Tooth fired her last shot at the fleeing hyenas, who scurried off into the jungle. She once again pulled the trigger of the revolver. Only to hear the clicking sound which indicated the chamber was empty. She lowered the gun and opened the chamber. The empty shells of the bullets fell out and landed over the ground before her feet.
Tooth quickly reached down to her pockets. Only to then remember that she had no other bullets. She paused.
"Damn it." She said.
Tooth suddenly heard the lion's roar from off to her right. Though this time, it sounded as though it was some distance off. Perhaps it had fled the resort grounds along with the hyenas. Tooth reached down to er side and grabbed her radio, holding it up to her mouth.
"Does anyone have eyes on the lion?" She asked, curiously.
There was a moment's time before hearing a response from the other staff members.
"No sign of it here anyway."
"Clear on on my end. Think it might have run off."
Tooth breathed a sigh of relief. She then glanced back at the resort at the burning cabin. Luckily no one had booked to stay in that one. But even so, they couldn't risk giving the all clear. Not until they were all sure that then brought up her radio.
"Alight, I want all guests to remain in their cabins until further notice. Abamu, I want you on the radio with the ranger station." Tooth insisted, turning to walked down the path.
"We need the police and fire department down here now."
Tooth suddenly paused as she came around the corner arching path. She then gasped in shock, seeing the body of one of the staff, mauled and mutilated. The bloody paw prints of the lion staining the pavement. Seeming to lead off into the jungle. Which could only mean that the lioness had indeed left the resort. Perhaps it had killed enough for her hunger to be satified.
Tooth held up her radio.
"We're also going to need an ambulance as well." Tooth insisted.
Tooth looked back down of the body of the resort employee. She then noticed that his body didn't appear to be eaten. Aside from the bite marks over his neck and claw marks over his shoulders, he seemed quite untouched. Tooth shook her head, squinting her eyes. It was as if the lioness wasn't hunting because it was hungry. But rather...
It was killing for pleasure.
The seven teens plowed through the jungle foliage. Emerging from the leaves and palms before coming to a stop by a nearby tree. They then paused, catching their breath. Darius leaned over, panting hard. Sammy, Yaz, Brooklynn and Lucky leaned against the nearby trees for support.
"Did... did we lose it?" Ben asked, curiously.
Only to then hear the lioness's roar from afar. The seven teens to gasp, scanning the surrounding foliage. But there was nothing there. Darius shook his head, turning back to them.
"Don't worry, guys. She sounds like she's still far off." Darius insisted to them.
Kenji backed away, nervously.
"Doesn't sound like it." Kenji proclaimed.
"Hey guys... where are we?" Sammy asked, curiously.
The seven then glanced around. Only to find that they were in an unfamiliar part of the jungle. They hadn't ventured outside the resort before. So they were quite unfamiliar with the surrounding layout. Nor were they aware of how far they were from the resort itself. They were so desperate to get away from the Lioness, none of them had kept tabs on where they were headed.
Darius shook his head.
"Don't worry, guys. If we follow the lights and the smoke we should..."
Darius then turned. Only to the paused as he was met with only the emerging darkness of the jungle. No sign of the lights from the resorts lodges. Nor the smoke of the burning cabin. They had to be some distance away from the resort.
"Uh guys, I don't the lights. Or smoke." Ben insisted.
"We must be far away from the resort." Lucky proclaimed.
Darius and the other glanced back at her in awe. Brooklynn then gasped in realization.
"My phone! it still has a picture of the map." Brooklynn insisted to them.
Though upon reaching into her pocket, she found that it was not there. She then paused. Upon feeling the other pockets of her shorts, she found they were all empty as well.
"My phone... it's gone! I must have dropped it at the resort." Brooklynn said.
The seven the heard the lion's roar from off in the distance. This one sounding a lot more louder then before. Which could only mean that the lion was getting closer.
"I think we have bigger problems right now." Kenji insisted.
"What do we do?"
They then heard it again.
"We have to run... now!" Sammy exclaimed.
