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Chapter One
Born Natural Disaster
A female lioness stalked quietly in the tall grass her tail whipped back and forth impatiently as she growled low her violet eyes fixed on the herd of gazelle before her. She rolled her shoulder blades and stepped forward her eyes taking themselves away from the herd momentarily to glance at the ground to avoid stepping on a stick or kicking a rock to roll down the small hill where she was stationed. Her name: Arrie. Arrie’s eyes swept over the large circle in which she and her 3 pack mates made. To her left was a green lioness and her sister, the lioness looked at Arrie questionably her sea green eyes sparked with the question: Is it time yet? Arrie shook her head quietly and Tisga, the lioness, crouched back down shifting silently. To Arrie’s right was her aunt, a light purple lioness just slightly lighter than Arrie’s dark eyes. The lioness’s eyes where locked on the prey. Good old Silvva. Thought Arrie, referring to her Aunt. Arrie’s enchanting eyes peeled off Silvva and glided past the small herd they where stalking to the female straight in front of her. On the other side of the gazelles the lioness was just a speck of deep blue shifting in the grass. Tsunami. Now that was a fiery temper. Tsunami was daughter of Silvva and Arrie’s cousin. Arrie growled low and stepped forward. A rock dislodged it self and clattered nosily down the hill. She watched as a male gazelle lifted up his head and gave a loud bugle of alarm. Arrie leaped forward searching for her pack mates to follow. The lioness chased the herd a few yards before a gazelle stumbled towards the back. Arrie pounded forwards and leaped onto the gazelles back grabbing its neck in her powerful jaws. Silvva pulled the gazelle to the ground twisting its back leg with a loud snap. Tisga ran in front of the gazelle as it slowly came to a halt. Tisga opened her powerful jaws and closed them around the prey’s mouth and nostrils so that it would suffocate. Tsunami just kind of hung back trotting in circles around the kill as it collapsed to the ground and Arrie jumped off its neck. With an irritated growl she jumped onto Tsunami and rolled her over. With a loud hiss of surprise Tsunami snaked her head around one of Arrie’s legs to glimpse at the kill, licking her blue lips hungrily she growled at Arrie. “What?” She twisted trying to escape from underneath her cousin.
“Why didn’t you help?” Growled Nigarrie her eyes flashed dangerously.
“I didn’t really feel like it.” Stated Tsunami yawning showing rows of white teeth and a blue tongue. Tsunami clicked her tongue like a mother scolding her child. “Besides, it looked like you and the others had it under control...” She said. Arrie put more weight on her cousin snorting harshly she got up and strolled away. The others had already started to drag the kill towards the tree where the rest of the pride waited for their return. Tsunami watched the purple lioness go than stood, shook herself and looked around as if none of the threat had taken place. She strolled a few feet behind the pack watching as they struggled to pull the meat towards the rest of their family who lay beyond the hills and under a large tree. Tsunami put her head up and strutted forwards not letting what had just occurred ruin her pride.
***
Back by the tree a lioness prowled, her dark violet eyes searching the horizon. A sea green lion lay under a large tree. Leaning against the trunk he watched the violet female pacing. “Come rest Dala, they’ll be back soon.” The male said shaking his dark mane boredly. Dala stopped pacing and turned to face the green male.
“I’m Hungry.” She growled.
“Yes, I know, but you shouldn’t tire yourself its bad for the cubs.”
“Fine have it your way, Alker.” Dala mumbled under her breath throwing Alker an annoyed glance. He smiled satisfied. Dala rolled her purple eyes and trotted over and layed down next to Alker. She sighed and put her head on her paws. Several more colorful lions lay scattered around in the shade of the same tree. Some lions stood on nearby hilltops pacing back and forth waiting for the hunting group to come into view. The earlier exchange between Dala and Alker had caused disturbance of the rest of the pride. Some stirred from their sleep others had already woken up and gone to get a drink or just paced waiting for the others to wake. It was just before dawn as the sun started to rise from it’s slumber. The sky had turned the same shade of purple of Dala. Dala heard a few growls of annoyance as cubs roused their parents. Dala was the last pregnant lioness of the season. Alker had started to worry, Dala attempted to calm him by telling him she could feel them kicking but she barely sounded convincing. For in truth, she could feel nothing. As she lost her self in dreadful thoughts a roar echoed across the savannah. Dala lifted her purple head and twitched her dark purple ears. Shifting her weight she stood and trotted over the hill where the Watcher had alerted the pack.  The light blue lion turned his head at her approach. “Queen Dala!” He said, smiling as Dala approached. Dala reached the top of the hill and sat down. “Looks like they took down a large antelope.” He said excitedly. Dala sighed and looked down, only enough for about five lions; hopefully the other hunting groups arrive soon. She thought quietly. She heaved a sigh. “What’s wrong?” Said the blue lion looking at her with concern. Dala lightened her expression before looking up at the male. “Nothing Tissgar, it’s just… Well I haven’t felt anything from my cubs in a few weeks and I’m afraid.” Tissgar took a few steps towards Dala. He muzzled her shoulder.
