I’m at the lion temple’s entrance hall, surrounded by statues of lion warriors, who gaze at me gracefully in an action of ferocious protection. Each and every one of them are unique, sculpted in such a way that they look real, or like they could be real– and that’s because they’re meant to. They represent the glorious warriors that protected our temple long ago.

It is truly a comforting sight, to be safeguarded by my ancestors, the ones who swore to protect Chi.

Then, a disembodied voice, monotonous yet mellow, whines from the distance, blended in with nervous footsteps.

“You know, man, this canine craze is wild. Like, they went bonkers out of nowhere!”, cries Leonidas, mumblings on his words.

As I tiptoe near the guard, hiding myself behind one of the statues, Longtooth leans on the temple’s door frame. He sighs, pushing down his beanbrows– one scarred from top to cheekbone. While he crosses his arms and hides the huge claw tear on his bare chest, he whispers,

“I know, sweetheart”, He opens up his damaged eyelid, “Don’t worry about it. We’ll sort it out– together.”

A moment of silence slips in the middle of the conversation, a minute of peace and thought. Leonidas slides slowly near the brunet lion, getting his thin and delicate body near his mate’s fluffy mane, then shoves his muzzle inside it.

Accidentally, a meow escapes from my mouth, and the lion couple notices me, happy about my presence.

They turn around and march towards me; Longtooth then crouches on the floor, just to pat my head with his dark tan paw.

Beneath the fierce bodyguard’s canines hides a smile that loosens his serious, headstrong expression into an almost submissive frown. When his watery eyes try to shed at every blink, but that only makes them shinier.

As he brushes my cheek, I utter, “Longtooth… are you alright?”, my voice cracks a bit.

Leonidas tilts his head, his banded orange mane falls down from his shoulder. He presses his lips, hiding the malformed incisors that stick out of his mouth.

Longtooth delicately puts his hand under my arm and holds it– the wounded limb has already recovered, and the only remains of the injury are ugly scabs in the shape of claw marks. His agonized concern is enough to make me understand— even in silence—, that nothing is over yet.

I can see Leonidas’ concern for his partner, but also his fear for what might happen; he’s right– what’s been happening during these last days is wild. Of course, to say the least. In reality, words can’t encapsulate the weight of this tragedy.

“Alert, alert! Close the main gate and stand in your positions!”

This powerful roar rumbles throughout the castle and beyond, attracting our attention to the howls penetrating inside the temple.

“Your Highness– please remain still”, he murmurs, while skimming his eyes to the side, before dashing away.

Leonidas soon stumbles forward, behind him, while wielding a spear.

I wonder for whom the bell will toll today.

Lagravis wanders in small but hard steps across the Throne Room, staring at the ground. His face recoils in doubt, as he murmurs to himself whatever is in his thoughts.

The Lion Temple was invaded, this morning, by a pack of a hundred wolves. Warriors were able to protect our fortress and control the damage caused by the invasion, but it wasn’t enough– blood was still shed in our territory, whether from our people or from the Wolf Tribe.

I sneak into the room, patiently waiting for him to notice me. Or, do I even want to be noticed? Dad’s posture this week has been worrying me a bit…

He sits on his throne with a loud thud.

“I can’t believe this!”, he shouts, throwing his arms forwards, before leaning his face onto his hands, “Even with my guards in the Wolf Lair…!”

My dad’s shock resonates with my feelings, I’m also confused, too. I witnessed him ordering guards to surveil the wolves; lion tanks and buggies were scattered all across the camp’s radius, monitoring every move!

Lagravis roars, once again, “Someone needs to be involved with all of this! These events are too organized for a bunch of mindless ferals.”

Uncle Lavertus passes by, waving his hand at my dad. Perhaps he also wants to check up on his brother, just like me?

“Hey, buddy! Big bro, whatever! How’re doing?”, says Lavertus, with joy brimming from his glistening eyes.

Dad doesn’t even move an inch, but instead scowls in frustration, not willing to loosen his mood. His gray-haired muzzle is starting to look more grizzled than normal.

“Aw, Lagravis. I noticed your attitude’s quite bitter recently. Stuff sucks and all, but can’t ya at least keep up with a smile?”

The king gets up, his blue scarf swings violently. As he clenches his paws and sticks out his claws, the muscles from his tanned torso tense up. He can’t go forth, because the Sacred Pool of Chi is right in between him and his brother, scattering blue light throughout the room.

“…Tell me about the necropsies, Lavertus. Be serious with me!”

