Standing in the darkened hut several shadowed figures stood over the two bodies that were so full of life moments ago, the red glow that lit up as a bolt of lightning struck. The shadows were shown as anthro lions, they stood over the two bodies in a cold silence, fresh blood staining fur and claws alike. 

The four lioness' lurked in the darkness yet were soon joined by a much larger male as he shoved the flap to the hut open. He towered over the females, his hulking frame reached toward eight feet with glowing green that pierced through the darkness while he approached the smaller gathered group. 

Those glaring eyes scanned over the bodies that lay on the ground, anger held within them before all attention was turned to a new sound that broke through the sound of the storm outside. The wails of a child. An infant at that. Off to the side rested a small crib where the baby lay without a shred of defense. The male approached with a cold stare that was met with the innocent golden eyes of the baby. A moment passed before the male turned his back and stepped from the hut, left the group of females to glance among themselves. 

A young lioness looked conflicted as the other three began to follow suit of the male, giving a hesitant step after them before she turned to the wooden crib; a sorrowful glance to the bodies that had to be none other than the parents. Her sad expression lingered for more than a few moments before she gave a few small nods.

---

The large group of lions stared at the pelt wearing human as he spoke to Akilla with that soft familiar smile. The human even lowered himself down and extended a hand to stroke the large lioness across her muzzle, to which she merely closed  a single eye. The stunned silence gripped all the females present so the human was the one to break through the its grip.

"I've missed you, ever since the day I was sent to wander with the others..." his eyes shifted to the side as clear unfond memories plagued his mind. He shook his head to cast them away. He gazed into the feral lions eyes once more, a smile being pulled over his lips as he chuckled,

"You can't even speak to me after so long?" 

The question seemed to snap Akilla from her shock. She shook her own head as her ears laid back before she spoke,

"Amit, why have you returned? If King were to hear of this even you wouldn't be safe, you need to..." cut off as his hand caressed the top of her muzzle a second time. A simple nod of his head showed that he understood what she was going to say.

A sigh left his lips as his eyes turned to the gathered females behind Akilla. Her hunting party as it were, he looked at them with familiar eyes. Come to warn him of the dangers he would face should he cross too far into the territory of another Pride. A duty taken on by the females of a Pride to avoid the death of a young wandering male who did not know of the territory. He smiled to them as his hand fell from from her soft muzzle,

"I know all too well..." His left hand slowly rose to run his fingers across the scar across his stomach, the mark of two claws that had reached soft flesh of his left side to the center of his well toned stomach. His arms, legs, chest showed little difference.  Scars all over showed the battles that he had survived in the past healed yet reminders all the same. 

"Go fetch King, I wish to speak with him." The air itself turned from an awestruck shock to a knifes edge as if the world itself was about to change. The females dazed, confused looked to Akilla who merely stared dumbfounded by the bold request made from the human.

-----

The echo of a babies cries rang out through the large cave, to which no lion was given a moment to try and sleep. Gathered in the den for warmth growls and snarls of anger and frustration could be heard as eyes were cast to the only grown male who sat a distance away against the far wall. His piercing green eyes glared toward a small etched out corridor of the den which lead to the source of the dens displeasure. 

Down the small tunnel two anthro lionesses would be knelt down, a small panic between them as they scrambled about trying to find a way to calm the crying human child that lay in a small bed of grass before them. One held up a stick toy and the other offered water. Yet it did nothing to quell the child and the two younger females began to chance nervous glances back to the dark corridor. A fear etched upon their faces as they waited for an enraged lion to come and silence the child for good.

"What do we do!? We can't get it to be quiet!" one of the young lionesses would exclaim in a hushed manner while the other held her hands up before placing a single hand over the child's mouth finally putting a muffle over the noise. 

"I-I don't know! What do they do when cubs won't quiet down!?" the second lioness would question with wide brown eyes.

"Cubs don't make this kind of noise!" her green eyed friend would respond with a hand coming to rest against her own forehead.

It would be at this time that a feral lioness followed by a fairly large anthro would step from the darkness. "Two that have never known what it is to be mothers yet have no business attempting to tend to the young." 

The feral was older than the two and her eyes held a clear air of superiority. Her golden fur shifted as she stepped, showing the powerful muscles that rested under her pelt as she approached the younger two. 

"Akilla!?" one of the younger anthros would exclaim as both lowered their heads while they attempted to shield the young human behind them; unfortunately she had to remove her hand from his mouth and the crying once again echoed throughout the den. Much to the displeasure of all those in the main chamber.

