The Neutral Prince
Chapter 7: Lessons
Krayt was up the next morning. He had been an early wake considering what happened with him and Mheetu. So the girls was quite surprised when Kiara's little brother woke them up before the sun has risen. Still exhausted, Kiara, Tiifu, and Zuri hoped they wouldn't have to head out so early since an experience when they woken up early and was frightened so the three had kind of wanted the sun to be up first which would look like to be in a few hours. They haven't been too harsh with turning him down but Krayt was glad to sleep a little bit more so he went back to sleep instead of training, but now Krayt's fighting moves is like second nature and he can use abilities.
Usually, Krayt would have been training right now, but decided to do such things later. Krayt woke up a few hours later and he noticed the sun reflecting on his face and burning his eyes. He looked up and saw Kiara, Tiifu, and Zuri standing over him, seeming fully well-rested. Krayt got to admit that this feeling inside of him felt comfortable since he got even more sleep - although he would never admit weakness, whenever Mheetu would have woke him up, he was exhausted mentally and visually.
The princess had seem more happy, no doubt eagerly to show her little brother around. "Let's go watch the sun," the princess declared.
Krayt stretched his bones out, allowing loud cracks from his body. He stood several feet over the girls since he was a male. Now, that his wounds haven't seem as big as yesterday and his strength restored, the three can see that he is stronger then he looks. Humbly, the three got to admit that he had the biggest muscles in a lion then they had ever seen from any other little male cubs in the pride. Kiara was sure if he wasn't her brother she would have been completely hooked towards him. Tiifu and Zuri tried their best to hide their blushes, despite Tiifu having a crush on somebody else who had to visited from a different pride. He still was cute and handsome for an cub.
Not too caring about their blushes since he was used to it from cubs in Mheetu's prides, Krayt headed pass the three and went to the outside of Pride Rock. Kiara had to wonder what Kion would be like when he is older: can he defeat both her father and her?
Kion seems to held a mighty strength just by his muscles but she had to study his form and way of battles. Perhaps he can show her sooner or later. Kiara always been a not so strong cub and whenever her father taught her, she would make clumsy laughable moves. She noticed Tiifu and Zuri having fear of Krayt slightly, due to his muscles. None of them were the brightest out of her since they cared about their looks and fashion, but they were smart enough to knew that Krayt is someone not to be messed with. He looks to be in much battles scars just because of his muscles, providing the story he have told them yesterday true and no deception, which mean he have been into much battles.
Tiifu and Zuri sat behind the two, where Zuri seems to be whispering things to her best friend a lot. The princess grinned, hearing her little brother's name from the lioness quite frequently. She looked towards the sun and both siblings sat.
She tilted her head towards him, "You see that?" Kiara asked. "Dad told me some things about this land itself so I can rule one day with knowing the borders and all. Everything the light touches is our kingdom." She impersonates her father. "A king or queen time as ruler rises and falls like the sun. One day the sun would set on dad's time and rise with me as the queen."
"Who would be your king?" Krayt asked, frowning.
Kiara better not have any crushes or he may have to interrogated the young lion and would teach him a lesson. Kiara allows her cheeks to darken in embarrassment as she pondered that question. After all, her parents are king and queen and are married so she would have to married somebody one day. The fact that she has to find love disgusted her enough for her to poke her tongue out.
"Nobody," she responded. "All of the male cubs here doesn't peak my interest. Most of them tries to be my friend so they can one day be king, but I always see through there little act and not allowed them to become that close towards me."
Kiara rather not mention about a cub she met months ago. That brown-coated cub. Who she had felt an peak of interest to, but when her father gave her "The Talk" she didn't exactly enjoyed that conversation.
"Come, let's go." Kiara continues, a blush coming onto her cheek and she's trying to push it back down.