Zira prowled through the jungle foliage. Following the scent of the man-cubs who had evaded her bad at the village. She paused as she sniffed the nearby foliage. Catching the whiff of the seven teens, leading off into the jungle. Far from the safety of man's territory. Now they were in her element and at her very mercy. Not that she would have any for the small cubs of man.
Zira grinned.
"Poor man-cubs. Running from the safety of your village." She said, grinning.
"Your all mine now."
It was at that moment that Shenzi, Banzai and ed emerged from the foliage behind her.
"Hey, Zira. There you are." Banzai said, catching his breath.
Zira only rolling her eyes at them. Shenzi came up behind her.
"Got to say, that wasn't as easy as you said it was. We barely got a bite to eat." Shenzi said.
"Hush, you'll get your chance soon enough. It would seem several man-cubs have strayed from the rest." Zira insisted to them.
The mention of man-cubs had certainly gotten the attention of the three hyenas. Both Banzai and Ed licked their chops in anticipation.
"Man-cubs, now your talking!" Banzai proclaimed.
Ed laughed aloud as his tongue hung dripping from his jaws.
"So where they run off?" Shenzi asked, curiously.
Zira took another whiff of the man-cubs's scent. It was then she found that the scent was leading off toward the west. In the direction of the pride's territory. Zira lifted her head, gazing ahead in the direction. A grin appearing over her face as an opportunity came to be.
"Well, it would seem they are heading west. Toward the Pride's territory." Zira said.
"Aw man, there's no getting them now." Banzai insisted to them.
"No, this is perfect." Zira proclaimed to them.
The three hyena's squinted her eyes to her.
"Perfect? How is that good for us?" Shenzi asked, curiously.
Zira did not waste any time of answering them and continued pursuing the man-cubs.
Her revenge against the Pride would soon come to be.
Tooth came down the steps of one of the cabins. Having checked up on the guests that were inside. Having taken refuged there during the lion's attack. All but reassuring them that the lion was gone but to remain inside for the time being until the authorities arrived.
It was there she was approached by Abamu and another employee of the resort.
"Miss Anderson." He said.
"Abamu, did you get a hold of the rangers?" she asked, curiously.
"Yes, they are on the way now with the fire department." Abamu insisted to her.
"And the other guests are safely in their cabins.
Tooth smiled.
"Thank you, Abamu. Is the fire still under control?" She asked.
Abuma nodded his head to her.
"For now. It hasn't spread to any of the other cabins." Abamu insisted to them.
"Good, I want all our guest to stay inside until the authorities arrive. Make sure they are someplace safe." Tooth proclaimed to them.
"Yes, Miss Anderson." He said before turning and walking off.
"Tooth!"
Tooth turned and saw Honeymaren and Ryder walking up to her. Despite telling them to stay in the café.
"What are you two doing out here. The resorts under lock down for the time being." Tooth insisted to her.
"Sorry, we'll head back right now." Ryder reassured her.
Placing his over his sister's shoulders, Honeymaren shrugged out of his hold, pushing him back.
"Did Lucky and the other kids make it back to the cabin?" Honeymaren asked, curiously.
Tooth shook her head.
"I don't know. I was just about to check up on them." Tooth insisted to them.
Before she could say anymore, Honeymaren rushed past her as she made her way back to their cabin. Much to the dismay of Tooth and her brother. The two quickly followed after her.
Honeymaren came bursting through the door of the cabin they were staying.
"Lucky?" She asked, curiously.
Though upon entering the cabin, she found that the inside of the cabin was empty. There was no sign of her sister. Nor the other teens. Honeymaren cocked her head, worryingly rushing toward the bathroom.
"Lucky?!" she asked, opening the door.
Only to find that she wasn't there. Much to her worry. She then turned back to the front door, where she saw her brother standing in the doorway.
"Honey, what's wrong?" He asked, curiously.
Honeymaren shook her head.
"Lucky's not here!" she exclaimed.
She then rushed over to him and came out onto the porch.
"Lucky?" She called out to them.
"Lucky?!"
She then turned over at Tooth, who emerged from the the other cabin.
"Tooth, is Lucky over there?" she asked.
Tooth glanced up to them, seemingly appearing as worried as they were.
