"Come on!" One of the lionesses called out to them. "We can't afford to slow now!" She said.
Koron couldn't remember the lioness's name. She wasn't Sara's mother and she wasn't Vitani. She was the other one. The one whom the oracle seemed to share a history with.
"I'm coming, I'm coming!" Koron muttered. But he wasn't the one who was holding up the group. The great many of creatures in their unexpectedly little coterie included many creatures. There was a hyena, a wilddog, the panthers and the jaguars, and others beside. It had been so long since he had been among a family, let alone a Pride as eclectic as this one. Unlike some of their fellow slaves, he wasn't too badly wounded. The lionesses in question looked him over, and he saw her expression soften for a moment in recognition.
"Koron, right?" She asked him.
"Yes Ma'am." Koron said, he said, bowing his head.
"It's not far now. There will be time to rest, at least for a little bit." She assured him, and he nodded. He wasn't sure why she was taking an interest in him; he wasn't about to object. Damu. That was her name. A healer. Inti and Sara had spoken at length about each and every one of the members of their Pride as a way of reminding each other that help was on the way. Apparently, they had been right, he could see as much with his own eyes. Ahead of them, was the dark lionesses, Vitani who was speaking with the hyena. Hyenas were usually bad news, but Vitani didn't seem too bothered. And not too far from her was Almasi. The twin's mother. She was practically standing on top of Inti at the moment and unlike the other lioness's sober attitude, she seemed to bubble with relief and cheer whenever she was nearby. Damu was another kind of creature entirely. She seemed quieter somehow. Koron paused for a moment, thinking. When talking about their Pride, Inti and Sara had mentioned another cub, a lioness by the name of Zuri. Damu's daughter. But Zuri was suspiciously absent. Perhaps that explained her mood. He would have to ask Sara later. He wasn't sure he wanted to risk asking Vitani.
The leader of Sara's Pride captivated him. She said she wasn't a queen, but if she wasn't he wasn't sure he knew the meaning of the word. Not exactly what you'd call beautiful, but she was powerful and agile and her eyes were hard and cold as iron ore. Her stare made even him flinch. Apparently, it was a familial trait, because there was a very clear divide in the group between those whom had grown up in the Pridelands and those who had been brought to the Shai'tan's prison from further afield. You could tell who was who from how they reacted to Vitani and her mother. He had never heard of this Zira before but the more he learned of her, the less he liked her. She was one to watch.
"Careful." A voice said to his right. Koron turned, and saw the hyena from earlier at his side.
"What?" He asked. She nodded towards the lioness with the tear in her ear.
"Don't let her catch you staring at her." She warned him.
"I can take care of myself." Koron protested. The hyena laughed, but there wasn't any mirth there. Even for a hyena.
"I don't doubt for a moment, kid." She said. "I saw you fight in the arena. You're tough as roots. But Zira is not to be trifled with. Vitani ought to have killed her as soon as she saw she was there. She's dangerous. Believe me." She said.
"And you're so friendly?" Koron asked her. "I saw you lurking around Rish'ut. Cutting it rather finely to decide you didn't like working for the Shai'tan, didn't you?" He asked her.
"The name is Jasiri." She said. "And I never worked for Rish'ut. I led Vitani and her clan in to the Outlands. I was trying to get close enough to Rish'ut to bite out his throat." She said. Then she paused, and reconsidered the young cub's youth, wondering if perhaps she ought not to have appeared quite so bloodthirsty. If Koron noticed, he didn't seem to mind.
"Is that right?" Koron asked her. The hyena smiled, and it seemed genuine.
"You've got a suspicious mind kid. For a lion. Hold on to that, it'll serve you well. But believe it or not kid, it is. And for what it's worth I'm sorry I couldn't do anything to get you out of there sooner." She said. That surprised him. Koron decided she was probably telling the truth.
"Don't stare at Zira. Got it." He said. Jasiri nodded, and moved on ahead to speak to Almasi. Koron shook his head. Great. More strange people. They had formed a column as they marched, with Vitani taking the lead, the rear being brought up by Damu. The rest of the animals, kept their own pace. He glanced into the sky. A few hornbills and bluebird flew here and there. As of yet, no vulture, or carrion bird that might have acted as eyes for the Shai'tan had appeared. They had left Golgorath in disarray and chaos, so it was likely they still had time before the Shai'tan became organized enough to hunt them properly. It couldn't be long until they managed to get themselves organised though.