Kiara leaned beside Krayt, brushing her shoulder near his shoulder, "Kio-Krayt," she corrected, noticing cubs gathering up beside them which meant they are not alone. "Is what you told us yesterday true?" She whispered towards him, not really sure about him yet. By the silence, she knew the answer; he had much blood on his claws and can easily bring many lions down. Once they were at the bottom of Pride Rock, Krayt stiffened and brought his paw towards his head. She noticed the pain in his eyes and the crooked fainted scars on his body, beside the red scar on his orange-brown eyes.
After the girls showed him the watering holes, Rafiki's trees, hills, and others such things in the Pride Lands, Kion had known many of the things and it was even more beautiful then expected. Then at last, the hunting grounds where many lionesses were hunting. Krayt came to a stop when he noticed his mother leading the lionesses, but the grass seems to be darker and swear he smell something. A scent he haven't smell in a wild.
Krayt instantly move forward, his nose wrinkling as he sniffed the air. "I smell something, a presence I have not smell since..." he whispers, continuing to walked.
Tiifu got in front of him, shaking her head interjecting him from moving as she blocked his path. "Woah, you can't go on the hunting grounds," she said, "the lionesses are hunting and if we're there, the animals may spell us and we can get in trouble."
Krayt frowned at her, "I smell something dangerous and scheming," he interjected. "I will be back."
"Kion! Kion! Kion!" The three cried after him, oblivious to them calling him by his real name out in public.
But he ignore the girls and soon was already gone to investigate. Realizing he was not going to return, the three girls hadn't sat down and decided to wait for the lion cub to return. The silence was interrupted by a harsh evil cackled.
As the leaves blew in the wind and bounced off the young cub's body, Krayt continues to walk around the hunting grounds, making sure to stay away from the lionesses so he doesn't disturbed their hunting and rather continue to track the scent. He was a good tracker, since Mheetu have taught him how to be a good one. He have noticed the scent getting closer and closer, until he came to a pause and briefly narrowed his eyes. Something seems to be going on here, and Krayt wanted to find it out.
He sniffed around and tried to find the source of it, but he didn't found nothing. The lion cub frowned and guess it was nothing. Then he turned back around when he heard screams followed with a mad crackling laugh. In a surprising fast manner that would have been a blur to a normal eye, Krayt raced across the grounds and going back to the land - his claws outstretched - muscles bunched highly - his eyes firmed - and him continues walking down. The lion cub allowed a low snarl to come from his lips.
Krayt saw that his big sister and her friends was gone. He heard another shout and continue to run down. He then saw it; it was horrifying, his big sister along with her friends was cornered by hyenas. At the sight of it, his rage begin to rise again. It was just giant and bigger than Kion ever have felt. Not with Mheetu. Not with anybody who tempted him. Not after he killed many of Mheetu. The feeling begin to rise even bigger, as his claws hissed to life.
Kiara seem to have noticed him and her eyes grown wide as she didn't want him to be use as leverage or him being in the middle of all of this, "Little brother, run!" She turned and growled at the hyenas, with Tiifu and Zuri staying behind her, trying to stay as far as away from the hyenas as possible. "You won't get away with this, Janja." Kiara says threatening towards one hyena who was leading them all.
Krayt's eyes went wide yet again as he recognized this hyena; even though he was slightly older and different and with more hyenas. Several months ago, him and his friends had faced this particular group of the hyenas, but that was different then. It was low to go after a bird egg who haven't been born yet. But this was family, and so Krayt finally lost all of it. Thus, he begin approaching with half of his claws dig into the ground, leaving giant marks that ran through the dirt. As Krayt neared them, two hyenas unfamiliar to him, different from Cheezi and Chungu he noted, got in front of him and growl, clearly was ready to fight with him and try to imitate with him.
Janja turned towards the lion cub, drawing his attention off of the girls to stare at the lion cub who he vowed to get vengeance on. "Ah, Kion," Janja said sarcastically. "It's nice to see you again, but you are now without your friends, so I'm afraid it is time for you to die." He gave a nod towards the two hyenas who advanced forward with him, Cheezi, Chungu, and the other few hyenas in Janja's clan watching as the lion cub being cornered. Kiara, Tiifu, and Zuri can only watched as they saw Kion being cornered and thought this was the end.
