[1st POV]
"Are you alright, my lord?" Grim asked.
"Do I look alright to you, Grim?" I asked with a grin.
He gave me a deep up and down look before he shrugged, "You look the same as usual, my lord."
"Then I'm alright," I said with a chuckle, "I didn't even break a sweat."
"They didn't stand a chance even on the brightest day," he said wisely.
"That they didn't," I said.
"You'd probably beat them again if they magically revived and came after you," he said.
"That I can," I said.
"Perhaps they should form five alliances; maybe then we could say they almost never beat you," Grim said once more.
"I think you are overestimating them, but I'll accept it," I insisted once more.
There was a brief silence.
"We should get you checked up by the humans before you bleed out and die," Grim suggested once more.
"That's probably a good idea," I said. When I tried to step forward, my paw felt mud made from blood.
Grim led the way, leaping from branch to branch to show me the nearest way to exit the forest and probably towards the humans. I had told him how useful these humans can be, especially when I'm injured. I've told him long before that if I'm ever in deep trouble, to call the humans for help.
I allow them to stay in my territory and study me, and they provide free healthcare. It was a fair trade in my opinion.
Walking alone was hard. When the adrenaline wears off, the pain sets in. I was wounded all over. The most problematic of all was the skin that was peeled off my muscle and the part that lost patches of skin. When a breeze hit them, they howled with pain.
I was not sure how those were going to heal up.
We came out of the forest rather quickly, but it still felt like walking a mile. I could see instantly the human vehicle just beyond the treeline. It was clear they tried their best to observe the action.
Most of them were not in the car either and had run back when I came out of the treeline. The only one in the vehicle was the Mexican, whom I assumed was controlling the drones from there.
"They lost three of those trying to fly over the battle," Grim remarked, referring to the drone, "I've told the others to be mindful of their flying creatures like you asked, but they still crashed into the roofs of trees. Those metal birds don't know how to fly at all."
I chuckled and headed towards the vehicle. Grim on the other hand sat on top of the branch of the last tree and observed from there.
When I walked close, Dr Tonson jumped down from the vehicle and ran up to me. Hana soon followed. Instead of going back to the vehicle, she did a turn and ran to me along with Dr Tonson.
I could guess that initially they were wary, thinking that I would be mindlessly aggressive because of the fight that happened not long ago. But the way I calmly walked towards them was a clear sign that I was seeking out help and not victims.
"Oh God," Dr Tonson cursed when he came close to me. My body was covered in blood so it was only when closely observed that you would see the full extent of my injury.
"We need a vet!! Call one from the main headquarters!!" Dr Tonson yelled before he came to my side. He was even shorter than me when I stood on all fours but he tried his best to support me from the side.
It was laughable really, I can walk, I wanted to say.
After reaching a few metres away from the vehicle, I finally allowed my legs to give under me and I collapsed. I felt better almost immediately, not carrying the huge bulk of weight I was.
"He needs painkillers," Hana determined after she touched my skin. She seemed aghast at what she was witnessing. I wouldn't say this was the worst injury I've had but they were the most brutal.
Lions were brutal creatures indeed.
I made myself comfortable on the ground while the humans began helping with my injuries. I closed my eyes when they gave a shot at me and I felt my pain being lifted off. I closed my eyes to rest, but never fell asleep. I was always aware of what they were doing to me.
They put some medication on my wounds. I think it was betadine again to stop any infections. They brought many bottles of water which they used to wash my back. My underbelly was mostly fine as I never let them get the better of me. It was my back and my sides like the shoulder which were most injured.
They were deep wounds but there were no vitals there.
A few minutes later, I heard the sound of other vehicles stopping and more humans coming to help. I listened to their conversation carefully to know what was up and also know the extent of my injury.
"This is bad, much worse than you said over the phone," one said.
"External wounds my ass, you can see his muscles!"
"These types of injuries are just as lethal as internal injuries. If we weren't here, he would surely die from infection," another said.
I don't know who that was but I want him to know I probably would. But whatever.
"We need to stitch his wounds closed and also stitch his skin together. If we allow this to scar, it's too wide and he will be completely disfigured. He wouldn't have fur on those for one," another said.
"Lions have loose skin so perhaps we can pull those together. Or maybe we can draft skin from elsewhere."
The humans worked on me for hours. They were like little critters that were healing me with whatever they know. I felt them stitching up my body, applying medications that were making my wounds howl with stinging pain.
Hana also handed me a few pills which I ate from her palm.
"Holy shit he is not asleep? I thought we were operating on an unconscious lion!!"
"Don't worry, he won't harm you. He knows we are helping him," Dr Tonson said to them.
"What if he just decides I annoy him and eats me?" Another one asked, "I'm not some dummy, I know he can still easily fold me even with his injuries."
Hana laughed, "Calm down, Leo is very patient when it comes to this. This isn't even the first time he let us operate on him."
After hours passed, the humans were done and I could see this because most of them left to head back into their vehicle. It was only Dr Tonson and Hana who remained by my side.
I stood up with a grunt.
"No no no, you should still rest," Hana tried to stop me but I still stood even with her protest.
"Don't. He has to return to his pride. He is the king, he can't stay here weak forever," Dr Tonson said.
I hummed in acknowledgement. My pride was still there where I left them. By now they probably had a bleeding prey ready for me and they must be waiting in anticipation for my return.
I checked my condition for a few more seconds. I wouldn't say I felt much better, but I knew whatever they did would help me recover smoothly in the future.
I bowed my head slightly in acknowledgement before leaving them.
I headed towards my pride instead. When I was far away from the humans, Grim came and rested on my back.
"They patched you up nicely my lord. Your words are true, the hairless monkeys are indeed useful," Grim commented.
"What about the enemies?" I asked.
"The hyenas managed to take down one more lion, I believe he is called Morani? But two lions managed to escape. I believe Scarface was among them," he said.
I laughed when I heard the news. I was only trying to kill the favourite brother, but I ended up slaughtering all of the Four Musketeers and now only Scarface remained, with no brothers.
"Anything else I should know about?"
"The hyenas are horrible at sharing. This time we only got scraps of the king," he said.
"No worries, you guys hate lion meat anyway, I'll take down a buffalo when I am able, just for you," I said.
"That would be most kind of you," Grim said happily before jumping off my back and flying to the skies again.
..
..
..
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Author : I thought I gave two chapter yesterday, but I forgot to click post. today second chapter