"What did Jasiri want?" Sara asked him to his left. Koron didn't blink as Sara appeared at his side.
"You know her?"
"I know of her. She's the hyena who used to rule the Outlands, before the Shai'tan turned up. She's an old friend of King Kion and the Pridelands. At least, that was Danyal always described her in his stories. She's nice.
"She used to be queen of the Outlands?" Koron asked, looking back the hyena who was now talking to Vitani. "But she seems so… I don't know… normal. Like a regular hyena?" He asked. He shook his head. "She was warning me to keep my distance from the Oracle."
"Zira." Sara said, shuddering. "I keep forgetting you've never heard of her. She's the other person who used to rule the Outlands before the Shai'tan arrived. She isn't nice. Jasiri's right. We should stay away from her." She said, shuddering. "I still can't believe she was there the whole time. And an enemy of Rish'ut as well! Everything I've heard about her made me think she'd probably get along with Rish'ut really well. Like they'd be pals or something." She said. That made Koron pause.
"You're joking." He said, but she wasn't.
"When we get back to the Tree of Life, and find Danyal and Kiava and the others, we're going to have to get Danyal to tell you some of the stories about Zira and Jasiri and Kion. Danyal tells the best stories. Oh! We could even get King Kion to tell some of them! Oh, that would be awesome!" She said, excitedly.
"The Tree of Life." Koron said. "Is it really like all the stories say?"
"It's hidden away in the jungle. We had a wonderful time there, before the Shai'tan came. It was peaceful. Quiet." She said. Koron smiled. That would be nice, for a time. A chance to rest properly, for the first time in a year.
"That's not the first time you've mentioned Danyal." He probed. She smiled and he saw her eyes light up.
"Danyal's another member of our Pride. Not a cub though, he's a bit older. And extremely smart. Like I said, he tells the best stories. He knows practically everything that's ever happened in the Pridelands." She said. Koron snorted.
"I look forward to meeting him. I don't have much use for histories though. I prefer to work with my claws." He said, unsheathing them to make a point. They were unnaturally sharp for a cub's claws. Like Inti's. The two of them had taken to sharpening them on rocks in their den during their captivity.
"Heh. I think Danyal will surprise you. He might be knowledgeable, but he's no pushover." She told him. Koron rolled his eyes.
"Oh really?" He said, humouring her.
"Really." She said seriously. "He survived the attack on Pride Rock, and not by running. At least, not at first. Even the King can't boast that. And he once killed a pack of wilddogs to save a leopard cub." She said. Koron raised an eyebrow, but nearly fell over with what she said next. "The rumour is that he managed to kill Sekhmet. The Shai'tan who lead the attack that captured Inti and me." She said. "That's what mother said when I asked where he was. I was scared he'd been…I mean… Anyway, that's why he isn't not here now. He needed to rest and recover from his injuries." She said.
Koron had to admit that that did sound impressive. Now he really did want to meet this, Danyal that she talked so much about.
"So how well do you know Danyal?" He asked, cautiously.
"I would say very well!" Sara said with a light laugh. "He's practically family. That what Mother has said. Especially after everything that happened." She told him.
"So… he's kind of like an older brother?" He asked her, the ghost of a smirk on his lips. Was she blushing?
"Uh, yeah. Exactly like that." She said. Koron looked at her. Yeah. That was definitely a blush. That would need investigating. He was sure Inti would be interested in that titbit of knowledge if he didn't know already. The thought made him start though, as it was a distressingly infantile thought. Since when had he started thinking like a cub his age?
"Come on." She said, suddenly. "Let's go find Inti. I think he was speaking to the panther triplets." She said.
"You go on ahead. I'll catch up." He said. He was tired, how she had managed to retain so much energy was beyond him. But she nodded, smiled, and made her way away. Koron thought to himself for a moment. Things were getting very complicated for his simple existence.
