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.
~
"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.
It was night time when I went in.I started to get a little scared but I kept moving.I was tired but I had a feeling that this place was dangerous so I didn't want to stop until I got out.But this place was like a maze of vines and branches it made me wonder if I'll ever get out.
I heard some kind of noise I didn't know what it was but naturally I started running.I kept running and running until I tripped over the root of the tree from there I was just tumbling and falling like a rolling log.When I finally stopped falling I was out of the forest.I heard something from far away but I didn't care what it was I was exhausted.All I cared about was going to sleep.I climbed up one of the nearest trees and curled up on one of the branches and closed my eyes and before I knew it I went to sleep faster than I can run.When I woke up it was bright and sunny,not one cloud was in the sky.
I leaped off the tree and decided I should probably go hunt for food.Lucky for me a white rabbit just happened to be passing by.I doubt it was going to satisfy my hunger but hopefully it should help me wait for a bigger meal.
I quickly hid in some bushes stalking it.The rabbit stop to look around when it heard me step on a twig.Well it's now or never I thought and pounced on the rabbit.Right as I jumped he saw me and ran away.I chased after him and when I got close enough I jumped on him again actually pinning him down this time.
As I was about to finally eat I heard a loud gasp.I looked up to see a...well I don't know what it was.I kept thinking it was a zebra but it couldn't be.Zebras have stripes and this thing was yellow with a pink mane plus it has...bird wings? Well what ever it was I don't think it was too happy I took it's rabbit.
" HOW DARE YOU TRY TO EAT ANGLE BUNNY" she said at least guessing from the voice it was a she.
Confused I cocked my head to the side "apologize right now" she demand but I kept my mouth shut.
I started to take a step back but then all of a sudden the creature took a total three sixty and talked in the calmest voice I've ever heard.
"Oh i'm sorry did I scare you please don't be scared" she said "I'm fluttershy what's your name?" she asked
.Fluttershy? That has to be the strangest name I've ever heard.I wanted to ask what kind of a name was that but I didn't say anything I just stared at her.
"Can't you talk and are you a cheetah? To be honest I've never seen one so close up before" she said.She glanced at my scarred tail and gasped "oh my! what happened to your tail? oh you poor thing I'll fix you right up" she said as she picked me up and next thing I knew I was flying in the air.
~
When we finally got to the ground we landed on a bridge.Under it were fishes and rabbit and ferret holes and above were birds and butterflies flying around.They all made me even more hungry than I already was but the creature shoved me in her cottage.When we got inside there were even more animals.There were birds and mice and a goat,a kitten and even a bear! I already knew not to mess with the bear but everything else made me more hungry.The zebra creature left and came back but holding a bunch of stuff.
"Now first we have get that tail all cleaned up" she said.She took wet rag and cleaned my tail then she got a little bottle and uncapped it."Now this will only sting just a little bit" she said
oh no I thought.Whenever someone (especially if its an adult) says that,it always means it's going to sting a lot so I braced myself for the worst.
A small drop of the liquid fell on my tail and it felt like a pound of burning iron flattened my tail.I hissed and jumped so high I nearly hit the ceiling.
"Oh don't worry it'll feel much better when I bandage it" she said.I hissed again but her sweet smile and calm voice made me feel like maybe I should trust her so I did.She put a white cream on the bite mark and then wrapped it in a bandage and my tail instantly felt better.When she put her stuff back she asked if I was hungry and my ears immediately perked up.
"Oh my I'm taking that as a yes" she giggled she went to go get food but when she came back she gave a salad with a bunch of carrots and oats in it.I glanced from the salad to her
"i'm guessing you aren't hungry for that how about some fruit,oh I know" she said and went and got a bowl.She placed the bowl in front of me "milk! cats love milk right?" she asked
sure if it wasn't for the fact that we're lactose intolerant I thought and pushed the bowl away.
"I got it" she said then left and came back with fish.
Now that was more my speed.She tossed a few to me but I ate them before they hit the table.After eating a few more fish I realized how tired I was.
"I set up some blankets and pillows just in case you were tired" the zebra thing said and pointed to where I will be sleeping.I yawned walked over to where she was pointing and fell on the pillows and I immediately fell asleep.
When I woke up the next day I was surprised to find not only the fluttershy creature but 5 more of them huddled around me and along with what looked liked a lizard walking on two feet.All of them were as strange as fluttershy and they could not keep their eyes off of me.
There was an all pink one with a puffy mane,a white one with purple swirly hair,a purple one with a purple mane and bangs,a blue one with a rainbow mane and a yellow blonde who was wearing a hat.They were all different like the blue one had wings like fluttershy but the white one had not wings but a horn on it's head and the purple one had both a horn and wings.The pink and yellow ones were the ones who mostly resembled a zebra(aside from the fact that they have no stripes and were yellow and pink).
