Power Rangers Fan Fiction ❯ Dark Wild Force: Dark Lion ❯ Chapter 2 ( Chapter 3 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Disclaimer: See Prologue chapter.

AN: Unlike the Carpathians, the Wild Hunters can move in both day and night. Sadly for them, the orgs can do the same thing…to a point…that will be revealed in a later chapter.

Note: “*…*” means Animarium or Hunter language and *…* means talking Mentally.

Alyssa heard birds singing as she was waking up.

She opened her eyes…and was beyond surprise to find herself in a beautiful pink and white bedroom with large windows, half open by lace curtains. ‘Where am I?’ she thought as she got out of the big bed. That’s when she notice the change of clothes at the foot of the bed, the big bathtub at the other end of the room behind a curtain and her wearing a pink nightshirt over white night shorts.

“Where is this place?” she said as she looked around.

“You’re in the Valley of Animaria,” a male voice said.

She turned around…to see her hero standing in the doorway.

He was wearing a red t-shirt, jeans and boots as his hair was held back with a matching headband. Alyssa notice that there was something different about him that made him more…she couldn’t find the word to describe him.

She let it go and said, “I want to know why I’m here.”

Cole walked from the doorway to stand in front of her, noticing that she came to stand just a half head shorter than him. “I believe this will answer your question,” he replied as he revealed the Wild Gem in his hand. Going by the look on her face, he was right in thinking that the Gem was her.

“How did you get that?” she asked as she felt that her Pendant was gone.

“When the org took your Life Energy; he also took the Energy that was in your Pendant, turning it into the Gem,” he said, “I found it in the ashes after I destroyed him.” He placed the Gem in her hand as he added, “Plus, this means that you are what I am…a Wild Hunter.”

Alyssa was surprised at the news she heard…that’s related to something she has been wondering about for years. Her Grandmother had always told her stories of Mystical people who fight against the monster that harm people. She never could believe that they were stories until her eighteenth birthday, when she got her Pendant aka Gem…and was told the Truth about her Family…and how the Gem came under their Care.

“How could I be a Wild Hunter? I’m just a human,” she said as she sat on the bed.

“Don’t worry; all Wild Hunters were human before,” he said, “Even I was one…centuries ago.”

Those words made her looks up at him and say, “Centuries old? How…you don’t look a day over twenty.”

“I stopped aging when I was given the Wild Lion Hunter Powers,” Cole said, “You’ve known all your life that you are different from other people. Is it that hard to believe me?” As he said that, he kneed in front of her, his face close to her.

For some reason, all she could think about was kissing him. She mentally shakes herself of the idea before saying, “So…what happens to me now?”

“Well…first a bath is in order,” Cole said with a warm, friendly smile, “then breakfast. Make a left when you leave the room and follow your nose.”

Then he kissed her on the lips.

As surprised Alyssa was at that she couldn’t help herself as she returned the kiss. His kiss was full of Strength…yet Gentle and full of Love…for her.

Before she knew it, he pulled away to look at her.

“Until later,” he replied before he left the room.

She watched him go, thinking about the feelings that went through her in that one kiss. ‘Why is it that all I ever wanted in a man…is in one that’s not even human,’ she thought before she stood up to start her day.

‘She’s the one…she’s my Lifemate. After so long…I’ve found her,’ Cole thought as he was walking outside of the Temple. As much as he wanted to complete the Lifemate Bonds, he respected Alyssa enough to give her time…to come to him freely.

He was so in his thoughts that he didn’t see the young man coming towards him.

“Hey Cole, why is your head in the clouds?” Merrick said as he hit Cole on the back.

In one quick movement; Cole turned around, grabbed Merrick’s arm and flipped him to the ground.

Merrick was shocked at what just happened as he sat up.

“Sorry Merrick,” Cole said as he helped him to his feet, “I wasn’t paying attention.”

“I think I have an idea on why,” Merrick said as he brushed back his black hair from his beige skinned face and dark eyes. With his light blond highlights around his face; Merrick Balitou was good looking in a Mysterious way, even while wearing jeans with his navy blue t-shirt and boots.

“What idea?” Cole asked.

“Well…I heard you found a Wild Hunter,” he replied, “and that…she’s your Lifemate.” Cole gave him a look before Merrick added, “Don’t worry, the rest of us know she belongs with you and to stay far enough until a Bond is made. Beside, after that fall, I don’t want to feel the pain of you being angry…in other areas of the body.”

