It's almost to the afternoon at camp today. Even though I've told Jade what would happen to me after summers over, me and her would be as happy as we possibly could. We won't let all of that get to us, I would make her happy no matter what.

Me and Jade were already done eating and then we started talking about the movie series Twilight. Well I started to talk about Twilight and she started to listen to my story about it.

Jade then cocked her head and said, "Wait I don't get it. If Edward's a vampire and he died, then how could he have come back to life? I didn't know that's possible."

I replied, "Well vampires don't really exist, they're just made up. Its just a story."

Jade then said, "Well it's a strange story if you ask me."

I laughed, "Yeah it is." Boy telling her about vampires is kinda entertaining. She really has no idea what they are.

Jade smiled then said, "It would be cool if some of my family members from before I was born came back to life and I would meet them. That would be cool!"

I shrugged, "It would be cool, but make sure they don't suck your blood from your neck."

Jade eyes went wide, "What?!"

I laughed hard, "Oh relax Jade, I was only kidding." Then I petted her head and then she started to purr.

I then went to get some beef jerky since I still have some, and then I offered some to Jade. She shook her head, "No thanks Casper. I like them, but not that much."

I looked at her wide eyed, "What? They're like treats for you being a good girl, and you don't like them?"

Jade giggled, "Oh I do, but they're not my favorite."

I sighed, and said, "Well I'm having them all to myself today. Why? It's because I'm going for a walk by myself today."

Jade beamed and said, "Oh! Can I go with you?"

I shook my head, "No, I want to go by myself today. I need some time to myself."

She whined, "Aw, but come on, I don't want to stay here all day."

I sighed, "Yeah I know that mom and dad should have told the other people who are staying in this camp that we have a lion staying with us. But they think it's a bad idea, because some of those Africans might mistake you for a wild animal."

Then she laid down to the ground and had a angry scowl on her face, "This sucks."

I laughed, and said, "Look Jade, I'll make it up to you. Tomorrow me and you we'll go for a walk together, okay?"

She looked up at me with a hopeful look, "You promise?"

I nodded, "You can count on it. Now I really need to get going. I'll be back in a little while alright? So you stay out of trouble. Don't worry you probably won't be alone the whole day. Shawna or the others might join you in here."

She smiled, "I hope so."

I smiled at her, "Alright I'm gone now." I turned to the opening of my tent.

Jade called out, "Casper."

I looked over my shoulder, "Yeah?"

Then she said, "I love you."

I smiled at her again, "I love you too." Then I walked out.

*****

Karone watched Casper leave the camp all alone.

While she was watching him leave, her human friend came up behind her, then she turned around smiling and said to her friend, "It's time." 

Then after she said that, the human walked away from her, and then Karone turned around, eyes on Casper alone.

Then she started to follow him, without him knowing.

*****

I was having another piece of beef jerky, enjoying the taste of it. 

"God it's hot outside, I'm sweating more than yesterday" I said to myself.

I was walking a little far away from the camp, thought I savor some alone time to myself as possible. I know I could have drove on dads jeep but I thought this was a lot more better. Old fashioned walking.

While I was walking, I saw a pond in the distance, and it made me have a good thought. The first meeting I've had with Jade, and it was all because I almost run her over with a car. I laughed to myself, it's funny how accidents can form friendships. Hell, if I didn't show up at the pond on that day, Jade would have been eaten by that crocodile! I'll never forget that day, as long as I live.

I was enjoying my memory when I heard something move in the tall grass nearby, I turned sharply around looking at the tall grass, and called out, "Jade? Is that you?" No answer.

I called out again louder this time, "Jade? Are you following me?" Still no answer.

I tried again, "Come out it's not funny anymore. Actually it's not funny at all. " Again no answer.

"I know you have a knack for scaring me princess, and honestly it's getting old. Come out already!"

There was still no answer. What's going on? Is it Jade? I can't tell, I've got a bad feeling about this. 

Wait a minute I remember this has happened before. Is it Karone? Because she did this before she showed her face, before she chased me and my friends. 

Not taking any chances, I backed up slowly not taking my eyes off the tall grass. Then I took one chance when I was further away. I turned and ran away.

I ran as fast as my legs could carry me, I don't know if someone's chasing me but I wasn't looking back. I've kept running and running and running until I came across a small cliff. I peeked over the ledge, it wasn't high enough to kill me. I turned around and gasped. Karone!

