FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Chapter 8:

I propped open the door a little to get a better look, the night's breeze cold on my sweaty skin. Warning cries came from up above. Several birds from the ambassador's facility were flying about, hastily spreading the news. The cluster of huts we were in was a sparsely populated part of the community, but there were still a few residents peppering the streets to hear the news. Some panicked and ran to unseen locations.

I jolted when I felt a pair of soft, fuzzy hands coiled around my abdomen from behind, “Come back, Lochlann. We both need to discover what a Bridge-Walk-“

“The King is...dead," I turned to face Sarafina, “Mufasa. They are saying he's dead."

The look she gave me started out as disbelief, then shock, which soon became fear.

“No..."

It was all she said as she backed away from me. Her nude body was silhouetted by the room's single dim lantern, showing me her beauty in all of its glory. Her ears pulled back, she continued to step back, repeating “No" several times.

For a split second, I considered taking the easy solution, one only a bridge-walker could. Just leave this place, and let Umbra figure this out. But, the look of hopelessness on her face steeled my nerves, so I approached her and held her shoulders still, “Sarafina, is there something we can do?"

She sat on the bed, the same one we had entwined ourselves in just moments earlier. I knelt in front of her, trying to look her straight in the eyes. If she could read me, my courage could strengthen her will.

“What about Simba? Isn't he Mufasa's successor? A new beacon of hope, perhaps?"

Sarafina looked at me, but shook her head, “Simba hasn't been found. He was heading to the Shadowlands, and it is very dangerous to go there."

I heard more panic in the streets. Then I heard voices of anger. This wasn't good. I saw a few silhouettes run by our hut with torches. I wondered what specifically was the cause of their anger. Who would be here that-

My heart sank as soon as I realized it.

The Flower of the Dawn and the envoy of Uji... they had been waiting for me.

SHIT!

They do have a target to be angry at.

“Sarafina, Uji is still here. They're waiting for me..."

“WHAT!?!?"

I turned around to find my clothes that were strewn about the floor.

I rushed to get myself dressed, “If the citizens are in a panic, and a foreign caravan shows up to sign terms for a partnership the same day the King dies, who do you think the people of Pride Rock are going to turn on?"

Sarafina wiped the tears from her eyes. She gathered her courage and started to dress herself, “Lochlann, if they aren't leaving, you need to get to town square and get them to leave."

“How?" I exclaimed while pulling on my boots.

She was almost finished getting dressed. She stopped to make sure I was looking at her, “YOU need to go with them if they are waiting!"

FUCK!

I should have left the day before when I had the chance. But then, I suppose, I wouldn't have been able to share these past few moments with this lovely lioness.

Together, we ran from the hut, hand-in-hand. We headed to the center of town, towards the looming monolith of the palace in the center of town. I noticed there was a lot of light coming from that area.

As we passed an alley, I saw something in the corner of my eye. I didn't know exactly what it was, but I could have sworn it looked like a hyena's shadow.

When we got closer to the palace, I heard a booming voice. Between our footfalls and heavy breaths, I couldn't make out exactly what was being said. But soon, the voice was unmistakable. It was Scar. What the fuck was he doing in town?

We rounded the corner to see the town square in clear sight. Several lanterns beamed up to Scar, who was standing up on the same extended balcony that Mufasa presented Simba all those years ago. The lights projected a large, ominous shadow of his shape on the stone wall directly behind him. The acoustics of the structure was built to project his voice loudly among the listeners.

The next thing I noticed was the caravan of the reptilians. The envoy of Uji. They were surrounded by the angry mob of residents from Pride Rock. The beautifully decorated carriages had been the only line of defense for these poor reptiles. That, and the massive alligators pulling them. They courageously stomped and pounded the grounds to keep the mob at bay. I saw the carriage that The Flower of the Dawn was in. I couldn't see her figure inside, but I knew she was terrified.

Scar boomed out another litany of statements, stirring up the crowd in a frenzy, “…for I now know, that my poor brother hadn't a chance when he fell into the gorge. I ran to his broken body, and watched as his cowardly assassins fled the scene."

He pointed a finger at the caravan and scoured, “It is rather convenient that the king died on the day you foul mud crawlers signed a partnership with our council."

The crowd roared to life again. Rocks and sticks were thrown at the defenseless reptiles of Uji.

