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The next two weeks Niki was under constant guard. Giza was with her at all times. She wasn't sure when Giza slept, but snake appeared alert at all times, and ever weary of her new travel companion. Niki had actually attempted conversation at one point, but Giza hadn't answered a single question, so the lioness gave up.

Kucha seemed to be her usual babysitter. The two had hunted together for a while and Mnyama hadn't been lying when she said food was scarce. Yet even if it was difficult Niki couldn't help but feel the simple pleasure of running free and hunting prey with others. They usually came back with something at least, and Mnyama never complained, so Niki was guessing this was usual. Kucha herself spoke very little with Niki, other than ordering her around.

Bui-Bui, as Niki found, was the pride's loner. She was usually off patrolling on her own and when she was in camp, she was eating or sleeping. Not spending much time with her younger sisters, Fira and Nyoka. Yet Niki found in what little time she had to speak with Bui-Bui ,that the lioness was certainly a strange character. She was refined and delicate, almost like a princess, but at the same time she took great pleasure at the misfortune of others. One of the few conversation Niki had had with Bui-Bui involved how Bui-Bui had disembowelled a hyena a few months back, smiling all the while and eating her lunch. Niki had found the story too graphic and felt too nauseous to eat.

Uchungu was Mnyama's mother and Kucha's aunt, making the two cousins. Uchungu was a foul mouthed old lady, whom lazed around camp and kept everything running smoothly.

Chausiku was also running around camp while her mother, Kucha, was away working on one job or another. Apparently Chausiku had no father to speak of, and the young cub was a little ball of fury. It was not uncommon for Niki to wake up with her ear or tail in the cub's grasp, all while Chausiku treated it like her own personal chew toy. Niki had tried to talk to Uchungu about it at first, but the elder refused to help.

“In our pride cubs tend to fend for themselves for things, we just supply the food. We teach them when they're young that if you have a problem, you deal with it! You want her to stop, figure it out!” The elder had harrumphed afterward and limped off.

A few hours afterward Niki had spotted Chauskiu try to munch on Bui-Bui's tail while she slept. The elder lioness had awoken and promptly smack the cab away wither her hind paw. Chausiku had tumbled over and risen huffily before spitting a few insults at her elder and Bui-Bui wasted not a moment to stand, circle and snarl at the youngster, bearing her teeth. As far as Niki knew, Chausiku never tried to do that to Bui-Bui again. Nyoka and Niki herself were free game however.

It was later that afternoon that Kucha was called off for an emergency at the border, leaving a hole in the roster for Niki's babysitter. Niki herself had been sitting at the mouth of a den when Uchungu had found her.

“Since Kucha has been called away on more pressing matters, you shall be hunting with Nyoka today. “ The elder huffed unhappily before growling “Try to catch SOMETHING with her, alright. She's almost useless when it come to hunting.”

“Nobody's born hunting. Maybe she just needs some extra help.” Niki frowned, a bit unhappy that Nyoka's family seemed so willing to dismiss any possibility for the lioness's improvement.

“Yah, have fun with that.” The elder chuckled before marching off, only to trip over Chausiku when the cub scampered past her. “Ah! Stop prancing around like a rabid gazelle!!”

“But I'm BORED!!”

“Then hunt the cave mice! Gods!”

“About ready to go?” Nyoka said when she rounded the cave to Niki's side. “I'll warn you now, I'm not very good and I don't get much practice, so....”

“No its ok...” Niki looked over to Chausiku beginning to stalk down into a cave. “Does everyone usually treat Chausiku like that?”

“Its not just her really. They've used that method to raise almost everyone here. Fira and I got the same results when we were cubs.” Nyoka explained, leading Niki out into the desert.

“But you'rr so... nice.” Niki said.

“Hehe... yah well. This method makes about two extremes for what a cub could grow up to be. Most time they turn into war mongering, full of confidence fighters... but the other side is you risk the cub becoming so submissive that you let anything happen just to avoid attention.” Nyoka sighed. “I like to think that I would have been like the others, if Fira hadn't been born in my litter. She like to... pick on me alot..”

“Most siblings do.” Niki responded. “I had to save a kid from a hole once, cause her sister left her in there , so she wouldn't to get in trouble.”

“Really? Ah wow! If I did that to Fira when we were cub she would kicked the shit outta me... I mean, you see this?” Nyoka gestured to an ugly scar on her shoulder. “Fira kept on stealing my food and, well... since nobody cared when she bullied me ,I thought I'd try and get my food back. So I pounced her and... “ Nyoka shuddered. “Wasn't pretty.”

“What?! What did your mother do?!” Niki gasped.

