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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 2: Growing Pains

Weeks had begun to pass since the awful incident. And Akhets garments had gotten raggid and torn. But Anaya's mother provided him with very fine leather and silk garments, befitting a prince, or at least in this case a Lion Guard. As he started to eat more, his strength began to return to him in full. No longer did he have to rely on his Adrenalin or fight or flight instincts to be ready to move. And as promised the Queen began to teach him in the art of combat. WIth a wooden stick for safety. And the finesse he showed with it was promising, despite the many times he'd whack himself in the face or fall on his butt trying to balance himself. Even his studies were going smooth as he was brought up to speed on tribal lore and knowledge. And Anaya laughing from the sidelines didn't help either. He was getting more and more frustrated this morning under the hot Savannah sun. Failing to hit his targets, and maintain his balance on one foot while continuing to hit himself in the head. "Argh," he cried, "I can't do this! This istupid. I'm not a lion!" The Queen shook her head, developing an idea, "But you an do it. You just don't know it. I can prove it to you." She pulled a ball out of her pouch, "Chase this. And do it quickly. If you fail to catch it You fail to eat. Understand me?" The Queen was familiar with the strength's of Cheetahs and she was going to force his own to appear. Akhet shook his head in confusion, "I don't understand." he said. "Exactly as I said, I'm going to throw this, and you're going to catch it. If it hits the ground you don't eat. This is your prey. Get him." And with that she threw the ball, and farther and faster than the cub expected. Akhet chased it but just as he was about to grab it, it bounced off a rock face and went another direction. He dug his foot claws into the ground and his tail changed directions and angles and he switched himself into a right angled turn as he sprinted with a burst of speed from the launch of the turn. The cub wasn't even aware of what his own mind was doing, but he charged as fast as he could and reached out grabbing the ball just before it hit the edge of the ground, a sheer drop from the cliff base the village was built on. He almsot fell off it until he teetered on his right footpad arms out long enough to let him step back with his left foot and regain his balance like he meant to do it. Not a single sign of faltering. And the Queen smiled at that display. he could do it, he just didn't know. But she was no Cheetah so she would teach him how she could, and use her own techniques to awaken his. Anaya and the Queen ran towards him, he was panting heavil as he leaned over hands on his knees, holding out the ball, "That wasn't fair!" Anaya gave a widemouthed smile and the Qureen simply said, "Life's not fair is it? When your prey does what it takes to shake you, " she said, "You adapt, switch your direction, change your movement on the fly. Your body was built to do this, and someday, you will learn to on your own. See you can do this. Trust your balance, trust your body. Don't overthink it like you've been doing. Trust yoru surroundings." She set the targets back up in a cross pattern when they returned to where they were and and handed Akhet his practice staff again, "Now, Once more." He swallowed hard and took his stance, staff under his right arm with his left hand out and in an instance he swung it out from under his arm, making contact with the target in front of him, swimging it around to hit the left, side jabbing into the right target but this time he dug his claws in and spun on his foot and successfuly took out the last target behind him. The staffed sacks all falling to the ground. No missteps, no thwacking himself in the head. "Wow," cried Anaya, "How'd you do that?!" "I don't know, I-I just closed my eyes and did it." Akhet replied. Was it is biological nature to fight to survive or was what the Queen taught him beginning to sink in? No one can say, considering the teaching methods being employed, but for the first time in a long while Akhet was feeling up and was being prepared to strike out on his own eventually, or so anyone would assume, unaware that other cubs were being trained for the same goal, the goal of Anaya's protection.. A Lion Guard if you will.