Just as they seemed to fully cornered him, Prince Krayt's claws fully came to life as he swiped one hyena away with raw pure strength. It hadn't even been a long fight, and the hyena was clearly caught by surprised before he was struck away. He gotten back up and growled at him as Krayt performed a battle stance. The hyena and lion cub stared at each other for a minute, until the hyena finally lost his patience with waiting and swiped at the lion cub, who merely ducked and took an defensive form of battle. None in the area could get it, one second he was on the offensive and now he was parrying attacks perfectly and barely even pressed the assault.
From behind, the other hyena fixed himself into a fighting position in which Krayt reached up his claws and slashed away at the other hyena who didn't even stand a chance to recover himself. Krayt lunged forward and latched harshly onto a hyena's neck and brought him down. The hyena gotten back up and latched out in hope to pin him, but the hyena attempted to cut him down. Kion vastly brought his claw to the hyena head, leaving a large gash towards the top of the hyena's head which leak of blood. Kion could have delivered the killing blow, but he did not cared about the hyena and rather aimed for the leader, so he just send him into unconsciousness. The other hyena attempted to try but he slashed him across the stomach and send him to the ground.
Now, with both of them down; deep into unconsciousness.
Krayt continues to approach Janja, Cheezi, and Chungu. A few hyenas bitten their lip, none wanting to attack the lion. But Janja send a nod to four hyenas. "Fool," he muttered in a dark sheepish way as he walked up towards the hyena leader, wanting to end his life already, moving into a battle position and saluting a defensive form. The four hyenas ran forward, ready to bring him down once and for all, but Krayt hacked away at them and brought each of them to the ground, his blood boiled as his eyes darkened at Janja. "I would give you one more chance, Janja," Krayt spoke darkly, "give my sister and her friends to me, or die."
Janja backed up nervously as he saw Krayt edging ever closer. He never thought a innocent cub who look to be weak could have gain such a strength and speak this dark and different. Most of his hyenas were brought down easily. At this point, surrender would be wise but Janja never been so weak and wouldn't give up now. He gave two nods to Cheezi and Chungu, who ran forward in attempt to finally beat the prince. What they didn't expect was for him to be behind them in a second, but before they can turn to face him the lion cub grabbed both of their heads and slammed them into each other. Stunned, the hyenas couldn't recovered as Krayt thrust forward and in a flourish of his claw motion which send them to the ground with fast speed.
The lion cub growled as he again begun walking up towards the hyena. He got into an offensive stance and the hyena was clearly surprised about how Kion managed to defeat all of the hyenas in the clan. There is something different about him; different than the young lion cub from several months ago. He was tough and fiercer and didn't hold a stage of fright as Kion stormed up towards him. Janja knew he couldn't back down, for he had planned to followed the lionesses, and waited until they finish hunting and then take a few gazelles.
As the lion cub continues to approach him, Janja knew he had to defeat this cub in front of him to actually get a meal, or else his hyenas would be completely hungry. There was many animals who managed to put up a good fight against him, but Krayt seems to take a posture where he was a calming fighter, rather offense or defense. Nervously, he send a strike towards Krayt, who ducked under him and send a parried towards him. Janja barely managed to turn around to deflect the attack with his claw attack. Had he been one second earlier, Krayt would have slashed his back.
Fast attacks were send towards each other. Mainly, Krayt would take an offense amounts of blows towards the hyena, which forced him to profusely duck and only managed to parried blows. Very much of his blows could have ended Janja's life or scarred him for good. Janja attempted to confused the cub with parries and slashes, but he seem to seen through it and managed to duck, now taking a defensive state and having to back up - although none can end his life, some can scarred him, but they were not as enough as his own blows. One of the hyena blows manage to bemused him, he admitted, which send him back. However, Krayt managed to regain control of this battle and send mighty strikes at him which brought him back.