"No. Darius and the others kids aren't here either! The girl's cabin is empty as well." Tooth insisted to them.
Honeymaren and Ryder glanced to each other in awe. Their sister and the other six teens now missing and with a lion roaming around the area. If Lucky and the others weren't here, where were they?
Bagheera was laying over the branch of his tree near the river. The panther head laid atop his paws. Having retired for the evening as Elsa, Simba and Nala remained on watch for Zira. Though the panther occasionally glanced around at his surroundings. Listening for even the faintest sound of Zira lurking nearby.
But the jungle continued to remain at peace as it had before. Not a sound to be heard. Not a sight to be seen.
The panther uttered a low growl, turning his head to look the other way. When suddenly there was the sound of rustling foliage coming from the other side of the river. Bagheera turned forward glancing to the other side. It was there he noticed movement in the foliage. Looking as through it was moving toward them.
Could it be Zira?
It was then he heard strange voices coming from overhead. The panther leaned up his head as he stared toward the foliage. Before widening his eyes upon seeing who was to emerge from the underbrush.
The seven teen emerged from the jungle foliage. Before coming to a sudden stop upon seeing they were faced with the river that blocked their way. Darius stepped up to the edge, gazing down at the rushing stream. The water being far too deep for them to cross.
"It's too deep! There's no way we can cross!" Darius proclaimed to them.
"Great... That's just great!" Kenji asked, curiously.
"What do we do now?" Yazmina asked, curiously.
Lucky glanced down the river, where she noticed the large log laying over it.
"There! We can cross on that!" She insisted to them.
The teens suddenly heard the lioness's roar from behind. Like before, sounding as if it was closer then before.
Bagheera gazed ahead in the direction of the lion's roar.
Even from afar, Elsa could hear a the faint sound of lion's roar coming from the North. From which she came to stand atop the branch from which she laid. Gripping tightly her spear in her right hand with an unhinged anger. Elsa squinted her eyes in suspision. That Roar. It was one that she heard before. One that she knew all too well.
Simba and Nala both leaned up over the branch, glancing back toward the North. Having heard the lion's roar themselves. And coming from the North no less.
"Did you hear that?" Nala asked, glancing to them.
"It sounded like it was coming from the Northern boarder. But the pride should be back at the den." Simba proclaimed.
Elsa stepped forward as Simba and Nala glanced up to her, curiously.
"Zira!" Elsa proclaimed.
Elsa suddenly leaped from the tree branch, grabbing a nearby vine as she swung off in the direction. Simba and Nala quickly stood up as the followed after her.
The seven teens quickly rushed up to the fallen log that laid over the river. Darius quickly climbed up over the log as he slowly made his way across. His foot nearly slipping off the side before catching himself.
"Wow!" Darius exclaimed.
"Darius...?!" Lucky exclaimed.
"I'm alright. The log's kind of slippery." Darius said back to them.
"Move carefully."
Turning forward, Darius continued to make his way across. Kenji, Sammy, Yaz, Ben and Brooklynn followed after him. Moving steadily across the log toward the other side. Lucky was the last to follow. Coming up over the log. Only to then suddenly hear the lion once more, roaring from off in the jungle behind her. Lucky suddenly froze.
Hoping down from the log, Darius and the others turned back to her. The roar sounded much louder then before. It could only mean that it was close.
"What's Lucky doing?" Sammy asked.
"Lucky, hurry!" Darius called to her.
Lucky was then snapped out of her thoughts. Turning back to Darius and the others, who were gesturing her to hurry. Lucky turned forward, climbing up onto the log. She then proceeded to follow after Kenji, Borrklynn and Yazmina. Moving steadily across the log, putting one foot after the other. All the while, they heard the roars and growls of the lion becoming louder with each passing moment.
Kenji, Yaz and Brooklynn had already made it across to the other side. They then turned back to Lucky, who was halfway across the log.
"Hurry, Lucky!" Yazmina proclaimed to her.
Lucky continued to make her way across the log. Though upon placing one foot forward, the surface of the log suddenly caved in, causing her to fall through. Hanging off the very edge for dear life.
"Lucky!" The other teens exclaimed.
