The Mystics. *Private Arani and QOPR*

[Arani]

Hatari could have out-ran him. She could have been at Pride Rock by now, her friends and family around her. But, she had to lead Ayria back to Pride Rock, slowing her down tremendously. She couldn't just leave her there. She was her kind. A mystic, like herself. And worst of all, Ayria was blind. How would she make it back to Pride Rock on her own? she looked back. Hofu was closing in on them, she could now see his teeth... long and sharp, bared and ready to attack and kill her with a single bite. She took a deep breath. They couldn't out-run him with Ayira there. So, mustering up every ounce of her courage, she stopped and turned. She bared her teeth and had a low growl. This was her kingdom. She knew that Hofu could have only built up more rage than before. She could see strait through his eyes... those scarlet eyes that she once looked into and could smile. She used to see a wonderful lion, a lion that was her friend... or used to be. Now, she could not see that kind and gentle lion she had once known. No, all she saw was anger and hatred, and rage. The Hofu she once knew was gone, and all that remained was his anger, ready to tell his teeth and claws to draw blood.

"Run, Ayira!" She roared, not taking her eyes off of Hofu. "This fight is mine."

[AdAstrα]

Hofu stopped running and began to approach Hatari in a slightly more cautious manner. He had not expected her to attempt to fight him all on her own, his strength was far superior to hers in many ways. He sneered. Was she really that stupid? Did she not understand that he could rip her apart in just a few seconds?
"Hatari." he growled, his voice deep and thunderous. Gazing at her, he no longer remembered their friendship. He felt nothing but rage and fury, rising inside of him like a tidal wave.
"Aren't you a bit far away from home, little Queen?" he said with a devilish grin that bared all of his razor-sharp teeth, "Didn't your parents ever tell you not to venture out here all alone? You could easily...get hurt."

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Vitani spotted the large, dark lion in the distance and let out a scream of horror. She had understood that Hofu had, indeed, come back, but she had not wanted to believe it. The thought of Hatari being out there, having to face him all alone, had been too much for her to imagine. However she could no longer escape it now that they were coming closer, now that she could not only smell him but also see him.
"We have to hurry!" she cried, running as fast as she possibly could, "He's down there,and..." She stopped quite abruptly as something bumped into her at full speed. Looking around, it occured to her that it was a lioness, a lioness with odd markings all over her body. She was heading towards Pride Rock, and she seemed absolutely terrified.

[Arani]

"I am not afraid of an anger driven lion like you." Hatari said with another growl. But, she knew that her voice said completely different. She was afraid. Actually, she was terrified. But, no matter how terrified she was, she was ready to defend her Pride and her land with her life. "You look surprised." She said. "Have you never met an angry queen?" She asked with a hint of a smile. At least she could toy with him a little before she was surely gone...

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Tahi, Huru and Isabella stopped and turned when they heard Vitani fall. Then they saw the lioness. It was Ayira. She was shocked and terrified.

"Who are you?" Tahi asked impatiantly as Vitani got up. He had to keep going, Hatari's very life was on the line.

[AdAstrα]

Hofu let out a great, booming laugh. "I always thought you were a smart girl,Hatari,but I realise now that I was wrong." He said mockingly, his scarlet eyes vivid and focused, "Facing a lion like me, all by yourself? How are you going to pull that off, little Queen? By using those little magic tricks of yours?"

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Vitani immediately recognised the lioness as she came closer. "Ayira?" she said,gasping. "What..." She fell silent; a million questions popped into her head all at once, questions that,for now, had to be left unanswered. They had to find Hatari.
"What's happened?" She therefore asked, "Are you ok? Is anyone hurt?"
Ayira merely shook her head, panting heavily. "Help..." She said feebly, "You have to help..Hatari.."

[Arani]

Hofu's roar scared her stiff. She soon pulled herself together with a deep breath. "It's not magic. I'm a mystic, I know every move you'll make before you make it." She said. Her face softened, showing a hint of emotion. "But I don't wish to fight you. Do you remember nothing? We were friends... we were best friends! You, me, Tahi, Huru, Isabella... Why did you turn on us?!" She was actually starting to get emotional, almost like she was about to cry. Why couldn't he remember? She quickly pulled herself together as to not let Hofu see tears from her eyes. "Even if you don't remember, I remember it like it was yesterday! I remember your jokes and how you could make us laugh at any time of day. I remember how different and nice your laugh was, and how you would always smile and flirt with the lionesses... Oh, why cant you remember?!" She yelled, as if to drive her words deep into his mind, for she knew that it would never leave hers. All she could do was wait for a response... Whether it was going to be good or bad, she did not know.


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"How do you..." Tahi started, but stopped. There was no time. "Never mind, where's Hatari?" Ayria nodded her head in the direction she was running from, and almost instantly, Tahi was running at a full sprint. He just hoped that he wasn't to late...

[AdAstrα]

Hofu saw the pain in her eyes but he could no longer relate to it, he hadn't felt anything like that in a long,long time. "You don't know me!" He roared, baring his teeth,"You never did!" Only moments later he burst upon the lioness who had once been his friend, his claws and teeth ready to rip her apart. This was his moment of revenge, revenge for events that had taken place right here, in the Pridelands..events that he would never,ever,be able to forget..

[Arani]

Hatari's eye's went wide. She was lucky to have training from her father and grandfather. Hofu wasn't paying attention to what he was doing, and while he was in the air, she slid right underneath him. He hit the ground and slid, but was almost imediatly back on his feet. "I don't want to fight you, Hofu!" She roared. "But I will if I must!" He started racing towards her again. This time, she didn't hold back. Their two bodies collided. She sunk her teath into his leg, making Hofu roar in pain. But he was, indeed, much stronger than she was. He threw her against a large rock. Her head hit the rock the hardest, making her feel dizzy. Then she was still. Maybe if she was quiet, he would think her dead and leave. In her mind, she could see him walking towards her with a triumfant smile, and she knew for certain that he would show no mercy at all...

[AdAstrα]

Hofu looked up and realised that Hatari was no longer moving. Perplexed, he approached her slowly, ready to strike at any moment would she jump up and attack him once more. But she did not stir. He smiled. Had he succeeded? Was she actually..dead? He began to laugh but immediately fell silent as he spotted a group of lions in the distance. His heart began to pound, and he backed off, suddenly insecure.

[Arani]

Tahi raced through the grass. He could see the battle. When he saw Hofu throw Hatari against the rock, and then see her laying still, he filled with rage and started running faster. Isabella was the only one able to keep up. He was there in mere moments.

"Hey Hofu, guess who!!" He roared as he pounced on Hofu, taking his attention off Hatari. Isabella ran over to Hatari. Her eye's were now open, watching what was happening. Isabella gave her step sister a quick nuzzle, getting her to her paws. She stood painfully,and Isabella had to support some of her weight. Tahi never took his eye's off the battle. He then saw Huru jump in, Hofu was strong, bt he couldn't compete with two, angry Pride Landers. Hofu was finally thrown down. And all Tahi could think about now was what he would do to Hofu.

[AdAstrα]

Hofu roared as he was knocked to the ground. He leapt to his feet, shaking the dust out of his dark mane and growling loudly at the Pridelanders surrounding him. What their next move would be,he did not know. However if they decided to attack, he might abandon any hope of getting out of there alive. Hofu knew this,and therefore, he backed off. Somewhat reluctantly, for he wanted, more than anything, to win this battle once and for all.