White Lion. 3

The night was cool and clear and the stars were bright as Msia Duma woke up. After the day's meal, he felt full of energy and ready for his escape. He stood up and stretched feeling the blood and excitement running through his veins and heart. His flexed his hands unsheathing his claws then relaxed his hands and made a fist. His body was ready but what about his magic? With a snap of his fingers, he summoned a small orb into life. He let it hover in the air in front of him for a second, then let it close. He was ready.
High over his head upon the rim of the pit, two Hyenan warriors patrolled and keep watch on him. They would have to be eliminated if he hoped to make a clean escape. He knew there was only two ways to get out of the pit. Either someone would have to lower the ramp for him to climb out, or he would have to use magic to levitate himself up. Levitation would take a little more will power then he might have right now, but there is another way.

SIGHT AND SOUND.
TOUCH AND SMELL.
WHAT YOU SEE DEPENDS ON MY SPELL.
TO YOU I SHOW YOUR HEARTS DESIRE.
TO LEAVE THIS PIT IS WHAT I REQUIRE.

As Msia cast his spell, the two Hyenans stopped and sniffed at the air. They turned to look down into the pit, then threw down their weapons and ran closer to the edge to gaze down on Msia. He could hear them arguing and barking at each other. That worried Msia. He prayed to Tyree no one would hear the noise and come out to investigate. He had to shut them up.
"Help me, my heroes." He whispered. "One of you come and win your prize."
With his eyes looking dazed and his tongue hanging out, a warrior stepped back and grabbed a club and smashed it into the head of his comrade. As his comrade fell, he ran to the log ramp and pushed it over and into the pit. Still looking love-struck, the warrior hopped on the log and hurried and to get his prize. As he approached the smiling Msia with his arms open for an embrace, Msia slashed out with his claws and slit open the throat of the warrior. He grabbed him as he fell and quietly lowered him down and hid him in the pits corner.
Wasting no time, Msia scurried up the ramp and stopped at the top. Mulu Amin's house was only a little ways away. He could end this and go and kill him now, But there would probably be guards and he would have to beat them before he fought Mulu. He didn't think he had the strength for that. Better to get away and fight another day. He had two sons he had to get back home too, so off he ran to try and get back to Panthera and home.

It was late in the evening when Astan woke up. He opened his eyes and looked up at the ceiling of the small hut it was in. It was dark outside and cool in the hut. His head still throbbed with the pain from his captor's attack last night. He sat up and looked around, he was thirsty. His captor had said there would be food and water when he woke up. There on the table in the corner, Astan saw a jug and a plate filled with some kind of stew. Astan stood up and staggered over to the table and chair and sat down. He picked up the jug and sniffed the water. It smelled fresh. He tasted a bit on his tongue. He didn't detect any poisons or anything that could make him sick. He drank deeply relished the taste of cold water as it slid down his throat. Astan burped and put down the jug feeling a little better. He picked up the plate and smell the food. He had been sleeping for hours, if they wanted him dead, they could have killed. Poison made no sense so he ate the stew. It was pretty bad, but it was food. It gave his strength. and with strength, he could use his magic and get out of there. He had dreamed of Sakura while he had been sleeping. For some reason, he knew Sakura was looking for him. He was out there right now looking for someone that was supposed to help him rescue him. Astan stopped to think. How did he know that? Something about a Dragon and a Phoenix? Astan knew what they were, but there hadn't been anything like that in Aspana in centuries. He didn't even know if Dragons or Phoenixes existed anymore. It could have all just been a dream Astan thought. But he was sure he had heard Sakura last night swearing to come and find him.
Once he finished the stew, Astan stood up. It was time he tried getting out of that hut. Force wasn't the answer. He learned that last night when he tried the door. He knew he couldn't physically touch the door or the walls. He would have to think of something else. Maybe there was a weakness here he could exploit.
Astan took a deep breath, relaxed and cleared his mind. He raised his hand and centered his power to probe the walls. As his hand started to glow softly, Astan walked along looking for a weak spot. There was a red glow coming from every inch of the wall. Someone had cast a powerful spell on the hut. There were red and black bands of magic intertwined and knotted running all through the hut. It would take him years to work through all these bands. There had to be something else. Maybe if he could figure out who had strung the spells, he would figure out how too break them. Astan went to the door. The spells there were different. Not as complicated. He reached up and traced a green line that ran from the lock to each of the hinges. It had a funny feel to it. Kind of like the pain  he had felt the night before. Astan thought back to a magical technique he had learned when he was a cub from Samaw Camir, his first mystic master. Samaw had said he could learn a lot about any mage he fought against by analyzing his spells. What was the composition of the spell? Is color and it's feel? If he could link into the spell, he would be able to discover the identity of its caster and the history of the spell. As Astan studied the spell, he could feel it was made of rough magic. Not anything as delicate as a spell cast by a Tigaran of a Pantheran master. No, this spell had been cast by someone with more of a savage mind like a Hyenan, but not Mulu.
Mulu's magic had much more finesse then this. These were cast by a less skilled more fumbling hand. Astan dug deeper into the spell. He was looking for something personal that every spellcaster has to put in there spells. No matter who you are, novice or master mage, dark or light magic. Anyone that cast a spell has to sign it with a piece of himself or the magic will back fire and it could kill you. Astan had to find the signature line in the spell on the hut and it was here buried somewhere in the doorway. He dug carefully through the red, black and green lines until he found an almost invisible hidden gray line. The minute he saw it, he knew for sure this wasn't one of Mulu Amin's spells. As a matter of fact, it wasn't cast by a Hyenan or any of the Feline or Canin races. This was something else. Astan would have to touch it if he wanted to learn who had cast it. Carefully he twirled his finger over the gray line and ordered it to reveal to him its master. As the gray line came into contact with Astan's finger, a picture formed in his mind of a great hulking Gorilla with dead eyes dressed in gray robes standing in front of the hut casting his spells. The mage's name was Igoro Baba, Goorilla mage of far away Unzi rain forest and though he wasn't Mulu Amin, he was here at Mulu's request. Now Astan could start tearing apart the spells and get himself  out of there.
As Astan twisted and turned the spell between his fingers, it started to unravel. But it would take hours before he had could disrupt enough for him to escape. It would be light out long before he was done and Igoro Baba could come back to check on him. But at least he would have broken the spell on the walls and be able to touch them without pain. With luck by tonight, he would have his freedom and he might even be back with Sakura.

