Chapter 14: Passing Blades

And so they set off, the three lionesses leading the way. Marty stuck close to Alex who harbored Julien on his shoulder. Melman and Gloria stayed at the back, also in a tight group. Elsa, Kindra and Tana hardly looked back. Tana stared at her paws, "Hey, Elsa, you're sort of like the leader here."

"Yeah, so?" Elsa kept her eyes in front of her.

Tana looked up, "Well, why are we doing this? You hate taking orders from King Kuju."

"Yeah," Kindra agreed, "You won't even prepare a kill for him."

Elsa sighed, "I find the situation hard to believe, myself," she glanced back at Alex for a brief moment. Her eyes snapped back in place for fear of being seen.

Kindra laughed, "Oh, I see what's happening."

"You do?" Tana hadn't taking any hints in.

"Elsa," Kindra got her attention, "You like that Alex guy, don't you?"

Elsa sniffed, "Don't be ridiculous. I just met him. And I don't make judgements based on appearance."

Kindra laughed, "The hell you don't. Remember the way you hung over Kuju until you realized that he's a jerk?"

"Well, I learned my lesson after that," Elsa proclaimed.

Kindra tilted her head, "Well it's not all about appearance. He seems pretty sweet."

"I beg to differ!" Tana contended, "He punched me!"

Elsa pointed out, "You tried to eat his friend."

Kindra wrinkled her nose, "Who's friends with a zebra, hippo, giraffe, and, er," she looked back at Julien, "meerkat thing?"

"It may be strange, but he really likes them," Elsa looked back as well.

Tana scratched her head, "What's stopping Kuju from eating all of them?"

Elsa smiled, "Me."

Over in the following group Marty steered closer to the lion, "Alex, what are you doing? You look dead on your feet."
Alex gazed lazily at the ground, watching the blades of grass thepassed by. "I'm just daydreaming."

Marty smiled, "You do that a lot."

"I know. But this time, it can mean our survival," Alex told his striped friend.

Marty lifted his head a bit, "Survival? You aren't dreaming about being on reality TV, I hope."

Alex didn't find the strength to laugh, "I've been thinking. We'll follow these three, find a cure for it, and meet up with the penguins. Hopefully, they would've found something to help us survive." Julien suppressed the urge to inquire about it.

Marty's expression grew confused, "Survive? What about going home?"

Alex held back a tear by coughing, "The people brought us here. This is supposed to be our home, now. I don't think there's any way to return. The people are everywhere, and they want us here, and so they're going to do everything to keep us here."

Julien looked at the melancholy lion, "Now, Alex. You can't let one set back lower your expectations."

"Why not?" Alex asked rhetorically, "First, the people freaked out when Marty left. I was let down by the people. Then, we were put on a ship for transfer. I was let down by the people. Then we washed overboard. I was let down by the people. I thought for a night that I'd never see any of my friends ever again. I was let down by the people. After we reunited we were finally being rescued. Things were looking up for a change. But, then they just decided to dump us here. A place ten times worse than Madagascar and a million times worse than the Central Park Zoo. In short, I was let down by the people."

Marty looked at Alex and trotted forwardtowards the lionesses. "Excuse me,"

Elsa jumped, "Oh, sorry. I've never been chased by a lower animal."

"Lower?" Marty was offended, "Just because I'm lower on the food chain doesn't mean I'm lower in status." Tana suppressed a laugh at this remark. Kindra held a hand over her mouth.

"I'm sorry. It's just this whole talking to prey thing is knew to me," Elsa explained, "Anyway, what do you want?"

"Can we take a break?" Marty requested.

Elsa turned her head, "Why? Are you prey animals that low in stamina?"

Marty looked back at Alex, "Um...yeah, sure... something like that."

Elsa nodded and shouted, "OK everyone, five minute break!"

The animals obeyed and stopped. Melman collapsed onto the ground. Gloria sat down beside him. Alex just looked at Marty with forlorn eyes and sat in place. Marty trotted back over to him and sat beside him.

"What'd you do that for?" Alex asked.