The Wenja Pride hadn't had a Lion Guard in quite some time. The role of this person was to be the personal protector of the offspring in case something happened to the head of the pride, ensuring it's survival. They had to be strong, and quick, and fit both physically and mentally. Perhaps the Queen saw these traits in Akhet. After all, she saw the fight his mother put up and had things have been different, she might have won. It would be a blasphemous thing for an outside to assume this role, and she knew it. But her motherly instinct deep down said that this cub would be better raised with a pride of Lions at his back than to grow up and merely survive out there. And even so best that it be someone she personally trained. "I-I did it!?" Akhet exclaimed almost half surprised at himself. "Of course you did, " the Queen replied, "Don't over think the situation. Think about the ball. You just went for it, your natural instincts took over. You must learn to utilize them when you see them manifest. And most importantly, you must clear your head. Remove all emotion from your mind. An angry fighter is an ineffective fighter. If you attack your enemy with an emotional clouded mind, you'll be dead. I'm not telling you to be an emotionless husk. We all have feelings and whatnot, but we must learn to control them when we hunt, when we fight." She held the cub by his sides as she instructed him to hold his staff out horizontally and to put one leg up. He did so resting his foot on his other leg as she adjusted his tail. We wobbled a bit but eventually was able to stand straight with no sign of falling over. "What's the point of this?" he asked, "Blance." the Queen responded, "Center your body. It is your anchor. Your limbs are your attachments. They move, your body does not. Even if you smut dodge a blade, your body should remain centered during the evasive maneuver so that you will always stay centered. You will learn to do this for longer and longer increments until it becomes second nature to you." She was intensively working with the cub and trying to correct not only his flaws, but trying to cope with a species she knew about but never was. But the Queen kept in the foremost of her mind the promise and vow she made to his mother about raising this child right.

Anaya, however, was also a cub and cubs can be....cubs. SHe laughd at Akhet in the silly pose and he fell over on his butt, distracted. "Focus." barked the QUeen, "Block out the distractions around you. Again." Akhet stood up and re-positioned himself as he was before, One, maybe two wobbles this time as he got back into his stance. "As for you young Lady," as the Queen looked at her daughter, "Aren't you late for your lessons with Master Togmaru? Run along and stop distracting him." Anaya sighed, her fun spoiled, 'Yes Mother." as she walked off under protest. But the Queen wasn't done with Akhet How well was he learning this lesson. She silently walked up behind him, trying to not trigger his natural instincts. His ears twitched a bit but settled down before she clapped her hands loudly behind him. He got startled and almost fell but caught himself and stayed put. "Well done. Little one, You learn fast. Reminds me of myself when I was your age." Akhet dropped his stance as he stood back on two feet, turning around to look up at the adult Lioness, "Anaya says you're the greatest warrior in the land." The Queen nodded, "Well maybe not the best. I wasn't as adept at it like I am now. I struggled just like you do at your age." Akhet was surprised, "You? But you're so good and you're a lion and ..." The Queen laughed, "Who we are doesn't define our skills, young Akhet. I was a terrible combatant when I was your age. If I hadn't have used wooden swords I would have surely injured someone let alone myself. Do you know what makes us so great?" Akhet shook his head, "no." "Our Imperfections. They define us, make us who we are. To strive to be better, to know our limits and how to overcome them. We're all going to make mistakes, but we're all going to get up from them. This is no different. How many times did you hit yourself with that staff today before you learned to overcome it? Everything in life is a lesson. Knowledge to be learned, to absorb. And those who stop learning, stop living. Someday you'll understand what I mean. For now, trust me when I tell you that you must not give up and keep practicing. You will become better than you are now. I can see it." Akhet sat down, sighing, "But it's so hard." The Queen nodded, "It is isn't it. It just means your success as warrior will taste more sweet when you overcome it." "But what about Anaya? She's always so .....she never makes mistakes, everything she does is perfect. And she's so full of herself with it too, I hate it, I hate her for it." He didn't realize or perhaps care that this was the Queens daughter he was talking about. She felt his anxiety and frustration but also knew it came from having very few supporters within the pride, "Don't worry about her. She makes mistakes too. Shes made plenty of them. She will screw up and it will be your job to help bounce her back. But for now just worry about yourself. See what you're doing wrong and try to correct it. The Lessons I'm teachinig you now will help Anaya as well. When we become cocky and arrogant, we make mistakes. It takes a wise individual to realize when we've done wrong and try to correct it. I wouldn't call my daughter arrogant, but She is full of herself, and I am simply waiting for her to make a mistake that pops her bubble and brings her back down to reality. A Queen must not be arrogant, or ignorant. A Queen must rule with her heart and her mind functioning as one. To listen to her people and determine what is best for them not her. It's a hard lesson for her to learn, but even you can remind her of it."

