Still a little distance away, Swift padded into the cool undergrowth, her tail swishing slowly back and forth. Tree shadows shifted on her fur as she hesitated, then halted. She lifted her muzzle and sniffed the air, her whiskers trembling.
“Fearless?” Her voice was cracked with doubt. “Fearless? Is that you?”
“Mother!” Throwing caution to the savannah air, Fearless bounded into the scrub and flung himself toward her, licking and rubbing her face. Her taste and smell were just the same. Swift staggered a little under his emotional greeting, swaying and righting herself before giving a small, grunting cry of disbelief and joy. She licked him back, nuzzling his face and neck, mewling and growling his name.
“Fearless, it’s really you!” She dipped her head, letting him lash her ears with his rough tongue. “Valor told me she’d spoken to you, but I could hardly bring myself to believe it!”
Out of breath, Fearless swallowed and drew back to gaze at his mother. Now that he could study her properly, he felt the sting of dismay. It had not been a trick of the glaring sunlight, as he’d hoped: Swift’s bones were visible through her dull, thinning coat. Her eyes were fixed on his face, but it was clear they saw nothing. One eyeball was missing altogether, leaving only the socket; the other was horribly scarred, an unseeing mass of opaque whiteness.
Sorrow and rage filled his blood. “Mother, what she did to you—what they both did—I swear I’ll avenge this!”
“No, Fearless, no!” Swift blundered forward, tucking his head beneath her chin, pressing her chest tightly against him. “You mustn’t. I manage. Valor and the other lionesses look after me. You mustn’t worry, and you mustn’t think of revenge! You have no mane yet, my son. You can’t fight Titan!”
“I won’t fight him, then,” snarled Fearless, though every muscle and nerve in his body ached to do just that. He pulled back to look at her. “I’ll take you and Valor away. We’ll make our own new pride. We’ll be together, far from that brute and his vicious mate.”
Swift was trembling; she barely seemed to hear him. “Listen to me, my Swiftcub, my Fearless. You mustn’t stay here. You have to go now, before Titan finds you!”
“Titan already has.” The grunting, menacing roar came from behind Fearless and echoed through the bushes. “And you’re going nowhere. Never again.”
His heart clenching cold in his chest, Fearless turned. At the edge of the bushes, silhouetted against the blazing white sunlight, stood Titan. On either side of him were the brutish cronies Fearless remembered so well: the torn-eared Cunning and a lion with huge, powerful shoulders. Cunning smirked and gave a snarl of threat.
Fearless began to back away, only to feel the rake of claws across his rump. He started and looked over his shoulder to see two more young male lions behind him. They paced forward, driving him and Swift out of the bushes and into the sunlight of the plain. Now he and his mother were surrounded, and Titan peeled back his muzzle in a vicious grin.
“Fearless Gallantpride,” he huffed maliciously. “So, you’ve come back. I don’t believe your father was ever quite that stupid.”
Fearless growled, shifting protectively closer to his mother.
“And you, Swift,” Titan sneered, turning his dark, glittering gaze on the blind lioness. “You thought it was a good idea to shelter Gallant’s last cub, did you?”
“No!” roared Fearless. “She didn’t. This is the first time she’s seen me since—since you broke the Code and murdered my father!”
“Titan, please,” begged Swift, pushing blindly past Fearless. “Please spare him. He only wanted to talk to me.”
“Shut up, both of you,” snapped Titan. “I’ve had enough of you, Swift Titanpride. It’s not as if you can hunt.”
“Whose fault is that?” snarled Fearless.
Titan ignored him. “You’re a drain on the pride, Swift. I have been patient and kind with you, but you repay that by harboring an enemy and defying me? This is unforgivable!” He stalked toward her slowly, death in his eyes.
Fearless shouldered his mother gently aside and stood in front of her, facing Titan. He lowered his shoulders and tensed his muscles, snarling in defiance.
“Fearless, no!” cried Swift desperately.
“Fine,” snarled Titan. “You first, Fearless. Then her.”
Fearless extended his claws, raking them into the ground, and gave a furious roar. This time I won’t run. This time I’ll stand and fight. Even if it’s the last thing I do.
