The scene of the beautiful savannah went by my window as the jeep drove through it for miles. Ever since me, mom and dad, and Gabe left Nairobi together about a couple hours ago, we were just quiet. I had thought that mom and dad would still be chatting with Gabe away just to kill the time, but during the ride outside the city there were no more words shared. Maybe they'd thought watching the savannah go by them was also killworthy for time. I didn't mind the silence, I was just enjoying watching outside.

An amused smile crossed my face. To me seeing the savannah for the first time in my life certainly had brought a lot of enjoyment to me. This really is better than being in Nairobi. I was real happy that we were finally out of there. From the moment we left the city, the impatience that'd built up inside my body went away in an instant. At a very far distance I can see a couple giraffe having a stroll to a tree. More than once during the ride, I've seen animals of different types going by as we drove.

Truthfully, throughout my life, I never been to a zoo back at home. I never saw exotic animals up close, only on television and images on the internet. Mostly as a kid, it was pretty much no thanks to dad because of...How he is with me and animals, other than the fact both he and mom didn't have time to do that sort of stuff because of their jobs around that time. That'd always frustrated me. A lot of parents and their children went to see all kinds of animals in a zoo, and it was stupid that we weren't one of those families. I remember being so fascinated by them around that time, not to say I'm not fascinated in them now, I truly am at this age. And speaking of this age, I still hadn't gotten a chance to have a trip to a zoo. I would have done it since I was old enough to wander around on my own without holding my mother's hand, but I didn't do it. Only because I couldn't afford buying admission to go in one. That sucked, honestly.

But now...I don't have to be in a zoo back in the states. Because out here...It feels like I am in one. And it's amazing.

Gabe behind the steering wheel made a right turn on the dusty dirt trail we're on. About ten minutes earlier, he said that we should be at his house very soon. Honestly a part of me wanted to enjoy this a bit longer, but then I also thought I've got all summer to have rides like this one. So I kept my mouth shut.

Mom who sat beside me poked my arm and I moved my head to her. She had a cute smile on her face when she asked, "Still liking this?"

I answered with a content tone, "Yep, still am. Don't think I'm getting tired of it."

Dad while still sitting in the front seat peeked over it and remarked with a grin, "Glad you aren't now. Your mother and I can only hope you'd stay that way for the rest of the summer. You'll be seeing this a lot."

I giggled deeply, shaking my head a bit, "Still probably wouldn't get tired of it, even if it was that long."

Gabe, as he still gripped the wheel, said with his eyes on the rearview mirror, "You may be right about that, but who knows how you'd feel during that time?"

I replied with a tiny nod, "Yeah, who knows? End of summer hasn't come by yet."

"Exactly. It just got started." Gabe's eyes concentrated back on the road, "And since all three of you arrived in Kenya for this summer, I'm happy to not hear you complain about it. I've known that most tourists would complain about the weather here since it's hot a lot. Out here it's summer all the time, all year round. Never any winter weather here. No cold, no snow, no ice, nothing like that at all since we're in a country that's in the equator." I just smirked. No wonder things are so dusty here.

Mom blew out some air through her lips as her hands ran through her hair, "I ain't complaining now. Why, because the jeep has good A/C."

Gabe laughed, "Got that right."

I teased, "Don't get too used to it, mom. If that thing somehow breaks down during our vacation, then you'll have to get used to riding in the car without it till we leave Africa at the end of it."

Gabe rose a hand off the steering wheel to raise a finger, his gaze swung back on the rearview mirror to look at mom, "Your son's got a point there, Barbara. Never know what could happen ahead."

Mom frowned, "Then I'll pray for the car's A/C to not break down."

Gabe giggled, "Better hope your prayer is answered." He looked back to the road once again, "And by the way you wouldn't have to worry about it breaking down now. I can see my place ahead."

Dad agreed, "He's right, honey. There it is." I glanced past dad's seat and see that Gabe's home was in our view. I leaned back in my seat and went back to watching the savannah afterward. About a couple more minutes later the jeep arrived and parked close to the house. I opened up the door straight away and stepped forth out onto the dirt, my parents and Gabe came out of the car after me.

I slammed my passenger door and made several steps out on the yard, eyes examining the house. Basically it was a small wooden house with a low roof and at the front door there's a porch with an archway over it for shade.

Gabe came up to me and asked, "Nice place, eh?"

I looked at him, grinning, "You've lived in that place for a long time?"

Gabe smiled back, "For most of my life."

"Honestly, it kinda wasn't what I pictured."

"What, pictured something a bit more fancy?"

"Hmmm...No. Just thought it'd be a bit different than that." Then I rose a brow as my gaze went back on the house, "Are me and my parents living in that for the whole summer? Doesn't look like to me it'll have more than one bedroom."

Gabe admitted with a deep chuckle and a shake of his head, "No sonny, it doesn't. Just one."

I wrinkled my face, "So...What? Am I gonna sleep on the couch while mom and dad are sleeping on the floor?"

Dad let out a laugh when he joined us, "Actually Ryan, we aren't staying in there. Gabe here told me on the phone that he has a guest house near it." He asked Gabe when he focused right on him, "It's around the back, right, Gabe?"