My uncle grabs a piece of fibrous paper, with notes written all over it, from a pocket on his tunic.

“Want me to—”

“Just tell me already!”, Dad screams.

After a few eternal minutes of silence, just enough for doubts and fear to haunt us, Lavertus begins to read the notes out loud:

“All of the lion guards assigned to monitor the Wolf Lair were found dead during the sunrise, with the sunlight hitting Mount Cavora’s east side. The deaths happened approximately at dawn, as the corpses smelled fresh, but blood was dry.”

The Throne Room begins to smell with adrenaline. No one has noticed me, yet.

He continues, “A necropsy exam began soon after the discovery of the bodies– their thoracic cavities were mauled with distinctive bite and claw marks. All organs situated in this area of the body were found to be severely damaged on gross observation. Therefore, the cause of death was diagnosed to be acute organ failure due to physical trauma.”

Dad nods, understanding the situation. Whispering about his shock at the wolves’ strength, he sits on his throne again, with his paw placed under his chin.

I shrink and curl behind a lion statue. What an abominable act of violence that was… and in such detail too!

“And what about this morning’s incident, brother?”

“Exactly the same thing. It’s safe to assume that the wolves from now were the same from before.”

Lavertus marches around the Sacred Pool of Chi, as the chains that adorn his tunic hitting against one another, then lends the two necropsy notes to his sibling.

After a quick glance on the papers, Lagravis raises his eyebrow in concern. “Chi was found near the dead wolves. Do you have any ideas about why that happened?”

“They were after our Chi, Lagravis. We found crystals inside the wolves’ bodies. That’s how they managed to destroy our guards back at the Wolf Lair— all with the power of Chi.”

Dad quickly turns his head upwards. This shocking revelation petrifies him: his breath starts to hiccup, and he places his hand on his chest in agony. Such horrors tear him to shreds, a pain so sudden and terrifying that his face deforms into the scariest snarl imaginable. Cough after cough. Bulging eyes, awkward skin folds, menacing teeth…

He roars, “Chima is in danger, our people are in danger! My son is in danger!”

Lavertus presses himself onto his brother, petting his back while humming a comforting melody– my uncle’s voice softens and… Dad begins to cry. That melody brims with the warmth of nostalgia; I recognize the notes, the emotions it brings, because my dad would sing this to me when I was a baby. A heartfelt reunion of both past and the future, the contrast of simpler times against the unpredictable war of tomorrow.

I know this feeling—

It’s anxiety.

Between sobs and desperate coughs, Lagravis reaches his face near Lavertus’ ear and whispers something. My uncle glances at me in reaction, before nodding to my dad with a layer of resentment.

Maybe it’s time to leave; I can’t let this slaughter to prevail– and I will find what’s truly going on.

This noon’s ambiance feels heavy, and quite haunting too. Even if the sky continues to be blue, I sense a presence behind me– of the lives who were taken away by that purple moon.

I have returned to the Forever Rock with my friend. This time, however, we aren’t going to play. We’re going to do something else.

Cragger rests his back on the big rock. He briefly looks at me, before turning away and crossing arms.

“Laval… I’m scared”, he mutters.

My heart starts to race. We’re just kids, after all, we can’t do much. Maybe this– or I– might fail, but silence now is not an option… right? As a prince, it’s my duty to help my father in situations like these.

The crocodile returns eye contact for another short moment. There was doubt in his pupils.

In second thought… what if I get hurt? Will I only get in my father’s way? It might all just be adult matters, like Lavertus said— but for me, it doesn’t matter. I won’t leave animals behind.

My stomach churns in a whirlwind.

“Don’t worry, Cragger. It’ll be worth it in the end…”

He waddles up to me. I rest my head on his shoulder. Struggle will dawn on Chima, but I’m sure we’ll prevail.

Then, from the deepening jungle, two Speedorz emerge; it is at this moment, while the hanging leaves are pushed away, that I encounter Wakz in a worrisome state. His skin folds are heavier than usual, flopping at each panting breath. Drool melts off his tongue and drips on top of the vehicle.

Worriz’ eyes look damper today, too, sullen by his hanging beanbrows. He’s holding onto Wakz’ thin fur, not ready to let go. I’ve never seen him like that… It breaks my heart.

They parks before us, followed by Winzar stopping his Speedor besides them, alert, almost in judgment. The wolves remain still, and they’re staring right at our souls. A chill runs down my spine. I don’t know what they expect from us; perhaps, it’s that I don’t know what to do.