Akhet felt less frustrated with Anaya and his training. And at the end of the day all he wanted to do was eat and rest is weary body. But tonight was different, he didn't. When he finished his meal, while Anaya practiced her magic, he went back, practicing the balancing technique the Queen taught him, and he stood there for what felt like hours before he broke the stance. He learned to use his tail to balance himself and to use the staff he had to center his weight. Later that night he crawled into his bedroll, wrapping himself up in the heavy down feathered blankets, warm and full belly as he drifted off to sleep thinking about what the Queen had taught and spoke to him about. By now, Akhet's routine had become simple, get up, practice his balance, eat breakfast, continue his studies, practice with his staff and than spend the day playing. Seriously. The Queen was not to rob him of his childhood despite everything. She even began to treat him as a member of the pride. And while some still wouldn't, most did. Akhet began helping the hunting parties carve up their daily catch and it earned him a measure of respect. And one sunny morning, Akhet was whisked away from his training after breakfast. Keytani was the head of the pride's hunters. The Queen approached Keytani with a wave whom she returned with a bow, "Keytani, my friend, how fare you this morning?" Keytani smiled, "I am well, my Queen. And how fares your young watch? Keytani didn't like him. She believed in Pride Purity. But she respected her Queen who was a friend of hers and knew that her Queen didn't just randomly do things without reason or meaning. So Keytani stowed her attitude away and treated Akhet with respect. "I'm fine." Akhet boasted, hands on his hips feelign stronger and better than ever. His lessons had gotten harder but he was getting better at them"I have heard how you've been helping the hunting parties break down their catches. Work has gotten faster and easier. The Queen informs me that she wants me to put your training to use and teach you to hunt. As a favor to my queen, I will do just that. ."A Keytani said, "While I am aware it is the females job of our Pride, Cheetahs, as you know, do not have those roles, all hunt or all die. And it's time youe be taught some basics. Just follow my party and listen to direction and you will be fine.", Keytaniwasn't brown nosing at all. She sensesed something in him and despite her Questions, she wouldn;t stop him if he followed through to what she said. "Tell me, Akhet, do you have any memories of how your mother hunted?" Keytani was indeed present at the funeral. But Akhet shook his head, "Not really, I was always left in a safe spot not far from her. I know she carried sticks and ropes and stuff." Keytani ear pearked. Perfect, she thought to herself. "Alright than, so your mother was a trapper." Akhet scratched his head, "What's a tracker?" Keytani laughed genuinely, "Not a Tracker, silly, although you will learn that eventually. A Trapper. you lay traps and because you are a cheetah I'm guessing your mother was very good at chasing them into the traps. Not that we Lioness's can't do the same, But very few of my huntress' want to learn to do that. So lets start with the basics. I'm going to teach you some basic knots, some simple trap making and we're going to catch....." Akhet cut her off excited, "An Antelope?!" But Keytani laughed, "Heavens no. If you could do that at your age, you'd put me out of the job! We're going to go for something smaller, like a meerkat or a prairie dog. So what we'll do is, I'll lure it out, and you'll chase it to the trap that you're going to make, following my instructions. Understand?" Akhet nodded, "I think so."