The sound caused the feral to wince slightly with a clear show of annoyance upon her face. "Tia, you went with us, you understood the task. King allowed you to bring this human back after you begged him in front of all of us. Yet you now test the prides patience with this inability to silence it." 

The young lioness with brown eyes, Tia, lowered her head even more with her ears falling back in shame. Her expression showed her disappointment, yet her hands curled into fists against her own lap as she struggled to control herself.

"I-I couldn't just leave him to starve! I know what its like to be out there without a family!" She would plead with her muzzle practically resting against the soft dirt under her.

Akillia stared at Tia for a time, her friend having lifted her head and moved away with concern and sadness for her the one next to her. Akilla however shifted her gaze to the lioness behind her. A hulking mass of strength that she was. She towering over the two younger females with the muscles that would rival that of a male in the main chamber. This female on Akilla's silent order stepped forward causing Tai to quickly lift her head! She jumped to her feet with her arms extended in an attempt to block the larger female,

"Please Unala don't!" A strong hand an cold gaze was all Tai received as she was shoved aside with ease. She was caught by the other female as she fell into her arms. The large lioness Unala cast her eyes on the small human as she shifted down to a knee. Akilla stepped forward to stand behind Unala with a firm gaze upon Tai as the crying came to an end. Tai, now a shivering ball fought back the tears that welled up within her eyes, her friend held her close.

Akilla cast her eyes to the ground in thought before they lifted to the two younger females once more. "You have never bared cubs so you have no mind on how to care for them." A spiteful glare was given to Akilla and her words. They were easily ignored as she turned herself about and circled Unala.

"Unala here lost her cub when she was cast out of her old tribe, the male that replaced her old king deemed that his bloodline would not continue. She misses them dearly and has agreed to help upon my request." 

Confusion was cast upon the two younger lions that caused them to stir and approach. Taking in the sight of Unala nursing the young human as she gently cradled him in her powerful arms. The two younger lions were still a bit dazed yet relief fell onto them which caused their shoulders to drop, the tension they felt melting away at the youg human.

Akillia circled back around to make for the tunnel that led back to the main den, "I understand that you wish to help Tai, but there is no shame in relaying on your pride for guidance when you do not know what to do." 

The younger lioness still held tears in her eyes with her head being lowered as Akilla stepped out. Her glowing eyes cutting through the darkness as she stepped back into the main part of the  den to a large group of happily slumbering lions. 

Ferals and anthros were mashed together, snuggled close for warmth and breathing steadily all the while their leader, the powerful male still sat in silence as his eyes and face twisted in displeasure. 

Akillia approached to sit beside him, "If you continue to scowl like that your fur is going to turn grey before its time King." The male gave a 'Bah' in response as he exhaled, 

"I should have told her to leave it where she found it." Akilla smiled as she lowered herself to lay the front half of her body down upon the males lap causing him to finally break his stare as a grunt lept from his chest. 

She forced him to straighten his legs and place a hand upon her back, his focus now being upon her she smiled up to him. "You know full well Tai would have run off with him into the wilds, probably to be eaten by hyenas or worse. So you with your sharp eyes and soft heart told her she could keep him, just to get her safely home." 

Akillia was able to see right through him and his spiteful front, he admitted defeat with a heavy sigh and closed eyes.

"Do not think so little of your kindness King, perhaps one day you'll come to hold human in regards that they once were. Forget not the one that raised you." The males eyes cast to the side as memories grew in his mind before his shoulders fell. He let forth a hearty yawn as sleep demanded his submission.

-----

Several years had passed since that night within the hut. The young human that had been taken in all that time ago had grown with the other cubs of that year. They grew nearly at the same pace though the human remained weak and soft compared to the other lion cubs. Yet he had a different aura about him, he learned quickly. Adapted. A lion would push him, he would push back only to be thrown to the ground! So when the lion pushed again, he pulled and threw the lion out of the way. He learned quickly to use others strength against them and soon he knew how to fight.

Fight and fight. He learned how to throw, to dodge, to strike when they were open. He quickly became a fine warrior cub; Unala showed her pride in raising the young human to face off with even the wildest of lion cubs.

The older members of the Pride shunned him mostly when he began to crawl about, though in time they came to accept him. It was not easy, Unala and Tai were on constant watch as for his quick learning he was equally curious. Small cliffs, pointed branches, spitful females and young cubs all were a danger to the little human for some time. Yet as he grew, he learned and learned soon to stop crying when he fell. For what that was worth as most of the time he ran around with the cubs who created chaos and trouble where ever they went, impossible to order around or control when it came down to it. 

He slept with a few members of the pride, learned how to behave around elders and made a general nuisance of himself along with the other cubs. In the end he was accepted among the pride, given curious glances but otherwise accepted. 