Worriz soon lets go of his father, though hesitant on stepping his foot down. We can notice that his eyes are quaking between blinks, as he trembles while getting down the Speedor. The pup walks in our direction with his tail between legs. It’s horrible to see such a young kid be anxious like this— I don’t know how could a child still be standing after witnessing deaths upon deaths, especially of their own kind.

That’s why I called him.

“Hey, Worriz… I’m sorry for your loss…”

He stares down at the grass, and doesn’t budge. A small tear crawls on his face; it shines all the way down his chin and onto the ground.

I slowly get closer to the pup, then kneel in front of him.

“Look. Everything is going to okay”, I hold him with my arms, “Just give me time to solve this.”

Worriz stares at me, his right eyebean raised. As the pupils twitch around, they shrink and grow in size, before pinning their aim right at my soul— a speck of dust submerged into a pool of honey. It is the dirt inside cynical sweetness that catches my attention; right underneath those golden eyes, moves resentful lips that drool spiteful words, and they shine from the saliva coating them.

“I doubt that someone like you could achieve anything. Stop acting like the hero you think you are”, His gray, delicate snouts pushes itself right in my view, the bare teeth of his snarl leak drool.

I push my hands on Worriz’ chest, putting a distance between us. Those words… how— no, why would I think of myself as a hero? What is the point he wants to make? This is outrageous, to assume the worst of someone in this manner— an act of sabotage!

Huh… Nope… Perhaps his reaction was genuine and out of fear, or did I just phrase myself wrong? I can’t piece anything together.

“What do you mean? I just want to help—”

“That’s what I’m talking about, idiot”, he interrupts me, whispering in a sharp tone of voice, “Hundreds of wolves died by the hands of your tribe, and a gold adorned crybaby is not going to stop this slaughter!”

My body flinches in reaction. It recoils backwards.

…

All is silent. Even Cragger himself keeps his mouth shut, holding his jaw tightly so that he doesn’t utter even a single word. He’s clenching his fists, too. None of the adults behind us say something either—

I need to get to the bottom of whatever is going on. Their reaction rubs me the wrong way.

“Is this what you think of me, Worriz?”, my voice breaks the unnerving quietude that haunts us. “Do you truly believe that I’m doing this for myself?”

Worriz stops for a second, analyzing my body, then returns to swab his snout aggressively. He snarls worse than before. “Friends, family members, acquaintances are all going insane because of this moon. Do you know how it is to see someone snap, kill, die, with no salvation? We live knowing that there’s nothing else able to be done.”

…

“Did you even understand what I was trying to ask?”

Argh! It was short, but I failed to keep my mouth shut; the thoughts from my mind spewed too quick. It has now placed me in a tough spot— one that, in reality, I believe isn’t that tough. It was merely the truth!

The pup locks his stare onto me. Those golden eyes brew with fire from the sun.

“I said that a golden adorned crybaby is not going to solve this issue!”

A howl dissipates out of thin air throughout the Forever Rock; it soothes down everyone here and alleviates their tension. Worriz, however, stares at the sky, attentive. His ears sprout upwards.

The cry repeats once more, as if it’s a cue for the wolves to leave. From afar, I notice Wakz moving his wrist at himself and it attracts my friend’s attention. I stay quiet because I know that there’s nothing more to be said. Worriz wouldn’t lend an ear anyway.

He groans again, “You got lucky, unlike us. Keep your mouth shut.”

Then, the wind turns colder and brings a strong breeze that rattles the leaves all across our land, its noise concentrates as the foliage whips around with force each minute passing. Cragger and I can’t listen to our surroundings properly, we’re stuck watching our guests chatter for a bit before they mount on their Speedorz. Though, something keeps rubbing me the wrong way— Cragger is besides me, yes, but it doesn’t feel like it, I can see he’s observing them, processing each and every move they take. His eyes focus on the wolves’ lips, while also moving his mouth following their movements. It forms: “Fu… ne…”

“Are they going to a funeral?”, he finally speaks, muffled down by the incessant atmospheric noises.

My body twists in shock. “…Care to explain?”

It’s obvious… with the melancholic howls, depressing mood, and countless deaths, that a funeral could be foreseen, but I couldn’t help myself from asking. I want to be sure. I have to do something, now.

“Do you think I know what’s goin’ on?...”

We notice them moving away from us at a slow pace.

Cragger smirks, uttering, “Better find out!”

He sprints at his vehicle and hops on top of it, before drifting to my side in a break. He tilts his head towards my own Speedor. Without a doubt, this is the opportunity waiting for me…