Gabe gave him a nod, "It is. Go get your luggage and let's head there." After he said that, my parents and I got our suitcases out of the back of the jeep and we dragged them across the dirt. We followed Gabe around his house, making our way to the back of it, and all of us found the guest house a second later. It's made of wood like the other one, only this one was bigger and taller, has a triangular shaped roof, and there's a side door and a porch with no archway at the side of it.

After we all stopped to stare at it for a bit, I said out loud, astonished, "A guest house huh? I see that one is bigger than your own."

Gabe replied, eyes still placed on it, "Yeah. It's mostly for tourists that come by this area. Only usually I don't get a lot of them."

I gazed at him, smirking, "Heh, guess we'll be sharing the house with strangers."

Gabe turned to me, "You probably would if there were any. There aren't any in there now. Like I said, don't get tourists here usually. They always seem to enjoy staying in their hotels and what not."

I moaned, "Seriously? They'd rather spend their vacation in a hotel than come here? I bet somebody would act like me when I'm stuck in a hotel."

"Maybe." Then he shrugged with his hands, forming a grin, "But hey, I don't have anything fancy here so don't expect a lot from me. I am just a game warden after all."

Mother shook her head, "We don't care if it's fancy or not. Point is we have a place to stay out of the sun...And with good air conditioning."

Gabe mentioned, "Oh it has that in there, trust me."

"Then I'm going in there now." She strode to the house, "I'm feeling hot already." Dad quietly giggled and went with her. I was about to go after them when my eyes saw a structure nearby. About a hundred feet away from both houses, there's a huge, very wide, rectangular animal wire pen that covers all sides even above, and at one end has a large gate.

Gabe saw what I was staring at and hummed, a serious look on his face, "Wondering why that's here? I don't exactly keep pets if that's your conclusion."

I looked at him quizzically, "So what's it for? Part of your job?"

"Something like that." His chest expanded when he was breathing in, "It's for animals that are hurt and need help. More than once I find an animal out here that seems hurt and defenseless and it make me feel sorry seeing that certain thing lying around waiting to die. So one day, I built that thing. On occasion, I find an animal that's hurt, and bring it back here with a few other people to help it, IF there is a chance it can be saved. Course I don't have a lot of medical expertise so I do have a doctor or two come over to try saving it. The pen is also for protection as you can imagine. So no predator would come and finish it off." He formed a pleasant smile, "When it feels better...I set it free."

I trailed my gaze back on the pen. For any animal that'll fit in there, it will keep it safe till it's better...But I'm sure it'll freak out from feeling that it's being kidnapped and wants to be released back in the wild. I can hear that animal's voice pleading for mercy and release.

Poor thing. It wouldn't have any idea what Gabe's trying to do.

I let out a breath, then smiling a bit. But with my gift, I know it'll calm down when I talk to it. Then I thought about Gabe near me, the expression went away in a flash. I know for a fact that he doesn't know I have that gift, and I don't intend telling him about it. He'll probably think I'm nuts....Just like dad, though he believes that I'm not having that behavior anymore because I keep lying to him that I'm not having a social conversation with an animal.

But I do have social conversations with any animal I find, still am when he doesn't know it, and there's no point in mentioning that to him. Dad will never believe me. Actually...Nobody probably would even if I tried proving it. Believe me, I did try. A human with a gift for talking to animals is very hard to believe. If Gabe finds an innocent animal hurt, wounded, and brings it to this pen, then I'll talk to that thing alone without him knowing. Without anybody knowing...

Gabe spoke through my thoughts, "Ryan? You ok?"

I shook my head out of the zoned out phase and turned my head to him, grinning sheepishly, "Sorry. Just had something on my mind."

The friend of my family said, "Thinking about what sort of animal I'll bring here?"

I lied, "Pretty much."

His arm went around my shoulder, "Hey, one day when I bring something here maybe I'll let you pet it. But if it's a tad bit vicious then better watch your hand."

I giggled at that, "Not like I'm a silly little boy who just wants to pet something out of impulse. I'll be careful with what I pet."

Gabe gave me a proud nod, "Good thinking."

I let out a huff as he took his arm off me, then grabbed the suitcase handle and began to slowly drag it to the guest house, "Ok. I'm gonna get settled in. Want to show us around in there?"

"Sure. Your parents are probably waiting for us. I'll give you and your folks the grand tour." Me and him went to the guest house, and after we went through the front door we found mom and dad waiting for us while standing around in the living room. A moment later, Gabe started showing us around the house. He showed us the kitchen, a bathroom, and two bedrooms, including mine. The house even had a second floor and when we went upstairs he showed us that it had another bathroom, which seems a bit bigger than the one downstairs, and two more bedrooms which one of them will be my parents since they actually want to sleep up there. In my thoughts, this place was perfect for me and my family. There are two more bedrooms that are empty still, so I guess me and my family wouldn't mind sharing the house with anyone that comes here.

Be good to have company other than Gabe.

