I waited at the pond for Jade today. But she hasn't come yet.

Oh man, I hope she really is okay. I mean that big scratch on her back looked really bad. Either that or Chad is forcing her to stay where she's at. He really is abusive to her, and her father doesn't know it.

I sighed. Poor Jade, I really wish there was something I could do, but what can I do? Stroll to the pride and demand Chad to let Jade do whatever her heart desires and tell him to leave this land and never return? I wish I could have done that, but it wouldn't make it easier on me, after all I'm a human and Chad hates humans. So if I just stroll to Jade's home, he'll eat me.

I decided that I had enough, Jade is probably not coming today. I got up on my feet and went to the jeep and drove away.

While I was driving I looked at the rearview mirror to make sure Jade didn't just show up while I was about to drive away. She wasn't there.

I sighed again. Jade...Please be okay.

*****

I was lying on my back outside in the sun, soaking in the rays. Still pretty worked up about last night.

While I was looking up at the blue sky I shut my eyes real tight, trying not to let the tears form again. Chad hit me last night. I was telling I didn't want him, and he hit me. For all the time I've known Chad for who he is, he hit me. It was the first time he ever hit me.

I wanted to tell father about it, but he wouldn't believe me. Not after what me and Leon were doing to him yesterday. He thought me and Leon were trying to get rid of Chad so me and Leon would be together! I can't believe my own father would accuse me of such things! Of all the things he would accuse me of, he accuses me of doing that!

I opened my eyes and looked up at the sky again. Mom, please tell me what I need to do, how can I make daddy believe me?

I was still looking up at the sky when I heard a familiar voice interrupting my thoughts, "Hi aunt Jade!"

My eyes went wide and then I turned over to see a cub smiling at me, it's my niece. I smiled back at her, "Well hello there! How's your day been?"

My niece giggled at me, "Oh mommy and I went to hunt for the elephant today! Mommy got one before me, and I finished it off!" Then she crouched low to the ground and growled.

I laughed and patted her on the back, "So where is mommy?"

Then I saw Christa coming up behind her daughter, "Right here. I figured my little Suri would find her favorite aunty." She giggled.

Suri looked up at her mom and said, "I told aunty Jade about the elephant that we killed!"

Christa laughed, "Did you now? Well I'm sure she's impressed."

I answered, "Oh believe me, I am." I giggled.

Christa lowered her head to Suri and said, "Hey Suri, can you go play with the other little ones? I want to talk to aunt Jade alone."

Suri nodded and looked back at me and said, "Bye aunty Jade!" Then Suri ran off to play with the other cubs.

I smiled as she ran off. She looks so cute.

Christa smiled as well as she watched her daughter ran off. I asked her, "So what did you and Suri do today anyways? I doubt you guys would attack an elephant." I giggled.

Christa looked down at me and said, "I was hunting with the other lionesses and Suri came and watched us. She came up with the idea of us killing an elephant! I wish we could do that, that would serve us well as food for a while."

I giggled again, "So funny."

Christa changed her expression to concern, "So how are you doing? You haven't came back into the cave all night. Not to mention you haven't went hunting all day as well."

I rolled off my back and onto my stomach, and sighed, "Not good at all."

Christa had an angry look on my face, "What happened between you and Chad last night? Did he hurt you?"

I shut my eyes trying not to remember what he did to me.

Christa sternly said, "Listen Jade, you can't let him bully you like that. You have to stand up to him."

I opened my eyes and had a angry look as well, "How can I stand up to him? Chad won't back down. And me and Leon already stood up to him and look where it got me. Father won't believe me that I attacked Chad to protect Casper!"

Christa had a look of sympathy and said, "I know that. I figured that's why. You said you were going to meet Casper yesterday and I knew that's why you were protecting him. I would do the same thing."

I shook  my head and let out a frustrated sigh, "Well you don't have a father who doesn't believe a word you're saying to him. It's bullshit!"

Christa nodded, "I know it's bullshit. But even I know how to be strong. I won't let Chad control me."

I looked up at her and said, "Christa....How do you do it? How do you find the strength to be strong through this bullshit?"

Christa smiled, "Well remember when I stayed in the banished lands with my mother? Well I know mother has done a lot of bad things in her life, but there was one thing I agree with her on. She said, when things get so dark, you find the strength to stand up and move to your goal. You see that's why I'm strong Jade. Because I won't let the dark get to me."