“Oh I ran to her, crying, and she basically told me to grow up and get over it. Wasn't her problem I couldn't lion up and take Fira on. It wasn't like they didn't offer some kind of help though. Mom was teaching Fira the family battle moves, we all start young, and she told me to join if I wanted. Only...” Nyoka sighed. “With Fira obviously going to be my sparing partner I didn't want to. Mom never pushed me , she offered once and she wasn't about to do it again. I guess If I had lioned up back then and suffered a few rounds in the ring with Fira I might actually be more capable to defend myself from her now... but she too far a head of me. Even Chausiku is starting to learn to fight better than me, she keeps testing moves out on me.”

“No one should have to deal with that!” Niki growled. “What about your father?! Speaking of which, where is Chausiku's father?!”

“I never knew my father. He was wounded in battle and was dying, so my mother decided to mate with him in order to carry on the pride line before he passed. He was the last male in the pride.” Nyoka said.

“Oh...” Niki winced slightly. “but then, whose Chausiku's father? I mean, if yours was the last in the pride..”

Nyoka look uncomfortable. “Well... have you noticed those strange x marked scars Kucha has?” When Niki nodded Nyoka continued. “She was attack on a border patrol by an enemy pride a little while ago, they kidnapped her and tortured her, trying to find out where we had camp.” Nyoka sighed. “She didn't talk though and my mom found out where they were by tracking their scent. If theres one lion in this pride my mother trusts, it Kucha. So she'd do anything to save her. They basically killed everything they could gt their claws on and saved Kucha, but she was already pregnant. Though, Kucha said she got even with Chausiku's father in the end...”

Niki gaped a bit when Nyoka finished, shocked by the tale. “That sound horrible.”

“Its how most of our kind are conceived. Lioness in our pride don't slow down and males aren't very good at courting. Its how Bui-Bui was born and my mother as well.” Nyoka shrugged. “I guess this is why our kind must be so hard and fierce. The lives we lead here are not easy.”

“Then why not leave? For a better place?” Niki asked.

“Its been a while since our exile to the desert and most prides have forgiven us or even forgotten.” Nyoka shook her head. “Not all have though. Our pride being the most bitter I think. Not to mention mixing our behaviour into the equation makes it almost impossible to join another pride. Not that we'd let some one else lead us anyway.” Nyoka looked to Niki sadly. “Even if we could fix any of those things there still the problem of our code... We never back down. We're here till the war is over, dead or alive.” Nyoka looked down to Giza wrapped around Niki's neck. “Your are too, from the look of it.”

“What? The snake?” Niki looked down at the creature. “What is she going to do? Slither off to find you guys if I leg it?”

“Don't you know what kind of snake Giza is?” Nyoka asked tightly, looking worried. “She's a Black Mamba.”

“Black Mamba?” Niki looked down at Giza, whom seemed interested in their conversation suddenly. The grey snake shuffled on her throat a bit. “But she's grey.”

“Their named that because the inside of their mouths are black.” Nyoka said. At this, Giza opened her mouth ever so slightly to show off her inky black inners. “And they're...”

“They're what?” Niki asked. “Long?”

“No... poisonous. “

“What!?” Niki looked down at Giza, whom tightened her hold on Niki's neck a little, spitting her tongue.

“They're kinda the most poisonous snake like... ever?” Nyoka grimaced. “As far as I know..”

“How can they be more poisonous than others!!” Niki asked, keeping an eye on the snake around her neck.

“ Well when I was a cub we captured an enemy male.” Nyoka said. “They had a Black Mamba bite him, he was,... ugh, dead half an hour later. Wasn't nice. He was foaming and vomiting. I couldn't stand to see the rest, but...” Nyoka shook her head, trying to dispel the memory. “Just ... Just don't try and leave, she won't do anything other wise, but if you do make a run for it... she will kill you...” Nyoka looked to Niki sadly. 'I'm sorry.”

Niki looked down at the snake, whom glared back. Giza shifted, bringing her head closer to Niki's before uttering what may have been the first words she had spoken in close to three weeks.

“I dare you.”

_______________________________________________________________

For the next week Niki was more wary every task that she worked on. Giza's poisonous fangs mere inches from her neck at all times, and while the snake never tried anything, besides nibbling on Niki's left over meals, Niki wasn't quiet as comfortable having Giza accompany her anymore.

Yet what was even more troubling was that it was nearing the end of Niki's probationary month and still no one had shown up looking for her. It puzzled Niki , as she was sure they wouldn't let her go so easily... She knew she hadn't had the time to cover her scent, so she shouldn't be too hard to find.

Niki had been discussing the subject worriedly with Nyoka when the lioness offer a different idea.

“You were pretty sick when you got here. Maybe they think the desert heat killed you and aren't bothering to look? I mean, they could have sent some kind of message out to the areas surrounding the desert to alert them if you showed up suddenly... Since you haven't ...” Nyoka winced at Niki horrified look. “Urgh, forget I said anything Niki.”

