— “Fire and Courage”

[Southern Border Dry Plains — Pride Lands]

Smoke rose like black fingers grasping at the blue sky. Flames raced fiercely through the tall grasses and withered bushes. The treacherous wind carried the fire straight to the heart of the Pride Lands.

Atop a broken rock, a young lion watched the destruction with yellow eyes shining like molten gold.

Azibo.

His fur, like Shaju’s, was pale, almost silver, but his eyes were brighter, and his smile more cruel.

Azibo: — “Burn… let fear spread the truth of our power…” — he whispered to himself, as if it were a sacred chant.

Behind him, small leaves caught fire. He had used dry roots and black stones soaked in flammable sap. Primitive but effective techniques.

He smiled… until he heard the roar.

— "NO ONE SHALL PASS!"

The voice thundered like an avalanche. And, emerging from among the scorched bushes, the enormous Jabari burst into a run, leading a small platoon of elephants.

The elephants launched jets of water with their trunks, extinguishing the flames ahead. Others, in a group maneuver, knocked down dry trunks to form a containment line. One of the oldest threw sand with force, smothering critical points.

Jabari, the bravest, did not back down in the face of the heat.

He himself roared, stirring up the morale of the animals around him:

Jabari: — "Come on, friends! For the Pride Lands! Don't let the fire advance!"

He threw himself into the front of the fire, pushing a burning bush away from a group of young boars. His paws burned, but he didn't stop.

Azibo watched from above, surprised. He hadn't expected such a response... nor such courage.

Azibo: — "They shouldn't care so much about a territory. Why do they risk themselves like that?" — he murmured, not understanding.

When his eyes met Jabari's, who stared at him for a moment through the smoke, he felt something strange.

It wasn't fear. It was respect.

Azibo stepped back. He was still young. I still didn't fully understand the war I was helping to cause.

The fire was dying down.

And the Bravest of the Askari Guard, once again, proved that true strength… lies in sacrificing for what you love.

🦁 Note to Players: You can play Shuja, Azibo, Jabari, the group of elephants, or an original character of your own.