all!" I plead as Shian and I circle.

"Get out! You don't belong here!"  "Look around, Shian! None of us belong here! We belong together. Why can't you see that?"  "And why can't you see you aren't wanted? Everything was PERFECT here.  No one has died since your mother!" "No one has died, but I am pretty sure that many of the pride wish they would. Why continue the suffering? Why the torture? Would it really be that difficult to say that the kingdom is DYING? Why not admit it? And actually move! Staying here is suicide! What do you have that is buried so deep you won't remove yourself from this WASTELAND?"  "It's no different than before. This land has never been very giving as far as food goes." "I know! I watched you skip many meals so Momma and me could eat... but there are some lands near the outlands that aren't ruled by anyone, lands that have rain on a daily basis, land that has antelopes, zebras, real prey. And you know this, don't you? You've scouted the lands, gone on journeys, looked at surrounding areas. But you are so stuck on what has been that you can't see the light of DAY!" I snarled as he sunk his teeth into my flank. "GET OFF!" "Get OUT!" He challenged, slamming into me as i reared up to sink teeth into him. He hit the leg that had been shattered by him those many years ago, and i felt white-hot agony as it re-broke all over again.

"MY BABY!" Vitani shouted. I staggered onto my front paws as best I could, falling back down instantly. Suddenly... "Shian... Mohadden. Make peace. Shian, STEP DOWN." The command was laced with fury. I trembled in fear and pain as my birth mother materialized out of thin air. "Siani. My mate! At last you have--" "SHUT UP, SHIAN. BE STILL." in all my life, never have I seen such a look in my mothers eyes as I did then, watching her give him the third-degree. "How dare you harm our child! How could you lay a paw on him? Your own blood, one who has done no wrong. You drove him away, drove him to run while you stated you went with him to the river, he fell in and drowned. While the pride sobbed for days, you smiled.  Then TORTURED the pride that once obeyed us willingly.  You let your anger out on them! You deserve a fate worse than death... which I will make sure you GET. Step down, or I will force you. PAINFULLY."  

My father was in horror, and he looked at me pleadingly. "Son, you know I never meant any of what I did. I was just upset about your mothers death. Give me a second chance... I can rule the kingdom right. I can move. We can move. Don't let her take me. I'm your father. Your own blood! If you let her take me, you're no better than I."  I winced. Oh, I didn't want her to take him... and yet, I did. He had done the wrongest of wrong, committed the worst crimes, done the horriblest of horrors. I shook my head. "Mother, thank you, but this needs to be my fight. I need to ascend the throne the right way, whether i want to or not... I want to obey the law."  She snarls at my father, eyes turning red with a ferocious rage. "Well done, my son." she whispers, and then nods to me, brushes my pelt, begins to fade. She stops, then glances over to Ma, and smiles warmly. "Thank you for giving my son what I could not provide."  She roars a dangerous roar to my father, then fades off. After a few minutes, my father growls at me. "Once AGAIN, you have taken my girl away from me! I will kill you, I WILL."  He steps toward me, and I snarl. "I just saved your skin, Shian. I hate hurting you, but... if it must be, then it must be." I bucked, hitting his face with all my strength. He toppled over, slowly getting up and backing away. "Please, Shian... let us make peace. I loved you, loved you with all my heart. I always wanted to be just like you. Why can't you remember the good days? We had a lot of them. I don't think I can kill you... I don't want to! I BEG you, please lets end this." He gave a wicked smile. "Yes, LETS!" He jumped at me, and with my re-broken leg, I couldn't turn away quick enough. Down off the cliff we went.  

"Mohadden! NOOOOO!" Ma screeched as we hit the ground. Momentarily blinded, I stayed still, trying to determine if anything was broken. My shoulder felt as if it was on fire, and as i slowly moved it, I realized that the blade was cracked. That would take forever to rightly heal, so that was double-crap, but that was the only injury besides the blindness- which had already started to fade. I shook my head, clearing the stars and finding my father in a heap. Fear gripped me, turned my insides out. "Dad? Father? Are you... okay?" I limped over to him and looked at him. He coughed. "Son, cub... I'm sorry. For everything. Gentle One, care for Or...ian Bord..." He went limp, and i realized that his spine had broken. "Father... goodbye."

 The lioness' had all gathered as he died, lowering their head as i did. I sensed some did not care that he was dead (for which i couldn't blame them).  "Son, Mohadden..." Her gentle voice startled me, and I saw my Ma standing there. "Oh, MA!" I sobbed, rushing to her and hanging my head over her neck in remorse. "Shh... It's okay. I know. I know, baby. It's going to be okay. Everything is going to be just fine. There, there. Shhhhh. My poor one. Shhh." I whimpered. Bringing my head up, I sighed, and she smiled softly, brushing away my tears that were rapidly soaking my muzzle. "Now, my son, let me take a look at-" "Mohadden? Are you ready to claim your place?" Amoore asked briskly.  I stared my old friend and forced a smile. "Yes, I.. I am ready." I saw my mother look away. "Ma? what's wrong? Are you okay?" "Oh, yes... I just...  i just didn't expect this day to come so soon.. you've grown up. To a fine young wise lion, i might add. Oh, I am so proud of you. Go, fulfill your duty."

I nodded, slowly and painfully forcing myself up the cliff, sitting at the end where all could see and hear the ceremony.

"Do you, as king, promise to judge your kingdom in a just and fiar way?" "Yes" 

"Do you swear to listen to your subjects and resolve any problems to the best of your ability?" "Yes."

"Do you promise to obey the laws you set, and always remember the delicate balance of the realms?" "Yes"

" And do you, Mohadden, Prince of the Orian Borders, give your word to be honest, forgiving, right and protect your realm from any danger or threat that comes?" "I solemly swear so to do." "Then, as the law-keeper and second-in-command, i do so name you no more as 'Mohadden the high prince of Orian Borders', but as your new title:  "Mohadden, High King of the Orian Borders, Succeeder of King Shian and Queen Siani, who was daughter to King Asada, Who twas the son of the Stately, Regrad, the first of your royal line.'  You are, until the sprits take you, our leader, advisor, friend and King." I stand, then drawn in a deep breath, letting out the loudest roar I've ever roared. My journey-- was complete. I was home.