Chapter 5

                                  Chapter 5

Leon

Leon could see several lions in the clearing as they made their way into the camp. Some were bathing in the sun, others were eating prey or grooming each other.

        Leon felt a shiver run though his back. He always dreamed of living with lions, but he knew that they were dangerous, and if he walked into the opening he could get attacked.

        "Okay, here is our camp," The male lion welcomed him as he came to a stop. "We are The Lion Pride," He announced, "And I am Moon leader of the pride." He dipped his head in greeting to Leon. "And this is Shadow.-" he waved his tail to the darker pelted lioness. "And this-" He waved his tail to the other lioness "-Is Lilly, my lovely mate."     Shadow and Lilly both dipped there head to the cat, also.

        Leon didn't understand why the lions were being so kind to him.

        "And... so, do you want me to stay... here?"

        Leon didn't realize how crazy he sounded until he said it. He isn't a lion like them, so why would they want a small cat like him in their pride?

        "Well," Moon began, "You kind of have to, and I'm not just saying that because your helpless and lost."

        Leon felt less nervous now that the lions seemed to not go against him. But why?

        "How about you go get something to eat first and go get a drink of water."

        Moon really seemed to be welcoming him in the pride.

        Without hesitating Leon followed Shadow and Lilly to the eating area. His paws tingled and he had butterflies in his belly as he approached the other pride members. He wondered what they would think of him.

        Lilly picked a small hare from the pile and gently laid it in front of the ginger cat. Leon bent down ready to fill his belly, but another lion snatched it away instantly.

        "Why is this little pest stealing our food?" The lion growled at Leon with a mean expression.

        Leon's fur began to bristle.

        The lioness opened her mouth to say something back but Moon broke in first.        

        "This fellow, my friend is not a pest." Moon stepped in front of Leon to keep him protected as he explained.

        More lion pride members crowded around the scene.

        "We found him in the hunting grounds moments ago" The pride leader began, but waited as the lions began to protest and question their leader.

        None of them were positive.

        "Why bring a rat in our pride?"

        "Have you lost your brain?"

        "Let's eat him!"

        Leon shrunk back behind Moon; scared that one of the lions would pouch at him at any moment. That wouldn't be good.

        "Quiet!" Moon roared. "Remember what our ancestors had told us?" He motioned toward the sky.

        They all gazed up at the first appearing stars as night started to come. The massive cats grew silent as Moon seemed to make his point.

        Leon didn't understand what he meant, something about the sky, the stars… maybe the moon? What did Moon mean by "what our ancestors had told us?" Leon thought that maybe their ancestors said something about him and that may be why the lions were so kind to him.

        "This is a special cat."

        Moon stepped aside to revile the ginger cat to the watching lions.

        Leon tried to lie his fur down flat so he wouldn't look scared.

        The lion that snatched his prey began to spill insults.

        "And what is his name, “Fluffy?” He could be a house cat you know."

        He and a few other lions laughed in amusement. Leon felt embarrassed. He started to think that his fantasy of living with lions wouldn't be as fun as he would of thought. They all hated him.

        Moon gave the lion a hard stare, in effect, telling him to stay silent. At least I have the leader on my side, right?

        "My name is Leon." The cat said less scared, but more angry.

        Leon couldn't let these lions think he was a little helpless house cat. He was a forest cat!

        "Well Leon, I am Hawkclaw-" He began to prowl toward Leon, "-And I am the meanest fighter you could ever encounter...," then he added more harshly, "...and you don't belong here!"

        Hawkclaw swiped Leon with his right forepaw with his claws out. He hit Leon hard enough in the head to make him tumble over.

        "Ouch!" Leon yowled in pain as he felt his head began to throb and blood ran down his forehead, half dazed. He heard only Hawkclaw laughing at him.

        "Hawkclaw, stop this nonsense! Come and have a word with me in my den." Moon's voice shook as he spoke.

        Without another word Moon and Hawkclaw both padded towards a den made by two low tree branches that provided cover.

        Shadow, Lilly, and two other lions padded up to him.

        "Are you okay?" One of the male lions asked.

        "Don't mind him, he's always so rude." other said.

        Maybe some of these lions did care.

        The cat got up to his paws and shook of the throbbing pain.

        "Oh, it's nothing. I'm fine." Leon tried to sound normal as possible.

        "Hey you can come with me in the nursery to rest," Lilly offered.

        "Okay," He replied, "thank you."

