Chapter 8

Misunderstandings

Nzuri hadn't been talking to him lately and Anaruka was avoiding him. Karibu was starting to get worried. Did I do something wrong? he thought nervously as he paced and swung his dark brown tufted tail back and forth behind him. Then he stopped and looked at his cream-colored paws. Is she cheating on me? To Karibu this was the worst thing that could happen. That betrayal and untruthfulness was too much for him to bear. Nzuri would tell Anaruka to stay away from him, because she could never in a million years keep a secret. But I'm the hottest lion in this pride, he thought, picturing himself posing for all the lionesses. Besides, he went on, Nzuri loves me. ...Right? He went over to the watering hole a few strides away and admired himself in the water.

He was all light brown with yellow-green eyes that shone with a glint of awesome. His paws seemed as if they dipped them in creamy milk at birth. His dark brown mane was spiked in different places, and it continued under his belly. Yeah, he was definitely the hottest lion. But then why would Nzuri avoid him, especially during her heat? Normally she would be practically begging him. Unless there was another lion of Nzuri's liking that he hadn't noticed before...

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(Upendo's POV)

"Upendo!" a voice roared, and Upendo felt the familiar sting of that kind of call. Someone was angry, but it wasn't Maisha this time. As both his and Nzuri's heads turned, he could tell that they were both surprised to see Karibu calling after them.

"Oh no," was all Nzuri whispered before shrinking back behind him. Upendo was thoroughly confused at this action and moved to face Karibu, who had reached them and was now breathing hard from the effort of running such a long way. Upendo just waited next to him until he got his breath and Karibu started to speak.

"Either you are a pretty arrogant bastard or a really stupid one," Karibu said. Now Upendo wasn't just confused, he was angry.

"Excuse me?" he asked. "I think you have the wrong guy because I know what I've done, and I also know that I didn't do whatever made-up thing you think I did."

"Oh, don't be pathetic! You know you're guilty so at least be a *lion and admit it!" Karibu snarled.

*"lion" meaning "man" if they were humans

"Me pathetic? You're the pathetic one, Karibu! You just come charging over here, accuse me of something, which, by the way, I have no idea of what it is, and then call me pathetic?" Upendo retorted. Karibu lowered his head and his eyes blazed. He showed his sharp teeth and growled low.

"Nzuri cheated on me with you," he rumbled. Nzuri protested.

"We didn't do anything! We-"

"Shut up, Nzuri!" Then he looked behind Upendo, just like Maisha had done, at Nzuri. Yet again, he had to save a lioness. "Now, step aside. I want to speak with Nzuri," he said, and it sounded like he wasn't angry at all, if you could only hear him but not see him.

Nzuri squeaked in fright as she felt Karibu's cream paw grab her grey shoulder and started pulling.

"Help me, Upendo!" she shrieked. He moved to the side to let Karibu take her away. "Upendo, you bastard! How could you leave me like this?! Help me! Upendo hung his head. He smiled inwardly. His plan was working. Soon Karibu had Nzuri right next to him.

"Ha! Look at you! Look at what kind of-" Karibu was cut short as Upendo tackled him and they engaged in a battle. They rolled and pounced, bit and scratched, roaring the whole time, not exactly saying anything.

Then they had ended up in a battle stance facing each other, only a few meters separating them. Upendo took the risk and quickly turned his head to shout at Nzuri.

"Run!" Upendo was hit with the full force of Karibu as he took the opportunity of Upendo's distraction. But this time, instead of tumbling and tackling like before, he used Upendo as a ledge to jump towards Nzuri, who had only started running a bit ago, being too stunned to start right away.

Karibu was gaining on her, fast.

"Karibu! Get away from Nzuri!" Upendo said as he started to run after the both of them as fast as he could. Just as Karibu almost had Nzuri in his grasp, Upendo leaped with all his might to dig his claws into Karibu's light brown flank. Karibu growled and slowed when he turned his head, just what Upendo was waiting for. With this opportunity, he dug in his claws even deeper and pulled himself on top of Karibu's back, drawing crimson blood that beaded at the ends of his paws. Karibu cried out in pain and twisted to try and bat Upendo off his back. Instead of helping him though, it just got him pinned beneath Upendo.

Then Upendo surprised himself with the words that came out of his mouth.

"Leave her alone or I will kill you, right here, right now."

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Just wanted to let you guys know that in a little while(say, a week or so) I will be posting pictures of all the characters in some of the chapters.(If my computer lets me)

So, yeah, hope you're looking forward to that. Oh, they're all going to be drawn by me, and they don't look like The Lion King lions at all so don't get all huffy about it if you don't like them. ;)