I smiled at her, "No wonder you're not like your mom. Karone was a lot different than you."

Christa closed her eyes and nodded, "I'm not proud for what my....Mother has done. But that doesn't mean I won't choose to live. She never chose to live and in the end, her ego and her pride destroyed her."

I got up on all fours and let out a big long stretch and sighed.

Christa giggled, "You sound like you have layed around all day today."

I nodded, "I did. I just....Didn't have the motivation to do anything today. But I think I feel a little better now."

Christa smiled, "Good. Now come hang with me today. Me and the other lionesses brought some food all the way back here to eat. It's antelope."

I licked my lips and said, "Antelope! Now I really feel hungry." Me and Christa went to the other lionesses and they were eating some antelope that they brought here. Luckily they had left me something, and when I got what I wanted, I dug my jaws into a antelope leg and started to eat it.

Tearing away at the leg really did make me feel better. Makes me feel like I'm tearing off Chad's leg. I giggled to myself.

When I was done eating, I let out a satisfied sigh and sat down. In the distance I could see Suri playing with the other cubs in this pride and I smiled at the sight. Boy if I had a cub of my own that would be great, I wonder if it would be a boy or a girl. Before Chad came here, me and Leon did talk about having a family together.

I smiled at the memory, I love Leon so much. I doubt he would ever love someone else, he's the one for me, and I'm the one for him. I wish things haven't been different here, then none of this would be happening here.

I rubbed my paw under my stomach. Nobody does know about it, but only me and Leon know it. Even I haven't told Casper this. But what if Chad finds out? I mean I'm not his mate, but what if he finds out? I mean what would he do to Leon if he did found out?

I rubbed my stomach some more. I know I felt some kind of  kick from in my stomach or something like that, several weeks ago. I seriously hope that Chad doesn't find out that I'm-

"Jade!"

I gasped shook my head and looked at Christa, I asked, "Did you say something?"

Christa nodded, "I said, do you need more antelope?"

I shook my head, "No, I'm good."

My thoughts went back to my baby. If I really am pregnant, then one day I'll give birth to my child. But I can't because me and Chad weren't together that way. Only me and Leon were. If Chad finds out he'll kill my baby, he's sick!

I have to do something before that happens. But what? I can't stay with Leon, Chad will find me there. I love Leon but I can't put him in danger. Not him or my baby.

Then an idea came to me. Maybe I don't have to go to Leon, I'll go to Casper! Yeah, he'll help me, after all it's not like I haven't run away before, so how will this time be any different?

I'll find Casper. I know he'll help me. He'll always protect me.

Even though he doesn't know about my baby yet, but one day when the time comes he will.

*****

I sat down somewhere in the base, thinking about Jade's absence. Jade, what happened to you?

I was still thinking about Jade when Corporal Robyn Potter walked up to me and said, "Hey kid."

I looked up at her and smiled, "Oh, hi Corporal."

Robyn smiled, "Call me Robyn. You know you're not a marine, so why call me Corporal?"

I giggled, "I guess I was trying to fit in here. I mean me and my family aren't marines here, we're just a bunch of tourists staying here for a while."

Robyn said, "Well you haven't stayed in the resort that you guys booked into and look what happened, they scammed you out of your money."

I asked, "Did you see Tabitha today? I mean I haven't talked to her yet, but did she find another resort for us to stay in?"

Robyn playfully said, "Why? You don't like it here?"

I giggled and shook my head, "Oh please, I like this place."

Robyn then had a stern look on her face, "I heard that Private Dorland picked on you yesterday after you came back from your walk from the savannah. I got to say I'm tired of his attitude."

I shrugged, "Well he doesn't scare me that easily." Actually that's not true, he kinda does.

Robyn then pressed me, "Are you sure you're okay?"

I nodded, "Yeah, like I said I could handle him, he's not the first asshole I had to deal with in my life."

Robyn giggled, "Not the first asshole I had to deal with either." I giggled as well, and then Robyn asked, "You look like you had something on your mind. What were you thinking about?"

I shook my head, "Nothing. Nothing at all. Just stuff."

She had a curious look on her face, "Oh yeah? What kind of stuff?"