I pulled Sarafina back into a dark corner. It was now or never. I needed to stop this. Her horrified face was still transfixed on the furious mob.

I used both of my hands to cup her face and direct it towards me, “Sarafina, I think I can stop this. But I need to go without you." My voice cracked slightly, “I don't want to endanger you."

A roar from one of the reptilian brutes punctuated the mob's protests. “I will accompany the envoy, and get them out of Pride Rock."

The sound of her weeping into my hands tore me apart. She clasped my hands and held them against her face, “Lochlann... will I ever see you again?" Her voice was so broken up by emotion, it was barley comprehensible.

I pulled her into a deep kiss.

The yelling from the crowds became muffled, and the fire from the torches and lamps felt like they became frozen in time itself. The only thing that mattered to me right now, to us, was this moment of pure love with one another.

King of Kessit, this lioness may be one of your many wives, but I claim Sarafina's heart as my own.

She drew me in further to show that she wanted more of my passion. She inhaled through her nose, taking my scent in.

We broke the kiss to catch our breath, before leaning our foreheads against the other's. Our eyes hadn't opened yet. The sounds of furious mobs returned along with the booming voice of Scar.

Sarafina reached behind her neck, and unclasped her necklace with the emerald stone. This stone matched the color of her eyes. She reached over and refastened the necklace around my neck, “Take this with you, so you may never forget me, Lochlann. Keeper of my heart."

I had nothing on me that I could-

Wait.

I reached inside my vest pocket, and pulled out my WNC identification card. It had my name, employee number, job title, and most importantly, a photo of my smiling face. I wiped tears from my eyes, and handed it to her, “Take this. But I am only lending it to you."

She looked at me with some confusion.

“I'm going to need that back eventually. I don't care how hard it is, or how far apart we are," I closed her fingers over the ID card, “I will return to you, Sarafina."

We kissed one more time, and before I knew it, I released my grip on her and ran out into the town square, never looking back.

Scar's speech was increasing with intensity, “and because of the loss of our prince, Simba, there is no heir to rule and unite Pride Rock."

He looked back at several of Mufasa's wives. Some of them even held their stomachs, maybe hoping to hold the next ruler in her womb.

Scar regarded the crowd below him, “So, with a heavy heart and with the law of our kingdom, I shall take on the burden as the new ruler of Pride Rock."

His mock frown made my skin crawl.

I made it to the mob, and pushed my way through with furious abandon, knocking a few feline residents over.

Scar continued, “With my rule, I shall strengthen the relationship of our kingdom with all surrounding nations." As he spoke, a few more figures appeared from behind him.

Hyenas.

One of them had a sling around their arm. It was one that I previously fought.

The crowd got quiet. I didn't know if it was from the shock of hyenas standing next to their new king, or if they truly wanted to know what his next words were.

I didn't care. My focus was to make sure the reptilians hadn't been hurt. As I approached Flower's carriage, Rocktooth stepped in my path, blocking my way to the door. If all mammals were the same species in Uji's eyes, I could see why he would think I was a threat.

“Flower of the Dawn," I rose my voice to make sure she could hear me, “Are you ok? Did they hurt you?"

Her gentle scaled face peeked around the edge of one of the port windows. Her eyes were flooded with fear. She was absolutely petrified. I felt guilty for even leaving the caravan. If I had left as soon as the meeting was over I think-

“WELL, WELL, WELL," boomed a voice echoing over a silenced crowd, “If it isn't the infamous Bridge-Walker..."

I turned my head and looked up at Scar. I steeled my nerves, and returned an angry scowl, “The nation of Uji has no quarrel with you, Scar. Leave them out of this!"

Scar's fake frown slowly curled into a sinister grin, as he began to address the gathering crowd, “Well, I find it a little odd that a mysterious "Bridge-Walker" arrives just in time to free the jackal assassin from Uji, and in return, forces a partnership with Pride Rock."

He paused for a moment to let the crowd come up with their own conclusions, “A rather thought out and orchestrated plan!"

I was pelted on the side of the head with a thrown stick.

I kept my focus on Scar, “A well-orchestrated plan looks more like someone who has been absent for weeks, and then suddenly shows up the night of Mufasa's death!"

Scar's grinning face was unmoved. I continued to raise my voice above the crowd to him, making sure the mob heard me, “I'd be curious to know why you already have new kingdom banners in your likeness waiting to be revealed. Ones you had before the news of the king's death..."

