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The following story is loosely based on influences from Disney's "The Lion King" and "The Lion Guard" but does not actually interfere with the timeline regarding that franchise. It is purely a work of fiction and thus can and wil lcontain many scenes of Loss, Death, Adult Content not suitable for children, and heavy themes of spiritual jorunies which may involve what we could consider illegal substances. If any of these themes offend you, please turn away now. Still here, than gather around the fire, children and learn the tale of a soul once lost but reborn.

Chapter 1: Mountain of the Rising Sun It was quiet on the Savannah that night, too quiet. tucked away out of sight was a small outcropping of rocks with a smal fire going. Nothing unusual except for the Cheetah mother watching over her young son and knowing that the heat from the fire was going to attract attention. She feared the ire of the Lions that roamed this territory more than anything as they didnt' take kindly to anyone in their turf. But cheetahs are nomads and they roam after their prey constantly. A lonely life but a life none the less. She watched her young son, her first, sleep peacefully with a full belly by the fire. The stars twinkled in the night sky and the sounds of the nocturnal insects filled the air. All was calm, and all was right, but in the Savannah, calm can also mean trouble.. Cheetahs were good at spotting trouble. And this mother was no exception. Suddenly the mothers ears perked. She caught wind of a scent. Was it lion? No. It was something else. She was a young mother, her first cub with her so she hadn't been properly prepared for everything out in the wilds. She hurriedly awoke her young son, "Akhet! Get up! I need you to go hide yourself amongst the rocks, make yourself as small as possible and don't question me." The cub was barely able to rub the sleep from his eyes after being so rudely awoken. But he did as his mother instructed, using his small frame to slip in and law as low as possible. He watched as his mother grabbed her spear, holding it in a defensive posture.

A pack of African Wild Dogs had surrounded her. The Alpha spoke firmly and aggressively, "Well, well, well. What do we have here?" The second in command of the pack smirked wickedly as she responded, "I think we have someone whose lost, and doesn't understand what territorial rights mean." The pack began to circle around the young mother. Her hands trembbled has she held her spear. This wasn't a hunt. She wasn't chasing prey. She was now defending her son's life. "J-just stay back. You have no claim to this territory either. I-I'm just passing through. I don't want any trouble." But the leader of the wild dogs growled loudly, his bone carved swords drawn, "Trouble?Oh I think you've found trouble my dear. But perhaps we should have a little fun with her first." She didn't need to know what those words meant. She saw it in their eyes and as the approached further to violate her she swung her spear and slammed it into the heart of one of the other wild dogs before swiping her claws right across the face of the leader. Blood dripped down his face from the swipe in 4 claw like marks. He snarled and growled, "So you want it like that huh? Fine. Not worth the trouble." He charged at her as she pulled her spear out of the dead wild dog and blocked his sword strikes. It wasn't long before the others had joined in and circled her. Now she had to try and hold off five of them at once and with blades flying from all directions she did her best, letting her fight or flight instincts kick in.

It was brutal. She hadn't dealt with soothing like this before. Maybe a stray lioness here and there, but even than, the Lions had more respect for fighters and even with the cheetahs they only took them on one on one knowing their nature and giving them a fair chance to fight to live another day. But Wild Dogs? They were Hyena's on steroids. She screamed in pain, failing to block one of the blades as it slammed into her shoulder, spilling blood. She staggered backwards and fell to the ground with a thud. One of the other wild dogs took her spear from her hand and rammed it hard into the open would immobilizing her with even more pain. Meanwhile Akhet clamped his hands over his mouth to avoid screaming, tears welling up in his eyes at the sight he was watching. The pack leader walked up, kneeling down as he grabbed her by the lower jaw and forced her head upwards. She immediately spit in his face. He wiped the saliva from his face and punched her right back in the mouth causing her to bleed there next. He grabbed her again by the lower jaw, "That wasn't smart, kitten. I could have just let you live, maybe after a bit of fun. No you chose to make this harder on yourself. Time for you to learn your place in the pecking order." But the young cheetah simply spouted back with the last of her strength, "Get bent you flea bitten mutt." And with that she was silenced, the bone blade slicing across her neck as she gasped for air and slumped to the ground, bleeding out.