I shook my head again, "Just stuff." I didn't like lying to Robyn like that, but still a few people in my life know that I can talk to lions and I'm the only one who can understand them, might as well keep my mouth shut.

Me and Robyn were interrupted by another marine who came to Robyn and said, "Hey Corporal, Private Gonzalez got pranked by Private Atkins and now his beds all wet."

Robyn sighed and shook her head, "Well might as well get some new sheets for his bed then, what happened?"

The marine said, "Well, Private Atkins poured a lot of cold water on Private Gonzalez and basically he's all wet and so is the bed. Do you have anymore sheets in your barracks?"

Robyn then had an frustrated look on her face, "Well tonight I'm going to make Private Atkins run laps around the base until I say otherwise then." Then she softened her look and said, "To answer your question if I have anymore sheets in my barracks. Well I'm going to ask someone if they could let you borrow some until the sheets that are wet are dry, understood?"

The marine said, "Yes ma'am."

Robyn then looked at me and said, "Oh I forgot. I don't you think you met him yet Casper." She pointed at the marine, "This is Corporal Jason Rivers."

The marine whose name is Jason Rivers smiled at me, "So you're one of the guests here in the base? I heard a lot about you."

I go up from my seat and held out my hand to shake his, "I'm Casper."

He shook my hand, "Nice to meet you."

Robyn then said, "Well I have to get going. Gotta clean up the mess that Private Atkins made. Listen Casper, if Dorland bothers you again, other than me you can talk to Corporal Rivers here. Or Jason if you want, understood?"

I nodded, "Affirmative."

Robyn giggled and then she went off to her duties. While me and Jason here were alone. Jason said, "So where are you from?"

I answered, "Miami, Florida."

Jason's eyes went wide, "Miami?! Man that place looks beautiful."

I laughed, "Well yeah it's a pretty big place. Not to mention it's too crowded."

Jason shrugged, "Doesn't matter, I'm a city guy myself."

I giggled, "Ok, whatever you say."

Jason said, "Well I need to get going as well. If you want to hang out, come find me. I don't have a lot to do here anyway."

I nodded, "Sounds good."

 He waved at me, "Alright later." Then he was off.

*****

I was laying around in my bed in my barracks, staring up at the ceiling. Jesus, it's nighttime here and I still haven't seen Jade today.

I mean I didn't go back to the pond all day after I waited all morning for her there. I mean, I just think she wasn't going to leave her home to find me.

What kind of friend am I? Leaving her to deal with that bastard who is living with her and the pride, what kind of friend am I? The one who doesn't protect her, that's what kind of friend there is.

I shut my eyes, now another question is bothering me. What if Jade's not alive? I mean she was injured by Chad yesterday, so what if the wound was worse than I thought? What if I didn't do a good job patching it?

I shook my head. Stop it Casper, you tried your best. You can't think that she's dead. She's probably just a little sore right now.

I sighed. But should I at least try to be there for her, despite Chad? I mean if I did go there, he'll kill me. But I don't want Jade to be miserable, it's not fair!

I sat up in bed and tuned to the side of the bed and looked across the room. I know I have to protect her. I told her before three years ago, that I would always be with her. But how can I be with her with a psychotic lion who hates human? I don't know what to do...

Suddenly I heard a voice coming from the window outside the barracks, "Casper? Casper? Casper, are you there?"

I jumped up from my bed and walked to the window. That voice, I know that voice. I opened the window and peeked out and saw that Jade's here in the base.

My eyes went wide with fear. Jade?! What is she doing here?! Is she crazy?! How did she get in the base? There's a very tall fence that surrounds the base, so how could she have gotten in here?

Jade saw me and looked up and smiled, "Casper."

I asked her with fear, "Jade? What are you doing here?"

She answered, "I came here to find you."

I had a frown on my face, "Wait? How did you find me? I never showed you where I was staying."

She started, "Well..."

That's when I figured it out, "You followed my scent didn't you?"

Jade giggled, "Yep I did. I was lucky I followed it here. I mean it was faint but I followed it from the pond to all the way here. I got to say it's a little bit further away from home than the camp."

I giggled. It ain't the first time she followed my scent. Three years ago, she ran away from home and she followed my scent all the back to the camp where I was staying at. Apparently now she's gone and done it again. She must have ran away from home, probably away from Chad I guess. I panicked again when I remembered that she is in the marines base. If one marine finds her. I said to her, "Jade come around to the front door and hurry before someone sees you."

