A Battle In The Air (AmyMarie & SimbasMate)

[SimbasMate]

A Battle In The Air

Plot:
Aimee, Askari, Jumbe, and Ashur are four friends who are living in the time where Scar has taken over as king. Scar has captured Nala and has forbidden her to ever leave the Pridelands to go and look for help. To make things worse, the living conditions of the animals are horrid. The ground is dry and dusty, there is no food nor water to consume. Animals left and right are dying of either dehydration or starvation. If not that, they are luckily well enough to escape the Pridelands and go to where there is plentiful living resources. Unfortunately, these three friends cannot find anyone to help them with finding that what seems like a Garden of Eden location. The four buddies soon grow tired of living in the horrible conditions, and they soon find out that their "King" has a nephew who was supposed to take the throne but had got driven off by his Uncle, but he has gone missing. They decide to venture fourth and look for the said true King. Will they make it? Or will it be too late?

Characters:


Simba-AmyMarie
Aimee-AmyMarie
Askari-AmyMarie
Jumbe-SimbasMate
Ashur-SimbasMate
Nala-SimbasMate
Scar-SimbasMate
------

Jumbe coughed violently as dust arose from the ground and entered her lungs. She was very sick and tired of the ground always producing a cloudy and heavy dust whenever she took a step or tried to hunt for mice. "Mice. Ugh" She thought to herself. Jumbe missed being able to run free in the Pridelands and catch a fresh antelope for her Pride. She missed the thrill of the chase. But now, that seemed like a far away dream. A dream that she would never reach. The impossible. Jumbe's pride had fled off as quickly as they could right after Mufasa had been murdered. Did they know something she didn't? Why didn't they bring her with her when they left? Jumbe sighed and lay down in the dirt. It didn't matter what she did now, nothing was going to change how she was living. Nobody could. Scar refused to let anyone leave the Pridelands, let alone go searching for their lost families. All they had to eat was termites and mice, and the occasional vulture-if it flew low enough to the ground to be caught. Jumbe sniffed, as she felt a small tear run down her right cheek. Nothing would be the same, ever. No going back to the old days. None of that. It seemed as if the world was at it's end, and this was the way everyone was going to go.


Ashur was perched on a rock, watching the world below the small cliff. The sky was an ominous grey, and it seemed as if the clouds had wrapped everything and everyone in the world below them and sucked it all up. Ashur's expression was stiff. His bright blue eyes seemed to have lost their glow ever since the depressing events had taken place in the Pridelands. His bright red mane had knots and was very matted, and his brown pelt was even darker because of all the dirt. Ashur had became depressed, and he was now unable to even care about his own hygiene. All he did all day was sit on his little rock, and look out towards the rest of the Pridelands in dismay. He often wondered what the ex-King Mufasa would do if he saw his home like this. But that wasn't possible. Mufasa had been murdered, and now everything was a complete mess. Ashur was close to starving, as a couple of his ribs were beginning to show through his famished and dehydrated body. With one last look at the Pridelands, Ashur moved from his statue-like position and he lied down in the dried up grass. He wished he had not taken things for granted. He should have been more grateful for things. Instead, he was selfish towards everyone. And now, Ashur knew that this situation was the way of The Great Kings of The Past's way of making him pay.

[UncoordinatedPisces]

Two malnourished figures trekked across hard, stone-like ground. The dirt used to be grassy and soft; now, however, you would mistake the once great and bountiful Pridelands for something far worse. The figures blinked hard as dust was kicked up from their steps. The two stopped and the cloud surrounding them settled, they would of become clear to an on-looker. They were lions.

Aimee, the smaller of the two, sat and frowned. She was an adolescent. She was meant to be chasing friends, going on more grown up adventures, and learning how to hunt. The chances of that, now that Scar had taken even, looked slim. The other lion, a male of the name Askari, lifted his paw and rested it on her shoulder comfortingly. He hadn't any words, he wouldn't know what to say. Optimism was hard to force out of his maw. Aimee's stomach growled relentlessly and her face scrunched up.

"'Kari, I'm-"
"Hungry, I know". He cut her off. He felt responsible for Aimee. The two hadn't feelings for each other, it was more of a sibling bond. Aimee was the little sister he never had. "We'll find a few mice soon, I'm sure of it". With a slight nod from her, the two stood up again. Their paws ached from the tough terrain, the stomach growled, their eyes stung but yet with each other they moved ahead. Aimee followed her friend, and he was heading towards a small cliff.

