The Lion Age #1: Hunted *Chp. 6*

Chapter Six

Nubia walks up to Simao, his head held high. He seems confident and after all, why shouldn't he be? The odious choice is for males is to stay with their pride unless they have the potential to kill the leader of their new pride within the year. I shutter at the thought of Simao being dead, just like my father. If only he hadn't tried to protect my mother so hard when the fight broke out.

Nubia now stands in front of Simao.

Simao smiles, "Nubia, son of Kira, you have joined us today to begin the next step in your life. You are cunning and agile. I assume you would make a very nice hunter if you where ever alone." I hear my mother ghasp and I also look at Simao in astonishment. Is he implying that Nubia is strong enough to take over a pride? Is he really saying that Nubia will become an outcast within the year?

"Nubia, which pride do you select?"

Nubia pauses for the briefest second but quickly recovers, "I select Dawn Pride!"

Simao nods with a grunt as Nubia let's out a roar and lays next to the other lions and lionesses who chose Dawn Pride.

Now it is my turn.

My legs are stiff but I force myself to stand up. The grass feels soft as I walk towards Simao. His eyes watch my every paw-step. Everyone watches my every paw-step. I hate all of the eyes watching and I wish I could shrink into my fur and hide.

But of course, I can't.

I have a choice to make and I can't get away from the watching eyes until after I make my selection.

I stand in front of Simao and look up, into his golden eyes and he begins, "Nadia, daughter of Kira, you have joined us here today to begin the next step in your life. You are fast and determined and for that, you will make a magnificent striker one day." Just out of the corner of my eyes I see Amina nod and again I wonder, is the pride I've chosen correct? What if I really would make a wonderful striker in Dawn Pride?

"Nadia, which pride do you select?"

I pause for a moment and in that moment I see my life flash in front of me if I stay in Dawn Pride, my mother never realizing that I'm an adult, even when I have cubs. Corin leaving me to fend for myself and finally, Nix or Nubia taking over Dawn Pride.

I glance from Corin to Nubia, Amina and finally my mother. She watches me intensely and I can see her tail flicking nervously. She won't approve of my selection but it's a choice I must make for myself. No one can stop me.

"I choose Twilight Pride!"

My voice rings out strong and proud across the Selection Rite territory. Everyone is silent with shock as I start walking to Twilight Pride territory. As far as I know, the only lions and lionesses in Twilight Pride are all related because they never get any new lions or lionesses to join them. I wonder-

Pain breaks through my thoughts and I quickly jump out of the way, giving a small roar of pain. Nubia glares at me, his face less than a centimeter away from mine and the smell of blood on his claws.

My blood on his claws.

He growls and let's out a snarl, "I can't believe you would abandon your pride like that, Nadia!" His voice is low and dangerous as he continues, "Why would you just abandon me like this?"

I try to back away but he just comes closer, "Why would you abandon our mother like this?"

He's too close.

He could kill me in seconds.

"Your just like him Nadia, you know that? Just go and leave whenever you want to and it will be fine. It won't affect the other lions around you. It's not like Amina had plans to make you her trainee. Not like mother had been planning to give you fighting lessons after this. And of course, it's not like me, your brother, would want to have you by his side for support until he gets banished by his leader!"

Nubia's voice is just a whisper.

I've never been so afraid.

"I swear Nadia, that I'll kill you if I ever see your pelt again."

Nubia launches himself at me and I shriek in terror, expecting him to crush me under his weight but I feel nothing and I look up to see that the lion who was first to go, Nix, is wrestling with Nubia in the grass. The smell of blood is everywhere and finally I come to the realization that I need to run.