Upon seeing the chance of defeating him at last, Krayt brought one mighty strong blow towards him and send him collapsing against the ground. Janja gotten back up as the lion cub lashed out and thrusts his paw towards him, choking him and sending him across the ground, causing dirt to get all over him. The hyena barely managed to get up in the last moment, as Krayt begin to approached yet again. With a mighty lunged from him, Krayt send a fast motions of his claws towards his cheek which causes a bunch of scars to form on his cheek which brought him down yet again. He send nearby rocks towards the hyena which blinded his physical vision and brought rocks to his end. The lion jumped forward and send a powerful stunning strike, knocking him down permanently, paralyzing and stunning him to where he can be killed.
The lion cub walked up towards the defeated and defenseless hyena, "Time to die, Janja." Krayt proclaimed coldly, raising his claws over his head.
Janja looked up pleadingly. "Please don't kill me." He begged, his eyes wide as he looked towards the lion cub who was about bring his claws down to clenched his head from his neck and stripped him of his life.
"Brother! No!" A voice cried out from behind the strong lion cub, causing Krayt to slowly peered over his shoulder.
'She wants me to spare him?' Krayt thought to himself. 'He is a threat to this entire land and yet she doesn't want to finally end his miserable life.'
"That's enough, Krayt." Kiara said as she slowly walked up and put her paw on his shoulder. "...That's enough. He is defeated, exhausted, and too weak to fight back and hunt anymore animals today. Just let him go and run back. You have shamed him greatly. H-he is at your mercy in this state."
"Mercy?" Krayt scoffed. "Rich yet foolish words, sister. Someone like him is never weak. He would easily come back in a week to bring more weight on the weak. And I can end it all right now and stripped the entire plains of Africa and the Circle Of Life itself of this beast. He had just attempted to kill you and would have if I hadn't got there in time."
"While you are right about that, you had no choice to just defend us. But right now, he is laying at your claws - you are in a position of giving a more tainted view on killing him to the Circle Of Life. You are trying to turn away from Mheetu's path but if you kill him you would developed further into the darkness path. He is disarmed, he is at your mercy. Do not allow hatred cloud your lack of vision. Please, Kion, see reason and let him go. Let him live." Kiara said softly.
"Let him live? Huh... let him go. Do you know what would happen if I did that? Killing this tainted figure who threaten the Circle Of Life and cares about nobody but himself would bring peace to animals. Mheetu may have taught me some things, but I don't let my emotions and visions to cloud my judgement. What is stopping him from merging with other clans or continuing to attack so many animals who can easily avoid death if I deliver this blow? What's to stop him from not slaying so many animals without me to stop him? The nativity. You think by committing one 'good' act to let one such as him go would avert an evil outcome. Yet life isn't like that, Kiara. I hoped you realized that being goody at every thing and there is no option averting an evil outcome by letting someone like this go. Yet sill you are young and think that everyone should live for peace to be restored."
"No, Kion. It is you who is blind. I will not merely stand by and watch you kill someone defenseless. He yielded Kion. A normal Pride Lander would never-"
"I am not a normal Pride Lander than!" Krayt shouted, taking his attention off of the wounded hyena and having his claws on his sister now. Although he would never hurt her, he hoped that she would learn well and that she would not be blind by emotion. The princess was taken aback, reeling slightly yet slowly away from her brother's claws.
Silence. Silence stood over the group for several moments; Krayt continues to glare at his sister yet deep in his eyes held a neutral yet concerned expression for her, Kiara stood firm and stared at her brother eyes, as she now stood in front of the beaten hyena and her raging brother, Tiifu and Zuri had tried to compose what is going on with their two friends who looked like is about to fight - although both would like to agree with their princess friend they can't denied that Kion had a point and a good one at that. Janja had been send away by even the king before, but each time he had return to cause even more mayhem and chaos across the entire Pride Lands. Many warnings and threats had been send his way, but yet he still hasn't stopped and continues to raid against the Pride Lands. Easily, this can all end with Kion and he can easily avenged the lives this hyenas took and more the hyenas is going to take.
