[1st POV]
(1 month later)
(3 years, 3 months old)
I continued my usual hunting schedule, which was at least one prey every three days. But that didn't mean the rest of the pride was staying idle. Quite the opposite, actually, as I made them follow my schedule of hunting.
I made sure every lionessess in the pride participated in the hunt. The rotation of hunting groups made sense in terms of efficiency but that was not what I wanted.
Training in itself was the most inefficient activity by nature, so let's forget about that entirely.
The point was, I wanted my lionessess to be sharp. I wanted them to be strong and agile. If I didn't do that, I'm afraid they would just get fat and lazy with the increase in their diet.
I needed them to be strong for the upcoming war. I wouldn't return to the Pride Lands carrying baggage; I need real fighters behind me. I was not sure what Scar would have waiting for me, but I would prepare for whatever.
On another note, I've implemented my idea of being a nomadic lion pride. We were constantly on the move, never sleeping more than two days in the same place. My kingdom was vast, and I wanted to make my presence known everywhere.
I wouldn't allow some rogues to live peacefully in some corner of my territory like I once did. Nah uh, it was mine. I earned this, and I wouldn't share this.
I could just select the region with the most resources and hunting ground and set up my pride there like the Mbali brothers did. But for some reason, the idea of others living and thriving in my kingdom pissed me off just thinking about it.
Right now, we were no longer in my kopje but somewhere in central Serenegti, and we were heading south. The savannah was entering the later parts of the long wet season, so there was green everywhere.
The place we were staying was an open plain with small grasses. A herd of zebras has grazed here yesterday and the pride took down two and we feasted here. After that, we just used it as our paldce of stay for the day.
I sat down in the middle of the pride. There were females around me, their smaller bodies snuggling mine through their number. The rest of the pride were all in my field of vision.
The small cubs playing at the edge of the group, always trying to sneak away every chance they get. The mothers who kept an eye on them while trying to sleep during the task.
My muscles ached just a bit from my hunt yesterday. But although it was physical pain, the feeling was comforting instead. It was a reminder that my body was developing and growing stronger.
It was reassuring, at least for me.
But the moment of peace did not last long as the violent flapping of wings interrupted everyone's afternoon nap.
Grim landed a few metres away from me. He stood upright upon landing, fixed his feathers a few times before he slowly made his ways towards me.
The lionessess moved away to make space for him and he eyed them with a superior look. As if saying, 'I was with the king before any of you. I am his best and most loyal subject. Ya'll are just hoes and goldiggers. No, powerdiggers. Y'all serve any king. I serve only Leo, whether he is king or not.'
That might be a lot to tell from his eyes alone but that's exactly what they say believe it or not.
Eventually, he stood before me, and after I gave him a nod, he began his report.
"Two lions are a few kilometres ahead. They were in the act of leaving claw marks on the ground and leaving their scents the last time I saw them," he said and that immediately got my ears to perk up.
The lionessess who were sleeping also opened their eyes, the news was enough to wake them up from any drowsiness.
And then suddenly, all eyes were on me. The females, including Grimn himself, searched for a reaction from me. Was I angry? Was I frustrated? Was I scared?
In the meantime, I tried my best to hide my excitement. A month had passed since I killed the Mbali brothers, and this would be my first ever challenge as the king.
And the two lions a few kilometres ahead are my first challengers.
"Leaving their scents huh," I said thoughtfully and then smiled. Leaving scents in a king's territory meant that you were ready to fight them. It was a way of leaving a clue to the king on where to find you. So you could fight for the throne.
"Let them come," I said, and right then, I released a roar.
It was not a particularly loud roar, nor was it threatening. It had the volume of the average roar and the rhythm was soft and gentle, as if I was asking the lions to come instead of telling them to leave.
It was not a warning or a threat, it was a beacon,
You think you can fight me? Then come.
I roared ten times towards the sky and stopped. That would be enough for the challenges to know my location.
"Call your birds Grim, tell them they have a cleanup job," I said and Grim replied with a smirk before he took off back to the sky.
In the meantime, the pride got ready for the fight. The lionessess got up and came towards me They rubbed their heads on mine briefly as they walked past me. Slwoly, everyone took their place behind me.
I was no longer at the centre of the pride; now they were all behind me. The place they consider to be the safest in the world. Which is my protection.
On the other hand, I remained in my place with a relaxed posture. The curious cubs who were dragged behind me by their mothers, came back running and stop at my side.
"Are you going to fight my Lord?" one of the cubs asked.
I looked down and saw that it was Aisha, a female cub who also happened to be a favourite of mine because she reminded me of Nala when she was a cub.
"Yes. Because apparently some punks think they could beat me," I said and the cubs actually laughed at my reply.
My relationship with the cubs was good, especially the females, since they would be part of the pride even after they were grown. They did not hate me for killing their father; instead, they were grateful that I spared them. Their mothers taught them well.
The winner is always right. It's not my fault but their own that the old kings died.
In the first place, the relationship between a lion and its cubs was not like that of a mother. Unless they are the heir like Simba was, the kings could not care less for them.
I entertained the cubs while I waited. A weird mix between playing with cats and a cute baby.
In ten minutes or so, they appeared at the end of the horizon like small shadows. I roared one final time, come.
"Run back to your mothers now, and do cheer for me," I said and chuckled, "Remember, you are all going to die if I lose."
The cubs just laughed it off, as if they were certain that I would not lose this fight. Perhaps my brief clash with their mothers left a permanent scar on their young minds, seeing me as something invincible.
The cubs followed my orders and clumsily ran back to their mother. The older one not being mature one, raced their younger siblings and won the race since they had better coordination.
I turned my head and watched them with a smile. But the same smile disappeared when I turned back forward.