It was too much. Akhet screamed, "NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" But that only caught the attention of the dogs. "Well, seems she had a cub after all, what do you guys think about a play thing for a while?" He walked over reaching for Akhet as he bit his hand. He pulled back snarling and reaching back in and drug the cub out by the scruff of his neck and slammed him into the rocks, "Boy, I'll do a lot worse to you than I did to your mother if you do that again. You hear me?" But out of no where he heard a cry and a slump He turned around only to see his second in command dead on the ground with an arrow in her head and standing in front of him were two lions. Both were wearing regal garments. They were the king and queen of the territory and they were not happy at what they saw or witnessed. "Haven't you tortured him enough, you murderer? Spilling his mothers bleed in front of him? Do you intend to spill his next? Spill the blood of a child? Have you no Morals?!" the king bellowed loudly, enough that it could be heard for miles. But the wild dog wasn't backing down, "Sod off. My prey not yours." Both the king and queen looked at each other, somber expressions on their face as they nodded and without warning charged in on the pack.. The leader dropped Akhet who scrambled to his mothers corpse, crying over her. But the Lions fought off the assault, as wild dogs dropped left and right. And despite their leaders valiant effort, he was stopped as the King took a swing and severed his arm. The cries and yiips echoed in the starry night as he dropped to his knees, the Queen put a foot at his throat while the King pointed his blade at him, "If I ever, see you or your kind in our land, in our territory again, I'm going to do to you what you did to that poor child's mother except you will be alive for the entire procedure. Do I make myself clear, whelp?!" He only grunted and groaned, gasping for air. And once the Queen let up, he crawled and scampered off.

"What do we do about the cub?" she asked her mate. The King shook his head, "I don't know I'll make sure the others know he's to cross our lands safely, I don't condone the killing of children or the combat rituals we give their kind." She protested, "But he's just a child! He'll die not more than a few hours! I highly doubt he was ever taught to hunt. I mean look at him! He's a child." "And what of the pride?! We bring an outsider in, let alone another species, let alone one that's nomadic?! What would become of our reign?!" But his Queen was a mother too and she was very angered by this situation, "have you no heart?" He sighed, "I do have a heart, I feel sorry for him, he didn't deserve this, but we can't just....." She cut him off, "What if it was Anaya? Would we still leave her here to die?"

She struck a cord with her King and suddenly something popped into his head. Anaya, their daughter. "Can you train him like you were trained? Perhaps adapting to the kind of cat he is?" She looked puzzled, "Perhaps, I mean basics, but what do you mean?" He smiled, "In time. Perhaps, we might have a Lion Guard after all. Assuming he shows the same prowess as his mother did. " The queen shook her head, "If you're referring to that as bravery, I can tell you as a mother that's not bravery, that's motherly instinct. However.... Anaya will never show any kind of combat prowess, she's destined to become our next shaman, perhaps he would be a good candidate to pass my skills on to. But do we let him in the cave?" THe King nodded, "If he is to become what I think he will become, I see no reason not to." After the discussion and agreement of terms, she walked over to the poor cub as she knelt down. Akhet was frightened as he turned around but weak from sobbing. She held out her hand, "Come, little one I will take you to safety." But Akhet wouldn't move. He wouldn't go without his mother. "I will take her too, little one, you'll both be safe. I Promise." She had it in her mind now to help bury his mother in the royal graveyard. A gesture of kindness. The King picked up his mother's spear and her body as the Queen caoxed Akhet into her arms. He cried the entire way back to their home before falling asleep. The Queen shed a tear of her own. She was gong to make damn certain he would grow up strong and ready to extract the revenge she knew he would seek.. She owed it to him for failing to be more vigilant about those trespassing on their turf.

