as her nose crinkled in distaste. "Bill, toss me his sweater, if you'd be so kind."
Bill did as he was told, throwing his hoodie over to her, and after she caught it, before she unhooked Buziba's collar and chain from his neck. He gave a reliving shake to be free of it for the moment.
"Look here, sweet'ms, keep your eyes here." Tilly said as she held it out by the hood before him as far as her arm would allow. Buziba did so obediently.
"I told you before that if you have the right incentive, then it's easier to get most things to listen, but Elliott here was a bit different. He was very spirited and, lord almighty, was he ever bullheaded." She said, pulling out something shiny from her right jacket pocket which turned out to be one of those long silver whistles. "But you know how it goes, so long as you work at it long and hard enough, spirit eventually breaks..."
She blew the whistle once, and it was like Buziba became possessed. He pounced on Ryan's hoodie and tore it away from Tillys grip, snarling and growling, ripping it up into pieces with an aggression Ryan had never seen. Even when he tried to chase him and Kiara down, he had never seen anything like this from him.
"It wasn't easy, of course, and I ended up havin' to resort to some ugly extremes." Tilly said, raising her voice so she could be heard over Buziba snarling. "But I won't deny that I'm pleased by the results."
After a solid 60 seconds of this, Tilly brought of the whistle and blew two short puffs into it which made Buziba freeze, drop the hoodie and sit back on his haunches. All the while, the young man stared at him in shock.
Just what had she done to him?
"Good boy, Elliott, nice and shredded." Tilly praised, picking it up as Buziba just gave a disdainful snort and refused to look her in the eyes. "But how terrible it is that this was all we could save after hearin' a poor boy screamin' for his life near our camp, right before the rest of him was dragged off into the jungle by a blood thirsty pack of painted dogs...I'm sure Miss. Kate and the rest of the authorities will be too busy lookin' for what's left of her only precious boy to even bother with us anymore."
"And if she happens to find you, well, I'd bet every penny I've ever made that she'll go back to the states and become a recluse from the despair." she added, giving Ryan a nasty grin. "After all, her job is the reason you're all the way out here in the first place, ain't it?"
Ryan glared at her, but he couldn't say anything as a pang of guilt stabbed at him as he wished that he had never told Tilly about their fight.
"Give 'em a good, wide birth, boys." Tilly said as she backed up a few paced and dropped the remains of his hoodie by her feet. "We don't want to leave too many of our tracks here, and Elliott will tear you up if you get in the way."
They followed her lead and when they were at a fair distance and armed to make sure he wouldn't try and run off, Tilly took the whistle and blew on it once.
In an instant, Buziba charged Ryan with a snarl, he jaws opened and his teeth bared as Ryan managed to leap off to the side and roll away.
"Stop!" Ryan shouted, as he took hold of a large in his hands and held it up threateningly. "What's the matter with you?!"
"Just shut up." Buziba snapped before he started to chase Ryan around the clearing. "As much as I want pay back for your meddling, I just want to get this over with!"
Ryan gasped when the wild dog lunged, and as he dodged, he swung the rock he was hold and hit him square in the shoulder. Buziba let out a yelp and he stumbled back a bit while taking weight off of that leg until the pain was gone.
"Why are you even listening to these poachers?!" Ryan demanded. "Aren't you the alpha of your pack? What happened to your pride?!"
"Is it just me, or is he talkin' to that mutt?" Bill asked out loud, utterly confused at what he was seeing.
"It...certainly looks that way." Tilly said, looking just as lost by the whole spectacle. "We may actually be doin' him a favor."
"What would you know of pride?!" Buziba yelled at the young man. He seemed to have struck a nerve. "Even if I did want to leave, why would the pack accept such a useless leader? How can I show my face to her when I failed to save them?"
Ryan stared at him in bemusement what, or who, was he was talking about?
"I couldn't save them with Zira's deal, and I couldn't save them here when they needed me most..." the painted dog stated, though it seemed like he was mostly just talking to himself as he hung his head in sorrow.
"Look, I don't know what happened, but I know you're not okay taking orders from these creeps!" Ryan began, throwing the rock to the side to show that he wasn't going to fight with the lycaon anymore. "We can get out of here, you just need to trust me and-"
"Trust you?! Man has done nothing but take from me!" Buziba vehemently spat, interrupting him. "My parents, my brother, the security of my pack, my freedom! And as if all that wasn't enough, they've robbed the young lives of those I cared so much for! How much more must you take to be satisfied?!"