Scar's vile grin faltered a little. I thought I had him, but I forgot a lion can be the most dangerous when cornered. He utilized the acoustics of his stage perfectly and belted out, “ONLY A GUILTY SUBJECT WOULD BREAK INTO MY HOME AND PLANT SOMETHING SO INCRIMINATING!"

I felt someone grab my forearm, and pull me towards the crowd. An angry panther was trying to keep me from protecting the envoy. I tried to release from his grip until another one joined in and pulled at me. I just didn't have the leverage to break free.

Then, Rocktooth used his massive fist and slammed into the panther's body, forcing him to break his hold on me. He stepped between me and the crowd. All it did was rile up the mob again. Rocks and debris flew towards us. Rocktooth used his huge mass to block most of the incoming projectiles from hitting me.

I acted quickly, and reached into my backpack and pulled out the Fruit of Life. I held it up to make sure Scar could see. Once he took notice, I tapped on Rocktooth's back to get his attention. The brute looked back at me with fury in his eyes. He looked much more ferocious than he did when I faced him in Uji's grand hall. I held out the fruit for him to take. I motioned for him to eat it.

As much as he might have seemed slow to think, Rocktooth was more intelligent than he appeared. He gently plucked the fruit from my hand, and held it up to his toothy maw.

“WAIT!" Scar's voice cracked through the crowd's screams.

Rocktooth paused, and all eyes focused on Scar.

Without using stairs to get to ground level, Scar used his athletic body to leap over the rails, and land onto the ground, creating a plume of dust in his wake. The mob backed away from this demonstration, allowing a clear path directly between us. He rose slowly from his crouched position, and made a slow deliberate stride in my direction.

Rocktooth let out a low, rumbling growl and stepped between us, trying to protect me from whatever may have come next. I tapped his thick scaley hide again. Without taking his eyes off Scar, he handed me the precious fruit he was about to consume.

“Get back to the carriage, Rocktooth."

He didn't move. I don't know if he understood the local dialect there. I glanced back at Flower's carriage. The gentle reptilian had been watching from the security of her window. I gestured for her to try and get the massive reptile back to her carriage. She nodded, and spoke in her tongue to him. Before I knew it, all that was between me and Scar was a few meters of empty space.

His toothy grin still had that pure white sheen to it. It enhanced his expression which was filled with confidence and malice.

He spoke in a tone that only I could hear, “So, I see you felt the need to break our contract."

I caught his eyes flashing to the fruit in my hand, before back to me, “Liberating that pathetic creature from Uji, and taking your "Bridge-Walker box" from my home... uninvited. All the while never making the trade you promised me."

He took a few paces closer, his grin mutating into pure hatred, “I should just kill you where you stand, and make an example for my new rule over Pride Rock...."

Gripping the fruit of life in my hand a little tighter and holding it closer to my chest, I glanced around the mob to see a mix of vatious emotions. Anger, fear, sadness, and most notably: uncertainty. If I only had Sarafina by my side to understand the crowd's general sentiment. Were they as fickle as I feared, or was there still a glimmer of independence amongst the people? I couldn't tell.

I refocused my attention to Scar. I took a few paces closer to him, “Bullshit, Scar. You know damn well it wasn't Uji or the Jackals, motherfucker. I saw your symbols of your kingdom waiting in your house. You are so fucking impatient."

“Perhaps," Scar's volume was something of a snarly whisper, daring me to speak louder. He tilted his head back the balcony, bringing my attention to the attendees. The lionesses stood patiently, some holding each other for comfort, while the hyenas had vanished.

He continued once he knew I was looking, “Uji might not be guilty of the murder of the King, but will this envoy survive long enough to-“

I cut off Scar's monologue by presenting the Fruit of Life to him, “Here. This is the trade you wanted. This will at least earn Uji their freedom."

With lighting reflexes, Scar grabbed my forearm holding the fruit, and yanked me closer to him. I could hear Rocktooth's foot take a rumbling step forward. I held my hand back to pause his advance.

Speaking through his deadly white teeth within inches of my face, “And the other fruit you promised? The Fruit of Rebirth?"

I gritted my teeth, and held my ground. Scar might've been intimidating, but I needed to show courage for the sake of Uji.

“It was given to someone far more deserving than you," I rebutted.