Karone has cornered me, my back turned on the edge of the cliff. I looked back for a sec trying to think of a plan.

Karone lowered herself on the ground getting ready to pounce. I decided to take action and jumped off the cliff. I hit one part of the cliff while I was falling and it didn't take me long to hit the bottom of the cliff. I was lying on the ground but I was still alive, I got up slowly and then I cried out in pain. 

It was my leg and I looked at it and it turns out there a small spike that impaled through my leg. I could see some blood on my pants leg.

I decided to pull it out slowly and it hurt a lot and I cried out again. After I pulled it out I patched up my leg with one part of my shirt. Better than nothing I guess.

I looked up, did Karone find a way down to me yet? I won't take chances finding out I've got to get out of here!

I tried to walk my leg's still hurting. Suddenly I felt dizzy and then I collapsed to the ground. Then everything went black.

*****

Karone finally found Casper at the bottom of the cliff. Didn't take her long to climb down since she's agile.

She walked to him lying on the ground, she nudged him with her paw. She heard him made a moan.

Without hesitating, she picked up Casper with her jaws and managed to get him on her back.

Then without waiting any further, she went to where she came from, carrying Casper on her back.

*****

I woke up, unconscious for god knows how long. I opened my eyes slowly and I began to realize I was being carried by a lioness!

I called out, "Hey."

The lioness showed her face, it was Karone! She's carrying me! What the hell!?

Karone smiled at me and said, "Well look who's awake, took you a while."

I stuttered.

Karone giggled, "You have a lot of questions. Well they'll be answered in time but for now I want you off my back now. You're getting more heavier by the minute." She lowered herself to the ground and I got off of her.

I got on my feet, one of my legs still hurting, and realized where I was. The land was different than before, there's no grass or trees.

Oh no, I'm in the banished lands! She kidnapped me and took me here! What does she want with me?! I turned to her and said, "Why didn't you kill me?"

She smiled at me, "You'll know soon enough but for now, you haven't met my pride yet, come." Then she walked off and while she was walking she said, "Don't get any funny ideas of running away, I'll catch you if you do"

I gasped, she wants me to follow her. I don't like the look of this but I don't have a choice right now. I followed her to god knows where. The lands look pretty bare around me.

I don't know how long we were walking, I could tell the sun's setting already. I didn't tell my family I was walking! They're going to be worried about me!

But that's not the problem right now, the problem right now is a psychotic lion forcing me to follow her. No way I could run away from her. Not with a bad leg. I doesn't seem to bad of a wound but it's still hurt.

I was still following her, and I could see where she's taking me, she's taking me to a mine. We walked all the way to the entrance and Karone said, "Humans first."

I didn't argue with her, and I went inside the mine. The tunnel was pretty dark when I was walking but I could see a dim light up ahead. I kept walking with Karone walking close behind me. I made it to the end of the tunnel and I could see we're in some kind of very big quarry like chamber inside the mine. Inside the mine I could see several lionesses roaming around. They must be Karones followers.

They all stared at me as I entered. I stopped and looked at all of them. Karone behind me said, "Move it." Then she nudged me with her head and I kept walking. Then she gave me a direction of where to go, "Turn right." I did as she said.

I went inside another tunnel, Karone behind me and then up ahead of me I could see a cell like room up ahead. My guess is that this mine is some kind of slave mine, way back then before I was born, maybe way before I was born, judging by the look of this place. We were inside the cell room, there were three cells in the chamber. I could be in one of those here, is that why Karone brought me here? I turned to face here all alone in the chamber.

Karone smiled at me and said, "Welcome to my home, Casper."

My eyes went wide after she said my name, "How do you know my name? I've never told you my name."

She giggled evilly, "I know. I know you never told me your name when you first met me on that day. I could tell you were scared of me."

I nodded nervously, "I was."

She laughed, "Well then you shouldn't have to worry about me, won't you?"

I stared at her, "Why shouldn't I worry about you? You tried to kill me and my friend."

Her eyes went wide, "Oh? I do remember another human who was with you on that day. Shawna is it?"

I gasped, "Alright how do you know our names? How?"

She gave me a mock stare, "Why? It's because just like Jade, I also have a human friend."

So she does know a human, "What?"

