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The following story is loosely based on influences from Disney's "The Lion King" and "The Lion Guard" but does not actually interfere with the timeline regarding that franchise. It is purely a work of fiction and thus can and will contain many scenes of Loss, Death, Adult Content not suitable for children, and heavy themes of spiritual journies which may involve what we could consider illegal substances. If any of these themes offend you, please turn away now. Still here, than gather around the fire, children and learn the tale of a soul once lost but reborn.

Chapter 3: Two Sides of a Spear

"Watch yourself, Boy. You screw up here and you're going to impale yourself something fierce." The Queen handed Akhet a spear that the hunters had used The young Teen may have started to tower the Queen but his awkwardness was obvious, "This isn't what I'm used to the balance...." and the Queen interjected, "Is a lot different than a stick. You need to hold your hands near the middle and counter balance the weight. use it as an extension of your body. And remember, anchor your body, become the center of your attack." Akhet took a few swings, one nearly coming close to the Queen. He paniced but she pushed it away with her hand, "As I said, be careful with this thing." It was a new animal now. He had gotten better at his stances but now he had to readjust to the weapon in his hand. And much like his youth he began to practice his basic maneuvers, hitting the targets in a cross pattern. And once he got more accustomed to the weight he began to step it up as he swing the spear around, twirling it and hitting targets, back swinging and using the blunt end of it to hit a target. It wasn't perfect, in fact it was quite sloppy. But the Queen was impressed, "Needs work. A lot of work. If you are to join the Huntressess you need to learn to handle that spear properly. I want you to spend the morning practicing your basics with it until it's smooth as silk. And watch yourself. You hear me?" Akhet nodded and bowed to his Queen as she padded off to attend to other matters. Other hunters in the background and other guards were milling about, practicing themselves, and Akhet continued to work with this new weapon with Keytani keeping an eye on him, "That boy is something else," she thought, "He's destined for great things alright, assuming he doesn't impale himself. I just wish he had more confidence. Kiddo's a lot stronger than he realizes."

BAkhet wasn't just being watched by Keytani. Anaya, the young Princess had begun to grow into a beautiful young lady and she sat above on a rooftop, cross legged as she watched her best friend practice, keeping out of his sight so as not to distract him. She smiled as she watched him make mistake after mistake and correct it each time as he slowly began to tighten up his patterns. She had a twinkle in her eye though, she'd never tell him but the arrogant cub who would never date Akhet because he was her friend and she was royalty, that had changed. Now when she looked at Akhet her heart would skip beats. He was becoming a fine young hunter and she couldn't help but develop a crush on him. "Anaya? Anaya! Get Down here!" Anaya's tranquillity was broken as she heard a familiar voice. It was one of the other young warriors in training, Keyon. He was a tall, handsome type and all the other girls their age were into him, even Anaya had a soft spot for him but it wasn't as powerful as her best friends. She slid down off the roof and landed with a thud in front of him, "You called, Keyon?" she asked, "You know better than to spy on people. it's not very befitting of a Princess." he huffed. "I wasn't spying," she said, "I was just making sure he was okay. I don't think he's ever handled a bladed weapon before. And I don't want him to get hurt." Keyon definitely did NOT like Akhet and felt he should have been left to the Hyena's, On top of that his jealousy grew as she confirmed she was looking at someone other than himself. The boys narcasism had grown by leaps and bounds. "You have more important things to worry about it. Besides Lets say something did happen, what if you got hurt because of him? We can't lose our Princess now can we?" Keyon's one desire was to take Anaya has his Queen. He wanted nothing more than to be a ruler. The problem is, Keyon wasn't the ruler type and Anaya's Father knew it. It was highly unlikely her father would approve of them. The King knew Anaya's future mate and husband had to be a strong wise individual, not a narcasistic ego maniac. But Anaya shrugged him off, "Well fine than, my loyal subject, you can escort me to my lesson. I hear Master Togamaru is down near the Makhai Tribe's Border today. " But Keyon swallowed hard, the young lion didn't want to go anywhere near that border because of the problems the tribe was having with their hunters poaching on their lands, "I-I uh, remembered something came up, I need to go get ready for, I'll catch you in a bit, Princess." She set a trap and he failed it, miserably. If she had told that to Akhet he would be concerned but he'd take her. She huffed under her breathe, " a yellow steak longer than a diaretic camel." A Cowardly King is something no Pride needs.