"Guys, I think we are getting too excited. Perhaps we should back down and stop this yeah?" Zuri blurted out, trying her best to break this conflict from the two siblings. None of them budged.
"Are you going to attack me? If you are going to, then attack me." Kiara urged firmly, sparking Kion's attention even more as he tilted his head slightly. "But you are my little brother and I want to keep you safe, you can strike me down but you would have to hold the burden, Kion. Are you exactly like Mheetu who would strike down anybody in his path? Do you not truly cared? Have you ever cared? Have you been lying to me all this time? It is possible, after all you were raised by the son of a murderer who has taken his mantle and continues to kill for him. Scar did have a tendency to lie and betrayed his own brother at the end, so did Mheetu with his own sister. So are like either of them? Do you call for my death?"
He remembered Mheetu calling him an Outlander or Scar's heir. Krayt frowned at the thought of killing his sister and replied simply yet grimly, "No." He slowly reverted his attention back to the hyena, yet remain firm towards Kiara.
"I am not a fully Pride Lander. Yet despite of what you might think, I am not fully Outlander either. I am both yet I am not neither. Remember these words today Kiara. Outlander and Pride Landers are just titles and symbolism. Both follow different paths, but from my guess both consists of animals who can easily be one but choose not to be. Lions and hyenas can come together, as can other animals, but with their beliefs and the ways they were taught, they were unable to fully understand each other. Mheetu is a prime example."
"Then why don't you let Janja go?" Kiara urged as the claws of her little brother still rested near the young hyena's neck dangerously.
Krayt remain silent. He slowly turns his head towards Tiifu and Zuri, who looked between the two siblings watching as this played out. Slowly, Kion returned his gaze back to the princess and stared at her expression. Kiara was stern, unflinching and determined to have her way - her eyes screamed that fact. It was an admirable quality - one that Kion had come to respect to how Mheetu's army would speak to the brown-coated lion and him noticing it after his "turn" from Pride Lander to Outlander. He'd seen much potential within her, the dedication and confidence, how these two aspects essentially led to action, contradicting her weak wits and her becoming much more stronger. In his imagination, he can see her standing over a bunch of her rivals and enemies and casting them down to her claws where she would either show mercy or kill if she had to.
As Krayt stared into her piercing eyes, pondering the decision he was going to make while also time keeping an eye on Janja who seems to be brought back up by his little willpower - especially he don't be caught by surprised and send back, where Janja can take advantage and possibly end his life. Yet, what Krayt had realized is her expression did not changed - if anything, her eyes were narrowed, stern and pressing the lion cub with a determined stare. It was admirable that Krayt had nearly draw off more lighter emotions and different then darker wits. Foolish and stupid, but admirable. Krayt couldn't denied her - she may yet learn in time. For now he will allow her to get her way, yet even if his words can't sway her opinion, sooner or later, she will truly learn about power and strength in one big hole. He is trying to become like her, but it was difficult to one who fallen so far like him.
"Very well," Krayt said, sheathing his claws with a sharp hiss. Zuri and Tiifu seem to let out sighs of relief, which secretly caused Krayt to cast the edge of his right eyes towards them. They will too learn in time. The hyena leader lying beneath Krayt stared at the distinguished peace in the lion cub's eyes. Slowly, Krayt looked down towards the hyena and returned the hyena's gaze. The pace rise and fall out of the young hyena's chest, showing that he was scared. Slowly, Krayt leaned down towards the hyena where he had noticed a find good work of his handiwork which brought Krayt's some amusement, despite not enjoying the fact that letting this hyena to live. Krayt locked eyes with the hyena - to the point where the hyena could see the fully self rage and his own black eyes in the lion's dark orange-brown eyes.