“Thanks,” Cole replied with a smile, “Have you seen Danny and Max?”

“At sunrise,” Merrick replied, “After hearing the news, I sent them out to get anything she left behind in the Forest. Keep in mind; most people think we’re a Legend.”

Cole nodded in agreement, proud that his Friend was a few steps ahead of him.

“Before I forget,” Merrick added, “Celestria wants to see you before breakfast…and that you know where.”

Cole nodded in understanding before heading for the lake.

A few minutes later, he reached the lake and found the Wild Enchantress enjoying her morning walk. He went to her, bowed and said, “Good morning Enchantress.”

“Same to you…Wild Lion Hunter,” she replied with a smile on her beige skinned face and bright brown-violet eyes. With her brown hair in a braid to show her golden brown highlights and wearing a long pale violet dress, she looked as Mystical as her Powers.

“Merrick told me to see you,” Cole said.

“Yes, I did,” she replied as they walked together, “The Red Lion told me about the young woman…who has the Tiger Powers of a Hunter…as well as your Lifemate of your Soul.”

He looked at her in total surprise as she added, “I felt the change in you. How the darkness was losing its hold on your Soul. Until you and she complete the Lifemate Bonds, you’ll be walking a fine line between yourself and the growing darkness.”

“Does it means that I might become…” he started to say, but she stopped him.

“Yes,” she said to answer the unasked question, “The Lion and I can hold it back for a time, but your Lifemate holds your future in her hands.”

At that moment as they walked near the Temple, they saw Alyssa leaving the living area wearing a light pink shirt, a black knee-high skirt and flats.

Cole was so into watching her that he forgot about Celestria…until she touched his arm. He looked at her as she said, “Looks like she has your heart already.”

She left his side to follow Alyssa as he understood Celestria’s words.

With a last look, he headed for an area of the Valley to see his Wild Animal.

While resting among the trees, a Large Zord in the form of a Lion opened its eyes as Cole said, “Morning my Friend.”

The Lion purred in greeting as Cole sat on a rock to spent some time with his Wild Animal…and think about his Lifemate.

Alyssa was enjoying the view as she was walking. ‘This place is so beautiful,’ she thought as she stopped to smell a rose.

“I’m glad to hear it,” a friendly voice said.

Alyssa turned around to see a young woman walking towards her. “Who are you?” she asked, thinking how in the world the woman knew what she was thinking.

“I’m Celestria, Wild Enchantress of Animaria,” Celestria said, “and to answer your next question, I can read minds…to a point.”

As surprised as Alyssa was at Celestria, she stayed quiet as she sensed that Celestria was more than she let on.

“Now,” Celestria added, “I have something to show you.”

As they were walking, Alyssa said softly, “I hope this doesn’t take long because I’m hungry.”

“So much like Cole,” Celestria said as she made two peaches appear in her hands, “Always thinking about food in the morning.”

She gave Alyssa one before they continue their walk.

By the time they finished eating, they entered an area near the lake…right in front of a large statue of a Stone Tiger.

Alyssa looked at the statue and got the Feeling that the Stone Tiger…was alive.

Just then, she felt her Gem getting warm. She took out her Wild Gem to see it glowing in a white-pinkish light. The statue started glowing in the same light, changing it from stone into metal.

When they stopped glowing, the Tiger opened its eyes and looked at Alyssa and Celestria.

“Wow,” Alyssa said as the Tiger purred softly at them.

“This is the White Noble Tiger,” Celestria said as Alyssa pocket the Gem, “and she’s your Wild Animal.”

“I still don’t understand how I can be a Wild Hunter?” Alyssa said.

“Easy…because your Family has the blood of a Wild Tiger Hunter,” Celestria replied, “I believe one of the Wild Hunters who left the Animarium found his Lifemate and started your Family line. Only those with the Blood of a Wild Hunter can find their way into the Valley.”

“And the Gem?” Alyssa asked.

“Each Gem is the source of the Wild Hunter’s Powers, along with the Crystal Saber, and can be used to turn a Hunter into a Power Ranger. The knowledge of fighting is imbedded in your mind.”

‘That explain why I learned marshal arts so fast,’ Alyssa thought before saying, “If being a Wild Hunter means Protecting people from the orgs, I’m in.”

“In that case, let’s go meet the other Hunters,” Celestria said.

The Tiger purred before taking a big leap over them and into the woods. With a last look at the Tiger, Alyssa and Celestria headed towards the Temple and the other Wild Hunters.