Chapter 4: The Pride Lands
Chester woke up after an easy sleep, the day before had taken a lot out of him. He'd only just realised how hard Shenzi had bitten him when finally stopped to rest, the wound was seeping blood slightly so he dressed it clumsily with a handkerchief he found pre-packed in his backpack. He had collapsed under a tree making an extremely feeble attempt to make himself "invisible", he'd found his way out the graveyard and tried to put as much distance between it and himself. Now, Chester woke up feeling refreshed and ready to go on. He hitched up his dressing and moved onward.
The sun was shining particularly brightly today and already Chester is feeling it, he is walking up a moderately steep, grassy hill and making quick progress. He finally reaches the top and lets out a gasp of amazement. In his view is a magnificent plain of grass filled with peaceful looking animals bathed by the everlasting sunshine. He makes his way down to the main ground to get a better look. The animals don't seem to notice that a human has entered their midst so Chester takes this opportunity to try and get a decent view while at the same time not be seen. This proved extremely difficult as the animals' constant movement meant he would have to keep moving too. He's about to give up when something catches his eye.
Chester is crouching behind a large rock looking out from the side, transfixed by something in the distance behind it.
Chester: Wow. Cool!
He is staring at a herd of antelope eating the grass peacefully. They're so content with themselves a war could be raging behind them and they wouldn't realise it. Chester stares at them beginning to be absorbed into the dream- like state that they seemed to be in.
At this moment all hell broke loose, the once-peaceful antelope are running for their lives. They are being pursued by fast-moving creatures, Chester recognised them as lionesses. The sudden attack made him yell out particularly loudly and he was sure that one or two of them heard him. There was no time to hit himself for being stupid so he broke into a run. He didn't even check whether he too was being chased but he saw a small clearing filled with trees so he made for it.
Chester (Gasping): THAT was too close!
He collapses on to the ground in the shade of one of the trees trying to get his breath back.
???: Who's there?!?
Chester is startled and just notices a wounded lioness lying in the shade just across from him.
Chester (hastily getting up): Oh, I'm sorry! I didn't notice you there! I. I'll leave.
He turns to go.
???: You didn't answer my question! Who are you?
He turns back and sees her staring at him with mild curiosity,
Chester: I. I'm Chester, but it's not important.
???: Why not?
Chester: I. I'm a human.
He takes a step backwards, getting ready to run.
???: I know.
She doesn't attack him, possibly due to her injury. She appears to be smiling at him. Chester takes a step forward puzzled.
Chester: Then, then why don't you attack?
???: Do you want me to?
Chester: No.
??? (Smiling still): Then I won't. Chester, is it?
He nods.
???: That's a nice name.
Chester is amazed at this lioness' friendliness and moves a bit closer to her.
Chester: Thanks! What's your name?
???: I'm Vitani.
Chester: Nice to meet you, Vitani.
Vitani: You too. What were you running away from?
Chester: I got too close to some antelope when your kin attacked them so I ran incase I was caught. What happened to you? (Indicating her injury.)
Vitani: I was taking a walk and I was ambushed by something. I didn't see what it was though.
Chester (moving forward hopefully): Can I take a look at it?
Vitani eyes him sceptically but decides to let him look.
Vitani: Well, OK then but be careful!
Chester: Don't worry, I will.
He walks over to her, crouches down and examines her injury. She'd been attacked at the back and something had gnawed at her neck. She is bleeding slightly but the injuries aren't grave.
Chester (recognising the bite marks): Hey! These look like hyena bites!
Vitani (looking up at him): Really? I thought Simba had chased them out of here.
Chester freezes. He mutters the word, "Simba", to himself. Just then another lioness enters the clearing.
???: Vitani? Are you here??
Chester jumps back, he knew Vitani wasn't going to hurt him but what about this other lioness?
The lioness spots Vitani and sees her wounds. She looks worried.
???: What happened?
She sees Chester and then suddenly looks furious. She advances on him.
???: YOU! WHAT DID YOU DO TO HER?!?