And then my body came alive. Their stench pushed me to battle mode and I could feel my body tensing and ready to explode out from my sitting position. I released a hot breath and my heart drummed inside my chest.
I did not move yet. Instead, I reign in the excitement and the urge to explode out. I needed them to get closer so that they couldn't escape.
I had no intention of leaving them alive. I was always more brutal than other lions, killing so many rogues in the past three months alone that I lost count. I was not going to stop the habit just because I became king.
I heard whispers among the lionessess as the two challengers neared me.
"They are big and fierce. And there are two of them. What are the chances of us losing the king so soon?" one liojness asked, her tone held the tiniest worry.
"The old kings were bigger and fiercer. And they were three," another lioness answered, it was Eshe's voice. "I don't think we have anything to worry about."
I smiled at the comment and by then, the two challengers were less than ten metres away, so I stood up.
They froze when I stood on all fours. I did not know why but these so-called rouges always underestimate just how big I was when I stood up. I was not only taller but I was so much wider and thicker than they were.
My mane came alive, no longer drooping down like normal hair but puffing out as a form of intimidation. The black mane was easily distinguished as a show of strength and high testosterone.
By that point, vultures danced in the sky.
After standing frozen for quite some time, they finally resolved their fear and took a step forward. But looking closely, you could see the pace was way shorter and more cautious.
"It's too late for fear," I told them.
They heard my comment and their pride made them sneer. But they did not bother to quicken their pace. When they were about five metres away, they spoke.
"My name is Rondo," one of them said. This one had a thicker mane with dark ends.
"And my name is Jabari," the other lion said. He was the bigger one but he was younger, his mane barely had dark in them and his body was void of scars.
"I don't care," I said, and then finally surged out like a flood.
The two challengers flinched back briefly, but for what it's worth, they charged at me head-on. I was certain it must be terrifying to run towards me instead of away when I came at them full force.
In just a few seconds, we met in the middle. If I had clashed with them, I knew they would fold, but I didn't do that. Instead, I killed my momentum briefly before we collided and just as I predicted, one of them lunged at me,
But due to that small pause I made, his calculation went way off, and he lunged at the air. I roared out and swung my paws at the head. My accuracy was precise as I landed leanly on the face.
My claws, more like ivory blades than something natural, tore the cheek and the muscle of the young lion's face. Red lines bleed out, and the force behind my attack knocked him out cold with one hit.
His body flopped on the ground, more dead than alive.
The other lion slammed his body at me. I took one step back but remained strong. I was a living mountain he could never hope to move.
He pulled his head back, opened his jaw and then clamped down on my shoulder. In return, I flexed my shoulder and his jaw was unable to penetrate. His fangs failed to puncture, and he only left surface scratches that only went as deep as my skin.
I did not fight back instantly. Instead, I wait as his arms wrap around my neck and his claws try digging into my thick, loose skin. He violently thrashed his head, trying to tear out chunks of my flesh.
But they did nothing.
In his attempt to draw blood, only a chilling truth bled out. He couldn't do shit to me even when given the chance.
I made a move. I did not take into account his resistance because I easily shoved those away. I jerked my head and then bit him on his neck. My jaw clamped on skin, muscle and mane, and I did not differentiate the three. I only clamped down harder and tighter.
I exploded out and twisted my body. Then I proceeded to ragdoll the lion and slammed him down on the ground.
His body crashed on the ground with a deep thud and without giving him a chance to get back up, I mauled him right then and there.
It was then that I really opened up the lion. His paws came out flailing with sharp claws but I snapped at them and bit them off. It was instinct to move away from the claws but once you ignore that instinct and bite, it was rather easy to bite off. Like fingers.
His jaw opened wide with sharp fangs ready to defend. But my jaw opened even wider, and I bit at his muzzle and crushed his face.
He was growling in protest, but a few seconds in, when I pulled his ribs out and his mane was everywhere but his face, he began screaming.
At that point, the other lion woke up, and he slammed into my side. I paid him no mind as he tried biting and clawing at me. He managed some cuts and wounds, but not enough to warrant instant attention.
Instead, I was completely focused on mauling the other lion. I only stopped when the screaming ended and there was blood everywhere.
A deep silence filled the air when he stopped screaming. His friend was also shook and he stumbl]ed away from me in disbelief. It was disbelief at his own powerlessness.
I was killing his friend, perhaps his brother, but he couldn't do anything to stop me.
Finally, I turned towards him. He continued moving back.
There was some flesh and blood in my mouth, so I chewed it a few times before I spat it out, realising they were a lion's.
They didn't taste great. In fact, no predator tastes good. Baboons included.
The lion finally ran after backing away for a few seconds. His fear grew bigger than his pride.
Ever heard of the phrase, 'Never run and show your back to a predator?'
There was a reason for that. My instincts screamed upon seeing his fleeing body and my body moved without a clear command. After realising that I was chasing him, I did not bother stopping.
He was fast and agile. Perhaps if this were a race, he would beat me.
But in a burst of speed in short distances, no creature in the savannah could compete with me. i accelerated fast, reaching my top speed before he did even though he ran first.
And then I jumped on his back. His body collapsed under my weight. His belly and face were dragged through the earth before we came to a stop.
"You could've died while fighting, instead you chose to die in disgrace," I commented before I ended his life by crushing the back of his skull.
With a bloody mouth and a mane that looked red instead of black, I looked to the sky and released a victorious roar.
I am king.
And that will remain true for a very long time.
All challengers are warned.
...
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[IMAGE]
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Author : Do tell me if you like Leo to be brutal and violent. Or is it too edgy for your taste? Personally, I prefer him to be brutal and cruel than most lions due to his human nature.
Because man is the cruellest beast in the world.