I could feel the lion's clawed hands tighten on my forearm with frustration. With his free hand, he slowly plucked the Fruit of Life from my hand. He may have extended his life, but he may never be healed of his poison.

His grip on my forearm loosened. He whispered with malevolence, “You may not have bought Uji's freedom, but I am a lion of honor... you just won them some time."

“How much?"

Scar unceremoniously put the whole fruit into his mouth, and began to chew. He spoke with his mouth full, relishing the taste and its properties, “Hard to say. Could be a year. Half a year. Half an hour," A pregnant pause, “...A few minutes," as he turned his devilish glare to the carriages.

I backed away. Scar, unmoving, watched me with an almost gleeful expression. He made a gesture with his arms before several panther guards appeared and assisted the crowd in making a clear pathway for the envoy to leave.

I turned and ran towards the Flower's carriage. Closing the door behind me, I ordered Flower to get the caravan moving immediately. She was plastered to the corner, holding onto herself in terror. “Flower of the Dawn, we need to move now! They're letting us pass through."

I held out my arms to offer additional comfort and security for her. She quickly moved from her side of the carriage to my seat, and we held each other. Rocktooth peaked in, and after a few reptilian words were exchanged, the caravan was moving. The crowd was quiet as they watched us leave. I caught sight of a lioness hidden in the shadows of an alley, leaning out of one of the windows and watching us depart.

Thoughts raced through my head. Could I find my way to Kessit? I didn't even know the geographical details of the place. Would Sarafina make it back safely to her home? Would there be a partnership with Uji and Pride Rock? Did it even make sense to be united in matrimony with The Flower of the Dawn? What happened to the king's son, Prince Simba?

I was jolted out of my racing thoughts by Flower's tightening grip. I held her thin frame against my body. She felt warm to the touch. For a reptile, she retained body heat very well. Her hand slipped from my backpack to my waist.

Then, a small female voice spoke into my ear. It was Flower's songbird translator, “What is happening?"

I replied with the best of my knowledge of the King's status, Scar's plans, and potentially how much time we had to get to safety. Uji was a few days travel from there.

I noticed that the night sky began to give way from pitch black to a purple hue. Morning was already closing in.

The sounds of the town slowly dissipated while the chirps of nocturnal creatures began to emerge in the cool, night air. You could feel the tension ease a little. Flower's scaled arms loosened slightly, and her head relaxed into my shoulder.

I tilted my head down and looked at her. I checked to see if she had been injured or hurt in anyway, “Did they hurt you, Flower of the Dawn?"

Her bird returned to my shoulder, anticipating more translations.

She spoke, “My scales in which I was gifted have not been assaulted." She looked up at me to make sure I was watching her, “But my heart, which gives me life and love, grows weak with worry."

I kept eye contact with her. This was the first time I really paid attention to her reptilian details. Even though her eyes featured slitted pupils, Flower's expression showed so much emotion. I almost got lost in her gaze.

I replied, “Have things with Pride Rock ever been this tense before?"

With Flower's head still on my chest, her bird translated, “Even though two separate lands touch borders, the souls in these communities have never shown hatred."

“I'm sure things will settle down sometime soon," I muttered, looking out the window whilst trying my best to hide my anxiety.

“Doubtful," her bird translated, “Ever since the beautiful souls of the Naja nation brought their weapons to bear down on Pride Rock, Scar has never shown kindness to any scaled hearts."

“The Naja nation? What's that?"

Flower used her free arm to help explain with hand gestures, “In some cultures, within the land of the Circle, they regard these creatures as cobras."

My mind flashed back to Ok'wana's description of when Scar took part in the defense of Pride Rock against the invading cobras. His injuries were what caused him to lose his claim to the throne.

“So...all hope is lost?" I looked down to the reptile that had found her home on my chest.

Flower was silent for a moment. Then spoke up, “Perhaps my grandfather, The Bloody Thorn, could heal the deep wounds between our lands in which the Circle has blessed us."

I leaned my head back, trying to relax my nerves. Staring at nothing, I stated, “What are the chances of this partnership between Uji and Pride Rock actually happening?

Without hesitation, she spoke, “As much as Uji's hearts and minds yearn to entwine our destinies together with Pride Rock, my own heart senses an everlasting sadness for our future."

I looked back down at her, “So…I assume the wedding is off between us." I even felt a twinge of my own sadness surface when I said this. This feeling surprised me.

