Kingdom and Clans, King's Destiny (Book 1)
Ch 5 The Cursed Ones

The two warriors, strode boldly towards the shadowy figures before them. They were not afraid to face them head on. Under the darkness of the tree two figures stood statuesque trying to avoid detection.

Their shapes were becoming much clearer now, as slash and razor drew closer. Slash halted in his steps. He knew who he was facing, and it was not going to be a nice meeting. He barred his teeth and lowered his head in a deep growl.

Razor, seen also who it was and bellowed back a warning call to his leader. Mentally alerting the King.

"My King, it is, King Jarvius from the Blackmane Tribe." He said.

King Ezekiel didn't hesitate. He dismounted from the rock and charged forward, with his pride of warriors trailing close behind. King Jarvius knowing he was ousted stepped further into the moonlight to be seen.

His eyes were dark brown, almost a red hue, and his mane as dark as the night itself. He wasn't large compared to King Ezekiel, but he was big enough for his kind.

Stepping out beside him was his Queen, Queen Lilith. Better known as the Queen of darkness and chaos. She, too, had dark fur and the features around her eyes were pale cream color. They seemed to be a bright amber hue.

King Ezekiel, growled an inconceivable growl that shook everyone's inner core. Zarda for the first time was trembling. His heart was racing, and his paws could not seem to stop kneading the ground.

Every cub's eyes were wide and alert to the monstrous sounds outside. Mara and Dimvi did their best to console and comfort the little ones, but they too were fearful, and they knew something wasn't right.

King Ezekiel didn't make short talk. He jumped right into an attack, slashing out at King Jarvius with a mighty paw swipe. They wrestled each other to the ground. The two monstrous lions fought violent. Ying and Yang blended between the two Kings, but there was no harmony found.

The others watched in horror, while the Kings slashed open each other's flesh. Screams and gargle with roars of pain echoed the night. It wouldn't be long and the tribes would have more unwanted visitors arriving. They would come to see what all the commotion was about.

King Ezekiel, had to put an end to this trouble quick. He bit down hard on an old injury of King Jarvius's and didn't let up, until his opponent lay helpless on the ground screaming for mercy.

He let go and glowered down at the wicked King. His breath was erratic and heavy. He was slurping down air as fast as it was leaving his lungs. Adrenaline powered his body and he was victorious.

Within his mind, he began to speak to King Jarvius.

"Get out of my kingdom! You serpent. We don't need your kind here, and we surely didn't invite you. You were stupid to have come into another prides land, without any army to back you. What kind of King does that? You and your witch Queen need to go! Now, before I kill you." King Ezekiel, commanded.

He made it clear to all who heard.

King Jarvius, had been very ignorant in his choice. His Tribe was desperate for food, and the smell of fresh kill in the air, had fatefully drawn him into enemy territory. He was not planning to steal the meal from Whitemane Pride. King Jar hoped it had been a lonesome leopard's kill. 'An easy taking' he said to himself. Though, that wasn't his luck for tonight.

His shoulder had been ripped open, to expose the fleshly pink meat underneath his skin. Blood was pouring out now, without ceasing.

The broken King, did his best to get to his feet. With the help from his Queen.

She snarled at King Ezekiel, mindfully replied to his malicious demand.

"Mark my word's oh King. Your kingdom will fall, and I'll be sure to watch happily from a distance. I place a curse upon you and your kingdom. May confusion and disorder come about you. So much so, that you completely have to relearn life itself. "

With those final words, she hissed his way and walked back into the darkness with her mortally wounded King.

King Ezekiel, couldn't get her dark face out of his head, nor her words. He began to get dizzy and feel lethargic. He shrugged it off. Thinking it's only to be from the blood loss.

King Jarvius, had been able to give him a few good deep blows, and blood was starting to pour from his wounds. The blood was matting up his fur and turning it from white to crimson red.

