Lion Guard Defend

[abalancedbreakfast]

Feroz, still a bit pleasantly surprised by Alari's affection, took the request in with a glowing, honored expression. This was clearly what the vision granted him his strength for.

"Ma'am" he said, turning to Nuha. "I'd be honored to be a part of your lion guard. Thank you so much for trusting me with this gift"

Not knowing what else to do, he took Nuha into a hug. For once in two years, he finally had a home. And it was all thanks to this lioness.

"Just one question, though, not related to the whole guard thing" he said. "Where is your brother? We can't find him. "

[cheezeegriff]

Jono couldn’t believe it. Rafiki was still talking, something about his mother. Even Tarajii was just staring dumbly. When the old baboon reached out a hand Jono flinched.

“No.” He swatted the hand away, then turned and ran.

Rafiki called him from behind, but the sound retreated into the distance as he ran out into the dark savanna. His eyes picked up everything at night, even with barely any moon. He ran over fallen logs poking out of the grass, dodged an anteater’s nest, then carved his own path through the scrub, the tall grass-seed strands slapping at his injury. He ran as fast as he could for as long as he could around glades, over ridges and across fields, before coming to a rise he was familiar with – Flat Ridge Rock, where he stopped, breathing heavily.

His mind swam with fury. She had done this to him. He paced, found a puddle on top of the rock and looked down, then found himself horrified again at what he saw. He looked away, disgusted.

“That hog. That stuck-up little brat. That… rhino’s… kitako!”

Jono became aware of a scraping sound, and looked down: he was digging at the rock with his claws extended. With a huff he sheathed them, then sat down. He would get her. Oh, she was going to pay.

He had a more immediate problem though. Mother would need food tonight, and Jono was still too young to hunt. Oh, he could catch the occasional unsuspecting hyrax but Mother would need more than that.

There was a red glow coming from nearby, just over some hills, lighting the clouds above. A not too distant volcano. Jono hated going to that place. The smell of sulfur was awful, and the company was worse, but desperate times…

His mother would not go hungry tonight.

Jono picked himself up. He checked the sky, the savanna behind him carefully for any signs of pursuit. Then he slipped into the grass and continued as quietly and quickly as he could.