kills me every time [joiners]

[Stryker]

[align=center][div style="width: 60%; text-align: justify; font-size: 10.2pt; font-family: arial;"] Memories of the group they once indulged in were left behind him. There was no looking back for the couple now. Despite there being good memories within The Pitt, the damnation they went through under Jervis' hand outweighed them. Through the rants and torture, the lion could only see what was slowly becoming of the group he once loved. What could of remained a controlled place was now a unhinged and pitiful clan that ravaged against all for what.... revenge? Please. To Stryker it was obvious that it was out of a selfish need for attention and power. A new tyrant had risen.

After being overthrown, he was thrown aside and placed in a cave with Ninazu. Their relationship was strong but since then it had grown stronger. Even so, they took tolls on their own mentality. After all, staying within the secluded, dark cave for so long changed a man. He could barely recall how much time had passed. What felt like years had only been five months. Laying in your bile and blood while being ruthlessly taunted and sliced into pieces had wrecked him.

For awhile he had lost hope. There was no light at the end of the tunnel, figuratively and literally. While Ninazu had her flame, he had nothing but the darkness and her voice to keep her company as they were separated. It pained him deeply. There was a point where he did realize that he did have his own flame though. That, in his mind, was her. An ally for the rest of his life and a true friend. So he waited... and waited... and waited till the time came. Eventually a faulty mistake had been made and allowed them to leave. Ninazu broke free of her imprisonment first, only to let out Stryker following her own escape. Through the night, the Pittians had left the grasps of their apprehension.

Matted mane and tired eyes squinting at the swamp before them, what could be considered a pile of bones trudged along. Scars lined the white lions skinny figure as Stryker walked along. His thighs ached but he knew he had to keep walking for Ninazu and for himself. If they did not escape while they could, they'd be reeled back into the darkness. So he kept moving along.

Though he had fallen behind Ninazu for awhile, Stryker eventually caught up to Ninazu who now laid at the border. Slitted eyes landed on the green territory of Tanglewood, causing the feline to let out a huff of relief. "Finally," his ragged voice muttered. That said, he collapsed by her side. His heavy head rested over his crossed paws, patiently awaiting someone's arrival.