Roar of Manipulation

Roar of Manipulation Epilogue Part 1: Brothers in the Outlands

It was August, the middle of the long dry season in the Pride Lands. Nine-month-old twin brothers and princes, Umoja and Gozi were making their way towards the Outlands. They wanted to play hide n seek and the Outlands was the perfect place for it.

"Come on Gozi, we're almost to Flat Ridge Rock!" Umoja shouted to his brother behind him.

"I know Umoja, just wait up for me." Gozi panted.

"And risk you winning? No sir." Umoja laughed.

On their way to Flat Ridge Rock to enter the Outlands, Umoja had challenged his younger brother to a race. Gozi had accepted even though he knew his brother was faster than he was. Gozi for most of the race seemed to have been winning until Umoja went into a sudden burst of speed five minutes ago and left Gozi behind to eat his dust. Gozi guessed he must have been saving his energy for the home stretch. Gozi made it to flat ridge rock two minutes after his brother did.

He crawled onto the rock and laid flat on his stomach, panting from the race and the scorching heat of the dry season. Umoja stood over Gozi, looking down into his brother's face.

"Well, it looks like I win again man." Umoja said.

"Big deal, I'm gonna totally kick your butt in hide n seek anyway." Gozi confidently stated, struggling to stand back up on his aching legs.

"We'll see." Umoja said, helping his brother up.

In the nine months since they were born, Umoja and Gozi had changed quite a small bit. Their fur had slightly darkened and their mane tufts had grown a bit thicker, they had an average build for cubs their age, through Umoja was slightly buffer than his brother, who was also about four inches shorter than him, and Umoja seemed to have gotten the black ear rims that their grandfather had when he was about their age. Umoja went to the edge of Flat Ridge Rock and began to climb down. Gozi was about to follow after him, but hesitantly looked over the edge at how far down the fall would be if he slipped. The fall wouldn't kill him, but the landing would be far from soft.

"Oh boy." Gozi breathed shakily while nervously rubbing the dark red arrowhead shaped mark of his brown mane tuft like he always did when he was nervous.

Gozi let out a cold shaky breath as he began to climb down with his brother, slowly. Gozi carefully tested each step to make sure he was secure. When Umoja was down on the ground, he looked up and groaned to see his brother was not even close to being halfway down.

"Come on Oz, hurry it up!" Umoja shouted up to him.

Gozi's eyes that had been tightly shut, snapped back open as he gave a startled shout and lost his grip and began to fall. Gozi gasped, scrambling till he found another pawhold. Gozi breathed heavily for a few seconds before angrily staring down at his brother, who had realized his mistake.

"Sorry about that Oz." Umoja genuinely apologized. "I know you're scared of heights."

Gozi groaned at that. Everyone, even his own family members always mistook his fear of falling with a fear of heights

"Heights I don't mind, it's the possibility of falling that I don't like." Gozi corrected, shakiness in his voice.

"Well than don't fall." Umoja insisted.

"I just did and besides, is telling me not to fall supposed to help?" Gozi asked, frustrated.

"Well... uh... yes." Umoja answered uncertainly.

It took four minutes until Gozi finally made down. When his paws were on solid ground, he put a paw to his chest and breathed slowly to relieve his pounding heart and shaky legs. Umoja came up and patted his brother's back.