"Sarabi, you have got to be kidding me!!"

 Sarafina - a light tawny lioness with emerald green eyes - snarled her teeth to the elder lioness angrily. Her eyebrows were narrowed into a bitter frown and her eyes were filled with rage.

 The elder lioness, Sarabi, looked to her friend with a soft tone in her orangish-red eyes, yet insisted, "Sarafina, my dear friend, I don't like the idea either.. but it's our only hope.".

 Sarafina roared, "NO! It's not! You can't sacrafice my daughter like that, it's not fair!"

 Sarabi's red eyes met the ground as her brown ears met the back of her skull. She hated the idea of the young Nala traveling alone, but she knew there was no way out of this nightmare unless they tried.

 Sarabi lifted her head once more and let out a soft sigh originating from deep within her lungs, she looked to her pride-sisters, and furthered her explanation, "You must understand.. Nala is our best huntress.. She is smart, strong, and fast. I wouldn't have asked her to do this if I didn't think she was capable.." As she explained to her lioness friends, she couldn't help but let her eyes wonder over to her friends sad faces.

 Everyone within the pride - well almost everyone - cared for eachother very deeply. They helped raise eachothers cubs, and didn't want anything bad to happen to any one of the cubs. But they had to admit, their former queen was correct. Scar's tyranny had to stop. His reign has lasted several years, and the Pridelands were no longer liveable. But the tyrant would never allow anyone to leave. He was stubborn and unfair.

 Sarafina knew this, she knew her once amazing home was now a rubbish hell. And she hated Scar for it. But she couldn't just stand by and let Nala be the one to wonder off and possibly be killed if Scar were to find out. She just couldn't have it.
 Sarafina hung her head low, and a few tears streamed down her soft cheek just thinking about something bad happening to her daughter.

 Sarabi looked over to her pride-sister and she lowered her neck, allowing her to be cheek to cheek to her dearest friend. Sarabi used her dark tan nose to push Sarafina's chin up, "Sarafina, Nala will be alright.." She comforted with a soft coo.

 Sarafina's emerald eyes opened and looked into her friends loving eyes, she tried with all her might to fake a smile - Sarabi returned the gentle gesture softly.  

 Sarabi raised her head once more and looked to her pride-sisters. On the other side of Sarafina was Nala, whom was oddly quiet throughout the discussion, so Sarabi decided to formly ask, "Nala.. Would you be willing..?" She had no other way to ask, and even as the words escaped her lips, she felt selfish.

 Nala offered the queen an excited smile, her eyes practically glowing as bright as the stars that shone above them. Nala got up on all four hunches and then said with a confident tone ringing throughout her voice, "I will, Sarabi. I'll do it for you and the rest of the pride-sisters!".

 Sarabi couldn't help but smile wide. The young lionesses positive attitude brought her spirits up, and for the first time in over a year, Sarabi's eyes gleamed with happiness. For one split second, she was actually confident that Nala would bring all the help she needed.

 Sarafina watched as Sarabi and Nala exchanged glances, and something deep inside of Sarafina's heart wanted to feel happy as well. But she was too worried. She felt like she was growing ill from all the anxiety - not like the lack of food didn't help.

 Sarabi bowed her head slightly to the lioness, Nala. With the small gesture, she got up onto all hunches, stretching her old - aching bones. She took a few steps, and mounted herself onto a small boulder just barely hanging out from the rotting, decaying grass. She stood on top of it and called out to her lioness friends, "It is settled, in just a few hours time, our precious Nala will leave to find help. We will stay here, and we will cover for her. If Scar were to ask for Nala, we must say she is out patrolling for some hunting game. Is this understood?".

 All around, the lionesses of the pride nodded in agreeance with their former queen. Sarafina looked up to Sarabi as she watched her declare her daughter as tribute. Nala seemed fine with it, but it made Sarafina's stomach tie in knots over and over again.

 As Sarafina was lost in thought, it was apparent, by the rustling of the dry grass behind her, that Sarabi had called this secret meeting to an end. All the lionesses of the pride were heading back to Pride Rock, slowly. As if to not alert the hyena guards of their disappearance of the cave.

