Ch 2: Pridelands
It seemed like hours since Midnight had left, and her pace was grueling. Her paws pounded relentlessly on the dry desert-like ground, and kicked clouds of dust into the air with every step. She kept thinking about how lucky she was to not have been spotted by a hyena yet; she must have traveled half the Outlands and seen neither hide nor hair of the foul beasts. She was thankful for this, since she didn't think she would make it out alive if a group of hyenas mobbed her. She was just getting too tired. Midnight stumbled slightly, but managed to keep herself up. She had to keep going, but her night vision was blurred. She shook her head, wondering why, and was surprised to find that tears spattered onto the ground. Midnight was crying. She stumbled for another moment and tried to stem the flow of tears.
I have to keep going. I can't just turn back now. That would mean disowning my pride, disowning Khaz and Shade, she thought stubbornly. Midnight took a deep breath and started off again slowly, placing one paw in front of the other with only one thought in her head: every step she took was getting her closer to the Pridelands. Closer to help for Khaz, Shade, and even Snake-tongue Talla.
Even though her pace had slowed since she started on her journey, Midnight was panting hard. She cast around for a stream or a puddle; anything that she could drink from. The black lioness found relief in a small oasis. She dove for it, landing with a splash in the icy water. She immediately froze, hoping there weren't any hyenas in the vicinity that could have heard her. After a few moments, Midnight relaxed and took a long drink from the water, sticking her entire muzzle into the oasis so she could get larger gulps of the replenishing liquid. When she was done, she raised her head and looked around warily. There were no hyenas anywhere in sight. Midnight sighed gratefully and padded deeper into the water, submerging herself up to her neck in icy water. She could just imagine steam rising off of her overheated body.
Midnight climbed slowly and reluctantly out of the oasis, dripping wet. Her black fur clung to her lanky frame, but it showed the small but strong muscles underneath.
Now to find shelter for the day. I know Khaz said not to stop for anything, but I can't just continue to travel in broad daylight. The hyenas might see me… she thought, looking around for anything that might make due for a temporary den. Just as the sun was peeking over the horizon like a bloody red disk, luck seemed to give a second glance at Midnight. She spotted a cave not to far away, covered by dead grasses and thorny bushes. It would be a tough squeeze to get in, but at least the hyenas would think twice before trying to follow her in. Midnight clawed a small hole in the prickly covering and dragged herself into the den, emerging into the cave with only a few tufts of fur missing. She circled the den, trying to gauge how large the inside was. The black lioness eventually flopped down on her side, satisfied that she had found a suitable temporary shelter.
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Midnight lashed out with her paw in her sleep, striking the side of the stone den with a pained growl. She opened her eyes slowly, moving her gaze over to t h e small tunnel she had made the night before. Stars shone clearly through the opening. Midnight stood and stretched, then squeezed herself out into the open desert.
Midnight scented the night air, tilting her ears forward so she could listen for any signs of life. There wasn't a single thing around her, except for the scuttling of a mouse nearby. She thought vaguely of hunting, but dismissed the idea. Khaz had told her to stop for nothing, and she would have a better chance hunting when she got to the Pridelands.
Midnight picked up her pace to a swift trot, wincing slightly as her sore muscles screamed in protest. She pushed the pain out of her mind and continued to make her way towards the Pridelands, ears pinned back and body low to the ground.
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Midnight lifted her head expectantly. She could see a vast expanse of dull savanna grass up ahead, and that meant one thing: the Pridelands. With a growl of excitement and happiness, Midnight bounded forward. Her claws outstretched and tail held high, Midnight's powerful legs seemed to eat up land as she slowed her pace to a quick trot.
Midnight gazed around her in wonder. Never, even when she was a cub, had she seen land like this. The moonlight illuminated every rock and blade of grass so they were surrounded by hazy silver light. Midnight stepped forward, her head moving left and right in a vain attempt to take in her surroundings. While she wasn't paying attention, Midnights paw sunk heavily into a large paw print. A lion paw print, and by the looks of it, a very large lion created the print. Midnight peered closer at the ground and noticed two sets of paw prints, only one was set deeper into the ground than the other. By the measure of the distance between each print, Midnight could guess that the two Pridelanders were taking a leisurely nighttime stroll.
With a satisfied smile, Midnight began to make her way slowly towards the dark silhouette of a towering rock in the distance. A twig snapped under her paw and she froze, the fur on her back standing up. She relaxed after a moment, remembering that she was in the Pridelands now and she didn't have to worry about the hyenas. She began to pad forward once more, when the wind changed. She barred her teeth as the strong scent of lion blew towards her. She was blown flat as a large muscular male tackled her. They tumbled to the ground, their paws swatting each other hard, Midnight trying to pry the male off her and the Pridelander trying to keep himself in the dominant position. Midnight finally gave up and looked at the male clearly. His was a light creamy beige color, and his stomach and muzzle were a lighter cream color. He had a fleck of white on his forehead in the shape of a star, and his eyes were a stubborn amber brown. His mane looked a lot like his late ancestor Simba's, the part separating the long dusky beige fur on both sides of his face. Midnight immediately stopped barring her teeth; she could feel a powerful wave of importance radiating off of his very presence.
"It's just a weakling Outlander, Saigon. Leave her. She'll find her way home by herself," an unseen voice called from the grasses to Midnight's side. She craned her head painfully to the side a saw a dark brown male, smaller than Saigon but still muscular, emerge from the fronds. He looked at Midnight, and then motioned for Saigon to get up off her.
"Yes, Cane," Saigon said almost reluctantly. He lifted his paws off of Midnight's ribcage and stood to the side as the black lioness stood shakily on her feet.
"I'm not weak!" she growled, insulted by the male's rude words. He shot her a glance, but seemed to move her to the side.
