Power of Lions

The Change

His face was contorted with pain as he was being aided. All of his muscles were tensed up. The healer washed his wounds with herbs and stitched up the claw marks and bites.

"Stop acting like a baby. I'm almost done." the healer said as she patted Imamu's back.

Imamu looked at all of his wounds. He nearly bled out from Assaggi's attacks. His mind replayed her transformation from a human to a lion. It was like one of the fairytales his mother would tell him every night before he went to bed. A skin walker that punishes the evil and kills whoever gets in their way.

"I have underestimated the enemy. She is stronger than I realized." he said to himself.

After he was patched up, Imamu left the healer's tent. Rain was falling from the sky hard. It stung his skin at each drop. Imamu walked to the edge of the village. Each step he took, he could hear the roars of the lions and tigers. A sneer grew on his face as he thought of them.

'Their only chance of surviving is in Assaggi's hands. What can a bunch of stupid–'

His thought was interrupted when a sudden bloodcurdling scream echoed through the air. The scream followed by a loud roar. Imamu quickly ran to the cages with fear running through his veins.

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Small whines from the cubs brought sadness to all captive tigers and lions. The mothers comforted them to try and calm their children, but it was hopeless to calm any of them down.

A Poacher slammed his gun against the bars. It startled the children into silence while the grown ups snarled at him. "Be quiet. You'll get your food soon." he said. Not that anyone understood him.

Sanyu lunges at the Poacher and slams into the bars. Her forepaw slipped through the bars and successfully slashes the Poacher's arm. Blood squirted out of his arm and fell like a waterfall. Letting out a pained yelp, the Poacher jumped back and held his wounded arm. "Why you pathetic beast!" he yelled angrily. Using the butt of his gun, he hits Sanyu in the forehead with force.

Stars flashed across her vision as she collapsed. Her head pounded heavily from the hit. "Sanyu!" cried Ada. In her peripheral vision, Sanyu saw her sister try to stand but the wound on her left hind leg was too infected. "Don't!" Sanyu roared at Ada. One glare from Sanyu stopped Ada from moving.

A tiger with a badly torn ear and with only one eye limped to Sanyu. "Sanyu, you must rest. You're losing too much energy." said Tau. Beside him, his son Tumaini says,"You're the queen of the pride. We need your leadership." The innocence of the cub calmed the anger that Sanyu was feeling. Taking in a slow but deep breath, Sanyu walks up to the bars and faces the Poacher. He stared at her but didn't move.

'Ekon, give me strength.' Sanyu thought sullenly.

'Wish granted, my love.' suddenly spoke an echoing voice inside her mind.

Confused, Sanyu didn't have time to acknowledge the voice before an unbelievable burst of energy shot through her. She falls down and twitches as she suddenly started to change forms. Her bones change directions and grow out. The fur sank back into her skin and was replaced with human skin. Paws shape into human hands, tail disappears, and feline nose changes to a human nose.

In only a few moments, now laid in the cage full of jungle cats, was a tall, naked woman. Long black hair ran down her shoulders in layers. Her skin was a milk chocolate color, long claws replaced her finger and toe nails, and her eyes were shaped like a cat's eyes.

Slowly opening her eyes, revealing emerald green eyes. Sanyu sits up with her newly shaped limbs, staring at her new body. "Dear Leo." she breathed.

"What in hell?!" cursed the Poacher.

Looking up at the Poacher, Sanyu slowly stood up on her two feet. She had trouble with her balance but quickly gains it. Walking up to the bars, she presses against them, her body shivering under the cold surface. "May I please come out?" she spoke fluently in human. Her voice was silky smooth like a river.

"Witchcraft!" he cried. Raising his gun, he aimed at Sanyu. Instincts took over and Sanyu ducks down in time. The bullet was just a hair length from hitting her.

While the man was reloading, Sanyu slipped through the bars with the help of her skinniness. She lands on the balls of her feet and lunges at the Poacher before he could fire. He lets out a scream as Sanyu bit down on his neck with her sharp human teeth. Blood spewed all over her body and ground. Sanyu growled as she tore out the flesh of the Poacher's throat. The man ceased his thrashing and laid there limp.

Finally letting go of the man's neck, Sanyu leans back where she sat. Her claws retracted from his skin and shrank into normal human nails. The glow in her eyes died and returned to a normal green. She didn't show remorse to the man that she killed.

Quickly, she turns around and runs to the cage door. The bars were slippery with the blood stained on her hands. Putting a firm grip on the bars, Sanyu pulls them in opposite ways. The bars let out a screech as they were pulled into different directions. She makes the gap wide enough for her family to slip through one by one.

"Stop!" roared that cursed voice.

Letting out a growl, she looks behind her to see Imamu standing there with five other men. All armed but they wore confused expressions. Sanyu turns her body to face them fully, obscuring their view of the gap she made.

"Who are you?! What are you doing!?" Imamu demanded.

"You clearly know who I am and what I am doing." Sanyu replied in a dangerous tone. "You killed my mate and half of the pride." she said as she stalked forward. Her claws elongated as her anger grew. "Death will come to you very soon, Imamu. And I don't need to be future seeker to know." Sanyu sneered. Tigers and lions walked out of the cage and stood beside Sanyu. Even the cubs stood by, trying to give their best threatening face.

Sanyu stepped up toward Imamu. They were a foot apart, Imamu kept his eyes on her own. "I'm not afraid to fight another monster." Imamu challenged. "Says the one who fled from my daughter's attacks." Sanyu scoffed.

A gun went off, but Sanyu dodged in time. She lunges at Imamu and swipes her claws  at his face.

At that second, the fight broke loose. Each tiger and lion attacked Imamu's men as the humans attacked.