[SimbasMate]

"Ashur.." A voice echoed through out Ashur's mind, a voice he knew but he just couldn't put a name to it."Who are you?" He answered back through his thoughts. "Your mother, remember? How could you forget your own mother?" In a blink of an eye, soon the Pridelands had materialized and Ashur was in his old home. The ground was fresh with wet and soft grass, the trees were in full bloom. Ashur lifted his head and he could taste the sweet tasting air. It was amazing. Was he in heaven? Had he finally left that soon to be rotten body of his and now he is at home with his mother? But where was his father? "Dad!" Ashur called out in his dreams. No answer. And just as quickly as the heavenly place had appeared, it started to fade into a dark savanna.

Ashur woke up with a gasp, his eyes almost bulging from his head. His heart was now racing so fast he could almost feel it in his throat. "Just a dream." He thought to himself. He knew deep inside his heart that would always be a dream. Ashur's hope had run away with the fleeing families and the antelope herd. Both now were long gone. With his heart still racing a bit in his chest, Ashur stood up. He was weak, but not weak enough so he couldn't stand up or walk anywhere. And this, he was thankful for. After shaking off the dirt from his fragile body, Ashur turned away from his rock and started to walk away from the cliff. After a couple minutes of walking, Ashur saw two figures in the distance. He could tell that they were getting closer, as the two were moving in his direction and their shadows were getting bigger. Ashur squinted to get a better look. It was so hard to tell who was who these days because the Pridelands were so dark and there was so much dust, you could barely see a dead tree from a few feet away. The two figures were now visible, and as soon as Ashur recognized them his heart fluttered in excitement. It had been a long time since he had felt excited, and it felt pretty damn good to him. Ashur gathered up what energy he did have left in him for the day and sprinted towards the approaching figures.

"Hi Amiee! Hi Askari!" Ashur said, trying to catch his breath.

The two figures who had approached were his old friends. With the drought, there came an earthquake and it had seperated everyone.

"What's going on?" To Ashur's disappointment, his two friends didn't look as happy as he did to see him. And he could understand why. Aimee's face was getting skinny, and she looked very hungry. Almost to the point where he was. Askari looked the same. Ashur didn't bother asking how they were feeling, because he knew. They were hungry and thirsty. Everybody was. Ashur sat down in the dirt and hung his head in pity and sympathy for his friends.
---------------
After a few hours of crying, Jumbe was able to calm herself. Usually, Jumbe didn't mind crying because it helped her feel better. But these crying spells! These crying spells she was having were signs of weakness, and hopelessness. These feelings were alien to her, she was almost always happy. Jumbe sniffled again and licked her grubby paw, then after wiping her tears away with it she got up and shook the settled dust from her fur. She coughed and looked out into the distance, looking for someone and anyone. Anyone that could breathe. She was so desperate for any form of socialization right now she didn't even care if she had to have a heart-to-heart conversation with a measly ant. Coughing and squinting, Jumbe caught sight of a little mountainous cliff. It was pathetic and dried up like everything else, and that was not what caught her attention. What had caught her attention was that she saw three other figures in the distance, gathered near this location. Had The Great Kings of The Past answered her prayers? No, probably not. They probably got sick of looking down on this hideous land so they left and probably picked up on better things to do. Those figures in the distance were probably some of King Scar's hyenas scavenging for a dead animal corpse. Even though there was nothing left to eat, you could walk around the Pridelands and come across a fresh carcass of a lion. Jumbe's stomach did a back flip at the thought. No matter how hungry she got, she swore on her life that she would never eat her own kind.

Dismissing the thoughts of cannibalism, Jumbe coughed and started to walk towards the gathered figures. Praying and hoping that they were someone that would be in a well state of mind, to keep her company.

[UncoordinatedPisces]

Aimee's lips curl into a weak smile at the sight of her friend, Ashur. She was relieved to find he was alive, but saddened that he was in a state worse than her's. There was no way of knowing if someone had died any more, not unless you stumbled upon their carcass. Aimee felt a lump in her throat; she prayed to the Kings of the Past that it would never happen. She tried to respond vocally, but her mouth was too dry to utter any words.

Askari nodded at Ashur respectfully at his greeting and managed more of a smile than Aimee could.
"Hello Ashur!" he replied, almost cheerfully. At his question, his smile faded and he looked to the sky. "No rain, no water. No water, no food". He glanced at his female friend with a concerned brow raised. "We're finding it hard to...adjust".

