Chapter 4: Drex's story
Drex smiled softly and began his story "I didn't know my mother for long either, but I missed her for a long time." Drex spoke softly his face grim. "I never lived in a pride, it was just my mother and father, Ag, Tig and me. We were caught and taken by humans to their home, they didn't want my father, he was too big, too wild to be taken alive. They killed him when he was trying to protect us, my mother tried to protect us but they tied her feet and pinned her to the ground, my brother and sister tried to help her but the humans caught them in a net. I didn't know what to do so I went to my father but he was already dead, the humans took his fur, bones and teeth. My mother called me over to her and told me not to run, that if I did the humans would kill me too." Drex's eyes showed the horror, Nia moved closer pushing her body against his.
"I stayed with my sister trying to comfort her, Ag was trying to get out from under the net. There were seven humans, three of them picked up me, Ag and Tig, the rest struggled to tie my mother's mouth, one got bitten, his blood went everywhere. When they finally got my mother tied up they picked her up, they took us all to their camp. They put us all into a cage made from wood, threw some meat in and left us there for a week. When they came back they gave us more meat and watched us when they saw all of eating it they seem to get really excited. A few days after they killed my mum, same way they killed my father, they took her teeth, bones and fur. We were kept in the cage for another week, they gave us meat every day and didn't harm us, so we got used to them until one day when they came into the cage, Tig was more cautious them Ag and I. She stayed in the corner, but she was beautiful and they wanted to tame her first, she was gold like us but much brighter, by then we were a year old. They eventually caught her and took her out of the cage, they chained her outside giving her room to walk around, she was fine as long as they didn't come too close. Almost a month after we had been caught a human cub tried to pat her and she attack him…A few hours later she was taken, we didn't see her again." Drex shuddered. "They kept my brother and I for another year, after the first year we were let out of the cage and chained like my sister had been. The adults didn't bother us at all, but their cubs would play with our tails and wrestle with us. There were a few we grew quite found of, then there was a few that we couldn't stand to be near." Drex growled softly.
Nia leaned her cheek on his and nuzzled him, Drex smiled and nudged her back.
"One of them, the biggest cub bothered us when ever he could. He must have been the prince of the pride because all the other cubs did what they were told. They were scared of him. He teased us with meat and threw things at us, we were still chained and couldn't stop him…until one day he came too close to Ag." Drex closed his eyes "I can remember everything like it was happening in slow motion, the man-cub had a club and he struck Ag across the face. Ag grabbed the club in his mouth and tossed it aside, and another cub tried to get it so I pushed it behind me and just growled it seemed enough because the other cubs ran away. Ag was trying to reach the man-cub, he pulled the chain so hard that it snapped at first he didn't notice but the man-cub did and he ran Ag chased him and caught his legs with his paw leaving deep cuts. When he came back he had his father and the other adult males with him, they didn't come to close, we were so hungry but they hadn't feed us for a week. They big man-cubs father came close and laid down some meat, he didn't leave though he sat down in front of it. He was so calm, he just spoke to us quietly and gently, eventually Ag and I gave in to hunger and began to eat. The man didn't move just watched Ag, the man-cub had hit him on the face hard enough to leave a gash above his left eye, it was bleeding down his face. The man waited until we were finished before he came closer, Ag started to growl so the man stopped. He spoke to the other men and they left, when Ag stopped growling he moved closer. He stopped and waited every time Ag growled at him, waiting for him to stop then he moved closer eventually he was sitting next to me, he patted me gently still talking calmly. Ag gave up growling by then and just went to sleep, the man waited a while before reaching over and softly moved Ag's mane away from the cut. Ag woke up and growled but he didn't move, the man cleaned the cut with cloth and water he had brought with him, he spent the night with us curled up between us. His name was Uha, his son was Erfa." Drex smiled "Uha was kind to us, he feed us and wouldn't allow anyone else near, Erfa was punished he had to clean our water trough everyday. He probably still carries the scar on his leg, he was terrified of us, but because his father was kind we left him alone…mostly"
Nia laughed "What did u do?"
Drex smirked "We never hurt him only growled or roared every so often to keep him on his toes. But after a month, Uha took us out walking, as he often did, but that day was different. We could both feel it, when we got to the river he tried to break the cuff from our feet, but he was an old male and couldn't, he gave up and pried one of the links apart." Drex kicked his leg a few times, the chain rattled. "And we couldn't get it off, so we still have them. After the attack Ag didn't really learn to trust again, and he pushes other people into doing what he wants. He's not bad, he's just not trusting." Drex shook his head.
"Um…and a little aggressive" Nia licked Drex's shoulder.
Drex smiled. "Well you are worth fighting for" He laughed and sprung up "Come and walk with me, I'll give you the grand tour"
Nia laughed and leapt to her feet "Lead the way"
Three weeks went by before Nia decided she had to go back, she didn't want to leave Drex for even a day. She knew she loved him, and he loved her, she was pregnant with his cub, but she knew she had been gone without word for to long so they started the journey back. The four days walk seemed endless, but with every step Nia knew she was doing the right thing, she had to say goodbye.