Thunder boomed over the rocky outcrop. Sir Gilbert, the tiger alpha stood protectively at the edge of the small cave-like structure. Small spotted cats called cheetahs huddled at the back of the cave. Sir Gilbert twisted his head around to hear a small cub whisper to her mother, “Mama, why did we follow the big tiger? Where are we even going?” Her mother whispered back, “We are going to Jamaa. The tiger is called Sir Gilbert and he said Jamaa is his homeland. He said Jamaa has shining streams, bushy forests, deserts full of desert life, deep oceans, cold mountains, a beach, and a temple to one of their leaders, Zios.” The cheetahs had been found by Sir Gilbert 3 weeks ago and he thought they might want to go to Jamaa. He had noticed something special about one of them, Savannah. She had seemed almost eager to go, while the rest were reluctant. The cheetahs were going to live around the diamond shop area, that’s where all the new animals went that took a while to find. The diamond shop offered them more safety and warmth than anywhere else. When they settled down they could get gems to buy their very own den. Lightning struck the cave and rocks started falling. “This is no regular storm,” Sir Gilbert thought. “This seems too un-natural. Lightning doesn’t strike rocks.” He looked upward towards the volcano they were sheltering beneath. He knew Greely always had an interest in living in that thing, but would he strike his own friend? Savannah seemed to be calming the cheetahs. Sir Gilbert almost interfered, but he saw what she was doing worked to calm them. Savannah walked to Sir Gilbert and said, “We know what phantoms are. Don’t hide the truth from us. We’re not stupid.” He gazed into her amber eyes and them harshly growled, “Well then ,let’s get a move on.” He wasn’t mad, just disappointed that a new animal had just been able to tell him what to do.
The cheetahs set off towards the sight of lush, green forests. Savannah walked beside Sir Gilbert. He finally got the nerve to say, “I think you’re the alpha of the cheetahs.” “The what,” Savannah exclaimed in reply. “The cheetah’s alpha. The leader of them. When we left, did you feel a sort of special connection to Jamaa? When I was brought to Jamaa I did, and soon after I was an alpha with Peck, Greely, Graham, Liza, and Cosmo,” Sir Gilbert said back. “Well, when we left I felt this tingling feeling and my paws wanted to pull me towards Jamaa,” Savannah said back. “Well, now we have to find out if you can do anything special. Unlike other animals in Jamaa, you won’t be able to turn into other animals. That’s the ultimate test. When we get close to Jamaa I’m going to tell you and the others to picture an animal in your head. The others should turn into a different animal. Sir Gilbert gave the sign to think of the animal and the other flashed with green mist as they transformed. Some were tigers, others lions, arctic wolves, wolves, and bunnies. Savannah tried and tried, but stayed a cheetah. “I guess I am the cheetah alpha. Help me find my powers,” Savannah begged. “We don’t have powers, Savannah. We are the leaders. The inspiration,” Sir Gilbert replied. Savannah tilted her head confusedly and said, “So should I try to lead them to Jamaa?” “That would be a good test, Savannah. Go ahead, see if they respect you,” Sir Gilbert said. “Alright everyone, please turn back into a cheetah and follow me. I am your alpha,” Savannah yowled. The cheetahs flashed with green mist and followed her closer to the forest and mountains of Jamaa.
An older cheetah in the back of their pack rasped to Savannah, “You are the alpha? Your mother would be so proud if she was here.” Savannah froze in her tracks and saw a flashback in her mind
Wind blew through the cheetah’s home. They only knew the phantoms were after them. They were fast and lithe, and the phantoms wanted them as their own kind. They would capture them and twist their minds to attack others. Her mother struggled behind and Savannah quickly lashed out to grab her tail. Every else was ahead, but her mother was old and slow. Savannah’s joints ached from the strain of helping her baby siblings and mother escape. She lunged again as her mother’s tail flew out of reach. She grabbed her mother’s tail,but her instincts pulled her back as the phantoms came closer. A strong tiger’s paw grabbed her shoulder and she whipped around to see who it was. “I am Sir Gilbert, Jamaa’s tiger alpha. Come, your mother can’t be saved now. The phantoms king has already twisted her,” the tiger said. Savannah glanced up and saw her mother’s fur turning black and cold, like ice. Savannah sensed she could trust the tiger and ran away to the safe shelter with him as her mother’s mind was pulled apart by the phantoms.
Savannah pulled herself to the present as the journey continued. At last they saw glimpses of other animals. They had found Jamaa!
..........................To Be Continued.........................
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