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The next morning after what happened last night, Tabitha came to my tent this morning along with Eileen, Shawna, and Walker. I've told Tabitha everything, about how I met Jade, how I saved her from the crocodile, why she came here, that I'm the only one who can understand a word Jade's saying, everything. Tabitha listened to every word I've said.

Tabitha then asked, "So let me get this straight, you're telling me that you're the only one who can understand her, and you're also telling me that Jade can only understand what you're saying, is that right?"

I nodded, "That's pretty much it, yeah."

Then Tabitha looked at Shawna, Eileen and Walker, "And you kids knew about Jade staying in here? You guys should have told me as well."

Eileen raised her hands in defense, "Give me a break, I've only met Jade two days ago."

I rolled my eyes, that Eileen always making excuses.

Tabitha looked at me, "So she can't understand me, huh?"

I sighed, "I wish she could, that would be interesting. I mean I still don't understand why only me? I don't get it."

Tabitha shrugged, "There has to be a scientific explanation about that. Maybe you're born with it?"

I just shrugged, "I have no idea."

Tabitha then said, "Well then lets test it. Can I speak to Jade?"

I nodded, "Yes, of course."

Tabitha then looked at Jade and said, "Hey girlfriend what's up?"

Walker laughed at that, and then I asked Jade, "Did you understand what Tabitha said?"

Jade shook her head no, then I looked at Tab, "She said no."

Tabitha laughed, "Well I figured, she just shook her head no."

I giggled, "Oh, well let Jade say something to you, ok?"

Tabitha motioned for me to go ahead, and then I told Jade, "Hey Jade can you say something to Tabitha please?"

Jade just groaned, "Casper I'm a little tired of you telling me to say something to someone, no one can understand me remember?"

I nodded, "I know that Jade. But Tabitha wants you to say something to her, face to face."

She gave in, "Oh, alright." Then turned to face Tabitha and said, "Uh, hi."

Then Tabitha shook her head, "Well she definitely can't speak to me like a human. I only heard her give me a grunt. That's all."

I sighed, "See I told you."

Tabitha giggled, "Well I'll have to admit, it's pretty cute that you're keeping her here, away from everything. You would do anything for her."

I shrugged, "Well it's better than leaving her outside out in the open, who knows what would have happened."

Eileen just said, "A stampede, what else?" Then she giggled.

I shot her a glare, "Eileen, shut up."

Eileen glared back at me, "I was just kidding bro."

Then I shot back at her, "It wasn't funny."

Tabitha got between us, "Hey, be nice."

I sighed, "Yeah forget it. It's not important."

Eileen only nodded. And then Tabitha asked, "So what are you going to do?"

I looked at Jade and said, "Well I promised Jade that we would go out in the savannah today. She has been getting antsy yesterday."

Tabitha said, "Ok but Casper, can I talk to you outside alone?"

I nodded, "Yes" Then I faced Shawna, Walker, and Eileen and said "Hey guys can you keep Jade company? I'll be back in a minute." They all nodded and then I followed Tabitha outside.

Tabitha turned and face me she whispered, "Listen Casper, I know you're just protecting your friend, but..."

I stared at her, "What's wrong?"

Tabitha then mustered up the courage and said, "Look, you know all of us can't keep this secret forever, someone will find out one day."

I nodded, "Yes, I know."

Tabitha urged on, "Look, I think maybe we should talk to your parents about it. I mean surely they would understand it."

I shook my head, "No, they would just freak out. And besides that they might send her away anyways. I mean look they're scientists, and all they do is observe, and if they find out what kind of ability that I have, they'll do some tests on me. Which I hate needles! And what's worse is they'll keep her in some cage at some laboratory and I don't want Jade to go through all that."

Tabitha shook her head, "Your parents are not like that."

I shook my head as well, "No, but wait until the highest bidder finds out what they're hiding. The people that mom and dad work for, won't have the compassion like they do, I can't take the chance. I don't want too many people to find out, alright? I don't want me and Jade to have too much attention."

Tabitha had a grin on her face, "Well lets put at it this way, you might become famous if everyone did find out."