Later during dinner, everyone noticed Akhet's absence. "Has anyone seen young Akhet?" asked the King, Anaya shook her head, "No father, When we came back from Master Togamaru's this afternoon he went to go help Keytani with the traps. I haven't seen him since." the Queen chimed in, "Keytani did in fact return to the village, so it's likely he came back with her, I doubt she'd leave him out there all night, unless he ticked her off which is highly unlikely." The king asked if Anaya and one of the royal guards would go and search the village and they did. After a bit of searching the usual places Akhet would be like the river or the area where the hunters skinned and butchered the catches, they found Keytani who said, "Yeah he came back with me. He helped us process the afternoon catch than said he had to take care of something before he ate, I hadn't seen him since." They searched the village but came up empty. So word was passed to the patrols to keep an eye open for Akhet out there. And Anaya and her escort continued to search the Wenja lands. During their search they came across a small water fall with a forested section near the northern borders of their land just as they touch the jungle. And it was there they spied their missing cheetah. hard at work. He practiced and practiced and while he wasn't stabbing himself he kept falling and tripping and getting more and more irked and angry with himself, "I don't get it. Why can't I do this? What's wrong with me. Prophecy my ass. I can't even wield a spear right let alone keep my best friend safe." he slammed his hand on the ground as he pulled himself back up to his feet, "Why. Why wasn't I left behind that night." Anaya and her escorted looked at each other, both feeling their hearts sink, The guard especially as he had been stationed with the cubs since they were little and he had a fondness for them both. So it broke his heart to see Akhet like this. Anaya went to step forwards but the guard put his arm out to stop her. He shook his head as he said, "No, he has to do this for himself. I know it hurts. But I've watched you both since you were cubs and I know that if he doesn't do it on his own he'll never learn." Anaya was frustrated, "I want to help him so bad. I want to tell him it'll be alright." the guard nodded, "I know you do. But he knows that already. Let us return to the village before your father worries about us." "What if a scavenger attacks him?" Anaya was scared for his safety, "We haven't had scavenger issues in a few seasons, he'll be okay, you have to believe that. I'll ask for more patrols in the area to keep an eye on him without him knowing." They returned, informing the King and Queen. Additional patrols were indeed sent out with orders to stay out of Akhets sight. Which they did. And after a few hours when Anaya went to wash up for th evening and crash in her bed, Akhet walked into the royal Cave. He was tired, exhausted, hungry, and no where near ready to advance his training. "Where have you been, dinner was hours ago." He failed to sneak in past the King although he should know that, "Just taking care of some business is all.." he sighed. The Queen raised an eyebrow, "Have you spent all night practicing, Akhet?" he looked shocked, "How did you find out?" "Because Anaya and your royal guard went looking for you and found you and reported back to us." Akhet sighed, "I try so hard but I just keep screwing up. My tail is fighting against the weight balance of that staff." The problem is he was using a staff tuned for Lions. He wasn't a Lion, and the brute strength needed for it was never something he had. But that gave the Queen an idea. "Akhet, My love, come with me." Both looked at each other and followed the Queen to the Royal Armory.

Among the weapon racks there was a special rack that held the weapons of the royal family. Generations in fact. But at the bottom was a special one. She opening the case and carefully lifted out the spear with the feather and beads attached to the tip. It looked used and rusty like it wasn't maintained. She held it in both her hands, laid flat, "Take it, Akhet. I think that it is time." His heart sank past his stomach and into his feet. He knew whose spear that was he recognized the feather. "Is that... M....mother's spear...." He wanted to cry so bad now. The King nodded, "I took the spear that night, cleaned it up and kept it safe. I knew some day you would need it. But I didn't think today was the day." The Queen also chimed in, "I had our weapon smith make a replica of this staff to bury with your mother. I wouldn't have felt right if i had to dig her body up to retrieve it . It wouldn't have been a good idea. Akhet, you need a spear balanced for your kind, not ours. I know I've tried to make it clear that Cheetah or Lion you are a Wenja, a member of this pride, but we cannot ignore our biological differences and I've tried to help raise and train you based on you not myself. It has been a challenge for me But I feel that you are turning out to be a fine young hunter." The King took this opportunity to voice his curiosity about the spear, "I am curious, about the feather. I didn't know Cheetahs did that. I thought only the Jaguars kept sentimental things on their body and weapons." Akhet smiled feeling himself well up with tears, "The very first day I was born, my mother told me that vultures decided to attak me when I was very little and when she chased them away one had stayed behind to fight, It was a fools fight. She wounded the vulture and he fled, leaving a single feather behind that floated down and laid on my head. She tied it to her spear as a reminder to never let her guard down with me in tow ever again. Or so she said." Akhet hugged the spear , tears streaming down his face. It even still had her scent on it after all these years. And both the King and Queen hugged Akhet, "Akhet," the Queen said, "I want you to get something to eat and than I want you to get some rest and than I want you to refocus your mind and try again. Don't give up. Remember. You can either run from your past or learn from it. I hope her spear brings you closure to this wound in your heart." He nodded as he wiped the tears from his eyes. And that night he fell asleep clutching the spear in his arms. Anaya thought it was weird but she wasn't there for the tale.

