Kion's Legacy

Chapter Twelve: Split Decisions

Several weeks after the celebration that my father held to congratulate both Guards on their training success, there had been so much heavy training and hot days of bolting about in the African sun that my exhilaration of becoming a future Guard member had worn off. It seemed that every dawn, the older Guard was up and ready to tire us out with newer, harder training. I knew they were just trying to prepare us, but it got annoying watching them easily guide us through then lay back in the shade as we worked ourselves harder than ever before.

Finally, after weeks of the same tiring schedule, my father gave us a few days off to rest and enjoy ourselves. I was instantly eager to hang out and do nothing for days, but as our free days neared their end, my attitude suffered.

"Ugh!" I groaned, stretching and flipping over on my back. I felt the cool blades of grass tickle my ears as I watched the dancing Acacia leaves above my head. "I wish we had more time. As soon as tomorrow ends it'll be back to the blazing sun and rising at dawn. I wish dad wasn't so focused on training all the time."

"Maybe he should train you to stop using your strong complaining skills," Asha muttered under her breath, rolling her amber eyes and wrinkling her soft pink nose.

Amira giggled gently into her paw and flicked her tail, "Good one, Asha,"

Asha barely lifted her paw to knock it against her cream-colored friend's in a high paw. I scoffed at them. Why'd they had to be so snide all the time? That's why I prefer to hang with the boys.

Speaking of, Koda spoke up for me.

"You two don't have to be so mean," Koda pointed out, opening his little mouth in a lazy yawn.

"Well, Kito doesn't have to complain all the time, either." Asha shot back.

"Yeah!" Amira echoed.

Wow Amira, you can't even come up with your own words, huh? I thought.

Koda and Asha began to go at it, growling and snapping at each other and slicing the gentle, lazy mood right down the middle in the process. Amira sat rolling her eyes a bunch and glaring at Koda. 

I was about to put in my two cents when Tian's voice broke into the fighting from beyond the shady paradise, "Guys!"

Thank goodness, some backup!

I swiveled my head to find my friend. I quickly spotted Tian and Umjia trotting hastily over the dusty ground towards our little group of four. Their mouths were curved downward in frowns and they had important news on their faces. I watched in expectation as the two made their way to the small, shady grove.

Over the past few weeks, both of the boys had definitely changed in appearance. Tian's dark start of a mane had grown longer and thicker and had extended like a stripe down his neck to his shoulder blades. His shoulders had broadened and he was gaining on his mother's height. 

Umjia had also grown. He was still lean, but it was a sleek, stealthy lean that aided in his agility. He had also gained height, though not as much as Tian had. Umjia also was growing a wide tuft of fur on the top of his head and a thin stripe down his neck, which was odd for leopards in my experience. 

As the two of them approached us, entering the gentle shade of the canopy, I caught Amira out of the corner of my eye. She was sitting up, her eyes wide and trained on Tian. I rolled my eyes again. Ever since the celebration a while back, Amira had quit treating Tian like a baby and had actually become very friendly whenever he was around. Too friendly.

"Hey, Tian! Hey, Umjia!" Koda greeted, his face turning into a smile.

"Hey, bud," Tian replied, less excited.