The Lion Guard: A New Hope (#2)

Chapter 1

"Too slow, Moyo?"  Tumaini teased, running ahead of her brother and the rest of the cubs in the leap.  Leaves showered down onto her head, causing her to slow down and a leopard cub to catch up.

"Good job, Mahali!"  Moyo called.  Tumaini growled, slowing herself down.  It was fun to speed ahead of the leap for a while, but she needed to save her speed.

"Now who's too slow?"  he teased, catching up to Tumaini.

"You can't pass me," Tumaini said, not slowing down to turn a sharp corner.  I'm going to get that baobab fruit.  Pass it to Shakti.  The cheetah-lion hybrid sped up, reaching her top speed.  It surpassed even that of her mother's, but had more of her mother's drawback.  Jumping up at the tree, she grabbed the baobab in her mouth, skidding on her claws and using the momentum to pass it to a brown lion cub.

"Got it!"  Shakti jumped in the air, grabbing the fruit.  Tumaini purred, catching up to Shakti.

"Mahali!"  a voice called.  Tumaini's ears twitched.  It was the same leopard that passed her.  "Help!"

Tumaini looked at the tree.  She had never climbed before, and her claws weren't meant for it, but she had to try.  Jumping at the tree, she dragged herself up, scanning the ground.  There!  She spotted Doa holding onto a branch on the edge of a cliff.  Hyenas and lions were gathered under her.

"Hold!"  Tumaini called.

"What are you doing, Tu?"  Shakti asked.  "We're winning!"

"Yeah," Tumaini said.  "And Doa is right above Scar's army."

"We need to get your dad," Mahali stopped under Tumaini's tree.

"No time," Tumaini said.  "Even I can't get to the den fast enough.  We need to do it now.  Doa's claws are already slipping."

"But how?"  Mahali asked.  "Your dad has the Roar.  He can stop them all."

"Not before Vitani gets there," Tumaini argued, jumping down from the tree.  Her voice softened.  She was talking to Mahali.  "I know you care about your sister.  We can't waste any time."

Tumaini looked around.  They were all cubs, but they had to do something.

"Let's go," she said.  Mahali smiled.

"Let's do it," he agreed.  He turned to the rest.  "Moyo, you come with us.  The rest of you, stay here in case we don't come back."

Tumaini started running down, Moyo next to her.  Moyo roared once they reached the bottom - or at least tried to.  It sounded more like a squeak, but it was a distraction.  Scar's army looked at him.

"Aww," Kasi cooed.  "Look at that.  Kion's cubs and their friend think they can stop us."

"Just more food, Kasi," Vitani said.  "The leopard will fall on her own.  Get them!"

Moyo, Tumaini, and Mahali started backing up to the cliff wall.

"I could finish you off easily," Vitani said.  "I'm surprised my Mark didn't go when I joined Scar.  It's still there, and I still have the Roar.  But I'll finish you off without the Roar.  Kasi, get the leopard.  I deal with the hybrid."

Vitani spat the word hybrid as if she was trying to get rid of a bad memory.

Vitani growled and jumped at Moyo, swiping at his leg.  But Moyo was smaller, and he was trained to fight Scar's army for almost as long as he could remember.  All his training were games, but he knew the truth behind it.  He jumped out and kicked at Vitani's face.