"Oh look at the kitty" said the pink one while completely invading my personal space
"Pinkie I don't think that's a regular cat It looks more like...a cheetah" said the purple one
Ok so I'm assuming the pink one's name is pinkie...figures I thought
They all stared at me for a good five minuets all with different expressions.The purple one seemed curious,The white seemed interested but cautious,the blonde looked suspicious and the blue one seemed impressed by me and the little lizard thing looked like it never seen anything cooler in his life.
"By the spots,tear marks and structure of her body it has to be a cheetah but cheetahs aren't usually so big and muscular " said fluttershy
Hold up is she calling me fat?
"Tear marks? does she cry alot" asked pinkie
"No pinkie they're for running.the black lines help her run with out getting blinded by the sun" said the purple one
"Hold on aren't cheetahs like really fast" said the blue one
"Uh-huh one of twilight's books says that cheetahs can run up to 75 miles per hour" the lizard thing said excitedly
Bored of listening to the things I already know I decided to get up and stretch my legs but as soon as I got up every one jumped back with a small gasp.
"Be careful y'all we don't know when it might pounce" said the blonde with a thick accent
"Applejack's right she could be dangerous" said the white one with a accent I've never heard before
Note to self Blondie's name is applejack wow these names just keep getting weirder
"So what's she doing here" said the lizard thing
"I don't know spike I found her in the everfree forest" said fluttershy
Spike?That name was actually familiar.I knew this hedgehog who's name was spike.Of course he stopped talking to me after his mom told him all about how big cats eat any moving thing they see.She told him I was probably planning to eat him once I earned his trust.Although he became afraid of me he was the only friend I have ever had.
"I'm sorry Fluttershy but she could be dangerous you have to take her back" said the purple one
"Oh please twilight I will but only until she heals up please" begged fluttershy
The purple one (who i'm pretty sure is twilight) looked at me cautiously then sighed
"Fine but she better not cause any trouble" she said
"Oh thank you twilight" said fluttershy happily
"Shouldn't we go?.....waiting at..." I wasn't paying attention to them because while they where deciding whether to keep me or not I had all ready snuck away to the nearest window without know one noticing and hopped out.
~
I stayed in the shadows between the huts. These huts were big,in my pride we don't really live in huts mostly everyone just slept outside except for me and my dad we slept in a cave but i know what huts look like from the zebras. I used to go sneak up to their village just to to see but these huts looked different from the ones i've seen.
Eventually I got bored of just lurking around in the shadows so decided to do a little prank.
I got deep into the shadows and waited for someone to pass by. Finally my target came strolling in she had blonde hair and grey fur,wings like fluttershy and her eyes were cross eyed. I started meowing trying to sound as much as a cub as i could. She heard me,stopped, said aww then came into the ally.
When she did I pounced out in front of her and gave a small roar.
"Aww hi kitty" she said followed by a giggle
Yeaah...that wasn't the react action i hoped for
After my failed prank i took a few steps back on to a wooden plank. The winged zebra flew a few feet into the air then flew in front of me.
"Aww don't go i won't hurt ya" she said then dropped down on the other side of the plank which sent me flying into the crowd of zebras. I face planted onto the ground then someone stepped on my tail right where i've been biten. It still hurted so I roared in pain then whipped around to see who had stepped on me. When I saw the creature he was clearly terrified he was shaking so much he looked like he was about explode.
Then i realized everyone was screaming and running around and yelling monster at me. I then realized I was growling and bearing my teeth. Well no wonder they're freaking out. I left the creature and tried to get threw the crowd which made things worse. Everyone thought i was going after them and all i could hear was
"Run"
"It's coming after us"
"watch out"
"hide the kids"
I found a way out of the crowd and back into an ally but as i entered i found that i wasn't alone.
"Oh no it found us!" it was a little filly with orange fur and purple hair. Next to her were to other filly one with yellow fur and red hair and another with white fur and pink and purple hair. I tried to give them a innocent look telling them not to worry. I don't know why i didn't just say something but i didn't.
"Wait maybe she's not so bad" said the yellow one with an accent similar to appejack.
"Or maybe she is. She was just about to eat mr.cake!" the white one said
"But she didn't" The red haired said then one turned to me and looked at me dead in the eye. "You're a good monster...Right?" she asked and I nodded
"See she is nice" she said then her friend spoke up "just because she said so?".
Then I heard deep voices when i looked it was a few zebra creatures with long spears and gold on their head and hooves and chest and immediately i knew they were looking for me.
I started to take a few steps back eventually bumping into one of the fillies.
"I think she's scared of them" the white one said
"I think shes scared of the spears" the orange one replied
"I think we should hide her in the club house" the red head said
**I* think we should go now*
~
After a long time trying to get to applebloom's farm ( I learned their names on the way) without getting seen we finally got there. It was nice there were big trees full of fruit and a big red barn right in the middle.