“No... That makes perfects sense...” Niki shuttered “What am I going to do?! Your family will never believe that! They aren't even bothering to ask the Spiritland officials if I have a warrant out on my head!”

“If they did that it kinda be a big alert that they actually have caught you. They'd likely just sent a team out here with the answer and pick you up.” Nyoka said. “Not to mention there is a war going on. We can't really send lions off willie-nillie. I just wish we hadn't brought you back and treated you out in the sands. She might not be so decisive about killing you, had you not seen the dens.”

Niki shook her head. “She may have still thought he was a spy...”

Niki shuttered. She wasn't sure what Mnyama was going to do. The leader of the pride had not mentioned the passage of time to Niki, or anyone. While Niki knew Mnyama hadn't forgotten, she dearly hoped the lioness would just choose to overrule her last statement.

Yet as far as Niki had seen, that just wasn't in Mnyama personality. Whatever she said got done. That was that.

Yet perhaps Mnyama was preoccupied with her war, which had taken a sudden and extreme turn. The last few days the borders had continued to spiral into chaos. Nyoka and Niki were left to hunt alone more and more as battles raged at the edge of their land. Kucha and Mnyama would return wounded a lot of the time, yet while none of them were life threatening, they would most likely sting at the very least.

Bui-Bui and even Uchungu were called away to fight, leaving Fira to keep an eye on camp, and Chausiku to a lesser extent. Fira was clearly displeased, wishing to join in on the battles, yet Mnyama was cemented on her decision. Fira and Nyoka needed to be a bit older before they could fight along side them. Even if Fira wanted to fight now, and Nyoka never.

That night Niki was unable to slumber. In two days time Mnyama would likely issue Niki's execution orders and she would be finished. Nyoka lay next to her, sleepless in the wake of her friends struggle. The teenager shook her head. “Oh Niki, there still two days! Some one must be looking for you!”

“I really doubt it at this point...” Niki frowned. “I wish I could just go back to prison... Through this place isn't too different...” Niki growled and flicked her tail in annoyance. “Still on lock down, still guarded day and night, only now I have to worry about twice as many crazies than usual.”

“Moan, Moan, Moan.” Fira snarled from her spot sleepily, lifting her head to glare at them. “Some of us actually are going to do real work tomorrow. Not only am I watching the brat! Im also going to do all the borders with Bui-Bui, so shut up!”

Chausiku glared sleepily from her own bed, but settled again easily.

Niki watched Fira lay back down before sighing gruffly. “Yah,yah...- Nyoka.” The lioness looked to the younger sadly. “You're the only one I think I can trust here. You know i'm not a spy right?”

“I... yes... I think so.” Nyoka nodded

“Then you know I shouldn't just die here!”

“I know... but I think it might be better than the alternative. “ Nyoka looked back to Niki. “I can't stand to see you turn into one of us, Niki. I don't want you to die but... I don't want you to suffer for the rest of your life either...”

“I can deal with a little suffering Nyoka.” Niki frowned. “If I don't then i'll be dead and thats irreversible.”

“Well if you could handle a little suffering, then why did you run from prison Niki?” The teen shot back. “Was it really worse than all this?”

Niki stiffened. No... While it was true Prison wasn't pleasant, it at least ensured her relative safety and food. Here... the lioness themselves weren't given any of these things unless they fought to the bone to them.

The best way to summarize a life on the inside was the Ans back at Greza. Here it was Uchungu. The scarred and maimed, boney remains of a lioness was a harsh transition from the healthily though confined Ans. Yet... even with all that, at the end of the day, the ability to choose to even the smallest of desires might overpower the wish for safety and security...

“Nyoka. If you had to choose between being cared for, but locked away or living free without any promises of food or protection... which would you choose?” Niki said finally, after her delibration.

“...Well... Depends on what you mean by locked away.” Nyoka sighed. “Do you mean prison? Or do you mean this situation ? If thats the case than I've already decided haven't I?” The lioness sighed. “I can't hunt or fight, at least here I can still be alive. Even with Fira breathing down my back fur.” Nyoka sighed, suddenly looking wishful. “Or... Did you mean locked in... in a good way?”

“When is it ever good?” Niki grumbled.

The lioness shrugged. “In order to be free you have to not owe anyone anything. That means no mate to be faithful to, no cub that need you to care for them, no friends that depend on you... Being free, it seem so lonely Niki.” Nyoka looked her friend in the eye. “I like to think every one needs a little more of one than the other to be happy. It tough though, cause no one knows how much of one or the other they need. So... They have to make a lot of sad and stupid mistakes. “ Nyoka had a dreamy look in her eye again. “I want a family who wants me. Cubs who can play all day and a mate to love me for who I am. I want to be... held down by them, because I know they'll always pick me right back up again.” Nyoka blinked, washing the imaginings away to look at Niki again. “What do you want Niki?”