"Run, come back and you may not survive next time." Krayt commanded briefly. It was a simple order, yet it held some darkness and authority to it. It was an order a few was glad to tell the tale to live by someone such as this lion in front of him, as the hyena leader quickly climbed up and ran - along with his wounded hyenas who ran back to the Outlands. "Now, are you satisfied, sister?" Krayt asked mockingly, turning towards Kiara.
Kiara didn't look too sure. She refrained from replying for several seconds, her eyes watching as the hyenas ran back to their respected home in the Outlands. At least they would stay away for a while.
"Unsure of the decision you just made?" Krayt asked in a seemingly sarcastic manner as he turned where he saw the lionesses bringing their dead prey back to Pride Rock.
Kiara followed his gaze, and thought about how her mother could have been caught by surprised if the hyenas proceeded with their attack. This brought more confusion and uncertainty to the lioness cub. Her father always say: "Animals are important to the Circle Of Life" but was letting Janja go was a mercy? Was Kion, or Krayt... or whoever he wanted to call himself right? Although she was still uncertain, Kiara had to back her reasoned or Krayt would have won whatsoever, and she wanted to convince him what the decision he have just made is right.
"I made the right decision, Kion... you made the right decision." Kiara replied in a hush voice. "Letting him live was right. He was defenseless and defeated, he didn't had to die. Now you are walking down a different path from Mheetu."
Krayt shakes his head, the lion cub didn't even wanted to escalate matter further - not when they had to get back by now for lunch. Yet Krayt noticed the determined steely glare of the princess deteriorate into uncertainty. In Krayt's mind, he knew what she was thinking, she was referring to what he mentioned earlier - what if the hyena merged with more clans and continues to attack the Pride Lands for the selfishness matter of it? What's stopping him from gathering a much stronger clan that Krayt won't be able to stop and raging war against not only these lands but other lands as well? Or continues to kill many innocent animals?
Krayt scoffed and rolled his eyes. He wasn't sure if it was to extend of their sibling bond that allows him to read her features so clearly, yet at the same time Krayt pondered if Kiara can do the same vise-versa, reading his features and emotions. It would be unlikely, as Krayt had spent months conditioning his mind and never truly opening himself out to others. Whenever those lions would ambushed Mheetu, Krayt would have to devote himself of all emotions and have to hold back from his desires and feelings to strike him down. He had suppose he had Mheetu to thank him for that. He won't ever forgive nor forget him, and he certainly will not allow Kiara to be this weak lioness forever so she can rule as a strong queen.
Krayt still wasn't impressed with her. With her showing this much mercy, it can lead towards her destruction. Although he wasn't happy with her showing this mercy, Kion still loved her and would not allowed her to continue down this weak and foolish path. She is too foolish for her own good and someone may preyed upon that one day. He doesn't want her to be used and hurt at the end of the day.
"Well, guys... if we're done here. I guess we can go back to Pride Rock to get our lunch. I mean, I'm kind of getting hungry - especially with not eating breakfast since this time season have came around." Zuri suggested with an exhausted look across her face. Kiara blinked twice and put aside her discerning thoughts. She turns towards her best friend and nodded.
"Yes. Yes, I am hungry. Would you not agree Kion?" Kiara asked, turning to face her brother, completely ignorant about calling him Krayt since nobody is around.
By the look on his face, it was clear he still was not happy with her, but Kiara knew he would get over it later and that he is just worried about her. "Very well," he said through clenched teeth, "let's get back to Pride Rock."
Krayt followed the three towards Pride Rock from behind. He secretly hated how Simba trained her to be such a weakling. This is not how Pride Landers should acted whenever they have their opponents down and not finished them off. He knew she was still unsure of her decision, but Kion really wished he had finished that hyena off. He may be somewhere now, scheming and plotting for some more of his plans.