Titan drew himself up to lunge, his savage jaws wide for the kill—
—and halted mid-strike. He twisted his head. Flicked an ear. There was a new and different roaring coming from the plain behind him: a shout of terror and desperation.
“Artful?” he growled uncertainly.
“Titan!” Her desperate cry echoed across the grassland.
Fearless, confused and trembling, could only stare. The circle of Titanpride lions had all turned to gape in stupefaction at the plain.
There was quick, deadly movement in the rippling grass. Three lithe spotted bodies were sprinting toward Artful and Ruthless, their long legs a blur of motion, their tails balanced elegantly behind them. They looked beautiful, and graceful, and deadly.
The cheetahs!
With a roar of fury, Titan bounded back toward his mate and her cub. Cunning and the others, snapping out of their frozen shock, raced after him; Fearless darted forward to watch them go, his heart pounding. I should be dead by now. What’s happening? What are the cheetahs doing?
The lions were running at full speed now, but compared to the cheetahs, Fearless realized, they looked sluggish and clumsy. They were still a good distance away, and the cheetahs had already surrounded Artful and Ruthless; two of them darted in, snapping at the big lioness and dodging her defensive swipes.
Fearless understood their strategy immediately, and he gasped. Artful was entirely distracted by the lunge-and-retreat attacks on her; meanwhile, the third cheetah had sprinted in behind her haunches. It seized something from the grass, spun in a single graceful twist, and raced away. Now its pace wasn’t quite so quick, because it was carrying a burden. From its jaws dangled a helpless, small shape, whose terrified, mewling cries were audible even to Fearless.
“What’s happening?” cried Swift. “Fearless, what is it?”
“Artful’s cub. The cheetahs have taken Ruthless!” Fearless sprang forward and took a few loping paces after Titan. Glancing back once, checking that Swift was following, he bounded farther, desperate to see what would happen to the little cub.
Even Titan, far ahead of his cronies, was nowhere near the fleeing cheetahs. It’s no use, realized Fearless. He’d seen how fast the cheetahs could run. He’ll never catch them.
“Fearless, be careful!” Swift was still behind him, blundering as fast as she could through the grass. Remembering suddenly that running after Titan was a bad idea, Fearless trotted to a halt by Titanpride’s resting place.
As the lead cheetah raced away, Ruthless still gripped in its jaws, one of the others skidded to a halt and turned for a moment, tauntingly flicking its tail.
“You want your cub to live?” he mocked Titan in a high-pitched grunt. “Stay away from our prey!”
Titan’s roars were terrible to hear, but however hard and fast he thundered across the ground, he drew no nearer to the cheetahs. Artful was right behind him now, outstripping even the young male lions, but none of them had a chance. The cheetahs vanished into the long grass, the ripples of their movement faded, and a dreadful silence settled across the plains.
“Fearless, go!” urged Swift. She trotted up behind him, clumsily, her steps uncertain. “Run! This is your chance!”
Titan had already turned, the cheetahs lost, and now he was loping back toward Fearless and Swift with hatred in his glowing eyes.
“No, Mother.” Fearless shook his head and swallowed hard. “I can’t leave you alone with Titanpride.” He waited, his throat dry as dust, his body protectively blocking
Swift from Titan’s approach.
For the moment, though, Titan seemed to have other killings on his mind. “I’ll tear those skinny cheetahs to pieces!” he snarled.
“We should go after them right now,” growled one of the young males. “They’ll run out of energy soon enough.”
“Don’t be so stupid, Fervent!” snapped Artful, padding between them. “You attack them, and they’ll kill Ruthless.”
“How would we find them anyway?” Cunning glared after the cheetahs. “They’re good at hiding, those sly wretches.”
Not one of the lions looked as angry as Titan, thought Fearless. The huge alpha lion stood rigid, his claws protracted, his whole body trembling with fury.
“The cheetahs stole my son.” Titan’s voice was a terrifyingly quiet snarl. “They have taken away the future of Titanpride.” The snarl rose to a strangled, hate-filled roar. “And all because of Gallant’s brat!”
He turned so swiftly, Fearless staggered back in shock. Titan loomed over him, his jaws wide, his fangs bared and glinting.
