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I now realized how much of the burden the gateway took from me. By summoning the portal by myself, using only my own soul as a channel for this strange energy, I could feel how it threatened to tear me apart. It felt as though the flesh was being ripped from my bones, but still I held on.
Then I felt a flicker, like a spark that was almost ready to light a flame. It quickly rushed forward into a blaze and engulfed me. The air shimmered and a portal had opened. I stepped through and then immediately I was transported above me. I wrapped my arms around Naaro and pulled him from Ganang, whose eyes were dull. It careened towards the mountains, as did we. For a moment I knew what it was to fly. I looked down at Emilia, who was waiting for us. I summoned the energy again and formed another portal. We fell through it at a hurtling speed, but I had opened the portal on the ground so we crashed through it horizontally, which halted our momentum. We rolled, me a human, him a lion. His weight almost crushed me. My body was drenched with sweat and blood and my bones jangled as I thudded against the ground until we came to a halt. I lay there, arms splayed out either side of me, panting heavily. I felt drained and empty, and I looked up to see the huge form of Ganang crashing against the mountain.
Then my head lolled to the side. I reached out and touched Naaro, pulling myself towards him, wanting to make sure that he was alive. I called out his name and cried with delight when I realized that he was still breathing. Tears filled my eyes once again, but this time they were tears of happiness. I had done it. Somehow, I had done the impossible and I had saved him. I had prevented him from certain death, but I also knew that I could not have done it without the example he had set. And I couldn’t have done it without Emilia either.
She came walking up to us and I gazed towards her. She may only have been a human, but it was clear that her heart was giant and her spirit as strong as iron. I could see now why Naaro had taken a liking to her.
“Is he okay?” she asked, falling to her knees beside him.
“He will be,” I spoke with a wide smile on my face. “I think he just needs some time to get his breath back. I can’t actually believe that we did it. I would never have thought of doing that without you. It makes me wonder what else I’m capable of.”
“Well, maybe you can get us back to the tower and save us a long walk home,” she replied with a smirk. I knew she was joking, but I didn’t see any reason why I shouldn’t do it.
Chapter Eighteen
Naaro
The last thing I knew was that I had been falling. When I opened my eyes again, I was staring into the eyes of my mother.
“Oh Naaro, you’re awake,” she said, and flung her arms around me. I gradually rose into a sitting position and saw that Axanar, father, Divad, and Emilia were all there.
“Divad told us all what happened. I’m so proud of you,” Kara said through small sobs. I smiled bashfully towards Emilia. I had said what I did based on the understanding that I would never have to see her again. I was not sure how she was going to feel about me baring my heart like that. Father came up to me and placed a hand on my shoulder, and then Axanar followed, shaking my hand.
“You have proven yourself a worthy warrior Naaro. You protected my son, our guest, and the pride itself, as well as slaying Ganang. You are worthy of every accolade afforded to you, and I know that your song will be sung long after we have all passed into the Eternal Plain.”
I bowed my head at the gracious words. “I only did what I thought was right.”
Divad walked up to me and laughed. “There you go again, always so modest Naaro. Take the kind words, because you deserve them. And you’re going to have to listen to me as well. Thank you for what you did. For coming after me, for sacrificing yourself for me, and for showing me a better way to live.”
This all still seemed like a dream. There was a foggy haze in my mind and some things were still unclear. “But I don’t understand. How did I get here?” I asked. Divad smirked.
“It turns out that I’m capable of more than I thought,” he said, and then explained that he could create portals from within himself without having to rely on a gateway. “It does take a lot out of me, but I guess it means that things are going to be different moving forward. I still have a lot to learn though,” he said, glancing towards our parents. “And I’ve been thinking about our future as well, and the future of the pride,” Divad took a deep breath before he continued. “This experience has given me a lot to think about. I realize that I’ve taken a lot of things for granted, and I’ve allowed people to be close to me that I shouldn’t have. I’ve shown poor judgment, and that’s not something that I want to continue. I want this pride to have the best Alpha it can, and I also want it to have the best people. Emilia, I know this may come as a surprise, but I don’t think you should return to earth. You are as brave as any lion I have ever known, and your heart is pure. You came after me even at great risk to yourself. I would like to extend an invitation to stay here and perhaps even become the mate of the Alpha,” he said.
I wasn’t sure I was really hearing him right. I glanced towards Emilia, who looked uncertain. I felt resentment build inside me. For all Divad’s talk of change he was still the same person as before, always taking what he wanted without thinking of anyone else. He wanted Emilia for himself, despite knowing how I felt about her. Inside my mind warred with itself. I knew that I should have just obeyed his wishes because that was my duty. I should have bowed my head and accepted the wisdom of the future Alpha and the world walker, but my heart burned with desire for Emilia. The thought of allowing her to be taken from me without a fight was anathema to me.
I pushed myself up into a sitting position, fighting against the exhaustion that clung to my bones.
“I cannot allow that brother. I understand why you desire her, but please… she means so much to me,” I said.
Divad smirked as I reached for a weapon. I was ready to challenge him there and then for her.
“You don’t understand Naaro. When I talk about the Alpha, I mean you.”
I blinked as the words left his mouth. Was I still dreaming? Even the others looked shocked.
“Son, are you sure of what you say?” Axanar asked, his expression grave.
“I am,” Divad raised his head and spoke without hesitation, without doubt. “To be honest it’s something that should have been clear to me, and all of us, for a long time. Naaro is the one who has hunted with the pride and earned their respect. There is nobody more loyal, nobody finer than him. Everyone greets him as they pass, while with me they see someone who is different to them. Naaro has always seen his role as one of duty and servitude, but it is I who must learn to serve the pride with my skills, not lead them just because I am a world walker, and because my father is the current Alpha. If we hope to see this pride flourish then we need good men like Naaro. He should be the next Alpha. I am certain that nobody will ever dare to challenge him.”
The others nodded. I stared at Divad with continuing disbelief. “I cannot brother. This is your place in the world.”
Divad walked up to me and smiled. He placed a hand around my neck and then pressed his forehead against mine. “Don’t you see Naaro? We get to choose our place in the world. We get to choose who we are and what we do. You can be the Alpha. You should be the Alpha. I bet if we ask everyone in the tower they would agree. If it helps convince you then see it as your duty. You are far greater at burdening yourself with responsibilities than I am. It is I who should stand by your side and obey your wishes. Besides, my time is going to be filled with studying my powers. To perfect them I am going to have to give everything I have, which means I am not going to have time to give the pride the attention it deserves. You are the only sensible choice.”
He spoke earnestly and even though I recognized the logic in his words, I still hesitated. All my life I had seen myself as the second born, the one who came after Divad, the one who was there to support him rather than lead. I was now beginning to realize that my thinking had been faulty. I glanced towards Emilia and thought back to the game we had played. She had taught me that sometimes the pattern of a man’s thinking could lead him to ruin. I had trapped myself in my own thoughts. There was no strict path for life. I could be whatever I wanted, even if that was Alpha. Mother had an excited gleam in her eyes, while father nodded solemnly. Even Axanar did not protest. They all saw the wisdom in my brother’s words, so if I denied them then I would be the fool.
“Thank you, brother. If it is the wish of the pride then I would be honored to lead them, when the time comes,” I said, bowing my head towards Axanar, who of course, still held the position of Alpha. He walked towards me and placed his hand upon my shoulder.
“You have always lived up to the idea of lions. I am sure you will do well, when your time comes,” he said. My heart swelled as I received the blessing of the Alpha. But there was still one matter that had yet to be resolved. I turned towards Emilia, worried that she would flee in fear.