Teaching a cub to tie a knot is easy. Teaching him to tie it right while withholding your bias, not so much. But Keytani held her breath and after spending an hour or so helped him build a crude trap. Once that was done they waited by the meerkathole. Akhet laid as low as he could, hidden by the ridge as Keytani began to lure him out. Once the Meerkat was out she blocked the hole and roared and the prey ran right past Akhet who sprang up and dug his claws in charging after at breakneck speeds. As predicted, the prey tried to turn and run and Akhet did the same, trying to stay on the target and force him towards the trap. Keytani lost sight quickly as she sprinted towards where they were chasing but before she could see anything she heard a high pitched "MROW!" and a trap door slamming. Oh no, she thought to herself, he botched it. But when she got there, the prey was in the cage and he was on ground holding his head, as he tripped closing the trap and smacked himself hard into the tree behind him. "Well," Keytani said, "Not exactly what I had in mind, but you did it. You okay kiddo?" Akhet nodded, his head feeling like he slammed it on a rock over and over. He winced, closing an eye, "Well," remarked Keytani, "I suppose we don't all do it right our first time, but hey you caught the prize and that's what matters, but you will need to tighten your attack path up. If he zigs you zig, don't let him ever gain the upper hand on you like that, you have to be on his heels and considering who you are and what you are, you should have no problem with that. I think some zigging and zagging practice is in order, I'll set that up for you tomorrow, right now, I think you've earned a break, Good job Kiddo. Kinda proud of you." And she was. Perhaps, she was wrong and he really wasn't a bad idea after all.

Akhet thought this was going to be fun the next day. After all a cub running around makes for a good time right? Wrong. He was sorely mistaken. Keytani drilled him again and again and again on his chasing patterns and when he did it wrong she'd sharply bark at him, "Again!" And by the end of the day is legs were tired and he was exhausted. So exhausted he fell asleep right through dinner that night. Anaya giggled at him as he slept soundly til the next day. And thus his routine continued. But one sunny morning he was laying on the ground, nothing to do staring up at the sky, listening to the sounds around him. But the peace was broke and he half jumped out of his mind, leaping up as Anaya shouted, "Wake Up Lazy Bones!". She giggled but he fell off the ledge where the village was and into the river that cut through it. He was panicked and terrified as he scrambled out of the water, Anaya laughing so hard she was holding her sides. "Not Funny, Anaya. I was already awake." But she kept laughing, "Don't be such a worry wart, you spotty brat." Akhet shook his fur and fast. Water went everywhere and Anaya now got soaked, "HEY!" she screamed. But Akhet got a sly look on his face as he smirked right back, "What's a matter Anaya? Don't be such a spoiled Princess~ Are you afraid of baths?" She stomped her little feet into the ground and clenched her fists at her side. "Oh you!!!!! When I get my paws on you.....I'll....." And she pounced him knocking them both into the river. And the frustration and anger turned to laughter and play as they splashed each o ther back and forth. A few of the lions in the village did take notice and a couple even laughed. Outsider or not a cub was a cub and it was nice to see them both get along with each other. As Anaya climbed out, Akhet grabbed her by the leg and puled her back in. She tried to grab him. All of a sudden Akhet slipped out from her grasp and ducked under the water and stayed silent, holding his breath. "Akhett?!" Anaya exclaimed unaware of where he went. And out of not where he popped up behind her and grabbed her with a childish "Rawr" and proclaimed, "Never turn your back on a cheetah, we strike from where you don't expect!" "Cmon Akhet don't do that i thought you were downing." And this went on all morning before they crawled out of the river and sloshed their way to the top of the rock cave that served as the royal palace to speak. they stripped their wet clothes off and laidthere in the sun, drying themselves off. Anaya laid there on her back resting her head on her hands, "Akeht...?" she asked. Akhet was hunched up knees to hsi chest, soaking in the sun, his King Cheetah pattern visible for all to see, "Yeah?" he responded. "What....what was it like....what did it feel like to know that you couldn't do anything to save her....I mean I don't ...." she fumbled over her words. She wanted to know how he felt deep inside because she began to care for her new friend. Akhet quivered a bit trying to not cry, something he hadn't done in a while, "I-I feel so useless. Than and even now. I should have done something and I