The Curse of Shawtai's Blessing (private Krissi and Clary)

[Deleted]

"ugh. Let me go!" The fat lioness said.
Murbi didn't know what Shawtai's wanted with the huge lioness. He didn't much care. But he knew that her mate would catch up to them soon. It had been three weeks since they'd snuck into the camp and kidnapped the fat medicine lioness. Perhaps Shawtai wanted her to make him a cure. Many of their gorilla tribe had fallen sick as of late, but that was common this time of year.
"Stop struggling'" Murbi said, not quite as gently as he'd intended.
"My wrists... They're sore."
"You'll only make it worse. Relax. Let us carry your litter, and we will arrive sooner and can remove your bonds."
Pale blue eyes narrowed at him from a vastly fat face. Despite her size (and the fact that she was a lioness), there was something enchanting in those eyes. Something dangerous too - she was still a predator, despite the fact that she was too big to walk on her own. It made him shudder, but they were also expressive eyes. He could sense her fear. "Relax. My master does not wish you harm."
"Then why kidnap me in the middle of the night, when my mate was away looking for ingredients?"
"We have to be careful. Your previous associates are one of the most deadly predators on the face of Africa. Even more deadly than you. We did not want to incur their wrath. You may have left willingly, but they would never have released their goddess without a fight."
"I'm not their goddess," she said, gritting her teeth and pulling feebly on the grass-woven ropes. "I was their healer."
"It is no different in their minds," Murbi said, surprised at her ignorance. He was distracted, though, when Barut grunted, turning around to peer through the trees. They wee in the foothills of the Cloud Mountains now, and despite their best efforts, the lioness had been leaving a scent track for her mate, Ezekiel. For three weeks they hadn't seen him, but they still had three days to go, and changes in e wind occasionally brought a whiff of the smell all gorillas had learned to fear: that of a stalking lion...

[Ruby_Fehu]

Ezekiel could only see red as he followed the filthy creatures that had taken his family from him. The wind was starting to pick up and the scent of Wasana was getting stronger and stronger the closer he got.

He'd been travelling for nearly and month, desperately searching but it was proving futile, however as he continued to walk along he began to feel hopeful as the scent seemed to be closer - almost as if whoever had taken Wasana were slowing their pace, weary perhaps? Or at least weary he hoped.

Night was falling quickly but Ezekiel could see a potential safe haven a short distance away - caves built into the bottom of the mountains that he'd come to learn as being called Cloud Mountains. He knew though as he continued walking, his muscles starting to ache that she was nearby. He'd told her when they'd first become mates he'd always be able to find her and he'd always know where she was and he always knew. This time he knew. She was alive and close by.

[Deleted]

"He's close," said Barut, sniffing the air as it tossed the trees about in the gorge. "At the cave we passed, only hours ago."
"Then we march through the night," said Murbi, loud enough for all the gorillas to hear over the whistling wind. "I understand you're exhausted. If you cannot carry on, scale the nearest tree. Lion adults do not climb trees like leopards do. Remain in pairs. Now, let's go."
Eight of the great apes picked up Wasana's litter, though one was tired, and picked it up slowly. Wasana saw her chance. She threw her weight to the right, and rolled onto the dirt. Of course the gorillas shouted and tried to pick her up, but she squirmed and fought and bit them where she could. Of course, she tired quickly...

[Ruby_Fehu]

The wind whistled loudly and Ezekiel heard what he thought were shots amongst the weather and then the strong scent of Wasana attacked him. "No sleep for me." He murmured to himself, inhaling deeply he scanned the area before picking up his pace and starting to run, his paws kicking up dirt as he did and after only a few minutes of running the cave was far behind him, his breath coming in pants he continued running, ignoring the ache in his muscles at the force. He would find his family and he would find them tonight.

[Deleted]

"Stop struggling," Murbi said, wrestling with the large lioness. "Pick her up, quickly!"
"It's no good," said Barut. "We are too weak, and she is too heavy."
Murbi looked to the sky through the trees. It was growing dark quickly. "Then we make our stand here. He will be on us soon. Barut, go on ahead. Warn Shawtai. Tell him to bring friends. The rest of you up the trees."
They climbed the trees together, leaving the large lioness on the ground. She was too fat to walk away, though she tried. Murbi shook his head in dismay at the fat lioness, but then looked out over the jungle, waiting for her much more dangerous mate to arrive...

[Ruby_Fehu]

Ezekiel continued running until he skid to a halt when he saw his mate and children in the middle of the path, seemingly alone. Ezekiel narrowed his eyes and slipped behind a large rock, poking his head around carefully so as to try and remain as hidden as possible. The cubs noticed him first and began to wriggle excitedly whilst he shook his head and shushed them, "Daddy is here, just be quiet, you'll be safe in a minute." He was furious by the fact that they had separated mother and cubs but he was relieved that the cubs were close to him. He loved Wasana but he wanted to get his children to safety first. That was what being a parent was all about for him. Putting your children before anyone and anything. He lowered himself onto his haunches and glanced to the left where there was a small gap, he could only put his paw in and he saw it went right up to his shoulder so there was plenty of space to fit four small cubs into. He knew his children could walk but if there was anyone nearby he didn't want them to be alerted to the fact that the cubs were disappearing. "Alright, listen to daddy. I want you to crawl to me slowly and all at the same time." The cubs all looked up at him with a mixture of green, blue and brown eyes which shone with understanding. He positioned himself to spring if anyone should make a move to hurt his younger family members before looking to them all, "Alright, come over to daddy - slowly and carefully." He said softly to them, sending his gaze to Wasana and then up a tree where sure enough he saw the silhouette of a few apes.