It was nighttime and Okuagu still couldn't believe how in one single day everything he called dear and precious had disappeared. His thoughts were soon interrupted by voices coming from some bushes.
"Boss that boy looks awfully tasty" said one of the voices "he even seems to have a gift, what an increase in flavor added another voice with a sound of smacking of lips accompanying it. Okuagu normally would have relied on his sense of smell but the creatures stayed in a direction that made the wind to blow away their scent from him. Soon enough his instincts kicked in and as soon as he jumped out of his position, three massive hyenas with long black flowing manes appeared from the bushes drool oozing out of their mouths. "what am I imagining things? how are those beasts talking? Okuagu wondered as he quickly took to his heels with the hyenas giving chase. "have to climb, have to climb" Okuagu thought before he began to climb a tree, but unfortunately one of the hyenas grabbed him with its jaws and flung him at a big rock. Blood was gushing with speed from the place where he was bitten and the hyenas had already cut off all routes of escape. His eyes however rested on a small crevice some meters away.Summoning all his strength he lunged to the left making one of the hyenas that had pounced to crash into the wall. By some stroke of luck, he managed to enter the crevice just in time to avoid the snap of one of the hyena's jaws. "Come out kid we just one to take a bite "taunted one of the hyenas that was trying to use its paw to draw him out. Okuagu ignored the hyenas and continued to crawl into the crevice leaving as much space between him and them. The crevice began to get wider to the extent he could stand in it. Clutching his wounded side, he moved further into the cave where to his surprise was a place with low hanging vines and red designs painted all over. Okuagu soon noticed a red glowing light coming from his side, he placed his hand at his side touching the blade and noticed that some of his blood had dripped onto it, though that didn't explain the red light emanating from it. Alas he had lost too much blood and after dropping the knife on the floor, he collapsed falling face forward with the amulet directly in contact with the blade. "WHAT! Are you doing here?" the massive leopard asked looking directly at Okuagu. "Wait, is this heaven? Asked Okuagu as he took notice of the white surroundings. "You wish, brat" replied the leopard. "This is the lair of Agu the great fire leopard and you are a weird boy who stumbled into my lair" added the leopard with a flick of his tail. "I've heard of you from my mother's fairy tales, never in my wildest imagination did I think I will be able to see you in the flesh" said Okuagu with a bow. "Interesting, boy do you by any chance come from the Udo family? Asked Agu. "No but my mother is a direct descendant" replied Okuagu. "To think that my lineage survived up to this time, truly interesting" said Agu. "so what brings you here? Agu asked as he began to circle Okuagu. "Honestly I don't even know how I got here but could you help with the hyenas in front of the cave, for I think they are still there" said Okuagu as he casted a glance at the front of the cave."I don't help anybody without reason so give me a reason why I should help you" said the leopard as he sat down on his haunches and began to lick his paw. "Because I can't die now" Okuagu said with a smile. "And why is that?" asked Agu "That's because I have to fulfill my mother's dying wish which is for me to grow strong in order to help and protect the weak" replied Okuagu with a clenched fist. "That is enough to hear, now child of fire awaken and FIGHT! Roared the leopard as he used one of his claws to stab Okuagu in the heart.Immediately Okuagu began to feel a burning pain and heat which was fast spreading around his body. Numerous red lines also appeared tracing every muscle in his body. "Till we meet again child" remarked Agu, after which Okuagu appeared back in the cave. He woke up to see steam coming out of his body with his wound healing, which was strange as he didn't feel any form of heat. Okuagu picked up the blade which to his joy was red hot with the patterns around it bright crimson. "let's try this out Okuagu reasoned as he tried to cut away the rock at the other side of the cave. "Tough luck" he thought as he soon saw that he was left with no other choice but to fight the hyenas at the entrance of the cave.