Watching the two cubs, Zira gave a smirk.
"Ah," She said. "To be young and free." She murmured. It amused her, to see the two cubs. So very different. In some ways they reminded her of her own sweet Kovu and that insipid princess of Simba's. She had caught the cub staring at her and had kept half and eye on them the entire time. She chuckled to herself.
"Vitani left clear instructions." Jasiri said to her. "You are to leave those cubs alone!" She said. Zira gave a smirk that might have been a grimace.
"I didn't say anything to them, did I?" She said. "Though I must admit the two interest me. I had a nice long talk in that cursed prison cell of the Shai'tan with young Inti, and I am curious to meet the girl. Perhaps you can arrange it, Jasiri?" She asked the hyena, who snorted.
"I'd sooner chew off my own leg." She told her. Zira chuckled, but didn't argue the point.
"I expect I'll just have to wait for inevitable curiosity to get the better of them." She mused. "After all, the fastest way to get a cub to do something, is to forbid them from doing it." She said. Jasiri growled, and had a terrible feeling she had a point.
"What do you want with the cubs?" Jasiri asked her, scowling. "Just hoping for someone easy to terrify? You've really let yourself go in your old age. You never used to content yourself with such small prey." She said, glaring.
"Hardly." Zira said. "Don't tell me you haven't see it? All those animals? The ones Damu can barely get to keep up, or stay in line? They all do what those cubs do without question. Seems as though the former fighters see them as one of their own. Which can be more than be said for my dear daughter. Something useful to bear in mind, at least if Vitani wants to be shouting orders." She told her, her gaze settling on Jasiri. "But then you'd know all about the challenges associated with that little enterprise, wouldn't you, Jasiri? Did you enjoy the time you spent on my throne, for the few brief moons you planted yourself there? Before you were betrayed by Mzingo that is?" Zira asked her, eyes seeming to flash. Jasiri glared back at her.
"They chose me." He reminded her. "At least when I was betrayed, it wasn't my children who turned on me." Jasiri shot back. Zira's eyes flashed in anger for a moment, until she caught herself, and laughed.
"Ha. Well said. And they say that hyenas aren't capable of real humour." She said. Jasiri growled, and stood up and left. Someone else would have to keep their eye on the former outlander queen. She didn't have the strength or patience for it. Zira watched her go, laughing quietly to herself. The former matriarch the least impressive hyena clan in the Serengeti was predictably easy to needle. It was clear as ever that without the backing of Kion and his lion guard, the hyena was horribly out of depth. But she was done playing. Now she needed to be serious, and do the real work. She approached one of the lionesses with as much confidence as she could.
"Damu." She called out to her. When last she had laid eyes on the young lioness, she had been little more than an adolescent barely older than Vitani. Now, Meetra's daughter was a lioness grown, had inherited her mother's talent for herbs and medicines, and had a daughter of her own if Inti was to be believed.
"What do you want?!" Damu said, as she watched her move.
"I need to speak to my daughter. Let me pass." She said. Damu stared at her.
"Why?" The two of them heard a voice call out. Damu had been about to flatly refuse her, but blinked in surprise as Inti made his presence known. The flame haired cub was staring at Zira, and he wasn't alone. A trio of panthers flanked him, some of the fighters from the pits. They kept their distance, but they knew enough to be cautious of Zira. She didn't know if she should revel in their fear, or be annoyed at it. For once it was an inconvenience.
"I have information she would be interested in." He assured him. "Better she hears is sooner, rather than later." She said. Damu hesitated, but Inti nodded. Unlike the others, his first experience of Zira had been in the pits, and he found himself less frightened of her than he probably ought to have been.
"Fair enough." he said and motioned his head to the others, who surprisingly stood down, including the monstrous rhinoceros. Zira inclined her head in thanks, but Damu looked shocked.
"What are you doing?" Damu asked the cub, looking panicked. Inti looked up, as if seeing her for the first time.
"She can't do anything here, surrounded by people who hate her guts. If she does know something useful, then we might as well hear it." he said, calmly. Damu considered, before nodding. His logic was fine, but she still felt unnerved. Nevertheless, she led the way to Vitani, who was positioned at the front of the column and doing her best not to watch the slow arc of the sun and the slipping of their time. When she saw Zira approaching her, she bared her teeth and drew her claws.