Karone then circled around me like I was her prey trapped in her web, "That's right, I do have a human friend. You see it's a long story how I met him. I was walking around all alone in the savannah, then I got attacked by two cheetahs, then out of nowhere a man came and scared those cheetahs away. I was hurt real bad I couldn't get up. I thought he would kill me, but he didn't. He helped me and while he was helping me, I heard his voice and I began to realize I could understand what he's saying and he could understand me as well. He was just young when I first met him. Not as young as you, but still young. It's been a long time since our first meeting, and he's still alive up to this day. In fact." Then she finally stopped in front of me and faced me, "He's living in your camp, that's how I know your name and your friends. Oh I know everything about you."

I was stunned, "You know everything about me?"

"Oh sure. In fact, I know you have a sister, you have a mom and dad, you have a aunt as well, and most of all Jade's staying in the camp with you."

I gasped again, oh my god. There's another human who can talk to lions, other than me. But who is it? "Tell me, who is it?"

She shook one claw at me, "Now now my boy. I can't tell you these things. After all my friend knows you and he has talked to you."

I stared angrily at her, "I'm not your boy. Now what do you want from me?"

Then we both heard a voice, "Mother what's going on?" Then another lioness came into the chamber.

Karone looked at her then back at me, "Casper, allow me to introduce you to my only daughter, Christa."

Then Christa came to me, "So that's the human? My cousin sure knows how to pick them."

I stared at Christa, Jade did tell me that Karone has a daughter of her own.

Christa then said, "So what do  we do with him? Kill him?"

Karone then shushed her daughter, and then went to talk to me, "Casper, do you know why you're here?"

I shrugged, "I suppose kill me?"

Karone laughed and said, "Oh no I won't kill you, yet. You see I want your help."

I stared at her, "What kind of help?"

"Why to help me kill Bron and take over his lands, and then I'll kill you."

I shook my head, "No I won't do it!"

She smiled at me, "Oh yes you will, because if you don't, I'll kill your mate."

Now I was shocked, "I don't know what you're talking about."

She giggled, "Oh yes you do, you have a mate, don't you? In fact I'm even surprised that last night I've found out who your mate is. My niece of all lionesses."

My eyes went wide, "What are you talking about? Jade's not my girlfriend."

"Don't lie to me human, I saw her kissing you and you were hugging each other."

I face went wide, she was watching us?! How long has she been watching us?! More importantly when did she start watching us?!

Karone smiled at me and said, "Was it casual? Because if she's not your mate, then who?"

I was going to say Shawna, then I kept my mouth shut. I can't tell her it's Shawna, because if I do she'll go after Shawna and kill her. But if I say it's Jade, she'll kill her own niece as well. I care about both of them, but I have to come up with an answer and fast.

Karone cocked her head, "Well?"

I then said, "Alright you got me, it's Jade. I love Jade." Jade could take care of herself, I know she could fight. Shawna couldn't.

Karone held up her head proud of herself, "I knew it!"

I sighed, "What are you going to do to me in the meantime?"

Karone then ordered, "I want you in that cell over there."

I refused, "I'm not getting in there!"

She roared at me, "Get in there now!"

I didn't hesitate, I went inside the cell. I turned around and then I pleaded, "Look Karone, please don't do this."

She chuckled.

I said, "Why are you doing all this? Why do you want the kingdom so badly? What's the point?"

She cocked her head at me, "You want the truth?"

I nodded.

Then she changed her expression to sorrow and said, "Because I've felt so alone. Even when I was a cub, I was alone. My parents never talked to me, my brother Bron thought he was better than me. Hell I even wanted to be queen when I got bigger, but my father picked Bron. My father always chose Bron. Everything's always about Bron."

Then she sheathed her claws and dug into the ground, "I thought I was never going to be happy, until I had a mate of my own. Me and him had a cub together, and it's my only daughter Christa. I thought I would be happy even when I'm not the queen of my brother's lands. But a human killed my mate, and then one day my heart turned to stone. My family tried to help me, but it was hopeless, I didn't feel anything. I didn't want to feel anything."

Karone closed her eyes tight, "I even felt helpless as well, I didn't know what my purpose is, I thought I didn't want my daughter anymore." Then she opened her eyes and said, "Then one day when I met my human friend, he helped change my perspective on my life, and then I realized that no one can control my destiny. I'm tired of not getting my way, and that's when I realized I don't care about my own family anymore, except my daughter. And then I realized I hated my brother more than anything in my life. I will not be second to my brother, no one will be first but me! I will get what I want, and I don't care what my father says!"