A bit after Gabe gave us the tour and while he was talking with my family, I grabbed ahold of my suitcase since I left it in the living room the moment I entered in here, and moved it in the bedroom I'm staying in for the summer. It looked like a nice room in my opinion. Since nobody was living in it, it was mostly bare except a big, wide bed laying in the middle of the floor with a bedside desk that has a lamp on top of it placed on one side, and a small dresser facing the bed in front of it. Near the door to the room I found a double door closet and I can be sure there was nothing much in it either.

Letting go of the suitcase handle after dragging it closer to the bed, I strode up to the window across the room, staring outside at the savannah. I sucked in a breath and let it out slowly. Now that I was here, I'm thinking about exploring out there. I'm not sleepy nor feel like I need a break anyway. My lips made an amusing smile. Even though I've never been to a zoo in my life, I had always imagined talking to an exotic animal. Other than having the urge to explore the savannah, I also feel the urge to find any animal that I'll probably come across out there and talk to it. The thought really excites me.

Gabe's voice cut through the thought, "Hey, Ryan." I looked over my shoulder and see him standing at the door. He took about five steps into my room, smiling as he figured it out, "Let me guess...You're thinking about taking a walk out there?"

I smiled as well, "Good guess. How'd you figure?"

"Cause I remember having that thought back in the day when I first came out here."

"Oh."

Then he continued shortly, "And it's odd that your parents aren't thinking the same thing."

I turned my body around to face him, "Maybe it's because I'm still young and they don't feel young enough to explore."

Gabe giggled, "I'm old enough to be your dad and I still explore when I feel like it."

"I rest my case." I replied with a shrug of my shoulders, "They probably just want to settle in and not do anything right now. It was a long drive getting here. But I'm not in the mood for that. I thought I wanted to earlier, but now..." I thumbed at the window behind me, "I just wanna get out of here and walk. Would you mind if I do? I ain't gonna go very far."

Gabe cupped his chin and rubbed it a bit with his hand, humming in thought, "Well..." He dropped it down to his side, his face and voice showing seriousness, "I guess I could let you go, but only stay on the trail. Since they're upstairs at the moment, I'll tell your parents that you went for a walk. Don't wander off it or you could get yourself lost. Alright?"

I stated as I was heading to the bedroom door, "Yeah, alright."

Before I could make it there, Gabe held out a hand in front of me when I was near him and warned, "Just be careful out there. This isn't Atlanta. If you encounter any predator and if it doesn't attack and just stares at you, back away very slowly and don't turn your back on it."

Honestly the word 'predator' didn't scare me much. If I do find any predator snapping and growling at me out there, I'll tell it that I mean it no harm and I'm a friend. Hope it listens well, though. I smiled in assurance when I looked at him, "I'll remember that. Thanks. Tell mom and dad I'll be back later."

Gabe nodded at that, a tiny smile appearing on his face, and then he gestured for me to get going, "See you when you get back, kid." I went on ahead, my form strolling out of my room and made it's way out the front door of the guest house. As I made it outside, standing out in the very warm weather, I searched for the trail I saw out the window and found it shortly. I nodded to myself, and started to walk away from the house to that direction.

Ok, critters who are living out there. Here's a new guy in...Town.

*****

My paw took another step against the grass, as I wandered aimlessly among the savannah with a dipped head. I lost track of how long I've been walking, but I didn't care, and so far I haven't met with anybody else from the pride, but it's great because I like being alone right now. The humiliation I gained from earlier was still getting to me. I didn't look back where I came from. I just wanted to keep on walking.

I whined when I made another limp along the ground, tail flicking behind me. None of this wouldn't have happened if that zebra didn't kick me. Now I want to kill that thing again for putting me through this! Then I had images of sis and her friends flowing in my head, and my lips opened in gritted teeth, growling loud in anger. And things would have went smoothly with Aren if they hadn't shown up so soon! Fuck! I know their mouths were stained with blood, possibly from their hunt, but why couldn't they just find their own watering hole and clean themselves from it?! This is stupid! I wish they were kicked by zebras and suffer the emotions I'm having.

My eyes gleaned with sadness. Aren…

I suppose it wasn't ALL their faults. I was the one who spit out lies to him. I was the one who was faking that I was fine. What was I thinking? I should have known my plan with Aren would end badly. Not to mention my lies to him made me look stupid.

But I was SO close!

But at the end, Dahlia's with him, again, like she always is.

I should have told him the truth, save myself and him the trouble. But the reason for all the trouble is...I like him. I really liked him. Then an image of Dahlia nuzzling in Aren's mane popped up and that had me snarling. Fucking Dahlia. Does she think she has the right to rub against my man?! No! Aren's mine! She usually gets what she wants but not Aren!

I breathed in through my nose, calming my angered nerves. She won't get him. There will be a next time for me....There will be.

But since Aren knows that I wasn't the one who dragged that antelope back to my home and I lied to him about things...Would he think differently about me? Would he believe that every word I say to him be a lie? Maybe. But I don't want him to think I'm that type of lioness. I'm hardly a liar. I lied because I like him.