 The only ones that remained were Sarafina, Nala, Sarabi and Sarabi's daughter Mya.

 Mya was the daughter of Sarabi and Scar - Scar took advantage of Sarabi when she was mourning the loss of her mate and son, when Scar forced himself onto Sarabi. In hopes of having a male heir, instead, Sarabi birthed a female.

 But no one hated Mya, in fact, unlike her father, she was a very sweet lioness. She always put others before herself and cared nothing more than about her pride-sisters and her mother.

 "Mother, I can go.. Scar wouldn't even care if I left.." Mya pleaded with her mother.

 Sarabi looked into her daughters eyes with a soft tone of gratitude as she said, "I know, dear.. But this is something that I think Nala must do.. Her hunting skills are by far more advanced then yours. She has a better rate of surviving out there then you do, my dear.." and with the gentle explanation came a brief motherly nuzzle.

 Mya embraced her mother, and rubbed her forehead against her mothers neck - enjoying her warmth. Mya was saddenned by the fact that Nala was the one who had to endanger herself - but deep down she knew her mother was right.

 Sarafina watched as Mya and Sarabi exchanged loving nuzzles, and her eyes couldn't help but wonder to Nala. Who was standing there, deeply focused on the tall grass, obviously lost in thought.

 Sarafina stood up and walked over to her daughter. Nala was almost the same height as her mother - and in fact, most of their features were identical. Everything except that Nala's eyes were a bit more blue, rather then green. Sarafina was proud of her daughter, and she wouldn't deny that. But all she wanted was for her daughter to be safe. Sarafina wrapped her neck around her daughters, engulfing her into a mothers embrace.

 Nala giggled softly to herself and a slight purr was emerging from deep inside Nala's throat. Her eyes softened into a smile, and she rested her head onto her mothers back.

 Sarafina turned her head slightly and licked her daughters cheek lovingly, then she whispered, "I know you've been taught well.. But please.. be careful..". Her eyes pleaded with Nala's.

 Nala offered her mother an assuring smile as she confirmed, "I will, Mom.. I promise..".

 Sarafina smiled, but this time, her smile wasn't forced. She deepened the embrace with her daughter - only to be interupted by the sounds of Mya, the young lioness.

 "Come on, guys. It's getting late, and the hyena's are bound to know something's up..". Mya called out in a worried whisper.

 Sarafina nodded to Mya and then turned to her daughter and nudged her head towards Pride Rock.

 Nala nodded to her mother back and then without wasting a bit of time, followed Mya and Sarabi back to Pride Rock.

 Sarafina followed shortly behind Nala, endulging herself with every bit of time she had with her daughter - for she knew, when she awoke the next morning... Nala would be gone.  

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Several hours later, the sun rose high above the rocky mountain's that painted the landscape. The sun was beaming bright, bringing light to the early morning.
 
The day had only begun, but already, the day was hot. A dry heat that could scorch and boil any water that dare lingered in the savannah - fortunately for the Pridelands, that was no problem, for they have been in drought for many seasons.

Due to the heat, many of the lionesses decided to stay at the den while the rest of the lionesses hunted for the morning breakfast. The elder lionesses were the ones who chose to stay at the Pride Rock, they didn't want to over do it and kill themselves. Plus, they knew it was a false hope. There hasn't been proper game in the savannah for seasons; everyone knew that the herds had moved on. It was just Scar's orders to hunt.

It was like clock-work, every morning. Every morning, they hyenas would do a patrol of the den, making sure everything was accounted for and that the huntresses were out hunting like they were supposed to. The hyenas then reported their findings to Shenzi, Banzai and Ed (The leaders of the hyena clan). Then Shenzi would report the hyenas work to Scar and Zira. It was a system that Scar had organized during his reign, and it seemed to work for him.

For the previous seasons or so, the reports would always be the same - every time! It never failed. The hyenas would report nothing but good; of course that is sugar coated for the king. In reality, the pride was starving, there was never any food, and the water was scarce to none. But Scar didn't care about the pride's safety, all he cared was that there was no obvious mutany. So for that, the hyenas always reported nothing but good things..

But this morning was different.Something was up in the Pridelands.

"Great! Now Scar is going to have our necks!" complained Banzai, to

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