"It doesn't have to be like that, Buziba, I'm nothing like these guys!" Ryan insisted, though he kind of wishing he still had his rock now.
"Spare me your lies!" the wild dog roared, running at him with his fangs ready to tear him apart. Ryan barely had time to duck away as Buziba attacked but he was in a tough spot, how could he get through to him?
"You keep talking about someone you couldn't save," He started as he suddenly remembered his confession to Simba when the pride saved him from Zira. "Are you talking about those pups?"
Ryan expected that Buziba would become defensive upon hearing the question as he was obviously so sensitive about it, but he couldn't help but feel taken aback from just how angry his question would have made him as the painted dog gave a drawn-out shout that was filled with both rage and pain. And with an amazing burst of agility, he leapt and slammed his front paws into Ryans' chest with a force that sent the young man toppling to the ground.
Ryan had the wind knocked out of him, but luckily, he kept enough sense to reach up and grab a fist full of Buzibas' marbled fur at his neck to keep him from leaning down and mauling his face.
"How dare you speak of them!" the painted dog yelled with rage. "You're the reason we were kicked out of the Pridelands! You're the reason we had to move them to this blasted jungle where these monsters took them from us! They're dead because of you!"
Dead? Ryan knew for a fact that they were alive and well, but then it hit him. The reason Buziba seemed so complacent, why he was so angry when Ryan spoke of them; Tilly made him think that they were gone.
"N-not…dead," Ryan choked out. "They're...a-live!"
"Liar!" Buziba snarled, pushing his paw down harder on Ryans throat.
"I…saw-ack, alive!" Ryan insisted, gasping for air while the angry canine continued to crush his esophagus. "A-Akachi…Akuchi!"
At that, Buziba's eyes widened in shock, and he froze, not even caring when Ryan pushed his leg up so he could finally take in a decent breath. He wasn't trying to attack him anymore, but it didn't look like he wanted to believe it...or he couldn't bring himself to believe only for it to be a lie.
"It can't be, she took them away," Buziba started, shaking his head. "I heard the thunder!"
"Did you see her do it?" Ryan asked in a raspy voice, his neck sore. "They're still here, Buziba, and they're alive!"
"What're you doin'?! I never told you to stop!" Tilly shouted out, making Buziba flinched when she furiously blew on the whistle. Ryan watched as his muzzle wrinkled and he let out a growly whine.
"It can't be true! You must be lying! How are you any different from them?" He demanded. "Why should I believe a word you say?!"
"Because I'm the only person in this camp who's on your side." Ryan answered. "I'm your best chance at getting out of this alive with those pups!"
The lycaon leaned his head down until they were nose to nose, peering deeply into his eyes as though he were trying to psyche Ryan out of a lie. But the young man knew the truth, and he evenly held his gaze until it seemed like Buziba finally believed him.
"Then you're either out of options or just very stupid. Why would you even want help me?" Buziba scoffed, though he looked away with shame. "After what I almost did to the princess...I wouldn't offer help if I stood in your place."
"Because you hesitated." Ryan told him.
"What?" Buziba asked in confusion.
"You could have ended her life so easily, but you hesitated when I begged you to stop." the young man said. "Yeah, what you tried to do is pretty unforgivable, but after meeting those pups, I understand why you made a deal; I understand that you were desperate, that you were in a place where you would have done anything that would help them...you were just a worried uncle who was scared to lose anymore of his family."
A series of furious whistles made Buziba look over to the woman who thought she could break an alpha into subservience. And as he took in that enraged expression on her face, he felt a spark of satisfying defiance flicker within.
"Promise that you'll save my niece and nephew." he said, looking back down to Ryan. "Promise me."
"I'll save them; I'll get everyone out of here!" Ryan assured him, his voice confident and his hazel eyes alit with a determination that actually brought a small smile to Buziba's muzzle.
"Well...I wouldn't be so sure about everyone, kid." He said.
Ryan furrowed his brow, wondering what he meant by that, but he didn't have a chance to ask when Buziba whirled around off of him and charged at Bill with a vicious snarl. The skinny man couldn't react at first because it all happened so fast, and it was only when Buziba slammed into him and began jumping and snapping dangerously close to his face did he start screaming in terror.
"Call 'im off!" he cried, backing up and hitting at the dog with his fists before he tripped and unsuccessfully tried to army crawl away. "Tilly! Call 'im off!"