The Flower of the Dawn arched her neck upwards, locking her gaze with mine. I could see so much in her eyes as she rifled through various thoughts. Her reptilian mouth opened up to say something, before she hesitated and shut it again . I don't know if she was as good as Sarafina when it came to reading thoughts, but I could tell she was trying.

Then she lifted her head and sat up, never taking her eyes off me.

Flower quickly flicked her eyes over to her small translating bird to make sure it was listening, and then back to me, “My mind in which my ancestors have blessed me with knows that a ceremony that entwines two souls will not have the impact that our nations have intended."

She broke her focus on me to watch the horizon outside, almost as if she was afraid of this conversation. Flower spoke again, “I would not be opposed to follow the destiny the circle has chosen for us," she closed her eyes, “In fact, it would fill my heart with happiness."

She looked back and regarded my presence once again, “That is, if the Bridge-Walker would allow my heart to entwine with his...."

My heart skipped a beat. This was a new feeling. I didn't expect this emotion. I wanted to say something, but I found that my words were escaping me.

Then she reached over to my chest, and lifted the emerald green amulet Sarafina had gifted me. The guilt started to build. If there was something I wanted to say, the words had long vanished.

She let go of the amulet. I looked at her face, and was surprised to find her smiling, “Whatever your decision is, I know your heart is content with its past decisions, and feels closure to the one you said goodbye to." She leaned closer to my face, and her forked tongue licked the air, “And it seems to me, that your emotional goodbye was met with an equal amount of pleasure."

I realized she was referring to my last moments with Sarafina, and knowing that the Rock Monitors in Africa in my world had amazing olfactory glands, she most likely tasted Sarafina's loins in the air by my face. I also realized that I would never understand such forgiving creatures as the people of Uji.

She sat there, waiting for me to answer. Flower of the Dawn really did feel like she had a future with me, even though our potential union no longer meant anything politically. What surprised me more, was that I also felt that I could be happy with her. She was kind, soft spoken, loving and full of hope. Those traits in a spouse really could heal my broken heart and mind.

I reached out to hold her hands. My mind emptied itself of caution and pessimism. I knew I would just let my words come out before I would think about them, and I was ok with that.

I opened my mouth to tell her -

The caravan halted to a stop. I was jerked out of the dream-like state I was in and instantly pulled back into reality. I poked my head out of the window to see what was going on. Each of the massive reptiles pulling the carriage stood still while a few members got out to check. It was hard to see in the morning darkness what they had been looking at.

I opened the door to check for myself. Flower pulled me in an said something which the bird on my shoulder translated, “Don't leave me. Let the scouts check. They are more than capable." I obeyed her wishes, and closed the door, letting Flower wrap herself around me again.

A scream of pain penetrated the night air. Flower whimpered in fear while embracing me tighter.

I pulled myself away from Flower, and told her to stay put. I opened up the door and jumped out, looking for what might have caused the sudden delay. In the dim light of the early morning, I could see a singular female figure standing in the middle of the road, blocking our path. I squinted to see if I could make out any more details.

It was a hyena. Judging from contours of the body, it was probably female.

She held what looked like a bow in her hand. One of Uji's scouts had doubled over in pain in front of her. She watched as the scout tried to make his way back. He too, fell lifeless to the ground, unable to reach his carriage in time.

An explosion of activity flourished around me. A few arrows flew by me and plunked into the walls of our carriage. Flower shrieked. Several reptilians in the envoy grabbed various weapons stored within their respective carriages. Spears, blades, slings and spiked whips. More arrows flew in our direction from the darkened featureless roadway. I looked around frantically, trying to find a good place for cover. My hopes had been dashed when I realized our caravan was getting ambushed in the flat plains with no cover.

The direction of our ambushers became apparent when the sky flooded with sounds of cackling laughter, similar to the yips of hyenas before they close in on their prey. A sound I was all too familiar with when I filmed and photographed some of the local hyena clans in Africa's Savanna.

Before I knew it, Rocktooth loomed over me and pushed me to the ground. He was pelted with several arrows meant for me. His thick scaly hide had probably protected him from most of this pain. He turned and roared at his adversaries. A few more arrows peppered his chest. He didn't seemed to be phased.

I looked around, desperately scavenging for anything I could use as a weapon. While I looked, I noticed several of the scouts and diplomats that had come to sign papers for the partnership were dropping like flies around me, riddled with arrows.

