lullaby as my gift to you,” “Thanks mom,” then Nyota said, “My girl, you meant the world to me and Nuru did as well, I died protecting my family, I want you to stay happy, and my gift to you is a star, every time you are lost you can look up to the sky and you’ll see the brightest star, and it will guide you,” Heri then looked to her brother, “And my to you sister is that, you can have my hiding spot to hang around, it is a peaceful place to relax,” “Thanks everybody, I love you,” in the cave Tunaini could hear Heri so she got up and walked to the mouth of the cave, and to her surprise she saw three figures nuzzling Heri, she could recognize the two of them, ‘Namna, Nyota? She got to see them again and even her…brother,’ the spirits disappeared, and Heri walked back in the cave and lay down on her stomach a fell asleep.

When morning came Heri awoke To Tunaini’s whimpering, “Tunaini what is it,” then she saw that Tunaini was staring at, she was staring at a lion in the distance, “Heri what are we going to do?” Heri then got up bravely but still with a little fear in her eyes, she walked outside. The lion then looked up and saw Heri approaching, she noticed that his mane wasn’t fully grown so he must be an adolescent, “Umm…ex…excuse me?” the lion looked at Heri, “Yes what is it?” “Um…you are kinda scaring my friend over there she thinks you’re going to kill us,” “Why would I do that? I’m not a cold blooded killer, unlike some evil creature named Kucha,” “You know him?” “Yes he was King of my old pride, when we banished him he left, that when I heard he led a pack of jackals to kill the lion  king of the Pride Lands,” “Me and my sister are Pride Landers, well she’s my stepsister, my real father was killed by Kucha,” “And what of your mother?” “She died of a broken heart she loved him so much, she cried herself sleep every night, then me and her walked to her old jungle home, and one unfaithful night me and her feel asleep, then I woke up before she did, usually it is her that wakes up first, I poked her to wake her up, but she didn’t move, I was getting scared, I did it again and again, then I finally realized that she was dead, I was not a cub and not yet an adolescent, so I was still pretty young,” “I’m sorry about your loss,” “by the way what’s your name, mine is Heri,” “My name is Ushindi,” “I like your name, maybe we can see each other again,” “Yeah where are you going if you don’t mind my asking?” “I’m going to Jackal Cavern my friend lives there,” “The new leader you mean I heard that Futa lived there,” “Yeah he did, but what I found out is that Kucha made him kill his mate in order for his pup to live, Kucha said that Siso would be a pest to him, Futa didn’t have the heart so Kucha forced him to, if Futa didn’t kill Siso Kucha would kill Ema,” “That’s sad, well enjoy your journey beautiful,” and with that Ushindi left. Heri walked back to the cave and found Tunaini looking out, “Tunaini, it is ok he’s gone, come on let’s go,” Tunaini nodded and followed Heri. They finally got to the cavern, “Ema are you here?” in the semi lit cavern they saw jackals, one of them came to the front, “Well, look who we have here, it’s Heri and her friend,” “M...m…my name is Tunaini,” “Well hi there honey, how you are feeling Heri?” “Better than ever, so what is going on Ema?” “Good, I have good news though,” “Really can you tell me?” “Sure,” Ema walked over to Heri and whispered into her ear, “I have a pup, it’s a girl,” “Congratulations Ema,” “Thank you she is resting in a corner, her name I Mema,” “Beautiful name,” “So you are taking your mother’s death pretty well now I see,” “Yup, it’s because last night I saw them, my whole family,” “That’s nice Heri, I’m so happy for,” Ema then looked at Tunaini, “So how are you honey?” “Good a little scared,” “Don’t be jackals and lion are friends now, we help them when they need it we only help the Pride Lands,” Tunaini nodded, “She’s a little shy Ema, so who’s the father?” “He left after Mema was born he had some official business, but he was killed while getting food, so I don’t really want to talk about it,” “Oh, I’m sorry Ema,” “it’s quite alright,” after a day the two lionesses slept with the jackals until morning, then they said their goodbye’s and left.