The next morning Akhet was at the training grounds. "Again!" cried the Queen. Akhet performed his maneuvers again, hitting each target and when one swung back at him too far he ducked and hit with the back swing, back flipping and kneeling low with his spear in one hand and his other on the ground. He dug his claws in and charged back in stepping up his maneuvers as he cross patterned hit the swinging dummies and proceeded to forwards and backwards jab them, going so far as to pull a few melee kicks out as well. The Queen grinned. The new spear was making a huge difference. It was balanced for a Cheetah's hands. Maybe a bit shorter for him considering it was his mother's but he was very proficient with it, "Fantastic! How did it feel, Akhet?" she asked, "It's not as heavy, I can control the upswing and the down swing with very little resistance." She nodded, "I'm sorry Akhet, I should have realized that you couldn't handle our heavier spears properly. Your tail wants to counterbalance against them You did well today. Now, Keytani has need for you, run along and get ready, she'll be returning from the hunt within the hour." Akhet nodded as he sheathed his spear on his back. The young cheetah now sported leather wrapped bone and fur leggings over his leather shorts, with a shoulder guard and chest strap made out of leather that was designed to attach his bow and quiver and a special holster to keep his spear attached to the quiver. He had wrapped his wrists and legs and covered his arms in leather and bone arm guards. All made from animals he helped hunt. Now that he was bigger he coud take on quicker and more faster prey and he was good at it. The Cheetah had learned to control his own nature and pull it out on a whim now. He had his messy ponytail tied back with a royal slik bandana signifying his place within the tribe. He was at bare minimum considered a part of the royal family. They took him in and they raised him and they wanted the Pride to know that he would eventually become one of the Guards of the royal family. But a Akhet walked across the center of the village he heard a voice that taunted him, "Well, Well Well, if it isn't the royal footrest." He turned and saw Keyon standing there. The young Lion had his arms crossed. "Shouldn't you be busy licking the Queens feet like the good little welp you are?" Akhet's hands balled into fists and he started to bear his fangs, "Keyon I don't have time for you or your stupidity today. Keytani asked for my help and receive it she shall." But Keyon wasn't done, "Of course she does, you're just a servant remember? We let you stay here because of that. Other wise you'd have been dead long ago. So go be a good little errand boy now. And keep your damn filthy paws off the princess." Akhet tried to not give in to his anger as he walked away, but Keyon continued, "About as useful as that corpse up in the graveyard. How much Tail did you kiss to have that happen welp?" That did it. He turned around growling loudly with anger and fire in his eyes , "Don't you EVER say anything about my mother again oir Ill rip that tounge of yours out of your mouth!" he screamed. "You got some nerve to threaten me outsider. Come and get it." Keyon said as he charged hard at Akhet grabbing his shoulder armor straps and going nose to nose and eye to eye. Akhet dodged out of the way causing Keyon to trip and fall face first Akhet grabbed him and pulled him up by the scruff of his neck "Get your paws off me scavanger. You have no right. I am a member of the Wenja Pride and you are just a flea bitten rat who begs for scraps at the King's side." Keyon slapped Akhet hard across the muzzle. "Have you forgotten, Keyon," Akhet said as blood dripped from the corner of his mouth, "It's against the Tribes laws to strike a member of the Royal Family." Keyon scoffed, "Where? I don't see the King or Queen here?" Akhet was getting angry now. Insulted his mother, now insulted his adopted family, and insulted his place as a proud Wenja Hunter, "And you want to be king. Yeah don't think word doesn't travel in this village. You'd be a cowardly rat of a King. Hell you can't even hold those swords right. Is your master aware of your poor performance?" But Keyon didn't answer he grabbed his blades and attacked Akhet going for a swing. Akhet turned his back to the blade and let it hit his spear. He pulled it out and twirled it as he knocked the swords away with the staff end of the spear and jabbed the butt of it in Keyon's gut. This faltered Keyon but Akhet wasn't going to spill blood today. He was defending himself and he had every right to do so under Tribal Law. However as a member of the Royal Family he refused to spill blood of his own Pride. But that didn't stop Keyon. He s wing again in a fury of swings. Akhet did his best to dodge, tucking and rolling before back swinging the spear to trip him from behind his legs. Akhet put every tequnique he learned to good use. Keyon lost his swords and one grazed Akhet's thigh. Now he was bleeding from his mouth and his leg and Keyon rolled over and crawled on top of Akhet and started closed fist punching him in the face. Akhet tried to kick him off but the Lion was too heavy and strong. He tried to block the punches, getting a few in on Keyon's head trying to stagger him. Akhet went for the back of Keyon's head and as the two engaged in their fist fight, Keytani and Anaya had arrived. Keytani had taken Anaya out for a hunt to teach her the basics being that she was about to become an adult. Both ran over to the fight as Keytani grabbed Keyon off Akhet, "ENOUGH! BOTH OF YOU!" she screamed at them. "So this is how two young Wenja Warriors Act?! Like common Wild Dogs?! Keyon! Get out of here, you know better than to attack a member of the royal family. " she barked at him. "He started it, he attacked me first." Akhet growled, "Because you felt it necessary to talk ill about my mother and if you do that again I'll Rip your tongue out and feed it to the crocodiles!" "Akhet Softpaw! Shut your mouth now!" Barked Keytani, "....Nothing gives you the right as a member of the Royal Family to throw yourself around like that. You have to lead by example. When you wear the colors of our Pride you must act with proper accord and dignity not like common Jackals fighting over a scrap of meat.. And if I ever hear you make threats like that against anyone in this pride whether they deserve it or not, I'll personally turn you into a throw rug. Do I make myself clear!? Both of you?!" They chimed at the same time, "Yes Keytani." Keytani was thirty