Queen Saharrah, looked in horror, quickly walking her King back to the rock. She was careful not to draw the cub's attention towards them. She tended to his wounds, and commanded her warriors to go follow the intruders off their land. While, sending other's to scout out for mother's herb.

It was the only herb, she knew, that could heal a wound overnight. Time was racing, and the universe was spinning faster than usual. Something, terrible in the world, was happening.

King Ezekiel's breath became more shallow, and his eyes were darting frantically, back and forth. He was wincing in pain. It was tormenting. His white fur that had gone red, was now, turning a low scale gray.

Queen Saharrah, began to cry out for help, except this time the cries came from her mouth. She was confused and scared along with everyone near her, who heard and saw.

They were frightened, but still they came to her aid. When they went to ask her what she'd have them to do. They couldn't understand her words, even though they saw her speaking and heard an unrecognizable language coming from her lips.

She was enraged and frustrated. So, she grabbed the paws of the nearest lioness and pressed them down upon the King's wounds. Not speaking another word, she sprinted off for more medicine.

"Witchcraft! All witchcraft! That queen cursed my King, all because of nothing." She said, angrily. She couldn't imagine, what the reason for them coming into their territory was for, then it hit her. A soft voice spoke to her mind.

" It was the spoils of your kill. They were hungry and desperate to eat." the voice was gone as quick as it had come.

She had an ill feeling, in her stomach, filling her empty gut. It had been her fault, bringing back the leftovers for her cubs. She drew them here and if them, then other's.

It seemed, war would become the night's new story. She shook her head from the thoughts and pressed on looking for king's tongue, a form of mushroom. It was used to draw out poison from spells in the wounds.

Queen Saharrah figured perhaps if the King ate a bit, that it would stop the curse. She was hopeful, but aggravated at the same time. She could not seem to replace what she was desperately looking for.

Time was, running out, quick. Anola, a lioness warrior, burst into the medicinal quarters abruptly. The queen was inside, it was under another Acacia tree.

"My Queen. Do you hear me? my Queen, hello do you hear me? I have bad news. It's the King. He is dead." She said, dismally.

The Queen, did not hear her at first. She was so consumed on replaceing the herb, King's tongue. When the words finally sunk in, her heart stopped beating.

The lioness, waited upon her Queen to respond and give orders. The Queen spun quickly on her paws and stared blankly at the young warrior. She shook her head violently.

The Queen, ran full speed back to her King. It was true King Ezekiel; her once beautiful and strong love, was lifeless and stiff.

His spirit had left his body. "What now? "She thought.

"Prince Zarda, isn't old enough to rule. Do I dare rule in the King's absence? I fear not. What will become of us?" Her thoughts were filling with dread.

She had to empty her mind, she was losing it rapidly. Her scout soon returned, with the mother's herb. Sadly, it was too late for the King.

If she wanted to remain sane, she needed to take the herb. The warrior dropped it from his clenched teeth at the feet of Queen Saharrah.

She devoured the contents without any question. Her mind began to swirl, lights grew brighter, and the dark sky became daylight. Queen Saharrah could see for miles on the open landscape. Carefully climbing the King's rock and looked out upon the Savannah.

It was like someone had turned on a light switch. She had a clear view of her warriors, chasing off the intruders from Blackmane Tribe. She also could spy out approaching hyenas, they were running towards their den. Only an hour's distance away.

She called down to her pride to ready for the attack. No one understood her words except for two, her sister Raya and friend Keeku.

They were still able to speak to the others, unlike the Queen. They translated the command over to the lions. Each warrior shouldered up and braced for the invasion. The Queen feared if they allowed the hyenas to come so close to home, they may attack their prides cubs.

So she changed orders up and forced them to charge towards their enemy. Queen Saharrah had Raya direct lionesses Mara and Dimvi to stay with the cubs and protect them at all cost.

If all else failed, and the hyenas made it to camp, she charged them to take Zarda to safety. She knew that meant the sacrifice of all her other cubs, and those of the other lioness mother's. She had no choice.