CHAPTER 5 WE MEET AGAIN

                As the duo were walking back the noticed that there was a figure in the distance, “Who is that Heri?” “I don’t know stay low, and keep quiet,” both lionesses crouched low to the ground and crept closer and closer until they were close enough to pounce, Heri pounced in the air and landed on the figure, the figure groaned, Heri looked straight into the figures eyes and stopped growling, it was Ushindi, “Ushindi? What are you doing here?” “I was looking for someone,” Who?” “I was looking for my brother,” “What does he look like?” “He has dark fur brown mane, and green eyes,” “Well he might be at the water hole,” “Where is that? Can you take me?” Heri smiled, “Sure come on, Tunaini you can come out now,” Tunaini poked her head out of the grass and ran over to Heri’s side. Ushindi noticed this and looked at Tunaini, Tunaini looked at him and quickly looked away, “Umm, Heri shouldn’t we go to that cave before it gets dark?” “Your right Tunaini, come on Ushindi,” as they walked to the cave it was nearing sundown, “Tunaini stay here, I’ll go and get us something to eat,” as Heri left Tunaini moved to the back of the cave keeping an eye on Ushindi, “Why do you fear my?” Tunaini gasped, “It’s okay, I understand you can fear, I don’t mind,” Tunaini then looked surprised when he said this, “It doesn’t matter to me,” Tunaini then got up and walked up to Ushindi, “Look I’m sorry, it’s just that, I get scared easily and I don’t feel safe I only feel safe when Heri is around, even though she is a month younger than me, she acts so grown up, she’s brave, smart, stunning,” ‘Yeah she is,” “And also she is very defensive, ever since her parents died, her life has been a living hell,” “Wow, it’s almost like me I lost my parents to, now it’s just me and my brother, I was looking for him, I still can’t find him anywhere,” “Well he’ll turn up some day,” “Yeah I guess you’re right,” then in the distance they could see Heri bringing back a zebra, “Mmmmm zebra my favorite,” “Go on dig in you two, I’ll wait for awhile I’m a little tired of dragging this,” “It’s ok we’ll leave some left for you,” “Thank you,” and with that Heri fell asleep. “She really is acting older for an adolenence,” Ushindi said quietly, “Yeah I know, and I’m older than her, and she act’s older and more mature,” “Heh, but I gotta admit she is damn sexy,” Tunaini gave him a smile, “Really why don’t you go there and sleep with her if she is sexy,” “I can’t, she seems a bit out of it,” “Out of it, she’s just a little out of it she lost her family that loved her, so get over there and comfort her,” Ushindi smiled, he got up and walked to Heri and laid down by her side putting a paw around her, ‘She is pretty, I wonder if she would want to spend time with me,’ he sighed lightly and closed his eyes. Tunaini finished eating making sure to leave some for Ushindi and Heri, she walked to Heri’s other side and feel asleep.

                Morning came and Heri woke up to see that Ushindi had her in his arms, ‘How did this happen? Has he been like this for the whole night?’  Heri then licked his nose, this made him gasp in surprise, “Oh it’s you, I thought it was somebody else,” “Heh nope, so were you comfy?” “What do you mean?” “You were dreaming of me weren’t you?” “What makes you say that?” “Well you were saying my name in your sleep, you kissed me twice in your sleep, and, you moaned in your sleep,” “Damn did I really do all that?” “Yup, and don’t worry about it,” “Ok, there is still some meat for you over there, if you still want any,” “Thank you, I’ll eat some now, could you get up please, so I won’t wake Tunaini,” “Sure,” Ushindi got up and let Heri up, Heri walked over to the dead zebra and ate some of the meat from the carcass. As she ate Ushindi walked up to her and said, “Ummm Heri I have a question,” “Yes what is it?” “I was wondering when we get back to your home, can you help me with something,” “Sure, you can tell me what it is and when we get back I can help,” ‘OK, I love this lioness and I can’t work up the courage to ask her if she could be with as my girlfriend, what can I do?” “IS that it well that’s easy to answer come here,” she put her muzzle to Ushindi’s ear and whispered, “You show her a good time, be nice, and most importantly don’t be an ass,” “Really?” “Yeah that’s just me,” “Well there is another thing,” “What?” “You’re the lioness I love,” Heri’s eyes went wide when he said this, “Really? I’m the one?” Heri asked him in a hushed voice, “Yeah when I first saw you I couldn’t stop thinking about you, I couldn’t get you out of my mind,” “Heh, that is so sweet of you, come on we’ll get plenty of alone time when we get back to the Pride Lands, first we need to wake Tunaini,” after waking up Tunaini the trio left the cave. “So, tell me Heri how was your night with Ushindi,” “It was good he kept me warm,” Tunaini chuckled, “I know that but did he do anything?” “Well he did kiss me in his sleep a few times,” “Heh awesome congrats, it seems like you have yourself a boyfriend,” “I know he wants me and I gotta admit….. I want him too,” Heri then put her head to Ushindi and nuzzled him while smiling, “Heri you do know we are still adolescent’s right?” “Mm hm, of course I do, but a few more months and we’re not anymore,” Tunaini nodded and kept quiet for a little while until the silence was broken by Ushindi, “Hey Tunaini come here you need to comforted too not just Heri,” Tunaini looked up and moved over to Ushindi’s left side and walked next