Msia was exhausted as he ran through the high grass. It had been less then two hours since he escaped Mulu's pit, and already there were Jackals on his trail. He had caught and killed two, but from what he could smell, there was a whole pack coming fast behind him. Msia didn't have time to think. He didn't have a weapon, except for what magic he still had, and his only chance of getting one would be from one of the enemies that chased him.
As he slowed down he listened to see what was lurking in the grass near him. With his magically heightened hearing, Msia heard footstep coming from the east. There were three of them and they were breathing hard. The footsteps were fast so he knew they were running. Msia shifted back to his two-legged from and readied and energy bolt. The first Jackal broke through the grass and rushed at him with his spear raised for the kill. Msia threw the bolt. It hit the Jackal in the ribs and toasted his heart in its chest. Msia grabbed his spear and got ready for the next attack.
As he waited he cast a spell on the weapon and energized the spearhead and strengthened its wooden shaft. Just then, two Jackals came running at him. Msia roared and with two hands, he waved the spear in front of the two charging Jackals. A pulse of vibration flew out at the dogs knocking them back off their feet. Msia raised the spear and dived on the closest of the two and stabbed it down into his chest.  Quickly pulling it free, Msia rolled and was up and ready for the next attack. The Jackal sneered and pulled two long knives from his belt and advanced on the Pantheran king. Holding the spear with the glowing head out, Msia and the Jackal did the dance of battle. They thrust and stabbed it each other, nicked and sliced into each other until Msia thought he was about to drop from exhaustion. The Jackal smiled thinking had had won from out lasting his opponent. Msia dropped his guard for a second and the Jackal thought that was his chance. He ducked a swing from Msia and moved in for the kill. But Msia wasn't quite as tired as his enemy thought. The butt of his spear came around and hit the Jackal in the chin. His head went up as Msia spun around and slashed at his stomach gutting him. The Jackal fell back in shock as his insides spilled from the wound. As he lay there on the ground dying slowly, Msia stepped up to the Jackal.
"Kill me." The Jackal said. "Please, don't let the scavengers feast on me."
"You fought bravely." Msia knelt down at his side. "It's to bad. I could have used a warrior like you on my side."
"I see my mistake your majesty." The Jackal coughed up blood. "I wish things had been different. I know who you are and I saw how Mulu treated you. You and your people deserve better than what he plans for you and so does the rest of the Canin's. I would have served you proudly, but I guess it's to late now."
Msia looked down on the dying Jackal. He saw honor for the first time in a Jackal warrior and he was sorry. He felt they could have been friends in different circumstances. Then he thought maybe there was a way he could save him.
"Maybe its not." Msia knelt it the Jackals side. "Would you accept me as your king and swear allegiance to me and Panthera?"
"Yes." The Jackal moaned. "I swear."
"What is your name?"
"I am called Akani Azima." The Jackal closed his eyes and started to fade away.
"Then let Panthera heal your wounds." Msia placed his hands on the Jackal's open wound and called upon Tyree for his assistance. "Mighty Tyree. I present to you the life of Akani Azima. He swears to stand at my side and protect me and Panthera. Please heal him and give him the strength he needs to fulfill his promise."
A shaft of blazing light streaked down from the sky and touched Akani. His eyes popped open wide with a golden glow as the power of Tyree and Aramis the god of life filled his body. Akani started to shake as his wounds healed and he was made whole again. In seconds the light was gone and Akani Azima was healed and unknown to him, slightly different then he had been this morning when he started his day. He looked up at Msia surprised that he was still alive. Akani reached down and felt for his wound and realized it was gone. He sat up and looked to Msia.
"I'm alive?"
"Did you mean it when you swore your loyalty to me?" Msia asked.
"Yes." Akani got up and on his knees and bowed to Msia. "Forever in this life and any life that come after it, I will serve you. This I swear to every god there is."
"Then rise my friend," Msia held out his hand and helped Akani up. "We have a lot to do and a long way to go. There are still Jackals after me."
"Have no fear my lord." Akani said. "I won't let them hurt you. Not as long as I live."
"Let's hope that will be for a long time my friend." Msia picked up Akani's spear and passed it to him. He took it by it's strap and hung it across his back.
"When to my lord?"
"I should get back home to Panthrea." Msia said. "My queen is there with my son Sakura. He should be almost of age to take the throne by now. It's been a long time since Mulu captured me. I hope everyone's safe."
"Then to Panthera." Akani said. "I will find someplace where you can eat and rest. Then I will lead you home to your throne. Follow me my lord."

