[COMPLETE] African Pride

28. The Serpent Rises

The water fought hard to separate us, but I felt harder to keep us together. Using all my remaining strength I wrapped my arms around Victoria, Albert and Lei to prevent them from being ripped from my grasp. I could feel the icy-cold water filling my lungs as we were swept up the river, the rapids smashing us against rocks or fallen tree limbs.

I couldn't touch my necklace but instead used all my willpower to call upon the power of the Great White Shark. Putting my legs together, I swam against the current, pulling Victoria, Albert, and Lei behind me.

They couldn't hold their breath as long as I could, I knew, and when I saw a riverbank, my heart leaped in my chest. Picking up the speed, I pulled my arms back, tightened my muscles, and tossed them through the water as hard as I could. They flew, flopping onto the riverbank like beached fishes. Launching myself through the water, I landed at Victoria's side, just as she and the others all rolled over and began to cough-up river water.

"Tori...?" Albert groaned. "Tori... are you all right?"

"Yeah Bertie, I'm fine," Victoria coughed. "But I never want to go to the beach again..."

"Where are we?" Lei asked, shaking the water from her hair.

"I'm not sure," I replied, ringing the water from my clothes. "But somehow we've traveled up the river rather than down."

"So, what does that mean?" Victoria asked.

"Means we're closer to the Falls than I thought," I replied. "Now all we have to is—"

The words died on my lips as the window began to blow softly. As the leaves rustled, I could faintly hear cries of help, the soft mewing of a lion cub. Jiona was close.

"We have to save Jiona," I said.

"But how are we going to do that?" Albert asked. "Those people have guns, Kara."

I pulled up my sleeves; the black veins had appeared again. This time they didn't flick between being there and vanishing, and the burn felt as if I had stuck my foot into a fire ant mound.

"And we have something they do not," I said. "Magic. Huddle up; I have a plan."

They all listened carefully as I whispered my plan, nodding with approval. Hidden within Batian Peak was Moyo wa fumbo Falls, one of the largest underground waterfalls in the world. I made sure to explain that when we would approach the falls, everyone would all have to be careful and show the proper respect. This was a sacred land.

I knew that Scarlett wasn't going to get that far in the caves because the large stone door to the falls wouldn't open for her. There was only one person in the world that stone would open for, and it was me.

From where we were, it wasn't hard for me to find the path that would lead us to the Falls. Running as fast as we coupe up the trail, I suddenly thrust out my hand for everyone to stop, pulling them into the bushes.

Rueben and Scarlett were standing at the mouth of the cave, a yowling Jiona in a cage held by one of their goonies. I counted twelve men, one of whom held my staff as if it was a trophy. I knew exactly who to get first.

"Remember the plan," I whispered to Victoria, Albert, and Lei.

They nodded, watching as I touched my necklace and disappeared.

✵✵✵

The first man to go was the one holding my staff. Since he was near the back, it was easy for me to sneak up behind him. Wrapping a heavy hand around his mouth, I dragged him into the bushes, putting pressure on his nose until he passed out. After he was unconscious, I gladly took back my staff.