"Well?" Vitani said harshly. Zira smiled.
"You've really haven't changed much at all, have you? I thought you might want to know a few interesting things I discovered, when I was imprisoned in Golgorath…" She said. Vitani paused, before nodding. The rest of the animals departed giving them some privacy, though Damu, Almasi and the lion cubs remained. Zira sat down. They would extend their rest a little.
"I am not sure I can believe a word of what you say. I still can't believe you are still alive after all these years." Vitani said. Zira grimaced.
"The Shai'tan have been making their plans for many moons. I told you, that shaman of their found me, half drowned. Tortured me for information. They wanted to know about the Pridelands. Eventually they got what they asked for." Zira admitted.
"Information." She said, flatly.
"About Simba. The Outlands. Our history." There was silence at that pronouncement. Zira looked away. She looked ashamed. It wasn't a look she had ever seen on her mother's face before.
"You… You told them."
"Eventually. I told them everything." She admitted. There was a vulnerable honesty to her words that Vitani wasn't prepared. She felt a curious mix of anger and empathy. She didn't want to dwell on that thought. It risked feelings of empathy for her mother. She pushed it aside.
"What do you know of the Shai'tan?" Vitani asked her. It changed the subject from Zira's confession.
"There are seven. You saw them at Pride Rock." She said. "And Sekhmet, Rish'ut and Mortread you have encountered since then."
"Kion fought Sekhmet as well, along with the one they called Asamode, the One-Eyed, at the Tree of Life." Vitani said.
"We met Amun, on the way to Golgorath. He was going to the Shadowlands." Inti told them. Vitani wasn't aware of that. Who did that leave?
"That leaves Leviath and Raeveal. The siblings." Zira told her. "I have never met them, but from what Rish'ut said when he was raving, Leviath is the mistress of the Shai'tan's spies. But some of the prisoners you've liberated from our former home used to live in other parts of the Imperium. You should speak to them, find out what they know."
"And what do you know?" Vitani asked, scowling.
"I know that the Shai'tan are half friends, half rivals. Some of them hate each other more than they hate us, I can tell you that much. And I know that Rish'ut will be coming after us. His pride has been stung." He said.
"You don't think he will simply cut his losses?" Damu asked. Zira shook her head.
"Every time I withheld so much as a word from Rish'ut, he seemed to take it personally. He is vindictive and ruthless. Mortread occasionally showed restraint, but not Rish'ut."
"Like Sekhmet. She let her fury consume her, too." Almasi said, recalling how the Shai'tan had spent her time picking apart Danyal long after she could have simply finished him off.
"Their entire philosophy is that the world owes them what they want. They can barely conceive of refusal. The Shai'tan are easy to anger. I don't know if I would go so far as to say that Rish'ut lets his anger control his actions, but it does cloud his thoughts. It makes him single minded, ruthless, and exacting."
"Meaning?"
"Meaning that at his best he is a determined, focused and powerful foe but at his worst, he is reckless, petty and controlling." She said. Vitani nodded. That was useful to know, but Zira continued.
"Rish'ut's greatest joy is when he is hurting others. Breaking them. He has no interest in mates, intimacy, or companionship. Only inflicting pain." She said, almost shuddering. She was speaking from experience. Not for the first time, she was glad they had rescued the cubs when they had.
"What about the other Shai'tan? Mortread?" Vitani pressed her, even though the others looked worried.
"Rish'ut, Mortread and Amun are in the Pridelands and Amun and Rish'ut seemed to respect each other. But Mortread he treated with derision in private, though they trod much more carefully when he was in ear shot."
"Could we use that?"
"I don't imagine for a moment we could turn them against one another, but they are not eager to assist each other except when it benefits them. You killed Sekhmet when she was alone. Their disunity may be our opportunity." She said. Vitani cursed.
"There's an irony. That's how they defeated us." She muttered. "So, if we want to kill them, we need to lure them out separately." Vitani finished. Zira grinned.