While it had only been days since the tragedy, young Akhet spoke no words, barely ate and slept alone in a cold, dark corner of the cave. While both rulers became wary and concerned, they continued ahead with the burial. And soon, in the royal cemetery, robed in garments fitting a ruler, Most of the pride did not come. Not out of disrespect for the King but out of animosity for the outsider, let alone an outsider of another species. But the few that did, did so out of respect. When they heard the tale of the night before, those that came did so to appease the spirits to watch over the soul of the mother and protect the young child left behind. Akhet stood there, saddened, trying to not cry as his mothers body was laid to rest n the ground. Their daughter, Anaya, couldn't help but wonder and simply said to her parents during the ceremony, "whose she? Why's she special enough for here?!" But Akhet had heard, and tears streamed down his face as he ran, back to the cave, back to his corner. While Anaya's mother went after Akhet, her father snapped at her, "Anaya! Don't be so rude. The young boy has lost his mother, at least show him some respect young lady." Anaya hung her head. Akhet's mother was finally laid to rest, the King asking the spirits to watch over her spirit in faith, asking for his own atonement that he felt led to her death. Life is funny sometimes, but we all share it. It wasn't long before Akhet was found by the Queen, and he turned around and fell into her arms crying his eyes out, "It's okay, she didn't mean it. She didn't know. I'm here, little one, It's going to be okay, I promise." A mother is a mother. And to her Akhet was no different than her own daughter. And she sat there comforting the young one. "Do you have a name, little one?" Akhet could barely see through his eyes, as he said, "A-Akhet." She smiled down at him, "Akhet.... Where the sun rises. Horizon." he looked up at the adult confused, "Wh-what do you men?" But she looked down at him, "In our tongue your name means horizon, where the sun rises, a fitting name. The sun will rise in you again, Akhet. Don't let go of the pain, the sorrow, Always remember the happy times. But you must learn to say goodbye as well. We are all to be dust in the ground one day, some sooner than others. But those who die, do so that those may live." She patted Akhet on the head looking down at hi mand staring him in the ehes, "I saw the incident before we could get there. Your mother gave her life to keep you safe. And now I shall do the same. But you must understand, our daughter doesn't know what happened, and she's only your age. She hasn't seen death, you have, and so you must remember that she is confused to who your mother was and why she rests with our ancestors." Akhet wiped his eyes and his nose, still saddened but curious.

"B-but why?" was all he could muster, The Queen knew at this point there was no trying to lie or hide the truth from Akhet. For such a young cub he witnessed a horrific scene and one that would plague his dreams for years to come. She decided to be honest with him something she wouldn't have done with her daughter, "Because, truth be told, We knew you had entered our territory and much like you were aware before, I was coming to test your mother's might, the right of ritual combat as is what our kind does. But I slacked in my duties and didn't see the wild dogs enter or stop them before they attacked. Guilty? Perhaps. But deep down, she deserves to be remembered for the fight she put up, as brave as it was. An honorary warrior of the Pride, even if my husband and I are the only ones who know. And someday you too will be able to fight. For now, Akhet, I ask that you come to terms with what has happened in the past and seek the path to move forwards. I won't stop you if you choose to run, but know that I will be glad to have you stay until you feel the time is right." Akhet looked up, he wanted to run, but he couldn't, he was weak, tired, exhausted and alone. At least he felt alone. He nodded weakly as he pulled his knees into his chest and buried his face. About that time Anaya came walking in with her father. He cleared his throat and Anaya sighed, looking at Akhet as she said, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you." Akhet said nothing, hurt and angry at the toher cub. But her mother patted her on the head, "Give him time, dear, he's been through a lot and he could use a friend I'm sure."

