Wild Legends: Rise of a New Force

Chapter Four

   In the Tree, Makini is adding the finishing touches on the painting as Rani slept peacefully meters away behind her.

   “Aaaand there, all done.” she whispered, proudly finished about her work.

   The painting shows Kion, Rani, and the Night Pride surrounding Ullu facing right which shows her Night Pride mark.

   As she admire her work, she immediately noticed a white speck in the wall behind some old vines beside her new painting as she thought might be some paint that she accidentally splattered. When she moved the vines away, what she saw not only made her gasped but made her wonder as well.

   She then called out the sleeping queen, not taking her eyes off.

   “Rani, wake up!”

   The lioness groggily opened her eyes and stretch her body as she looked at her with tired eyes. “Makini? Is there something wrong?” even the sound of her voice sounded drowsy.

   “Is there by any chance you knew about this one?” the mandrill asked, pointing at what she is referring. The queen looked and her face goes from drowsy to fully awake as she stood and made her way beside the Royal Mjuzi. What they are staring at is a painting that seems to portray two trees, one on the right is the Tree of Life with a golden glow. The one on the left, however, shows a tree they are not familiar with.

   The other tree has a tan brown trunk and white glow, there are some white specks as if some sparkling light. As they continuously looked at it in wonder, the queen began asking.

   “Did you…paint this?”

   “No, I found it here after I was done painting what had happened this morning.” she answered, even more confused as to how Rani nor the Night Pride didn’t notice this for long as the former queen’s still lived back then.

   “So…”

   Makini glanced at her with a raised eyebrow. “So what?”

   “Should we see what it folds?” Rani suggested with curiosity all over her face, the mandrill can tell she wanted to see what kind of story it holds. Looking at the painting, she gave her staff a small toss in her hand and held it at the middle before tapping the top lightly at the painting. Soon, the painting began to came to life.

   But not the kind they were expecting.

                         ____________

   Outside, the young king was greeted by two hyenas that he had known very well when he and the former Guard once protected The Pride Lands. He asked them as to what brings them at the Tree, he began to notice their worrying expression until Janja stepped forward.

   “Kion, we need your help.”

   Soon, the former Guard and the snow owl approached them with confused and concern look. The two hyenas looked at each other as they do not know how to put the words.

   “Did something happened?” Fuli asked, seeing them getting more quiet made her and everyone else more and more concern. Jasiri sighed and decided to go to the point.

   “Its about one of Reirei’s pups: Dogo.” the female hyena finally said before explaining. “He has been gone missing and we could use more help.”

   Bunga then jumped in to the conversation with an suspecting look. “Are you sure?”

  The two hyenas nodded sadly as Janja explained the situation.