I was stunned to learn all that information, she's jealous of Bron. That's why she was doing all these horrible things, even murder her own niece.

I was angry at her, "You really don't have feelings do you? You killed Jade's sister and you played Jade's feelings by pretending that you cared about her, but you didn't. Didn't you have any idea what you've done to Jade? She thought you loved her like a mother, and Jade loved you, but you betrayed her trust! And do you have any idea what happened to her after you and your followers were exiled? She felt alone and why she felt alone? Because her mother left her when she was young because her mother felt so guilty that she couldn't protect her other daughter."

Karone just grinned, "I know."

I yelled at her, "Then do you understand what you've done was horrible?!"

Karone giggled.

I glared, "What's so funny?"

Karone then said, "Do you know why Amara never came back to her daughter?"

I shook my head slowly with a frown, "No."

Karone then whispered to me, "It's because I killed her." My eyes went wide, my mind not seem to be registering what she said at first as she went on, "One night I've found Amara all alone in tears, in sorrow for own daughter. But then she saw me and we fought and surprise, surprise I managed to get on top of her and put my jaws into her throat until she stopped breathing. It felt really good, I've never liked her in the first place."

I gasped, "You killed her?! You killed Amara?!"

Karone then yapped back, "Of course I killed her! But it doesn't matter now you're here, and I will rule these lands whether Jade want me to or not. And I have an idea how to make it happen...When she knows you're here she'll do whatever I say. After all she loves you, you're her mate."

I was in shock, "No you wouldn't dare. Jade will never do what you say."

Karone nodded, "Oh she will, she's in love with you."

I pleaded, "Don't do this please."

"I will do whatever I want and I don't want your pity!"

I came up with another idea, I have to find some way to bargain with her, if she wants food or water then I'll give her or her pride something, I reached into my pocket, and I said, "Ok you know what fine here! Take this and hopefully you'll reconsider it!" I reached out of my pocket full of beef jerky. 

Karone smelled it and then shook her head, "What's that?"

I answered, "Beef jerky. You let me go and I'll feed you and water you with whatever my camp has. I know that's what you and your pride wants. You let me go and I'll give you whatever you want."

Then she answered, "No, because I don't want your disgusting food! We are hunters, we take what we want! And you know what? My human friend understands me a lot more than you do. And I hope I see him kill you."

I let out a breath. Well that didn't work. Then Karone shut the cell door trapping me in here.

Christa said, "So any final words before we go?"

Karone giggled, "I can't wait."

I glared at both of them, "Yeah, why won't all of you wake up?"

Karone and Christa looked at each other and then Karone said, "What do you mean?"

"I mean what you're doing is wrong! Why can't you wake up already? You're doing a terrible thing. Your brother probably never hated you, you're the one with a heart full of hate. I mean think about what Christa's father wants, I mean do you really think he wants you to do all of this? He would want you to move on. That's what everyone wants you to do, and you won't let it go!"

Karone then screamed, "I'll never let it go! And I won't be stopped by my own niece and also be stopped by a meddling young human like you. Tonight I'm going to find my human friend and we're going to find Jade and take her here and then she'll see you and then she'll do exactly as I say." Then she turned her back on me and said, "You get comfortable in here, Christa, come on." Then both her and Christa left me alone in this rotting cell.

I banged against the bars but it didn't do me any good. I yelled, "Damn it!!"

I sat down against the wall and just sat there contemplating my fate. What am I going to do? I'm trapped here. I can't leave to warn Jade or any of my friends or family. Oh god what am I going to do? Shawna...I'm sorry Shawna I wish I was with you right now. I'm very sorry Jade, I couldn't protect you.

Then I had a determined look on my face and stood up on my feet, no I can't give up. I can't let her win, I won't let Jade be used and die as well. First her sister, then her mother, but I cross the line when it comes to Jade. I will save her and the kingdom no matter what.

But how am I going to get out of here? I need to find a way out. I looked for something to help me get this cell door open but I didn't find anything. Then suddenly I felt a draft coming from the wall. It was right behind me, there's a small hole in the wall big enough even for me to fit through. 

I went on my knees and I dug the hole in the wall to make it wider and it seems to be working. Yes I can get out of here.

I peeked my head through the wall, there's a drop to another tunnel. It's not far for a drop. I can do this, I can do this. I pulled my head back, then I put my feet first through the hole and then I dropped down.