Anaya did the only thing she could at this point as she sat down next to Akhet who slide himself over away from her. But Anaya was stubborn and persistent, "Hey, I said I was sorry. What's your name anyways?" Akhet was silent for a few moments that made it feel like hours before saying "Akhet." "Well I'm Anaya. Princess Anaya, The greatest shaman of all!" A bit of a stretch as she was only a young student learning. Akhet was less than impressed. The Queens words rang in his ears about choosing his own path. He didn't understand it, after all being here, being saved, didn't someone choose that for himself? "You don't talk much, you know that right?" Anaya's infectious personality could be a bit much to take in, especially in this situation but Akhet wasn't in the mood, "Don't speak unless you have something to say....", as he quoted what his mother always taught him. "I know," exclaimed Anaya, "You should come with me when I go to my mystical lessons! I bet you'd find it amazing!" he just shook his head, not in the mood for anything, but her Father chimed in, "That's not a bad idea. Togamaru might know exactly how to help him. Anaya I want you to take young AKhet with and tell him I asked him to help our young friend." Her mother at this point knew enough to give Akhet a reassuring look so he'd know it would be okay. Hard to do since only she was ble to get him to do anything. But Anya chirped happily as she grabbed Akhet by the arm and drug him out of the village and down the road towards the Mystic Togamaru.

Akhet had no time to protest as he found himself walking along with the young princess. The skies were bright and clear, the birds chirped, the Savannah was alive wtih life. Anaya skipped and bounded despite Akhet dragging behind, still moping. "Someday," exclaimed Anaya, hopping on a rock and acting like a diva as she pointed to herself, "I will be Queen of these lands and all shall bow to my beauty and grace~" "If that's the case, than we're all doomed." retorted Akhet. The young lioness glared at the cheetah, wrinkling her nose, "You're so mean for a mopey little kitten." Akhet was getting annoyed, "And your a spoiled brat." Anaya wasn't pleased, "You are so not a nice person. You know that?" Akhet was in no mood for this, "Oh yes, I'm a wonderful person, especially left alone in this world." Anaya didn't fully understand why he ws here or why the older cheetah was buried in the royal graveyard. But she was inquisitive as a young one and asked anyways, "So who was that person anyways?" Akhet sighed and looked down at the ground, "......my mother." Anaya's curiosity suddenly disappeared, "Oh..." she said, "I--I'm sorry I didn't know...." But Akhet said nothing, continuing to walk past her down the path they were told to follow. "Can I help?" she asked, "No." was all he said. He felt all alone without his mother, and these people, saviors or not were strange and scary to him. "You don't have anyone anymore do you? I mean your kind, are nomads right? What about your father?" "Never knew him, was never around," he said. Anaya's heart ws breaking. She felt so bad and so hurt for him, but she mustered up the courage and took his hand in hers, "Well you got me now. And I won't ever stop being your friend." Akhet just pulled away again, "who needs friends...." The sight of his mother's death had damaged him greatly. Perhaps Tokumaru was the only one who could help.

The path to the giant tree was rocky, stony, rough, Roots and rocks carved out the way, acting as a stepping path. The great Shaman lived in a very large hut built into a sacred tree. At the bottom to get up you had to pull a rope to ring a bell and a basket would drop and be pulled up. A primitive system but it worked. Anaya pulled the rope like she always did as Akhet looked up at the large tree, eyes wide as saucers. He hadn't see anything like this before. When the basket dropped, they both got in as it slowly began to ascend up it's path carved into the trunk. At the top the cubs pushed the cloth door way to the side as they stepped in. The place had a bubbling cauldron in the middle, a small bed and many different wood, clay, stone and bone pots containing all sorts of things. But no one was home. Or so it seemed. That couldn't be right, how did the basket descend without someone there? Suddenly behind them the large Mandrill chuckled, "Hello, Princess." Anaya and Akhet jumped, startled, "Gah!? You, you creepy old monkey!" she retorted, despite Master Togamaru laughing as loud as he could. Akhet was frightened like he was about to have a heart attack. "Welcome Princess Anaya. And tell me, who is your friend here, Akhet I believe his name was? Yes...." Akhet was now puzzled, "How do you knwo who I am?" But the mandrill continued, "You are the son of Skykoma Songfeather, yes? I hear she fought to the bitter end, enacting the greatest of deeds in life, is that not why she lies as a guest within the graveyard of the pride?" Akhet was weirded out and now Anaya was too, "How do you know all this? Were you at the ceremony, Master Togamaru?" Anaya asked. The mystical monkey smiled, "My dear, my young princess. We shamans are more than mystics, healers or naturalists, we are the keepers of fate, of destiny. Fate is a fabric that must be weaved into place, And we Shamans are the Thread weavers, who manipulate the Loom of Life. It is our duties to know and to see. To seek and to Learn, to teach and be taught. And you, my young friend...." he reached down to put his hand on Akhet's forehead, "You have suffered injustice, a horrific ordeal. But hear me now, llittle one, What is done is done. Your thread was woven for a reason, for you are to become more than you know and in time you will see. You can deny your fate, or you can accept it, but you cannot deny it. Seek your place amongst Horizon for is that not whom you are named for?"

