The Neutral Prince
Chapter 3: Ruthless Escape
Krayt walked through the grasslands in the night; the very few followers of Mheetu not catching him. At that moment, Kion were glad that his body was short unless he would have already been caught. He was also relief that the cell which he have been force to call home would perhaps never be seen by his eyes ago. Kion prefer to get out by not using his claws. However, he knew he have to be careful and not overconfident, unless he would be as clumsy as he is stupid. He will need to be cautious and not rushing into action.
Krayt took a second to stop to think and use his brain. That goody two shoes lion he once was is gone, for if he have still been like his past self he would have likely have tried to do something foolish. What can he do? He knew that the entrance to the pride lands from the grasslands is guarded by lionesses all day and night. Although, Kion have been out of his cell, he is basically still imprisoned, due to his uncle wanting to watch out. He had considered much. The lionesses have shifts but he ain't going to wait until they finally changed since everyone would already be up.
Than, a small smirk came to his face. Luckily, there is not lionesses guarding the Outlands borders because it wasn't important for many. There is hyenas. Not like Janja and his other hyenas from the outlands in which he have faced a very long time ago with his friends, but hyenas around their age. Sure, it would be a longer way home, but Krayt was ready for it. As much as he don't want to admit it, Krayt rather never be in a land like this because he is tired of being full of pain. At least he can get out of here at last.
He scolded himself mentally. The lion cub won't allow his pride to cloud his vision. As he grown more older, Krayt shall get wiser and now he is basically implanted to use violence as an first action should he not get his way. Part of Krayt were terrified of accidentally snapping on his sister, or one of his friends, because he can lose his temper especially being forced to. And when Krayt lose his temper, not even grown lionesses would try to get in his way immediately, unless his so called teacher is there. Even then, they're still scared that Krayt would snap at them with strong claws. More and more, lions are terrified of him and fear that he would get even worse by the time he gets older.
Krayt walked up to the borders silently only to found out his suspicions were confirmed. Not so far away, the hyenas laid against the ground but didn't seem tired just layback. They were reckless and clearly was strong. What's odd for some is they have different color than most hyenas; instead of black fur, they have albino fur. While, they may have terrified to one, Krayt have been forced by Mheetu to fight against taller animals all at once. Beside, he can maybe lie about what he is doing there. Otherwise, he can use his abilities to escape. He let out a breath and walked up, finally revealing himself to the hyenas.
Upon seeing him, the hyenas slightly scowled at him but knew Mheetu's orders were to treat him respectfully; at least when he's around. "Prince Krayt," the lead hyena said with a slight bitterness in his tone but tried to keep it out. "What are you doing here?"
Kion expected the question, "Mheetu have given me orders to find an animal in the outlands," he lied bluntly, his voice carrying an authoritative tone. Hoping that they would buy it, Kion pushed himself passed them and begin walking down.
However, the hyena weren't going to back down. "We weren't notified," the hyena argued, stepping in front of him without word. "We would have to clear it." Not wanting to get into a confrontation right now, he close his eyes and released his breath in the air, trying to meditate himself away by venting his anger into the cold wind.
Trying to false being insulted, Kion whirled around and glared at him, trying to act like he was angry, not wanting Mheetu to be alerted just yet. "Do you doubt the master, Mbadala?" Kion forced a growl to come from him as if he have lost his patience at last.
The hyena narrowed his eyes at him in clear annoyance. "No, but we need clarification. Also, Mheetu never send you on missions out of the lands." The hyena said sternly. He then motion to a nearby bird, which have black fur, blue eyes, and brown feathers. The bird begin flapping his wings. With a large shout, Krayt pounced the bird and seized the bird's neck. Ignoring the demands to released him, the lion tightened his hold and only released him when he fell into an deep unconsciousness with his tongue sticking out.
Shocked at what the lion cub just did, the hyenas gotten into an pouncing position and begin growling at him. Kion sighed as his claws came to life and he gotten into an position of his own. "Let us assume our dance," Krayt said tauntingly.
One of the hyena gritted his teeth, taking the lead, his claws ready for the kill and eager for action, "We have him cornered! Take him now!" The hyena yelled as he lunged forward, three hyenas following from behind.
"No! Wait!" The hyena leader warned, yet the other hyenas paid him no heed - a consequence they will take to their grave. Krayt sliced the upfront hyena on his neck with his claws, instantly killing him within a blink of an eye. His body fallen to the ground with the other three hyenas leaping past their fallen comrade and the three simultaneously lunged towards the lion cub, now fully ready to kill him, but were still a little shock that an lion cub can kill somebody.
"Undisciplined. Reckless." Krayt thinks to himself as he raise one of his front paws and lifted two hyenas and slammed them into the third hyena. Groaning, they laid on the ground and tried to force themselves up. The third one finally did gets up before the two others and attacked him.