Marty dawned a parental tone, "Alex, this depressed thing isn't gonna fly. You better have a damn good reason you've been acting so mopy."

Alex nodded at Marty and looked to his shoulder, "Uh, Julien? Can you hang out with Melman and Gloria for a bit?"

Julien was taken aback, "But... I wanted to be with you."

Alex reassured the lemur, "Don't worry. It's just for a few seconds. I need to talk to Marty about stuff."

Julien looked at the ground in thought, then lifted his head smiling, "It's ok. I'm down with guy stuff. Whatever you have to say is cool with me."

Alex laughed, "No, it's nothing like that. It's just, well, personal..."

Julien squinted his eyes, "...Are you gay?" he asked, "Because, I'd be fine with that. In fact, my uncle is gay. Very happy man."

Alex grew annoyed, "No, Julien, I'm not g-"

Julien held up his hands, "It's ok to be gay. I'd be totally cool with that, unless you asked me out. But I don't think that'd happen, being different species and all. But the point is that I am a cool guy and I'm totally capable of understanding that-"

"Julien," Alex tried to get his attention.

The lemur continued, "You know, my best friend in Junior High was gay. I should've known. The way he looked at me was... different-"

"Julien-"

"Then one day he just came out and asked me out. I don't know if he got a vibe or something 'cause I don't swing that way! I may care about my appearance a bit, but I'm no homo-"

"Julien-"

"Ok, there was that time with the spin the bottle, but that didn't count. I was forced to do it, everyone was doing it. I am not that way, though, not that I'm discriminating or anything. It's totally ok to be a faggot. Oh my god, I didn't mean it to come out that way. I'm so sorry-"

"JULIEN!" Alex shouted.

Julien was a bit shaken, "...What?"

Alex grabbed his friend by the shoulders, "I'm not gay. I just have something to talk to Marty about. Inside stuff. Got it?"

Julien took a pause, looked down and nodded. Alex set him down. The lemur then walked off to join Gloria and Melman in whatever conversation they were having.

Marty made sure Julien was gone and looked at his friend goofily, "You aren't coming out of the closet, are you?"

Alex smacked Marty in the back of the head.

"Just kidding, just kidding! Ow, that hurts," Marty rubbed his head, "God, take a joke!"

"Marty," Alex, once again, pierced into Marty's soul with his brilliant gaze, "It came!"

Marty's mood became serious, "...how so?"

Alex looked around, making sure only Marty could here him. Melman, Gloria, and Julien were all talking. The lionesses were having a conversation of their own, making periodic glances at Alex. They were all out of reach. Nevertheless, Alex whispered. "Right before those three came and attacked you, I heard it."

Marty gasped, "Heard?"

Alex nodded grimly, "It's more than a feeling now. It's a voice. It has a mind of its own!"

Nervously, Marty leaned in closer, "What did it say?"

"It said that it's inside everyone, it just sleeps. And it said that when I'd meet someone else with it awakened in them, it would grow stronger, and rise up against me."

Marty gazed with equal intensity in his eyes, "How strong is it now?"

Alex answered, "Not very. I was able to get rid of it."

Alex's eyes widened. Suddenly, a third voice entered the conversation, 'But not for long...' It was that voice. It was it.

Marty stirred. "Alex..." he began, "I just got a really bad vibe."

Alex gasped, "It just talked to me!"

Marty looked shocked. The black hairs in his mane stood on end, "I think we're dealing with something a lot bigger than we thought." Marty looked at his friend.

The lion nodded, "I'm beginning to agree with you. So, you see? I have to see this pride thing. The other lions might have a cure."

Marty looked a bit scared, "But what if they don't?"

Alex put his arm over Marty's back, "I made a promise, remember? And I'm going to keep it. I won't let anything ever happen to you."

Marty felt comforted, " I made a promise too. And I'm going to keepmine no matter what."

Alex tilted his head, he noticed a slight faux to Marty's smile. He asked,"Is something still wrong?"

Marty looked at his hooves, "Well, when we get to the pride, what's going to stop those lion's from attacking me?"

Alex smiled and looked at his friend sincerely, "Me."