I grinned back at her, "I thought you might say that." Then my face went serious, "Don't tell them ok? Promise me."

Tabitha put a hand to her chest, "Alright. I promise."

I nodded, "Good now I need to find a jeep for me to take. I just hope I'm not still grounded for screwing around with dad's jeep on my second day here."

*****

I managed to borrow a Jeep from mom and dad, and they made me promise not to get into trouble, and to be careful this time. I promised them and dad handed me the keys.

I went back to the tent, and found Jade alone on my bed lying on her back, she saw me and rolled over on her belly. She smiled at me, "Hey pal, did you get the...Whatever you call it?"

I answered, "It's called a jeep."

She nodded, "Right, well at least it wasn't a waste of your time, I honestly want to ride on one of those things after you told me about them."

I giggled, "Well don't worry you'll get your wish, your majesty." Then I bowed to her.

She laughed at me, "Casper, I ran away from home, so I'm not a princess anymore."

I stood straight up, "Ha! So you keep saying."

She got up on all fours on my bed, "Can we go now? I'm getting antsy again, and I'm so tired of waiting."

I nodded, "Yeah we'll go just remember what I've told you to do. You go out through the back of the tent, then run all the way to the edge of camp and then you wait for me. Then when I see you waiting for me, you jump in the jeep and we'll ride off into the sunset!"

Jade just cocked her head, "Wait? You mean I have to wait all day for sunset to come? Casper, I've told you I'm tired of waiting!"

I laughed, "No Jade, riding off into the sunset is just a saying. I never meant it. We're leaving now."

Then Jade said, "Oh." Then she beamed, "Lets go then!"

I laughed at that, "Alright Jade go, I'll meet you."

She nodded and then she went to the opening at the back of my tent. She went through it and disappeared. I went through the front entrance after she left. I ran all the way to the jeeps and got into dads. She's probably waiting for me by now. I got into the drivers seat, inserted the key in the ignition started it, and drove to the edge of camp. I've found Jade waiting for me, I opened the passenger side, and yelled for her to get in. She recognized me, then ran to the jeep, jumped into the passenger seat. Her butt's a little big for the seat. Oh well I hope she doesn't tear the seat apart. I closed the passenger side door and then we're off.

*****

Karone watched Casper from a distance as he got into the jeep, then he drove off.

She growled at him as he left, she really wants to get rid of him, after humiliating her in front of Bron and her niece of her botched hunt.

Before Karone would leave she heard footsteps behind her, she turned around and saw a human standing behind her.

She smiled at the human, "Ah hello old friend, so what do you know now? Tell me what he's up to?"

*****

We drove until we were sure we were far away from camp, we also made sure that we weren't near Jades cave. Because if we were then Bron and his lionesses would find us together, and then we would be in big trouble. Well Jade would get grounded until the day he dies, and as for me, well I'll just get eaten by him for not returning his daughter sooner. Hey give me a break, if your daughter doesn't want to come home, then she doesn't want to come home.

I found a spot to park the jeep, it was near a tall savannah tree. It looked a bit taller than the others. I drove near the tree and parked it. Then I turned the car off. I turned my head to face Jade who is sitting right beside me, "Well Jade we're in the savannah, you happy?"

Jade laughed, "Almost happy, because I'm getting antsy sitting in the....Jeep."

I laughed at her statement, "I thought you wanted to ride in the Jeep."

Jade nodded fast, "Oh yes, I did. But now I just want to walk and stretch my legs." Then she pawed at the door, trying to get it open.

I laughed at her attempts to get it open, "Hold your horses furball, I'll open it." Right after I got out of the car, I said, "Sheesh." I went to the passenger side door and I opened it. Jade leapt out as soon I did. I shut the door and faced her. "You know Jade, you can be pretty persistent."

She giggled, "Well I was the princess, so I have to be."

I looked left then right and the I faced her again, "So...Where do you want to go? Unless you want to stay out in this spot all day long."

She shook her head, "Hell no, I want to go exploring. If you don't mind."

I shook my head, "No not at all. Lets go."

