Savariana

Chapter Five

                                           A FEW MONTHS LATER

Jasiri woke up. He was now one years old. He still had the silver mane, which was unusual for an adult cheetah. He stretched out his long legs and stood up. He walked up to the lake and lapped up some of the water. Savariana walked up to him. She was now three years old.

"So, you're leaving now?" She asked him.

Jasiri nodded. "Yes," He chirped. His voice was now deeper than it was when he was a cub.

Maisha woke up. She lost her silver mane. She was now taller than her brother, but not as slender. "So, you still want to find our mom? It's been months. If she was still alive, she would have forgotten about you."

Jasiri hissed, "How can a mother forget about her children? Never mind. I just have to go now. I have a feeling she is still alive out there. I just know she is."

Maisha rolled her eyes. "Fine. Go on. Go kill yourself."

"Hey!" Jasiri hissed.

"Don't listen to her," Savariana said to the male cheetah. "Go on, now. Begin your journey."

Jasiri smiled. "Thank you. Well, I will see you guys in a few months." He turned around and began walking away.

"Idiot," Maisha murmured.

"I heard that!" Jasiri yelled.

His sister just grunted as he continued walking.

"Be careful!" Savariana yowled. "If you're tired, then go lay down under a nice tree and rest! If you're hungry, then go hunt yourself something!"

"No kidding!" Jasiri yowled.

The grass was tall and thick. Mosquitoes rose from the lake, swarming around Jasiri. Annoyed, the cheetah sprinted away from them. He was soon a file from the lake. He could see the rode in the distance. He walked over it and glanced around.

There was nothing but tall green grass for miles. He glanced at his paws, and then proceeded walking. He stepped on thorns, which made his paw pad bleed. He ignored the pain and continued walking.

Hours passed. He glanced around and still saw nothing but grass in the distance. The sky was soon filled with dark clouds. Rain fell from the clouds, soaking the cheetah. He slipped on a puddled and landed in it. His fur was now covered in mud. He snarled and stood back up.

Lighting flashed over the sky. Jasiri soon could see a mountain in the distance. He began running towards it. He soon ran out of breath and stopped. He glared back up at the mountain. It looked like it was thousands of miles away. He sighed and sat down.

The rain stopped. The clouds cleared, revealing the sky. Jasiri sat down, resting his legs for a bit. He could see a herd of gazelles in the distance, grazing. His stomach grumbled. He wads famished. Jasiri crouched down and crept closer to the herd. He fixed his gaze on an adult male. He knew he wasn't very good at hunting, but he was doing it anyways.

Jasiri began chasing his prey. The herd moved together. The cheetah leaped onto the gazelle, nocking it over on it's back. Jasiri swiftly killed it with a bite to it's neck. He panted and sat down, resting. After a few minutes, he took a bite out of his kill. His hunger was satisfied.

Jasiri didn't eat all of it. He left half of it out and watched vultures circle the sky above it. Jasiri yawned and continued walking. He reached a puddle filled with rainwater. He lapped it up and looked up at the mountain. 

Maybe the village is over the mountains, He thought, walking towards it. It seemed to get further and further every mile he walked.

After another two hours, his muscles were sore. He laid down on his back and stretched out his body. The sun was setting in the horizon. The sky was painted red and purple. It was a beautiful sight. Jasiri closed his eyes and rested for a few hours.

The cheetah woke up. He gazed at the night sky. It was filled with stars. He stood up and continued to walk. The mountain finnaly looked closer now. The earth turned from long wiry grass into a dark jungle. 

I've never been into a jungle before, He said, walking into it. Moonlight streamed from the tree leaves. As he moved forward, it began to get darker and darker. A chill ran up his spine. 

"Who goes there?"

The deep voice startled Jasiri. A pair of amber eyes glowed in the dark, thick undergrowth.

The cheetah paused, and then said, nervously, "I'm Jasiri."

A dark figure stepped out of the undergrowth and into the moonlight, revealing himself. He was spotted like a cheetah, but had a muscular build like a lion. He was a leopard.

"Are you lost?" The leopard asked.

Jasiri nodded. He could not see the mountain anymore due to the trees. "I'm trying to find the humans," He said.

"They're a long way from here," The leopard said. "But, good luck on your journey."

Jasiri countiuned moving forward.

The further he walked, the steeper the terrain was. He was soon climbing up the mountain. It took hours to climb it. It wasn't as tall as he thought it would be. He reached to top when the sun began rising. He was extremely tired. He could see a human village in the distance.

That's not a village, He thought. That's a city.

Jasiri began climbing down the mountain. He tripped over a boulder and began tumbling down it. It was much steeper going down. He skidded to a halt and stood up. He was really close to the city. He crouched down and crept up to it.

The male cheetah hid behind a stinking bin and watched as the humans passed by him. Luckily, they did not knowtice him. 

POW!

Jasiri felt something strike him right in his flank. He tried to keep walking, but he grew drowsy. His world became a blur until finally he drifted into a deep sleep.