Akhet could do naught but stare up at the monkey in awe. "Many questions you have, I can see. And in time I will answer them. But a broken pot must first be put back together before it can become useful again." Master Togamaru was always on point. He was right. Akhet was a broken shell and until he allowed himself to heal, to be put back together the only thing he could do was deny his fate and sometimes denial of fate can lead to short lives. It is no secret Anaya was fated to become her prides Queen, her Pride's shaman. Akhet? Fate had dealt him a hand that would make him be a part of that plan, and all he had to do was accept it. And so he sa there all afternoon, out of the way, inquisitively watching Anaya practice. It was the first time in days he didn't feel sad or depressed. He was very curious and intrigued. The afternoon spent seemed to do it's trick as Akhet kept pace with Anaya on the way home. Of the dozen or so Prides in the area, Anaya's was the smallest by far but Master Togamaru always knew they were destined for greatness and thus his home was set up in the ancient tree that was the symbol of the Pride. The path was generally safe but the occasional scavenger pack was known to attack travelers. One would think that the Prides would jointly patrol the perimeter and warn the others of impending doom. Sadly, though, it was not the case. As rivals will be rivals and conflicts will be conflicts. This endless circle of stupidity. But the cubs stopped along the path at the watering hole. They sat there, the sounds of the wild around them. Anaya practicing what she learned in the lessons for the day as Akhet said nothing as he reflected on the words spoken to him. Did this really all happen for a reason or was this just bad luck. He was so young but was beginning to comprehend things on a level only an adult would. But coming from witnessing his mother pass away it wasn't much surprise. But things were quiet on the western front, that is until he broke the silence, "If we weave our own fates, if we choose our own paths, than why was mine chosen for me?" "Huh?" Anaya looked up confused. She was unaware of the conversation her mother had with him earlier in the day. "Nothing," Akhet said, "Never mind. " Anaya still wasn't entirely sure about her new friend, "Ooookay......" But the moment of surrender turned to terror. The winds shifted and Akhet's nose caught something, something very familiar. Predator? Prey? It was Predator. It wasn't the same as before but it was familiar, "Anaya! Run! To The Village! Now!" he shouted, stumbling to his feet. "What? What's going on?!" But he didn't answer He started running as he grabbed her by the wrist and just in time as a pack of Wild Dogs emerged out of the shadows of the tree line and made a bolt for the cubs. Akhet picked up a familiar scent, purely out of his biological nature of being a Cheetah, they were always wary of predators and prey alike.