seasons their elder and she was to be damned if any cubs teen or not were going to act up on her watch. "Keyon Get out of here now. Akhet with me." Keyon walked past Anaya grinning at being the dominant one and she just gave a look of disgust at him. Akhet lunged at Keyon before Keyetani caught him, "Let it go boy. Like he ever had a chance." But Akhet got the same one when he gave her a sheepish grin. "Anaya, you too, I need both your help with this."

The traps had been busted up pretty bad and needed a lot of repair. "I have everyone on deck trying to fix and repair this," she said, "But I need some additional hands. And since you seem fit to use yours for violence, get to work. Anaya, I can also use your assistance with some of the hunters, they seemed to get into a scrape with something, they didn't say what just that a beast tore through and didn't see it from behind. Can you help our healers out?" Anaya nodded as she pushed past Akhet on purpose only sying "I thought you were better than that...." But Akhet was confused as he started examining and trying to gauge the damage to the traps for repair, "What's her problem? It's not like I started it for nothing. He talked crap about my mother." Keytani wasn't amused, "Oh like you don't know? When have you ever seen her be a proponent of violence. Look Im sorry he said what he said, but that didn't give you a right to take matters into your own hands." "I was just defending myself, he shot his mouth off and...." Keytani cut him off, "And what would your mother think, jumping to anger so quickly? Is that what she was trying to teach you? Is that what I taught you and is that what the Pride taught you?" Akhet huffed, "I don't fit in." Keytani was putting up with it, "Bullshit. True I admit I had the same beliefs as Keyon did. I won't lie to you about that, but you did something I didn't expect, you proved yourself through your actions and I began to see that maybe I was in the wrong. Someday Keyon will have to face his own judgement for that. But it is not your responsibility to dish that judgement or sentence out. You are a hunter, a protector But if you want to keep acting the way you did today no you will never fit in because no one will trust you anymore. And as the future Lion Guard....." Akhet interrupted, "Lion what....?" He had forgotten what he was being trained for. Although the title was never spoken to him directly, he forgot that he was being trained as Anaya's protector which is why they pushed him so hard to make sure that he chose to follow this path rather than abandon it. Only if he truly did this on his own during his final trials would he fulfill the prophecy and become her protector. But Keytani sighed, she hadn't meant to say this to him, at lleast not yet. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean.... you weren't supposed to know, at least not yet. But now that you do, you will face one final trial soon. The Lion Guard is the protector of the Royal Family's heir. If you succeed you will be Anaya's protector til the day that she dies. Keyon will as well should you fail and he succeed, which is why you can't go around picking fights with other Pride members even if he goaded you into it." "Wait Keyon's going to be in the trials after this?" Akhet paniced. "You may not be as strong as him but you have something he doesn't, something all members of the Pride should have," as she reached over and put her hand on his chest, "You have heart. You have the biggest heart of all. Your drive to keep pushing forwards is motivated by that heart. You will succeed. I believe in you. But not if you're going to go around pulling stunts like that." Akhet had begun repairing the traps with Keytani at this point. But she wasn't finished, he needed to learn and she knew how to do it. "Akhet, your punishment for the next week is to join the Huntresses at Dawn. Every morning, you will load and unload the traps and assist them where they see fit. Do you understand me? And don't shirk your duty as they will report to me." He nodded looking down at the trap in his hands, "Yes Keytani." She nodded, "Think before you act. Remember that."