I made a hopeful look. When I come back to him, I'll tell him the truth. I'll tell him why I did that. He'll understand. Hesitation then filled my chest. Could I really tell him that I...Love him? I'm nervous again just thinking about it. Well...I suppose with all this walking, it'll probably help me build up the guts again to tell him...I hope he doesn't leave by the time I get back to the pride and to him...And I hope Dahlia's not around with him! I NEED to have that conversation with him alone.

I took a deep calm breath and let it out, saying it out loud to myself, "You can tell him the truth, Sayde. What harm would it do? Maybe he likes you back, and he's waiting for you to say it." I nodded after that, "Yea...Just take your time to cool down from this, find him when he's alone, and then tell him the truth. You can do it, Sayde...You CAN do it."

I was only silent, raising my head and looking around the area, still bearing the pain in my shoulder as I kept walking on the dirt and grass. I really hope the pain feels better soon. Don't want to feel it for the rest of my life. If I don't get better, next thing I know I'll be nicknamed 'the limpy princess' or if I become queen 'the limpy queen' by the pride. Very fucking hilarious. I giggled, actually finding some humor in it. Limpy...Nice word, Sayde. Heh...If Dahlia ever gets hurt by a zebra, which I pretty much doubt she will, then I'll call her limpy. Ha! Limpy. If I call her that, I'll never let that one down.

When my gaze turned back straight, I froze in mid-step. What's that?

I saw something walking ahead, something on two legs. Something my father and mother talked to me and Dahlia about for years. Something lions and every creature living in these lands despise so much.

I formed a glare and growled deeply. A two legger! Another two legger! Those fucking intruders. Think they can wander in my father's lands and attack whoever comes near them? Bastard creatures. I noticed the fact it doesn't see me, not yet since I'm out in the open. Nearby, I see tall grass. Despite I had a still injured shoulder, I was getting an idea, and was feeling determined to do something about this two legger.

I'm gonna kill it. I may never killed one before, since my parents told me it's very dangerous to try to kill one, and even I know it is because of those stick thingies they carry and also travel in groups, but I'm not afraid to do it. How hard can it be? It's alone and doesn't know I'm around so it should be easy.

With a firm nod in approval toward the idea, I jogged, fighting waves of pain shooting at my shoulder once again, and hid myself in the tall grass. I smoothly stalked through it, keeping my sights on the two legger not far from me. Then I stopped near the edge of it, crouching low to the ground, getting ready to pounce. The two legged creature still didn't see me, which was still perfect for me. Up close, I see it has short brown fur on top of its head and its body and legs was wearing those...Fur thingies or whatever they are, like I've seen other two leggers wear them. This one's not exactly like the brown skinned two leggers I've seen before. This one's white skinned, but that isn't new to me, I've seen a few of those before. And lastly, I think that one is a male. Perhaps a young male since it doesn't look very old or anything.

That's when the two legger stopped before it reached to where I was. It was bringing its gaze to where I'm hiding. My eyes went wide. Does it sense that I'm here? The white skinned two legger took a couple steps towards the tall grass, a wrinkle on its face when it actually spoke, "Hello? Someone there? I think I can see you in there."

Panic erupted in my chest. Damn it! It knows I'm here! Then I narrowed my eyes. Well, guess the huntress will reveal herself!

With the help of my hind legs, I leapt out of the grass and landed about several feet in front of it, roaring upon impact, also ignoring the huge pain that shot in my shoulder when I landed. The two legger yelped and stumbled back a couple steps. I didn't attack it right away, only staring threateningly at it. Honestly I was kinda waiting for it to give me an excuse to kill it. Like run away or anything. But...It wasn't running away, nor attacking me. I can see its eyes very wide in shock, but it didn't do anything. It was staring right back, holding its ground. I growled.

The white skinned two legger held out his paws in front of him and stuttered in a very nervous tone, "Ummm….Hello...Miss lioness...Miss...How ya doing?"

I was a bit bewildered. Now it's trying to speak directly to me? What's it trying to pull? I decided to speak back, see where this was going, "What are you doing here?"

It replied, his arms dropping to the sides and body trembling a bit, "Um well...I was just having a walk and I was also hoping I could...Meet and talk to somebody out here."

"Well you just did, now what are you doing here really?" The two legger frowned and I repeated loudly, "What are you doing here exactly?!"

The two legged creature backed away some more, "Whoa. Take it easy...I mean you no harm."

I took a threatening step toward it, "No harm? Two leggers like you always cause harm to lions and everything. And you're intruding in these lands. You don't belong here."

The creature raised a curious brow, "Two legger? You mean human?"

I reared back my head, raising my paw off the ground a bit, "Human? Is that what you're called or something?"

The two legger slowly nodded, "We've always been called that, so in a matter of speaking, yeah."

I shook my head, sneering at him, foreclaws digging in the dirt getting ready to attack, "Well I don't care what you're called really. I should kill you now for trespassing here."

Then its face turned pale and it was shaking its head a few times, "No wait! I just said I mean you no harm!"

"Wildebeest shit! You expect me to believe that? I think I know what you're doing. You're trying to trick me so you could attack me!"

