The Last Lioness: As A Cub

Chapter 3: Wrong Turn Right Turn?

I kept running, not knowing where to turn....I turned into a canyon. I suddenly heard a loud clatter on the ground behind me. I turned my head and I forgot. It was migration season. I ran faster than I could ever go. I saw a small crevice up ahead at the side of the canyon I could possibly fit inside. The wildebeest were gaining on me fast, I then leapt into the crevice, knocking my head on the side my vision went blurry. I blacked out, i heard more hooves and a few snorts then that was it.

I woke up later on that day. I dont know how long I had been there, my vision as coming back. No more noice. But I noticed vultures gathering outside the crevice I was in. "Scat!" I hissed at them, swiping my paws. They all turned around and took off, still circling around me in the air though, I wasn't going to give up. I didnt want to turn back or go foreward. I was stuck. I sat down and heard a few hooves clatter, I looked up ahead to see two zebras, late for the migration they were speeding off, I jumped just in time to leap onto the zebras wiry tail, i clawed myself up it, making the zebra neigh and try to kick me off, I retracted my claws and sat on its back. I didnt know what I was doing, but no one knows what they are doing with their life until they get there.

I was tired, the road wasnt that rocky, the zebra I was riding on was nice. She didnt try and get me off her back. I think she understood the position I was in. So I fell asleep slowly, each step she took was like my mother licking me, or in your humans case, rocking your to sleep. I dozed off and then I heard a loud bang. No. No. No. Just no. I thought as i opened my eyes I saw the same truck that had took my mother. The zebra I was on fell to the ground of the big canyon. Lifeless, the other one kept running but he was shot down too. I was standing there, frozing. The hunter looked at me and smiled evilly. He pointed his gun to me and took aim. Bang. It had missed me. While he was reloading I had to have a choice. Run or stay. I chose neither. I ran to his leg and clawed my way up to where the sun dont shine on him. I started clawing at it and biting at it. He screamed in pain and clutched my head that was under his dusty trousers. I then fell out his trouser leg as he shook it wildly, when he was screaming on the floor I ran, chuffed with myself I didnt stop.

I came to the end of the canyon. I saw a big gathering of wildebeest, I could go under them and risk being trampled or I could climb over them. I decided to do it the fun way. I ran and leapt up into one of the wildebeests rumps, I kept climbing over them till I got to the front. It was the river they had to cross. We all stood, waiting for the first one to plunge in. I sighed and did a small chirp as I plunged in, they laughed at me, after seeing i was actually going across, they plunged in after me, I kept swimming, I heard a hiss. It was a Nile Crocodile. I swam for my life. The old wildebeest behind me saw that a crocodile was going to snap at me any minute. He risked his life for me. He flicked the croc into the air with his horns, sending him flying, and me not touched. When I got up the other end, I saw a struggle in the water. It was my friend! He was getting pulled under! I leapt back down the back into the water. "Go! I it was going to be my last migration anyway!" He said smiling weakly before getting pulled straight under. I stood there as a wildebeest came out and nudged me. "Dont worry little one, you can tag along with me." She said smiling.

I smiled at her and clawed my way up her rump and onto her back. "I'll wake you up when we get there." She said as she walked slowly amongst the herd. I wondered. Where were we going? I didnt really care but I had a long day today. So I decided to give myself a treat by napping for a bit. I closed my eyes only to be woken by a loud snort. I jumped up sitting on the wildebeests back. "Sorry young one, that wasnt me. It was that buck." She said rolling her eyes at them both trying to get her attention. "I have been wondering, what brings you here to travel with the herd?" She asked me. I gulped. "Well...poachers....my pride were shot down and I was left....so I decided to leave the area. There was too much chaos and havoc with the memories." I wept softly as I had a flashback of the shot. I buried my head in my paws. "Hey hey hey!" She said softly. "Dont cry! If it wasn't for me not being interested in them bucks you wouldn't be travelling. Dont worry. You can stay with me as long as you want." She smiled at me as I lifted my head out of my paws. I licked her neck as a thank you and lied back down. "You arent a threat now, but when you grow up-" I interrupted her. "I will have to move on." I sighed. "Indeed." She said smiling. "But you have a long wait until then. Now lets say that we should run now eh?" She said trying to reassure me. "Oh yes please!" I meowed as I sat up. "Ok, hold on little one!" She said to me as she started galloping past the others, the wind brushed upon me. I felt great. Almost as if i was free and running myself.