Niki blinked, unsure of an-

“YOU BASTARD!!”

The two lioness flinched at the noise outside. They could hear a groaning sound and they padded up to the mouth of the den.

In the middle of camp lay a large male lion, who seemed to be missing an eye. It was bleeding freshly, and the male glared wildly at the lioness circling him. All the elder pride members had encircled him and were growling fiercely.

“Think you can just sneak up on our camp!” Kucha sneered and she staid forward, glowering.

“I think you stupid whores are just upset that you're losing this war so-”

Kucha snarled and leap forth, etching a row of bleeding marks in the male's side. He snarled and made to swipe back at her, only to miss when she swiftly retreated. He snarled angrily.

“Do be soo foolish. Don't you understand how far in you are?” Mnyama frowned. “You won't be leaving this place alive so you can tell your daddy where our dens are!”

Niki and Nyoka both looked out the mouth of the den, both shocked at the sudden hostility. “Thats a member of one of our enemy prides!” Nyoka gasped. “His dad is always leading the northern attacks.”

“I heard that they were picking the next leader by holding a contest.” Fira spoke as she joined them, Chausiku scrambling after her. “Whoever killed a lion of the other prides and returned with their head first, got to take over, or something.”

The lioness were snarling at their intruder, not bothering with the younger who had just awoken, if they even noticed at all. “Well ladies, what do you say we should do with our 'guest'?” Mnyama asked, looking to the others.

“I say we rip out his tongue.” Bui-Bui suggested calmly.

“Then he'd still be able to show them to us!” Uchungu said. “Lets gut him up and leave him here! He can crawl to the reaper on his belly, nice and slow like.”

“I don't want to trip over him.” Kucha snarled. “That'd just inconvenience us.”

Mnyama was pondering silently, when she suddenly looked to Niki and the others. “Fira. You still haven't gotten your kill, right?”

“No, but I've thought about it and I want my first kill to be in battle.” Fira said casually. “I think it be a bit more dignified for me.”

“If you want to hunt your own.” Mnyama said, a bit a proud smirk adorning her muzzle. “Have you any ideas though?”

“I like Uchungu's idea, but... put him in the snake pit instead. Meat better fresh and pumping right?” Fira shrugged.

The other lioness looked back to their leader. Kucha flittered her ears and sniffed. “I think thats a good idea.”

“Then thats what we'll do.” Mnyama said, before turning and snarling to their victim. “Lets cut him down a bit, I don't want him hurting the snakes while they eat him.”

Snarls and roars echoed out as the four lions were suddenly upon the male, ripping and taring at flesh. Niki gaped and rounded, shuddering at the sick noises, screams and the sight of blood soaking into the sand. She and Nyoka both rushed back into the den, looking sick and dry heaving while Fria watch them.

Fira only shook her head before watching the horrible action again. Niki and Nyoka huddled at the back of the cave, Niki shaking and pressing herself to her friend, fearful of what she had just witnessed. Niki only looked back to the mouth of then den, where blood had begun to dribble over the edge and into the cave as excess liquid. Niki then noticed Chausiku, whom was still at Fira side. The cub was frozen, watching the violence unfold. Niki was almost sure the cub would make a smart allacked remark, but instead she actually looked away, disturbed.

Chausiku inched a bit away from the entrance, making strange huffing and snuffling noises. She looked about the cave, before finding the two hiding at the back. Tail between her legs the usually proud and brash cub ran to them, slinking quickly into Niki paws fearfully.

Niki, a little dumbfounded at the cubs reaction, could only put a paw around her, holding her close as she shook in Niki's grasp. Niki couldn't help but wonder if this was what Chausiku was really like, and the cub she usually saw was just a front of sorts...

Fira looked back to them one moment, shaking her head in disappointment at the sight of them. Then a particularly loud screech took her attention, which was followed by the snapping of bone.

“Oh gods, oh gods!” Niki shook her head. “Nyoka!” She managed to look the other lioness in the eye. “I'll never survive here, even if some one showed up looking for me tomorrow!”

The sounds outside began to quiet, but the feeling of fear was still well and alive in the cave... Nyoka stared back at Niki before speaking.

“I know.... so I'll help you.”

__________________________________________________________________________________________
Hey guys!! Spotty-bee here, entering 's Contest!! This kinda conjoins with my current Lion King Story, which is heavily inspired by Koai's comics! It is NOT, understand, NOT necessary to read what little there is of it to understand this entry. Its just a fun little connection that takes place far in the past of my story. As my story's current time line era is closer to when Kat had her son.

