"Come on Jabari. PLEEEEEASE! You know that I have the best sight in the Pridelands. Please let me join you guys!" Zahour pleaded.
Jabari chuckled, entertained by his little brother's enthusiasm. "Alright, I'll talk with my teammates and see what they think."
Zahour lept in the air cheering. "YES! Thanks bro!"
"JABARI, THERE'S A DISTURBANCE AT THE BOARDER, LETS GO!" Barack shouted at Jabari.
"BE RIGHT THERE." Jabari shouted back. "Alright, I'll see you later bro." Juberi then ran down the steps of Pride Rock and followed his team to the outskirts of the Pridelands.
"Hey, you good?" Jabari snapped out of his thoughts and turned around to see Barack approaching him.
"Yeah I was just thinking." Jabari responded.
"You want to tell him, don't you?" Barack replied.
"You have no idea. Just the thought of my brother hating me already hurts but, I don't want him to get involved. It's enough that we constantly have to look over our shoulders to make sure those Jackals won't do something, but if he gets involved, then...I-I don't know what I'll do if I lose him also."
"He is already involved in our conflict"
"Yeah but they just see him as an inconvenience rather than a target, and I want to keep it that way….so when do we leave?"
"Around an hour or so."
"Maybe we can actually go in and out instead of waiting for Yazid to quit flirting with the princess."
Barack chuckled. "After what she did, it is entertaining to see him push her buttons."
"AND for your information, I wasn't flirting, I was messing with her, there's a difference!" Yazid said as he walked up to his teammates.
"What's the difference?" Jabari questioned.
"She's actually mad at me!" Yazid smirked as his teammates chuckled.
"COME ON DAD DO I HAVE TO!" Ayanna complained to the King.
"This is a tradition that started ever since the first king of the Pridelands took control." Sadeeki replied in a calm manor.
"So NOW I have to obey traditions, I never even met him! How do you expect me to rule with some guy!"
"Just give him a chance. I was betrothed to your mother and look how happy we are!"
Ayanna groaned. "Fiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiine! Lets get this over with."
Ayanna followed her father to the outskirts of the Pridelands, where she met a pair of tanish-white lions, along with a teenage lion close to her age. "Greetings King Sadeeki, it's a pleasure to meet you."
"Likewise, and I assume this is your mate and son?"
"Yes, this is my wife Dalila and son Omari.."
"Pleasure to meet you, this is my daughter Ayanna. My wife Shanit is out with the hunting party but will be back shortly."
"So, should we leave the two alone to get acquainted?"
"Sounds good, now Ayanna, be nice."
"I am nice." Ayanna mumbled to herself. "So…."
"You must be my betrothed. Interesting…" Omari stated.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Ayanna shouted.
"Calm down princess, no need to blow a fuse." Omari replied, whom was somewhat surprised by the Princesses attitude.
"I AM CALM! Sorry."
"So father tells me that you are leader of the Lion Guard. Last I heard I though the Guard was a boys only group." Omari said as him and Ayanna began to walk around the Pridelands.
"Well it's not like I had a choice."
"But to be fair it doesn't surprise me. Didn't the last guard break the tradition of the team being a family thing passed from father to son?"
"Yeah, that's how the story went."
"So tell me, how do you balance being a Princess, and leading the Lion Guard? Do you just like have your teammates do all the work or-"
"Me and my teammates all contribute to the team for your information!" Ayanna said trying her best not to rip out Omari's throat.
"Ayanna!" The princess turned around to see Zuberi approaching them. "I don't mean to interrupt but, you got to see this."
"Oh no sorry i have to do, important Guard stuff" Ayanna said as she began to walk away and follow Zuberi.
"Thanks for saving me from him!" Ayanna thanked.
"Um, your welcome. But seriously there is something you got to see."
"What happened?"
"THEY STOLE IT!" Ayanna angrily shouted as she saw for herself, one of the artifacts was stolen.
"Who could have done this?" Zahour inquired.
"Isn't it obvious, it was those Damn outsiders!" Ayanna shouted as she lashed out against the stone walls of the cave.
"Calm down Ayanna!" Zuberi said.
"Calm? I AM CALM, I am just frustrated thats all!" Zuberi fell on his back, startled by Ayanna.
"I'm not happy about this either, but yelling won't solve anything." Zahour said.
"Your right, we need to focus on capturing those three!"
"How are we supposed to do that, if we take the night shift, they will just go in the morning, and if we patrol in the morning, they would strike at night like they just did."