Then me and Jade went to walk to wherever.

*****

Me and Jade walked for a long time, enjoying the sights, talking about our personal lives.

She said, "So tell me, where are you from really? You don't look like most of the humans that I see here, your skin's lighter than darker."

She must have seen a lot of Africans, than Americans. Guess it makes sense why she would say that. I said, "Well I'm not really from around here, I don't live in Africa."

She cocked her head at me while we were walking, "Africa? Is that what you call this place? I never knew that."

I laughed, "Well there are a lot of things you don't know girl."

She rolled her eyes, "Right, so where are you from?"

I pointed at a rock, "Lets take a break, my legs are getting tired."

Me and Jade sat down the rock, taking a breather as much as we could. Then she gave me a look waiting for an answer to her question.

I said, "You still want to know where I'm from?"

She smiled, "Well yeah that's why I'm staring."

I laughed, then I said, "Miami. Miami, Florida."

She gave a quizzical look, "What's that?"

I looked at her, "You mean where's that."

She sighed, "Wow Casper that was a great comeback."

I laughed again, "Well you see. Miami is...A lot different than Africa, your home. Lets just say it's a place that is so far away from here."

She had a curious look on her face, "How far?"

Oh boy that's a tough question to answer, especially to a lioness, "Well it's so far away even you wouldn't find it. Actually you wouldn't make it there even if you try."

She cocked her head, "Why?"

"Because lets just say you have to swim to get to where I'm from. And trust me you wouldn't make it. It's across the ocean."

Then she lowered her gaze, "Oh."

I looked at her, "You okay?"

She nodded her gaze still on the ground, "I just wish I went to that place. It sounds interesting."

I shook my head, "You wouldn't like it. The weather's a lot different than your homes. Not to mention there are no animals for you to hunt either."

Her eyes went wide, "Really? Why?"

"Well you see where I'm from it looks a lot more different than the savannah."

"How?"

I looked at her and said, "Well there are these buildings." I motioned my hand in front of her, "Buildings pretty much taller than trees. And they're everywhere honestly. You could get lost in Miami. Not to mention there are too many humans also, and I'm sure they wouldn't like a lonely lioness running around."

She cocked her head, "Huh?"

I shook my head, "It's pretty hard to explain to someone like you. You wouldn't understand it, unless you experience it."

She said, "Oh." Then she got curious again, "Then let me ask you this, don't you miss your home? How long have you been in my home?"

I looked up at the sky thinking for an answer, "I would say almost a week I've been in your home. And to answer your question that I miss my home. No not really."

She cocked her head again, "Why?"

"Well it's because I feel like I don't fit very well there. You see...I don't have a lot of friends."

Jade gave me a sad look, "Really? Why?"

I already know why, but sometimes I ask myself the same question. I said, "You really want to know?"

She nodded.

I sighed, "Because the other humans around my age treat me like I'm some kind of freak. They don't even talk to me don't even say hello. And even if I tried to say something to someone back at home, they would just ignore or call me a freak. Which I don't know, maybe I am a FREAK."

Jade gave me a pity sad look and said, "You don't look like a freak to me."

I smiled at her, "Well at least you think so, the only people that I really talk to are my sister, Walker, and aunt Tabitha."

She giggled, "Tabitha seems to be nice, but Eileen and Walker, that's a different story."

I looked at her, "Why?"

"Because Eileen and Walker seem awkward all the time."

I laughed hard, "Well me and you have a thing in common, except I think it's just Eileen who's awkward, not Walker."

She smiled at me, "He's a pal isn't he?"

I nodded, "Yep. Me and Walker get along just fine."

"I figured as much." She laughed, ""But speaking of getting along, what about your mom and dad?"

I looked at her, "What about them?"

She stared at her paws, "Well you showed me what they look like, but do you talk to them a lot?"

I shook my head and stared at my feet, "No, it's just...They're so busy all the time. I don't really talk to them all the time."

She cocked her head once more, "I don't get it, why?"

