CHAPTER 2

"I am the guardian of the forest," the old man replied.

"And you, Sochima, are a child of the forest.

Your mother's blood runs deep in these woods, and I have been sent to protect you."

Sochima's eyes welled up with tears as she realized that she was not alone.

The old man's eyes gleamed with a knowing light as he spoke to Sochima.

"Your mother sent me to you, child," he said, his voice low and mysterious.

"She wants you to avenge her death.

She wants you to make those who wronged her pay for their cruelty."

Sochima's heart skipped a beat as she heard the old man's words.

The idea facing the villagers sparked a fire within her.

She felt a surge of determination and purpose.

"What do I need to do?"

she asked the old man, her voice firm and resolute.

The old man nodded, as if he had been expecting her response.

"I will teach you the ways of the forest," he said.

"I will show you how to harness your anger and grief, how to use them to fuel your strength and courage.

And when the time is right, you will go to the village, and you will confront those who wronged your mother."

Sochima's heart raced with anticipation as she nodded her head.

She was ready to begin her journey, ready to avenge her mother's death and bring justice to those who had wronged her.

The old man's words had ignited a flame within her, a flame that would burn bright and fierce until she had accomplished her mission.

The old man took her into their chamber where she was transformed.

Sochima's transformation was complete.

She now stood on four powerful legs, her body a majestic lion's, but her head still retained its human features.

Her eyes blazed with a fierce inner light, and her voice was a mighty roar.

As she prowled the forest, she came across Ebuka hunting in the forest and he became her first victim.

She remembers that Ebuka's father, was one of the elders who had sacrificed her mother, and it made her happy.

Sochima's lioness instincts roared with triumph.

She had finally begun to exact her revenge.

The villagers who had wronged her would now taste the fear and pain they had inflicted on her and her mother.

With a fierce cry, Sochima claimed the forest as her territory.

The transformation had unleashed a powerful force within her, and nothing would stop her from avenging her mother's death.

The forest trembled at the roar of the half-human, half-lion creature, knowing that Sochima's wrath would be merciless and unrelenting.

As the guides arrived at the palace room, the king instructed them to go in search of Ebuka.

"I want you to search the forest and find Ebuka the son of Ibekwe.

Bring him back to me, dead or alive."

The guides nodded and set out into the forest, their torches and spears at the ready.

They combed through the underbrush, calling out Ebuka's name, but the only response was the echo of their own voices.

As they searched deeper, they began to feel a sense of unease.

The forest seemed to be growing darker, the shadows twisting and turning in ways that made them feel like they were being watched.

They quickened their pace, their hearts pounding in their chests.

Suddenly, a mighty roar shook the forest, making the guides tremble with fear.

They knew that they were not alone in the forest, and that something was stalking them.

They tried to flee, but their feet felt heavy, as if rooted to the spot.

And then, a figure emerged from the shadows.

The half-human, half-lion creature, stood before them, her eyes blazing with fury.

The guides, terrified, scattered in different directions, desperate to escape the wrath of the Lioness.

They hid behind trees, in bushes, and under rocks, holding their breath and praying that she would not find them.

But Sochima was relentless.

She roared through the forest, her voice echoing off the trees, until she spotted one of the guides.

He had thought he was safe, hiding behind a thick trunk, but Sochima's keen eyes had caught sight of him.

The guide, knowing he was discovered, emerged from his hiding place and started shooting his gun.

But to his horror, the bullets is not penetrating and it's bouncing off the Lion's fur, as if it were invulnerable.

Sochima let out a mighty roar, her eyes fixed on the guide, and began to stalk towards him.

The guide, realizing his gun was no match for the creature, turned and ran, but the lion was too fast.

She pounced, her claws outstretched, and the guide's screams echoed through the forest.

The other guides, hearing their companion's fate, knew they had to escape the forest at all costs.

They emerged from their hiding places and started running, not stopping until they were at a safe place.

Sochima's claws sank deep into the guide's flesh, and with a swift motion, she ended his life.

But she didn't stop there. With a fierce determination, she reached into his chest and pulled out his heart, holding it aloft like a trophy.

The other guides, still fleeing through the forest, heard the guide's screams and Sochima's triumphant roar.

They run as fast as their leg could carry and went back to the palace.

When they finally reached the palace, they found the king waiting for them, his face stern with worry.

"What happened?" he demanded, but the guides could only shake their heads, their eyes wide with fear.

"It was a lion," one of them stammered. "It killed him, and...and removed his heart."

The king was consumed by worry and fear.