"Precisely." Zira said. Vitani nodded.
"Was that all you wanted to share with us?" Vitani asked, scowling. Zira chuckled.
"I was their prisoner. You're better off asking Jasiri if you wanted more details. She got fairly close to Rish'ut and his operations." She said. Vitani growled. This entire conversation had been pointless then. She could have learned all this from Jasiri!
"Was there anything else?" She said. Zira hesitated.
"I… wanted to reassure you that I have no intention of… treachery." She said. "I have no malicious purposes, or self-suiting motivations. I want to help you restore the Pridelands." Zira said. Vitani laughed.
"I find that hard to believe. You are always scheming." She said. Zira sighed.
"That was a long time ago." Zira said finally. Vitani roared .
"Don't you dare try to dismiss all those years out of paw! People died over your plots and schemes. People suffered! Good people! And thanks, you, the Shai'tan destroyed our home! Everyone who died, died because of you! Kiara and Simba and Nuka and Kovu! My brothers! Do you expect me to believe you have just given up just like that!" She almost shouted. Zira only looked at her.
"Vitani… I am sorry." She said. Vitani froze. Almasi looked startled and Damu's jaw dropped.
"What?" Vitani said.
"I am sorry. For everything. I never meant to hurt you. Or Kovu. Or Nuka. I didn't mean for my actions to weaken the Pridelands. I was trying to make us strong. I never intended for any of this to happen." She told her. Vitani stared at her.
"Is that it? Is that all you have to apologise for? That you broke when the Shai'tan caught you and did to you what you'd have done to Kings no how many other animals if it suited you?" Vitani sneered. "Not to mention the hundreds of other animals you butchered during your climb for power. Not to mention who you did to Simba and Nala and all the others! And the atrocities you committed in order to claim the throne in the first place!" Vitani glared at her.
"I…" Zira trailed off. The words caught in her throat. Vitani laughed.
"Of course not." She said. "What about Damu and Meetra and Kulaana and all the other Outsiders! What about what you did to Kovu? And Nuka! What about what you did to me?"
"Daughter, I –"
"No! You don't get to call me that! You never had the right to call me that! You were never our mother! Our parents died and you, you turned us into things! You robbed me of a cubhood and stole me from the Pridelands and turned me into your lieutenant! You filled us with venom! You ruined me!"
"Vitani." It was Almasi. The Pridelander lioness was there. She was standing between her and Zira, filling her vision. "Vitani… Breath. Please. Just breath with me. Don't look at her, just look at me." She said. Vitani stumbled back. She could feel everyone's eyes on her. Zira's eyes. She heaved and regained control of herself. Crushing the moment of weakness.
"I wouldn't let you anywhere near us. I would have you exiled if I didn't think you would run straight to Rish'ut and betray us to him." She told her. "I can't trust you."
Zira shook her head. There was a strange expression on her face. If she didn't know better, she would have said that she looked hurt.
"So perceptive. But unable to see things right in front of you. I do love you, Vitani. Just as I loved Kovu, and I loved Nuka. Everything I ever did from the moment you were born was for the love I had for you. Especially the cruel and wicked things.
"That wasn't love." Vitani snapped back. "I don't think you've ever felt real love for anyone other than yourself. Even your pathetic obsession with Scar. But your hatred? That I might have a use for. I am certain you are still capable of that." She said. Zira flinched at that and stared at daughter. She swallowed. Then she bowed her head.
"By your Command. Fiercest." She said, kneeling in submission. Her claws sheathed and she didn't meet Vitani's eyes.
Damu stared at the former queen in astonishment. She couldn't believe her eyes. She could scarcely believe that this was the same lioness who had once been proclaimed the Devil-Queen; the mate of King Scar. The rebel who had plotted the death of Simba and his family. Now she was little more than a shallow relic, a hallow empty shell of all that she had been. Tortured, maimed, and almost flayed alive under Rish'ut and the Emperor. For a moment a pang of pity struck Damu, but Vitani's eyes were as steel.
Inti watched in silence. This was much closer to the Oracle he had met in the cave, and much closer to the frail, broken thing that had suffered under Rish'ut for so long. He too felt a pang of pity. Vitani stared at her.