I shrugged, "I guess it's because of what they do, they're scientists. They travel a lot. They do stuff all the time like make cures for animals who are sick, or they do tests on them to make sure they're not sick." I sighed, "You see that's why I'm here in your home. Because I'm staying here to be with my family."

She thought about what I said, "Scientists, huh? Never heard of any of this before. But what do you mean when they do tests?"

"They just check animals, take their blood and see what's wrong with them."

Her eyes went wide, "You mean they just kidnap animals? To do tests on them? I mean I've heard that sometimes humans takes other animals away. One time before I met you, I saw a elephant get taken away by a group of humans, but now that I think about it. What if they don't want to be taken away?" Then she stared at me, "Is that why the animals are taken away? To be tested?"

I shrugged, "I guess that's one way of putting it. A lot of times animals get wound up in zoos."

"What?"

I gestured my hand towards her, "Well animals like you get taken to zoos, to be admired upon."

She beamed, "Really? That sounds cool!"

I looked glumly at my feet, "Yes, it does sound cool. But there's also no freedom, you wouldn't be free to walk out of the zoo. You wouldn't go home."

She angrily stared at me, "What? So that means I wouldn't be free? Are your mom and dad a part of that?"

I got up at my feet, and stood in front of her, "No! They're not. It's just that, they just want to help animals who are sick. They love animals, they just want you to feel better, not sick."

Jade finally got the picture now, "Ohhh, now I finally understand. Your parents help my kind when they are sick."

I smiled and nodded.

She looked into my eyes, "Sorry about what I said, I didn't mean to accuse your parents of such things."

I shrugged, "It's alright, if you don't ask you don't know, right?"

She laughed, "Right."

We both stared at each other for a moment, then she got up and ran past me, "Tag you're it!"

I stared at her as she ran ahead of me, I was gawking at her, "What? We're playing tag now? I thought we're too old for this game?"

She stopped and looked at me, "So what? We can act just a little immature, just don't over do it. Now come and get me, or else you'll be lying in rotten elephant crap!" Then she took off.

I yelled at her playfully, "Hey you get back here!" I laughed and then I took off after her.

*****

I ran pretty fast ahead of Casper, he was still trying to catch me. I looked back while I was running. He's far, holy crap he's far. Didn't know I can run that fast! Maybe I better slow down a bit.

I slowed down for him to catch up, when he caught up he dove right at me. I shrieked when he got me. Me and him rolled on the grass wrestling with each other. He got on top of me and pinned me, he said, "Ha, gotcha!"

Then I pushed him off me and pinned him! I bragged, "Nope got you." I laughed.

When I was done laughing I stared down at him. He was staring right back at me. I looked into his eyes. They looked pretty cute actually. I wonder what would have been like if he was like-

"Jade!"

I shook my thoughts away, what am I thinking about? I stared at Casper again, "Yes?"

Casper looked at me and asked, "Can you get off me now? I can't breathe."

I gasped, "Oh sorry." I got off him and he got up on his two feet, he brushed off the dirt that was on him.

I cocked my head, "You ok?"

Casper nodded and stared at me, "Yeah I'm ok. I just couldn't breathe! Your paws were on my chest."

I laughed hard, "Guess I don't know my own strength."

Casper laughed as well, "Hey it's your fault for slowing down for me. I tackled you to the ground!"

I grinned, "I'll admit it was my fault, I never should have slowed down! I shouldn't let a human win! You tricked me!"

We both laughed, wow I actually feel so alive with him. I haven't had this much fun in years! Not ever since...Karone.

Me and Casper stopped laughing and then I saw a familiar land to my left. Casper followed my gaze he sees it as well.

This land that I'm talking about is the banished lands. They looked a lot different than the lands that we are standing on.

Casper as he stared at the banished lands said, "Wow, those lands don't look pretty green like here, it looks like a desert there. There doesn't seem to be a lot food and water."

I said, "That's what they're meant to be."

Casper looked at me, "What is it Jade?"

I still stared at the banished lands and simply said, "That's where my aunt and her followers are staying at."

His eyes went wide and went back to staring at the banished lands, "Wait. Those are the banished lands?"

