(In Progress) The Lion King: The Three Rulers

Part II - A Tough Situation

"Move along!!!", the cheetah growled.

       Fuli winced as she was forced forward by the two Leapords behind her and the two flanking her and Azzad. Azzad was not injured, he could have escaped. Yet he stayed by Fuli's side, getting captured just to be with her. When Azzad wasn't looking at her leg with concern he was glaring furiously ahead at the cheetah leading them. His brother.

AZZAD: "Look at what you have become brother... You are a disgrace. What would mother and father have- Aghhhh!!!!"

       Rizzi stopped leading for a second as the group halted so he could turn and swipe his paw across his brother's face. Azzad fell to the ground.

FULI: "Azzad!", Fuli tried to reach Rizzi, but her leg shot her back down as she tried to run.

       Quickly a Leopard held her down.

RIZZI: "Don't you dare mention them...", he growled to his brother's face now on the ground with his paw holding him down as he composed himself, "And if you want your mate over there to survive, I would suggest you cooperate."

       Azzad was furious and red from what Rizzi had said. Sure Fuli and him were close, but they were not mates. Though Azzad did have feelings for... No. He shook that thought out of his head. They were just friends.

AZZAD: "She is my friend...", he growled.

RIZZI: "Whatever, brother", he replied rolling his eyes motioning to the nearby Leopard who forced Azzad up, "move it..."

       Fuli also stumbled to her legs forced to do so by the fangs of the Leopard behind her.

       Eventually the trio came to and were sat outside the Tree of Life while Rizzi entered it. Fuli looked around and became visibly sickened. The area was completely destroyed, blood was everywhere as were countless bodies of subjects some of which she had talked to just yesterday. Her eyes widened as she saw Zira emerge from the Tree of Life, flanked on either side by Rizzi and Hera. 

ZIRA: "So these are the prisoners, I'd hoped for a particular lion, but these two will do", she said with a toothy grin.

FULI: "Gahh!!!!!", she forced every ounce of strength she had left to run at Zira only to be swiftly taken down and held by Rizzi. 

AZZAD: "Get off her!!!!", he exclaimed as he tried to help her only to be subdued similarly by the Leopards beside him.

FULI: "You will not get away with this! You wicked witch!", she screamed with angry tears at Zira.

ZIRA: "My my.... such energy.", she simply said amused with a wicked smile.

RIZZI: "It is the fire of the cheetah's heart as my brother might say...", he said smiling at Azzad who clearly looked like he wanted to tear his brother apart.

ZIRA: "Well, such energetic and devoted friends of Kion will likely be hard to replace.", she said examining the two pinned cheetahs before her.

FULI: "Unlike your lacky who calls himself a cheetah, he can be replaced. Even you!", she retorts as Zira gets internally more furious.

        Zira finally narrows her eyes and paces over to Fuli as Azzad frantically struggles only imagining the worst. Zira bows down to meet her gaze at Fuli's level. 

ZIRA: "I can see why Kion picked you... you definitely are strong and I'd presume fast", Zira says.

        Zira looks at Fuli's injured gashed leg and then with an angry growl slashes at it with her claws making the gash open up again and become even worse. Fuli cries out in pain and agony as she is held down. Zira meets Fuli's tear filled gaze.

ZIRA: "Even you can by replaced my dear. The fire of a cheetah is useless when that cheetah has no legs, so I'd be more careful of that mouth. Now, you are going to tell me everything you know. Everything about Kion, about the Tree of Life, and about the Pride Lands", she said through her fangs.

AZZAD: "You witch! We will never tell you anything!", he growled.

       This time Azzad's brother spoke.

RIZZI: "Perhaps not dear brother, but you both would be wise to obey, for you mate's sake over there...", he said in warning tone pointing a paw as Zira paced back to her place as Fuli looked as if she would pass out. 

       Azzad growled defeated slightly, not wanting further pain to come to Fuli. Strangely he didn't even feel the need to argue what Rizzi had said again about Fuli being his mate. Azzad realized he needed to tell Fuli his true feelings.

ZIRA: "Your brother is right, you would be wise to not speak out again. Now, Rizzi, show them to their new home while guests here...", she said as she turned to go back into the Tree with Hera.

RIZZI: "Yes, my general", he said as he bowed.

       Azzad supported Fuli as the two were led away by their captors to a small rocky cave. The two were forced inside. Fuli collapsed against the back of the cave with Azzad beside her with a look of concern to her condition as she passed out. Azzad raced to the mouth of the cave only to be met with two growling Leopards. He backed off and returned to Fuli settling next to her. Suddenly, Rizzi appeared in between the two growling Leopards who stopped their growl with his presence.

RIZZI: "I suggest, you not take things into your own hands brother.", he said sharply.

AZZAD: "She is injured!", he growled.

RIZZI: "Yes I know, I am not stupid, and no harm will come to her if you obey us.", he stated.

AZZAD: "Oh really?!", he said emphasizing her further injured leg, "Why should I trust you! What prevents me from ripping you apart right now?!", he fumed.

RIZZI: "Well, one you are greatly outnumbered here. Secondly, I am your brother who-", Rizzi started.

AZZAD: "Not anymore, not after what you did and after what you are now...", he coldly stated, "Azzad has no brother anymore..."

       Rizzi narrowed his eyes at Azzad for a moment, sighed, turned and started to walk away.

RIZZI: "If that were true you would have already tried to kill me and have gotten you and your mate killed.", he said as he walked off, "You know that I, of anyone, will care for my own family. You have my word. I will not let you die if I have anything to say about it."

        Azzad looked on at his departing brother with anger. He knew what his brother said held some truth, yet bad past memories overshadowed the good ones. And what he was now, only was evil in Azzad's mind.

RIZZI: "However, your mate over there is not my family, so I would be very careful with what you both say...", he said pointing to Fuli slowly as he exited.

       Azzad, looked at Fuli whose flank slowly rose and fell as she was unconscious. He knew his brother was right, at least about one thing. He lowered himself next to Fuli and moved closer as she smiled slightly in her unconscious slumber. Azzad did want Fuli to be his mate, and he would make sure nothing would happen to her as long as he had anything to say about it.