"You want my forgiveness? How can I forgive you after everything you have done?" She whispered. "I can't! I am amazed that you can forgive yourself!" She said.
"But… She's your mother." Inti whispered. Vitani paused and stared at the young cub. How was it possible that he could have experienced so much at the paws of the Shai'tan already and yet be so naive to ways of the world? She growled.
"We are returning to the Tree of Life." She said, firmly. "To our Pride. To Kion and to Kiava. I'll decide what to do with you then, mother. When you can't threaten us anymore." She added. With a growl, she turned and left without looking back. Inti was left standing there in bafflement, and Almasi nuzzled him gently. Zira watched Vitani leave. Nobody offered Zira any words of comfort. Damu rushed after Vitani to speak to her.
The group of cheetahs were running for their lives. Sadaka was gone, cut down by the Shai'tan's forces. The fury of the Shai'tan would doubtlessly follow them. He had seen it! He had seen wilddogs and jackals be murdered out of hand. They had betrayed the Shai'tan and would surely suffer more before the end for it. They had to keep running, they had to keep going.
"Jahi! Jahi, please!" It was his mate, Olinta. The rest of the cheetahs were too exhausted, too worn out to even voice in protest. Jahi swallowed and finally allowed himself to slow. The cheetahs matched his speed, gratefully and gave a sigh.
"Olinta, we can't afford to stop now." He told her.
"Jahi, we can't afford to keep going! We've been running non-stop for days, we've crossed the Pridelands many times over. They can't be after us anymore, we need to rest!" Olinta begged him. "Please. I know you are hurting but…"
"I failed Sadaka, Olinta. I won't lose anyone else!" Jahi said at last. His heart was still pounding. He had relived that moment repeatedly. There had to have been something he could have done differently that would have allowed them all to escape with their lives. There had to have been something. But he kept coming up blank.
"And you're not going to!" Olinta urged him. Finally, he allowed himself to stop. All the aches and pains seemed to slam into him at once. He let out a gasp of pain and sank to his knees.
"Jahi. Sadaka wasn't your fault." Olinta told him. She looked at the other cheetahs, and saw the same expression in their faces. There was no blame. No recrimination. How could they not see it? They had lost his brother. They would surely lose more.
"We need to make den for the evening, Jahi." Another of the cheetahs told him. It was Kysana. Sadaka's mate. He could barely look at her.
"I… yes."
"I'll take first watch." Talib said, the young cheetah looked exhausted, but he also looked determined. Olinta nuzzled her mate as he sank to his knees where he stood. Others went about marking their territory for the evening. It should ward of most predators.
"They can't come after us. Not if they want to go after those lionesses as well." Olinta told him. That was true enough. They had a head start. And the other cheetahs that remained with the Shai'tan, even if they were inclined to hunt them down on behalf of the Shai'tan, they would have to go slower to allow the jackals and wilddogs to keep up. They couldn't sustain their speed the way they could over longer distances. He gave a wince as he set himself down, and saw the wound that Uchungu had given him in the struggle.
"You're hurt!" his mate gasped in realisation and started to lick the wound. He resisted the urge to pull away. She wouldn't be happy until she had the chance to fuss over him.
"Is Talib going to be okay?" He asked her. She looked over her shoulder in the direction the young cheetah cub had dashed. He seemed capable. She knew Jahi felt guilty at endangering the cub. He wasn't their child, but he acted like it sometimes. Sometimes he wished he could apologise to the young cub's parents for endangering him so much.
"He's fine." She assured him. "Do you think he's right? About the Tree of Life?"
"I've never been there." He admitted. "But if its real, then it might be a chance to find some safety. We could do with that.
"We should never have followed the Shai'tan to begin with."
"We made the best of a tough situation. But if the Prideland's King really did escape…" He trailed off.
"You never wanted to follow their orders." Olinta reminded him. "It just seemed like the only option with the Lion Kinds eradicated." She said. It wasn't much comfort to him. Before he could reply however, they were both distracted by an almighty roar.
"Kings Blood!" Kysana screamed as Talib rushed out towards them.