From a young age scars appeared on his body, claw marks where flesh had been found, joined in by fangs in a few places. A lesson once learned in a harsh way when he fought back. No matter how much he learned it was hard to compete against claw and fang with soft flesh. No fur to help defend himself, no claws to make another think twice about fighting him.

A normal day in the pride. The cubs ran about and the young human who had since been named Amit by the elders would be found among them. One cub, Nitta had always liked challenging Amit at every chance. Easy prey as he claimed. Any chance given to show the elders that he could best the human would never be passed up!

It wasn't difficult to prove either. Amit had fallen many times to Nitta, claws found flesh and pain blinded the human only to cost him more as Nitta slammed him to the ground. Amit had been there more than he ever cared to remember. His tongue pushed dirt from behind his teeth as he forced himself up, fresh claw wounds to his left fore arm. The pain would linger for days. 

Nitta would not be satisfied however, Amit would not be allowed to stand to his feet. The young cub charged the human only to find a swift strike to the left side of his muzzle. A solid punch he had not expected. The pain Amit felt was familiar now, it knew its place! 

Nitta was staggered. Amit charged to tackle the cub to the ground, Nitta yelled out as he slammed into the earth. Amit mounted at his waist with his right fist raised back! A solid strike was given! A second! Third! Nitta was strong but panic over took him, desperation grew with each and every strike. 

It consumed him with the fith strike to his muzzle. He squirmed, twisted with his jaws opening to sink into Amit's exposed thigh! The pain that ran through Amit's body as his left leg was bitten caused a scream of pain like no other! Wounded left hand desperately ripped at Nitta's nape as he hunched over the lion as the pain spiked up his spine!

In his own fit of desperation Amit's right hand scraped against the ground, his fingered brushed against something. Without pause he gripped it. Whatever it was, anything, something had to stop the pain in his leg. With a quick swing a loud crack would ring out as Nitta's head ripped to the side as blood spilled from the side of his head. Amit fell, his leg free as blood flowed from the fresh wounds. 

His right hand had found a small rock. Larger than his fist, solid, rigid; sturdy enough to even break free of Nitta's jaws. The young cub rubbed his head as he attempted to gain his balance on his feet once more. This did not end the fight however as King roared out. All attention from those around had turned to King as he marched into the cubs arena.

Amit was tore from the land and thrown through the air in a swift motion, King now between Nitta and Amit! The older lion snarled out his emotions as Amit grunted from the impact with the ground. The human coughed as Nitta met with Kind's hand in a swift swipe; the cub being tough but no match for King quickly fell to the ground. 

"Fangs are only turned on challengers of the pride!" he would snarl out with a stiff finger directed toward Nitta!

He then spun and stomped toward Amit who cowered away "Only a coward would resort to stones in a challenge!" 

A lesson given in a harsh tone as King reminded the cubs how a battle between siblings of the same pride were to held.

The two young ones huffed and panted but Amit was the first to move as he staggered to his feet then limped away. King would not stop him as he jumped over a rock only to fall to the earth with a thud. The sound of a sniffle given off as he quickly disappeared into some tall grass. Nitta would not run away, he turned and whipped his head as he stepped through the group of cubs who parted for him as he passed.

King stood there, he watched as Amit ran then turned to see Nitta retreating as well. His wise gaze turned to the ground to see the blood stained rock that Amit had used to strike at his sibling cub. The few lioness that had gathered to over see the cubs had remained silent with the appearance of their king. 

Akilla however would raise her voice as she wandered in, "My my, must you be so harsh with your children?" The male remained silent however as the feral female rubbed up against his right leg. 

"A harsh lesson from a harsh king? May-hap King you should try speaking instead of yelling?" This gained a snarl from the large male with a firm glare passed to the female who merely smiled up to him in return. 

She circled King once before she moved to follow the path of Amit. 

"You hold him too closely Akilla, he is not..." the male being interrupted by the female.

"He is my cub as well as a cub of your pride King. He has been since the night he was brought here." A silent cold shoulder was cast toward King after that. The male remained silent himself in return before Akilla began to move through the grass to follow her injured cub.

The feral lioness seemed to know exactly where her wayward cub had wandered as she stepped from the tall grass to show a small watering hole. The human found seated next to it, sniffles given off as he wiped his nose with his left hand holding his leg. 

The bleeding had slowed but not stopped but the pain was there as if Nitta's fangs were still embedded in his flesh. 

Akilla's sudden appearance startled him to say the least. His entire body jumped which caused his leg to jar that caused a pained squal to rip through his throat as he gripped at his limb! 