couldn't. I was useless. She died because of me....." Anaya looked over at her best friend, he was falling apart all of a sudden. She put her arm around him and held him close, "You couldn't have done anything. Besides you protected me that day, remember? I never saw anybody that brave before. Even the other cubs in the village run at the sight of a wild dog." Anaya did her best to cheer him up, and perhaps part of it was beginning to sink in. He still tried to pull away, "You wouldn't know what it's like." But Anaya was always a stubborn one, "Think I'd ask if I did? And it's not like ah aint heard you wake up screaming in the night from your bad dreams." Akhet never did learn to play things off smooth and he struggled with his poker face when he said, "Naw you're just hearing things." Anaya laid back again rolling her eyes, "Okay sure.....So than you're a hyena cackling in the night now?" Akhet shook his head, sighing. "Whatever." She giggled at him used to the mopey friend of hers Eventually the ensuing silence was broken by Akhet. He said something that no cub should ever say in their entire childhood. They sat there watching the sun hide behind the impending clouds and he put his hand on top of hers, "Anaya...." he said softly. "What is it?" she said." "Don't ever leave me alone,, not like everyone else. Especially here, I'm just a freak to them. No one likes me and they treat me terrible." Anaya felt her little heart break, shivering from the feeling of his hand on hers, "That's not true. People are starting to like you. Your a hard working a wonderful student. Even Keytani likes you." "Hardly they doi it out of respect for the Queen." he said."Even so, You're my best friend in the world, and I'd rather forsake my future throne than to abandon you.. Just wait til I'm Queen. I hate our traditions. Their stupid and make no sense. I'll make them treat you like a king! Just you wait and see Akhet!" Anaya's heart beat proudly in her chest and he smiled as he looked down and cocked his head up at her, part of him didn't believe her but part of him did, and he was looking forwards to the day she made good on her promise. Things finally began to look up for him. Or so he thought.

Seasons had passed, almost a full cycle since the incident. Akhet had turned eleven years old just shortly after Anaya. The King and Queen held off her rite of passage as they wanted Akhet to join her for it. After all this was his next big test to see if the prophecies were correct and he would be the future Lion Guard. Akhet was nervous. Since the year that passed his hunting skills began to develop into a second instinct as did his combat skills. He had begun to master a real spear now, with a real bladed tip. He helped the hunters when they needed an extra set of legs to help chase smaller prey into the traps. And Anaya? Anaya had begun to become more proficient with her ancient magical prowess, able to cast more advanced spells beyond her age. It would seem both cubs were in fact destined for greatness. Master Togamaru and the King and Queen waited at the center of the village as the royal guards emerged from the cave hut, Anaya and Akhet dressed in traditional garb that all cubs wore for their trials. As they stood in front of the trio the Mandrill spoke, "Young Anaya, Young Akhet. Very soon you will no longer be that young anymore will you? While your childhood has not yet finished, you are old enough now to be given certain adult responsibilities within the pride. Each of you will kneel in your respective circles and call upon the great spirits. They will test you, and they will try you. They will make your worst fears come true. But you and only you may overcome them. Succeed and you will have proven yourselves to the Pride. Fail and you will have to wait another cycle to learn from your mistakes. The Great Spirits care nothing for who you are, be it princess or cheetah, lion or hunter. You are all equal in their eyes. And thus I expect you both to make this Pride Proud. " The tribe who wasn't on patrol gathered. Smaller than normal but ever since a year ago, they had doubled their patrols in their small territory. Keytani had grown to adore Akhet, despite her prejudices. She was cheering loudly for him, hoping she had done her best to play her part in his training and upbringing. The cubs knelt in their respective circles, each took a bowl filled with liquid. When the chanting stopped, Master Togamaru instructed them to sip from the bowls and they did. Both of them almost gagged but only for a second as they collapses backwards on the ground, pupils wide as saucers as if on a very bad trip. What was in the solution no one knew, only Shamans did as it was their responsibility to prepare the young for adulthood. Master Togamaru was the Wenja Prides Shaman because they had no Shaman since the King's father passed on. And so this is why Anaya was fated to become one.