His face frowned, "Attack you? How?"

I roared, "By using one of those stick thingies in your paws! I know what they can do, well I won't let you use it on me!" The thing about that is...I did notice a couple times that it wasn't carrying a stick thingy in either of its paws. Seeing that, I got to thinking maybe this one had forgot to take it with him. PROBABLY should not have forgotten it.

I think the so called 'human' got what I was talking about and denied it, "I...Don't have any sticks on me."

"Yeah, I can see that. But who knows what else you can do? You could still attack me!"

He denied again, "Listen to me, I'm not here to hurt you. I would never. Besides I just met you and you think I would just hurt you now?"

I answered without hesitation, "Yes."

It actually gave me a smile, "Heh...Wow. I can understand people not trusting strangers, but this takes to the extreme."

I spat bitterly, "I don't care if it's extreme. I'm not the one trespassing."

The two legger's smile went away, "You're right, you're not." Then it lowered itself to one knee and asked, "Hey...What's your name? Can you tell me your name?" I grunted. Then he was putting a furless paw to his chest, "Alright, look, I'm sorry for being here, and I mean what I said. I'm not here to hurt you. I'm a nice human. Normally I'm not very violent. Sorta know about you though." I growled in response. He continued, "Anyways like I said, I won't hurt you. I mean that. I swear. Please...Don't kill me."

I just stared at him with anger and distrust in my eyes for a long time. By the look in his eyes they were giving me assurance, along with some fear. I didn't know whether to believe him or not. He is a two legger after all, one who can harm me if I let my guard down. My legs were having the urge to pounce on him right now and my jaws also held the urge to go for his jugular before somehow something bad comes from him. But then...For some reason, my heart told me not to harm him. Then, I finally spoke to him in a bit calmer tone, internally shocked at what I'm about to do, "Well...Since you are actually talking to me instead of running away from me, and not trying to hurt me and also begging for your life...Maybe I'll give you a chance to live. Besides, I'm not hungry anyways."

The two legger smiled, standing upright, "You will?"

"Yes." That's when I went on with that same expression in my eyes, giving that thing a warning, "But I want you to turn around, run, and leave these lands. I don't ever want to see you again. Cause if I do, next time...I'LL KILL YOU."

He wrinkled his face, "Hold on a second, I just got here and you want me to leave them now? I can't just leave! I-"

I cut him off with a threatening shout, crouching down, "Then I'll kill you now!"

The two legger held up his paws and backed up again, "Wait! All right! All right!"

My body shot back up, "Then leave! Get outa here!" I shut my eyes and let out a loud, terrifying roar that carried across the lands. He screamed and spun around, his two legs carrying him in a fast sprint, leaving behind a trail of dust with each running step his feet took. I snarled, "AND STAY OUT OF THESE LANDS!" He ran and ran without looking back, till that thing was far and out of my sight. I huffed, my tufted tail making a swing, "Trespassing moron." Then after standing there for another minute or two, I turned around and limped away from here.

I let out a breath. Well...Don't think he'll be coming back here anytime soon.

*****

I was dashing fast like a cheetah, still running away with my arms pumping from the lioness I met. My heart pounded hard and fast in my chest as my legs were starting to feel tired. Running out of breath after sprinting for so long, I bent over with my hands to my knees. I was wheezing as sweat rolled down my face. While breathing deeply, I peeked behind me and knew that I was far away from that animal. She wasn't in sight. My eyes trailed back down to the ground in front of me. I feel like I was gonna collapse from exhaustion but I still stood.

Finally, with another breath drawn and my heart finally slowed its beating, I groaned and straightened my body, gazing around the savannah as I wiped the sweat off my brow with a forearm. Well...Things didn't go well as planned. My first time of wandering in the savannah and I got chased away by a lioness. Good grief, she kinda scared me!

Then my eyes shot wide in realization, and I found myself giggling a bit. But holy crap I just talked to an exotic animal! Ever since I was walking from where Gabe lived, I didn't come across any animal except...That lion. No scratch that, a lioness. An angry lioness at that! And gosh people say lions look magnificent and beautiful and she was. Then I looked glum. Too bad she didn't like me very well...Because I'm a human....Wonder what her name was? Guess I won't know that, will I? I let out a sigh, having another peek over my shoulder. Well I better get back to Gabe and my family before that lioness finds me. Don't know if she'd changed her mind and started to come after me, but I rather not find out.

With tired feet I resumed my pace, only slowly this time, till I was back at the guest house near Gabe's place. Dad was standing out on the porch near the side door when he saw me. He trotted up to me and said, "There you are! You were kinda gone for a long time. I wondered what was taking you."

I chuckled a bit and replied, "Sorry, dad. I guess I lost track on how far I walked, and I sorta realized I was walking very far."

"Guess so." Dad noticed my sweat stained shirt and frowned, "You ok, Ryan? You're sweating like a construction worker. Were you running or something?"

There was no way in hell I would tell him I had encountered a lioness and got chased away by it. So I basically fibbed, "Yeah, I was jogging back here. And not to mention the sun was getting to me."