Anywho, please enjoy!! If you wish to look at my story, here is a link, but is is not needed to read this, so do as you wish
spotty-bee.deviantart.com/gall…

Part 4: fav.me/d7hk1k0

Part 6 : fav.me/d7hswhg

Description

The next two weeks Niki was under constant guard. Giza was with her at all times. She wasn't sure when Giza slept, but snake appeared alert at all times, and ever weary of her new travel companion. Niki had actually attempted conversation at one point, but Giza hadn't answered a single question, so the lioness gave up.

Kucha seemed to be her usual babysitter. The two had hunted together for a while and Mnyama hadn't been lying when she said food was scarce. Yet even if it was difficult Niki couldn't help but feel the simple pleasure of running free and hunting prey with others. They usually came back with something at least, and Mnyama never complained, so Niki was guessing this was usual. Kucha herself spoke very little with Niki, other than ordering her around.

Bui-Bui, as Niki found, was the pride's loner. She was usually off patrolling on her own and when she was in camp, she was eating or sleeping. Not spending much time with her younger sisters, Fira and Nyoka. Yet Niki found in what little time she had to speak with Bui-Bui ,that the lioness was certainly a strange character. She was refined and delicate, almost like a princess, but at the same time she took great pleasure at the misfortune of others. One of the few conversation Niki had had with Bui-Bui involved how Bui-Bui had disembowelled a hyena a few months back, smiling all the while and eating her lunch. Niki had found the story too graphic and felt too nauseous to eat.

Uchungu was Mnyama's mother and Kucha's aunt, making the two cousins. Uchungu was a foul mouthed old lady, whom lazed around camp and kept everything running smoothly.

Chausiku was also running around camp while her mother, Kucha, was away working on one job or another. Apparently Chausiku had no father to speak of, and the young cub was a little ball of fury. It was not uncommon for Niki to wake up with her ear or tail in the cub's grasp, all while Chausiku treated it like her own personal chew toy. Niki had tried to talk to Uchungu about it at first, but the elder refused to help.

“In our pride cubs tend to fend for themselves for things, we just supply the food. We teach them when they're young that if you have a problem, you deal with it! You want her to stop, figure it out!” The elder had harrumphed afterward and limped off.

A few hours afterward Niki had spotted Chauskiu try to munch on Bui-Bui's tail while she slept. The elder lioness had awoken and promptly smack the cab away wither her hind paw. Chausiku had tumbled over and risen huffily before spitting a few insults at her elder and Bui-Bui wasted not a moment to stand, circle and snarl at the youngster, bearing her teeth. As far as Niki knew, Chausiku never tried to do that to Bui-Bui again. Nyoka and Niki herself were free game however.

It was later that afternoon that Kucha was called off for an emergency at the border, leaving a hole in the roster for Niki's babysitter. Niki herself had been sitting at the mouth of a den when Uchungu had found her.

“Since Kucha has been called away on more pressing matters, you shall be hunting with Nyoka today. “ The elder huffed unhappily before growling “Try to catch SOMETHING with her, alright. She's almost useless when it come to hunting.”

“Nobody's born hunting. Maybe she just needs some extra help.” Niki frowned, a bit unhappy that Nyoka's family seemed so willing to dismiss any possibility for the lioness's improvement.

“Yah, have fun with that.” The elder chuckled before marching off, only to trip over Chausiku when the cub scampered past her. “Ah! Stop prancing around like a rabid gazelle!!”

“But I'm BORED!!”

“Then hunt the cave mice! Gods!”

“About ready to go?” Nyoka said when she rounded the cave to Niki's side. “I'll warn you now, I'm not very good and I don't get much practice, so....”

“No its ok...” Niki looked over to Chausiku beginning to stalk down into a cave. “Does everyone usually treat Chausiku like that?”

“Its not just her really. They've used that method to raise almost everyone here. Fira and I got the same results when we were cubs.” Nyoka explained, leading Niki out into the desert.

“But you'rr so... nice.” Niki said.

“Hehe... yah well. This method makes about two extremes for what a cub could grow up to be. Most time they turn into war mongering, full of confidence fighters... but the other side is you risk the cub becoming so submissive that you let anything happen just to avoid attention.” Nyoka sighed. “I like to think that I would have been like the others, if Fira hadn't been born in my litter. She like to... pick on me alot..”

“Most siblings do.” Niki responded. “I had to save a kid from a hole once, cause her sister left her in there , so she wouldn't to get in trouble.”

“Really? Ah wow! If I did that to Fira when we were cub she would kicked the shit outta me... I mean, you see this?” Nyoka gestured to an ugly scar on her shoulder. “Fira kept on stealing my food and, well... since nobody cared when she bullied me ,I thought I'd try and get my food back. So I pounced her and... “ Nyoka shuddered. “Wasn't pretty.”

“What?! What did your mother do?!” Niki gasped.