"Oh no it's big mac" scootaloo said and when i looked to where she was I saw who she was talking about. He was big and tall and he had red fur and blonde hair. Applebloom told me to hide so i scurried up a trees and stayed on a high branch but i could hear them talking below me.
"Oh hey big mac what are you doing this time of day" applebloom with a nervous smile
" Just bucking some apples" he said in the lowest voice i've ever heard!
Whoa and i thought dad's voice was low my dad? I tried not to think of him he said all i do is run so that's what i did he probably didn't want me there anyway.
"You don't want to buck that tree it has bad apples" scootaloo said
Big mac looked up t see if it was true but luckily he didn't see me instead he shrugged, put down a basket he had and started kicking the tree. He kicked it so hard i almost fell out but i held on so i was hanging with my tail out the tree but he didn't notice. Getting back up wasn't to easy but then sweetie belle got him to stop kicking for a second. Finally I got back on he started kicking again but i was ready i dug my claws into the branch to make sure i was secure. Finally he left and after that we ran straight to their clubhouse.
"That was a close one" scootaloo said. your telling me
"So where did you come from" sweetie belle asked me they all stared at me with great interest I could tell the all had a lot of questions. But i didn't answer i just looked at them.
"awe come on now you don't need to be shy around us we're your friends now" applebloom said. friends? since when do I have friends? for a second i thought she joking and probably led me up here so it would be easier for me to be caught but then I thought maybe they really are my friends.
"Maybe she just can't talk" scootaloo suggested
"N-no I can" I said quietly
"Ok good because i have a question...what are you" scootaloo asked
"What are you?" i said and i didn't mean to but i said it with a little attitude.
"Your right that was rude of me to ask" she said a little sheepishly
"No no I was really asking I don't know what you guys are. I'm half cheetah and half lion" I said and scootaloo jumped up and fluttered her wings.
"That's so cool! and can i call you a chion?" she said " Oh and we'er ponies by the way"
"Ponies? your a pony? i've never seen anything like you before well i've seen zebras at least" I said
"Zebras! we know a zebra her name is zecora she lives in the everfree" Applebloom said
"I have a question...w-why do some of you have horns and wings?" I asked
"Oh that's because ponies are spilt into three groups for ex sample I'm a unicorn and unicorns have magic" sweetiebelle said and then her horn glowed and she made a flower float in mid air with out even going near it! That is awesome!
"I'm a Pegasus I can fly" scootaloo said but I kinda got that down already
"And I'm and earth pony i can't really do stuff like that but earth pony can grow crops unlike anyone else" applebloom said " So its unicorns,pegasi and earth ponies ya got that" she said and i nodded
"Kinda of like the carnivores,omnivores and vegetarians" i said those where the different groups in the wild.
"Yeah then there's the alicorns they have both magic and can fly. Also we'er vegetarians everyone here is so you might have to eat veggies while your here" sweetiebelle said
"Yeah but f-" I was cut off by someone looking for the girls.
"Applebloom,sweetiebelle ,scootaloo come down here" it was applejack.
Oh no i thought. Sweetiebelle checked out the window and gasped." Princess celestia is down there" she said
"Who?" I asked
"She rules equestria,this country with her sister they were at the bakery but they must of came to look for you when they heard you were here" applebloom explained "Y'all wait here I'll go out" she said and went out to talk to them.
A few minutes later applebloom ran up saying that they were coming up here. "You have to hide" she told me
"Where would i hide!?!?!?" i said she told me to leap outside onto a tree and to hurry but it was too late they were already here.
"GIRLS GET AWAY FROM HER SHE COULD HURT YOU" applejack told. She stood in front of the girls holding rope i guess they were trying to tie me up. I tried to jump out the window but In mid-air i was frozen i couldn't move and i was floating too. I floated back into the room and i was in front of a tall (even taller than big mac) white alicorn with a long pink, blue and green mane that was waving even though there was no wind.
"Do what you need to do applejack" she said. Then all three girls yelled no at the same time. Well it's about time you guys said something
"No applejack shes a good chion" Scootaloo said.
"A what?" celestia asked
"A chion she's half cheetah half lion" scootaloo answered "but shes nice so please let her go" scootaloo said
I floated down to the floor and then i was finally able to move that was the weirdest thing ever. I looked up at celestia who was studying me up and down.
"She's a hybrid i could have assumed she was a cheetah but... how did you know?" celestia asked
"She told us" sweetiebelle said
"She talks?" applejack asked the girls said i did and told me to say something but i didn't i just sat down and looked a cross the room. celestia cocked an eyebrow at then at the girls.Applebloom giggle sheepishly and said "she's shy"