Chapter 9

"Hiya Hobblestep! Look what I can do! Look, look, look!" Squealed Golden's little brother Feather. He ran over to the log that marked my sleeping area and whacked it with his whole body weight, making a tiny dent. His sister ran up behind him. "Geeze Feather, that's ALL WRONG!" she jumped on the edge of the log, breaking a bunch of chips off, then smiled smugly at him.

"Yeah, that's just 'cause you're heavier sis! Lay off the fatty gazelles for a while! You're gonna end up looking like a hippo!!" Giggled Feather, puffing out his cheeks and his belly to imitate his sister. "HEY! You stupid boy! Mom says I'm NOT fat! You just say that because you're a stupid, stupid, stupid boy!" She squealed.

Feather's mother came bounding over, followed closely by his other sister, who looked exactly like a miniature version of her mother. She followed her every step, and acted exactly like her.

"Feather! I told you not to call your sister names!" "But Mom, she was acting all superior! She started it!" "I don't care who started it, Feather you should know better than to continue it!" Scolded his mother. "Sorry Mom…" "Why are you here anyway?" "I came to see Hobblestep, and SHE followed me here." Feather threw a glare at his sister.

Shadowstrike looked exhausted. "Hey, Shadowstrike, I can watch them for a while if it takes a load off you. Why don't you go for a nice relaxing hunt or take a nap?" I asked the older lioness. "Oh, would you? I haven't had any time to myself since they were born…" "Sure! I'd be happy to! Now, go enjoy yourself!"

"Thank you so much Hobblestep!" called Shadowstrike over her shoulder as she walked away. Leaving me alone with the energetic cubs. Well, two of them were energetic. The third one, the mini Shadowstrike just watched her mother go silently, then took a nap. I looked at the other two. "I'm bored." "I'm hungry."

Uh oh…I realized I had absolutely no idea what would entertain cubs. They stared up at me expectantly. "Hobblestep, how did you get your scars?" inquired Feather. Awkward question… "Yeah! What ever happened to your leg?"

I paused, wondering if I should really tell them. They seemed interested, it would keep them entertained, but Quickmane was their father… "Come ON! TELL US! Or is it something stupid, like you fell down a hill?" Hesitantly I began. I dove into my story, of when I was a cub, about my brothers, and my father, and how life had been before Quickmane.

I told them the brutal truth about laws, about their father, his scars, and of course, me. Their eyes were huge when I finished. There was an uncomfortable silence. Maybe telling young cubs such…unpleasant stories wasn't a very good idea… "Wow. You're my hero!" squeaked Feather, "You stood up to a big lion like my dad to avenge your brother! That's awesome! And YOU gave him his scars! He always told us that the last Mane of this pride gave them to him, ha but it was YOU! When I grow up, I wish I were that brave!" His blue-green eyes sparkled as he looked up at me.

"You were stupid. Standing up to a big lion like my Daddy. You deserve your scars and bad leg. How dumb. Your brother was dumb too." "Don't you SEE sis?? He DIED for her, and she would die for him! It's so..so… AWESOME!"

Feather's sister rolled her eyes, and left to go explore the inside of the log in my sleeping area. Feather's boundless energy reminded me of Spark. I fought tears from welling up in my eyes. And, I suddenly felt tired. The same eerie exhaustion that I'd had the other day. Silentsneak walked over to us.

"Hey Hobbs. Babysitting I see? How are my brother and sisters behaving?" "Um, they're behaving great…hey, could you uh, take over…I'm really tired.." "Yeah sure. Did you stay up late or something last night? You look horrid!" "No I'm just tired, uh thanks." Silentsneak's dark brown eyes probed me for a minute, she knew I didn't think I was all right. She frowned, but took the cubs and left me alone. I curled up and sleep came almost too easily. In what felt like only moments later I woke up, the sleepiness was still there. Hanging over me like a cloud. I looked at the horizon, and to

my surprise, the sun was already sinking into the horizon, I yawned, and went to go meet Hover. I was late a lot, she would understand. I stretched and headed out to the bare patch of territory. It was empty. That was ok. Hover was probably just late. I waited. And waited. And waited. I look up, the moon was at its highest point in the sky, and it was midnight. Still no Hover. I heard someone coming from behind me. I looked back hopefully, but it wasn't Hover, it was Silentsneak. "You waiting for your loner friend?" She asked.

