i messed up and already created the two comic pages (in a different style than the cover lol). I'll have to link them once I finish coloring c:
. The earth herself knew what fate was planning. Last night ended with a bloody sky and a large, low-hanging red moon. The morning arrived with the far off stench of burning brush; it has been dry for weeks. The herds had moved on and pickings were scarce. Iatos' pride was suffering more than he— Blue did not want to burden them, but appreciated the lionesses who check in on his health. He would have offered his help if there was anything he could do.
. Blue searched the edge of a dried-out pond for scraps. Even though the smoke turned the sunlight weak and cool, it was not worth the effort of making the trek into the gorge for water and a better meal. Sickly amphibians and sly birds took the edge off Blue's hunger, just enough to satisfy him while he dug into the cracking mud to find some wetter patches to lick.
"Blue, help us!"
. Renia runs full speed at him, her adolescent Obecarus following close at her side. Young Azilika swings from her mother's mouth. The stench of fear is heavy and thick on them— Blue smells iron not a heartbeat later. Obecarus has blood matting the half-grown mane at his throat.
. "Please, I don't know what to do!" As soon as Renia dumps her cub at her feet to speak, Azilika lets out a piercing cry. Obecarus lashes out with a paw and sends her sprawling— "Hush!"
. "They're killing every cub they find— it is a miracle Obie made it away with me. I don't know how I did it! Blue, please!" Renia is unable to focus. Her claws score the dry ground and her head swivels to look for the danger. Blue does not know what exactly it is they're running from; it doesn't matter.
. "Come."
. Blue leads them as fast as he can to his den. It is a simple den except for the thorny brambles surrounding it. One entrance and exit, the mouth that leads into the cool ground. The far wall backs up to the gorge. Renia slows and stares back at him when Blue ushers her family inside.
. "Blue—"
. "Mark something, son."
. Obecarus' mouth opens to show his adult fangs stained with another lion's blood. One of his lips are torn, Blue can see it. Renia, though, understands now.
. "Listen to him, Obie." Renia nudges him to Blue's bed of old hides. It must happen for this to work. Anything for the cubs. Too many have perished already.
. Blue squeezes past them and places a paw on the back wall. "Dig through, it is only a two length's fall to the river bed. Run along the bank for some steps, opposite to your true direction. Act like you will hide your scent with the river. Turn around and travel in the deepest part of the river you can manage— long past until you think it is safe." A mother laden down with her young cub cannot run as far nor as fast as a healthy male; Blue hopes it will be too much effort to find them once he has fallen.
. Renia rubs her head on Blue's shoulder, intertwining their tails. "We won't return— bless you, Blue." Blue licks her forehead before he settles at the entrance of his den. Waiting.
. Moments after Blue hears the last pained hiss of Renia forcing herself through the thorns, lionesses stinking of death stalk the den. Circling like vultures, like hyenas. Silent. Waiting. Blue keeps his head forward and his ears pricked. The wind carries the smoke and the faint cries from the violence deep in Iatos' territory.
. Two large males replace the hidden lionesses. They walk in step with bloody faces and paws. Powerful brothers in their prime. Blue remains where he is, watching. They are bold; the darker one, grey like ash circles to the left and the storm grey one circles right. There is no way to approach but head-on.
. "Those aren't your cubs, rogue." The Ash smiles through bared teeth. "Let us have at them."
. Blue knows what he looks like. He stretches a leg, unsheathes his claws during the deepest part before sheathing them again to relax. "Gave my word otherwise."
. The Storm lunges, to test. Blue responds— deflects the hit with his own paw. He recoils back into his den. Backing off, the Storm licks his stinging leg. "He fights." His brother sits, realizing this isn't an easy hunt.
. "Apologies. I thought you did, too." Blue's insult draws matching growls from the intruders.
. "He does not." Another lion.
. Blue smells the air— "Kin-Killer."
. The black male blinded in one eye emerges. His coat is littered with scars and he wears fresh blood on his fur. The similarities between the father and his sons are now apparent— Blue keeps his wits and iron heart cold. The brothers stand on either side of their father, emboldened.
. "The Old Fool." The Killer studies Blue, comparing what he remembers of their old pride almost two generations ago to the rogue lying before him. "Out of the way!"
. Blue is not strong enough to prevent the healthy male from dragging him out of his post— the Killer seizes Blue by his shoulder and throws him down before his sons. The pain is not bad, but Blue struggles to right himself. The Ash and the Storm see Blue's bad legs— and laugh, mocking.
. "What was it, a rhino?" The Killer scoffs, referring to the accident that left Blue's back legs almost entirely non-functional in his youth. Blue sits upright, wincing. They do not yet enter his den.
. "A bull elephant." Blue swipes at the brothers edging past him to his den entrance— the Killer bowls him over and pins him with vicious claws.
. "They're gone!"
. "What?!" The Kin-Killer leaves Blue to check himself. It is true, there is nothing but the fading smell of their scared prey, the false source of fear-scent, and the frantically dug hole out the back into the gorge's expanses.
