Leon had been part of the pride for over two moons now.
In that time, he'd gained a rough understanding of the group's hierarchy. At the head stood the Pride Leader—the adult male lion who acted as both guardian and ruler. None defied his authority, not even the seasoned lionesses. If Leon truly wished to challenge that dominance, he would have to defeat the Pride Leader in a full-blown contest of strength and will.
He probably could.
But he didn't.
The pride was not a mere collection of beasts; it was a delicate system of order held together by strength and instinct. If Leon overthrew the Pride Leader now, while so many new lionesses were still uncertain of their loyalty to the group, the result could be chaos. Without a strong and recognized leader, the pride could collapse.
So, Leon bided his time.
That afternoon, as the adults dozed beneath the jagged shade of a rocky outcrop, Leon lay on a sun-warmed boulder, his eyes half-lidded.
At his side, Bud dozed too—his lanky cub frame curled tightly as he mirrored Leon's every move. Bud, once the smallest and most timid of the cubs, had now attached himself to Leon with unwavering loyalty.
The older lionesses, including Leon's mother, rested a few strides away, their golden coats blending into the ochre dust of the savannah.
The moment the Pride Leader's deep snores began to rumble like distant thunder, Leon rose to his feet. He slipped from the pride's resting grounds without sound, every muscle taut with anticipation.
Behind him, Bud stirred.
Leon paused, glancing back.
The cub had followed him.
Over the past few days, Bud's stats had improved steadily. He was close to reaching Level 3, and though still clumsy, he was far from useless. Leon gave a low grunt of approval.
With a flick of his tail, the two lions set off.
Today, the sky was dim with overcast clouds. The air was thick, and the light was hazy—a day the Pride Leader had deemed unsuitable for hunting. But Leon had no intention of missing this opportunity.
He was only 5 Vitality Points away from leveling up.
That alone was enough to stoke the hunger in his veins.
After some minutes of prowling, Leon spotted a cluster of rock hares darting between boulders.
Small prey. Easy prey.
But hardly worth the effort.
Their meager vitality couldn't provide the final boost Leon needed. Still, Bud let out a low growl of interest, his young eyes locked onto the hares.
Leon gave him a brief nod.
Bud crouched, then lunged without warning—legs flailing, movement loud and direct.
Predictably, the hares scattered before he was anywhere near them.
Bud skidded to a halt, kicking up dust and sand. His ears flattened as he turned back, growling in frustration.
Leon calmly approached.
Smack.
His paw landed atop Bud's head in reprimand.
Bud yelped but didn't flee. Instead, he lowered his head and accepted the scolding.
Leon crouched low, demonstrating again the art of the stalk—the quiet approach, the subtle shifts in weight, the patience. Bud watched closely, then tried again in the underbrush, copying Leon's movements.
As Bud practiced, Leon continued scanning the terrain.
Hours passed. The plains were quiet, still recovering from the recent migration of larger prey.
Then, a chill prickled Leon's nape.
His instincts flared—raw, primal warning.
Without hesitation, Leon pressed Bud down into the dry grasses and lowered himself beside him.
A massive shape emerged from the thicket ahead.
An African elephant.
Old, battle-scarred, and alone.
It towered over the shrubs, its leathery hide marked with faded scars. Its tusks were cracked but long, and its ears fanned wide as it rumbled lowly while tearing branches from trees.
The air was charged with tension.
Leon's gaze sharpened as the system flashed:
Species: African Elephant
Level: 11
Vitality: 1859
Endurance: 125
Strength: 113
Defense: 119
Speed: 43
A terrifying wall of raw power.
Leon could escape if he ran now.
But Bud?
The elephant would crush him before he reached cover.
Leon didn't move.
The massive beast stomped closer, grunting as it yanked bark from trees and stomped shrubs to pulp. It was agitated, no doubt driven from a herd long ago.
Alone, aggressive, and dangerous.
It paused within thirty strides.
Bud's breath hitched.
But the elephant didn't notice them.
It tore off a thick branch and chewed lazily, unaware of the two lions lying deathly still in the tall grass.
Then, after several tense moments, the beast turned and began lumbering away.
Leon only released Bud when it had vanished from sight.
Bud whimpered quietly, then leaned forward and licked Leon's paw.
Smack.
Another paw to the head.
Leon didn't care for affection.
But the encounter had stoked a fire in his chest.
He needed power.
More than anything.
He would rise above the hyenas, the crocodiles, the rogue lions, even the mighty elephants. All of them would kneel or be consumed.
"Grr..." he growled softly.
They moved on.
The hunt resumed.
By dusk, their persistence was rewarded.
Through a sparse grove of umbrella thorns, Leon spotted a young female buffalo grazing alone. Slender and not yet part of a herd, her dark coat gleamed with sweat under the dying sun. Curved horns curled gently above intelligent eyes.
The system data scrolled in his vision:
Species: Buffalo (Female)
Level: 6
Vitality: 1058
Endurance: 78
Strength: 53
Defense: 51
Speed: 39
A perfect target.
Alone. Vulnerable. Not yet fully grown.
Leon crouched low.
Bud moved beside him, eyes wide, body tense.
Leon's claws flexed in the dry earth.
"This one's ours," he thought.
His lips curled into a silent snarl.
The time to level up had come.