Anaya was having a hard time with the wounded, they were wounds never seen before, who or what caused it was unknown But she struggled to help heal the sick and injured. So too did the healers. In situations like this The Wenja Pride never used titles or positions. No one was above another and the priority was always the sick and wounded. This is what separated their tribe from the others. They had a different belief system than the others. "T-they came from Makhai territory. At least that's the direction we thought we heard the noise from." They were a hated rival but if they were involved something was up. The wounded Huntress spoke further, "Tell your Father, it's of the utmost importance." But Anaya had to finish here first as she softly spoke, "Shhhhh I will but you need not move or I can't close these wounds up, I know it hurts but lie still." She held her staff up as light glowed around the wound. She had rasterized it best she could and used her magic to seal up the wound. The problem was that seal was only designed to allow a body to naturally repair the wound and like a real suture it could be torn open with too much stress. Even Shaman's had their limits. When she finished she ran to find her Father. And when she did she spoke of the story she was told. The King stroked his chin, "I don't know if they are behind it or not. I wouldn't put it past them, but we cannot go making accusations without proof. Their lands are bigger, their armies stronger and larger in number. I will not risk provoking a war for no reason. Anaya, I want you, Keytani, Akhet and a couple of Guards to go and investigate the area." Anaya nodded as she ran off to find Akhet and Keytani. "Akhet! Keytani!" she huffed when she found them, "We have orders from my father. We're to take a couple of guards and investigate the area where the attack happened." Keytani sighed, "Great. Did he just put his daughter and Akhet in danger? I am not comfortabe with this considering how inexperienced you both are but if you stick to what you were taught in your lessons you'll be fine, but remember this is not a joke you two. No joking, no laughing, no screwing around. I want you prepared for combat. If worse comes to worse, Akhet you get her out of there and back to the village, the others and I will stay and fight. And I don't want to hear excuses." they nodded at Keytani as Keyon walked passed, he had been bandged up from the fight and was heading back to his hut, "Keyon!" shouted Keytani, "I have need for you, are you ready in case a fight breaks out?" Keyon looked obviously nervous but nodded "W0why did something happen" he said swallowing hard as he looked like a guilty child. "No," Keytani said, "Not yet and if all goes as planned it won't buit be prepared anyways." and the party headed out of the village.

The swath of destruction left created a visible path. But when they got there the prey that was being hunted before the attack was being feasted on by Hyena's. "Dammit!" thought Keytani, "Now we gotta deal with this." They took their battle formation. The guards took the outside flank, Anaya behind Keyon as the spear wielding Keytani and Akhet took the outside flank in the front. They approached, weapons drawn and the Hyena's turned around, the leader started shaking like a leaf. "We-we don't want any trouble." Keytani wasn't amused, "You know the rules of the Pride, you are not welcome on our lands. Give me one good reason why I should drop you all like a sack of rocks." The hyena leader played coy. They didn't like tangling with the lions but he saw an opportunity to take advantage when he noticed that Anaya was in the party. True she wasn't unknown in the land. "Of course...." he said, "We'll just be going.....right.....NOW!" and he charged in but to no avail as weapon hit weapon and he was knocked by by an energy blast from Anaya's staff. This didn't deter them and the ycharged forwards again. but the fight was broken up by a shrill scream. Everyone stopped and looked around, and this great hulking beast came out. "BUDA!" screamed one of the Hyena's. A Buda was a were-hyena but this thing wasn't even close, it was a twisted mass of unknown proportions but no one was bothering to care as they ran. Lions, Cheetah and Hyena's fled. But Keytani made sure they routed the Hyena's right off their turf. Akhet followed behind knowing to follow her lead and when they reached the edge and were sure the thing wasn't following them they heard a very loud cry of a female cub, "Oh No!" screamed Anaya, "Did one of the cubs follow us?!" T Hey ran back towards the thing and before it could get a clawed hand tendril on the Hyena cub that was in front of it Akhet and Ketytani wasted no time as they threw their spears into the creature. Anaya cast a light that surrounded the cub to put up a barrier. One of the guards ran in and pull the cub back as fast as possible before Akhet Ran and wall kicked off a tree and pulled his spear out and he twirled it around, holding it behind him as he held his hand out at the beast. Anaya could see his Aura even if the others couldn't. She watched as white light surrounded him knowing that his mother's spirit was standing guard over him as he pushed and charged the beast driving his spear deeper into it. To the others they just saw Akhet attack, to Anaya she saw why. Shamans always could see the other side, and if she was a little cub this power would have not even fully awakened yet. The beast reared up and cried as Keytani joined and drove her spear deep into it and it flung them and the spears off it and retreated back into the depths of the Jungle.. Akhet fell to one knee, breathing heavily. Keytani helped him up, "Better balance with your mother's spear huh?" she said as he nodded in response. "No.' said Anaya, "His mother put the barrier on him to help weaken it, didn't you all see the light surrounding him?" But they all shook their heads, even Akhet didn't see it, but he could feel something. "Are you sure you're feeling okay, Princess?" remarked one of the guards. "I-I'm fine. Maybe I was caught up in the moment. I need to see Master Togamaru, Akhet meet me there later please?" Akhet nodded and Keytani remarked, "Don't take too long, you need to be up for your punishment tomorrow. Now what to do with this little one."

