Me and Jade were hiding near the jeeps waiting for Nick to distract them so we could leave the base. The two of us were just crouched down near the ground. Jesus Casper, we're kinda in open ground in the middle of the day and that increases the chances of Jade getting caught and killed by a marine.

Well even if she did get caught, since Nick actually talks to lions, maybe he could convince the marines that Jade's friendly. Lets just hope he could do it before they shoot her.

Jade while crouched low to the ground had an impatient look and whispered, "I wish Nick didn't take so long to get over here and talk to those marines, I want to get out of here for today!"

I gave her a stern look, "How do you think I feel? I'm nervous that you're going to get caught, not to mention shot and killed."

Jade complained, "I don't want to sit here anymore."

I sternly told her, "Jade, behave yourself."

That's when me and Jade heard Nicks voice, we looked and saw him go up to the marines and talked to them.

Nick led the marines who were guarding the jeeps away. I said, "Alright they're gone, lets go." I got up on my feet and ran to one of the jeeps, Jade followed behind.

I opened the door to the drivers seat, got in, and started the jeep. I opened the passenger side door and Jade jumped in.

I said to Jade, "Might want to duck down until we drive out of this base, don't anyone to see you."

She nodded and tried to duck down low in her seat, "Right."

After she ducked down I went to driving in the base. I drove slowly since they're a lot of marines out today. I saw Eileen and Walker and I waved at them while I was driving. They waved back.

I kept on driving until I saw the guard station at the entrance of the base. Oh god I hope I don't have to stop for this guy. Cause if I do, then he'll see Jade in the jeep with me.

But I didn't, the guard opened the gate for me and I drove out of the base. I let out a whoosh of air.

Too close for comfort. Jade straitened herself in her seat and smiled at me, "That was fun."

I giggled, "To you maybe, but this was kinda a edge of your seat experience."

Jade giggled, "Edge of your seat, I like the sound of that!"

We both laughed and then I kept driving, out into the savannah.

*****

Me and Jade found a spot near a tree in the savannah and slowed the jeep to a stop and parked it. I turned the car off and I opened the door for Jade, so she could get out.

Jade got out of the jeep and after she did I opened my door and step out. I shut the door behind me and went around the car to meet Jade.

Jade smiled and sighed, "Ah, finally out in the savannah. Nice to really be outside."

I laughed, "You really don't like to be couped up in the barracks, do you?"

She shook her head, "Nope, it's too boring. In fact I would rather take my chances getting caught than being couped up in your barracks."

I put my hands behind my head and stretched, "Why not? It's nice to get stuck inside every once in a while, just kick back relax, and not have a care in the world."

Jade rolled her eyes, "Yeah, until you're so fat from the lack of exercise, I don't want to be fat!"

I crossed my arms, "You're kinda prude about it."

She shrugged, "Don't care, I just don't want to be fat."

I laughed and rubbed her head, "You crack me up sometimes."

She held her head up proudly, "Sometimes I do and sometimes I don't, doesn't matter I still crack you up!"

I asked, "So what do you want to do? Play tag?"

Jade shook her head, "Actually I just want to have a walk with you. Just to get my exercise in."

I nodded, "Alright, lead the way."

Jade went to walking away from the jeep, "Lets go that way. And lets hope we don't run into Chad. I don't want to see him while I'm having a good time."

I followed her, "Lead the way princess."

She looked over her should and glared at me, "That's your majesty to you, buster!"

I laughed while I was following her. Well she does have a point before, it does feel great to get out and do something.

While I was walking I felt like we're being watched I turned around, but I didn't see anything.

Jade hollered, "Casper!"

I hollered back at Jade, "I'm coming!" Then I jogged to catch up with her.

*****

In the distance, Casper and Jade were being watched by an unknown lion or lioness. The face being obscured away in the tall grass.

The lion or lioness walked out of the tall grass. Trying to see where Casper and Jade were going. Just looking at them made it angry. Its claws were digging in the earth in anger, it growled.

The lion or lioness walked away from seeing them, trying to think of a plan.

The lion or lioness, saw a bunch of animals at a pond nearby. Elephants, Gazelles, Zebras, Rhinos, and Antelopes were all nearby. The lion or lioness giggled evilly when it came up with an idea.

Then it went to sneaking up to the animals, putting its plan into motion.

*****

Me and Jade were sitting around on a rock, just enjoying our time to ourselves.

I was just sitting and Jade laid her head on my lap, both of us were staring out at the scenery. I sighed and then she sighed as well.

While we were watching the birds flying by, Jade said, "You know Casper."

I looked down at her, "Hmmm?"

