Chapter 15

My body had been so light and free in the world of white where I had just been, where I had spoken to my long dead father and brother. But now that I was back in the real world, gravity hit me like a beetle under a rock. I was lying down already, but gravity made sure I stayed that way. I groaned.

My head hurt. No, scratch that, my EVERYTHING hurt. I felt like I had when I was a cub all over again. My head felt so heavy. And the world seemed like it was spinning. I let out a feeble cough, and a mouthful of water escaped my mouth.

Yesterday I would have given anything for just a tiny sip of water, and today it had almost killed me, I thought, amused by the world's way of torturing me.

I finally got enough willpower to open my eyes. One slit at a time. It was sunrise. Was I asleep from midday yesterday to sunrise? I opened my eyes fully in the pink light. What happened to Feather?

Whose voice was it that I heard, the one who must have saved me from the crocodiles. Maybe it was Hover! I thought hopefully. Then, logic crushed my hope. Why would she leave? The pride she was in was probably perfectly fine. And even if she did leave, she wouldn't have come after me. She didn't even care when I left.

It could be Silentsneak I thought. She DID leave the pride, just before me. But, She had gone west, while I had headed south. So, there wasn't much chance of meeting up. Oh well. The answer to that could wait. I wanted...no, NEEDED to find Feather.

I lifted my head slowly. The world seemed to spin at a thousand miles an hour as I did so, but I didn't care. I tried to shake the dizzy feeling out of my head. My vision went fuzzy for a minute then focused on the bone-dry grass that surrounded me. The spinning had slowed down, and I could handle it now. I glanced around. And promptly found Feather. That was easy.

The little cub was asleep. He was curled up in a tight ball, and was pressed against my belly. My forepaw was draped over him. He must have wiggled his way underneath it, to make him feel better. I usually kept my paw over him, to help keep him warm in the terribly cold African nights. I looked closely at his peaceful sleeping face.

The fur around his eyes were wet, glistening in the early morning light. It looked like he'd been crying recently. "He's a good cub." said a voice behind me coolly, "He tried to fight off the crocs for you. He failed of course, and I had to step in. But, he's really loyal. He hasn't left your side. You're lucky to have a son like him."

My fur stood on end. "He's not my son." I replied, not turning around, but curled protectively around Feather. I heard that whoever it was step lightly over the shark grasses, and low growing shrubs to make her way over to me. I heard the way the paws hit the ground. Only a slight crackling from the plants. The wide paw of a lion would have stirred up more noise, no matter how lightly we stepped.

Those were not paws of a lion. When the creature came into view, I wasn't surprised to see that it was the cheetah who had told me where to find the water hole, which had almost killed both Feather and I. My muscles tensed. She had been very hostile last time we had met her, I wouldn't let my guard down while Feather was such an easy target.

"If he's not your son, then how come you charged into a croc infested waterhole to save him? I saw it in your eyes." "Saw what in my eyes?" "The drive. The instinct. When your cub is in danger, every hair on your pelt tells you to do anything you can to save them. I remember it.

When Strike was killed, all I wanted to do was tear that lion to bits. But I knew it was a battle I couldn't win, and I held myself back. I regret that decision every day I lay my paws on this earth. I didn't have the bravery that you showed today, lion, and for that, you have earned my respect."

The female cheetah dipped her head down respectfully to me. I eyed her suspiciously. What she said seemed heartfelt. Her brown eyes looked full of pain, in the memory of her lost cub. But for all I knew it was a show.

She could be just pretending, so that when I let my guard down, she could have her revenge on all lions, by killing Feather. The only thing I was certain of, was that this was the voice I heard when I was underwater. This cheetah had saved my life, and Feather's.

"Were you following us?" I asked coldly. "I had a feeling you'd be stupid enough to go to the waterhole. I wanted to make sure the young one didn't get hurt. I was right to follow you. You both would have been killed if it weren't for me."

I didn't say anything, but continued to look at her suspiciously. Dramatic changes in attitude could not be trusted. "If you don't want to believe me, fine. Don't. But…this is where my cubs and I live. You are free to stay here until you recover."

I heard a tiny yawn, looking down I saw that Feather was awake. He opened his eyes in tiny slits, then blinked and opened them again wider. "H-Hobblestep?" He whispered, his blue-green gaze huge. His whole body was trembling.

I smiled down at him and licked his forehead. "Yes?" I answered, trying to sound soothing to the shivering little cub. "Y-you woke up?" "Of course." He looked at me for another moment, before leaping at me, and nuzzling my neck. Tears flowed down his cheeks, and onto the parched ground, which absorbed it immediately.

"Hobblestep! I was so scared that you weren't going to wake up! You were sleeping for days! DAYS! I thought that maybe you were dead! I don't want you to die! Don't die! If you were gone I don't know WHAT I'd do!" he wailed, his muzzle pressing into my upper chest, "I'm sorry I went out there! I was just so thirsty…and…I'll never do it again! I promise!" the little cub sniffled.

I put my paw around him, and lowered my face to his level. "I'm not going anywhere. As long as you need me, I'll be there." I whispered to him. His red-gold face was all wet, and his eyes looked more young, and innocent then I'd ever seen them. "Promise?" "I promise." What a promise. I was trouble on three legs. How was I supposed to keep a promise like THAT!?