"Then we just have to wait for them to show up again. Last time they were looking for clues, so if we deciphered the clues first then we can catch them in the act."
"Alright, sounds like a plan."
Ayanna walked out of the cave and emerged into the tall grass of the Savannah. She looked around her to make sure she wasn't followed, and began to walk to clear her mind. "It's not like I had a choice."
"Ayanna please pay attention." Her father pleaded.
"I know I know, I'm in charge and everyone should obey me. I get the jist of it dad, can I now go hang out with my friends now!"
"Ayanna being a Queen is more than being in charge. It's about maintaining peace and order, and making sure that the circle of life doesn't go out of balance."
"Isn't that Sahel's job?"
"Yes, but he is more of a line of defense. You are about maintaining order within the kingdom, Sahel is there to help you with that. But ultimately it's your responsibility."
"That sounds like no fun!"
"Sometimes we have to do things we don't want to do. Your mom doesn't enjoy hunting every day, but she does it because it's her job. And besides you won't be alone, one day you will meet some guy who will help you and stand by your side. Much like how your mother helps me with my duties as king."
"Someone by my side huh." Ayanna muttered to herself. The lioness continued walking until she noticed a small group of Jackals walking around the outskirts of the Pridelands. She took shelter behind a nearby Tree and observed them.
She couldn't hear what they were saying, but once they were done with their little chat, they got up and walked away. Ayanna quickly got up and began to follow them.
She followed them into the dry and desolate part of the Outlands. A place that was devoid of any plant life, and only the predators such as the Jackals resided in. Ayanna climbed up on top of the nearby ledges and looked down upon the Jackal's territory.
The Princess smirked as she stood up and turned around, on her way to share the information she obtained with her teammates. "Going somewhere?"
Ayanna froze in her tracks and there stood Giza, standing in front of her along with a two other, much more muscular Jackals standing by his side.
The Lioness quickly leaped at Giza, Knocking him back, with the two other Jackals distracted, she saw this as an opportunity to run off. However ont of the Jackals grabbed her by the scruff, and threw her to the ground, knocking her out.
"Should we….help her?" Jabari Questioned as him and his teammates observed the conflict that unfolded.
"The Jackals know something we don't. Besides if we leave her then we would be just as bad as she is. Let's go." Yazid ordered as he began to sneak into the Jackals territory, with Jabari and Barack following behind him.
The three teenagers navigated through the territory, however there wasn't exactly many places for them to take cover in, only a few large rocks. But other than that it was just, that. The lack of vegetation not only meant lack of food for herds tor reside in, but lack of opportunities for hunters to hide in. Which unfortunately was the case for someone trying to sneak around.
However most of the Jackals were beginning to go off in search of something for the clan to eat, which did make the rescue operation much easier. Once most of the Jackals were out of the way, the three teenagers advanced further into their territory.
They followed Ayanna's scent into the opening of a cave in the back, and entered it cautiously. They looked around and found Ayanna being kept in a small pit. "Barack, Get her, I'll catch up.." Yazid ordered.
"What are you gonna do?" Barack asked.
"Gonna explore." Yazid said as he walked backed out into the main hallway. He walked around for a bit and noticed a bright green glow emitting from one of the smaller dens, he got closer and once he entered the room, he couldn't believe his eyes.
He walked closer and stared in awe."How is this even possible?" Yazid muttered to himself.
"What is this?" Jabari asked as him and Barack entered the room, with Ayanna on Barack's back.
"I don't know but…..theres something in there." Barack said as he slowly moved one of his front paws foreward to touch the rock, with Jabari and Yazid doing the same. For some reason the three heard voices, familiar voices, coming from the giant Rock. As if they were crying out for help.
Once the three put their paws on the stone, some of its energy began to flow in them, and on their Right shoulder, formed the mark of the Phantoms, much like the mark of the guard, but instead of the mark resembling a lion, it resembled a paw, with a flamey texture.
The three looked at their shoulders in amazement, along with that wondering how the stone did it. However they didn't have much time to process what had just happened. "HOW DID YOU GET IN HERE!" An angry voice shouted.
The three teenagers turned around and saw Giza, along with his personal bodyguards from earlier entering the room. Normally the three would run away, however this isn't the open Savannah, they were completely trapped.
SO yeah, there was a shorter wait period with this one. Although to be honest I didn't realize it's been more than we week since the last chapter, but hey that's what happens when I'm sleep deprived.
Also yeah I'm also working on a project that involves 2 singers since it is a duet. I already have a male singer, but I still need a female singer, so DM me if you are interested.