IKONGA!

16

The slave raiders halted a slight distance from the territory of Ikonga where the guard men and soldiers were standing standby doing their regular patrol in parties of five.

They were strategically grouped in five to include two able-bodied staff warriors, one fist-fighter who was usually good with the dagger too, an excellent Archer, and a signal warrior who when the group is ambushed or overburdened in a fight...he or she makes the move to signal other warriors or the reigning officer. The others distract the enemy while he makes the run. One special thing about them is that the elders endow a beacon rune on them.

It lights up when they fail to deliver the message successfully to the required destination for whatever reason.

If you casually studied the team, you wouldn't know who was who, even their physique gave nothing away. Only in an actual fight or threat would their true identities be revealed. They would switch weapons in fast swift moves the second a threat is detected and stand prepared.

The slave master made his way to the front of the caravan and studied the guards. Their convoy hadn't been noticed yet. The dry tall grass did an amazing job to conceal them from view. They also happened to be the Lions' best hiding spots in pursuit of a meal.

They had been in alliance with the kingdom of Ikonga for years on end supplying slaves and other commodities to the liking of the Ikonga people and now as their usual pattern during this time of the season, they brought goods and slaves.

"Ippo! It's time to make an entrance...

"Yes master, should we-

The gangly assistant's voice was cut off by the silent but very loud purr of a beast. The purr was so bone-chilling you had to resist a shiver down your spine.

'Rrrrrrrrrr.....'

Everyone froze.

The only sound being that of the swishing reeds in the wind.

Everyone heard it. Even the guards far-off at the territory slowly turned their attention to the direction of the sound and for the first time saw the slave caravan.

The master's eyes searched the perimeter around them looking for the source of the deadly sound. It was like no other he had heard. This wasn't a lion, it wasn't a leopard or a tiger. What was it then?

The proper question was... What were they?

He realised that when he locked gazes with two pairs of sparkling emerald eyes against an inky black background that was the colour of the beast's hide.

They were two...two black Panthers!

At that moment, they bared their fangs and leapt.

~~~

" Don't drop her kaka. "

"What makes you think I will, you pot of cow-poop."

"Hah- since when?" Kulo was appalled.

"Just shut up Kulo, we don't want to draw attention to us."

Kona had Onaya in her arms, she had dropped unconscious after her fit, probably from fatigue. She had barely healed and hadn't eaten a thing but was screaming like there was no tomorrow, as if her lungs were being shredded. It pained Kona to see it and as much as it was not gentlemanly for him to think, he was grateful she had worn herself out and fainted.

"So where will we take her?"

Kona thought for a while and then, "To my personal chambers obviously, that way she'll be safer. No one will enter unless I allow them to." And he meant it. That would be the only safe place for her to be.