It was nighttime, the night sky was young shining a half moon.

But drums could we heard from afar as well as fire was glowing.

The scene changed to what seemed to be like a ceremony of some sort, as most animals that are native to Zambia gathered around.

The scene cuts back to Dario and the cheetah girl trio watch the fire emit smoke from afar.

Dario: Is that the ceremony that Mwanga and Maulu talked about earlier?

Indulu: They told you about that? Well if that's the case then yes, the Black Chief is hosting it.

Ruch: Hold on what kind of an animal is he?

Indulu: A rhino.

Sprinter: Of course it would be a rhino..*looks over at Dario* Ok bigshot, ya ready to try and gun him down?

Indulu: Wait wait!

She came over to them.

Indulu: Black Chief is hard to kill, not just that he also has his royal guard peep around everywhere in case something interrupts the ceremony.

Dario: Shit, now this can get dangerous...I'm gonna need to be stealthy on this one.

Ruch: What do you suggest we do?

Dario then looked at Sprinter and Indulu and smirked.

Dario: You two are native here, like play pretend and try to distract his men while me and Ruch here sneakily kill him.

Sprinter: You got it. Ready Indulu?

Indulu: This better work, if not then expect a dictatorship for some time here in Zambia's plains.

The scene changed to Maulu and Mwanga who were in the ceremony as they were in their lion forms on all fours.

Maulu was basically a grey lion with brown lines on his face with a brown mane.

Maulu: Not gonna lie bro the party is lit.

Mwanga: How many times must I repeat to you Maulu, it's a ceremony.

Maulu: It's the same thing dude, are you having fun?

Mwanga: I would be having fun if the party wasn't a huge ego stroke about Black Chief himself.

Maulu: Keep quiet bro he could be-

???: Dr!

The two turned around to see a black colored rhino with green eyes white lines around his back and the sides on his body and face, he had a large horn that was at least 6-7 inch horn above his nose.

Mwanga: Oh, Black Chief. Good evening.

Black Chief: Yes yes doctor, how are you enjoying my ceremony after the quick takeover of this parts of the grasslands, soon I'm extending to the nearby baobab trees.

Maulu: Hey chief ya got some zebra carcass nearby?

Black Chief: On the right my feline friend.

Mwanga: Maulu!?

Maulu: What? I'm hungry bro.

Black Chief: Now now Mwanga no need to baby him like a cub, after all he's still growing so let him eat.

As the trio talked, Sprinter and Indulu came into the ceremony. They were both on their fours and in their cheetah forms.

Indulu was a cream colored cheetah maintaining her black spots, the only difference about her is that has her orange facial markings along with markings on her forehead, shoulders, back and tail.

Indulu: You see animals that are on the look out?

Sprinter: Yeah I see them alright, he's got some kudus watching over like guards.

She pointed with around 3 kudus patrolling around the crowd and keeping an eye in case something happens.

Indulu: Ok so Dario said to distract them while he and Ruch finish the job.

Sprinter: I know a way but first let's have a little sweet talk since I missed you a lot bestie.

Indulu: Alright you can first start off with how you met your "meatsack" hehe.

Sprinter: Well I saw him in a hunting group with two other guys, they killed an elephant that can shapeshift like us, then those two douches dipped and left Dario to die after a herd of ostriches were causing a stampede.

Indulu: Good grief!

Sprinter: Thankfully he survived, and was crossing through a forest trying to find those douches and in the end I pounced on him and tried to eat him.

Indulu: Why would you eat a human? They don't taste well.

Sprinter: I mean I was hungry, plus I didn't eat him because as you said he tastes bad and plus he had some horrible smell or as he called it "deodorant". Then he and I decided to team up, I help him bag a trophy, then we fucked and when those two pieces of shit found him they thought I was dead, but when I heard them arguing I got up and killed them for him.

Indulu was first speechless and shocked, but then she chuckled.

Sprinter: What?

Indulu: It's a funny way that you two met up and then fell in love, that's a unique way of telling.

Sprinter: Oh yeah, what about you sister? How's love life for ya going?

Indulu: Oh, still in the case of a bad luck with no male cheetah wanting me.

Sprinter: Talk to me. What do you want in a guy?

Indulu: I'm a fan of guys that are like strongly built, ok not too strong but you get my point.

Sprinter: Uh huh.

Indulu: Secondly, I want them to be skilled in hand to hand combat like how I am. Like sure having close ranged weapons is alright but not long ranged ones.

Sprinter: No guns huh? Fair enough, I remember how scared you are of those.

Indulu: Mhm, and finally, for them to be a good listener.

Sprinter: Uh huh, I see well good luck with that. Anywhoo we have a job to do now, so let's get cranking.