“Oh I ran to her, crying, and she basically told me to grow up and get over it. Wasn't her problem I couldn't lion up and take Fira on. It wasn't like they didn't offer some kind of help though. Mom was teaching Fira the family battle moves, we all start young, and she told me to join if I wanted. Only...” Nyoka sighed. “With Fira obviously going to be my sparing partner I didn't want to. Mom never pushed me , she offered once and she wasn't about to do it again. I guess If I had lioned up back then and suffered a few rounds in the ring with Fira I might actually be more capable to defend myself from her now... but she too far a head of me. Even Chausiku is starting to learn to fight better than me, she keeps testing moves out on me.”

“No one should have to deal with that!” Niki growled. “What about your father?! Speaking of which, where is Chausiku's father?!”

“I never knew my father. He was wounded in battle and was dying, so my mother decided to mate with him in order to carry on the pride line before he passed. He was the last male in the pride.” Nyoka said.

“Oh...” Niki winced slightly. “but then, whose Chausiku's father? I mean, if yours was the last in the pride..”

Nyoka look uncomfortable. “Well... have you noticed those strange x marked scars Kucha has?” When Niki nodded Nyoka continued. “She was attack on a border patrol by an enemy pride a little while ago, they kidnapped her and tortured her, trying to find out where we had camp.” Nyoka sighed. “She didn't talk though and my mom found out where they were by tracking their scent. If theres one lion in this pride my mother trusts, it Kucha. So she'd do anything to save her. They basically killed everything they could gt their claws on and saved Kucha, but she was already pregnant. Though, Kucha said she got even with Chausiku's father in the end...”

Niki gaped a bit when Nyoka finished, shocked by the tale. “That sound horrible.”

“Its how most of our kind are conceived. Lioness in our pride don't slow down and males aren't very good at courting. Its how Bui-Bui was born and my mother as well.” Nyoka shrugged. “I guess this is why our kind must be so hard and fierce. The lives we lead here are not easy.”

“Then why not leave? For a better place?” Niki asked.

“Its been a while since our exile to the desert and most prides have forgiven us or even forgotten.” Nyoka shook her head. “Not all have though. Our pride being the most bitter I think. Not to mention mixing our behaviour into the equation makes it almost impossible to join another pride. Not that we'd let some one else lead us anyway.” Nyoka looked to Niki sadly. “Even if we could fix any of those things there still the problem of our code... We never back down. We're here till the war is over, dead or alive.” Nyoka looked down to Giza wrapped around Niki's neck. “Your are too, from the look of it.”

“What? The snake?” Niki looked down at the creature. “What is she going to do? Slither off to find you guys if I leg it?”

“Don't you know what kind of snake Giza is?” Nyoka asked tightly, looking worried. “She's a Black Mamba.”

“Black Mamba?” Niki looked down at Giza, whom seemed interested in their conversation suddenly. The grey snake shuffled on her throat a bit. “But she's grey.”

“Their named that because the inside of their mouths are black.” Nyoka said. At this, Giza opened her mouth ever so slightly to show off her inky black inners. “And they're...”

“They're what?” Niki asked. “Long?”

“No... poisonous. “

“What!?” Niki looked down at Giza, whom tightened her hold on Niki's neck a little, spitting her tongue.

“They're kinda the most poisonous snake like... ever?” Nyoka grimaced. “As far as I know..”

“How can they be more poisonous than others!!” Niki asked, keeping an eye on the snake around her neck.

“ Well when I was a cub we captured an enemy male.” Nyoka said. “They had a Black Mamba bite him, he was,... ugh, dead half an hour later. Wasn't nice. He was foaming and vomiting. I couldn't stand to see the rest, but...” Nyoka shook her head, trying to dispel the memory. “Just ... Just don't try and leave, she won't do anything other wise, but if you do make a run for it... she will kill you...” Nyoka looked to Niki sadly. 'I'm sorry.”

Niki looked down at the snake, whom glared back. Giza shifted, bringing her head closer to Niki's before uttering what may have been the first words she had spoken in close to three weeks.

“I dare you.”

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For the next week Niki was more wary every task that she worked on. Giza's poisonous fangs mere inches from her neck at all times, and while the snake never tried anything, besides nibbling on Niki's left over meals, Niki wasn't quiet as comfortable having Giza accompany her anymore.

Yet what was even more troubling was that it was nearing the end of Niki's probationary month and still no one had shown up looking for her. It puzzled Niki , as she was sure they wouldn't let her go so easily... She knew she hadn't had the time to cover her scent, so she shouldn't be too hard to find.

Niki had been discussing the subject worriedly with Nyoka when the lioness offer a different idea.

“You were pretty sick when you got here. Maybe they think the desert heat killed you and aren't bothering to look? I mean, they could have sent some kind of message out to the areas surrounding the desert to alert them if you showed up suddenly... Since you haven't ...” Nyoka winced at Niki horrified look. “Urgh, forget I said anything Niki.”

