Chapter 53

As Ari and Kiara continued to walk, they caught whiffs of different scents; antelope, zebra, tigers, and other various animals. It seemed to be a long trip for them but overall, it was worth the journey. Before long, they stumbled across a wicked scenery; dead grass, burnt trees, and an overwhelming stench of bad odor.

"This must be it." Said Kiara in a whisper.

"Sure does seem like it." Said Ari.

Kiara nodded her head in agreement.

"What do we do?" asked Ari.

"First, we have to find out how many lions are in this pride. Second, find my daughter." Said Kiara.

"But, what's going to happen if we get caught? We can't fight that whole pride." Said Ari.

"We will if we have to. Look, Ari, here's a secret. When your mother fights, she completely blacks out. So she doesn't know what's happening." Said Kiara.

"Is that why she wins every battle?" Asked Ari.

"Yup. And you and Shanni have that in you. You just have to use it." Said Kiara.

"How?" asked Ari.

"You will know when you feel it." Said Kiara with a smile.

After their talk, Kiara and Ari walked around the perimeter of the area where the evil pride resides. It took about ten minutes to find each other but the two soon met up again.

"Ok, I saw three lions. One male and two females. None of them looked familiar to me." Said Kiara.

"Yea I saw the same thing. Except two faces looked familiar to me." Said Ari.

"Who?" asked Kiara.

"Mason." Replied Ari.

A low growl escaped Kiara's throat.

"No, it's good." Said Ari.

"How is that good?" asked Kiara.

"He's hurt." Said Ari with a smile.

"How bad?" asked Kiara.

"To me, it seems like he could barely move." Said Ari.

"Let's hope that's enough to keep him down and out of a fight." Said Kiara.

"Yea. What about the male you saw? How big is he?" Ari asked.

"Umm.. Around the size of my dad. Why?" asked Kiara.

"I can take him if needed." Said Ari.

"Ar, are you sure?" asked Kiara.

"Yea. I'm bigger than your dad remember?" asked Ari.

"That's right. You are." Said Kiara.

"Well, let's go find Faith." Said Ari.

The Queen and her nephew walked to a part of the lands with no lion or lioness in sight. Then they saw her. Little princess Faith scared and bruised.

"My beautiful little girl. She's hurt." Gasped Kiara.

Little Faith had a terrible scare down the side of her back. It wasn't bleeding but it seemed painful by the way she flinched when she walked. Kiara growled and was about to walk towards her daughter but Ari held her back.

"Kiara stop. Someone is coming." He said.

Ari and Kiara crouched low trying to stay out of sight.

"Here you brat. Eat. We need you good and healthy when we kill you." Said a dark voice.

"Please." Cried Faith. "I just want to go home." She said with tears falling from her face.

The adult lioness looked at the cub and smirked.

"Oh please. You're going to go home. We are just going to use you for a while. Your brother was too smart, too big to use. You're defenseless and useless."

Suddenly the adult female smack Faith to ground hard. And in a flash, Kiara jumped out of the bush she was hiding in and attacked the adult female in an instant.

"You dare touch my daughter!" she snapped.

The other female was shocked and didn't know what to do. Then another lioness came out of nowhere and knocked Kiara off of the other.

"Well if it isn't little Kiara. Come to join your daughter?" asked the new lioness.

"You keep your dirty paws off of her!" said Kiara with a loud voice.

"Fine. We'll just put our dirty paws on you!" shouted the lioness as she jumped for Kiara.

The two tossed and turned with extended claws. Blood stained the ground as they fought. Then Kiara shouted, "Run Faith, Run!"

Faith could barely run but used all her might to get away. As she got closer, Ari grabbed her.

"Ari!" she shouted.

"SHH! Faith I need you to stay here while I help your mother. Ok?" asked Ari.

"Ok, but Ari, I'm scared." Said Faith.

"I know. Just stay hidden."

Then Ari jumped out of the bush and knocked the standing lioness off her feet. Kiara threw the one on her against the ground.

"Tamia are you ok?" asked the lioness that smacked Faith.

"I'm fine. Tae you have to be careful. That big one has strength." Said the lioness named Tamia.

"Ok." Said Tae.

Then, emerging from the bushes, far from where Faith was hidden, walked out Mason and two other lionesses. Mason limped but somehow managed to keep his balance.

"He's not that strong." Said Mason.

"Stronger then you." Retorted Ari.

"Watch it little one." Said Mason.

"Who's little? You or me? Oh that's right, you." Said Ari.

And with a growl, Mason leaped into the air. Not even trying, Ari smacked the evil male down to the ground.

"Next time, make sure you're an actual challenge for me." Said Ari as he walked away.

Mason laid there on the ground. Dying.

"Kiara, how will I blank out?" asked Ari.

"Feel it." Said Kiara.

Soon, Kiara and Ari were surrounded.

"Well? Are you two going to fight or not?" asked Tae.

"I need you to keep your paws off my daughter." Said Kiara ready to fight.

"Why? It's fun torturing that brat of yours." Replied Tae.

"Careful, Tae. You wouldn't want to get hurt." Said another voice from behind.

Every lioness turned their heads and saw a small pride with Kira and Laila at the lead.

"Kira." Said Tae.

"Back away from my friends." Said Kira.

"Over my dead body." Said Tae.

"That can be arranged." Said Kira.

Without hesitation, a fight began.

Anyone still reading?! Hope so... I am SO SORRY I haven't updated in a while. School got to me. but i hope you enjoy this story. Thank you for all the reviews. keep Reading please. -Shanni81