Jade then said, "I never knew I would talk to another human. I mean in all honesty I though I would only talk to you. It's...Pretty strange."

I gave her a mock expression, "What do you mean strange? I thought you always wanted to talk to other humans, other than me."

Jade looked up at me, "Yeah true, but what's weird about it is that, they wouldn't be like you. I think it's because they would have different personalities than you."

I giggled, "Well what do you expect? That all of them are like me?"

She giggled as well, "Nope, I wasn't expecting that at all."

I grinned at her, "You're a bad liar, you know that? You may be a princess, but you can be a bad liar."

She grinned back at me, "You can be too, smart one."

We both giggled and then she had a curious look on her face, "Hey Casper?"

I looked at her and she asked, "Nick has a daughter, right? Amber's her name?" I nodded and then she asked, "Well now that I think about it, what if she can talk to lions too, just like her father?"

I gave her a frown, "What do you mean?"

Jade thought about what she was saying, "Well...My father told me that I look just like my mother. So I guess since I was born from her, I just look like her."

I think I got the picture, "It's because you and her share the same traits, you're related."

Her eyes went wide, "Exactly! Traits! So now when I think about it, since Amber and her father are related, maybe she can talk to lions too. Do you think that it's possible?"

My eyes went wide. Hmmm, that's a good question. Some traits can be passed down from one generation to the next. Appearance, the way they think, whatever. But now that I'm thinking about it, does Amber have the ability to talk to lions just like her father. Nick did say that when he was a little boy when he breathed in that experiment. And that was way before Amber was born. But Nick said he never told his daughter about his ability, fearing she would think of him as a freak, there's no way she could have known. It's kinda a tough question to answer, since I don't know if it's possible. But boy Amber would be in a shock of her life if she did found out she could talk to lions. And a even bigger shock to find out that her father can talk to them as well.

I sighed. Well at least they would have a thing in common. I mean Amber just wants to reconnect with her father, I mean her parents divorced. So maybe if I asked her one day if she would try to talk to lions someday, maybe it would get over her fear of lions. I could even introduce her to Jade, if I do find out that she could talk to lions.

I giggled. Imagine, a person around the same age as me, talking to lions like me. Well at least that would make three people that Jade has ever talked to.

Actually, I still remember the one other human that talked to lions three years ago, Charlie McBride. He was best friends with Karone, Jades aunt. He met her years ago when Jade was just a cub I think. Turns out he was used as a test subject during the heyday for the government experiment when he was younger living in the states. He was homeless, didn't have a job. So when the government found him and offered him the job, he jumped at the chance. But Charlie was just crazy just like Karone. They both feel like they wanted vengeance. In fact the other reason why he was helping Karone was because he fell in love with her.

I closed my eyes. I'm glad that Nick wasn't like Charlie. He's different than him. But now I wonder if Amber really could talk to lions like her father. Maybe I'll ask her one day.

Jade interrupted my thoughts, "Hey Casper. You asleep with your eyes open?"

I shook my head and looked down at her,  "Sorry, did you say something?"

She nodded, "I said, do you think that Amber could talk to lions like her father?"

I sighed, "I don't know really. I mean I wish I knew, then that way I wouldn't have to wonder."

Jade then had a sad look on her face and sighed.

I asked, "You ok?"

She nodded while she was looking down at her paws, "Kinda, sorta. I don't really know."

I had a concerned look on my face, "What's wrong?"

Jade looked up at me and said, "Its just...Amber is very lucky that she has a father who listens to her. I don't have one like that."

I had an angry look a bit, but I also had a sad one, "Yeah I know. You hate him."

She shook her head, "I don't hate him. I'm just...Disappointed."

I nodded, "I would be too, if my dad didn't listen to me."

She said, "Casper, your father has lied to you about your ability, that he knew it all along and didn't tell you about it. I mean...How can you trust someone like that? It feels like my father doesn't tell me everything. I mean...I think he hates Leon sometimes and he doesn't even tell me. I guess that's why he wants Chad to be my mate, and doesn't accept that Chad is bad for me."

I rubbed my hand on her back, feeling the stiches that are still there. I need to take them off tomorrow, I thought I was good the other day, but they didn't looked too healed yet. I think they're almost done.

I looked into her eyes and said, "Jade...I know you're disappointed in your father. But I think you're wrong about how he hates Leon. I don't think he does. And even if he did, he probably didn't tell you that he hates Leon because he didn't want to hurt you."

Jade had an frustrated look, "But at least he should listen to me about Chad. I...Sometimes hate him for that."

I nodded again, "I would too, you have every right to be angry."