Chester woke up after an easy sleep, the day before had taken a lot out of him. He'd only just realised how hard Shenzi had bitten him when finally stopped to rest, the wound was seeping blood slightly so he dressed it clumsily with a handkerchief he found pre-packed in his backpack. He had collapsed under a tree making an extremely feeble attempt to make himself "invisible", he'd found his way out the graveyard and tried to put as much distance between it and himself. Now, Chester woke up feeling refreshed and ready to go on. He hitched up his dressing and moved onward.
The sun was shining particularly brightly today and already Chester is feeling it, he is walking up a moderately steep, grassy hill and making quick progress. He finally reaches the top and lets out a gasp of amazement. In his view is a magnificent plain of grass filled with peaceful looking animals bathed by the everlasting sunshine. He makes his way down to the main ground to get a better look. The animals don't seem to notice that a human has entered their midst so Chester takes this opportunity to try and get a decent view while at the same time not be seen. This proved extremely difficult as the animals' constant movement meant he would have to keep moving too. He's about to give up when something catches his eye.
Chester is crouching behind a large rock looking out from the side, transfixed by something in the distance behind it.
Chester: Wow. Cool!
He is staring at a herd of antelope eating the grass peacefully. They're so content with themselves a war could be raging behind them and they wouldn't realise it. Chester stares at them beginning to be absorbed into the dream- like state that they seemed to be in.
At this moment all hell broke loose, the once-peaceful antelope are running for their lives. They are being pursued by fast-moving creatures, Chester recognised them as lionesses. The sudden attack made him yell out particularly loudly and he was sure that one or two of them heard him. There was no time to hit himself for being stupid so he broke into a run. He didn't even check whether he too was being chased but he saw a small clearing filled with trees so he made for it.
Chester (Gasping): THAT was too close!
He collapses on to the ground in the shade of one of the trees trying to get his breath back.
???: Who's there?!?
Chester is startled and just notices a wounded lioness lying in the shade just across from him.
Chester (hastily getting up): Oh, I'm sorry! I didn't notice you there! I. I'll leave.
He turns to go.
???: You didn't answer my question! Who are you?
He turns back and sees her staring at him with mild curiosity,
Chester: I. I'm Chester, but it's not important.
???: Why not?
Chester: I. I'm a human.
He takes a step backwards, getting ready to run.
???: I know.
She doesn't attack him, possibly due to her injury. She appears to be smiling at him. Chester takes a step forward puzzled.
Chester: Then, then why don't you attack?
???: Do you want me to?
Chester: No.
??? (Smiling still): Then I won't. Chester, is it?
He nods.
???: That's a nice name.
Chester is amazed at this lioness' friendliness and moves a bit closer to her.
Chester: Thanks! What's your name?
???: I'm Vitani.
Chester: Nice to meet you, Vitani.
Vitani: You too. What were you running away from?
Chester: I got too close to some antelope when your kin attacked them so I ran incase I was caught. What happened to you? (Indicating her injury.)
Vitani: I was taking a walk and I was ambushed by something. I didn't see what it was though.
Chester (moving forward hopefully): Can I take a look at it?
Vitani eyes him sceptically but decides to let him look.
Vitani: Well, OK then but be careful!
Chester: Don't worry, I will.
He walks over to her, crouches down and examines her injury. She'd been attacked at the back and something had gnawed at her neck. She is bleeding slightly but the injuries aren't grave.
Chester (recognising the bite marks): Hey! These look like hyena bites!
Vitani (looking up at him): Really? I thought Simba had chased them out of here.
Chester freezes. He mutters the word, "Simba", to himself. Just then another lioness enters the clearing.
???: Vitani? Are you here??
Chester jumps back, he knew Vitani wasn't going to hurt him but what about this other lioness?
The lioness spots Vitani and sees her wounds. She looks worried.
???: What happened?
She sees Chester and then suddenly looks furious. She advances on him.
???: YOU! WHAT DID YOU DO TO HER?!?