Fallen Allies

Chapter 21 Monster

Akili had found an empty clearing in the center of a forest in the Pride Lands, he had cleaned the blood from his paw and was now drowned in his thoughts. Dhahabu, the young lion he had found two years before, he was starving, thirsty, cold, and completely alone, Akili took him in and trained him under the ways of the Frostbourne.

The lion was going to reach full maturity within the next three years, but sadly now he'll never be able to see the day. Akili and the battle sisters, Ngao, Shoka, and Upanga had worked closely to train the young lion and he had been on the course to greatness, but that day would never come now.

Shoka was a similar age to Dhahabu, she was the youngest of the three battle sisters and she took a large liking to the newcomer. Shoka was always the most gifted of the three sisters and trained closely with Dhahabu, slowly teaching him in her methods and it helped the lion become an even greater fighter.

After only a few moon cycles, the pair had officially revealed that they were together and it filled the group with joy for them, now it was sadly over though. Dhahabu was never one to back down from speaking his mind, and while it was great at times, it got him into trouble at others.

Dhahabu was the bravest, and most stubborn lion Akili had ever met, and it had cost him the previous night, much to the dismay of Akili, the shock of many others, and the sorrows of Shoka.

As the sun had begun to rise, Akili was starting to dampen the Rage's effects and it truly helped him start to think about the previous night. He would be lying to himself if he said he wasn't saddened by Dhahabu's death, but he knew the rules, 'nobody speaks of her' it was knowledge known by the Frostbourne, the punishments were unknown for breaking that rule, until now of course.

Akili looked to the sky, wishing for guidance, but just like the last sixteen years, no guidance was given, it was complete silence, the black lion felt himself slowly fall deeper. His eyes had gone back to their blank state and his face had remained like stone, no sense of emotion was left, Akili looked down to the paw he used to kill Dhahabu which was now shaking, "I'm a monster" Akili said with defeat, but a smile slowly crept over his face, "I'm a monster" he chuckled.

Nobody controlled him anymore and after sixteen years Akili was finally free, and he wouldn't let anybody take that from him, not again. Spades grasp on his mind had finally been released, Akili was in control now.

The lion slowly made his way to his feet, stretching out his back causing a series of pops to be released, and after taking a deep breath to regain his senses Akili began to head back to where his group was stationed.

🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾

Shoka hadn't fallen asleep that night, it was the first night in a little over a year that she had been left to sleep alone, and it just didn't feel right. Her sisters stayed awake for most of the night but Shoka was able to convince them to go to sleep, leaving her alone to just stare at her paws through the remainder of the night.

A hard truth hit her, they were replaceable, Akili knew that as well, Shoka and her sisters were training to fight from the moment they could walk and to everyone's knowledge Dhahabu had barely learned basic strikes when he was found, but in a moon cycle he was at a matched skill level with her.

Akili was just that good at teaching that he could train anybody to be a top fighter on the planet in the matter of a cycle or two, and it quickly made the early skills obsolete to Akili's mind, although he appreciated having the experience, he knew it could still be replaced, so he had no fear in losing a member or two.

It enraged Shoka, but Ngao always told her that as long as they stayed in line Akili would always remain on their side which was the truth. The Frostbourne was his family, his creation, and he was proud of it, but sometimes someone would get on his nerves, there were five other members with them when they began their journey to the Pride Lands, but they all challenged Akili, and they paid the price.