"We have company!" He warned them, and that was all the warning he got before a great golden figure launched itself from the jungle towards them. A lion with a groomed red mane and a murderous looking scar and half a dozen lesser wounds.
"Rogue!" Jahi shouted in panic, and the other cheetahs pulled together. The lion was glaring at them with intense malice.
"You!" What are you doing here?" He bellowed a them. He hesitated only for a moment, and Kysana tried to make use of the pause to lunge towards him with devastating speed, aiming for his eye, and trying to stay in his blind spot. The wound can't have been as severe as it looked though, because he immediately turned to her and fixed with a penetrating stare. He caught her blow and threw her backwards. He inhaled deeply of her scent when he did so.
"I know the scent of the Shai'tan when I smell it!" He said, crouching.
"Crap!" Talib screamed, and darted free.
They were minions of the Shai'tan that much was obvious. Kion snarled and swiped at the cheetah who was getting too close. There were four of them, at least. Against any other lion, that might have proved to be a threat, but the female he had clawed at was still reeling from the blow. He could swipe and slash at them with five times the muscle they could manage. And he had fought cheetahs before. He knew how they fought.
Kwasi.
And he caught the blow of the other female.
"Olinta!" The male called out. He ought to have been the major threat, but for once the Kings were on his side and he seemed to be wounded. Some luck at last. He shoved his way passed the two females and bared his teeth, snapping and snarling. Jahi jerked to the side. He was quick and an expert fighter, that much was obvious. And to be expected from a minion of the Shai'tan. The other two cheetahs rushed him at the same time. He could dodge and let out a roar of pain, but it wasn't enough to stop him. He clawed at the leader.
"No!" It was the young one again. An annoying pest, and very irresponsible. He seized the leader neck in his jaws and hauled him back.
"Call them off! Now! Or I'll break your neck!" He threatened.
"Jahi!"
"Okay. Okay!"
"Just run!" Jahi shouted. The cheetahs didn't flee though but stared at the two of them in shock. "I've got him tangled here go!" Jahi growled.
"Let him go! Please for the love of the Kings let him go!" Olinta begged him. Kysana growled. They had already lost Sadaka; they couldn't lose Jahi too! Kion growled furiously and stared at the cheetah. Unlike most cheetahs, her spots were arranged into dark rosettes. Most cheetahs didn't have them. It reminded him of Fuli. In fact, the cheetah was about her age. He snarled in fury.
"And have you go crawling back to your masters?" He asked her. "Not likely."
"We don't serve the Shai'tan!" Kysana protested. "Not anymore. We never really did but…" She shook her head.
"Let them go!" Talib shouted. Kion glanced at him. He felt the anger ebb away. He didn't have the strength to blame every living thing that had fought for the Shai'tan. Slowly, he loosened his hold on the leader of the cheetahs, and he began to breathe again. He let him go, and Jahi pulled away, coughing. Talib rushed to him, and Olinta moved to her mate's side. Kysana stared at him.
"You're one of the Pridelanders." She realised, staring at him.
"There aren't any more Pridelanders." Kion retorted. Kysana flushed at that. It was obvious just who he held responsible for that. Some of the creatures who had served the Shai'tan would certainly hold some of the blame in his eyes. She couldn't blame him. Olinta looked back to him.
"…Thank you…" She said. "Why did you stop?" She asked him after moment. For a moment she was nervous as if he would change his mind, but Kion simply sighed.
"You remind me of someone. A friend."
"That's now what the Shai'tan think. That there aren't any more Pridelanders I mean." Talib said after a moment.
"Talib, be quiet!" Kysana ordered him. Kion turned quickly to look at him.
"What makes you say that?" He asked, carefully.
"They were grouping up to go after the Lady Vitani. She led an attack on Golgorath and got away. Lord Rish'ut and Lord Asamode were gathering to hunt them down. That's when we got away. Most of us." Talib said, thinking about Sadaka. Kion stared at Jahi.
"Vitani attacked the Outlands?"
"Rescuing some prisoners. Rish'ut gathered the fastest of their minions. That was us. But like I said, we don't work for the Shai'tan any more. Not now we know some of the Lion Kings survived." He told him. Kion's eyes widened.