I nodded, still not taking my eyes off the lands, "Yeah."

Casper said, "Wow, no wonder your aunt wants to come back here. She wasn't kidding that there wasn't a lot of food and water."

I glared at those lands, thinking about her makes me sick, "Well she deserves it. She deserves everything that happened to her." I finally looked away and said to Casper, "Come on lets go."

He nodded and walked away with me, I don't want to think about her, I want to think about the present! I looked at Casper while we were walking, "Hey Casper, are you okay?"

He looked at me and said, "Yeah, you?"

I smiled at him, "Never been better." I've really felt better when we were walking away from those banished lands, I don't care about my aunt anymore, she's a murderer. And I'm glad that my father banished her, and if I had my way back then, I would kill her myself.

But then my thoughts went back to back then, around the time when me and Karone were like best friends. She really was like a mother to me and then she betrayed my trust, I never forgave her for that. I never knew what fun meant anymore, until Casper.

I looked up at him again while he was staring ahead. He really makes me happy, I don't know why, he just does. He's like a new best friend who makes me happy. I know I have Leon as a best friend, but he's not like Casper, he can never be like him.

And you know what? I was also thinking about what I was doing before me and him stared at the banished lands. I was staring into his eyes while I pinned him to the ground. His eyes seem to stir something in me, something I've never felt before in my life. At first I didn't know what it was, but now when I think about it, when I was trying to imagine him as a lion, I think I know what it is.

I was starting to have feelings for him. I was starting to love him.

*****

Nighttime came to Brons home, and Bron was still waiting for Jade to come home. He still thought sadly, where is she?

Then one of his lionesses came beside him and said, "Your majesty, it's time to go to sleep."

Bron sighed, "I want my daughter back."

The lioness nodded, "We all know that, but we can't search for her if we're tired and hungry. Please Bron come inside."

Then Bron said, "This is all my fault. I never should have been so hard on her. I never should have exiled that human from my kingdom. I'm starting to think I was wrong about him." Bron closed his eyes tight.

The lioness shook her head, "No, it's not your fault."

Bron said, "Yes it is, first I lost my daughter, then my mate, my love, and now I've lost my last daughter I've ever had. I'm such a failure."

The lioness came to him and nuzzled him, "Look Bron, you're a great king. There's no doubt about it, and I'm sure you didn't lost your daughter, she just needs some time alone. She'll come back one day I promise." Then she back off and gave him a smile. Then she walked past him and said, "Come into the cave when you're ready, ok?" Then she left.

Bron finally opened his eyes, tears streaming down his cheeks, "What have I done? WHAT HAVE I DONE?"

*****

Me and Jade were still out and about, and it's nighttime the sky is full of stars. It's beautiful.

I was sitting on the ground while Jade was laying on top of the jeep enjoying the view.

I stared up at her, "You enjoying yourself?"

She stared down at me, "As a matter of fact I am." She giggled.

I nodded, "Good." Then I went back to staring at the stars. "Hey Jade, can we go back to the camp now? It's pretty late."

Jade stared down at me again, "Actually Casper, I don't want to go back to the camp. I want to spend the night outside here."

I really don't think it's a good idea, but with Jade staying with me I guess I can make an exception. I'll deal with mom and dad when they get angry at me. I said, "Sure, we'll stay out here for the night."

She said, "Yay!"

Then I laughed. She jumped off of the jeep, landed right in front of me and said, "Hey Casper, can we sleep on that tree over there?" She was talking about the tree that the jeep is near. The tallest tree I've seen in this country so far.

I nodded, "Sure, but we'll have to climb it."

Jade laughed, "Oh that's easy for me, I can do it."

I giggled, "Good for you, but I'm wondering if I can do it."

She shook her head and said, "Well I don't think it's that high, so I think you can make it."

I sighed then I shrugged, "Ok, then lets go."

Me and Jade went to the tree, she walked under one of the tree branches and used her hind legs for power and sprang. Her front paws managed to grab ahold of the branch and pulled herself up. Wow she can jump!