Then he said in a protective manner, "Well, I think you'd better watch yourself when you're doing that out there. Next time you go for a walk, take a bottle of water with you. I'm sure Gabe has one of those."

I was strolling past him, giving his shoulder a pat while at it, "Sure dad, I'll get one next time. I'm going in the house now." He didn't say a word after that, he just went and walked with me to the porch. Then I opened the door and we both went inside.

*****

"OUCH!" I cried in pain when my forepaw stepped directly on a rock and it caused my shoulder tremendous amount of pain. It throbbed a bit when I hissed. I raised my paw and moved it away from the rock. Dammit...That hurt! I groaned, resuming my slow pace despite the pain as usual. Great, now I'm wishing I had stayed home. I spit out a word each time I took a step with that kind of pain still going on in my shoulder, "Ow...Oof...Ah...Ouch...Bitch...Drat...Crap."

Finally, after a few minutes passed, that kind of pain went away, but only I wished that all the pain in my injured shoulder had gone away already. Still limping across the savannah and past a tree, I came across a river and went to it to have several laps of water since I was feeling thirsty. With my thirst quenched, I drew back my head and let out a sigh. Then my thoughts were on the two legger, or human as that intruder called himself. I glanced away from the river towards behind me. Judging by how long I'd been walking, a lot of time had passed since I met the intruder. I'm betting he's almost left the lands by now. ALMOST, I think.

A sigh escaped my muzzle, and I began padding along with the river, dipping my head in deep thought. I don't understand. Why didn't I kill him? I had the urge to kill that trespasser...Why did I let him live? His expression showed up in my eyes. Guess it was the fear in his eyes that made my heart reconsider not killing him, other than he didn't really TRY to kill me...Unlike me to him. His words seemed to be telling the truth also.

I growled angrily to myself. Sayde, he's a two legger! Maybe he tricked you into believing that he's a 'kind' two legger. And now since he knows about you, he's probably planning something dangerous right now to hurt you. Now that I'm thinking about it, maybe he's not trying to leave my parent's lands like I demanded him to. If he was actually dangerous, I should have went for his jugular at that very moment. Too late for that now. My paws had urges to turn myself and go searchin' for him, but I didn't want to, knowing for a fact that these lands are vast. He could be anywhere by now. My face softened up. And besides...I could be wrong about him. He probably is still trying to leave these lands. He's probably not planning anything. MAYBE.

Another sigh left me when I rose my gaze, and see a few antelope far ahead walking away from the edge of the river. Don't know what mom and dad would say if I told them about that...'Human'. I better not say anything. Telling them that could change their opinion about me being queen, knowing both of them are still deciding about me and Dahlia, and the likelihood for father picking me as queen could be tarnished. I can hear his voice saying that a queen wouldn't have let that two legger live, and I also hear him saying that I probably put the whole pride in danger because of that. A bit of worry poked my brain. I hope I didn't by letting him go. I hope I knew what I was doing.

Then the worry went away like it was nothing. I'll worry about that IF it happens. But in the meantime, I'm not gonna say anything about my encounter. I won't take that chance.

Planting another step to the dirt, I now see something that wasn't antelope ahead. I stopped in my tracks. I know what I'm looking at. At a far distance, where the river seemingly flows by, is a place where a herd of dark skinned two leggers live. I made a narrowed face, staring at the place in spite. I've seen that place more than once in my life. Other than they intrude my homeland, I also know for a fact that two leggers LIVE in my homeland. I can tell, even from a distance. They apparently have their own places to go inside to rest and sleep. Strange, huge dens that are walls as tall as trees made of wood or stone that stick together on four sides. Even the top of each of them is covered, pretty sure to block the sun or the rain that comes by here. And there are several of those dens in one place, maybe thirty-six of them.

I even had warnings from dad about the two leggers home. If anything, even any lion, wanders in there and gets spotted by any two legger, it gets kidnapped, or killed, or both. And I never DARED to wander in there. Sometimes curiosity, mostly towards those dens, flies over me like a fly and urges me to get a closer look at one of them. But I always fought it off, seeing it wasn't worth it.

I huffed. I honestly think this isn't fair. They trespass these lands and then they start LIVING in them. What gives them that right? Sure herds of other animals, even herds that come from different lands, have the right to live in the lands my parents rule over, but two leggers are completely outlandish and dangerous to anything that already lived here!

I shook my head a bit. Oh, Sayde, there's no point in staring at it. Just limp off and get home. I think you've had enough wandering around the savannah for one day. Besides, you feel better now after your plan with Aren was ruined. I'll probably get a lecture from mother about wandering away from home while injured when I get back though. Both corners of my muzzle twitched to make a smile. Well, dealing with the lecture would be worth it. When I'm done listening to mom, or dad about it, I'll find Aren, ALONE, and then I'll talk to him. Nervousness fluttered about in my stomach. I hope by the time I get back...I'll stop feeling nervous.

