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Sauda flicked her tail to signal to Chaka to follow her. The two soon met up with Shani's patrol. Shani asked the other lionesses to take the kill home while she hunted with Chaka and Sauda. "Just like old times, huh?" Sauda asked her two younger siblings. Shani smiled. "Yeah, just like old times."

Sauda looked around. Chaka stopped in his tracks and looked at her. "What's wrong?" he asked. "Thought I heard something." she said. "Must be the wind." Chaka suggested. "No." Sauda and Chaka looked at Shani. "I heard it too. Sounded like someone was crying for help." Shani said. Chaka strained his ears. "I hear it too. It's like a faint echo." he said. "It's coming from there." Shani pointed with her nose. Sauda suddenly felt dread creep up her shoulder. She knew that place. A memory went through her body, of the day she had stumbled upon a cub her age. Her father had warned her about not going there again. "NO!" she suddenly yelled out as it struck her. "Wait! What?!" Chaka called after her as she ran in that direction. It can't be true. she thought. I warned him.

"WHAT!!!?" Both Sauda and Chaka said at the same time. Sauda looked around for Carissa, her heart pounding. As Chaka pulled Zola towards him to comfort her, Shani checked the tracks. Shani herself was desperate, but she knew that as the pride's best tracker, she had to keep her cool. This wasn't just a matter of the king being hurt, it was for her friend. Shani and Alonzo had grown really close during the time when Sauda and Alonzo were still not yet mates. And it was also for her niece. Her brother and sister needed her now more than ever. She turned to Zola. "Show me where Alonzo is." she commanded.

Sauda immediately threw herself at Alonzo's body, covering him with licks. "I'm so happy you're alright." she said, tears steaming down her face. She got up and looked around. "Alonzo, where's Carissa?" she asked.

"She's been kidnapped." Shani said. "WHAT!?" Sauda asked, stunned. Shani was standing on some tracks. "Look at these tracks." Shani said. "They're obviously hyenas'. Now these small tracks are Carissa's. You can tell she put up a good fight. But, if she had been killed, her death scent would be there, but it's not. Therefore, she has obviously been kidnapped." Seeing Sauda put her head down and cry, Shani went on. "But, that also means one thing: Carissa is still alive. They probably kidnapped her for ransom. They know that if we try to do anything, all they have to do is threaten to kill her and we'll do anything."

"So, what's our move?" Chaka asked. "We can't just sit here and let a bunch of slimy, mangy, stinky poachers boss us around." Shani nodded. "I'll go find Carissa." she said. "I have a friend in the pride just next to ours. I'll get him to help us." "But it's too dangerous." Sauda protested. "And I'm not just about to let you go out there and possibly be killed." "I'll be back." Shani said, bounding off before Sauda could say anything more. "What can we do?" Chaka asked her. "She really was stubborn, and she's certainly not about to change."

Sauda pushed her muzzle into her mate's fur. "She'll be fine." she assured him, trying to sound more confident than she really felt.

Shani looked up, her ears pricked at the sound. Carissa! she thought. She found her paws leading in the direction of the scream. She stopped them and turned around. I can't help her all by myself. she thought. I'll have to get help. Shani went ut of the territory and found herself face-to-face with a pale lion leading a patrol. He studied her. "What brings you to our place Shani?" he asked. "Emergency." Shani replied. "I need your help, Asante."

Sauda laid her tail on his shoulder. "I know, I feel like dashing off to find her myself." she said, trying to calm him down. "But, you're really hurt, and Shani is already on the case."

Shani looked at Asante. "So that's the story." she said. Asante raised his eyebrows. "So, you want our help to find your niece?" he asked. Shani knew his tone. She put her head down. "It's okay if you don't want to..." she began but was interrupted. "We accept." Asante said. Shani looked at him in surprise. "You will?" she asked. Asante nodded. "Me and my finest warriors will go with you. I promise, we will do everything we can to bring your niece back."

"NO! Alonzo, wait!" Sauda called after her mate. "It wasn't your fault."

Shani looked gratefully at Asante. "Thank you." she respectfully dipped her head. Then she smirked. "Never thought you'd become the king, after that time.." she trailed off, lost in the memory of the time she and Asante had met as cubs. "Don't mention it." he grinned, his voice full of sarcasm. Shani smiled as she felt that she had known her friend forever, and they had only met as cubs.

"STOP! ALONZO!" Shani yell pierced the air. She, Asante and a whole patrol of the strongest lionesses filled into the Graveyard. Shani pulled Alonzo off Leamba. "Carissa is not dead, Alonzo." she said, trying to make him see sense.