They understood their directions, and prepared for the worst, If the camp was breached. Mara, took prince Zarda under her chest, and nuzzled him to follow her to a secret hiding spot amongst the brushes. It was far away from the cave, yet still close enough to see if anyone would approach.

Hidden in the shrub, she had an escape route, if needed, to retreat to a nearby warthog burrow. Mara, prayed to the creator Above to protect them from any harm.

Zarda was so stunned, he had not understood what was going on. His eyes looked into the darkness, and saw motionless shadowy shapes all along the cave. He couldn't make them out. Mara, was grateful for the darkness. Ahead of them was King Ezekiel's dead body.

It was blanketed by the night's shadow. Mara knew what had taken place, and she did not dare share the bad news with zarda.

The night lingered on forever. The warriors seemed to run unending. Closer and closer, the hyenas taunting laughter grew louder. Face to face now, it was lion verses hyena in battle to the death.

The night was going to be long and painful. Sounds of yips and growls painted the night's sky like colors. For Queen Saharrah, it was still daylight in her vision.

The queen tore into every fowl beast she got her claws into. She afflicted so much pain in one that he tucked tail and ran back to his distant territory.

She was on fire and moving on sheer adrenaline. Back to back, they tore into one another's clans. Injuries left and right.

The Queen was so busy in pursuit of a mangy hyena, that she didn't see the one slipping off into the nighttime towards the lions' den. The beast took his time strolling in the darkness.

Back at the cave, there was complete silence inside. Meeku, was annoyed at the fact his brother was singled out by Mara to leave the cave. Curiosity got the best of him, and soon he had snuck past Dimvi and out between the shadows.

He quickly made his way over to the hiding place where Mara, and Zarda sat like statues.

"Meeku! What are you doing out of the cave? You go back right now and stay safe inside." Mara said fearfully.

He did not care to hear what she said. He wanted to be by his brother's side.

Something within urged him to stay. Zarda felt the urge too.

"Mara, leave him. I want my brother with us. I have a bad feeling coming over me" said Zarda.

Mara didn't question her future King. So young yet he possessed so much authority. She drew Meeku in with her paw, hiding him underneath her chest next to Zarda.

"Stay quiet. No crying or screaming. Do you understand me." said Mara sternly?

Both cubs shook their heads yes. Out from the dark, Mara could see a gloomy form emerge. It was what she had dreaded. It wasn't a lion at all, it was a hyena. He quickly made his way to the cave. Hissing, loud growls rang out from the cave, while tiny cries and screams from cubs followed. He could smell the lion cub's fear, and it was delicious.

The cluster of sounds made Zarda dizzy with fear. Mara placed her body down closer upon the cubs. She could see the hyena had dragged out Demvi, and was shaking her by her neck. Cubs were running out in all directions from the cave. As if it were a game of catch a mole, the hyena started his killing spree.

One by one, tiny bodies were being ripped in half, necks were being crunched, bones were breaking, and blood was splattering all around.

The scene was a horrific one. Before any more cubs gave away to their hiding spot, Mara nuzzled the two cubs to follow her swiftly. They didn't think twice and leapt to their feet behind her. They ran for a long time before replaceing a perfect warthog burrow.

"Here, hurry down into the hole. You'll be safe. Do not come out until morning. I'll be back soon." Mara said hesitantly.

Zarda cried out, "NO!! You can't leave us alone. You will die. Stay with us, please."

Mara did not listen this time, she had to get back to the other cubs. She knew Zarda and Meeku were safe now.

Mara darted back towards the horrendous sounds of death. The sky turned blood-red in Queen Saharrah's eyes, then darkness came back to her vision. She heard the tiny screams echoing from the lions' den. With fear in her heart, she knew what happened and sped away to save her babies.

The warriors who were free from fighting were off, running hot on her heels in pursuit. The others finished off what was left of the dying hyenas, which wasn't many at all. One or two, give or take, the rest lay lifeless in their own blood and guts.

The pack had been triumphant in battle, but not for long.