Legal Disclaimer: I own none of the original characters however all the
other lions in this story are my creation and therefore belong to me. If
you would like to use any for your own work please feel free to do so but
email me first.
Ketu now tired of the chase, he pounced on the rapidly tiring lioness, and with a swift swipe of his powerful paw knocked her unconscious. With a thud Nala fell collapsed into the savannah grass, helpless as her captor stood over her. The male stood over her for a moment before he picked her up and slung her form over his back, leading his band with the other captives hastily out of the Pridelands.
******
Niata's tongue was lolling as she pounded over the ground, terrified she darted the odd look behind her in the fear that she was being followed. But no shadows leapt out of the shrub at her and as Pride Rock loomed ever closer her confidence grew.
Simba had just left the waterhole and was heading home when through his pads he felt heavy rhythmic beats on the ground, he was familiar with the sensation, it was that of a running lioness. Turning immediately he ran in the direction they were coming from.
As he leapt up on a rock he recognised the young lioness Niatu, who came running at him, her fur dark with sweat and a pink tongue hanging out her mouth. Her eyes was glazed and showed no recognition as she saw him and veered aside. Simba bounded after her, eventually bringing her to a stop back near the waterhole.
'Si…Sim…Si…Sim…ba, there…was an…an.. amb…' The lioness was utterly exhausted, her breath was ragged, she took a great gulp of water then collapsed into the sand. All Simba had caught was his name, as the other members of the pride approached, he didn't know what, but he knew that something had gone horribly wrong. Why had this one returned from the hunt alone? Where the others in trouble. Simba snarled in frustration as he waited, he couldn't go off until he knew exactly what had happened.
******
As the lion walks, beyond the Pridelands bordering a grassy plain where savannah meets jungle is a system of caves, carved through centuries by winds blowing against the rock. Leopards had occupied those caves until recently when Ketu and his band had driven them out. The whole area was still known, as Chui though, after the leopards whose clawmarks still marked the walls. Prey was bountiful for the lions in this area as an underground river and waterfall meant there was a constant supply of gushing water. This water had also helped to carve the caves and tunnels that made up the cliff. And no one knew them as well as Ketu did.
In one of those caves Nala, Chetu and Dasa had been taken. All three were still unconscious and so the male posted on guard, Ugali, had nothing much to do. He kept himself occupied though, with jealous thoughts against Ketu who had clearly claimed the beautiful chief lioness for himself. These recent additions have evened up the numbers so they could now be something resembling a pride.
That thought was shared by Ketu who was feeling very pleased with himself and stretched out on a sunny ridge outside his own private cave. This cave was the highest one of all, and from it was a view that spread for miles, clear on to the edge of the Pridelands. It was to that direction that Ketu looked now, for even though he had, in his mind, Nala, he wanted nothing less than Pride Rock. As perfect as their current home may be it wasn't the same signal of power that Pride Rock was, besides this land was just unclaimed terrain between territories, and that was not what Ketu wanted.
No doubt was in his mind that Nala would be happy to be here, to be his queen, the smile on his grew as he envisioned his glorious entry to the Pridelands as it's rightful king, with his adoring Queen Nala at his side.
Of the three, one lioness finally started stirring. Nala blinked rapidly as she tried to peer out through eyes that were blurred at her surroundings. She could hear a rushing sound in the distance that she guessed was water, though she couldn't be sure. Her head was pounding, though she didn't know why, she couldn't remember. She couldn't remember anything! Ugali looked down at her as she said in a panicky voice 'Wh.. Where am I?' At the sound of her voice Ugali bounded away to fetch Ketu, as he had been instructed.
Ketu approached Nala slowly and crouched down beside her, 'Get the other lionesses out of here' he hissed aside to Ugali 'Now you are sure she doesn't remember anything?'
Ugali shrugged and left the cave, leaving Nala and Ketu alone.
The lioness looked up at him, her eyes now perfectly clear, though filled with confusion.
'Who am I?' she said. 'And you, do I know you? Where is this?'
Ketu brought his head against hers, this was better then he had hoped for! 'You are Nala' he said gently. 'I am Ketu your mate, who is glad you are safe. You are in our home, Chui, you ran into trouble…don't you remember?'