It was late in the day out on the savanna as Aggar and Deja stopped for a drink at a watering hole. They had been traveling all day and seen many different things. Giraffes nibbling on the top branches of trees and collecting food for their young. Elephants traveling in a line with the males in front in Elephant and their humanized forms. Zebrens running and teaching their young the ways of the savanna. Deja was amazed at how different life was here then back home in Taggitia.
"No Elves." She said. "No Dwarves or Fairys. Its so different here."
"Yes." Aggar agreed. "But it's dangerous too. There are things and people here that would kill us without a second thought. We have to be careful."
Deja nodded her agreement and went down for a drink of fresh water. After cooling off, Aggar sat back and watched the horizon. She was right, It was beautiful here. So much wide open lands to run and hunt in. Tof would love it here. He could teach his twin sons Stelian and Costa how to hunt and stalk in new surroundings. They would learn of new and different people and different customs. Maybe he could talk them into coming here for a visit. There might even be a place where they could set up a small piece of land for their own.
As Aggar started to relax, he heard a ear piercing scream that got him to his feet. He looked out on the savanna and saw a pack of strange looking Dogmen chasing what looked like a many colored spotted wolf.
"Father, look!" Deja shouted as she jumped to her feet. "We have to help him!"
Like a streak of mad fury, Deja shifted and was off. She charged down and into battle. Aggar shifted and went after his daughter. Her speed was incredible, in seconds she had passed the wolf and was engaged in battle with two of the Dogmen. The two knives slid out of their harness to become silent blades of death. Deja slashed and stabbed at the Dogmen as they tried to bring her down.
As Aggar entered the fight, he reached to his side and grabbed his weapons. Aggar carried two blades, one sickle and its twin a long knife. As the first Dogman came at Aggar, it leaped high with its claws ready to tear into his. Aggar swung out with the sickle's round end and sliced into his mid section as he passed over his head. As the Dogman crashed to the ground, a second one attacked Aggar. This one was armed with a sword. He lunged at Aggar stabbing forward. Aggar swung up with his curved blade catching the Dogman's blade and stabbed forward with the straight one. The Dogman turned to the side avoiding the thrust and came around sweeping his sword at Aggar's head. Aggar ducked and kicked out into the Dogman's stomach. As he doubled over, Aggar slammed the hilt of his blade into the top of the Dogman's skull with a load cracking noise. The Dogman fell knocked out to the ground. As Aggar looked up, he saw four more coming at them. Deja was engaged  and about to be over powered if the four joined the battle. It was time for Aggar to do something drastic. As the Dogmen charged at them, Aggar raised his hands and sent a blast of flame at the oncoming enemies. Fire reached out and blasted the four Dogmen. As they felt the flames burning their fur, the four howled and turned and ran off away from the battle.
Deja slashed up with one knife, then stabbed forward into he opponents chest to finish her battle. As she looked around to see the Dogmen gone, she ran back to the see if the wolf was ok. When she returned to where the spotted wolf had fallen, They found a young dark skinned spotted man laying in the grass to weak too even sit up. Aggar picked him up and carried him down to the watering hole and got him water to drink. With a cup Deja had fashioned from leaves, Aggar fed him water slowly.
"How do you feel?" Aggar asked after the young man had, had his fill. "Are you ok?"
"Yes." He shook his head. "Thank you for your help. The Hyenans were going to kill me."
"Those were Hyenans?" Deja looked up at her father. "Why were they after you?"
"Because I talked against Mulu Amin." He said with a sneer. "I refused work or give them the last of my herd to fed those laughing fools so they beat me ad took them. I barely made it away before they gave chase."
"Wasn't there anyone around to help you fight them off?" Aggar asked. "Your neighbors, friends?"
"No." He said. "No one in my village would dare lift a hand to help me. They are all to afraid of the Hyenans and what they would do."
"They don't sound very nice." Deja said. "They sound like a pack of slavers and bullies."
"What is bullies?"
"People that take whatever they want with force." Aggar told him. "They beat up and abuse people for fun, because they want to."
""Yes." He shook his head. "That is what the Hyenans do. All my people, and the rest of the Canin people fear them. They take our food and burn our homes. They disgrace our females and kill our young and old, there is no one to stop them."
"What about your king?" Deja asked. "Why doesn't he help?"
"We have no king."  He said quietly. "They killed him long ago."
"What's your name?" Deja asked.
"Forgive me manners." He touched his forehead then held his hand out in a greeting. "Myumbo. My name is Dain Gwedi and I am a Lycaon from the village of Zamani, not far from here to the east."
"Aiya Dain." Aggar reached out and took his hand and shook it. "I'm Aggar Fen and this is my daughter Deja. I think we would like to visit your village and meet these Hyenans."
Dain looked at Aggar as if he was mad. He had to be crazy to want to go to Zamani and face the Hyenans. They would kill them both. He would have to talk them out of such madness.
"My apologizes my friends." He said. "I cannot take you to Zamani. There is only death there for and for you. I cannot be responsible for the deaths of such brave people as you. No, you must not go there."
"They don't scare me." Aggar smiled. "I have faced enemies much stronger then those Dogmen. And I won't be alone, I will have you and Deja at my side. Don't worry. We can handle the Hyenans. All we need is courage and a few good friends."