She nodded and ran to the front door. I pulled away from the window and ran to the entrance to my barracks. I opened the door and let Jade inside. Jade jumped on the bed and layed down on it. She was feeling comfortable on it. She smiled and said, "Mmmm, comfy. I think it's better than the bed I used to lay on in your camp three years ago. It feels great!"

I sat down beside her on the bed and asked, "What happened to you today? You haven't showed up at the pond today."

She looked down at her paws and sighed, "A lot of things happened back at home. Some involve Chad." I nodded, and then she answered, "Chad hit me last night."

That's when I got up from bed and angrily said, "What?!"

Jade nodded, "Yeah for disobeying him. He never hit me before, but he did. And father wouldn't listen to me about what happened to you and your family yesterday, he thinks I'm against his plans so I could be with Leon instead of Chad. I can't believe it!"

I was pretty much fuming. That son of a bitch! If I ever see Chad again, I'm going to freakin kill him! Nobody does that to Jade and gets away with it, NOBODY!

I finally took a deep breath and calmly asked Jade, "Are you alright?"

She nodded, "I wasn't all day at first. But I think I'm fine now."

Now a lot of questions are on my mind, "So what are you doing here? Did you run away from home?"

She nodded once more, "I have to. I mean my life back at home doesn't mean anything to me right now. I feel I'm in a prison right now. Trapped by one lion and his name's Chad. I hate him, I hate him so much. I can't stand him! All he does is torment me and control me. Not to mention he wants to....Mate with me."

I got angry again, "WHAT?!"

She had a sad look on her face, "I know, he's disgusting! I don't want him, I want Leon! But I can't stay with Leon, Chad will find me there. So I've been thinking all day, that maybe I should be with you. Chad won't find me here. This place is totally different than the camp, only better!"

I asked, "How did you get in the base? There's a very tall fence that surrounds the place. There's no way you can climb it."

Jade looked at me and cocked her head, "Is that what this place is called? A...Base?"

I nodded, "Yeah, it's called a base here, not a camp."

Jade frowned, "Hmmm, you humans have a lot of strange names for places like this."

I giggled for a second and then I asked her again, "Okay, but seriously, how did you get in this place? Did you crawl under the fence?"

Jade thought for sec, "No...After I followed your scent all the way to the fence, I looked all over trying to find a way to you. But I didn't find anyway to get in here. Finally I came up with an idea. I saw a tree that was closer to the fence and one of the tree branches was tall enough for it to reach the top of the fence. So I climbed on the tree, got on the tree branch, gave myself a running start and jumped from the tree branch over the fence. I was lucky I made it! After I went sailing over it, I landed on the ground and wondered around this place trying to find you. So here I am now."

My mouth was open agape. Holy crap, that's the most smartest and the most craziest thing I have ever heard coming from Jade. But she's lucky that not one marine saw her intruding in the base. They would shoot her on sight!

Jade said, "Look Casper, I don't want to go back. And even if I can't stay here, I don't have anywhere else to go. I mean where can I go? I can't wonder to another land, I'll starve to death! But if I have to get away from Chad, I'll do that. But Casper...." She looked at me with a pleading look, "Casper, please don't send me away."

I looked at her thinking about what going's to happen if she stays here. Well this place is not like the camp. Those people here have M-16s and they would shoot her on sight, because they would think she's a predator. This place is even more dangerous than the camp! So just like before my thoughts tried to say yes and they also tried to say no.

I tried to say yes, "Uh..."

Casper you know they are marines, they'll shoot her!

"I...Uh.."

Don't put her in danger! Don't do it!

"I will..."

This time you will get her killed! Don't freakin do it!

Finally I took a deep breath and said, "Alright, you can stay here."

She beamed at me and hugged me, "Thanks Casper." Then she started crying in my shoulder. Finally feeling safer with me. I hugged her back.

I don't care what my nagging thoughts are saying to me, I will be with Jade. Even if that means I'll take the risk of her staying here with a lot of marines trying to gun her down. Lets hope they don't find her. Hey it's not like she's not a good hider, she hid well in the camp three years ago, how will hiding in this base be any different?