Chapter 5: Tiaru's scare.
Tiaru sighed deeply. Kita had been gone for almost three days now. He walked along slowly, feeling there was nothing to do. His stomach growled, reminding him he had not eaten. Tiaru put his nose to the air and smelled. He licked his lips. Antelope were not far away.
He crouched low and crawled along. Within minutes, he was within running distance of the tall creatures. Again Tiaru licked his lips. His eyes scanned the herd, looking for young or weak ones. He knew those were the prime victims, they were the slowest and easiest to take down. Tiaru smiled. He could almost taste the antelope when suddenly the hair on the back of his neck stood straight up.
He looked around; thoroughly convinced that someone was there. He scanned the area around him. Finally something caught his eye. He looked back. There, crouching in the grass was another lion. He looked harder. It wasn't one of Howler's lionesses. No, it was a young male lion! Forgetting all about the antelope in front of him, Tiaru stood up and roared a mighty challenge to the young intruder. The antelope panicked and took off, running like mad to get away from their hunters.
The intruder didn't respond. Tiaru stared at the lion. It barely moved. In fact, the lion was hunched. Suddenly Tiaru realized the other lion was hurt. He was not trying to challenge Tiaru; he was merely lying there. Tiaru ran towards the other lion. Within seconds he was at the lions side.
What he saw surprised him. The lion was real golden in color, with a big black tuft of mane on his head and a black tuft of hair on his tail. He didn't have his eyes open so Tiaru couldn't tell his eye color. What he could tell was that there was blood all over the young lion's body. There was a deep gash in his shoulder. Tiaru gasped. He took a step back. It couldn't be. He shook from the thought. Tiaru curled up beside the lion and slept, hoping the lion would live. He sighed and then closed his eyes. His stomach growled but he ignored it. He was going to make sure this lion lived, if it was the last thing he did.
Tiaru sighed deeply. Kita had been gone for almost three days now. He walked along slowly, feeling there was nothing to do. His stomach growled, reminding him he had not eaten. Tiaru put his nose to the air and smelled. He licked his lips. Antelope were not far away.
He crouched low and crawled along. Within minutes, he was within running distance of the tall creatures. Again Tiaru licked his lips. His eyes scanned the herd, looking for young or weak ones. He knew those were the prime victims, they were the slowest and easiest to take down. Tiaru smiled. He could almost taste the antelope when suddenly the hair on the back of his neck stood straight up.
He looked around; thoroughly convinced that someone was there. He scanned the area around him. Finally something caught his eye. He looked back. There, crouching in the grass was another lion. He looked harder. It wasn't one of Howler's lionesses. No, it was a young male lion! Forgetting all about the antelope in front of him, Tiaru stood up and roared a mighty challenge to the young intruder. The antelope panicked and took off, running like mad to get away from their hunters.
The intruder didn't respond. Tiaru stared at the lion. It barely moved. In fact, the lion was hunched. Suddenly Tiaru realized the other lion was hurt. He was not trying to challenge Tiaru; he was merely lying there. Tiaru ran towards the other lion. Within seconds he was at the lions side.
What he saw surprised him. The lion was real golden in color, with a big black tuft of mane on his head and a black tuft of hair on his tail. He didn't have his eyes open so Tiaru couldn't tell his eye color. What he could tell was that there was blood all over the young lion's body. There was a deep gash in his shoulder. Tiaru gasped. He took a step back. It couldn't be. He shook from the thought. Tiaru curled up beside the lion and slept, hoping the lion would live. He sighed and then closed his eyes. His stomach growled but he ignored it. He was going to make sure this lion lived, if it was the last thing he did.