Aimee coughed and wheezed for a moment, sending a cloud of dust in front of her towards Ashur.
"Sorry, I-I didn't mean t-to" she said between breaths. She sat down on the hard ground. Aimee was usually quite a happy-go-lucky lioness with a grin etched upon her face all day, every day. So, understandably, it was hard for anyone who knew her to see her in the low state she was. All of a sudden, she perked up.

She saw a figure approaching that didn't appear to be of a hyena shape.
"Look" she said, motioning towards the moving animal. "Perhaps...perhaps it's Jumbe?" Askari followed Aimee's gaze and smiled, if it was, the four of them could be together again. They could try to survive. Being a team may help in this new wilderness.

[SimbasMate]

After meeting up with his two friends, Ashur felt a little glint of hope inside of him. He shook his mane, sending the dust that Aimee had coughed at him out into the already greyed atmosphere. Ashur frowned at Aimee and Askari. He knew what it felt like to feel so weak and hopeless. But he was glad that Askari was around to help out Aimee. He had always seen the two together, and he thought that they would always make great mates. Ashur knew that Askari felt differently about Aimee, so that was a fat chance of seeing that.

Ashur gave Aimee a reassuring nuzzle. "Coughing dust at me is the very last thing you have to worry about." Ashur said with a slight chuckle. Ashur was glad he had found Aimee and Kari. It was better than being alone and looking out at the depressing land all day. But even thought he was happy to find Kari and Aimee, Ashur had another friend he worried about daily. Jumbe. Jumbe was Ashur's very best friend, but she was not the one who would be able to survive on her own and especially in these conditions. He wondered what she was doing, and where she was. How was she feeling? Ashur knew that Jumbe was very sensitive when it came to being alone.

Shaking the worrying thoughts from his mind, Aimee had motioned towards a moving figure in the distance. It wasn't even close to being a hyena. As it moved slowly closer towards them, Ashur could already make out the shape. He knew that anywhere. It was Jumbe! Had the Great Kings of the Past read his mind? Had they send his friend? Hope suddenly filled Ashur's heart. Seeing Jumbe there brought him happiness, even if the world around him was grey and depressing.

----
Jumbe weakly moved towards the three figures in the distance. From the looks of it they were three lions, but Jumbe doubted they were any of her friends. Though what did she care? She was desperate for anyone. Though she did miss Aimee, Kari, and Ashur dearly, she figured that they had all ran off with their prides right after King Mufasa had died. Jumbe coughed again, and made her way through the dust that was stirred up with each step. All of a sudden, Jumbe felt her body weaken even more. But she was so close to those figures! She had to make it..just a few more steps. Jumbe's vision was now blurry, and she felt very dizzy. Stumbling and coughing, her body refused to walk. She roared, as if to call out for help. Jumbe's legs finally gave out and she collapsed. A big cloud of dust was sent up into the air and covered Jumbe. Her vision faded and the world around her went black and she lay in the dirt motionless, blacked out from hunger and thirst.

[UncoordinatedPisces]

Ashur's nuzzle perked Aimee up momentarily, and she was able to chuckle back. Askari watched them and smiled. It was nice to see his friends sharing a little moment of affection. Things like that made this new world less frightening. There was a roar. Askari turned his attentions to the sound, as did Aimee. She had been looking at the approaching figure anyway, knowing as it got closer it was Jumbe. She blinked, and the figure was no more.

It was on the ground. Both lion's expressions dropped. Finding a new strength out of sheer panic and worry, Aimee sprinted towards the downed figure. She almost tripped a couple of times over uprooting trees and bones, the dust stung her eyes, and the sudden burst of energy made her feel faint. This was Jumbe though. As she got closer, she saw her friend's motionless body and immediately feared the worse.
"No..." she shook her head. "You can't be...". She heard the sound of paws behind her, the others were catching her up.

Aimee fell to Jumbe's level, and shook her shoulders with her paws violently. Aimee had tears in her eyes, but yet, she made something out. The dust around Jumbe's mouth was moving. She was breathing. However, the fact she collapsed meant she may be close to dying, and Aimee needed to do something about that. "Guys! Help!" she called out to her other friends for support and action on what to do.