"I'm alright!" She reassured them.
Glancing back, she saw the bottom of the log had also caved in as well. Revealing the rushing stream that now lied below. She tried desperately to pull herself back up. Only to then nearly slip downward toward the water below, causing her to gasp.
"Hang on, Lucky, we're coming!" Kenji said.
Lucky pulled herself up over the edge. When suddenly, she heard the lion again and upon glancing back, she saw the lioness leaped out from the foliage. It was there she spotted the seven teens attempting to cross the river. Lucky gasped as she tried to pull herself up onto the log.
Zira grinned. She then scurried forward before leaping up onto the log. She the proceed to cross over toward Lucky. The first of the man-cubs that would fall prey to her fangs.
Seeing the lioness making her way over to Lucky, Darius and the others gasped in awe.
"The Lioness is coming!" Sammy exclaimed.
"What do we do?" Ben asked.
"We have to get Lucky out of there!" Yazmina exclaimed.
Kenji climbed up onto the log as he quickly made their way over to Lucky. Moving as quickly as he could across, nearly slipping at times. Though upon seeing the lioness coming toward her, Kenji picked up the paste. Continuing to move across the log as quickly as he could.
Darius and the others could only watch in awe an anticipation.
"Come on, Kenji." Darius egged him on.
Much to their hope, Kenji was the first to reach Lucky before the lioness. He kneeled down, reaching out her hand to Lucky.
"Take my hand!" Kenji said.
Lucky reached up her right hand. Only to suddenly slip down over the edge once more. Only to catch herself once more. She pulled herself back up before reaching out her hand and grabbed hold of his. Kenji then proceeded to pull her back up onto the log.
"Thanks, Kenji." Lucky said.
The two suddenly heard the lioness's roaring from behind. The two looked back and saw the lioness behind them, appearing as through she was readying to pounce.
"Your mine now!" Zira said.
Zira pounced at the two teens, who quickly leaped out of the way of her. Upon landing over the log, it then gave in under her, causing Zira to fall through it. Digging her claws into the bark, she kept herself from falling through the hole and falling into the river below. She glanced up at the two teens, growling in anger at them.
"Come on!" Kenji said, picking them up off the log.
The two quickly made their way over to Darius and the others. Glancing back, Lucky saw the lioness was climbing back up over the log. Her angered gazed fixed upon the two teens. Seemingly more determined to taste their blood more so then before.
Upon reaching the other side, the two leaped down from the log.
"Come on! Come on!" Brooklynn exclaimed.
The seven teens quickly turned and raced off into the jungle.
Zira pulled herself up out of the hole. She then peered ahead at the seven teens, who disappeared into the foliage. She growled angrily. From behind, Shenzi, Banzai and Ed had caught up to her. Having seen what had happened.
"Looks like they got away." Banzai said, earning a stern glance from Zira.
With a swipe of her paw, she sent him falling into the river. Emerging to the surface, he tried desperately to remain as he was swept down stream. Shenzi glanced to Zira, growling.
"Hey, what's the big idea?" She said.
Zira bothered not to answer. Rather she turned away as she walked over to the end of the log, leaping down to the other side of the river.
"Run while you can-man-cubs. You won't get away from me that easily." Zira proclaimed.
She then glanced back at Shenzi and Ed.
"Let's go." she growled.
Shenzi shook her head to her.
"Yeah... your on your own. No man-cubs are worth this." Shenzi insisted to her.
The two hyenas turned and scurried back to the other side of the river, where they went after Banzai. Zira in turned growled in annoyance.
"Cowards." She said before turning forward.
Though it was not as if she cared. They had already served their purpose in helping her attack the man-village. And she rather not share her catch with a bunch of mangy hyenas. The man-cubs were now all hers. She then grinned.
"Your all mine now." She said.
Though just as she was about to follow them, Zira heard a sudden sound from the trees above. Causing her to paused as her eyes shifted upward to the treetops. Spotting a familiar Black Panther perched over the branch above.
"Hunting man-cubs? Do the outlands not have enough scraps to satified you, Zira?" The panther asked.
Zira growled.
