Strong

Runt,spotted freak,you're not one of us

That's only some of the things the lions say to me in the pride.But I know not to pay any mind to them.I'm special and I should not let anyone tell me otherwise.That's what my mother would tell me before she died.

She would also tell me that I should always keep a smile and do what makes me happy.In fact that's what my name means.happiness.And you know what makes me happy? pranks.I don't know what It Is about pranking but anyone who can't find the fun In It must be crazy.

Of course that's one of the things I get In trouble for.But If it wasn't for the pranks I probably would have died of boredom a long time ago.

It's not like a have any friends to play with all the lions my age are to busy teasing me to let me play with them.So I try to make new friends outside the pride but the problem with that Is that I can't even go Into the territories of other predators (unless I want to get killed) and any non predators just run away when they see me.So I usually do things by myself or sometimes I just follow dad around hoping he'll give me something to do.

Speaking of him my father is the leader of our pride.He's the biggest and strongest so nobody tends to mess with him.That's also the reason why nobody dares tease me when he's around but I don't see the big deal he wouldn't care any way. He only does things with me If it benefits him or the pride.He knows that I mostly resemble a cheetah which means I'm built for speed so he has me go with the lionesses because he thinks they can use my speed.Although I usually go with the lionesses they never actually let me hunt they think I am not strong enough.The only reason they bring me along is because my dad said so.So I usually watch,my dad thinks I will learn that way.

After another hunt I saw some of the other lions my age playing and I asked If can join even though I knew the answer.They all looked at each other then one of the boys who's name is Rakan walked towards me."Sure" he said "really?" I asked "yeah but you have to do something first" he said great I thought.

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"Where are we going?" I asked. "you'll see" he said with a grin

"You better not get us lost" said one of the girls

"I won't" Rakan said "just trust me"

After a few more minutes of walking we finally came to a stop.

"What are we doing here?" I asked

"you see that leopard In that tree over there" Rakan said as he pointed to a leopard sleeping in a tree "he's also hiding food In there.If you can get us some then you can hang out with us whenever you want".

"No way are you crazy? I can get killed doing that"

Rakan chuckled "I knew you wouldn't do It.Your dad might be the leader of the pride but your not a lion your just a weak spotted freak". Everyone laughed and chanted "WEAKLING WEAKLING FURAHA IS JUST A WEAKLING"

"stop It I am not" I said.

"Oh yeah then prove it"  said one of the boys

"I will" I said.I crawled through the grass until I got to the tree of the sleeping leopard.I looked back to where the others were standing.They were snickering and probably expecting me to run away but I started to make my way up the tree.When I got to the top I noticed the big snoring leopard.I also noticed the food stashed In some of the higher branches.I grabbed some of it with my mouth and turned to where the other lions were standing.They all were staring liked they saw a ghost.I smiled confidently until I heard a vicious growl behind me.I turned back around to see the big full grown leopard staring dead at me so I did the first thing that came to mind...I screamed.

I then jumped out of the tree.As I was in mid-air he bit my tail and held on to it making us both fall from the tree.I tried wiggling away from him which only made him bite down harder.As I was squirming around I kicked him and scratched him with my back paw finally he let go and I went running faster than I ever ran before.Eventually we all got back to the pride.

Panting,I looked at my bleeding tail great just what I wanted a fresh new bite mark I thought.

One of the lionesses ran up to us."What happened?" she asked

"it was Furaha she said she found a watering hole but she took us to a leopard just look at the bite marks on her tail to prove it" Rakan said innocently.

The lioness looked at my tail then gave me an angry look."First your ridiculous little pranks and now this? You are a lot of trouble Missy just wait until I tell your father" she said

"but..." she cut me off

"but nothing I don't want you any where near these kids you hear?" she said I nodded then they left.

Raken turned around to face me and stuck his tongue out at me then ran back to the group.A little while after I was trying to clean my tail my dad walked up to me."Furaha" he said in his low husky voice

"yes father" I replied "I heard you had an encounter with a leopard" he said looking at my tail.

"It wasn't my fault they-" he interrupted me "they what? did they force you to go or did you go yourself because they called you a few petty names" he said.I didn't answer "i'm sorry Furaha but you're no longer allowed to go hunting with the lionesses...in fact you're not allowed to leave the pride at all".

"It's not like it matters they ever let me hunt anyway" I told him "of course they don't you can get killed out there" he said.

"Wait did you tell them not to let me hunt?" I asked he looked at me and sighed "yes" he said.

"But why?" I asked

"because I said so" he replied "why" I asked again

"it's for the best Furaha you are not fit to hunt" he told me

"How i'm I not fit hunt" I asked

"because you aren't this discussion is over Furaha" he said starting to get annoyed.

"No it isn't how i'm I not fit to hunt" I demanded "Furaha drop it" he said getting more annoyed

"just give an answer for once" I said.

"BECAUSE YOU'RE TOO WEAK THAT'S WHY" he growled."ALL YOU CAN DO IS RUN EVEN IF IT'S JUST FIGHTING YOU CAN'T YOU ARE TOO WEAK YOU KNOW I HAVE NEVER SEEN YOU TAKE OUT YOUR CLAWS NOT ONCE YOU CAN'T DEFEND YOURSELF FURAHA YOU ALWAYS NEED ME A TRUE LION ALWAYS FIGHTS BACK BUT NOT YOU ALL YOU DO IS RUN AWAY I'M SORRY BUT YOU ARE NOT A TRUE LION" he yelled

Those words hit me hard. I stood there speechless usually when the other lions say that I can stand it but hearing it come from my father was just unbearable.If everyone feels that way even my father than I have no reason for being here.So I ran away I heard my father calling my name but I kept running without looking back.your too weak how can he even say that I thought.At this point tears were running down my face then I tripped I don't know what I tripped on but I got up and kept running. I've never been this far from the pride before I know that for a fact Because when I stopped running I was at the edge of a forest.Not knowing what I was getting myself into,without looking back I went in.