[SimbasMate]

Ashur's ear twitched at the desperate roar that echoed through the grey and desolate lands. As soon a he hard the roar, he saw the approaching figure drop to the ground. Despite being in such a bad condition, Ashur sprinted off rapidly just behind Askari. Aimee was already with the fallen animal, and was shaking at it violently with her paws. When Ashur caught up to Aimee, his heart dropped. The figure that was heading towards them was Jumbe, and she had fainted in the dirt. Ashur examined Jumbe carefully. Her bright yellow pelt was encrusted in a coat of dirt and dust. The black stripes on her head, thighs and shoulders seemed even darker because of this and her muzzle was dirty as well. No surprise there, the dust that had settled in the Pridelands was willful and refused to go away because of the lack of rain. Ashur nuzzled Jumbe's back gently, licking the filth off of her.

After failing to clean Jumbe, Ashur picked his head up from his efforts and looked at Aimee with worry filling his blue eyes.

"Aimee, we must leave. Jumbe is going to die if we stay here. In fact, we might all die if we stay here. I know Scar won't let us leave, but we must find a way out. There has to be!" Ashur said, desperately. He licked Jumbe again and picked her up by the scruff of her neck. He then looked at Aimee and Kari as a sign that they have no choice but to follow him.

[UncoordinatedPisces]

Ashur sudden comment on the life and death situation that they all faced, especially Jumbe, seemed to have kick started the brave hearts of Aimee and Askari, whom had been cowering from the inner courage to face the facts. Aimee glanced desperately back at Pride Rock. The skies were getting darker, a sign that night was approaching. Soon, Scar's hyenas would be on the prowl.

"I agree. We need to leave. I'm with you two to the end" Aimee replied, her tone concerned yet strong. Askari nodded, his eyes seemed to flare at the chance of an escape.
"As am I". With determined expressions, they helped Ashur move Jumbe into a position in which she would not be hurt while transported across the lands. "There is a part of the border where the hyenas rarely go" Askari stated. Aimee looked at him curiously, he had not told her of this place. "The outstretch of thorn bushes".

Aimee frowned. That was why he hadn't told her.
"Perhaps there is a path through them?" Aimee suggested. Askari thought for a moment.
"I swear there's a route of some sort. Its not like we have a choice now. We need to get Jumbe out. We all need to get out".

[SimbasMate]

Ashur had no idea where he was going, and he was very thankful that Askari knew of a place of where they could escape safely from the desolate lands, which seemed to be growing darker each minute. Ashur's heart was filled with worry, but at the same time he was very determined to get out of the Pride Lands. "But what if we don't make it in time?" Ashur though to himself. No. None of that. He refused to let even one weak thought run through his mind. This was a serious life or death situation.

"Well whether there is a route out of here or not, we are leaving and that's that." Ashur said to his friends, a slight hint of anger and frustration escaping his smooth yet deep voice. If he had a chance, he would murder Scar where he stood. He would rip that lion apart until he was no more. The anger boiled in Ashur's veins and triggered strength to go on. He knew that his anger for Scar would be the only thing to keep him going on this journey, and the fact that Jumbe was in a serious condition of poor health.

The sky grew darker as the three friends headed towards the outstretch of the thorn bushes. Every second seemed like an hour long. Their bodies were weak, but their will to live was stronger. Dust still refused to stay on the dry ground. Dust danced up into the atmosphere with each step the lions took. And if you listened closely, you could hear Kin Scar's voice echoing through the settling night. Demanding and threatening. The voice of a killer.

[UncoordinatedPisces]

They couldn't rush. They had Jumbe to keep notice of. If they kicked up too much of a dust cloud they would be noticed. Askari ventured ahead to make sure the path was clear, Aimee was watching Jumbe to make sure she was breathing while Ashur carried her. The lions soon came to clearing, and below them lay almost a thousand thorn bushes. Askari looked ahead with despair. The horizon was in sight, but the thorns were treacherous.

"A-Askari" Aimee panted, exhausted from the walk, "Is there a way through?". The young male squinted. He could see the path. It was ridden with raises and falls and weak rock, but relatively thorn free. Any one in too much of a rush would of missed it.
"Yes" he nodded, beckoning to the barely visible route, "Its going to be hard to navigate with Jumbe being carried, but we'll manage".

A shrill noise carried on the wind. The noice of hyena's laughing. Aimee shuddered, they couldn't be too far away, but the wind was in their favour.
"We'll have to manage!" she exclaimed, beginning to make her way towards the path.