Young Writers Society

Chapter Three

The sun has almost vanished out of the sky and only the top of the circle remains. After eating the buffalo, that my pride and I caught earlier, and taking a long nap, I now lay in a patch of course grass and undergrowth, grooming my fur for tonight. I wonder what I'll be doing at this time tomorrow? I certainly won't be in Dawn Pride. At least, not while my mother is still alive. I can't live my whole life with her, hovering over me and holding me back from what I was made to do.

Hunt.

Fight.

Kill.

And if she can't see that it's best for me to do these things, then I don't think I should live with her.

"What are you thinking about?" Corin's ears prick towards me and I smile, grateful that I have someone to talk to about my frustrations.

"I'm thinking about my mother. I'd like to stay in Dawn Pride-it's a very nice pride and your father is a wonderful leader, but if my mother is going to keep me from growing up and reaching my full potential then I think I should leave."

Corin stares at me in silence and I can see that she is deciding what to say next. Finally, she asks, "Which pride will you join?"

I suddenly feel ashamed. How can I tell Corin that I'm leaving if I don't know which pride I'm going to choose?

I give my pelt a couple of embarrassed licks,  "I'm not sure-which is why I need your help. Which pride do you think I would be best in?"

"Well of course I think you would be best in Day Pride-with me."

I gasp in astonishment, "You are leaving too?"

Corin smiles, "Yep! I don't agree with everything about Dawn Pride-they're too sly for me. I would prefer a pride that is loyal and brave like Day Pride." Then Corin pauses but quickly continues, "You will join Day Pride with me, won't you?"

"I-I don't know."

"But Nadia, we have to stick together! Remember when we where little, we planed to have our cubs at the same time and raise them together? How can that happen if your in a different pride?"

I do remember that day.

We had been only three months old and Sheza, a young lioness of the pride, had introduced her four little cubs to Dawn Pride that day. Corin and I had been the youngest until then-along with Nubia. Since we had been born on the same day we decided to be like sisters to each other; but also because Corin was the only cub that Amina had born and she would often get lonely since her mother and father where the busiest members of the pride. Corin had come up with the idea that when we where older we would have cubs at the same time and raise them up to be best friends; just like Corin and I.

"I don't know, but I'm not sure that I would fit into Day Pride. I'm not sure that I can fit into any pride that is supposed to be made of one kind of lion."

Corin nods and draws her paw over head muzzle, cleaning a scratch from the hunt today.

"Well Nadia, whatever you choose to do I suppose I'll support you. Even if you don't want to be with me." Corin gets to her paws and walks away.

I also get up because Simao, the leader of Dawn Pride, has called together the lions and lionesses who are coming to the Selection Rite. Only the leader and close family of the Selection Rite cubs are permitted to come which means that only my mother will be coming for me and Nubia since our father is dead. Simao and Amina will be coming for Corin. That's all the cubs that are turning two-years-old this month.

As Simao leads us out of camp, I stop and look over my shoulder. Dawn Pride camp rests peacfully in the setting sun and again I wonder, am I really going to leave this all behind?

Sheza's cubs, now a year-and-a-half of age, play together in the grasses with the adults lay together, talking. I know that I need to leave, I'll have to run to catch up with the group, but I just want one last look at my childhood camp before I leave it all behind.

I can hear Corin calling for me so I snap my head around and lift a paw, placing it carefully on the ground. Each step I take, leads me closer to a new life.