"I'm way more than angry, I'm furious. He just gets to choose for me and I don't. I have a mind of my own. He didn't even give Leon another chance when he was training him. I mean Casper." She looked up at me with sad eyes, "I love Leon, but father won't let me near him, only Chad. I hate him! Chad only liked me for what I looked like, not who I am, and it's bullshit. I...Feel like everything is taken away from me and it's all fathers fault."

I shook my head and said, "Jade you shouldn't hate your father. He loves you."

She got on all fours and yelled, "But he puts me through torture! He hasn't tried to protect me from Chad! Every time I tell him about Chad, he doesn't believe me! And now I ran away from home again, because of him!"

I got on my feet and said, "Jade...I know you ran away but-"

Jade interrupted me, "Casper, let me ask you a question. If I became your mate and if we're together, and if father found out, how would he take it?"

My eyes went wide. Wow...That haven't came up in a long time. Jade did fall in love with me three years ago before she went out with Leon. The reason why we're not together is, I'm a human and she's a lioness. Of course a part of me felt the same way about her, but I fell in love with someone else and it's Shawna, the human.

Of course at first, Jade didn't take it very well when she got rejected by me. But then she put it behind her and we became friends still, nothing else would get between our friendship.

Hell now that I remember it, we did share a few kisses together, but hey it's not like I wanted to kiss her, she kissed me first! But we never did anything else other than that.

I looked at Jade who was still expecting an answer out of me about her father. I shook my head, "I don't think your father would approve that me and you would be together like that. I mean I bet he would be angry."

Jade still had an angry look and said, "Exactly! He doesn't support me!"

I shook my head and took a step toward her, "'Jade...We're not even together."

She cocked her head, "But...Do you sometimes still feel that way about me?"

I sighed, "Jade...You can't think that way about me."

She yapped, "Why not? You thinked that way about me before."

I shrugged, "Jade what's this all about? I thought we were talking about your father, aren't we?"

Jade looked down at her paws, "We are. My point is, father doesn't listen to me, he doesn't support me, he doesn't even try to protect me now, because of Chad. I....Feel like I'm living with the worst father in the whole land."

I got on my knees facing her, and put my hand on her shoulder, "Jade listen, he does support you and he does love you, and yes he can be an asshole sometimes, trust me I know from experience from him. But...You don't have any reason to hate him, you should hate Chad, not him."

She had some tears in her eyes, "I wish I could believe that."

I gave her a sad look, "Jade?" By the look on her face, there was something else she wanted to tell me. But what? I asked her, "Jade...Is there something else you want to tell me?"

Jade looked at me and then she turned her head slightly away, "No."

I could tell she's lying. I pressed her, "No, what is it?"

She shook her head, "Nothing Casper! Just forget about it."

Before I could ask her again, I could hear something in the distance behind me. I turned around and I could see several animals running in my direction in the far distance. My eyes went wide when I realized what was happening. Stampede!

I turned around to face Jade and she asked, "What's that rumbling sound?"

I had a scared look on my face, "Jade run now, there's a stampede coming."

Her eyes went wide, "A what?!"

I shouted, "Run!" Then she turned around and ran and I ran with her.

The jeep was simply too far away from where we are to run to and it's in the direction of where the stampede is coming from! We have to get away from this.

We kept running Jade running faster than me. I sprinted trying to catch up with her. I could hear the loud footsteps behind me, they were getting close. I looked back and could see that I was right, they were almost here. I could see several elephants, zebras, wilderbeasts, any other animal I could think of!

I yelled to Jade, "Keep running!"

Jade looked over her shoulder while she was running, "Casper! Follow me! I have an idea!"

I ran after her still, and I could see where she was going. She was going to climb up a tree to get out of the stampede. She jumped up the tree branch when she was close to it. As for me, I just climbed up there before the first of the stampede ran near the tree.

I climbed up near Jade and looked down at the stampede. Several animals were running past the tree, several of them almost hit the tree. I breathed heavily and Jade did as well.

We watched as the stampede went on for two more minutes until all of the animals finally ran past the tree.

I looked past the other side of the tree and see them running in the distance.

I let out a sigh of relief and Jade did as well. Then we both started giggling.

Jade looked at me and said, "Well that was the first stampede I've ever been in."

I grinned at her, "Lets hope it's our last!" Then she laughed.

About a minute later we climbed down the tree. We could see several hoof prints and elephant prints. My eyes went wide. Wow, really don't want to be in another stampede. Ever again.

Jade was shocked by all the prints on the ground too, she said, "Wow, that's a lot of food running by me."

I giggled, "You're thinking about food? I know you hunt some of these animals, but imagine that you're about to be turned into a pancake by a lot of them!"

She shot a glare at me, "No one can kill the princess!"

