Laval has grown up knowing a few things. One, his family consists of his abusive father (Leonitarus), his nearly-identical brother (Lion-O), and his two friends (Helena and Scomper). Two, his world consists of the manor, the grounds around it, and t...
With the bonds of family restored again, the two kingdoms made their peace and prepared to part ways once the ball was over.
Unfortunately, that meant Lion-O and Laval would have to part ways as well.
"Don't worry," Claudus assured his son. "We kings will see to it you get together every few months and catch up. And you both can write letters."
"You're right, father." Lion-O took a deep breath. "It just......it won't be the same."
"I know," Tygra sighed. "Quit whining and say goodbye."
When did Tygra become such a jerk in the span of a few hours? Was he always like this?
Lion-O shook his head and approached Laval, who was speaking to Helena and Scomper. Both had bags swung over their shoulders. "You guys are leaving? Are you coming to Thundera?"
"I'm sorry, but neither of us are." Scomper tightened his strap. "I'm going out into the world. There's more than just Thundera and Chima -- I want to see it all."
"What about you, Helena?" Laval asked. "What are your plans?"
"I'm going to help my people. We've been enslaved by Leonitarus for so many years. It's time we made a new start, settled down somewhere."
"Any idea where, exactly?" Lion-O asked.
"Somewhere away from either kingdom. Too many memories." Helena shook her head. "No offense, but my people need to heal. The last thing that would help us is to be placed in a location where we could revisit trauma. So as much as either one of you two want to help us out, my answer, on behalf of my people, is no."
"I understand." Laval nodded. "It'll take a long time for us to heal as well." He took Helena's hands into his own. "Promise us you'll write. Regularly."
"Of course," Helena smiled. "But you'd better respond, fuzzy."
"Promise," Laval answered with a wide grin.
The four of them came together in a tight group hug. A few silent tears leaked out, for each other and their shared pain. They had come so far together -- a sort of family that seemed to shine among the darkness that had been a constant curtain over their world.
For the first few months, Laval wrote regular letters to Thundera, when he wasn't being drilled into the rules and duties. He often wrote about his new life and how all the Lions were doing. His whole life was now bombarded with lessons. Some were amazing, like his Speedor or sword fighting lessons. Others, like history and traditions, were a snooze fest.
Laval had also made new friends among the tribes. One of these was the Crocodile Laval had bowled into at the Speedor race all those months ago. His name was Cragger and he was a pretty rocking crocodile. He loved fun and games, eagerly roping Laval into best-friend status.
His other friends included Eris -- a smart and pretty Eagle who knew at least a hundred facts about everything, Worriz -- a ruthless, savage Wolf who only was friends with Laval because the pack said so, Gorzan -- a Gorilla with so much love and mellow that it was nauseating at times, Razar -- the finest thief in Chima, though he had yet to steal anything from Laval, Bladvic -- a bear who, when awake, was friendly and social and an excellent listener regardless of being awake or asleep, and Rogon -- a friendly Rhino with more rock than brain.
His friends loved Laval and were very patient in helping him adapt to his new life. The other Lions helped too, especially Lo-Katar and Longtooth, as they had been the closest to him while in the temple. The nightmares were slowly decreasing, though the emotional detachment and fear of touch had not quite faded away yet. Under some suggestion from his family, Laval had begun to paint some of the memories. He found that it helped him come to grips with it.
Lion-O wrote back as regularly as he could, too. He told of hi-jinks in the alleys and brawls. He spoke often of technology -- something he'd fallen in love with since arriving in Thundera. His father and Tygra disapproved of this, so Lion-O often had to sneak out in secret. Well, as secret as possible when Clerics (in disguises of their own) followed him every where. He wrote until the kingdom of Thundera fell. He wrote one or two letters afterward (short and sweet notes about the places he'd seen), but after the second letter, Laval never heard from Lion-O ever again.
It grieved him to know that Lion-O was out there, but Laval cherished all of Lion-O's letters, keeping them safe within his trunk, bundled together with string.
Scomper wrote of his travels. Of waterfalls so blue, the sky seemed pale. Of flowers, like a rainbow everywhere. Of trees and grass greener than any paint Laval could come up with. It was a paradise, but Scomper never said where he was. After all, he was always on the move.
Helena and the other Hyenas had settled within the Outlands. They had destroyed the manor until not even a pebble remained. Then they built their city a few miles away. They were thriving and never happier. As for the site of the manor, trees began to jut out, nature slowly reclaiming the territory that they lost.
In short, their lives were coming back together again. Healing, little by little, like tender saplings beginning to bloom.
"What am I looking at?" Laval asked. "I can't see." He was blindfolded, holding his dad's hands tightly as his dad guided him to someplace.
All too soon, the blindfold was peeled away, giving Laval a clear view of the top of Spiral Mountain......and the scenery that came with it.
"Whoa....." Laval felt his face curve up into a smile.
The sunset sparkled in all shades of orange, yellow, reds, peaches, and soft pinks and creams. The leaves shone like emeralds in the fading light. Mount Cavora glowed in a soft shade of earth gray, the Chi like beams of light.
It was like he was staring his painting in the face. That last picture that he did in the manor. And Laval loved it.
"So beautiful.....just like the last painting I did before I escaped," Laval whispered. "It's like a dream. No, better than a dream." Unlike a dream, this wouldn't disappear when he woke up. And unlike his painting, it couldn't be destroyed.
Closing his eyes, Laval extended his arms behind him and lifted his chin. The gentle wind whipped up his cape, caressing her fingers through his fur. As the fading light shone upon him, hope rose up in his chest like a fire. Like light. A light that no one could extinguish.
For the first time in his life, Laval truly knew what it felt like to be alive. Alive and one with the world around him.
To be free. Truly free. And nothing could take this away. Of that, Laval was convinced.
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Behind him, his father stood nearby, silently smiling as he watched his son take it all in. He smiled. "It's good to have you home."