“It’ll be alright.” He said not sure his words would do much good. Dala smiled.
“Thanks.” She smiled half-heartedly. “I hope he’s right.” She said under her breath. Most lions would have been exiled for such behavior towards the queen, touching her was absolutely prohibited. But Tissgar was Tisga’s mate, and well Tisga and Arrie where Dala’s sisters. Making Tissgar Dala’s brother-in-law. There was silence. Behind them came a loud snort. Dala jumped and Tissgar gave a growl. But once they realized who it was they both relaxed. “King Alker. Sorry, didn’t mean to growl, just got surprised.”
“Well next time be on your guard!” He gave a short rumble of irritation from deep in his chest.  Tissgar put his ears back his face looked hurt. Dala gave Alker a disapproving glance. Alker puffed out his chest and walked over and sat next to Dala. He looked over at the hunting pack slowly making their way up the hill towards them licking his lips. Dala gave a roar of happiness and took off at a sprint towards the purple lioness in the front. Arrie looked up, saw Dala and took off towards her. They met in the middle of the hill. Licking each other with dark purple tongues and purring. They were twins it was extremely rare, normally there are some of each color in a litter. They all symbolized different things. Elements they controlled and personalities. The only color unacceptable was gray for their elements included storms and rocks, they symbolize despair and depression. They are normally selfish and unruly. They have ultimate power, they will never die. Purple was love and care their elements are empathy, they can sense feelings, they symbolize peace and honesty. Green is the grass and trees and bushes and anything in the wilderness green, where ever they live and rule the foliage grows at impeccable rates even during droughts, they are very careful and skittish though. Blue symbolizes water, they can make rivers flow, they can hold the rain in clouds, or let it pour down. Red symbolizes fire, with unruly and wild behavior they prefer to work alone when asked the can start fire or stop it. Yellow being the most rare of the colors is the last important element though not one yellow lion had been born in four years. They control light. They can make it light on a cloudy day; they can control lightning and the sand. They can also glow if they so choose it to be. White are the most respected of all lions, for they see the future, and live to very old ages. There is no such thing as black lions. Tisga nudged Dala’s shoulder. Dala spun around and gave her a small lick. Tisga rolled her eyes and trotted up the hill to met Tissgar. “I’m worried about Dala.” Said Tisga after giving Tissgar a lick of hello. Tissgar nodded his head in agreement. Tissgar gave Tisga a resurring smile.
“I bet its nothing.” He said. Tisga raised her head and sighed half-heartedly. Back down the hill Dala feasted on the large gazelle carcass. Raising her head and licking her lips she sighed contently. Her dark purple muzzle covered in the crimson blood of the animal. With a full stomach she climbed back up the hill. By now four other hungry lions approached the carcass to eat the leftovers. Arrie padded quietly behind her sister. Dala nodded to Tissgar and Tisga as she reached the top of the hill and continued down to the other side. Tissgar and Tisga exchanged worried glances with Arrie. I’m going to talk to her. Tisga nodded as her head tickled, she had heard sister’s voice in her head. Since Arrie was a purple lioness she could send thought waves to thoughs close to her in blood. Only short sentences though. It isn’t powerful enough to go beyond a few words. Dala walked down the hill and skirted large pack. She went to the opposite side of the valley. Arrie followed behind in quiet stealth knowing her sister wouldn’t look behind her she just had to worry about her thoughts being heard by her sister. She sat down and closed her eyes concentrating on a brick wall. This kept her thoughts to herself. When she opened her eyes again, Dala had vanished. The wall disappeared inside Arrie’s mind and she could hear faint cries for help in the back of her thoughts. Alarmed she took off at a sprint. She reached the top of a hill. Looking down she saw Dala lying on her side. Arrie froze in horror She can’t be dead, no she can’t. Arrie thought. She paced back and forth on the top of the hill. Finally she took a deep breath and with her legs shaking she slowly descended down the hill. As she moved closer a wave of pain struck her. She roared with pain and fell to the ground. Obviously she was feeling what Dala was feeling. Arrie could barely think. All she could see was a blinding white light. She attempted to close her mind to her sister’s but a wall wasn’t strong enough. She lay there writhing in pain. Struggling, she was finally able to block herself from her sister’s mind. She stood up her whole body ached. “Wh-what happened…”
“I tripped.” Dala said, her voice was hoarse with pain.
“I take my eyes off you for one second and your tripping and falling down hills.” She tried to sound lively but her voice cracked and her purple eyes started to tear up. “If only I would have been watching you this wouldn’t-“
“No time-“ Dala stopped and gave a shaky breath. “For Guilt. The cubs they’re coming.”