"Wake up......" the voice echoed over and over, there was fire and flames around AKhet as he groggily got to his hands and knees. He could smell death, burning, fire, the screams of the innocent. He looked around seeing nothing. "Move it Akhet! We have to run! Now!" he recognized the voice. It was his mother. "M-mother?!" he panicked but his heart skipped a beat, "I thought you died! I saw the wild dogs rip you to shreds! They almost killed me and than the lions took me in an......" Skykoma cut him off, "Such an imagination, little one, but now is not the time ,we have to go now before the flames consume us, wild fire in the grasslands. Now move it!" And with that the two of them ran, Akhet lagged behind as his legs were still wobbly but eventually they straightened out. Something was off, though. His mother alive, yet he looked down to see the clothing he was give nfor the ceremony. But the heat from the flames were very real and he could feel the heat, so he didn't question it and ran. The two of them fled until their path was blocked by a flare up, they turned another direction, some thing. Suddenly they were surrounded in a burning circle.... Wild dogs moving in close. "Well, well, well, what do we have here....?" said one of them, "I don't know but it looks like a free meal to me." exclaimed another. Skykoma didn't wait, she pulled her spear and leapt in and began to attack, Akhet screamed, "Nooooo!" knowing how it would end but to his surprise his mother downed them quickly. But she stood with her back to him, blood dripping from her claws, her hands and the tip of her spear. "Noooo? Why do you say that, Little one?" her voice was deadpan and very soulless and empty. She continued to speak with her back to him, "Is it because you were afraid I'd die or is it because you were responsible for my death. My traitorous son, stood by and let me perish. How could you do such a thing to your own mother?" Akhet began to cry, "No that's not...wait....I couldn't, you told me not to move no matter what, I did what you told me! I was a good son!" Skykoma turned around, and her eyes were black as night. and when she opened her mouth her face contorted like a demonic entity with a voice to match, "You killed me, you let me die, Now you must join me, son, and we can finally end this pain!" She swung at him, rather it. He dodged out of instinct from his training and than he realized he had his spear on his back, but he didn't have it when they left the hut.....How? He rolled a few more swings ducking under before swinging behind it and pulling his spear up to meet Skykoma's and the wooden shafts connected wit ha loud thwack. It tried to overpower him and almost gained the upper hand. Akhet slid backwards and tucked and rolled again zigging his way around it and the spear "No!" he cried, "My mother would never blame me, she'd never hurt me! What are you, leave her alone you meany!" The entity laughed loudly, echoing in the fire, "Blame yourself you welp. Face your demons.... or die....." It swing again and cut him right across the chest, blood dripping from the tear on the robes.

This wasn't right, however. Rituals can replay your worst fears to overcome but they cannot hurt you. Akhet's sorrow and tragedy of blaming himself was the cause of this. He manifested something so real and so powerful that Master Togamaru in the physical realm felt the entity itself. "This isn't right, his anger and sorrow is more powerful than we thought. I am afraid he won't pull through!" The Queen and King looked at each other worried, what had they done. If he died it would be their fault. T Heir promise broken, but Keytani spoke up in defiance and shouted, "He won't die! That little bugger has so much fight inside him! I've seen it! you back him into a wall and he'll worm his way out!" "Keytani....." the Queen said, "When did you become so supportive of him?" Keytani sighed looking at the writhing cub on the ground, "When I realized what a foolish bastard I was. I was wrong to judge him for being different. That little cub taught me that. And I would be doing him a disservice to not back him now." The other lions and lioness's looked around at each other. If the head huntress believed in this outsider, maybe, maybe he wasn't so different from them. but back in the spiritual realm, he was fighting and fighting hard.