"Cheetahs? Vitani will never outrun them. Not if she found the cubs." Kion said, sounding worried. Olinta glanced at Jahi.
"Probably not." She admitted. "But we didn't want any part in the slaughter." She said. Kion shook his head.
"No. No no no. They can't." He said pacing up and down. He had already lost Kiava and Zuri. If Vitani failed to recuse Sara and Inti, who did that even leave? What was the point? The Shai'tan would wipe out the Pridelanders after all. He turned to the cheetahs.
"I must get back to them. I must help them. Somehow." He said. Jahi sighed.
"You'll never make it to them in time." He warned him.
Kion shook his head. He growled. Grandfather. He practically wanted to scream. Please. But there was silence. He didn't hear anything. Not the faintest whisper of his ancestors. He hadn't since he had lost the mark. He growled in agitation. It was unfair. He slowed his breath.
"No. I don't accept that. They wouldn't do that. Let me find out from you if there was no hope. They would send you to me."
"Send us? Nobody sent us." Jahi protested. Maybe not. But he couldn't let himself believe that now. Vitani and others needed him, and he wasn't going to let down anyone else.
"Wait. I do know you. My parents told me stories about you. You're King Kion!" Talib said after a moment.
"The King of the Night Pride? But that's where we were heading! We didn't know if you were even still alive!" Kysana said, in realisation. Jahi swallowed. Kion swallowed.
"I'm just Kion." He clarified. "But I am not done yet." He said. "And I have a promise to keep."
"Are you doing okay, Inti?" Sara asked her brother. Inti brushed her off. He hadn't properly healed from his fighting in the pits, but that didn't mean she needed to keep fussing over him. It had been several hours since meeting with Vitani and he had been brooding for most of that time. He was doing a serviceable impression of Koron in fact.
"I'm fine. All the other former fighters have agreed to come back to the Nightlands with us. Even Ras and Rei." He said. The panthers had needed a little convincing but for some reason they had listened to him. They knew they might not have ever escaped the Outlanders without Vitani and the lionesses, and wouldn't have made it to that point if it hadn't been for Inti and Sara and Koron. It was a relief. They had a better chance sticking together as a group. Perhaps even a chance to win back the Pridelands. Even the animals who hadn't started life in the Serengeti – or even in Africa – liked the sound of that.
"That's not what you're thinking about though is it?" She guessed. She knew him too well.
"I'm just thinking about Zira. She helped me in Golgorath. I wouldn't have got away from there if not for her. But everyone here seems to hate her. And they might be right to." He told her. "I don't know. She doesn't seem like Danyal always described her. She seems… I don't know. Old. Hurt. I feel sorry for her." Inti admitted after a moment. "Vitani hates her. I can't imagine ever hating Mother the way she hates Zira." He said. Sara nuzzled her brother.
"I think she's pretty scary. I was telling Koron about her." Sara admitted. "But she seems more interested in fighting the Shai'tan then hurting any of us." Sara added. That was true enough. Maybe that would be enough. Even if she'd rather be fighting Zira than the Shai'tan.
"Inti?" It was Uhani. The wildcat. The smallest of the rebels. He had a habit of disappearing as soon as you took your eye off him, and popping up in unexpected places. It was probably how he had survived in the pits. The wildcat was standing next to Forn, the wilddog. The canine was standing to attention and waiting patiently for them.
"What is it?" Sara asked him.
"I've taken to performing some patrols, even when we rest." Forn said, nodding firmly. It was a good idea. "We've made it through most of the savannah, and we ought to have a clear route to the gorge. Then, from there through the briar patch, across the desert and onwards through the jungle to the tree of life. We ought to be able to lose our pursuers in the Jungle." He said.
"Pursuers?" Inti asked, alarmed. Forn nodded.
"That's the problem. Uhani caught a bird earlier. The Devilqueen was right. Rish'ut was never going to leave us alone for long." He said. Inti leapt to his feet.
"They can't have found us so quickly! How!?" Sara asked.
"It doesn't matter how." Uhani told him. "What do we do?"
Tell the others. I better get Vitani." Inti said.