They looked over at the Hyena cub. She was scared, terrified and shaking. She had been caught by Lions and was most likely brainwashed about what they do. "I say we leave her, the wilds will claim her eventually." Remarked one of the guards. And as Keytani agreed, Akhet stepped in, standing in front of her, "No." "No?" Keytani huffed, "Aren't you in enough trouble as is, boy?" But he shook his head, "We can't. She'll die out here. How is that right to sacrifice a child to the wilds?" "And do what than? Bring it back to the Pride? Even the King himself would call you a fool. The cub stays out here." "Funny, Keytani, so you're saying that's what you should have done with me than? " Keytani was caught off guard, "That's different." "How so?" exclaimed Akhet, "Because I'm useful now? Is that the only reason you started liking me? because I'm a useful tool? I will not let this cub die out here alone it's wrong and you know it! Would you let a Makhai tribe cub die out here? I highly doubt it." "He has a point," said one of the guards. "And what would you propose than? You know very well we can't take her back to the village." Akhet sighed as he said, "The queen told me that night she wouldn't let a small cub die out in the wilds when she brought me back and for a time I didn't understand why I was there until I began to realize why I was there and that I had a new home. Out tribe bended tribal laws out of kindness. I will take responsibility for her and deal with the king." Keytani remarked, "You're already going to be in hor water with him." "You told him?!" he exclaimed. "Of course my job is to report to him." she said. Akeht knelt down, the cub scared and on the verge of crying, old enough to understand the conversation. She shyed back from him but he laid his spear on the ground and held out his hand, "Hey, it's okay, no one's going to hurt you. Are you okay? Are you hurt?" The cub shook her head and squeaked in a broken scared voice, "no." "Were you with the others?" he asked, And she nodded yes. "If we take you to the borders can you find your family from their scent?" again the cub nodded yes and he looked up at Keytani "Punish me how you see fit, I don't care, I'm going to take her to the border and make sure she finds her family. We are Wenja, we help those in need no matter what, we are not killers and murders and the King and Queen themselves wouldn't stand for it. If you want to publically flog me for my defiance, so be it, I'll take my lumps for my actions. But a wise Queen once told me to think before I acted, and I intend to do just that." Akhet picked up the cub in his arms and started walking in the direction where they had chased off the Hyena's. Keytani stood there stunned but she smiled. Akhet was growing up and maturing. For the first time she saw him stand up for what he believed in and display the very traits the Wenja were nown for. No there would be no public flogging of him, but he wasn't getting off the hook that easy. So they walked with Akhet to provide protection. And when they got to the territory they walked further into it far enough to catch the scent of the little cubs pack. Akhet set her down and pulled out a parchment and dipped a quill in a small bottle of ink and scribbled something on a piece of partchment, tying it with a leather cord and he gave it to the little cub, "You take this to your pack leader and you tell them that you were saved by us and we looked out for your safety to get here. The cub nodded and wiped the scared look from her face as she hugged Akhet's leg and ran off clutching the scroll. "What did you write on there, Akhet?" asked Keytani. "I simply wrote "We of the Wenja Pride chose to save this little cub rather than let a beast finish her off. We escorted her to you when we didn't or shouldn't have done so. Not all of the Prides believe in violence and we hope that these actions will stand to serve our motivations. However if you trespass again upon our King's territory unwelcome, Than you will be inviting disaster. So sayeth, Akhet Softpaw, member of the Royal Family of the Wenja Pride." Keytani smirked, "Clever boy. That should make them think twice again." And so they returned to report to the King and Queen. Telling him of the situation and where Anaya went. Akhet than excused himself to go to meet her at Master Togamaru's Greatwood Tree.