When Anaya awoke, it was quiet within the royal throne room. "Wha...where...where am I?" She looked around and her parents were missing. Calling for them she paniced. But one of the royal guards came and helped her to her feet, "Are you alright, my Queen?" Anaya nodded, standing up, "Where's my parents/!" He had a look of concern on his face, "Still missing them I see. I miss them as well, if only they hadn't chased after those Wild Dogs that wandered into our lands." "But alas my queen the subjects are rioting, calling you a tyrant. What should we do my Queen? It would seem the village and pride has gone sideways and is questioning your rule. Anayas ego kicked in the same ego she had as a kid. Questioning my rule? But why I only do what is best for the tribe and I know best that is why I am ruler and not them. Prepare the guards we will quell this mass gathering of ingates. Anaya hadnt realized this was her worst fear, being a ruler no one liked and making mistakes. But the Queen and her guards exited the cave to a mass protest led by of all people Akhet, her own friend turned against her as he led the starving struggling people the landscape twisted and deformed from her bad decisions. "No." she thought. "No this can't be right. This isnt me. This isn't....."

It was'nt long until she screamed as she cried awaking back in reality, "Akhet I'm so sorry! Wake up!" But than she realized where she was. Togamaru nodded at her. "So, the selfish Queen learned in the very end, that to ignore ones friends and people is to ignore ones Pride." The ritual mark glowed blue on her forehead signifying her completion of the trial. But she looked over at Akhets writhing body, "I-is he okay?!" Togamaru sighed shaking his head, "I don't know. He summoned an entity somehow, a very real one that is tormenting his soul. Whatever demons he was to face, he's fighting but he's losing. I do not know if he will survive this, but we should be prepared in case he doe...." Keytani snapped at him, "Bite your tongue! That cub is so strong you have no idea." The Queen nodded too, "Agreed, Master Togamaru, it's one thing to speak the truth, but it's another to have faith, isn't that what you taught us when we went through our trials?" Even the king chimed in, "I know he's young, Master Togamaru, but I saw his mother fight, and while it's true she perished, I believe that will be the driving motivation for him to survive." Looks of approval began to show on the faces of the pride members who doubted this situation and were against the outsider cub. Togamaru sighed, "Yes I suppose you are all right. It warms my heart the way you've rallied around this young cub."

Back on Akhet's side the entity formed a black swirl as it changed shape again. Akhet was on his knee, catching his breath, "Not....not my fault." he said over and over but when the creature reformed his shape, he was starting at a corrupted version of himself, only with logner fangs and a twisted face, "Perhaps," the voice boomed, "You don't understand. Pathetic." Akhet backed up as he scrambled to his feet, "What... who...you can't...." He was confused. Was this real or a dream? But the demonic voice became his, "Oh but it can be, don't you see? The monster was you all along. You blamed yourself for things you cannot control. You manifested your nightmares and your torment. You cannot hope to conquer your fears and terror. You area weakling, a worthless creature who should have died right there. And it's time I pull this thread right off the loom of life." and the creature clone charged but Akhet tucked and rolled again. The spear hit the ground over and over, Akhet forced to roll and go on the defensive. "Stop moving you worthless wretch!" but Akhet wouldn't stop. Suddenly he flet a blast throw him back itno a rock and he slammed his head hard. The entity charged another blast and before it could hit him he saw the world go white. There stood Skykoma. The young mother shielding her son, "Akhet," she spoke softly, without turning around. "If I lent you hand, could you take another step? Would keep moving forwards like I always hoped you would?" "M-Mother?! I dont I don't understand....is this a ...." she turned and shook her head, her blue eyes locking with his brown eyes, "No dream. My son, this Pride is your home now, embrace it. Don't run from it. What they have done makes me proud. You're becoming a fine young warrior, but you must learn to let go. I love you, my son, and I gave everything for you without second guessing, without hesitation. So tell me, would you do the same if it was your new Pride, or myself?" she reached out her hand.. Akhet took it as he stood up, nodding, "I miss you momma. I miss you so much." Skykoma smiled, "I know. But you must live. As I do in this world." She faded away as he felt her energy course through his veins. The creature that was him got angry, no longer wanting to torment Akhet as himself now the pure dark rage came after him. But Skykoma may have cheated his trial and gave him the strength to carry on. And he did charging fast and hard, dodging every blast of dark energy thrown at him even ducking and rolling. What creatures it spawned, Akhet dropped. The cub was on fire and he wouldn't stop, "I must live...." he chanted over and over to himself. "it wasn't my fault, It was never my fault. Anaya wasn't there and even she knows that......" Akhet charged fast and hard and leapt upwards, one of the rocks just within the fire he kicked his foot off of and leapt into the air, "Not today! I won't die! I won't lose! I won't be controlled by you!" and he brought the spear end down to bear into the creature, the energy Skykoma gave him surged through as the creature wailed in pain, slowly disappointing to nothing. Akhet fell backwards and landed on the ground, he couldn't breath, he aws out of breath, the smoke from the fires choked out his air but as he began to fade away so did the world around him.

