The Lion King: The Adventures of The Pridelanders

Scars and Stripes

Cheka POV
Aba stayed in my den seeing I was the only friendly cheetah in this place.
"Thanks for letting me stay here Cheka those other Cheetahs seem very rude and jerks".
"Don't mention it".
She sat down and sighed.
"It's a relief to finally be somewhere secure and not have to worry about my impending doom".
"Are things really that bad outside the pridelands".
"Yeah Ramir has everyone on a tight grip, he murders all who stands in his way".
I looked at Aba, something about here seemed different than any other female cheetahs. I seem to actually connect with her despite her beauty. What am I thinking we just met but she already knows so much about me. I down in embarrassment. Aba finally broke the silence.
"So Cheka what is there to do around here anyway"
"Well I usually am part of the lion guard like I said but Hofu hasn't returned yet".
"I mean something fun, something entertaining"
"Well..." I thought of things to do. I haven't really done fun things since I was younger or well before the battle with Wazimu.
"To be honest I'm not really sure ever since I got these scars on my face".
Reminding myself of them made me realize that with them I am a nobody. I shrunk down.
She seemed more sympathetic.
"If you don't mind me asking Cheka how did you get those scars"

Flashback to the final battle with Wazimu. While Kopa and Hofu battle Wazimh and his forces the Lion Guard provide support. Hyenas flood in from the sides trying to get to Kopa and Kion directly. The Guard keep them back, Hofu steps away to deal with Mabaya.
"Hofu where are you going I need you to help me on this side" said Cheka.
"I will be back Cheka". Hofu ran away.
"Hofu" said Cheka as Hyenas broke through the line.
"Hey little cheetah time to die" said a hyena as he brought his paws up the center of his face leaving scars under his eyes leading down to his cheeks. Cheka back up in major pain. He feel down into a river.
"Cheka" said Tembo, Tai, and Jafari.
Cheka washed down the river ending up on a river bank unconscious. Cheka opened his eyes. The ground had shifted. Running towards him was Kopa. Cheka's hearing was fading back in.

Cheka POV
"Cheka can you hear me"
"Yes Uncle Kopa"
"Come we got to go before we are crushed". The guard was with.
"Cheka there you are and..." started Hofu. Blood streamed down my face. I looked in the river as we were running
Two long scars with a small next to each ran from under my eye to my mouth edges. I turned away from the guard and kept running forward. We neared the closing exit of the tunnel. We jumped to meet the others.
After our reunion was a celebration for defeating Wazimu. I immediately went to Makini.
"Well there is no infection but those scars are permanent I am afraid sorry Cheka".
"It's okay Makini". Tired and not feeling up for a celebration I went sit by myself thinking about what had happened. Hofu left me in the middle of a battle to fend off way to many hyenas by myself to deal with his personal problems when we needed he even took Tembo with him. Kopa and Dad had Mabaya handled. I sat in what is now now my den. I was alone for awhile then suddenly Hofu appeared.
"Hey Cheka".
I didn't respond.
"Cheka is your I jury okay". I was sitting in darkness. I leaned my head forward into the light. The blood was gone on the scars i stead left behind were bright red jagged long scary looking scars my face behind them had sunk in too making me seem angry the time. Hofu seemed shocked.
"Their fine" I said.
"Look Cheka I..."
"You left me to defend against a practical horde of hyenas by myself to what deal with Mabaya".
"You wouldn't understand"
"Hofu they could came up behind us and kill us all but you wanted to deal with your mother, dad and uncle Kopa could handle here after all they are adults but instead you went after her leaving to be clawed across the face into a river downstream".
"Cheka I'm sorry okay"
"I watched your back Hofu but you didn't watch mine". Hofu looked away knowing how angry I was at him but he still spoke.
"Dad is feeling better and mom wanted to know where you were, they are back at their den with Msomi".
I walked past him heading to Mom and Dad's den. I peered inside. Dad lay in the back with Makini's medicine on his wounds mom lay next to him. Msomi was asleep.
"I told you I would stay alive Fuli".
"Yeah but you are injured"
"I will be fine in a few days".
"Mom, Dad" I said.
They noticed me enter.
"Cheka there you we worried..." said mom.
Once again I was in the darkness of the cave and stepped into the light revealing my scars. Mom and Dad gasped.
"Cheka what happened to you" said mom as she moved close to me nuzzled me.
"Mom I'm fine they're just scars"
"Your face is sunk in" said mom worried.
"Mom".
She backed up as dad spoke.
"Cheka I didn't mean for you to get hurt"... he said.
"It's okay dad we kept the hyenas off you".
Dad frowned a little and so did mom.
"This may have been a victory for us but there were still so many lost" said Dad.
"Yeah it hardly feels like one besides finally being rid of that hyena family Ah well except for Zeb but he is on our side".
Msomi woke but didn't stand up he just sighed.
"Msomi are you okay" said Mom as she went and sat by him.
Dad looked at me.
"You did good son"
"It was a little hard but with all of us together we did good".
He chuckled
"One day you will be just like your mom, the fastest in the pridelands".
"One day" I said as I left. As I was leaving I noticed how much attention Msomi was getting. That hairball didn't even fight. Maybe I was just jealous but still he moped all the time and everyone made sure he was fine but when I mope everyone ignores or makes fun of me. That was the day I lost respect for my brother and despised my younger brother. People stepped noticing me sonic moved out here to live.

I told my flashback to Aba. I noticed how confused and concerned she was.
"I'm sorry I shouldn't be telling you all these things".
"No it's fine Cheka. They are feelings I assume you have bottled up for the past few years it's good to let it out and I am sorry that happened to you". She sat a little closer.
"I know what it is like" she said.
I looked at her. Her ears drooped down.
"Like I said before people made fun of me because of my stripes, it started when I was young. My family all lived together me, my sister, my mom, and my dad. We lived other cheetahs too. When I reached an age I could walk around the others cheetah cubs laughed at me and called me stripey or stripes. The bullying continued until I was Ramir showed up. He wiped out everyone. I tried to save one of the bullies but he just said don't touch me stripes I would rather die than let you save me".
"I guess we both have had a rough life".
"I guess so" she looked at me and smiled
"Cheetahs like us need to stick together"
I blushed a little.
We locked eyes for a decent amount of time. Finally someone like that gets what I have been through. Our gaze was broke by Tembo.
"Cheka Ramir kidnapped Rani and Kopa".