Before I could walk on home however, something else caught within my sights. I squinted, trying to see it clearly, and I can tell that there were two lion cubs heading towards the two leggers home. I reared back my head with wide eyes filled with fear and gasped. Cubs?! Oh no! What are they doing?! It's dangerous going in there! I've got to stop them! I ran forward about a few feet until my paw stepped on another rock and shot another bout of pain up my shoulder. I crashed to the ground, falling on my stomach, and groaned. Not again!

But I didn't stay down for long as I quickly pushed myself back on my feet and tried that again. While dashing, and toughing out the pain as usual, I saw that the cubs already disappeared in the place filled with two leggers and their dens. Before I even began running after them, I knew that they'd make it in there before me since they were closer to there. But that didn't mean I wouldn't go in there after them. As I was about halfway there, making sure from a distance that there weren't humans that could see and attack me before I got there, my mind was yelling me to not go in there and head home. It was crazy for a lioness like me to do this, but there was no way I could leave them. They're cubs! I don't want their families to lose their loved ones because of this! I'm going in there and get them the heck out of there, crazy or not.

Slowing down to trots and limps when I was at the edge of the human's territory, I hugged my body close to a wall of one of the human dens. My fur brushed against it as I trailed along with the wall and poked my head around the corner. I see a couple fully grown dark skinned two leggers sitting on a big rock in the middle of this place while several more were either wandering around, talking, or working, by the looks of it. I even saw, judging by their size, several two legger cubs, counting five, chasing each other, screaming as they're apparently playing.

I actually giggled quietly at the cute sight. Huh...Never saw two legger cubs before. I know they're trespassers, but watching them play did seem kind of cute to me. Then I forcefully shook my head, bringing myself back into focus. I don't have time to watch this. Where are the LION cubs? Don't think they've been caught, yet. They have to be around here somewhere. I have to find them and get out of here.

I ran out of the corner across to another human den, hiding behind it. I skidded to a stop and listened for any voice that sounded like it was in alarm. I didn't hear any. I wasn't spotted. I let out a whoosh of air and pushed on in a limp. After rounding a corner of that den, I began to prowl deeper in the place of two leggers. Despite there were many humans around, I kept myself hidden, hiding behind any spot I come across, then move when I know it was safe to go. I did have one close call actually, when a two legger cub almost found me, but luckily the quirt went the other way! Several hiding spots later, I found another one close to this...Thing two leggers get inside and ride on to get around the savannah for travel, apparently. Some...Big, somewhat shiny thing with four circular thingies resting at the bottom that roll when it moves. I do know humans use things like that, but I never knew, like everybody else in the pride, what those things are called.

I lowered to my stomach, looking through the space under that big thing, and I was seeing about three two leggers walking off in one direction. Nobody noticed I was hiding at the other side of this thing. I soon found it was safe to stalk out of this spot, but before I could go and search for the cubs some more, a loud whisper came behind me, "Psst, Sayde!"

My ears and head shot up and I looked behind me while still on my belly. Turned out the two cubs I've been looking for had found me. And I know who they are!

Kweli and Asha!

I put on a glare, then pushed up from the ground and turned around to face them, my rear end barely touching the thing I was looking under. I whispered angrily, "Kweli! Asha! It was you two?"

Kweli, the little male cub, giggled quietly with a flick of his tail, "Hi, Sayde."

"What the hell are you both doing here?"

The female cub standing beside him, Asha, answered with a smirk, "We were just exploring here after we ditched our moms." Her paw pointed at her companion, "It was his idea."

Kweli said with an excited look, his quiet voice a bit loud I was afraid somebody might hear him, "Yeah! And this is amazing!"

I whispered a retort, "Exploring here, are you nuts? Two leggers are not the kind of things that you can explore about!"

Asha shook her head, quietly saying, "We know that. But we aren't caught."

"Yeah, not yet. I was starting to think you were!"

"Me too, and I'm surprised we aren't." Kweli's grin widened to a toothy one, "And what are YOU doing here? Did you come here to explore with us?" He shrugged his shoulders with smug, "Well I didn't invite you, but you're welcome to join us. We don't mind having-"

I brought my head down to their level with that expression still, "No, I didn't come here to explore. I came here to get your little hineys out of here!"

Kweli's grin went away and he whined a little, "Aw, but it was getting fun."

Asha had a worried look and remarked, "Actually...I'm kinda wanting to get out of here now."

I said in agreement, raising my head above them, "Guess she has more brains than you, Kweli. Now stay down, stay close, and follow me."

Kweli's eyes narrowed and he adamantly shook his head, "No way! I'm gonna explore some more!"

Asha nervously tried to steer him away from doing that, "Kweli."

I growled a bit, "Listen here you little brat, you better leave with your little feet carrying you or I'll pick you up myself."

The resistant male cub shot back, "I'll run away before you do."

"Then if you do run away and don't come with me and Asha RIGHT NOW, I'm gonna find your mother and tattle on you."

Kweli's mouth dropped agape, "No...You wouldn't dare."

I smirked, "Try me. You'll be in serious ass trouble if you don't leave with us." I formed another glare, "Just like you'll be in serious ass trouble with the two leggers if you don't leave now. Now let's go."

Kweli let out his cute little whine and stomped his foot in defeat, "Awww, fine."