"You pathetic fool." Krayt says, unimpressed as he bunched his muscles as the hyenas hacked away at the lion cub. The battle carries on before Krayt lunged towards the hyenas neck, adding another hyena slain to the Circle Of Life, yet felt a little bit of satisfaction due to him no longer being that weak and foolish cub. Two more hyenas marched up, but Krayt raised his paws and this time send them into the point of unconsciousness. The only reason why he haven't manage to finish the two hyenas is because of four more hyenas whom ran up, trying to imitated and frighten him, so he just threw the hyenas aside and glared at the other hyenas. Why won't they just give up, because they can see their comrades are failing themselves?
"Enough." The lion cub commanded, as he slashed two hyenas neck and send them toppling to the ground still alive yet wheezing. One hyena manage to get close to him to strike at his neck, yet Krayt plunged his claws at his eyes, causing him to scream. Caught off-guard, the other hyena nervously approached yet he was quickly thrown into the rock which send him into blackness. Prince Krayt breathed deeply at the damage he had just caused to the hyenas' before composing himself towards the hyena leader whom stood alone yet tries to stand his ground.
Krayt turned towards the hyena leader who had slight fear in his eye. "Your hyenas are reckless and undisciplined," Krayt mocked, with clear smugness. "They can be so much more, but clearly they only stand out as frightening, yet they clearly can't prove it. Then again, with you as their leader, I can understand. Clearly, they don't respect your authority for you all could have defeated me if your hyenas didn't just jump into battle." Krayt gazed in his eyes, "Is that fear I smell on you, hyena?"
The hyena said nothing. Instead he attacked with fury and hatred. Krayt haven't even move and allowed him to run up to him. Before the hyena made contact however, Krayt send an thrust of his paw to the hyenas stomach. Stunned more than hurt, the hyena staggered back, his paws running through his stomach. Yet, he knew Mheetu would make them suffer if he allows the lion to escape. He may be an cub yet his strength has nearly matched the strength of grown lions. Krayt send an thrust of his paw, not to him, but the ground which consist of dirt, that blinded his eyes.
Backing up, the hyena felt his claws thrusting against his belly, which did something to him. His stomach growled, not out of hunger, but out of pain and agony. Coughing, the hyena limped across the ground. "Now, Mbadala, do you see the pain and agony, the horror?" Krayt asked, his claws inches away from his neck. He turned around and his tail was now facing the white hyena, "As much as I can easily kill you..." He began, "I won't due to I'm going to need you alive due to you distracting Mheetu."
"I will never turn against Mheetu!" The hyena shouted.
Krayt chuckled as he held a grin on his face."Oh, believe me I know," Krayt states. "But with your failure come... lessons which shall buy me time to escape." The lion cub walked up as the hyena gotten back up, his face having marks, his eyes were clearly damage. Krayt can easily blinded him had he dig his claws further in his eyes. "Now, when you wake up, you may see Mheetu." Krayt than bitten against the hyena's neck. Squirming, the hyena tried to fight it but feel the inevitable blackness coming. "Goodnight, fool." Krayt grins before sharply turning around.
Krayt frowned as the hyena fell into unconsciousness behind him. He knew it would be possibly an day before he can return to his original home; less if he was lucky. But only luck lasts so long. He turned back around to face the now unconscious hyenas. Perhaps it would be a mercy to kill them. Doing good doesn't mean an evil outcome. Mheetu may lashed out against them and just cut them down, or they may return to fight the pride landers either tomorrow or in a few years time. So many innocents may fall under Mheetu's orders and maybe just finishing part of his army off will be a mercy, but the feeling in his gut restricted him from just finishing them off.
Krayt simply walked until he came across bird patrol. He 'accidentally' stepped onto the stick. As planned, the birds went down in hope to check it out. One of the bird pick up the broken stick with his talons and checked it out. "Just been stepped on, boss, someone is in the area," the bird states. Krayt noted the bird had brown fur, blue eyes, black and yellow wings, and even had tougher talons than birds he have seen in the pride lands.
"Than we shall find this intruder and report them to Lord Mheetu," the bird said. He had the same fur as the former; just slightly darker, but green eyes instead of blue.
Krayt went over and impaled his claws roughly yet silently against then ground, the dirt leaving behind the claws marks which really didn't bothered him. Getting ready to do this, Krayt jumped and pinned the birds down. Instead of doing death blows which he can do easily, Kion just knocked away at them unsurprisingly, sending them each into unconsciousness. Than, he send an mighty strike towards the bird which knocked him away from unconscious crew. Storming up, Kion grabbed him and pulled him close to the point he can see the bird's increasing fur boiling up to the surface. Tempted to just have bird food right now, remembering what his uncle said:
"Whenever prey is at your claws, be sure to finished them without hesitation, and kill anybody whom may be obstacles in the future."