“Titan, wait . . .” he began.
“You distracted us,” snarled Titan. “You drew me away from my son and left him vulnerable. This is all your fault. And now you’re going to pay.”
Fearless didn’t see the strike coming. There was only the motion of a massive muscled body, springing toward him. Before he could even take a breath, the crushing weight of a full-grown lion hit him.
A clawed paw slammed the side of his head, flinging him into the air. As Bravelands upended, spinning and tumbling around him, Fearless’s world became a red blur of shock and pain.
CHAPTER 17
His vision swimming with pain and terror, Fearless tried to drag himself out of reach of Titan’s bloodied claws. He felt the second strike before he saw it: a massive blow to the side of his neck, bowling him over again. Digging his claws into the ground, gasping in desperation, he struggled onto his belly. I can’t escape him. He pressed his body hard to the ground, trying to make himself small. He’s going to kill me now.
“Titan, please!” His mother’s hoarse cry sounded distant in Fearless’s ringing ears. “Please, no! What are you doing? Stop!”
“Get back, Eyeless Lion!” That was Cunning’s hard voice. Fearless heard him swiping at Swift, then her yelping pleas and cries of pain.
They’ll kill her too. Not just me. I have to think.
The trouble was, he could barely form a single thought, let alone a plan. He rolled instinctively as Titan’s claws slashed again, and he managed to coil his haunches beneath him and shove himself just out of reach.
“Titan!” he bellowed through the pain. “Titan, I can get Ruthless back!”
“Liar!” Titan bounded on top of him, making Fearless grunt at the pressure of his tremendous weight. The huge lion opened his jaws and raised a paw spiked with long, bloody claws.
“I can!” gasped Fearless, through his struggles for breath. “I’m your only hope of getting your cub back!”
“Liar!” roared Titan again. Fearless saw the madness in his eyes. He won’t stop until I’m dead.
“Titan.” A lioness’s roar of protest echoed in Fearless’s ears. “Enough!”
That’s not my mother’s voice. Fearless blinked, gasping, as Titan froze, paw still raised for the kill. Slaver dripping from his jaws, the massive lion turned his head to glare at his mate.
“What is it?” he barked.
Artful paced forward, her eyes glinting with cold fury. “Let the Swiftcub speak,” she snarled. “He says he can save Ruthless.”
“I can,” gasped Fearless, shuddering with pain as silence fell. “I was raised by the baboons of Brightforest Troop. I know all kinds of tricks. Baboons are always stealing things.”
“His words are dung,” growled Titan, fury flashing in his eyes. “He’ll say anything to save his worthless hide. He cannot do this.”
“Yes. Yes, I can,” panted Fearless in desperation. “Artful, listen to me!”
Artful didn’t give him the dignity of a reply. Instead she turned to her mate, her eyes glinting but her head bowed with respect. “If there’s the smallest chance, Titan, you must let him try. We need our cub back. Who knows—maybe the cheetahs will tear him to shreds and save you the trouble? And if he survives them, but he fails to find Ruthless—” She swung her head to glare at Fearless. “Then we can kill him anyway.”
A low rumbling swelled in Titan’s throat. “Fine,” he growled. “Let him try. I may kill him either way, but this is his chance to atone for what he has done.” With a contemptuous flick of his tail, he turned away, sheathing his claws. “Prove yourself, son of Gallant. Bring me my cub by nightfall tomorrow. If you fail to return, with Ruthless alive and well, I will kill your useless mother. And then I will track you down and kill you too.”
Fearless raised himself up on his forepaws. His head ached and reeled, and his hide stung with the pain of Titan’s claws, but he wasn’t going to die. Not right now, anyway.
“Titan,” he growled. “If I bring back Ruthless—and I will—you have to promise to let my mother live. Peacefully. With Titanpride.”
Titan spun back, his jaws widening in disbelief. “You are in no position to make demands!” he roared.
“No,” admitted Fearless, his breath rasping, “but that’s what I want. Promise me.”
“All you’ll get is your life—and maybe not even that!”
“Titan!” Artful intervened again, her eyes glittering. “So long as we have Ruthless, what do we care about a useless lioness like Swift? Let her stay. She’ll waste away soon enough.”