"Yeah…" "Hobbs, she's not coming." "Huh? How do you know?" "Because she's out with Stealthspeed and some lionesses from other prides. They're elephant hunting." Elephant hunting wasn't really hunting.

It was when a herd of elephants came and stopped off at a water hole, it was fun, or so I'd heard, to jump on their backs, and try to knock them over. It was extremely dangerous, but a favorite recreational activity among young lionesses.

"But…why wouldn't she tell me where she was going?" "Because you weren't invited. Stealthspeed told her not to tell you because she thought you would want to go. Stealthspeed said no one wants you around, and if you came, it would ruin everybody's night." "But…Didn't Hover object? She doesn't think no one wants me around…does she?"

"She didn't object, she AGREED! That backstabbing loner… she said that you would just drain the fun out of it! And that your leg would hold everybody back!"

"Hover wouldn't do that! She's not like that! Besides, how do you know all this? How do I know you're not lying, because you don't like Hover!" "Hobbs, I'm not lying.

True, I don't like that loner, but I wouldn't make things up about her! And I know because…well I was there. I went with them, then I realized that my true friend was out here, waiting all alone in the dark for that backstabbing loner!"

No. Hover was my friend. And, if they didn't want me, I wouldn't have insisted on going, Hover KNEW that. She could have at least told me she wouldn't be coming to the bare patch of territory, so I wouldn't wait out there all night like an idiot. I didn't know what to believe. Something in the way Hover had talked about Stealthspeed, made me think Silentsneak was telling the truth.

I mean, ok it wasn't the worst thing in the world to sit out here all night, but Hover agreeing that no one wanted me around…it hurt me. I felt stupid, I shouldn't care. But…I did… "I'm really sorry I didn't come and tell you sooner. You must be freezing. Come on. Let's get back to the inner territory."

I followed Silentsneak, the cloud of tiredness weighing down on me. And I got to sleep even faster than the time before. I woke up to a prod in the shoulder. "Morning Hobbs!" Exclaimed Hover cheerily. I sat up. "Good morning Hover…" "What's wrong?" "You didn't show up yesterday." "Oh, yeah, I was out Elephant Hunting with Stealthspeed and some other lionesses, oh it was so much fun we-"

"Hover I was waiting out in the bare patch all night! Couldn't you have told me where you were going?" Hover paused. "Hey, calm down there. You sound like my mother! Geeze. Why do I have to tell you every detail of my life?"

"Well you could have spared me a night sitting out in the cold!" "I thought you'd have the brains to realize I wasn't coming! Apparently not!" Did she just insult my intelligence? It really wasn't like Hover to make mean remarks like that…

"You're taking the whole thing too seriously!!" She continued but, I wasn't listening anymore. I was lost in my own world. I'd never, not EVER been in a fight with Hover. I was silent as she stormed off.

I didn't even know why she was angry. I was the one who had a right to be mad, but all I felt was a loss. Hover was the best friend I'd ever had, probably ever will have…and I didn't think our friendship would survive.

After Hover was gone, I got up, and to my own surprise, followed her to the tree. I hid behind a bush, and watched her train. I saw the way my mother congratulated her, the way they smiled together, and they looked almost like mother and daughter. I suddenly knew what was happening, why Hover was changing. She'd found a family. I could see my mother, molding her into the daughter she'd never had.

Hover had never had that, and being with Stealthspeed, she must feel like she got her sister back, but the more Hover hung around me, the farther away her new family got.

I wasn't part of it. I was an outcast, she had fallen in love with her newfound family. Leaving me in the dust. I couldn't blame her. She'd never had a family, not really. She'd been on her own for so long. I felt no anger toward her. I was happy that she was happy.