The arrows soon halted, and a few brave hyenas leapt out of the shadows with blades in their hands. I watched some of the Uji soldiers engage. With nothing in my hands, I began to run towards the skirmish. But Rocktooth grabbed me with one hand, and pulled me towards Flower's carriage.

He gurgled something to me, and I found that the translator bird was conveniently floating above my head, “Your beautiful soul and crystal courage need to become the morning wind, and take The Flower of the Dawn away from these mislead creatures of the Circle."

I was surprised to hear how Rocktooth spoke. He gripped several arrows in his chest at one time and pulled them free, letting some of the blood spill down his scales. His guttural tone became louder and more intense, while the songbird did her best to translate in a panic, “The Circle has blessed me with the hardiness of the precious stones, along with my beautiful brothers. I shall bless you with the time you need to take The Flower of the Dawn away to safety, far from here."

I didn't hesitate any further. I opened the arrow riddled door of Flower's carriage, and pulled her free from the vehicle. She obeyed my actions instantly. “We need to move! Rocktooth is going to slow them down enough for us to get to safety!"

A cackling laugh was cut short when I saw a hyena charge us before Rocktooth's massive fist pummeled him straight into the ground. I had to think fast.

Off in the distance, I watched the eastern horizon get slightly brighter.

The Crossing Lake!

It had some hilly terrain to it, plus it offered some cover. I didn't think much after that. I pulled Flower with me and sprinted in that direction. It was only a mile or two from this location. I knew exactly how to get there.

Looking behind us, I watched the darkened battlefield get slightly brighter. It was easier to determine what Uji was up against. The Uji soldiers were getting overwhelmed by a pack of yipping hyenas. Luckily, their attention had been focused on the large brutes. Rocktooth had been holding his own against them. A few others were also trying to fight off several at a time.

My heart sank when I scanned the skirmish, and noticed the lone female hyena. She had broken off from the skirmish, and was heading directly towards us. Luckily, we already had a good head start of a few hundred meters.

As we ran towards the crossing lake, my mind raced through various scenarios. All of them pointed towards me crossing over back to my own realm, filled with office work, emails, remote video meetings, and plane flights.

But how would I protect Flower? She wasn't a Bridge-Walker. The Tree of Life didn't choose her. Ok'Wana couldn't even cross over without consuming the fruit. If I were to cross over, and she would be left alone.

Shit. What was I supposed to do?

Maybe I could've fought this lone hyena chasing us. I took on two at once before. She wouldn't be much of a challenge to overcome. I looked behind us again. The female had been joined by three more of her clan.

Double shit!

Flower spoke up in her reptilian language in raspy breaths, and her songbird flying above us did her best to translate while flying, “My warm blooded soul, where is our destiny taking us? The legs with which my ancestors have blessed me are slowing our approach to your heart's content."

She deserved an answer. I just didn't know how to put it into words.

“I'm taking us to the bridge in which I walk to another world," I took a few more deep breaths. I was getting tired as well, “We are almost there. It's a lake of water. We might find safety there."

I really didn't know if that was true. But it was the only place I could think of. Our options were running out.

We finally crested the hill and found the lake, with its mirror finish, untouched by the wind. It seemed to be beckoning us to come in. I glanced at the horizon. The eastern sky had been warming up with a soft orange glow. We still had time.

Fuck. I mean, I still had time. Was I dooming Flower to her fate? I felt so selfish.

We got to the edge of the water. I pulled her with me until we were waste deep. The cool feel of the lake soaked our clothes. Her formal attire looked drenched. She held onto me, and spoke. At least, I thought she was speaking to me, but her bird was quiet, and then took off.

“Flower, did you send for help?" I asked.

She looked to me, knowing her next words wouldn't be understood. She nodded.

“Where is your bird going?"

She made a gesture out of her forearm to shape it like a snake, repeating the same gesture from the carriage.

“The Naja nation?"

She nodded.

That was the force that invaded Pride Rock long ago that permanently injured Scar. I realized that Uji was more politically connected than I thought.

We still had a few moments. But I heard the hyenas approaching. I didn't think the sun would come before they showed up. I asked Flower if she could hide underwater. She nodded and quickly followed suit and sunk into the water, just around my legs. I could feel her hold on.