“No... That makes perfects sense...” Niki shuttered “What am I going to do?! Your family will never believe that! They aren't even bothering to ask the Spiritland officials if I have a warrant out on my head!”

“If they did that it kinda be a big alert that they actually have caught you. They'd likely just sent a team out here with the answer and pick you up.” Nyoka said. “Not to mention there is a war going on. We can't really send lions off willie-nillie. I just wish we hadn't brought you back and treated you out in the sands. She might not be so decisive about killing you, had you not seen the dens.”

Niki shook her head. “She may have still thought he was a spy...”

Niki shuttered. She wasn't sure what Mnyama was going to do. The leader of the pride had not mentioned the passage of time to Niki, or anyone. While Niki knew Mnyama hadn't forgotten, she dearly hoped the lioness would just choose to overrule her last statement.

Yet as far as Niki had seen, that just wasn't in Mnyama personality. Whatever she said got done. That was that.

Yet perhaps Mnyama was preoccupied with her war, which had taken a sudden and extreme turn. The last few days the borders had continued to spiral into chaos. Nyoka and Niki were left to hunt alone more and more as battles raged at the edge of their land. Kucha and Mnyama would return wounded a lot of the time, yet while none of them were life threatening, they would most likely sting at the very least.

Bui-Bui and even Uchungu were called away to fight, leaving Fira to keep an eye on camp, and Chausiku to a lesser extent. Fira was clearly displeased, wishing to join in on the battles, yet Mnyama was cemented on her decision. Fira and Nyoka needed to be a bit older before they could fight along side them. Even if Fira wanted to fight now, and Nyoka never.

That night Niki was unable to slumber. In two days time Mnyama would likely issue Niki's execution orders and she would be finished. Nyoka lay next to her, sleepless in the wake of her friends struggle. The teenager shook her head. “Oh Niki, there still two days! Some one must be looking for you!”

“I really doubt it at this point...” Niki frowned. “I wish I could just go back to prison... Through this place isn't too different...” Niki growled and flicked her tail in annoyance. “Still on lock down, still guarded day and night, only now I have to worry about twice as many crazies than usual.”

“Moan, Moan, Moan.” Fira snarled from her spot sleepily, lifting her head to glare at them. “Some of us actually are going to do real work tomorrow. Not only am I watching the brat! Im also going to do all the borders with Bui-Bui, so shut up!”

Chausiku glared sleepily from her own bed, but settled again easily.

Niki watched Fira lay back down before sighing gruffly. “Yah,yah...- Nyoka.” The lioness looked to the younger sadly. “You're the only one I think I can trust here. You know i'm not a spy right?”

“I... yes... I think so.” Nyoka nodded

“Then you know I shouldn't just die here!”

“I know... but I think it might be better than the alternative. “ Nyoka looked back to Niki. “I can't stand to see you turn into one of us, Niki. I don't want you to die but... I don't want you to suffer for the rest of your life either...”

“I can deal with a little suffering Nyoka.” Niki frowned. “If I don't then i'll be dead and thats irreversible.”

“Well if you could handle a little suffering, then why did you run from prison Niki?” The teen shot back. “Was it really worse than all this?”

Niki stiffened. No... While it was true Prison wasn't pleasant, it at least ensured her relative safety and food. Here... the lioness themselves weren't given any of these things unless they fought to the bone to them.

The best way to summarize a life on the inside was the Ans back at Greza. Here it was Uchungu. The scarred and maimed, boney remains of a lioness was a harsh transition from the healthily though confined Ans. Yet... even with all that, at the end of the day, the ability to choose to even the smallest of desires might overpower the wish for safety and security...

“Nyoka. If you had to choose between being cared for, but locked away or living free without any promises of food or protection... which would you choose?” Niki said finally, after her delibration.

“...Well... Depends on what you mean by locked away.” Nyoka sighed. “Do you mean prison? Or do you mean this situation ? If thats the case than I've already decided haven't I?” The lioness sighed. “I can't hunt or fight, at least here I can still be alive. Even with Fira breathing down my back fur.” Nyoka sighed, suddenly looking wishful. “Or... Did you mean locked in... in a good way?”

“When is it ever good?” Niki grumbled.

The lioness shrugged. “In order to be free you have to not owe anyone anything. That means no mate to be faithful to, no cub that need you to care for them, no friends that depend on you... Being free, it seem so lonely Niki.” Nyoka looked her friend in the eye. “I like to think every one needs a little more of one than the other to be happy. It tough though, cause no one knows how much of one or the other they need. So... They have to make a lot of sad and stupid mistakes. “ Nyoka had a dreamy look in her eye again. “I want a family who wants me. Cubs who can play all day and a mate to love me for who I am. I want to be... held down by them, because I know they'll always pick me right back up again.” Nyoka blinked, washing the imaginings away to look at Niki again. “What do you want Niki?”