Meanwhile at the Tree, Anaya was sitting drinking tea with him, "I don't understand, Master Togamaru, No one saw it, not even Akhet but he glowed white. I could feel even see this energy surround him, I assumed it was the spirit of his mother again, like during his rite of passage. But ... Am I going insane?!" The Mandrill laughed, "No my dear, you are not going insane. You see as Shamans we can see things others cannot, the strings of fate, the threads of destinies, we can see the spirits watch over us, feel their presence, We embody the great spirits who provide and embellish us with their magic to protect our people and our way of life." Anaya was seriously confused, "But when I was a little cub I couldn't see anything." He laughed again, "Ah but you were just a student, much like you are now except a lot less flashy and perhaps a little more overly exvited and cocky. You hadn't learned to do much than, you were learning the basic techniques of weaving your magic. As you gain in skill and technique you begin to do more impressive things. Like Akhet, look at him from when he was little to now. What do you see?" But Anaya was remembering the fight from this afternoon, "An arrogant son of a bitch who thinks he's going to win me over by picking fights." He bopped her on the head with his staff. "Ow! What was that for?!" "First of all, do not refer to his mother in such a manner. Second, that was not the question. I was not talking about teenage angst filled fights. I was referring to how he's come as a person, as a warrior as your friend. " Anaya rubbed her head, smarting from the hit, "I suppose he's come a long way, he's no longer mopey now he's out every afternoon with the Huntresses. Even Keytani likes him now. I jsut wish he'd not pick fights so easily." Togamaru shrugged, "Boys will be boys, but I wonder was he really trying to impress you? Because from what I heard downwind, he was defending his mother's honor. And if you really think that he was given his place in the Pride....." Anaya shook her head, "No, Master Togamaru, I do not. I believe that he earned it. We saw how he fought for his rite of Passage. Keyon..... I'd never tell Akhet this but Keyon has been trying to get me to notice him since we were little cubs. I just.. I Never liked him. I spent more time with Akhet out of the fact that he needed a friend and as we got older I started .... I guess...I don't know, it wouldn't be wise for the Pride to think like that." the old monkey smirked, "You say he doesn't know. But I think he does know. You'd be amazed at what love chooses to do. But you needn't worry yourself about such things. You are still yet a child but soon you will be an adult, as he will and than and only than will the two of you decide your paths. But there is something I need to give you, something that I feel you have deserved for a long time, As you have learned and trained, you have become a more proficient weaver of magic. And so as the future Shaman of this tribe, I wish to present you with this staff." Togamaru handed her a staff that looked like a piece of driftwood and had royal leather straps tied around the prongs. But it looked like the tree the hut was built on, "Is this?" she exclaimed. He nodded, "Yes my dear. This is forged from the Greatwood Tree itself. It's power and it's wisdom will serve you on your journey to become Queen. You will find that it is attuned to your spirit and that you will no longer feel like you have to struggle to weave your spells." Anaya took the staff in her hands, it's weight and balance was impeccable. She felt the energy flow within it much more smoothly than her old staff. She felt like she could control the world with it. "Thank you, Master Togamaru . I wil treasure it for my life." Just than the lift reached the top as Akhet stepped in, "Your Highness, I am here to escort you home. He mocked his bow and smirked at her. She rolled her eyes but couldn't hold her grin in as she bopped him playfully on the head, "Arise Sir Spotty Brat, let us away~" And the two of them took the lift down and begun their trek back to Wenja Ridge.

Akhet said nothing for a bit as they walked when he chimed in and said, "I wasn't trying to impress you. I let myself lose control today. He called me as useless as the corpse in the graveyard and I snapped. Anaya, you of all people know how much I miss my mother. And you of all people know how much I'll fight to defend her honor and her sacrifice. I guess I'm still a cub after all." Anaya said nothing but put her arm around him, "No you're not a cub, Akhet, you're my best friend in the entire world. And when the world turns it's back on you, know that I won't. By the way, I've hunted early in the morning, You are not going to like that crew. Have fun keeping up." Akhet sighed and mumbled, "My feet already hurt thinking about it." Anaya laughed but he wasn't amused. Apparently neither was the king. Despite Keytani's promise. The King was very upset. And he laid into Akhet over his actions. It was made clear that anyone and he didn't care who or what species it was that went against anyone in the Tribe without mediation was to not be tolerated. And Akhet swallowed hard. He knew what was coming next. And the following morning when he returned from the morning hunt of which he was run ragged trying to keep up with the morning birds, Anaya and Keytani led him to the center of the village. A wooden post had been set up. Keytani was ordered to bind his wrists around the post. And as one of the guards approached carrying the whip, Anaya clung to her her father burying her face in his side, "Daddy please don't do this..." But he looked down and said, "I don't want to do this, Anaya, but we cannot have order lost within the pride and it wouldn't matter if it was Akhet or Keytani or anyone else in the pride, the same sentence would be carried out." Her mother placed her hand on her back, "Anaya, as an outsider the tribal accordance would be death. Be glad your father made him a member of the tribe so that this is all he faces. I don't blame him for his actions I would have done the same thing had my mother been mocked so readily. But Keyon will face harder consequences." She held onto her mothers hand as her father stepped forwards. "Akhet Softpaw, Hunter of the Wenja Tribe. You stand accused of getting yourself involved in a fight, attacking a Pride member. Despite the provocation of his actions, of which he too will be dealt with in the same manner tomorrow, you chose to engage in a situation that is unbecoming and fitting of the Wenja Pride. It makes the matters worse that you wear the insignia of the Royal Family. And as such order cannot be lost by your actions. And so you have been found guilty, of your own admittance and will face ten lashes for your actions." The Pride gathered. Keytani took her place next to Anaya sandwiching her between her mother. "He's strong enough to endure this Anaya, just believe." The King looked down at Akhet as he said, "Believe me when I tell you from the bottom of my heart I'm sorry. But we have laws. It breaks my heart to do this, but even you were raised knowing our laws and traditions. I'm not angry at you just disappointed." Akhet looked up and said, "It's not your fault. I even told Keytani I'd take my bruises if it came to it. Rather we don't lsoe control of the Pride huh?" The King smiles as forced as it was, patting Akhet on the head, "You're growing up so fast, Akhet, I'm proud of you. Bite down on this and hard. It will help I know." He put a piece of wood wrapped in leather cord in Akhets mouth. And when he rejoined the others he dropped his arm from the air and the sentence was carried out. And it stung hard. The crack of the whip delayed for what felt like hours when he felt the pain lash over his bare back. He cried in a muffled tone grunting hard, tied tight so he couldn't move. And than another came in, and another. He kept his muffled screaming up while resting his head on the post trying to clear his mind but it wasn't much help, tears streaming down his face and the time spaced between the lashes was designed to stagger the pain, forcing the person to learn from their actions. The pain was intense as his flesh was ripped open, blood streaking down his back and by the time it was over, he was so weak at the knees. Anaya ran over and ripped the bindings off him and he collapsed to the ground, shaking, in pain as the mouth piece fell. Anaya was in tears as she held him close, "it's okay Akhet, it's over." as she lifted him up and draped is arm over her shoulder as she struggled to help him to the cave. The King looked away, feeling guilty but knowing that the needs of the many had to outweigh those of the few. He was a brave one, the King knew that. But Keyon wasn't and he struggled the entire time before he took his lashings the next day. Keyon had a tougher sentence for sure as his lashing were dragged out over the next few days harsher and stiffer punishment for starting the fight in the first place. And no one dared call for Akeht's removal as he bravely took his punishment. Despite everything his level of respect within the Pride had risen. For once, he didn't feel foolish, he felt more like an adult. And the King's words echoed in his mind and helped him fall asleep as he smiled, "I'm Proud of you."