Me however I was nervous, I never climbed a tree before, but I might as well just grow a pair and get up there. I crouched low and then I sprang for the lowest tree branch I could find. Then grabbed ahold of it, and that surprised me. Then I pulled myself up. Of course this isn't the tree branch that Jade was on, so I managed to get to where she was, then I sat down on the branch. It wasn't too bad of a spot actually.

She laid down beside me, and put her head on my lap. We were both staring at the stars. Just enjoying the view. If me and my whole family were here to see this together. It would be great. I sighed.

She moved her head on my lap and looked up at me, "Hey, what's wrong?"

I shook my head, "Nothing, I was thinking about my family."

She then looked back at the sky, "Me too."

I looked down at her and said, "Hey Jade, Can I ask you something?"

All she replied was, "Hmmm?"

I said, "Your mother? Does she look like you?"

Apparently she wasn't expecting that because she raised her head and looked at me, "Why?"

"Just curious. I was wondering if she ever looked like you. Do you remember?"

Her eyes went to my chest, "Well when I was growing up, my father always said to me that I looked like her. Also that I had eyes like her."

I smile at her, "He really loved her, didn't he?"

She nodded, "Yeah, they were...Very close." Then she looked back up at the sky again. She giggled, "You know. I remember looking at these stars. Actually, I remember me and mom went up a tree and watch them together one time, I think. And she would talk about her mom and dad, how they would do the same for her when she was a cub."

I giggled, "Really? Did you climb up trees when you were little?"

She laughed, "No, actually my mom would carry me up here."

I laughed, "Of course." Then I said, "You never really told me her name. Do you remember what it is?"

She nodded while she was staring at the stars, "Amara. Her name's Amara."

I repeated what she said, "Amara. That's a pretty name."

She simply said, "Thank you." Then she looked back at me again and said, "Hey can I ask you something as well?"

I stared down at her, "What?"

Then she pointed at Mt. Kilimanjaro in the distance, "That big thing there, what do you think it is?"

I answered, "Oh, that's Mt. Kilimanjaro. That's what my kind calls it. It's a mountain, but I guess you figured it out."

She nodded, "Yes, it is a mountain. My mom and dad told me stories about it."

I was giving her a curious look, "What kind of stories?"

Then she said, "About ghosts of your dead loved ones roaming around on top of the mountain, including my sister, Ruby. And also my grandpa and grandma. How they would just watch us over from up there. And when it's nighttime, you could actually see their spirits. Smiling at you."

I was astonished by that story, "That's...Pretty beautiful."

She nodded, "Yes, it is." Then a tear fell out of her eye.

I saw the tear and I was concerned, "You okay?"

She looked up at me and said, "Casper... I think my mother's dead."

I was shocked to hear that, and I shook my head, "You don't know that. Years ago, you said she just disappeared. That doesn't mean she's dead."

Then she asked, "How would you know? You never even met my mother."

I shook my head, "I don't know, I just know."

She closed her eyes tight, "Casper, she has been gone for years. Even if she was still alive, then what would she be waiting for?"

I shook my head, "I don't know, Jade. I really don't know."

She sighed.

"Look Jade, even if she is dead, she would always be with you forever. No matter what happens."

She finally opened her eyes and said, "She would have liked you."

I smiled at that, "I know. If she's anything like you, I'm sure she would."

She smiled at me, "Hey Casper."

"Yeah?"

She looked at me directly in the eyes, "About the other humans calling you a freak. In all honesty, I don't think you really are a freak. And no I didn't just say it, I've meant it."

I beamed at her, "Thanks Jade. It really means a lot that you really cared about me."

She nodded and stared into my eyes, "I do, Casper, I really do." Then she yawned and laid her head down on my lap, closing her eyes.

I smiled down at her, and yawned, "Well goodnight, Jade. Time to get some shut eye."

Then Jade said, "Casper?"

"Yeah?"

I heard her sigh pleasantly, "I...I love you, Casper."

I was shocked to hear her say it, and then I smiled and said, "I love you too, Jade." Then I stared at the stars one last time and I closed my eyes and went to sleep.