"Elliott! Sit!" Tilly yelled, taking the whistle and blowing on her whistle in intervals of two to make him stop like he had before. But Buziba continued his attack, ripping the legs of Bills pants to shreds while the poor guy desperately kicked his feet to get him off. "You stupid mutt! I said sit!"
At that moment, Buziba stopped attacking Bill and turned away from him, putting his head low to the ground as low and a series of these high pitched, hooting howls came out of his mouth. He continued to make this strange call three more times, and they were so loud that Ryan could hear an echo from the trees around them until the painted dog stopped to look over a Ryan.
"GO!" he shouted before his turned his teeth on Roy after he had hurried over to try and help his friend.
The young man blinked in surprise, but upon realizing that Buziba was trying to give him a chance to escape, he quickly scrambled to his feet and began to run faster than he ever thought he could. With Bill already down and Roy preoccupied with Buziba while he yelled for Liam to help, the way of out into the jungle was wide open to him.
At one point, Ryan could hear Buziba making that strange, hoots again, even as his heart pounded in his ears like a drum along with every rapid step he took. He had so much adrenaline coursing through his veins, it felt like he was actually flying through the trees.
But he came to an abrupt halt when a loud gunshot blasted through the air and was immediately followed by a shrill, pain-filled yelp, and he stood there in absolute silence, staring back at the faint glow of the campsite he was still able to see.
Buziba...
"Find that brat and bring him back alive, you hear me?!" Came a distant yell from Tilly. She must have really been angry form him to be able to hear her. "Don't let him get away or don't come back at all!"
Deciding against sticking around, Ryan started running again, going deeper and deeper into the jungle with the hopes that they would have no chance of finding him. He wasn't able to tell where he was going in the darkness, or if he was even going the right way towards Simba and the pride, but he would just keep running as long and as hard as his legs would carry him.
He wouldn't let Buziba's sacrifice be in vain!
But after a while of going at it, he noticed a strange sound, like something big snapping through the brush behind him...
VRRRROOOM!
Ryan nearly tripped over his own feet in shock at the intense roar of an engine and the zoom of tires ripping up plants and dirt. And when he looked over his shoulder, he was nearly blinded by the high beams of a jeep. He didn't even have time to let out swear as he desperately picked up the pace, but even he knew that he'd never be able to outrun a vehicle on foot.
He suddenly heard the gears grind as they were shifted, then the jeep suddenly surged forward, making Ryan make the split-second decision to dash to the side as it very nearly ran him over. And as he rolled to a stop, he heard the brakes squeal as they were hit and watched as it drifted, flattening bushes and snapping small, thin trees in half before it finally came to a halt.
Ryan had to shield his eyes as the high beams washed over him, listening as the motor rumbled before doors opened and then slammed shut, then, three figures came into view. He knew Roy was there as he was the portliest of his cohorts and the other, lanky figure with the tattered pant legs had to be Bill.
That meant that the figure in the middle had to be Liam.
"That's as far as you go, boy! No more runnin', no more surprises!" Came Liam's voice and as Ryans eyes slightly adjusted to the light, he could see that he had an arm up and pointed a gun at him. "You're just done!"
"I don't think Tilly would be all that happy to know you disobeyed her!" Ryan began. "I'm pretty sure she said not to-"
"Tilly don't always run the show!" Liam shouted, gripping his pistol tightly in anger. "I may go along with it most times 'cause she's my little sister, but not this time! This time, I'm makin' sure you don't cause us no more trouble!"
"Hey, Liam?" Roy started as he nervously peered into the pitch black of the jungle when something started rustling in the bushes and steadily got closer.
"She's just gonna have to suck it up 'n deal with it!" Liam stated, paying Roy no mind. Though before he even had a chance to wrap his finger around the trigger, he was interrupted.
"Liam!" Roy hissed, slapping him in the arm.
"What?!" Liam demanded before he heard it too, the sound of many bodies zipping about in the darkness as a mix of growls and high pitch squeaks and clicks echoed in the air until a huge pack of African wild dogs came bursting from the bushes and into the light. The three men took several steps back closer to their vehicle, but it seemed like the lycaons were uninterested in them as they began to surround Ryan.
The young man felt panic as his eyes darted left and right to keep an eye on them, but there were just too many of them nipping at his leg and feet to try and trip him. And when he briefly, he caught sight of Gamba and Zuberi, he felt his stomach drop like a stone as he realized just how much danger he was truly in. He tried to find a way to break through, but with so many painted dogs circling him like vultures and the three goons still waiting with guns, it was hopeless.