The cubs ran but the pack was faster, and they got routed off the path from the village. The cubs had no choice but to run as fast as their legs could take them. They ended up in a thicket just outside of the jungles edge, the sharp branches and vines whipped into their legs, cutting them up as they fell back into retreat trying to out run their pursuers who were faster, stronger and more clever. Unbeknownst to them, one of the village warriors was watching from a higher ledge and when he saw the cubs deviate from the path he sprinted to the village shouting for the King, "Anaya and the Cheetah Cub! Wild Dogs In Pursuit! Scavengers!!!!!! Sire!!!!" The King and Queen both prepared for battle as they ran out of the village wit ha detachment of warriors following the lookout to the location he saw them deviate from. Help was on the way. But eventually Anaya fell behind, her lioness legs weren't built for nonstop speed and endurance like Akhet's body was. And despite all that they couldn't go any further, trey were cornered and all because Anaya couldn't keep up. He had no chose but stand in front of her as the predators closed in. They snarled and growled, as if they found an easy meal. But Akhet held his hands out and flicked his claws out, the cub growling in a high pitched noise. Which scared....None of them. "Get back or I'll..." but he was cut off, "Or else you'll what, get a hangnail? We can do this the easy way or the slow and painful way. It's your choice kid." Anaya cowered down to the ground clutching Akhet's tail in fear. She didn't understand why the mopey cub was being so brave. But truth be told he didn't either. But here he was, as fate predicted, becoming what he mother was, doing exactly what she did. Prepared to die to protect the King's daughter. And than the pack charged at the last second and without warning. But before they could touch the cubs one of them was cut down with a large blade, and as the turned to look, both the King, Queen and a patrol of guards were there, weapons at the ready. The savage beasts backed up as the new combatants paraded forwards. And when the guards had secured the cubs the pack fled in retreat, leaving their dead comrade behind. Anaya and Akhet were give nan escort home.

"How did you find us?!" Anaya exclaimed. Her father looked down, "One of the village patrols thought they saw you both leave the path, they didn't know what was going on but they thought the two of you were running like your taisl were on fire. We went to follow the path where they saw you get off. I didn't know you had visitors." And than he looked down at Akhet, "As for you..." Akhet swallowed hard, like he was in trouble, shaking and terrified. "You were ready to die to protect her, weren't you? To make the ultimate sacrifice like your mother? Tell me, Akhet, was that your instinct, or was that your heart?" He didn't realize it at the time but he was in fact doing the same thing his mother did for him. "I uh.... I don't know. I wasn't thinking. I just...I went...." He tripped and struggled over what happened as his mind tried to process what went on. But the King looked down concealing a smile as he said, "What is it you wan, your desires, your deepest wishes." Akhet looked up, sighing as he looked back down trying to hide the tears trying to form, "I want my mother back." But the King was firm in his response, "But you cannot bring back those who have left to the great spirits, not even the greatest of Shamans can perform such an act. What will you do now? Wallow in your pain and sorrow, let the anger fester or use it, mold it and create it into something that can be a positive force or energy?" Akhet began to somewhat understand, even if he didn't want to admit it. But the King continued, "If you want to throw your life away, at least become stronger for it, at least learn to put up a fight. " Akhet was a again puzzled but than his brain began to place the pieces together in his mind, Forge your own path, your own destines. His mind turned from fear, and sadness to anger and rage, and than to vengeance as he realized the one who killed his mother was still alive. And it became his focus. His driving motivation. The Queen smiled to herself, mission complete, she would make sure he was ready to fulfill his duties forth coming. And later that night when all had eaten, Akhet curled up back in his corner of the hut, shivering and trying to calm his thoughts liek any child could. But Anaya padded over and laid down next to him, throwing a blanket over the two of them and while he still did not speak in regards to their meeting, she simply said, "YOu still got me, friend." To Akhet these lions weren't family, or friends, merely tools to exact his revenge which began to fester deep down in his heart and soul. But as he would grow, he would begin to see things differently from a less jaded view. They pushed him, threw him into the water, and here he was learning to swim, learning to walk, learning to stand up and dust himself off without realizing it. He wasn't alone, no more. And while a Cheetah's nature maybe nomadic, Akhet would defy his biological nature for the threads of fate were being woven and he had merely to defy it or accept it, but he would never deny it. And for the first time since the incident, he slept in the cave hut, falling fast asleep from the warmth of his new friend leaning against him.