I was heading back to my sleeping area when Golden called me. "Hobbs! Hey! Guess what!"

"What?" "I picked up your brother's scent around here! Along with a bunch of other No-Manes! He must be in a bachelor group! Wanna go check it out?"

A bachelor group was a group of No-Manes who banded together for company. To keep each other from going mad like the lone ones do. Of course, bachelor groups weren't permanent like prides.

They were just there until each member found their own pride. "Oh, that sounds great! I've missed Fire so much!!" I forgot about Hover. Completely. I hadn't seen Fire in SO LONG! I waved my tail around in the air.

"Lets go!" As Golden led me to where he had picked up the scent, I heard tiny paw steps behind me. I looked back, and there was Feather. "Feather what are you doing?" "I want to meet Fire! I'm gonna call him a coward and scratch him!"

Golden and I exchanged an amused glance. "I don't think there's any harm in bringing him." Said Golden smiling at the little cub. We set off again, and followed the scent.

It got stronger and stronger, and we found a group of about five No-Manes. I scanned through them for my brother, most of their backs were turned, I couldn't tell…

"Sis!" I heard, and my eyes focused on one who turned around and bounded over. "Hey sis! I'm so glad to see you! And Golden! Hi!" Fire was grinning a huge grin, how rare! He nuzzled us both in greeting.

He looked totally different. His dark sand coloured pelt was marked up with battle scars, and he had a full mane now. It was thin, and not huge, but handsome nonetheless.

It was a reddish-brown colour, very bright, and it shone in the sunlight. The other No-Manes crowded around us. "Guys, this is my sister, and my best friend Golden!"

"What's your sister's name?" "Uh…sis…?"

I smiled, I hadn't seen him in so long that I didn't have a name the last time.

"Hobblestep."

"I'm Sixtoes, great to meet you Hobblestep!!" exclaimed the No-Mane who had asked. He was a dark tan colour, with a mane of dark brown. He had white paws, on each, six toes.

He looked like he was the youngest of the group. I laughed. "What happens when you get a pride? Sixtoesmane? Doesn't exactly roll off the tongue!" I giggled. "Good point…I suppose I'll stick with Sixmane. Toemane just makes me think of feet…" I laughed again. Another

No-Mane stepped forward. "Hey, I'm Rusty. Nice to meet you both." said a reddish one shyly. His pelt was the exact same shade as his mane, he just looked like he had really long fur. "I'm his brother Shadow." said the lion beside him.

The last lion stayed silent. His dark yellow eyes were slowly looking around at the territory. They looked calm, and intelligent. The exhaustion hit me like a brick when I looked at him. What was WRONG with me?

"That's Proud. He's the oldest one here." whispered Sixtoes to me, nodding toward the yellow eyed silent one when Golden and Fire stepped away from the group to catch up. "He has the worst temper. I hope the hot head gets a pride soon."

Feather was asking all sorts of questions to Rusty and Shadow, they must have said something funny because he fell down laughing, and rolled into Proud's paw, Proud unsheathed his claws and Feather rolled into it, the claw sliced a cut into his back.

"OW!" He howled. I ran over and licked his wound. "Are you alright Feather?" "That mean lion cut me!! It HURTS!" "Proud! It's just a cub! Why'd you do that?!" Roared Sixtoes aggressively. "I guess it slipped." said Proud, calmly, he had a strange monotone voice, it creeped me out.

He shot out his yellow-orange Mane, and bent down to Feather's level. "Sorry." he hissed, something about his tone sent shivers up my spine. "Come on Feather. Let's go see my brother. You wanted to scratch him right?" I said quickly ushering the cub away from the No-Mane. His yellow eyes followed us.

"Hey Fire!" "Hey Hobblestep. So how have you been?" "I've been pretty good."

"Hobblestep, I want to tell you, that when I get a pride, my promise to let you in still stands. Ok? I won't go back on that. So if you ever decide to leave, you'll have a place with me all right?" I smiled at my big brother.

