mother then raced over and thanked Cinder, Kawora was going to be ok but the fight was far from over.

Cinder’s thoughts snapped back into action when she recognised the danger Tari was now in. Tari was surrounded by flames and pinned to a boulder; her eyes were full of terror as she realized there was no way out. Cinder rushed forward, her heart pounding, she scanned the area for a possible escape route but none came to her. Tari screamed as the first flames reached her and she frantically swiped at them, burning her paw. Cinder felt Tari’s pain as her own, she sobbed, her voice catching in her throat.

“Tari” she cried “Tari, I want-“

She was cut off by a creaking noise amongst the crackling flames. Suddenly, the tree that stood outside their cave fell, it sent a cascade of sparks everywhere and Cinder had to cover her eyes. She gasped as she realized that the tree had fallen where Tari had been standing, Cinder raced over neatly dodging the flames and searching all the while for Tari. Suddenly she saw a patch of brown fur amongst the red, orange and black, it was Tari.

“Oh no!” Cinder cried aloud, she bent over Tari, but keeping on eye on the flames. Tari had been knocked unconscious by the tree and she was as still as death, Cinder gripped her by the scruff of her neck and began to pull Tari away from the flames.

It was hard going, Cinder tried to avoid the flames and Tari wasn’t getting any lighter. The smoke was getting unbearable, she couldn’t see and breathing was hard, every now and then she had to pause at an air pocket to get her strength back.

As the smoke got thicker it got harder to see ahead, Cinder was struggling badly. She suddenly tripped over something and fell heavily to the ground, loosing her grip on Tari. Tari rolled down a small slope and came to a rest nearly back where she started; Cinder cried aloud and began to make her way back down the slope.

Cinder soon realized something was wrong, she was feeling light headed and her throat was tight. She guessed it was because of the smoke and she started to panic. She had heard many tales of lions getting trapped in a fire and inhaling smoke. Once they did it would be difficult to breathe and they most likely would die. She tried to rush over to Tari’s side but her legs gave out and she fell heavily into the ash, she couldn’t breathe and the smoke was clogging up her lungs.  Cinder blacked out.

Her eyes were heavy when Cinder awoke. Her head throbbed and she had no feeling in her feet, the smell of smoke crept into her nose and she coughed. Suddenly, she heard footsteps hurrying her way.

“Cinder, you’re alive! Are you ok?” It was Mazai, he nudged her gently and she looked up into his eyes. They were filled with concern for her and a terrible sadness, her heart gripped with alarm.

“W...where am I?” Cinder stammered, he throat burned and it was difficult to talk. She clambered to her feet, helped by Mazai, and she gazed around the ruined landscape. The once green, lush plains were charred and covered with grey ash that was soft underfoot, the air wasn’t crisp and fresh, it had a smoky smell and it was thick. Suddenly she remembered Tari.

“Oh no, Tari!” She cried and scanned the horizon for the lioness, fear and pain racked her soul and she desperately tried to find her adoptive mother.

“Mazai, where’s Tari? She has to be around here, is she with the others?” Cinder demanded, seeking an answer from Mazai’s face. Instead, he lowered his head and when he spoke again his voice was racked with sobs.

“Cinder...I’m sorry....she...I...she didn’t make it”

“What?” Cinder couldn’t believe her ears “where is she?”

“She....she’s over there”

Mazai nodded toward the fallen tree where several lionesses were gathered, Cinder limped over and took a deep breath. But nothing could’ve prepared her for what she saw. She screamed at the sight of Tari’s burned body and tears coursed down her cheeks, she sobbed into Mazai’s shoulder and begged to be taken away. She was taken into the cave where the air was fresher and she could calm down.

Several hours later, Cinder was no longer crying but she was in a state of shock. Mazai approached her nervously.

“Cinder, may I join you?” Cinder nodded wordlessly and he sat next to her, he seemed saddened and tears were welling up in his eyes.

“Cinder, we lost many friends and family today...including my father, your leader”

Cinder gasped and looked up at him, he looked into her eyes and a single tear fell down his fur and onto the floor.

“He laid down his life to...to save another from the flames. He was strong and brave and he will always be in our hearts. That means I am your king and leader, I am afraid.”

He spoke in a restricted way, trying to keep his emotions under control. He broke eye contact and stared at the floor.

“You know what we talked about...us being together? Well, I think...I’ll....I’ll marry this princess...it was my father’s wish, his last wish, and I want to make him proud. I love you Cinder, but I can’t do this now.”

He left and Cinder was left alone, without a father, without a mother and without the one she loved.

That was another: Memory never to be Forgotten