Never Stop Running

"Bet you can't catch me mother!" a young cheetah yelled as she ran. 
The other cheetah followed close behind than at the last second put on a burst of speed and caught her daughter, lifting her by the scruff.
"You're getting faster," the mother purred.
The cub snorted, "I almost won." 
"Someday you will Fuli," the mother cheetah put her cub down.
Fuli smiled and looked at her mother. Her mother was a beautiful golden cheetah with perfect jet black spots. Just then the sound of a twig being stepped on startled both cheetahs. 
"Father!" Fuli squealed then ran at him. 
Her father was carrying a small antelope he dropped it on the ground to nuzzle his daughter.
"I see that hunting was good today Faraji," the mother said.
"It was Haraka."
The family settled down to eat, soon they had finished. 
"Father," Fuli said. "You promised to show me how to hunt today!"
Her father looked at her, "We just finished eating, are you sure you want to go hunting?"
She bounced up and down, "Yes! Yes!"
Her father heaved himself to his paws, he touched noses with his mate then led Fuli away. He led her to a field where a herd of antelope was grazing.
"Now today we are just practicing no actual hunting," he said sternly.
Fuli nodded eagerly, "Okay! What do we do first?"
"Cheetahs are fast but we can only run for a certain amount of time before we get too hot. What you want to do is start by stalking first to save your energy, then when you are close enough you pounce."
"Okay."
"Now," he looked around. "Go try on that beetle over there."
A little ways away was a green beetle. 
Fuli flattened her ears, "Can't I try on a real animal? There are tons of antelope right over there!"
"If you can get the beetle then we can try on an antelope," he nudged her away.
"Okay," she said grudgingly. 
Remembering what her father said she got into a crouch and slowly pulled herself forward. When she was close enough she got ready to pounce when a voice stopped her.
"Hunting beetles little cheetah cub?"
Fuli froze, she looked up and saw a gray shape looming over her.
"You're not supposed to be here, hyena."
The hyena laughed, he was bigger than she was. Then it growled and launched itself at her. Fuli dodged and ran towards her father. 
Her father stood up, "What's wrong Fuli?"
"H...Hyena!"
Her voice echoed and the antelope started running causing a stampede. He looked around then back at his daughter, he nuzzled her then pushed away.
"Go back to Haraka!"
"But...."
"Now!"
Terrified she did what she was told. Fuli ran as fast as she could back to her mother. 
"Fuli," her mother greeted her then stopped, "Where's Faraji?"
"Hyena, stampede, father," Fuli gasped.
Her mother picked her up by the scruff and put her in an old aardvark den, hiding her.
"Stay here Fuli," Haraka ordered. "I'm going to go find your father."
Fuli nodded and crouched down lower into the hole and waited.
----
It wasn't until nightfall Haraka returned without Faraji. Fuli stepped out of the hole.
"Mother? Where is father?" 
"He....he completed his journey in the circle of life."
"No!"
Haraka drew her daughter close and Fuli snuggled into her belly fur crying. The two cheetahs cried themselves to sleep.
----
The next few days were hard for the mother and daughter. Neither of them felt like doing anything anymore except for hunting they never went anywhere. 
"Fuli, have you been practicing your running lately?" Haraka asked one day.
She shook her head, "No."
"Well let's go on a run today. Let's go the watering hole."
"Okay," Fuli stood up and shook her fur.
They lined up and crouched.
"Go!" Haraka yelled then took off.
Fuli followed her mother close behind.
I'm never going to make it going this way!
Seeing a short-cut to the watering hole Fuli took it.
"Fuli! No! Stop!" Haraka yelled.
Fuli ignored her mother, determined to win. She was almost there, just had to cross the sandy area, then something barreled into her flinging her off course. Fuli looked and was horrified to see her mother sinking in the sand. 
"Mother!" Fuli screeched.
Haraka didn't look scared she looked at peace with what was about to happen to her.
"Mother! I'll go find help!"
Haraka shook her head, "No Fuli, no one can help me. It is time for me to join your father."
"No!" Fuli cried.
"Fuli, listen to me."
Fuli blinked the tears away and crept closer til she could almost touch noses with her mother.
"Never stop running. No matter what others tell you. Never stop running."
Fuli and Haraka touched noses one more time before Haraka went under. Fuli cried then turned around and ran. Her mother's words whispered in her ears.
Never stop running.
Category:Fanfiction
Category:The Lion Guard Stories