The scene changed to Dario and Ruch up on a tree as the hunter was aiming his rifle, eyeing on his telescope to see how Sprinter and Indulu are fairing.

He sees the two confront the kudu trio.

Dario: Targets locked.

Ruch: This should be fun huh honeybun-.

Sprinter: So, I hear you guys are new huh?

Kudu 2: Umm how can we help you?

Indulu: Yeah we don't need any of it, we just wanna chat y'know like get to know you boys a bit better.

Sprinter: Y'know I'm into parties but I was wondering if you two could join in us. Like I bet your boss isn't much considerate and is making you miss out on the fun.

Kudu 3: I don't know, I think we should-

Kudu 1: No no bro, the cheetah has a point, I say we like have some fun it's not like Black Chief has the right to keep us out of the crowd.

Kudu 3: Remember what he did to the last guy that disobeyed him?!

Kudu 2: Guys let's calm down for a second.

The cheetah duo smirked as their plan worked at the kudus were now engaged in an argument.

Ruch: How did it go?

Dario: Worked successfully, now to find the rhino and be done with this.

He then looked around with his rifle's scope trying to find the rhino but no sign of him. He tried for a second round of scouting and still no sign of the trophy.

Dario: No sign of him.

Ruch: No sign? Like he's a huge guy, he's dark toned and how can you not spot him?!

Dario: Shhh I'm gonna scout again to-

Then suddenly the tree was shaking and the two were close to falling, Dario was the first to fall off the branch.

Ruch: Honey!

Dario landed on the ground as all the attention was directed to him from the animals, he was then met with two hooves from the side, the latter turned around to look up and see Black Chief.

Black Chief: Well well well, a trespasser and even better a hunter in my territory.

Mwanga and Maulu gasped.

Mwanga: Dario!

Black Chief: *turns to Mwanga* Ah, I see you two are acquaintanced, what a shame that you'd work alongside a human trying to kill me.

Dario: Listen uh...Mr Black Chief I-

Black Chief: Save it save it little human, I know how you and your kind can use words to get out of certain scenarios but I can see through it.

He leaned down to Dario's face.

Black Chief: Altho you should be considered lucky and greatful...as you're the first person let alone human to actually step foot in my lands ever since my reign...but you're also going to be the last one...

He raised his hoof ready to stomp on Dario but then Ruch jumped down and landed on the back of Black Chief's neck and closed his eyes prompting the rhino to groan in anger as he tried to get her off.

Mwanga and Maulu grabbed Dario and helped him up.

Mwanga: Come on we-

Ruch: Woah!

She was launched by Black Chief and onto the trio as they were knocked to the ground.

Then Sprinter and Ruch came onto see this.

Sprinter: Shit, they're caught...

Black Chief: Bravo bravo....now for that you're getting the death penalty you four hoodlums I-

Indulu: Wait!

She turned into her human form and stepped between them.

Indulu: That's not a fair fight Black Chief, if there's a way to settle this with the human then settle it differently.

Dario: What is she talking about?

Black Chief: Oh? And what do you propose?

Indulu then looked at Dario and the rest as she sighed in defeat.

Indulu: You and the human will fight in a mashindano.

The animals around them gasped.

Sprinter: Hang on what?!

Maulu: But that's only between crocodiles.

Dario: What the hell is a mashindano?

Mwanga: A mashindano is a traditional competition in these parts of Africa. It involves combat between two animals for dominance over a specific group. Mashindanos are typically held between crocodiles.

Ruch: Then why would she propose for a human to take on a rhino? That's literally bullshit-

Black Chief: Now now cheetah, let her talk.

Indulu: If the human wins then you leave and never return, and if you win then you get access to the nearest watering hole.

Black Chief: Deal, but let's make this mashindano more interesting...I want it to be a fight to the death!

Dario: What?! No! No way am I-

Black Chief: You have no right to speak in this human, either you accept the mashindano or your friends will suffer my wrath for ruining my ceremony. So pick your poison.

He then looked around to see kudu surrounding them, he looked at the rhino and sighed.

Dario: Fine, but make it fair and simple.

Black Chief: Don't worry, fortunately for you I have access to your ugly form transformation, however I find my form to be perfect.

He then transformed into his human form.

He was now a 6'4 dark skinned man, green eyes, black hair in dreadlocks, had white facial stripes and wore a tribal skirt as his entire body was exposed to be muscular and ripped.

Maulu: Dude...he's hot...

Dario gulped.

Sprinter came to him.

Sprinter: Stay strong out there, I know you can do it meatsack I believe in you.

Indulu came to him.

Indulu; I'm so sorry for this Dario...it's basically my way of saving you from execution.

