Tree Of Life: The Next Generation

Chapter 6 The Awakening

"Baylio? You okay, come on wake up", Rani said nudging his head, "Don't worry we'll get out of here soon",

There wasn't much Rani could do, the cell was guarded by two guards, one posted next to it the other by the cave's entrance, she was getting hungry and thirsty again, her stomach growling, begging for food but all she could do was wait till Talia came back, she paced around the cell until she came to a rest by Baylio, laying her paw over his scruff Rani fell asleep, the sun slowly dipping under the earth and soil.

                     ......

"Come on guys, we're nearly there, you guys ready for your training session?", Makini asked all excited,

"yeah we are, what are you going to do while you're in the Pride Lands?", Karla said,

"I'll be staying with Rafiki while you guys are here, you guys will be sleeping in Guard's lair",

"What about Vitani's Guard?", Rafi asked,

"They are on an expedition journey, so they'll be gone for a few days so the lair is all yours",

They've arrived, coming over the hill the Pride Lands was spectacular at night time, the stars twinkling over Pride Rock was amazing, majestic to say the least.

"Right here we are, Simba is expecting us, so we better not be late, come on", Makini said walking ahead,

"Wanna race Grace?", Carlos smirked,

"Pftt, you know I'll win, I am the fastest here", Grace said stretching her back,

"We'll see", Carlos said pushing her over and bolting past Makini,

"Hey! That's cheating", Grace said sprinting past Makini, knocking her off her feat,

"Sorry Makini" Grace shouted,

"It's okay", Makini said, picking up her staff and walking over.

"Well, we should catch up shouldn't we", Ahen said,

"Last one there is a rotten Baobab fruit", Rafi announced running past Makini who dodged them all.

"Kids", Makini said shaking her head and smirking, "Wait up for me".

                   ......

Yawning awake Rani looked around, the room was darker, must be night time she thought, looking down Baylio was still asleep, nudging him he finally rose, wincing at the pain of his lower body,

"You okay little brother?", Rani asked,

"Yeah, I am fine, what are you doing here?", Baylio asked confused,

"I was coming to visit you? What happened? Has Talia gone crazy?",

"She used me, I'm sorry I should of done something",

"It's okay, it's not your fault, how long have you been in here for?",

"A few weeks now I think, ever since we've settled down she's gone mad, it's like she's hungry for power or something, first she told me we needed reinforcements for security, I went against it but she brought over all these lions, but I was stupid to see what she was doing, days went by and she became more controlling, I overheard them making a plan to throw off the circle of life, that's when I was going to run and tell you guys but I was caught and here I am now",

"What a story, you are right about one thing, I am hungry for power", Talia said chuckling to herself, "Guards, get these two cleaned up, it's time for a feast", Talia said walking out.

Rani helped Baylio to his feet as they walked out of the cell, they walked out of the cave and were met by the heat of a fire that was in the middle of the courtyard, lions bowed to the flames, what was this? Some sort of ritual? Rani thought to herself.

"Come, you must be hungry, there's plenty of food for everyone", Talia said, sitting and gnawing on a bone. Rani wasn't going to argue, she helped Baylio down as he sat in silence, tears started to form, she could tell he was scared,

"It's okay, we'll get through this", Rani whispered into his ear,

"Go on, dig in", Talia said, Rani looked around, there was a few dozen of lions, all big and strong, there was no point in fighting them, she looked down, it was a feast, there was plenty of food for them , enough to feed a whole army, she shook her head and decided it was best to just eat, she was getting weak and need enough strength to figure something out, she picked out the juiciest of pork leg and dug in, Baylio reluctantly ate the ribs of a zebra,

"So you are probably wondering what's going on here?", Talia said, "Well this was planned a few years ago, It all started when you defeated my father",

Rani looked up, confused but then realized what she meant, Yassain.

"What are you? His daughter?", Rani said,

"Indeed I am, and these lions are what was the remains of his Pride before you killed him",

"He was evil", Rani growled,

"He wasn't evil. He was just trying to create a better life for everyone until you disrupted his plans",

"So what, you're going to continue his journey?",

"No dear. We're going to do much more, like what Baylio said, something that'll throw the entire circle of life out of balance". Talia said grinning,

"When you killed my father, I became the new leader of the Force Of Fire and began plotting a new plan, I studied you guys for a few months and found a weak spot, your brother, I knew if I can get close to him I'll be able to use him and leverage him and use him, he has done me good, same with Kion, if it wasn't for him we wouldn't have this, anyways I knew if I have him I can have all the secrets of the Tree Of Life and everything personal to you and your family, he was just to stupid to realize it, the next step was to lure you here and it worked, here you are, we're untouchable now, with you no one can defeat us, not even Kion", Talia said throwing a bone at Baylio's head, he didn't flinch, he was use to the beatings, the control.

"So what's the plan from here?", Rani stated,

"Glad you asked", Talia said, "Rocky!", Talia shouted, Rani wondered who was rocky, she got her answer, a strong male lion came around the corner, he was spectacular, beautiful, nice chestnut fur, his warm orange eyes were so dreaming, he was around the cubs age.

"Rani, meet Rocky, he is going to get close to your cubs and the others. He is going to gain their trust and when he does he is going to lure them here and we're going to kill them. Then we are going to kill every other guard around the Savanna, without guards to protect the pride or land, everyone would be weak, defenceless and that's when we will come in and take over, our main targets are the Pride Lands and then the Tree Of Life. Our allies will join and my father's legacy will live on".

"You touch my family and I will personally kill you", Rani said getting up and pouncing on her, she was able to claw her face, leaving a nasty cut under her left cheek.

"How dare you! Guards take her back to her cell now". Talia said, wiping the blood off of her fur.

"Rocky!", ''It's time, go to the Pride Lands, find the guard and do your job".

"Yes ma'am, I'll do you and your father proud". Rocky said sprinting away

"Good, it's a new era, the awakening".