The Power Between Us

Chapter 9 Journey To The Pride Lands

Morning rose high above the valley, all peaceful and calm, the Night Pride finished up on their night to night patrol walking back from the borders on high alert, who know when they'll attack next, Yassain has a mind to desire, finish and kill, his personality shows no mercy but yet laughs at evil? How? How can a lion who was happy and kind turn into such an activist? An evil leader, the question still lingers in the air which today is cold, very cold, a winter's day in Africa. Sleeping still is Kion and Rani, heads touching and bodies lying next to one another the royal couple cuddled as the cold front rushes in, a signal of a long cold, deadly winter, by deadly I mean WAR. Today was the day Kion needed to head home and speak to his father, still unknown to Rani, Kion will tell her later. At the moment he cares only for the safety of his home, family and friends. We have ten birds in the sky, traps placed all over the place, more recruits from King Kikau's pride joined Kion fight to stay alive and defend the Tree Of Life, soon the Pride Lands and Tibasta Pride in the far west ruled by King Julian and Queen Sabaina. Prides were spread all over the African country, over a hundred prides all living on the  African plains. A quarter of them are evil, corrupt and straight up bad. That's why PPO was created, to stop the evilness in the African Lands. Established in 1967 the PPO had the duty to help, protect and respect the circle of life. They couldn't handle all of them so pride guards like lion guard and night pride was created, to control the inner lands. Many leaders saw the good future they can see with the PPO but some sought to take it over and destroy the lands but failed due to the lack of experience and were defeated, killed in either death or prisoned. Kion hoped that the PPO can help and stop the madness. In the treaty is the Tree Of Life, Pride Lands, Tibasta, Sokwi, up in the alps, YouTamu, independent prides and recently the outlands. Once high enemies to the PPO but now was taken care off and controlled no other than Jaseri herself. A hyena which saw the good reason for the circle of life and respected it, she was the one who taught him the true meaning of Sisi Mi Sawa. A term meaning 'we are the same'. Kion woke up still thinking about that time they met, in the outlands trapped and lost, a young cub in enemy territory until it was made safe by a hyena he thought was a bad one, " never judge a hyena by it's spots', smiling to himself Kion got up and walked outside, immediately the wind pushing his mane back, breathing in deep Kion relaxes, ' another day still alive', he wondered if Surak is doing fine, if he is managing and not blown. He pushes it to one side as Anga joins Kion with the Night Pride, Rani heard the motions outside and woke up, wanting to hear what is going on Rani stretches and heads out,
"good morning everyone"," good morning my queen", Kion faces her and says that he needs to head home to talk to Simba. Rani has just woken up and wondered if she heard correctly, " what, your leaving?", " yeah, if Yassain is planning a massive attack or war we need help. Our allies need to know, and with evey other evil pride out there they will join with no fuss and there we will have a big problem, they need to know"," I'm coming with you"," wait what? ", " yes, as Queen I too need to come"," what about the Tree Of Life?", " well, we have Kikua's pride members here, volunteers and our pride. It'll be fine for two days... Right?", Rani makes sure she is on the same page of Kion, " yeah, okey, Nirmala and the Sargent of PPO Fugaro can lead and take charge for now", "sounds like a plan",
"we leave at lunch", Rani asked Anga to gather up everyone at the tree for a meeting.

Yassain was up since four in the morning, wondering and planning, the plan should work. All they need is to capture Rani, or Kion, who ever is first, spies has told Yassain of traps placed. Since then Yassain has pulled them out, too keep them safe, regenerate energy. " Sukarno? ",
"yes Yassain?", Surak heard his undercover name and quickly responded, " yeah, what you want?", " are you ready? ", Surak was confused about what he is asking, " were about to catch us a King or even better a queen", Surak was again dropped hearted, he was worried, needed to tell the Tree Of Life quickly, Surak wanted to stop him but knew he couldn't give himself up, not yet anyways. Surak smiled, an evil smirk was shown on Surak's face but behind that face was a terrified worried lion who cared about Rani and Kion, their family. Surak needed to stay one step ahead of him. To stay focus and to stay strong. Surak followed Yassain to the Tree Of Life to capture either one of them, both would be best too. Yassain was yesing himself every two seconds, it didn't sound good but Surak had trust himself and the others. Surak looked up to see the egret flying high, surveiling.
  'Thank god', He kept his thoughts inside his mind, " Hay before we go, I need to go the toilet", " of course, take care of yourself, don't want you pissing yourself while we have fun", his interpenetration of FUN is killing or torturing. Surak headed behind some bushes and called out for Ono, Ono saw the distressed call and dive straight down, whispering Ono asked what was up, " have to head back soon but warn Kion and Rani about Yassain, he wants to capture either one of them",
"well he can't anymore", Ono looked relaxed but also tensed.
"why, where are they?" Surak was getting impatient, " they have gone to the Pride Lands to seek help from Simba and maybe the Hyena Resistance", " okey that's good, just warn everyone else that's there", Ono nodded and took off. Surak finished and headed back, " ready?", Yassain smiled at Surak who smiled and said he was ready. " let's do it".

