When i first wrote this it was a homework assignment for Mythology. I kept going and going....and going as we all do. and I couldn't stop. so I thoguht you'd all like to read this. The first chapter is where our hero has to get ready to go on a quest, hence, "The great quest". She is no going to meet her escort. and future...well u get the picture. again i must remind my readers of previous stories that this is entirely seperate version where some of the characters are the same. Different name, defiantly different story but some how same bad guy but different name. (did anyone follow that cause I just lost myself)

Chapter 7

Kiji still refused to tell her capture her name. He didn't deserve it. Nuku was one of her only friends. Nuru would have liked him. She felt sick and horrible. Like she had failed her mission. Did Mathee know that this was going to happen? Had she sent her to earn his friendship just to loose him? She felt like she was loosing Nyota all over again. Still tied to the chair she couldn't leave the stuffy muggy tent.

Hunter wanted to punish the girl for seeing their camp and use her as an example of what happens to those who resist him. He had the girl moved to a more permanent structure. The wooden shack had mettle shackles chained to the wall with a lock on the door. She was so close to screaming in that equally miserable hut. Hope seemed to be sucked right out of her. For all she knew, everyone she cared for and loved were dead.

Kiji hung her head and waited for her untimely death. It seemed there was nothing she could do to avoid it. It was in this foul state of mind and body that Sumi found in her. The monkey had squeezed in between a broken plank in the wall and chirped with delight. The sound made Kiji jump and when she looked up her heart leaped. "Sumi!" she whispered her mouth stale and dry, "What are you doing here? They'll catch you!"

"The pack is going for help," Sumi explained looking for something to pick the lock on the shackles.

"The pack?" she repeated confusedly. Then it clicked, "Kijebwa's pack?"

Sumi nodded and ran back to her, "I can't find anything to brake these." she said shaking the chains.

"Hunter probably has the keys," Kiji growled.

"Hunter did this to you?" she looked horrified, "I'll bite off his stubby little fingers!" she screeched.

"Careful they might hear you," Kiji warned. Something else came to her mind, "Sumi, have you seen Nuku?" she asked.

"The last time I saw him, he was on the ground with an arrow in his side and his leg was broken." she said then adding, "But he was breathing. I'm positive he was breathing."

"I'll never forgive myself if he's gone," Kiji whimpered.

"You've got to have hope," the monkey encouraged on the way to the hole, "I'll go find the keys. Sit tight, I'll be right back."

Sumi snuck away and disappeared from sight. Kiji sighed to keep herself from crying. She had to be strong for her friends. They were counting on her. She really hoped that Nuku was alive. She wouldn't ever be happy if he was gone. It was hard to be positive when the world was falling all around you. Nothing prepared her however for the task she had come her to fulfill.

* * *

Nuku, I gotta find you, Sumi thought as she slicked around the small camp. There's got to be a bigger place for them to hide him. And really, how many places could they hide a lion?

Capuchin's didn't have the best of noses but she should be able to find him. Against her better thinking she thought, I could always follow the smell of blood. She mentally slapped herself for such a rude thought. The scent was strong and pretty soon it brought her to a large tent. She peeked inside and saw the simba lying down in a cage. His leg had branches stuck to it with a strip of white cloth holding it in place. Another strip of cloth had been wrapped around his chest. She listened carefully for him to breathe; waiting anxiously for something. She almost squeaked with delight when she saw his chest rise and fall. Scrambling to the tent back door flap she climbed into a nearby tree. Here she waited for half an hour before Hunter came into view. She followed him to his tent and slipped inside when he left. Rummaging through everything as cleanly as she could, she still couldn't fine that blasted key. She would have to grab it off of him. She felt like she had to do anything to save her friends, even if it meant taking a risk. Staying in the tent for another hour she waited, To her horror when he returned he wasn't alone. Hunter had taken Kiji to his tent.

Shoving the girl to the ground he sat and bed and watched her struggle to get up. He put a foot on her stomach pinning her to the ground. "How did you know we were here?" he asked almost too casually.

Kiji refused to speak earning her a swift kick to the gut. She curled into a ball and gasped for breath. "I'll only ask once," he growled, "It would be in your best interest to answer."

"I was told to stop you," she said after catching up to her breath, "You're messing with the wrong people."

"Is that so?" he asked pressing his foot harder on her stomach, "What people might that be?"

"Your people!" she shouted, "How could you send your people into bondage after our ancestors fought so diligently to fight for it?!"

He ignored her outburst and asked, "How did you get through the jungle?"

"Luck," she chuckled weakly.

"Don't give me that!" he barked, "Who led you through?"

"You wouldn't believe me,"she said, "Not that you deserve it anyway." she growled back.

' "Who told you?!!" he yelled slamming is fist on the table. Again Kiji said nothing.

"I will brake you and have no regrets if you stay silent." he warned his teeth clenched, "I'll only ask once more. Who led you through?"

Kiji was shaking angrily, "It doesn't matter!" she shouted pushing his foot off of her and scooting away, "You killed him!!"

"What?" he asked utterly confused.

"The lion!! He led me through and you killed him!!" she cried.

Hunter was silent, his face almost disgusted but definitely confused. He then smiled wickedly, "You may be of use to me." he muttered. Taking her by the arm he dragged her back to the shack. Shoot, Sumi thought, I hope the pack will have more success than me. She had to find Kiji and tell her Nuku was alive. She deserved that much. Come to think of it, she needed so much more.

please review I got an A for this paper so I think I deserve at least four reviews.