***
An hour later Queen Dala of the Western tribe was dead. By her side lay four cubs. The wiggled and cuddled up to their mother’s still warm side. Arrie lay down next to her twin sister the cubs in between them she laid her head on Dala’s warm shoulder and cried. Fifteen minutes later she stared at her sister’s face her own face wet with tears and her dark violet eyes glossy from crying. The face of death was much softer than Arrie had ever realized. Dala’s mouth lay slightly open revealing white teeth. Arrie licked her sister’s mouth quietly blood still stained across her muzzle. The only thing unsettling about her sister’s face was her eye. Wide open, it had the light echoes of her last moments in pain, as Arrie stared they eye cleared from it’s clouded visions of pain. And stared unmoving into the pain-filled eyes of her sister. Arrie blew softly on her sister’s fur and with her nose gently closed Dala’s eye. Arrie felt a bump on her side. She turned her head to see a red cub nuzzling her side, looking for milk. Arrie sighed grabbing the little cub by the scruff with her teeth and plopped him down to nurse. She turned her head back around grabbed the blue cub and lay him down next to his brother. Than she went back for the third orange cub. She gently set her next to her to brothers. For a fourth time she turned and was about to reach for the cub when she stopped mouth half open. The fourth cub was gray. She looked in horror at the pup, knowing it would be killed. She couldn’t let it happen. She grabbed him carefully and set him by his siblings. Quickly her mind raced. She could hide him… But where? Arrie had conceived a litter of her own that year before a rouge elephant killed her mate. But it was a miscarriage since she was so depressed by losing Mallic. Mallic was a red lion; he was second in line to Alker, next to the thrown though not related to him. Suddenly without thinking she looked at the little red cub with caring eyes. “I’ll name you Mallic, after the great Fire Starter lion in the four corners.” She looked at the blue one, he sniffed around a few inches away, every rock he bumped into he felt the absurd compulsion to nudge it with his muzzle. “I shall call you Muzzley.” She said, her voice filled with the bitter sweetness of naming her sister’s children. The orange lion was a sad sight she was small and orange lions where most always duds they had no magical powers and are pretty much worthless. She licked the little lion feeling sorry for it. When she looked again where she had licked was yellow. She picked up the little lioness put it closer to her and started licking furiously. She was a yellow lion! A lion of light and pure heart. “I shall call you Prudence after the last known lion of light. Prue for short.” She looked sadly at the gray cub. “I shall call you Pi, after the god of lions, for you are truly misunderstood.” She looked around there was an old cave not to far from the spot with a little pool of water and a willow hanging over it. At the sight of the willow tree, a small tear ran down the side of Arrie’s face, a willow was Dala’s favorite. She stood up and pushed Mallic, Muzzley, and Prue up against Dala’s side picked up Pi in her mouth and trotted towards the cave. Once she was inside she dropped the cub looking sorrowful. Pi peeked at his Aunt with large gray eyes. First Arrie dismissed it walking towards the entrance of the cave; mid-step she turned and looked back suddenly. Arrie looked at him alarmed, cubs normally can’t open their eyes for the first few weeks of their lives. “Mom?” Pi asked.
“No, Pi, your mother is dead.” Arrie said softly. Pi looked confused for a moment sitting up and wrinkling his little gray brow. He sighed heavily and looked out of the cave. He looked back at his aunt eyes glinting with rage, Arrie could feel the storm brewing outside wind whipped through the cave whistling and swooshing Arrie’s fur making her shiver.
“Who are you?” Growled Pi with anger surprising for such a small form of life. Arrie put her ears back but approached the gray sausage, sighing she licked him between the eyes. Her own purple eyes sparkled as she admired him closely taking time to answer his question. He gazed at her and she looked at him holding is gaze for a few long moments. Right before she turned away she gasped and drew back sharply. In his left eye under his coal black iris was a sliver of green touching the bottom of the eye. “So who are you?” Snarled the sausage, Arrie smiled to herself lightly. There is hope yet for the little prince.
“I am your aunt, your mother’s twin sister, Arrie.” Smiled Arrie sweetly.
“Twin, hmm, so my mother is gray also.” Stated the cub, looking deep in thought. Confused Arrie questioned the cub. “Isn’t everything gray and black and white?” Arrie was quiet for a moment. This doesn’t seem right, everyone else sees in plain colors do they not? A sharp ‘well?’ shook Arrie from her thoughts.
“No, Pi, all of us lions see colors-“ She was interrupted by another outburst by the cub.
“Like the little bit of ‘color’ I can see out of my left eye.” Pi said, skeptically.
“Yes! Yes! Like that!” Shouted Arrie for joy. Her pleasant mood was cut short by the sound of thunder rolling in the distance. The cub growled furiously.
“Where are my brothers and sister? My father? Why aren’t they here? Why? Why? Why?” Yelled the little cub furiously, panting hard. This storm must be because he’s frustrated. Thought Arrie to herself.
“I’ll explain later. I must go.” With that Arrie turned and sprang from the cave back to the bottom of the hill, not noticing the little gray cub trotting quickly after her.