Akhet woke up gasping for air as he sat up in front of the Pride, coughing and wheezing, the mark on his forehead glowed blue. Despite Skykoma's help he passed. He had faced down his demons. His past. Realizing that his mother's spirit always watched over him and his new family. She hadn't forgottent him. Keytani cheered loudest of all and the King and Queen smiled. But Akhet was spent and as he stood up fell down passing out. They rushed him into the royal cave as the Prides healers came to attend. He had been out of it for days on end. He didn't dream, he didn't wake, he didn't feel terror, he felt a calming effect. And as he awoke , he awoke to Anaya sitting by his side. She called loudly. The King, Queen, Togamaru and Keytani came quickly. "It seems," said Master Togamaru, "That you survived your ordeal." Akhet struggled to sit up, "You said they couldn't hurt us! you said it was a spiritual journey!" Togamaru only said, "I don't know what happened, Akhet. You created that thing, not I. I do not know how you did it, My best guess is you had something in your past you couldn't legt go of and it seems your past came back to haunt you." He sighed, "I-I was forced to face myself, my actions, the blame I cast on myself and than My....my mother appeared out of no where, she saved me, she helped me. I guess I didn't do it all by myself like I was supposed to." "I am not suprised iof that. Now you see she lives in you. She never left you. " Anaya exclaimed, "But Akhet, your ritual marks glowed blue! You did pass!" Togamaru nodded, "This trial isn't about doing it alone, it's about facing your greatest fears. Your mother apparently helped you realize what yours were and how to defeat them." Akhet buried his face in Anaya's arms without thinking, "I blamed myself for her death, over and over, for keeping quiet like she told me when I knew I couldn't help her." The Queen said, "You can help her now but honoring her memory as we did. By living, by showing everyone how strong you really are." She nodded to the King who held out two necklaces. Togamaru spoke handing the pink seashell one to Anaya, "Anaya, you learned to face the realities of your arrogance. You understand now that in a Pride despite being a ruler , you have to work as a team. Because of this you have passed your rite of passage and are one step closer to adulthood. And Akhet. It tears at my old heart to think about what you witnessed, to watch the ultimate sacrifice, but you learned that you can't blame yourself for things out of your control, and you learned that even our darkest of demons can challenge us when they want. Your mothers spirit fulfilled her job and thus so did you. And so I present you with this necklace, for the completion of your rite of passage, one step closer on your path to adulthood. " The King spoke next, "Akhet, that fang belonged to your mother, I hope you will remember it always and know that now she will forever watch over you when we cannot. Master Togamaru believes that your mother's spirit came to you because you fought back and stopped blaming yourself, and I am inclined to believe it myself. And because of how Keytani now speaks of you, I would welcome you as a full member of the Wenja Pride. And let any and all who disagree, kiss the furriest part of my butt. " That made Akhet smile as he put the necklace on. Anaya hugged him tightly refusing to let go of her best friend, even if he was a spotty brat. Growing up is difficult and sometimes downright scary, but we all do it and we all make it through, and as rough as Akhet had it, his Pride was behind him no matter what.