In charge was Fugaro and Nirmala, they were to lead both day and night pride, to keep it intact and safe, Ono came flying over and told the acting King and Queen about it. " okey guys it seems Yassain is back, don't worry. It's him and Surak, make sure you only attack Yassain, not Surak, he is with us, undercover",
Everyone was ready, ready to attack and fight. Defend and save. Yassain and Surak made it pass the traps with no harm, Surak said he knew how to track traps since he was a cub,
"impressive", Yassain was intrigued. In reality Surak was told where they were. Heading in from the west Surak and Yassain set out to capture a king or queen, or both even, " stop right there", stopping dead in their tracks Yassain and Surak look for who was speaking, hiding and disguised. Mandrills was based in the canopy, with spears aiming down at them, " there", Surak yelled it out and ran, throwing the pointed sticks, Yassain and Surak ducked and ran for their life's, continuing  they run past the second line of defense, with a bit of hard ache they got past the hard one, Kikua's army. They were told to play easy and let them through, if they weren't advised that Surak and Yassain would of been dead already, lying there with their heads chopped off, they could of killed him but risked killing Surak and plus Yassain was stronger then them. Bashing one by one, killing a few and injuring many others, the plan was succeeding for Yassain but not for Nirmala and Fugaro, seeing them in the distance they got ready, sending out troops to have the their third line of defense. Also seeing this Yassain saw there wasn't no king or queen, only two helplessly lions who stood there wanting a fight, " where is Kion and Rani?", running Surak knew where they were but not Yassain, " they must be in the tree", "Sukarno take them on, I'll go inside", orders barked out( more like meowed out) and Surak made his way forward. Fighting them and clawing, sounding and making it look like he was killing them or injuring them. Yassain recognized one of the lions, it was Baliyo, the lion who Surak killed a week ago, in his mind he wondered what it was, he put it to one side for now and continued, heading inside followed many more lions, taking him on, Fugaro ran inside as Nirmala calmed things down outside quickly putting fake blood on their necks was Makini, they laid down pretending to be dead. Surak headed inside to help out, clawing and roars bellowed the tree, disturbing the dead inside who laid peacefully but now erupted by fighting for the good and evil. Surak yelled out that they should back off, Yassain saw no king or queen and saw he was right," fine", Yassain took out one last lion and ran off, " where was Kion or Rani?" Surak tried sounding mad, a few weeks ago Yassain would've believed him but now coming to his senses Yassain realized Surak might be the Spy. Stopping at a small lake twenty miles away from the Tree Of Life. The winter cold got worse as snow began falling. They stopped and got their breath,
"that was close", Surak was wondering why Yassain was smiling and gritting his sharp teeth, " ahh, you fooled me really well there mate"," what you mean fooled you ", Surak knew he blown his cover, how though? Mad at himself Surak tried reassuring him, " are you calling me a spy?", " I don't know are you?", Yassain was playing with his mind and he didn't like it, the snow was trickling down, snow flakes could be seen all over the place, " I think you are the spy, want to know how?", Surak's heart was pounding, " how", he knew he was defeated and blown, he let him talk it out,
"well for the starters I saw the lion you killed last week he was healthy and well, a week ago he was dead, blood and that, I wondered how is that so that got me thinking, you've sneaked off at times and didn't come back for ages. Today you must of told Kion and Rani were coming for them, it was smart but not smart enough", " well it fooled your stupid ass", " don't get smart with me boy, I'll kill you here and now", Yassain continued exposing Surak, " what is your real name?" Hesitant Surak spoke out, " my name is Surak, a spy for the Tree Of Life and was sent here to spy on you", " well Surak your spying days are over, I'll kill you, but for now I'll tell you how. By first torturing you, ripping and pulling every bone in your body. Then I'll..."," you said your gonna kill me right? I didn't know your going to board me to death", Surak spat at Yassain. Keeping his cool Yassain continued, smirking all the time while Surak was thinking of a way to get out, it was too late Yassain pinned Surak down clawing and biting the hell out of Surak, He tried fighting back but he was too strong from every punch, kick, swipe and claw, Surak was getting weaker, the cold didn't help, Yassain didn't have any mercy as he gritted his teeth,
"goodbye my friend,  I'll see you in hell".