He had never heard of a lion in their forest, and now, his people were being hurt and killed by one.

He called for his wisest advisors, demanding to know why this was happening and how to stop it.

But none of them knew the truth - that Sochima was seeking vengeance for the wrongs done to her mother.

They thought it was just a wild animal, and suggested solutions like hunting parties and traps.

The king, desperate for a solution, agreed to their plans, but deep down, he knew that something was amiss.

He couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to this lion than met the eye.

He decided to called for Ezemmuo, the chief priest, to consult with the gods.

He hoped that the priest's connection to the divine would shed light on the mysterious attacks and provide a solution to the crisis.

Ezemmuo arrived at the palace, his long white robes flowing behind him, and greeted the king with a bow.

"Your Majesty," he said,

"I sense that something is amiss.

The gods are restless, and the balance of nature is disturbed."

The king nodded, his eyes pleading for answers.

"Please, Ezemmuo, ask the gods what is happening.

Why is this lion attacking my people?"

Ezemmuo nodded gravely.

"I shall consult the gods and seek their wisdom. But, Your Majesty, be prepared for the truth.

The gods do not always reveal what we wish to hear."

With that, Ezemmuo turned to leave the palace, his staff in hand, his eyes fixed on the distant hills where the gods dwelled.

"I shall return with the gods' answer," he promised, "and may the truth bring us peace and understanding."

And with that, he departed, leaving the king to his worries and the palace to its eerie silence, waiting for the chief priest's return with the gods' verdict.

*

*

Ezemmuo walked through the forest, his senses alert to the natural world around him.

As he approached his shrine, he felt a sense of peace and tranquility wash over him.

He pushed aside the curtain of leaves and entered the sacred space, expecting to find solitude and quiet contemplation.

Instead, he was met with a sight that made him raise an eyebrow in surprise.

Sochima, the young girl he had known as Ugomma's only daughter, stood waiting for him, her small frame and innocent face a stark contrast to the solemnity of the shrine.

Ezemmuo's mind wondered what could have brought her to this sacred place, and what she might want with him.

The chief priest's eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze fixed on Sochima with a mixture of curiosity and caution, as he tried to discern the purpose of her unexpected visit.

The air was thick with anticipation, the silence between them heavy with unspoken questions.

"What brings you to my shrine, little one? Say your wish, for the gods are ready to listen to you."

Sochima's expression remained enigmatic, her voice steady and calm.

"I heard that you want to help the king consult the gods and find out the problem."

Ezemmuo's eyes narrowed slightly, his mind racing with possibilities.

"Yes, as you can see," he replied, his hand gesturing to the various artifacts and symbols adorning the shrine.

"Or do you have any problem with that?" He asked, his tone cautious, sensing that there was more to Sochima's visit than met the eye.

Sochima's eyes flashed with anger, her voice low and menacing.

"Well, if you still value your life, stay away from the villagers for now, I haven't come for you yet.

You people sacrificed my mother and think you can make away with it? Never."

Ezemmuo's face turned red with rage, his eyes blazing with indignation.

"How dare you treat me in my own shrine, you little rat?

You shall never leave to tell the story."

With a swift motion, he raised his hand and unleashed a blast of energy, aiming to strike Sochima down.

But Sochima was no ordinary child.

As the charm hurtled towards her, she transformed in an instant, her body contorting and growing until she stood before Ezemmuo as a majestic lioness.

Her fur rippled in the dim light of the shrine, her eyes burning with a fierce intensity as she deflected the charm with a swipe of her paw.

The air was electric with tension, the two locked in a silent struggle, their powers clashing in a display of magic and fury.

The battle between Ezemuo and Sochima raged on, the air crackling with energy and the ground shaking beneath their feet.

The sky above grew dark, the clouds churning and twisting in a strange, otherworldly way.

The villagers felt a sense of unease, as if the very fabric of reality was being torn apart.

As the fight reached its climax, Sochima's power surged forward, her lioness form radiating an aura of fury and vengeance.

Ezemuo, his strength waning, stumbled backward, his eyes wide with terror.

With a final, mighty roar, Sochima struck the final blow, her claws tearing through Ezemuo's body and sending him crashing to the ground.

The villagers, sensing the sudden release of energy, looked up to see the sky clearing, the sun breaking through the clouds.

But in the shrine, a gruesome sight awaited.

Ezemuo's body lay in pieces, his heart ripped from his chest, a symbol of Sochima's triumph.

And with that, Sochima vanished, leaving behind a trail of destruction.

STORY CONTINUES.

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