The journey through the savanna to Zamani didn't take long. Dain led them to a trail that put them in a place where they could watch the comings and goings in the village. Zamani was a fair sized village that housed a little over thirty five families. Each families unit had one or two small huts depending on how many members there were in the family. There were grazing grounds set up outside of the gates and a barn for community use. In the center of the village they had dug a well and at the north end, a place to train the village hunters.
As Aggar, Deja and Dain watched, several Hyenans came out of a large hut that once belonged to the village chief. They were laughing loudly and shoving each other around like immature cubs as they pushed their way through the village. Women and children ran to got out of their way. Men hid or ducked to avoid having any confrontations with them. They watched as the Hyenans kicked apart huts and stomped villagers pottery and cookware, toys and hunting weapons. They just tore into the village and trashed everything in their way.
Deja's anger grew as she watched the Hyenans, she remember her days as a cub and how some of the older boys had treated her. She was teased and bullied for being the niece of the king and smaller then most of them. Deja wasn't interested in girly things. She wanted to be out with the older boys hunting and wrestling and practicing her fighting skills. But they fought her every attempt at joining them until she gave up and decided that she would do it all on her own. No more bullying, no more begging, no more crying. She had to stand on her own and let no one stand in her way. She was a warrior and she would act like one. That's what these Lycaon people need. They needed to stand up to the Hyenans and fight back, and if they didn't know how, she was just the one to teach them. These Hyenans were going to learn something about respect, or pain and Deja didn't care which lesson she would be teaching.