The lioness seemed to take little interest in the cubs pain as she turned to look at the water. "You chose right in coming here Amit, this water is from the underground spring that was once used in The Wheels rituals." 

The human was able to draw his attention from the pain as Akilla spoke, 'The Wheels?' He would ask which caused her to smile. Her hind end lowered to sit next to the human as she began to explain. 

'The Wheels are what we call the old magic that the shamans read in the night sky or the way they read the wind. It is the life and death of everything." 

The young human seemed to forget about his pain as the lioness spoke, her soft voice just seemed to draw the attention of everything around her; not even pain was able to over take her energy. 

She turned to look at Amit with soft eyes, "It is also something that can be drawn upon. It was once used freely between lions and humans; shared between them to bond them together." 

Bright hopeful eyes would  be what Amit's eyes were as he stared up at the lioness who smiled sweetly down at the eager cub. Yet she drew her eyes to the pool of water in front of her. She lowered her head down to let her lips break the very surface of the water as her eyes closed. 

The water itself seemed to sparkle with a new energy after a moment of Akilla's touch. Amit watched with a new kind of interest as Akilla drew her head back with a few droplets of water falling from her muzzle. The lioness turned to lower her muzzle down to Amit's injured leg, her jaws parted to allow the water she had collected to flow over his found. 

Blood washed away as the water flowed into his wound, a wince of pain came over his face before he the pain disappeared. The water seemed to swirl about his wounds, the blood washed away along with the pain before Akilla drew herself back as the last of the water flowed from Amit's leg to show his wounds had disappeared. 

The water left his leg with dull scars where the wounds once were, the young cubs amazement as he ran his fingers over his new scars. The lioness then pushed her muzzle against the side of Amit's neck giving him a soft nuzzle. 

"King may be harsh, the world itself may be so to you. But do not falter Amit. You are my cub no matter what the world may say." 

The words were soft as they always were when spoken by Akilla. The human smiled as his eyes looked over his leg. She was also gentle even when she was harsh, he could not help but find himself at ease with her. 

Yet it was to end as she drew herself away from the human, "Come now, let us return before night fall." Amit had no will to argue as he stood and walked beside his mother back to the prides home. Their home. His home.

The next day Amit sat alone under a small tree, the shade fought off the heat as the other lions lazed about in the attempt to just remain cool this day. The young human's focus was on his fingers. His nails. The lack of claws are what cost him so much. These were what didn't keep Nitta at bay. With claws he would think twice. 

He had let them grow out before only to have them tear apart and break. They were not strong enough to be called claws. His mind wandered, he thought, focused. All this came to an abrupt stop as a powerful voice fell onto his shoulders. 

"Amit..." 

The humans gaze turned up to see King as he stood next to him. A tinge of fear dropped into the humans chest as he stared up to the king of the pride. 

Yet King himself did not seem angered this time. In fact he seemed rather calm without the look of disgust or disapproval as he stared down at the young human. 

"Come Amit, we walk." Kings words were short and quick as he stepped away, Amit had to take a moment to understand but quickly scrambled to his feet to follow. Akilla who rested upon a distant rock smiled as she watched her young human cub run after King. 

King lead Amit away from the pride and to the small watering hole that Amit had ran to when his leg was wounded the other day. The massive lion lowered himself down to sit and seemed to wait for Amit to wander up and sit next to him. 

A silence fell between them, Amit nervous as he always was around King but even more so as they were alone now. 

"Akilla is a difficult female..." King would break the silence, Amit had to turn to stare up at the larger male. 

"I met her years ago and she was much like she is now. Soft voiced yet fairly harsh, strong headed. I believe she could ram with a buffalo and win..." 

Amit couldn't help but chuckle at the though of Akilla slamming heads with a buffalo. This seemed to bring a smile to King as he glanced down to the human. 

"Yet despite that she is rather smart. Kind too. She is my prime female for a reason. I heed her word more than any other..." Kind would explain at random, Amit just listened as his eyes fell onto the water before them. 

"I wish you to know Amit. I do not hate you for what you are..." This seemed to draw a different air from King, one that Amit did not miss as he looked to the large male next to him. 

"Life has a strange way of turning out. The Wheels ways of shifting the world around us, to have you come to us. I want you to know here, that you are a cub of this pride." 

These words caused Amit's eyes to widen as he stared up at the male next to him, the wind flowed over to caress their bodies in a cool breeze. Kings mane shifted about his features as he stared out into the expanse of the sky above them. 

In this single moment Amit was no longer nervous. It disappeared and was replaced with a new feeling. That of desire. To be just like King one day.