Niki blinked, unsure of an-

“YOU BASTARD!!”

The two lioness flinched at the noise outside. They could hear a groaning sound and they padded up to the mouth of the den.

In the middle of camp lay a large male lion, who seemed to be missing an eye. It was bleeding freshly, and the male glared wildly at the lioness circling him. All the elder pride members had encircled him and were growling fiercely.

“Think you can just sneak up on our camp!” Kucha sneered and she staid forward, glowering.

“I think you stupid whores are just upset that you're losing this war so-”

Kucha snarled and leap forth, etching a row of bleeding marks in the male's side. He snarled and made to swipe back at her, only to miss when she swiftly retreated. He snarled angrily.

“Do be soo foolish. Don't you understand how far in you are?” Mnyama frowned. “You won't be leaving this place alive so you can tell your daddy where our dens are!”

Niki and Nyoka both looked out the mouth of the den, both shocked at the sudden hostility. “Thats a member of one of our enemy prides!” Nyoka gasped. “His dad is always leading the northern attacks.”

“I heard that they were picking the next leader by holding a contest.” Fira spoke as she joined them, Chausiku scrambling after her. “Whoever killed a lion of the other prides and returned with their head first, got to take over, or something.”

The lioness were snarling at their intruder, not bothering with the younger who had just awoken, if they even noticed at all. “Well ladies, what do you say we should do with our 'guest'?” Mnyama asked, looking to the others.

“I say we rip out his tongue.” Bui-Bui suggested calmly.

“Then he'd still be able to show them to us!” Uchungu said. “Lets gut him up and leave him here! He can crawl to the reaper on his belly, nice and slow like.”

“I don't want to trip over him.” Kucha snarled. “That'd just inconvenience us.”

Mnyama was pondering silently, when she suddenly looked to Niki and the others. “Fira. You still haven't gotten your kill, right?”

“No, but I've thought about it and I want my first kill to be in battle.” Fira said casually. “I think it be a bit more dignified for me.”

“If you want to hunt your own.” Mnyama said, a bit a proud smirk adorning her muzzle. “Have you any ideas though?”

“I like Uchungu's idea, but... put him in the snake pit instead. Meat better fresh and pumping right?” Fira shrugged.

The other lioness looked back to their leader. Kucha flittered her ears and sniffed. “I think thats a good idea.”

“Then thats what we'll do.” Mnyama said, before turning and snarling to their victim. “Lets cut him down a bit, I don't want him hurting the snakes while they eat him.”

Snarls and roars echoed out as the four lions were suddenly upon the male, ripping and taring at flesh. Niki gaped and rounded, shuddering at the sick noises, screams and the sight of blood soaking into the sand. She and Nyoka both rushed back into the den, looking sick and dry heaving while Fria watch them.

Fira only shook her head before watching the horrible action again. Niki and Nyoka huddled at the back of the cave, Niki shaking and pressing herself to her friend, fearful of what she had just witnessed. Niki only looked back to the mouth of then den, where blood had begun to dribble over the edge and into the cave as excess liquid. Niki then noticed Chausiku, whom was still at Fira side. The cub was frozen, watching the violence unfold. Niki was almost sure the cub would make a smart allacked remark, but instead she actually looked away, disturbed.

Chausiku inched a bit away from the entrance, making strange huffing and snuffling noises. She looked about the cave, before finding the two hiding at the back. Tail between her legs the usually proud and brash cub ran to them, slinking quickly into Niki paws fearfully.

Niki, a little dumbfounded at the cubs reaction, could only put a paw around her, holding her close as she shook in Niki's grasp. Niki couldn't help but wonder if this was what Chausiku was really like, and the cub she usually saw was just a front of sorts...

Fira looked back to them one moment, shaking her head in disappointment at the sight of them. Then a particularly loud screech took her attention, which was followed by the snapping of bone.

“Oh gods, oh gods!” Niki shook her head. “Nyoka!” She managed to look the other lioness in the eye. “I'll never survive here, even if some one showed up looking for me tomorrow!”

The sounds outside began to quiet, but the feeling of fear was still well and alive in the cave... Nyoka stared back at Niki before speaking.

“I know.... so I'll help you.”

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Hey guys!! Spotty-bee here, entering 's Contest!! This kinda conjoins with my current Lion King Story, which is heavily inspired by Koai's comics! It is NOT, understand, NOT necessary to read what little there is of it to understand this entry. Its just a fun little connection that takes place far in the past of my story. As my story's current time line era is closer to when Kat had her son.

Anywho, please enjoy!! If you wish to look at my story, here is a link, but is is not needed to read this, so do as you wish
spotty-bee.deviantart.com/gall…

Part 4: fav.me/d7hk1k0

Part 6 : fav.me/d7hswhg