Fearless staggered to his paws, swaying. A dark ember of rage ate at his belly, but he knew he had to repress it. I’m too small. I’m exhausted. I’m beaten.
For now.
“Titan.” Swift’s voice made Fearless look up in surprise. “Artful may have taken my eyes, but there are things I can still see. I know how these things should be done, and I know how the agreement is made solemn and binding. You must both swear an oath.”
Titan was for a long moment absolutely still. The glare he gave Swift was deadly, and his muzzle curled, but he said nothing.
“Very well,” growled Artful when it became clear Titan wasn’t going to speak.
“I don’t understand.” Fearless looked from Artful to Titan, and back to his mother. “How is that done?”
Swift padded close and touched her whiskers to his. “You and Titan must scratch each other on the throat and swear that you will hold to the bargain you have made.”
Fearless narrowed his eyes and gave Titan a suspicious glance. “Can I trust him to keep to his word?”
“Yes,” she told him with surprising firmness. “A lion who does not honor a sworn oath is no lion at all! Such vows are binding to all lions.” Swift’s expression became contemptuous as she flicked her ears at Titan. “Even to lions who ignore the sacred Code.”
“Watch your words, Swift Titanpride,” snarled Titan. “And I have not agreed to swear an oath! Why should I give my word to this brat of Gallant who caused me to lose my cub and heir?”
“Titan!” Artful’s voice was as cold and relentless as a mountain stream. “What does this lion matter to either of us? Swear the oath, if it will get Ruthless back!”
Titan watched her for a long moment, his muzzle twitching with indecisive fury. Then he nodded once. Turning, he paced up to Fearless and stared into his eyes.
“Very well. The oath will be binding for both of us. Raise your head.”
Fearless paused, unable to bring his head up and expose his throat. He could kill me in an instant.
“You must, my cub,” said Swift gently. “Do not fear.”
Fearless forced himself not to flinch and did as his mother said. Titan raised a paw. I won’t even blink.
Titan drew back his paw and lashed out. For a moment, Fearless felt nothing. Only when Titan’s paw was back on the ground did he at last feel the sharp burn across his throat and a trick
le of warmth.
Gazing into Titan’s eyes, he wondered if he’d been killed after all. But there was no gush of hot blood. The wound was shallow.
Artful watched intently as Titan tilted back his own head. The big lion looked down his muzzle, keeping his contemptuous stare on Fearless.
Fearless’s mouth felt dry. Titan’s sheer disdain made his blood cold with dread. He remembered the day his father had died.
For years, I’ve longed for my revenge. And here it is, presented before me. I could do it now.
His body tingled with anticipation, and his blood roared in his veins.
The truth is, I’m afraid even to scratch him.
His muscles were knotted with tension. Taking an abrupt pace forward, he lifted his paw, protracted his claws, and raked one across Titan’s throat.
Titan didn’t blink. He went on looking at Fearless for a long, scornful moment, then turned away.
It’s like he can read my mind.
Fearless glanced down at his claw. There was a tiny smear of Titan’s blood on the very tip. I’ve drawn blood from him for the first time.
And one day, I’ll do more than that. One day, I will kill him.
He lifted his head and stared at the black-maned lion.
That is my oath to myself, Titan.
Swift padded slowly and hesitantly to his side, then pressed her face to his neck. Turning his head, he licked her gently.
“Good-bye, Mother,” he murmured. “Be safe. I’ll be back before nightfall tomorrow.”
“Farewell, my Swiftcub.” She rubbed her head against his. “I know you’ll return, and I know you’ll succeed. One day you will be a great lion, Fearless. You have a destiny to fulfill, and this is not the end of it—for you, or for the pride.”
As he drew away from her and set out on his journey back to Loyal’s den, Fearless wished he was as certain as Swift was of his future.
The sky was dimming, the silhouettes of the acacias blurring into the shadows of the savannah. A bronze moon hung above the horizon, bigger and clearer with every darkening moment. Crickets chirruped in the grass, gathering energy and volume for the song of the night. It seemed an eternity, Fearless thought, since he’d set off in high and confident spirits to practice his new hunting skills.