        As Leon followed the lioness to the nursery he felt like he was floating, like he was in a dream. Could it be real that these lions are welcoming him into there pride? For a moment the young cat felt like he was looking though the eyes of a lion's instead of a little cat's point of view.

        One day you will see in the eyes of a lions...

        Maybe Leon's dream had come true.

        Padding into the nursery Leon flinched back as two lion cubs rolled around play-fighting in front of him. He settled in the moss nest with his tail over his paws, watching the lion cubs as they played.

        Leon cleaned his wound he had on his head. The young cubs seemed to be in their own world.

        "Take that you filthy cheetah!" One growled playfully biting his brother on the head.

        "I am here to take over your pride!" The other cub pounced at his brother rustling the moss nesting.

        Leon shivered. These cubs must be reenacting encounters the lions had with other animals like cheetahs. He was in the lion's pride, not the cheetahs and it was too easy for him to encounter the lions but what if he encounters the cheetahs, too? There was no doubt that those big cats could kill him like prey, also. They run much faster than any other cat, or any other animal for that matter. It could be too dangerous for him to live here.

        The young cat still couldn't believe that these lions could ever possibly think that a useless little cat like him could be part of such a special prophecy. It was the leader of the pride that seemed to have the most courage in him. So, was that a good thing?

        Hawkclaw, the massive lion with numerous scars on his face and pelt, saw Leon for what he saw on the outside; which was a horrified, young, lost, ginger tom cat.    Moon seemed to see Leon brave and full of courage, like a lion.

        Be the heart of the lion.

        Maybe that is why he though he could be so special. This prophecy that Moon believes in seems like a fantasy.

        Leon remembered Moon telling the pride, “remember what our ancestors had told us", and then they had gazed up at the moon. It probably meant that their ancestors lived around the moon after they have passed away.

        Either way these lions must have been mistaking him for some other cat. There was nothing special about him, at least, not from what he knew.

        The lion cubs began to play rougher as a third cub came to play. The cubs kicked up strips of the nesting as they wrestled.

        "That’s enough!" Lilly called at the cubs after lying down meat for Leon.

        She must be the cub's mother.

        It was the same hare that Hawkclaw had snatched away, still good and fresh. Leon just wishes he could have been the one to catch it.

        Without protest the cubs cuddled up to their mother as she lay down in the corner of the den for them to suckle. Leon breathed in deep, I still think this is all a dream, and then, sighed a breath out.

        He took a bite out of the fresh kill and began to full his hungry belly. Leon felt somewhat relived that he had the lions to provide food for him. But that didn't mean he wasn't going to stop hunting.

        Leon loved to hunt, but how could he hunt here? There were animals the size of horses lurking around in the grasslands. It would be dangerous for him to hunt. Leon just sighed and put the problem to the back of his head.

        After finishing his prey a light furred lioness made her way in the den with a large leaf carved up like a bowl balanced on her broad head.

        "I got water."

        She carefully laid the water-filled leaf awkwardly on the ground in front of him. Not a drop of the water spilled.

        "Thank you." Leon dipped his head to her, remembering how thirsty he was.

        He quickly lapped at the water in the leaf. Leon closed his eyes in pleasure as he tasted the cold fresh water.

        "You’re welcome Leon. My name is Star," she introduced herself.

        Anxiety filled his belly like butterflies. He was just a young lost cat. Why would they think he's so special and give him so much respect? They were trying so hard to make him feel like he was home to keep him here; he guessed. Would Leon ever be able to settle here and make this his home?

        When Leon didn't respond Star went on," I'm expecting cubs soon."

        She made her way to the center of the den to settle down. He glared at her belly noticing that she was told the truth. Her belly was swollen huge. She looked as if she could be expecting any day now. This pride seemed to be going well.

        Once again Leon didn't respond and the moment became awkward.

        Star laid her chin on her paws and snoozed into a quick sleep.

        Leon turned back to the leaf to drink the rest of the water. After he was finished he pushed it off to the side.

        The ginger cat's green eyes wondered in the sky. Everything was quiet, much more quite than in the crowded forest. He looked at Lilly, her three cubs, Star, and then scanned all the other dens. They were all settling down for sleep, too.

        This day had been a busy day, and it had all passed so fast. Leon wasn't even sure he could get any sleep at all now. His belly was full; he had fresh water, and all the respect he could ever wish for.

        Leon started to regret ever wanting a wish like this. Maybe it was too soon for him.

        Maybe next time I should be more careful for what I wish for.