Always looking out for me. I rested my muzzle on his shoulders, his mane tickled my nose. "I've missed you Fire." "I've missed you too Sis." "Hobbs." I raised my head to look at Golden. "Yeah?"

"You know, we really aren't supposed to meet up with bachelor groups. Let's get back before anyone notices we were gone." "Um…alright. Bye Fire! See you soon!" Fire licked my ear affectionately. "See you." Feather slashed his foot then ran off laughing. "Ow! Hey! What was that for?" I smiled, and headed out.

Sixtoes stopped me. "Hey! No goodbye?" he said, in fake grief. I grinned. "Goodbye Sixtoes." I giggled, he licked my ear in the same friendly manner as Fire had. I blushed. When I looked over at Golden's face it had twisted just slightly.

Was that jealousy? No. Ha. Golden jealous of someone being near me? That was just wishful thinking. "I really do hope to see you again sometime Hobblestep." He murmured softly. I smiled shyly at the No-Mane.

It felt like a million butterflies were flapping around in my stomach. "Hope to see you again too Sixtoes." We looked at each other, I felt like I couldn't break his sweet hazel gaze. So Golden did it for me. "Hobbs, we really have to get back." he said, stepping between Sixtoes and me. "Oh. Yeah. Sorry. Bye Sixtoes! Bye Fire!"

"Bye Shadow and Rusty!!" Squeaked Feather, poking his little head out of the grass where he was hiding from Fire. And we finally left. I was talking with Silentsneak a while later. When Quickmane showed up. "Leave us Silentsneak."

He growled at his daughter. She looked questioningly at him, he narrowed his amber eyes, "Now." She nodded and stood up. She looked back worriedly at me but left.

"My son has a cut on his back. It's quite deep." he growled at me, "When I asked him where he got it, he said a No-Mane gave it to him. At first I didn't believe him, but he told me you went out to see your brother, and took him with you. Is this true?"

His eyes were burning into me. "Um…yes sir…" Suddenly his claws flashed out and before I knew it, he had slashed at my face. Blood poured out of my cheek.

"Don't you DARE put my cubs in danger!" He snarled, scratching me again in the shoulder, tearing skin and fur off and knocked me to the ground. I wailed in pain. He cut my cry short by pinning me down, and slapping his paw over my mouth. He lowered his head and grinned, the exact same look of cruelty that he had worn when he killed my brother. So long ago.

"You have no idea how long I have waited to dig my claws into your sorry pelt." He hissed in my ear, unsheathing the claws on the paw he had holding me down, and digging them into my chest, I tried to scream, but his other paw was still over my mouth, and no sound escaped its cover. He left his claws in my chest as he continued.

"Oh don't worry, I won't kill you. Believe me, I wish I could, but that curse, prevents it. So I'll just have to settle for non-fatal revenge." He dug his claws deeper, my eyes watered as my desperate screams never got out of my mouth because of the paw. I could feel my own blood pouring over me. He laughed at me.

A horrible, cruel laugh, and he dragged the paw that was now deeply embedded in my chest down, his horrible sharp claws ripping through my flesh.. I was in so much pain. I couldn't bear it. I felt like I was going to explode. He laughed harder, louder, he was enjoying hurting me.

"You know, I never would have dared to do this sort of thing before, because I thought your mother would turn the pride against me, but, luckily, she doesn't care anymore. I don't think ANYONE cares about you. Ha. For the record, stay away from my cubs."

He tore his claws out of me, ripping off a chunk of fur, skin, and flesh, I bled more heavily.

"I'm glad we had this little talk." He grinned, his terrible grin, and stepped off me. Blood was pouring out of me. I was lying in a puddle of it. I knew that I wouldn't die.

Quickmane had been careful not to wound me in any places that it would do great damage. I hoped it got infected and I did die. Then at least Quickmane would be cursed for the rest of his life.

I fooled myself into thinking I belonged here. This pride was my home. That I had friends that anyone cared. I was wrong. I'd never belonged here. I never would. I would never belong anywhere. I got light headed. I was losing a lot of blood…my vision fogged up, and the world slipped away.