"We should get back to Pride Rock, Saigon. Dad'll get really angry if we're out for much longer," Cane said. He flicked his tail and disappeared into the grasses, his dark brown fur blending in with his surroundings. Saigon looked back at Midnight, then seemed to shrug her off like his brother and padded after him.
Midnight growled and bounded after the two males, her eyes cold. "I'm coming with you," she said stonily. Regardless that you're just about as rude as a mangy hyena, she added to herself, glaring at Cane. Saigon sputtered slightly and looked at her.
"Coming with us to the Pridelands? To Pride Rock?" Saigon said disbelievingly. "I just tackled you to the ground! You can't up and come home with my brother and me, the two princes of the Pridelands? The last time an outlander did something like this, a whole entire war got started!" he finished, starring at Midnight like she had just sprouted feathers.
"Well there will be another war if I don't get help from the Pridelanders! A war with hyenas!" Midnight blurted out, her tail lashing back and forth angrily. Her claws dug into the ground and her gaze flickered from side to side. She saw a flash of recognition in Cane's eyes, and he cut Saigon off before he could speak again.
"Enough, Saigon. She should speak to the King, not the princes," Cane said slowly, as if picking the right words so he upset Midnight more than she already was. The black lioness heaved a grateful sigh and lowered her head, relaxing her claws and sheathing them slowly.
"Thanks," she said sincerely.
"However," Cane continued, "it doesn't mean that you won't be treated like an Outlander."
Midnight pinned her ears back angrily, but what could she expect? It was true that back in reign of Simba and Nala, a single group of Outlanders like her pride had started a war. She should have expected not to be welcomed with open paws. She shot Cane an icy glare, but his simply twitched and he motioned for her to follow. Midnight growled slightly and padded after him, watching him warily. She passed Saigon and the creamy male brought up the rear. Together the brothers watched each other's backs, trying to follow Midnight's every move so she couldn't turn on them. Midnight stalked in between the two, her tail twitching with annoyance. Still she couldn't blame the two. If a random Pridelander had barged in on her home, she probably would've been leery as well.
Midnight gazed up in awe at the towering structure before her. Pride Rock's enormous frame seemed to loom over the whole land, like a watchful eye monitoring the savanna. She suddenly felt so small.
On closer examination, Midnight realized the small details of the huge rock. The very top seemed to touch the clouds, while a pile of boulders made a kind of stairway up to a long slab of rock that hung over vast grassland. She placed one paw on the first 'step' upwards, but Saigon growled and stopped her.
"You'll stay down here for now. At least, until dad decides whether or not to let you stay in the Pridelands," Saigon growled playfully, as if he enjoyed teasing Midnight. The black lioness stepped reluctantly away from the rocks and sat down in the shadows, almost disappearing completely due to her pitch black fur. Cane peered at her and followed his brother as the two began to ascend Pride Rock.
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Midnight waited in agitated silence, uprooting clumps of grass from the ground. A sharp, irritating voice made her whirl around.
"And what, dare I ask, are you doing here, Miss Scrawny-excuse-for-a-lion Outlander?" a small, bright blue feathered bird called, drawing out the word 'Outlander' in an infuriating know it all tone. Midnight bared her teeth angrily and flattened her ears.
"It's none of your business, worm-brain," she growled, digging her claws once more into the ground. With an indignant scowl, the bird puffed up his chest and hopped forward.
"I, ma'am, am the king's majordomo. I recommend you show more respect," he said haughtily, placing his wingtips on his chest and shaking his head angrily. He kept his bright orange beak pointed to the sky in a superior manner; all the more infuriating for Midnight.
"Well, mister majordomo, if you must know, I've come to speak with your king," the black lioness said through clenched teeth. The hornbill seemed to enjoy making her angry, for he continued speaking.
"I think it unworthy to bother the king with your…" the bird scanned Midnight, searching for the right word to say next. "squalid appearance, so I will take the matters into my own wings. Anything you have to say to King Ranre can be said to me."
Midnight stalked forward, pressing her body angry to the ground. "You worm-brained excuse for a bird," she growled angrily to herself. She readied her body to pounce, but froze when she heard the familiar voice of Cane.
"Enough, Outlander. It's low enough to toss insults, but even lower to resort to violence."
Midnight's jaw dropped. Insults? Her words had been anywhere near as insulting as the stupid majordomo's! With a reluctant growl, she picked herself up and turned to Cane, fixing him with an icy glare. He seemed not to notice, because he went on talking.
"The king has decided to listen to what you have to say, but whatever it is, it'll have to wait until morning," Cane growled, as if he didn't quite agree with his father. Midnight's shoulders sagged slightly. Morning? It seemed so far away. Midnight might die from the anxiety of trying to get help for her pride before the hyenas got too powerful. Nevertheless, she was forced to nod her head. Cane smirked and twitched his tail eagerly.
"Until then, you'll be sleeping down here, with all the other lowlier creatures," the dark brown male growled. Midnight pinned her ears back and dug her claws into the ground again. She was getting really tired of the Pridelander's insults.
If everyone here was as rude as the two princes and the stupid majordomo, I'll just leave, Midnight though angrily. The brightly colored hornbill flew low over her head and clipped her lightly with his wing.
"Until morning, ma'am, adieu," he said with a small chuckled, landing on Canes shoulder. The prince growled slightly, as if the bird was pecking at his nerves as well, and began to pad up the steep 'stairs' of Pride Rock.
Midnight reluctantly lay down in the den grasses under Pride rock and folded her paws snugly under her black fur. She closed her amber eyes and took a deep breath, trying to regulate her mood so she was calm again. After a few moments, she resigned to laying her head down on her paws and drifting off into a deep sleep.
Woot! Chapter two is up, and I'm already working on chapter three. don't forget to review, it really helps me!