Just at that moment, the hyenas crested the hill. The female slowed her approach. Her muzzle, stuck in a permanent smile, featured sharp canines akin to a ferocious predator. Her cackle made my skin crawl.

The others flanked her sides. I felt like I had done this before.

One of her clan cackled, “Hehehehe, looks like we caught up to Scar's prey, Shenzi." He laughed hard enough to have spit dribble down his chin, “What do we do?"

The female known as "Shenzi" wore leather straps that connected several strips of black feathers and furs from various skinned animals. Her maroon loin cloth featured the same symbol that I noted in Scar's office. She carried a vicious bow that already had a black arrow knocked and ready. She spoke up, her speech slithered out with venomous deliberation, “We may have found one... but there is another. Split up and find the other one."

Two hyenas split off in different directions, laughing and yipping as they ran off.

Shenzi never took her yellow eyes off me. They narrowed into thin slits to scan my half submerged body.

Her smile widened a bit more, “I haven't seen your kind before. You're like the apes we see wandering the plains up north. But you have much less fur." She tugged at the furs wrapped around her hips, “I don't think you have enough to make an addition to my collection...."

I felt Flower's fully submerged body wrap tighter around my legs. I knew from my past experience in the documenting wildlife, several reptile species could stay underwater for up to twenty minutes. Flower seemed comfortable enough to stay under. I looked behind me to see the horizon. The sun would be up soon. Maybe if I crossed over, and she didn't, she could stay submerged long enough for the hyenas to lose interest.

“Not much for words, eh?" Shenzi broke the silence, “Scar tells me that you are the foretold "Bridge-Walker."" She turned her head to regard her partner standing by with his spear in hand, “The prophecy says 'One chosen by the Tree of Life will come and go by the first light of morning. This creature which comes from beyond the reach of the Tree will rebalance the crown."

They both looked at each other seriously for a few seconds, and then began to laugh hysterically, mocking the words of the passage they recited. Shenzi drew her bow and pointed it straight at me.

I panicked, quickly throwing my hands up and pleading, “Whoa, whoa. Hey, let's not get too rash here. I gave Scar what he wanted. There's no need to-“

“Shut it, hairless ape."

She pulled tighter, stretching the wood of her bow to its limits, the black arrow waiting to slam into my chest, “I don't believe you are the Bridge-Walker. That's what I think."

Her sharpened teeth clenched together as she spoke with rage in her tone, making the permanent smile vanish just for a moment. She glanced up at the horizon behind me, and reclaimed her evil widened grin, “Let's try something fun. In a few moments, the sun will come up, and I want to see if the Bridge-Walker prophecy can protect you."

She subtly raised the bow so the trajectory would hit me straight in the head. I clenched my teeth, and closed my eyes. She continued, “If you are what Scar says you are, the sun will rise, and you will cross the bridge before this arrow hits you."

She took a step closer, almost touching the water, “But, if Scar is wrong, and there is no bridge," she paused to let it sink in, “Well…I guess I'll be taking the corpse of a hairless ape back to Pride Rock, and letting the people know that Scar has lied to his people. The kingdom will never trust their new king again." Her tongue slipped through her predatory teeth to lick her black lips, “And weakened leaders always crack under the weight of rule."

At that moment, the sun behind me broke the horizon. I felt the gravity shift a little, and I started to fall deeper into the lake.

But only a few inches before I stopped falling.

What the hell? I wasn't crossing. This wasn't supposed to happen. Was the fruit I ate wearing off?

Shenzi's expression changed from a confident grimace to disbelief. Then she smiled again, “Good bye, hairless-one." She let loose the arrow.

But the moment Shenzi spoke and fired her arrow, the water around me splashed violenly as The Flower of the Dawn leapt up in front of me.

Blocking the path of the arrow.

Mufasa's words echoed in my head, “The reptilian females are fiercely loyal to their mates."

Flower's arms wrapped around my body, hugging me tight. She pulled back to look at me, her eyes filled with promise, love, and a fierce loyalty; all of which began to fade. I looked down to see the tip of the black arrow poking through her white dress and through her heart.

Shenzi laughed, “There she is." Knocking another arrow in her bow.

The Flower of the Dawn–my bride to be– lost strength and relinquished her grip on me.

Reeling in complete shock, I whispered to her, “No...."

Then...

Then both of our bodies fell through the lake, crossing over back to my own realm.