Ryan cried out when he suddenly felt the body of one of the mottled canines trip him from behind, and the moment his back hit the dirt, his vision was swarmed by a blur of mottled fur and dozens of sharp teeth. From the outside, Liam, Bill and Roy could heard Ryan yelling in fear from within the middle of what looked like feeding frenzy, and even though they couldn't see it, the tearing of cloth and the boys shouts coming to an abrupt stop made them shudder slightly as the wild dogs no doubt ripped into him without any hesitation.
"Oh my god, they got 'im!" Bill stated, looking a bit green. "Just ate the kid up like he were nothin'!"
"Well, at least it went down the way Tilly wanted, so I don't have to worry 'bout gettin' an earful from her..." Liam said, and while callous about it since he didn't care at all for the boy, even he felt unnerved at just how fast his life was snuffed out.
"We better get outta here before they decide they want seconds!" Roy said anxiously, already getting into the jeep.
Bill was eager to follow behind him, but Liam held off, carefully watching the pile of squirming bodies. He didn't know why he felt like he needed to wait, but when a particularly loud rip met his ears and a wild dog broke away from the pack with what looked like a leg of Ryan's pants and began a tug-of-war over it with another pack member, he finally decided that Ryan was good and gone
It's not like anyone would be able to pretend to be dead while they had wild animals chewing them up.
But as he climbed into drivers' side of the jeep and slowly headed back to camp, they all failed to notice that, one by one, the painted dogs had stopped moving and were watching them drive away. And once they could no longer see any light or hear the rumble of the engine, they looked down to a nearly petrified Ryan as he lay there with a paw pressed down over his mouth.
Once the dog who was keeping him quiet lifted his paw off his face, Ryan quickly sat up coughing and gasping for air as he looked at them all in shock and utter confusion while they silently backed up gave him some space. When he was sure they truly weren't going to attack him, he began to feel himself over and was amazed to discovered that he didn't have so much as a scratch on him.
His cloths, however, weren't as lucky as the hem of his tank was in tatters and his pants were now permanently turned into shorts.
"Really?" Ryan demanded, looking at them angrily. "What even was the point of ripping up my cloths?!"
"It had to be convincing to make them leave." a smooth, velvety voice answered.
Almost immediately, the painted dogs began to part and beautiful female wild dog stepped forward until she stood directly before him. And as she held her head high and proud while her honey brown eyes looked into his own with an unwavering gaze, and the way the others seemed to lower their heads in her presence, Ryan figured that this must have been the packs new alpha with Buziba gone.
"Unless...you would have preferred us to devour you alive?" she questioned, raising a brow.
"Uh, no, that's alright." Ryan stuttered, looking down with embarrassment. "Ripped cloths are great."
The she-dog nodded at his statement; even though she still fixed him with a look of wary suspicion, he noticed that she made the effort to be gentle and understanding. Which was greatly appreciated because his nerves were still a little shot as he was so sure that they were there to kill him rather than come to his rescue and he was pretty jittery.
"I am Imani, one of the alpha pair and sister-in-law to Buziba; while your history with our pack is...strained, at best, I assure you that you have nothing to fear from us as we have a common enemy." She stated. "If you wish to survive this night, I encourage you to come with us."
…
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…
Whew! I don't know about you, but this chapter started getting intense for me O_O. Oh, and before you go, just in case you were wondering about the strange sounds you must have thought Buziba and the pack were doing, I recently came across a few movies about African wild dogs while I was surfing around Youtube and I thought it was a great chance to do something more with Buziba's pack and make a little highlight on their behaviors, like sounding alarms, or the 'hoo call' they make to find pack members if they're separated, and finally, how swift and deadly they can actually be once they manage bring down prey.
*sigh* but now I gotta go back and make some tweeks on previous chapters because so they behave more like African wild dogs(When I first made these characters I always thought they were more similar to wolves...-_-;) do your research on animals you want to make characters of, kiddies, it'll save you a big headache later!
I really hope you guys enjoyed the chapter! I was gonna break this up into two parts because its over 15,000 words long(Offically the biggest chapter I've ever made *faints*), but I wanted to post up a good chapter for you as an apology for disappearing for so long.
I tried really really hard to go back and make sure that everything was in order and spelled right. But some may have slipped past me because I actually might be going through a bit of eye strain X( So, while I letting my eyes rest a bit, be sure to point out any mistakes for me to fix and let me know what you guys thought of the chapter
See you next time my lovelies!
