A Cheetah's Path

. 1 .

Fuli kept low to the ground, using the shadows of the Outlands to hide her golden pelt. The zebra that she was hunting lifted it's head, ears twitching. 

The feline froze, waiting. Her prey was painfully skinny, and at this point she would be doing him a favor in completing the circle of life for him. 

Things weren't always this way, in fact, Fuli remembered the day when everything changed clearly, though it was almost a year ago. 

Fuli raced through the Pridelands, her tail streaming out behind her as she enjoyed the wind in her golden fur. 

It was night, which was her favorite time to race across the Pridelands. The air was cool, and it was quiet; the perfect time to run.

 After a moment of silence, the cheetah stopped, ears pricking towards sounds at Pride Rock. She could hear fain noises, but was unable to decipher them.

There was a roar that echoed throughout the Pridelands, and Fuli took off, speeding towards the now alive Pride Rock. Lions swarmed the rocks, sandy pelts looking silver in the moonlight. 

However, those pelts were joined by golds, tans, and browns all spotted with black.

Cheetahs.

 Fuli immediately spotted Kion fighting off two cheetahs, and ran forward, slamming one away and landing on all four paws. 

"What's happening!?" Fuli cried, turning to her friend, who batted the other cheetah away. 

"Ambush. They're called Cheetah Clan, and they're trying to take over the Pridelands." Kion answered shortly, his fur bristling. 

There was a chirp from the top of Pride Rock, full of triumph. "Not trying, we have!" The leader cried. 

He was a mainly brown cheetah, with gold eyes and a permanent sneer etched onto his face. 

The cheetah was pinning one of Kiara and Kovu's cubs, a sandy male with a dark little tuft of main growing on his head. 

"Kopa!" Kiara cried, her fur bristling, along with the rest of the lion's, Fuli included. The dark cheetah cackled. 

"I am King Mishindi, this is my mate, Queen Cheche. We rule the Pridelands now. If you refuse, we kill this cub. If you agree, he will live." 

To prove his point, Mishindi's claws pressed down onto Kopa, who yelped and began wiggling. 

King Simba let out a growl, but backed down nonetheless. He wasn't going to risk the life of his Grandson.

King Mishindi laughed, motioning with his tail. A young cheetah, a tad bit older than Fuli herself, walked up to him. 

The young cheetah was kinda cute, Fuli had to admit, golden fur with a layer or darker fur on his back and tail all covered in black spots.

A charm rested on his chest, a leather string resting around his neck. The gem itself was golden, a marking carved into the surface, and two grey feathers were attached to the gem. 

There was also a dark red collar of sorts on his neck, linked together by a golden circle matching the one that the feathers were attached too. 

His eyes were a flaming, red-gold color, like a fire on the savannah. Brown fur lined his neck and shoulders, beginning to flop over in his face.  

"My son, Prince Kuhama will be our heir." Kuhama's fiery gaze moved around the lions, his head lifted high. 

"You are all banished from the Savannahlands, and must live in the Outlands forever!" King Mishindi shouted, earning chirps of agreement from his cheetahs.