Dario: Yea as if this is not a death sentence for me?

Black Chief: Are you done talking or are you gonna step up and face me human! *arms crossed*

Dario: I'm coming I'm coming!

He then approached Black Chief, the two were now faced to face. Dario then began taking off his hunter's jacket, his shirt and cap. Now he was with a black undershirt showing off his toned muscles.

Indulu: Oh my....

Sprinter noticed this and smirked.

Ruch: Kick his ass babe!

Black Chief: *chuckled* I'll be generous and offer you the first blow.

Dario: You're gonna wish you haven't said that!

He then approached the rhino and landed a stiff blow his face which only made the rhino's face turn to the right side before folding back to face him.

Black Chief: Not bad for some dumb homo sapien.

He then headbutts Dario knocking him a bit back before he went forward to punch him repeatedly on the chest and stomach before landing an uppercut which sent him flying and landing onto a pool of mud.

S/R/I/M/Mw: Dario!!

The Americo-Macedonian got up with a bruised and bloody face, only to be met with a shoulder tackle from the rhino trophy and knocked him down to the ground. Black Chief grabbed Dario and then nailed a punch to the gut which squeezed the breath out of him, making everyone around the area cringe.

Black Chief then tripped Dario before sitting ontop of him to then land a stiff punch on his face, he then rips apart his undershirt and then double chops his chest with both his hands.

Dario: GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

Sprinter: Damn!

Black Chief's hand marks were now present on his chest, the rhino got up and put his foot down on the chest of the hunter as he looked at Indulu.

Black Chief; Your challenger prooved no match for me cheetah, those watering holes will be mine.

He then laughed in victory.

Dario then slowly glanced over to Sprinter and the rest. She and along with Ruch were both in a state of shock and were going to tear up.

This only made the hunter furrow his brows, in an act of strength he grabbed the rhino's foot and then began pulling it up.

Black Chief: HUH?! You still don't yield?!

Dario: Never....

He then tripped the rhino to the ground and shocked everyone in the area, Black Chief himself included.

Dario who was bruised and battered, blood and mud was covering his upper body, he took up a stance.

Dario: Get up...

Black Chief: What even are you-

Dario: I SAID GET UP YOU HORNHEADED MOTHERFUCKER!!!

With that sentence the rhino got up on both his feet and was going to punch Dario but the latter ducked and then landed a strike to the trophy's gut. Then he went to the back and elbowed his right hip.

The rhino screamed in pain while holding his hip, he looked over to Dario as he wasn't done yet.

The Americo-Macedonian then kicked the shin of the rhino making Black Chief kneel down, then he unleashed a roundhouse kick which knocked the trophy to the side landing on the mud. Breaking a few teeth in the process.

Everyone watched on in shock at what they were witnessing.

Mwanga and Maulu were estatic.

Maulu: Damn he's got moves!

Mwanga: Like a true warrior.

Ruch: Go baby go!

Indulu was surprised the most.

Indulu: He's holding his own now, I'm impressed at his ways of fighting.

Sprinter; You should be, when the going gets tough he gets rough. That's why I picked this guy as my mate.

Indulu then glanced on with an impressed look on her face, still witnessing the fight go on.

Black Chief tried to punch Dario but he grabbed the wrist and went behind to bend the arm on his back, making the rhino groan in pain, the hunter then kicked the back of his foot and the trophy kneeled down the ground again.

Dario then landed a hand knee strike to the back of Black Chief's head making the rhino scream in pain before he then lowered him down and did a double stomp on his chest, making everyone cringe at the sight.

He then got up and looked around for something, he then saw the spear on Mwanga's back.

Dario: Pass it over!

The lion knew what he meant and he tossed the spear towards Dario who caught it. He then raised the weapon up, to Black Chief's shock.

Black Chief: No no wait I yield!

Dario: Too late for that, dipshit...

He then plunged the spear deep into the rhino's chest, when he pulled it off the blade was on the heart.

Everyone were silent.

But then everyone cheered for Dario as he won the mashindano.

Sprinter: Dario!

She and Ruch ran over to him to hug the latter.

Ruch: You doing good my guy?

Dario: Yeah... that was intense...

Sprinter: Well you won so these guys won't have to be in dictatorship anymore.

Dario: Yeah....I need a nap...

He closed his eyes and collapsed onto their arms.

Sprinter: Dario!!!

Mwanga ran over to check his pulse.

Mwanga: He's not dead, he's just tired. Maulu help me drag him to my tent.

Maulu then with the help of his brother helped drag Dario away with the cheetah duo following him.

Indulu watched on before joining them.

Indulu: You've fought well Dario...you earned my respect...

To be continued...

OK guys this was chapter 44.

Peace out!