Ketu now tired of the chase, he pounced on the rapidly tiring lioness, and with a swift swipe of his powerful paw knocked her unconscious. With a thud Nala fell collapsed into the savannah grass, helpless as her captor stood over her. The male stood over her for a moment before he picked her up and slung her form over his back, leading his band with the other captives hastily out of the Pridelands.
******
Niata's tongue was lolling as she pounded over the ground, terrified she darted the odd look behind her in the fear that she was being followed. But no shadows leapt out of the shrub at her and as Pride Rock loomed ever closer her confidence grew.
Simba had just left the waterhole and was heading home when through his pads he felt heavy rhythmic beats on the ground, he was familiar with the sensation, it was that of a running lioness. Turning immediately he ran in the direction they were coming from.
As he leapt up on a rock he recognised the young lioness Niatu, who came running at him, her fur dark with sweat and a pink tongue hanging out her mouth. Her eyes was glazed and showed no recognition as she saw him and veered aside. Simba bounded after her, eventually bringing her to a stop back near the waterhole.
'Si…Sim…Si…Sim…ba, there…was an…an.. amb…' The lioness was utterly exhausted, her breath was ragged, she took a great gulp of water then collapsed into the sand. All Simba had caught was his name, as the other members of the pride approached, he didn't know what, but he knew that something had gone horribly wrong. Why had this one returned from the hunt alone? Where the others in trouble. Simba snarled in frustration as he waited, he couldn't go off until he knew exactly what had happened.
******
As the lion walks, beyond the Pridelands bordering a grassy plain where savannah meets jungle is a system of caves, carved through centuries by winds blowing against the rock. Leopards had occupied those caves until recently when Ketu and his band had driven them out. The whole area was still known, as Chui though, after the leopards whose clawmarks still marked the walls. Prey was bountiful for the lions in this area as an underground river and waterfall meant there was a constant supply of gushing water. This water had also helped to carve the caves and tunnels that made up the cliff. And no one knew them as well as Ketu did.
In one of those caves Nala, Chetu and Dasa had been taken. All three were still unconscious and so the male posted on guard, Ugali, had nothing much to do. He kept himself occupied though, with jealous thoughts against Ketu who had clearly claimed the beautiful chief lioness for himself. These recent additions have evened up the numbers so they could now be something resembling a pride.
That thought was shared by Ketu who was feeling very pleased with himself and stretched out on a sunny ridge outside his own private cave. This cave was the highest one of all, and from it was a view that spread for miles, clear on to the edge of the Pridelands. It was to that direction that Ketu looked now, for even though he had, in his mind, Nala, he wanted nothing less than Pride Rock. As perfect as their current home may be it wasn't the same signal of power that Pride Rock was, besides this land was just unclaimed terrain between territories, and that was not what Ketu wanted.
No doubt was in his mind that Nala would be happy to be here, to be his queen, the smile on his grew as he envisioned his glorious entry to the Pridelands as it's rightful king, with his adoring Queen Nala at his side.
Of the three, one lioness finally started stirring. Nala blinked rapidly as she tried to peer out through eyes that were blurred at her surroundings. She could hear a rushing sound in the distance that she guessed was water, though she couldn't be sure. Her head was pounding, though she didn't know why, she couldn't remember. She couldn't remember anything! Ugali looked down at her as she said in a panicky voice 'Wh.. Where am I?' At the sound of her voice Ugali bounded away to fetch Ketu, as he had been instructed.
Ketu approached Nala slowly and crouched down beside her, 'Get the other lionesses out of here' he hissed aside to Ugali 'Now you are sure she doesn't remember anything?'
Ugali shrugged and left the cave, leaving Nala and Ketu alone.
The lioness looked up at him, her eyes now perfectly clear, though filled with confusion.
'Who am I?' she said. 'And you, do I know you? Where is this?'
Ketu brought his head against hers, this was better then he had hoped for! 'You are Nala' he said gently. 'I am Ketu your mate, who is glad you are safe. You are in our home, Chui, you ran into trouble…don't you remember?'