Asha saw something and her eyes went wide, her form and jaw trembling as she tried to speak, "Say- ….Sa-Sa-Sa- Sayde…"

I shot my gaze down to her with a frown, "What?" That's when Kweli caught her gaze and his eyes went wide too, starting to quake in fear. That's when I was getting a bad feeling when my eyes went wide too. I think I know what's going on here...

I slowly turned my head to see what they're looking at...And found a dark skinned human who's a female standing at the corner of that rolly thingy, shock only appeared on her face. Uh oh. The female two legger was frozen a moment before she let out a scream. It was so loud it hurt my ears. Damn, one of them saw us! The two legger ran off, and I was having the same idea as she was.

I screamed, "RUN!!!" The cubs whirled and ran for their lives, screaming in horror. I dashed after them despite pain in my shoulder. The cubs were still within my sight, since they were faster than me, before they disappeared between two human dens.

I was about to run in after them before they actually came back out, Asha shouting out, "Go back!" When they both ran past me, I skidded to a stop and saw that another two legger emerged from where they came from, trying to chase them. It stopped at the sight of me. I had the urge to kill that one, believing it was trying to kidnap the cubs, but I fought it and spun around to run.

While I ran with the cubs in a different direction, as they sprinted past the shiny rolly thing, I saw another human at the very far left holding a long stick thing in its paws, aiming it at me. My eyes were filled with fear. No, it's gonna fire! I yelled for the cubs as I also ran past that big thing, "Keep running!" The cubs screamed in response, and then I heard a loud bang when that creature fired. I didn't look back, only kept my pace. Nearby, I saw a two legger cub being picked up by a grown one and carried away. Another loud bang sounded off and something exploded on the ground near me. I yelped, pushing my limbs harder than before.

I finally caught up with the cubs and a few seconds later we made it through the edge of this place, running still after we did. I looked back, seeing a couple two leggers chasing us with stick thingies. One of them stopped, took aim, and fired. I gasped, but nothing happened to me nor one of the cubs. As another shot rang out, the three of us ran up a hill and down it. After we made it to the bottom, we heard a voice that stopped us, "Kweli! Asha! Sayde!"

All three of us turned our gazes, breathing deeply after running so fast, and found a fully grown lioness standing from a short distance. I know who that was. She's another member of the pride. Her name is Kisha.

Kweli cried, "Mom!"

I hollered with a huff, "Kisha, we need to go! There are-"

I heard Kisha spat out incredulously, "Yes, I know! Get over here and follow me!" And we did so, making our way to Kisha and then we followed her, running until we were getting tired of it. As the four of us finally stopped in the middle of the savannah, huffing and puffing, I looked back and saw that we've lost those humans and the two legger home is far away from where we are. Phew...That was a close call.

When all of us finally caught our breaths, Kisha looked at Kweli and Asha and asked, "Are you alright?" They nodded, their bodies still trembling.

I let out a breath as I padded up to her with a relieved smile, "Yeah. We're all ok."

That's when the lioness older than me shot me a glare, "You! What were you thinking?!"

I stopped where I was and frowned curiously, "Err, what?"

She took a step towards me and shouted again, "You know EXACTLY what I'm talking about, you irresponsible bitch!" The cubs held surprised looks because of her outbursts.

I meekly shook my head, glaring at what she called me with, "Um no...I actually don't."

"Don't give me that! You think I didn't see you running out of there with the cubs, Sayde? You almost got them killed!"

I reared back my head, shocked by the accusation, "Wait a second. I was-"

But she retorted, "Do you have any idea what you've almost done?! I know how this started. It was your idea to wander in that place with them!"

"What?!" I was shaking my head, "No! It wasn't! I-"

Kisha snarled, "I KNOW, Sayde! I followed Kweli and Asha's tracks, trying to search for them, and they led me there. That's when I saw YOU of all lionesses running with them out of the two leggers home, being attacked by them! I know you convinced them to go in there with you. For what? To play a game! A very STUPID one. I know how you are when it comes to games."

I just stood there glaring at her. Is she kidding me?! Kweli tried to intervene with him scratching her leg, "Mom." Kisha ignored him, not taking her golden eyes off me.

I tried to defend, "Kisha-"

But Kweli's mother spat out another heated sentence, "Shut up! Your father's going to hear about this!"

"But I didn't plan this!"

Kisha didn't listen to me when she looked at Asha, "You are walking home with me, young lady, back to your mother." Her eyes fell next toward the other cub, "And as for you, Kweli, let's go." Then her jaws snatched Kweli's neck fur and lifted him off the ground.

Kweli squirmed a bit in irritation, "Mom!" All he got from her is a grunt, and she motioned her head for me and Asha to follow. Then they went off to the direction for home. I trailed after them after standing there for a second. I kinda just gave up trying to convince her otherwise, for now. I know I didn't do anything wrong. I was trying to get the cubs out of there, not play some game with them in that place and get them killed!

I let out a calmed sigh, feeling anger and frustration in my chest still. Maybe things will clear up once dad gets involved. I hope, anyway.