Krayt felt the feeling that have been implanted into him to do the killing blow; to end this and finish his enemy. Not like, they will care about his survival should their positions been reserved and would likely relished in the kill. Kion made an choice:
"Fear not, bird, I shall not kill you," Kion said, adding reassurance from the bird who allow a big sigh for relief, but that fallen when Kion released him and crept over to his brother who is the one beside him still conscious, "but I require information from your part and your brother is going to help me. You are going to tell me Mheetu's plans." He knew when the bird would be lying and when he is telling the truth for Mheetu had showed him that tactic by just looking into their eyes. "What is Mheetu planning?"
"I-I don't know," the bird answered. He knew Mheetu would punished him should he reveal the plans to the lion cub who still somehow sane. He can easily fly off, but he didn't want to lose his own brother to a lion who can be a beast had he carried out Mheetu's plans. Kion's scar gave him a more terrifying image. Likely, Kion wouldn't hesitate to kill because the blood on his claws all couldn't be from his companions. Kion can do the worst to his brother should he even escape, and he rather not think of that.
Kion growls furiously as his face gotten near his brother and lifted him up, deciding to show the bird he would kill him, "Wait! Wait! I know that Mheetu has plans to convert you and have you destroy your sister and father. That's all I know, I swear! Please let him go!"
Kion stared into his eyes, and he saw truth in his eyes. He guess he should at the very least thanks Mheetu for that. It's a move that he can use in the future.
"So, Mheetu wants me to kill Kiara and my father. Why would Mheetu want Kiara dead though since she hasn't done anything to him?" Kion said mostly to himself instead of to the bird. "Of course, Kiara is the Princess of the Pride Lands; likely he wants to send the pride lands into chaos and changed everything to his view. He wants me and Kopa to rule together as kings so both can have an legacy. He may have had me force a lioness so I can get him grand heirs or may as well use me than kill me. How devious. Mheetu is slowly losing his insanity each day." Kion's face went mad, his teeth bared, and his jaw clenched. "Oh, I will one day come back and destroy him. If he thinks he can kill my own sister and make me do it myself, well I'll show him a lesson. As soon as I get stronger, I shall destroy him and make him pay for what he have done." Kion said curtly, his eyes darkening in absolute rage.
Strangely, he turned but they were shock when they saw his claw coming to them and knocking them out. As angry as he was, Kion knew he must at least try to turn away from Mheetu. He turned back and ragingly marched up to the bird who he have just gotten answers from. "Someday, he will be at my paws, begging for his life." Krayt said to the slightly blinking bird. "But you can tell him this: I will return someday and make him suffer and die. He won't be able to escape from me."
The bird soon went limp, and Krayt turned and walked off. He walked away from the grasslands. Soon, his walk became a full run as he ran away from the grasslands where he have suffered for months. At this point, Kion didn't care where he was going, for he have feared Mheetu or his lionesses will be aware of him running away. Kion yawned as he ran through the outlands, alone and not sure where he was going. As soon as dawn finally arrived, he will try to find his way to the pride lands, but right now it was late. For one thing, he was tired and exhausted. For another, there was no place where he can go that can lead him to the pride lands, so Kion had to find a place where he can hide and sleep.
As the young prince ran, he had gotten flashbacks from his old life. He remembered the memories more then actually remembering facing them. Kion can remember his mother always pulling him close and giving him bath and affection he never thought would be possible had he been raised by Mheetu since birth. Hell, he doubted that he would be conflicted had he been taken earlier. By now, he may have been Mheetu's pet and machine. At the thought of having to actually serving Mheetu, the prince have felt many emotions. In fact the more and more Kion felt the feelings only grown worst, hatred, madness, insanity, absolute rage, and words that he couldn't describe.
He soon slow down and pierce his head behind him. Luckily, no one seems to be chasing him especially with the morning that would soon return. He felt the wind blowing onto him, and the emotions luckily calmed and tamed in the air at least for the moment. At that very moment, Kion felt his strength starting to die. He knew he was tired, and that he can't go the Pride Lands yet which actually brought some sense of sadness in the prince. He had rather not get eaten alive in his sleep by these predators in this barren and cursed land.
The lion cub soon found something that can be helpful for the moment. It was rocks that gathered up. It may have not fit a grown lion, but since Kion was an cub, he can likely squeeze himself in. The lion cub went over to the rocks and begin to attempt to fitted himself in. It was hard at first, but Kion wasn't going to give up until he finally fit himself in. Kion's eyes went tired as he tiredly went inside and he instantly fell asleep as soon as he made contact the ground. Tomorrow is going to be a long day.