"Bagheera." She said.
"You know the law of the jungle, Zira. Hunting man is forbidden to us predators." The panther proclaimed to her.
"Or have you forgotten why you were banished from the Pride?"
"Spare me, Bagheera. I care not for the Law of the Jungle." Zira proclaimed to the panther.
"I've tracked them here and therefore I claim them as my prey."
Bagheera shook his head.
"If you kill these man-cubs on the pride's territory, you will have the hunters on us." Bagheera proclaimed to her.
"You will bring man's wraith upon the jungle."
Zira scoffed.
"If you wish to stop me, Bagheera, you will have to come down from that tree." Zira proclaimed to her.
With that, the rouge lioness stormed off into the jungle. Heading not the warnings of the panther and the danger of man that would come of her crime. Not that Bagheera had expected it of her. He knew as much as everyone that Bagheera could not be reasoned with. As she had promised Elsa long ago, she would taste the blood of the seven man-cubs she hunted of this night.
Bagheera turned to face the way she had gone.
"It's now up to you, Elsa." He said before chasing after the rouge lioness.
Like the lioness she was, Elsa was on the hunt as well that night. Swing swiftly through the trees from one vine to another. Following the roars of her foe which continued to echo in the distance. Becoming louder the closer she got.
Elsa came perch atop a branch high in the canopy of the tree. It was there the jungle woman's keen eyes surveyed the jungle ahead. The Jungle itself had fallen silent for but a moment. Before then hearing Zira's roar off to her right. Elsa then turned before leaping from the branch and grabbing another vine swinging off toward what she could only guess where her foe was lurking.
Though as she swung through the trees, the wild woman noticed there was moment with the foliage below. Elsa swung up to a nearby tree, coming perched within it's canopy. Kneeling down, she stared at the movement through the foliage. She squinted her eyes, wearingly. Suspecting that it was there that Zira must be lurking.
Reaching back, Elsa drew her spear from behind. Readying herself to confront the one who had vowed to kill her. Who brought danger to her family and the jungle itself. This night... Zira would pay for her crimes.
The movement through the foliage had then drawn close to the tree from which Elsa stood.
It was this moment that Elsa made her move...
She then leaped down from the canopy above, landing before the very spot where she expected Zira to emerge from the underbrush. Her spear held pointed forward as Elsa uttered a growl to what she assumed was her old foe.
Only to be met with the seven teenagers from before, who gasped in shock and awe at the sight of the wild woman. Raising up their hands as they were then faced with the tip of the Jungle woman's spear.
"Don't kill us!" Kenji exclaimed in shock.
Elsa lowered her spear from the seven teen, squinting her eyes, curiously.
"You?" What are you all doing here?" Elsa asked as she stood up.
"Elsa!"
Elsa glanced back and saw Simba and Nala coming up from behind. Only to then pause upon seeing the seven man-cubs from this morning. The seven teens gasped upon seeing the two lions.
"Oh, great. More of them!" Ben exclaimed, hiding behind Kenji.
"Please don't eat us!"
Elsa glanced to them, curiously.
"More of them?" she asked, curiously.
As if in reply, they suddenly heard Zira's roar from behind. The seven teens gasped, turning back to face the jungle behind them. Along with the rustling within the foliage.
"Oh no, she's here yall!" Sammy exclaimed.
Elsa quickly leaped in front of the seven teens with her spear in hand. Simba and Nala coming to her side. The wild woman glanced back at the seven teens.
"Stay behind me." She said.
Lucky glanced to Darius and the others, who glanced to each other. The idea of being protected by a jungle woman and her pet lions was not at all their ideal of being saved from the rouge lioness. Especially when she didn't have a gun. But there was no other option at the moment. They turned back to Elsa, nodding their heads.
"Okay." Lucky said.
"Yeah... sure." Yazmina said.
Elsa then turned forward upon hearing more rustling within the foliage. Causing her to raise her spear to the foliage as she readied herself for what was to come.
And suddenly, Zira appeared from the jungle. Leaping from the cover of the foliage as she gave a loud bellow. Landing before Elsa, Simba and Nala with a display of her fangs and claws. Though despite her threatening gestures, the three remained unfazed by her. Darius, Lucky and the other teens gasping in shock as they hurdled behind them.
