Chapter 22

     The road to Litchford hills was equally perilous to the actual mountain range itself. Most of the road passed through narrow gorges, the perfect place for ambushes. The craggy surfaces made Zinjo nervous. His nose never left the air once as he sniffed for possible enemies. 

  "I do not like this place, dark princess. There are too many places for people to hide, and hyenas enjoy themselves a good ambush. We are taking an enormous risk," Zinjo pushed her behind him. 

   "I thought a group of armed men would attract more attention than a pair of travelers," remember our goal is to gather information and speak to Mshindi." Zinjo was a good man, but his determination to protect her from every little thing irritated her. 

   Zinjo stood in front of her, "You are the future pride mother of Shadowfen, your safety has to take some priority." He growled and tried to carry her.

  Aurelia batted his hands away, "Stop that. We have bigger concerns. I am not some porcelain doll that will break if you drop me," She growled. 

   Zinjo tried to pick her up again and this time she kicked him in his tender bits. He doubled over in pain. His hands clawed the dirt, as the werelion fought to stay on his knees. "Perhaps I was wrong about you."

   "I'm sorry I had to do that, Zinjo, but if we are to rule together, you have to see me as an equal," Aurelia held out her hand, "Not as some damsel in need of rescuing."

   As Zinjo rose, he bit Aurelia. She screeched, and crimson liquid dribbled to the ground. She felt faint and dizzy, and her heart rate spiked to near-fatal levels. "Zinjo what did you do?" Her entire body burst into flames. She felt her bones shift and snap beneath her fair skin. Her breakfast found its way to the canyon floor.

   "This is a compromise, dark princess," Zinjo crossed his arms. "I worry about your safety all the time because you are not as strong as I am. Now you will be."

   Fierce primal anger gripped Aurelia, "So you chose without discussing it with me?"

   "I do not wish to lose you. My heart is happy when we're together," His attempt to justify his actions failed. 

    The young princess sprang at her powerful companion, only to be halted by crippling back pain. Her mouth came apart at the seams. Aurelia writhed in pain, as the studs holding her armor together popped out one by one. Her assets were on full display for anyone to see. Fabric tore and went ragged. Five minutes of pure agony later and Aurelia stood as Lioness. Her eyes focused on Zinjo. 

   "While I appreciate the gesture, you had no right to make this choice for me," She lunged forward with inhuman speed and tackled Zinjo to the ground. 

   He rolled and kicked her off his chest, "Do you not feel it? The strength of Kianzangi coursing through your veins."

  His whisper sounded like a stadium full of people at a jousting tournament. Her nose could smell everything in the immediate area. Her brain melted down from overstimulation. "How do you stand this? I can't think right now."

  Zinjo held her close and whispered, "You need to breathe through it, dark princess. The mind will adjust in a few more minutes."

   "I'm still mad at you," She whispered. Her hands gripped her face painfully, Aurelia stared at the long retractable claws, "You had no right. I wasn't ready. You said the choice was mine." She shoved Zinjo away and took off down the nearest trail. Aurelia felt stupid for trusting the man from Kianzangi. 

    Her newfound abilities took her farther away from Zinjo than she intended, and before she knew it, Aurelia was lost among the trees and rocks of Litchford Hills. Worst of all she couldn't change back because her bare flesh would be exposed to the world. She wept for a time because she didn't know what else to do 

    "Why would anyone love me for me?" She tore a sapling up by the roots and slammed it against another tree. "Why won't the world turn off for five seconds so I can hear myself think?" a deep growl followed every strike. She didn't about her childish actions, and slammed the sapling into the tree over and over again, "I am not weak." The final blow saw the sapling splinter apart crashed into the underbrush.

   Aurelia found a comfortable spot on a rock and laid down. Exhaustion ruled her aching muscles and bones. The sun warmed the silky fur, and Aurelia's eyelids began to lower at a slow and steady pace. Minutes later she dozed off."

   ***

  Voices touched Aurelia's ears. She tried to stretch but her hands and feet were bound. One eye lazily opened and spied the black iron bars of the cage. The cage shook violently. She tried to speak but her mouth was bound shut. A tall man with an unsettling grin stared at her, with hungry eyes.

   "Who do you think she is?" A tall grey-haired man asked. His mismatched armor marked him as a brigand. He went to touch Aurelia, but the man with the unsettling grin shook his head, "I know Zinjo, he will not tolerate mistreatment of the girl, and neither will I," 

    "You aren't any fun, Mshindi. Raping and pillaging are the perks of the bandit's life..." the man said. 

    A powerful arm gripped the bandit by the collar and slammed him against the cage, "Do not test me, Redford. I tolerate your thievery, but I will not allow you harm a soul for carnal pleasure."

  "I thought Zinjo was a rival?"

  "Zinjo is an honorable hunter, he deserves respect. We may not always see eye to eye, but Zinjo will understand why we had to take her."

  "I still don't believe this Kivuli nonsense..."

  "Then you are an idiot, Redford. Kivuli will steal your face, and leave your body for the carrion eaters, or he'll crush you slowly until all your bones break, and he squeezes the juice out of you like a ripe berry." He threw the bandit to the ground, "The girl is off-limits. Our goal is to secure Zinjo's help, providing he doesn't kill us all," Mshindis turned to the cage, "No harm will come to you in my camp. Zinjo saved my life once, and I shall return the favor, this I swear."

  The hyena's presence seemed more like a blessing than a curse. Aurelia gave him a nod of gratitude. "I am not here to fight Zinjo, but to ask for his help. An old enemy stalks this land and we believe it's in the Cherish empire." he turned away from the cage, "I will have my men bring you clothes, would that please you?"

   Aurelia nodded excitedly. How she longed to drape her naked form in modesty. The fur didn't replace the silk or lace she enjoyed. Mshindi gave a slight smile, "When the time comes, I will unbind your mouth so you may call Zinjo to your side."

  Aurelia shook her head in fury. Zinjo didn't deserve to be in her presence after what he did. Mshindi sighed, "Then we will have to fight"