The next morning After he returned from the morning Hunt, Akhet sat on top of the cave, modifying his spear. Anaya joined him up on top like the two always did. "Keyon's punishment is to be drug out over the next few days, ten lashes per day." she said. Akhet nodded, "Good. Maybe he'll take it like a...." Anaya cut him off, "Like a certain cheetah I know who stood up for that cub and made sure she lived to see another day? Keytani told me what happened. I expected no less from you." Akhet looked over, fumbling with the notch and the new spear tip at the end of his spear, "Your mother made a decision to save my life when I was young. I made that same decision to save hers. And what would you have done? Honestly Anaya would you have saved her?" She nodded, "I would." "Why," he asked. "Because I know you. I know that you were in that same position and my Mouther wouldn't throw you to the Jackals and I wouldn't have done that for her either, Hyena or not.I believe like us, they aren't all bad. We need to find them that are good and foster a peace between them." Akhet smiled. His best friend really knew him inside and out. "Hey what are you doing to your spear?" she asked. Akhet was tying a second spear head on the bottom and strapping it in place with leather straps and using their makeshift bone adhesive to hold it down, "Adding a counter balance. A second tip." he pointed at the main tip which contained the symbol etched on it that was the necklace his mother wore and down below with the second tip he etched a fang in, similar to his own necklace with a matching vulture feather and beads. "From one generation to the next. So that my mother knows that I am just as strong as she was. Besides, It takes my mind off the pain." Akhet's back was healing but scarring and the pain was intensive. "You've grown a lot little spotty brat." She said. Her had massaged his back trying to relieve the pain. "Pffft," he said, "Still a spoiled princess." Anaya smacked him in the back of the head with her staff and he jumped, "Ow! The hell was that for?" Anaya shrugged, "I don't know but I assure you it wasn't because you're a spotty brat." But Anaya continued, "I heard daddy gave you the riot act when you got back with me." Anaya was told to get lost by her parents to which she had done so. Akhet nodded, "Yeah, and to be honest i did have it coming, but I really didn't think he'd go as far as he did. Still. Maybe it was for the best. I slot control and I won't deny that.. I bit the hands that fed me, clothed me and kept me alive."

It was a very long silence when he said that and after a bit Akhet stood up to test wielded his new spear modifications, "Anaya?" he asked. "Yeah?" she responded. "You don't....you don't like Keyon do you? I mean everyone knows he's got a crush on you and well..." Love bites in mysterious ways and now Akhet had got bitten by it, much like Anaya had with him. But they weren't really sure if they should say it and Anaya's idea was to toy with him, "No....why....you interested?" Akhet was caught off guard, and went blush red, "No! I mean no! Of course not, I would never.... I mean you're my best friend and" he paniced and couldn't stop, "I mean you're just a spoiled little...." but she thwacked him in the shin before he could finish and it shut him up as he fell to one knee and after kissing his cheek to make him turn even more red and even more embarrassed, she stood there laughing. The sun began to set on the pair as they stood on top of the Royal cave, the friends inseparable once more. It seems fate's woven threads would not be denied. But both today had learned a very valuble lesson about taking responsibility for the consequences of your actions, and one Akhet was to never forget.