OK, so here's chapter 2. Still on the build up. It's not as long as the last one but I hope you enjoy.
Chapter 2
What seemed like a long time had suddenly melted away into a period that felt mere minutes long, when the gang reached a place no more than a hundred metres from the edge of the gorge. Kion decided they could all do with a quick rest before they went any further, and that's just what they did. Beshte and Bunga sat together on the ground near some triangular pointed rocks while Ono perched up on a low down tree branch. Kion and Fuli parked themselves atop a smooth topped rock overlooking the valley around them. Despite the blistering sun shining down on them, it was surprisingly cool today, probably due to the light breeze blowing.
"Can you see anything Ono?" Kion asked.
Ono took a look at the gorge in the distance, his advanced eyesight giving him a crystal clear image of it. But there was nothing there. Only the gorge, grass and the sky with the occasional animal strolling past.
"Nothing. Nothing that shouldn't be there that is." The egret replied.
"So either this guy has moved on..." Kion started.
"Or he's very good at hiding." Beshte finished.
Kion sniffed the air as he tried to catch a scent of any unfamiliar lion. But try as he might there was nothing he could pick up.
"I can't smell anything. Although that might be because we're far away still."
"I could go and take a look if you wanted. It'll only take me a minute." Offered Fuli.
Kion smiled. "Thanks, Fuli. But I would rather we all go in as a team than just the one of us. It's safer that way."
"OK. I won't argue with you there."
"Pfft. What's wrong with dangerous?" Of course that came from Bunga. The one that thought danger was in the same category as an early morning stroll. "I'll gladly take on this guy. Single handedly if need be."
"I don't think that would be a good idea, Bunga." Said Beshte.
"Ha. You say that now but when you're watching me beat the guy to the ground with my eyes closed, you'll be thankful that I did it."
Kion joined in and got the honey badger's attention.
"Beshte's right, Bunga. We have no idea what this guy's like. He could kill us all in a matter of minutes if we're not careful."
That was enough to keep Bunga quiet while he thought about it. It was all very well and good him acting brave all the time, but sometimes (well quite often actually) he had to be reminded of his own mortality. And this time around, he chose to listen to the rest of the team and go along with their ideas.
A few minutes later and the guard was getting ready to finished the last leg of their journey. If they spent any more time resting then they'd lose all hope of even getting close to catching the one who'd broken multiple laws of the Pridelands. As they were getting up and moving off the rocks they'd adopted as temporary seats, a strange and unfamiliar shape caught Fuli's eye, just for second or less. It moved through some bushes to their left. She turned her head to have the whole scene in view but by that time it was too late. Whatever had been there just now had moved on nearly completely unnoticed.
It wasn't until Fuli heard Kion call to her from a distance that she realized she'd been left behind.
"Fuli! Come on!"
"Huh?" Fuli impulsively murmured as she turned to see the rest of the guard at least fifty feet away by now.
She took one last glance at the row of bushes, sort of expecting to see something, but to no avail. She then quickly went and caught up with Kion and co.
"What were you doing?" The young lion asked.
"I thought I saw something. In the bushes. It was like..." Fuli thought for a moment. Had she seen something, or was it just a trick of the imagination? She decided on the latter. "Never mind. I'm just imagining things."
"Well... OK. Then if you're alright we'll get moving. We can't afford to waste any more time. Come on Lion Guard." Kion ordered.
The formation of five resumed their previous squad. None of them were yet sure as to what they would do should they come across the perpetrator. Restrain him perhaps? But what if he was too big and strong for them? What if he was hostile on sight?
Well that was just one of the many daily thoughts that each member had to deal with. They'd gotten used to it. For them this was just another day, another walk in the savannah. And that meant that the day should go smoothly, ending with them back at Pride rock in the evening and getting to sleep, ready to do the same thing over again the next day.
It seemed like nothing could break that cycle.
Or could it?
Oh how I love being ominous. Anyway, the next chapter is where the BIG THING OF DOOM happens! See, now you're interested.
Chapter 3 will be posted in a few days like the previous one was. Please leave a review, guest or signed in works fine, and tell me what you thought. I'll see ya in the next one.