I shot back at her, "I guess we'll see." Then me and her started our trek away from the tree.

We walked for a long time and then I asked, "I wonder what started the stampede?"

Jade shook her head while she was walking, "I don't know. But whatever it was, it must have been bad."

I only said, "I guess." While we were walking I saw something strange on another tree. I pointed at the tree, "Hey Jade look at this." I went to it and Jade followed.

Jade said, "What is it?"

I answered when I was looking at the tree, "I don't know, but look at that scratch on that tree!" Jades eyes went wide when she looked at it.

The tree looked like it had a big scratch on it. Like somebody was clawing it to death in anger. It looks like the work of a lion. But who did that?

Jade said, "God, look at those claws marks. Who did that?"

I shrugged, "I was hoping you tell me. It looks like somebody did that out of anger."

Jade had a thought and then she had a fearful look on her face, "Casper...You don't think that Chad did this, do you?"

I looked at her and then back at the tree, "Does Chad know you're with me?"

She shook her head, "I doubt it. I even doubt he even knows where I was staying for the past several days. But...Maybe he saw us together and started the stampede."

I nodded, "Maybe, after all he's crazy."

Jade shrugged and then looked up at me, "So now what?"

I shrugged again, "I don't know about you, but I'm not sticking around here to find out." Then I turned my back on the tree and said, "Come on, lets get out of here before someone starts another stampede."

Jade nodded, "Sounds good to me!" Then me and her walked way from the tree.

*****

While Casper and Jade were walking away from the tree, the lion or lioness was watching them from a distance.

The lion or lioness clawed the ground in anger. Unhappy that they have escaped death from the stampede.

*****

It has been hours later after the stampede nighttime now, and I drove us back to the base.

I drove past the guard station at the entrance of the base, while Jade ducked down in her seat beside me. And I drove to the other jeeps in the base and parked the jeep I was driving.

Me and Jade got out of the jeep and then Jade said, "Well that was fun, it a heart pounding exciting sort of way."

I giggled, "Yeah, my mom and dad won't believe this if I tell them, I was in a stampede and survived!"

Jade giggled, "Me too! It's my first one as well."

Before anything else could happen a marine came around the corner and saw Jade standing beside me. The marine stopped in his tracks and started stuttering.

I gasped when I saw him, then I said to him, "Now mister, calm down. She's not what you-"

The marine screamed, "Ahhhh!" Then he turned and ran away.

Both mine and Jades eyes went wide and then Jade said, "Wow, that wasn't what I was expecting. I thought you said marines would shoot at me if they saw me."

I glanced at her and answered "Something tells me, he was too afraid to shoot at a lion. I mean he didn't have a gun!"

Jade then gasped and said, "We better go now, before more of his friends show up."

I gasped as well, "Oh right! Lets go." Then me and her ran to my barracks, I opened my door and let her inside.

I was about to go inside when a voice stopped me, "Hey Casper!" I looked and saw that Corporal Jason Rivers came to me with a smile.

Jason said, "Hey kid, where have you been? You've been gone all day, I was trying to see if you could hang with me and my boys in my barracks today, but you weren't here."

I smiled and shook my head, "Oh sorry about that. I was gone all day."

Jason nodded, "I could tell, where did you go?"

I shook my head, "Nowhere. Just driving in the savannah."

Jason only said, "Oh, well since it's about to be everyone's bed time, I thought maybe I should tell you me and the guys are going to be playing poker in my barracks tomorrow, if you want to play."

I smiled and said, "Ok, deal."

Jason said, "Well anyways, catch you later." Then he walked away to his barracks.

I let out a whoosh of air. Well one marine is enough to see Jade, but two in one night I won't stand by for that!

I went inside my barracks after Jason left and closed the door. I turned around after I closed the door, I muttered, "Boy as if things couldn't get anymore exciting."

That's when Jade came to me with a piece of paper in her mouth, she mumbled while she had it in her mouth.

I tilted my head, "What's that?"

I pulled the piece of paper out of her mouth and she answered, "I found it on your bed when I came in here. I think it's a note or something."

I looked at the piece of paper, yep it's a note. I read it and my eyes went wide.

Jade had a concerned look, "What's wrong?"

I read the note to her out loud, "It says, 'You have escaped death once today, you won't escape death twice. I know what you are. And you and your friend will pay for what you've done.'" I dropped the note to the ground and I saw Jade looked at me with wide eyes.

Another note from some person.

Somebody was trying to kill us today. Somebody started the stampede, and someone else is helping who ever started the stampede and is writing these letters.

Someone knows about me and Jade here together, and it's someone who lives in the base.

Who? And the bigger question is, who started the stampede?