Elsa glared to her.
"Zira." She said, holding her spear to her.
Zira paused upon seeing Elsa. A grin formed over her face as she stood up, chuckling.
"Why, Elsa..." She said back to her.
Her glance then shifted to Nala, who faced her down as well.
"Nala..." she said.
Nala only growled to her. Which only caused Zira to chuckle once more.
"My, My... how you've both grown. And how much chaos you've brought upon the jungle." She said, her gaze directed at Elsa.
The two sisters only remained stern and strong against Zira's taunts. It was then that Zira lowered her gaze down at the seven teens, who were huddle behind him. Only for Simba to stand in the way of her.
"What are you doing here, Zira? This part of the jungle is closed off to you." Simba proclaimed.
"I've come for the Man-cubs. I've been hunting them for some time now." Zira said.
Elsa then noticed the blood covering the fur over Zira's muzzle. What she could only assume was that of man's. Which could only mean that Zira had indeed hunted man upon this night. And seeing that she She turned back at the seven teen, worryingly. Though aside from few scrapes, none of them appeared to be harmed.
Zira chuckled from behind.
"Oh, don't worry. It's not one of theirs." Zira insisted to her.
"But at the very least, there are a few less humans to worry about."
Elsa turned back to Zira. Glaring in anger at the rouge lioness for breaking the law of the Jungle. Both Simba and Nala as well growled to Zira.
"You kill man's cattle. Then you kill man!" Elsa said.
"And now you hunt children?!"
"They are my Prey. Give them to me!" Zira growled to her.
Elsa growled back to her.
"No! I won't let you harm them!" Elsa proclaimed to her.
Zira growled to her, angrily.
"How dare you disobey me! Give me those man-cubs!" Zira exclaimed to her.
Zira came forward in an attempt to claim her quarry. Only for Elsa to then thrust her spear to Zira, causing her to saunter back. She then came forward as Simba and Nala came up to her, roaring to her. Forcing back the rouge lioness, who growled back at them. Elsa came forward to Zira once more, swiping the tip of her spear at Zira, who roared back at her.
The seven teen watched on in amazement at the Wild woman, who managed to push back the rouge lioness.
"Wow..." Kenji said.
Zira swiped her claws at Elsa, who leaned back out of the way. She then thrusted her spear, which slashed the rouge lioness's shoulder, who hissed in pain. She turned back to Elsa, bearing her canines to her. Elsa in turn hissed back to her.
"As long as I am this jungle's Guardian, these cubs are under my protection and the protection of the Pride!" Elsa proclaimed to her foe.
"If you ever come near them again...!"
Elsa once more swiped her spear at the lioness, causing Zira to growl. It was at moment there was another lions roar from off in the distance. This time coming from far to the south in the direction of the Pride's den. Which could only be Mufasa. Zira in turn growled, angerily.
"Now leave!" Elsa demanded.
"Get out!"
Zira turned back to her.
"Fine. You win this time, Elsa." Zira said, admitting defeat.
"But know one day, your blood and the blood of the man-cub's will run down from my chin!"
With that, Zira then turned and raced off into the underbrush. Disappearing into the darkness of the jungle.
Elsa then lowered her spear to her side upon seeing the rouge lioness disappear into the jungle. Though she was far from relieved. As what she and the Pride had feared the most would no doubt come to pass from this night. From the crimes Zira had committed against the jungle and man.
Nala came up to her sister, shaking her head.
"This isn't good. Man is certain to come to the jungle now." Nala insisted to them.
"And Zira is no doubt leading them to the pride. This has been her plan all along." Elsa insisted to her.
"She want revenge against the pride. Just as Mufasa said..."
The two sisters narrowed their heads in worry. The future of the jungle and the Pride itself were now in great peril.
"We have to stop her!" Elsa degreed to them.
"And we will. Don't worry." Simba proclaimed.
"But for now though..."
The three then shifted their glanced back at the seven teens.
"What do we do about them?" Simba asked.
End of Part 1