Savariana

Chapter One

"Don't go far," Amara chirped to Jasiri.

Jasiri glared back at her. "I won't, mother," He replied. "I'm just going to explore."

"I know," His mother continued. "There are dangers out there. There are hyenas and lions out there that will tear you apart without mercy. I don't want to loose you." She glared down and sighed. "I've lost enough already."

The cub crept up to Amara and brushed his cheek against hers. She purred and licked her youngest son on his forehead.

Maisha, Amara's oldest cub walked up to Jasiri. She chirped, "Are you ready?"

"Sure," He retorted, worried. He didn't know what a hyena or a lion was, but he did not like the sound of them. Could they really tear me apart? Jasiri thought. Would they really hurt a cub?

Falsafa, Maisha and Jasiri's brother, was sitting next to Amara. "Do I have to go?" He asked his mother.

Amara smiled and purred, "Yes. You need to explore our land."

Falsafa lashed his tail in anger and crept up to his other siblings. They all glared at the savannah behind them.

"You can go now," Amara chirped. "Do not stay out long. Remember to hide in the grass when danger is near. Do not leave cheetah territory. Please do not......"

Jasiri ignored Amara's warnings and sprinted across the savannah. He giggled with joy and sat down. He has never been this far from his mother. He flexed his small claws into the warm earth.

"Do you want to play?" Falsafa asked, his long tail whipping back and forth.

Jasiri yawned and squeaked, "Sure. What do you want to play?"

"Um," Falsafa hesitated. "Hide and seek!"

The youngest cub glanced around. "Um, what will we hide in? There is nothing but grass." He gazed into the distance. "And that tree," he added.

Maisha stepped up and squeaked, "Lets just venture further." She sprinted off further into the distance.

Jasiri followed her, soon entering an area filled with acacia trees. He crept up to one, sunk his claws into the bark, and began climbing it. He stood on a branch and gazed at his siblings below.

"Hey, guys!" He exclaimed. "Look at me!"

Maisha glared up at her brother. "Get down!" She spat. "You'll fall and get hurt!"

Suddenly, the branch snapped, sending Jasiri to the ground. His cry was cut off when he slammed into the hard earth. "Ow!" He moaned, getting up on his paws. He shook the dirt off of his silver mane.

"You're so stupid," Maisha growled, rolling her blue eyes. "Can we play now?"

"I'll count," Falsafa chirped. "You guys go hide."

Maisha and Jasiri sprinted off while Falsafa closed his eyes and counted to twenty.

Jasiri bounded over the tall grass. He could see what looked like a long black river that stretched far across the savannah. He crept up to it and glared at it, bewildered. It looked solid. He raked his claws on it's hard, oily surface. It smelled like smoke. He placed his right paw on it and glanced at the other side of the "river".

"Stay away from that!"

Jasiri spun around and saw Maisha sprinting up to him. She looked furious.

"Mom said that was the border line," She continued, her voice sharp with scorn. "We are not supposed to cross it."

"Mom didn't tell us that!" Jasiri retorted.

"Well, she told me!" Maisha spat. She was extremely annoyed.

A rumbling sound came from the distance, growing louder. Suddenly, a huge creature roared across the "river". It's putrid fumes covered the air around it. It roared passed the cubs and sprinted off into the distance.

Maisha screamed with fear and darted back to the acacia trees. Jasiri glanced at the monster and then followed his sister. She stood next to a tree, terrified.

"What was that?" She yelled, sinking her claws into the hard soil.

Jasiri shrugged. "Whatever it was, it's gone now." He wrinkled his nose, driving the foul scent of the creature away. He glanced back at the "river". "They must guard this thing."

Maisha growled, "It wanted to eat us! That thing was huge!"

"Do you think it was a lion?" Falsafa asked, curious.

Jasiri shook his head. "I don't think so. Mom said lions and hyenas only live in our territory."

"I'm not sure if this is important," Falsafa squeaked, "But I can't count to twenty. I can only make it to ten."

Maisha laughed. "It's okay. We should go back. Mom could be worried!"

"Oh, come on!" Jasiri squeaked. "This is our first day out alone! We should enjoy it!" He rolled over on his back and yawned.

The eldest cub rolled her eyes. "You have to listen to me because I'm older than you."

Falsafa chirped, "Yeah. You're the youngest. Listen to her. She is more mature than you."

Jasiri lashed his tail with anger. "I can be mature!" He hissed. "At least I know how to have some fun!"

"You break the rules!" Maisha snapped.

"Do not!"

"Does too!"

Falsafa snarled, "Stop arguing! The sun is going down! We should go!"

Suddenly, Maisha pounced onto Jasiri. She sunk her teeth into his scruff tightly.

"Let go! Let go!" Jasiri snarled. His sister released him. He hissed, "That was unnecessary!" His scruff was soaked in her saliva. He wrinkled his nose in disgust.

Maisha spat out some silver fur. "Let's go." She sprinted off into the distance, heading towards her mother's direction. The two brothers followed her back to Amara.

"Hi, mom!" Falsafa said, bounding up to his mother. He brushed his face against Amara's.

The adult cheetah gazed at Jasiri, who was missing some fur on his neck. She sniffed him and said, "What happened? Did a predator attack you?" Her eyes were wide with fear.

"Um," Maisha mewed, "He was being annoying, so I kind of put him in his place."

"What did you do?"

"She bit me in my neck!" Jasiri yowled.

Amara gazed at her daughter, angry. "You did what? Maisha, you're the oldest! You need to be a good role model for your siblings!"

The oldest cub glared down. "I'm sorry."

Amara sighed. "Okay. Please, don't do this again. Do not fight. Violence leads to nothing."

"But what if there is a lion?" Maisha asked. "Defense would come in handy, wouldn't it?"

"I will only fight for your survival. I love you all with all of my heart. I would risk everything to save you. I just want you all to be safe." Amara licked her daughter and purred.

Falsafa asked, "Do you love me?"

Amara smiled. "Yes. I love all of you. Now, lets get some rest."