a close friend of Jiro's, as his son had put it when he had asked. All he knew was that Nyako had been close to Kayode, and his death seemed to have destroyed her. He felt sympathetic towards her, and welcomed her into the pride with no protest uttered from his mouth. But now it was time to start moving on.

            "That's a good idea," he said. "Anyone else?"

            "I'm taking Jira, Kayin, and Kesi with me, and leaving everyone else behind with you."

            "That's a small hunting party."

            "They're capable."

            Judas smiled. "I have no doubts about that. Make sure to bring us back a fat buffalo, okay?"

            Baako snorted. "Hmph, if we get that lucky."

            The pair nuzzled again, and Judas watched as Baako walked off to gather her small hunting party. One step at a time, their pride seemed to be starting to recover.

            "Dad?"

            Judas turned to his daughter, Jalena, who had her ears perked, her stature completely alert. He stood and trotted over to her, licking her head in greeting. "Hmm?"

            "Someone's coming. I can smell them."

            Jalena had been born blind, but had made up for her lack of sight with an acute sense of hearing and smell. Judas had no reason to doubt that his daughter did indeed caught the whiff of someone approaching.

            Now he tilted his head and sniffed the air, and confirmed what Jalena had said. A lion pride was heading their way. The fur on his dull red mane began to bristle. No, we're not doing this again, he thought. "Baako, hold off on getting the hunting party together!" he roared. "We have company."

            The pride began to stir and lined up alongside Judas as they awaited for their arrivals to appear over the stretch of dull, yellow grass. It was not long before a bright tawny colored lion appeared, several others of the same color following after him. In fact, the only one looking out of place was the lion's companion, a mousy brown lioness, who looked somewhat familiar to Judas.

            Despite the warning signals igniting in his body, Judas refused to turn his head in fear. No, his eyes continued to bore into his rival's until the enemy pride came to a stop within a respectable amount of feet from them.

            Judas stepped forward. "Welcome," he said gruffly. There was no need to be any more considerate to the pride other than the greeting.

            The lion, too, mimicked Judas, only his face was more inviting. "Greetings, fellow lion pride. We have come far to find you all. I am Malka, of the Highland Pride."

            Highland Pride? Judas only knew of a few prides, one of which was his home pride, the Pridelands. Since when did other prides start coming up with fancy names to call themselves? His pride never felt the need to do such.

            "Look at yourselves, how ill-formed you all are," continued Malka, beginning a taunting pace in front of Judas. "You are so unorganized, so rampant with no rules to guide you. The Highland pride is proud to have established its rule on laws and rules to keep it secure. We can offer you the balance you so desperately need if you were to join us."

            Judas's claws unsheathed at once. Behind him, he could hear the growling protests of his lionesses. "Join with you?" he spat. "I'm sure you give the same rehearsed speech to all the lion prides to go to. I refuse your offer."

            Malka smiled, and he took a step forward. "Refuse? I don't think that is an option, my friend. Tell me, what is your name?"

            To humor the lion, Judas muttered, "Judas."

            "We only come to you with good will and intentions," spoke up the mousy brown female as she sidled up alongside Malka. "I am Halla, Malka's adored mate."

            "Good for you," huffed Judas. He turned his attention back to Malka. "Your empty threats don't scare me. We have no further business to conduct here."

            "Oh, but we do," said Malka, his grin growing wider. "I'll make one last offer - join me, or be destroyed."

            Judas laughed. What was with these lions and wanting to destroy him? It was not the first empty threat he had received throughout his years, nor was it his last. "That's cute, really cute. And once again I'll say no."

            "Very well then. Attack!"

            Judas stopped laughing as a wave of orange-tawny lions lunged forth for him and his significantly smaller pride. He felt a brute force tackle into him, forcing him onto the ground. He roared, slamming his hind legs into his opponent. No one was going to make a fool of him! No one!

            Rising again, Judas caught a glimpse of his lionesses fighting if their lives depended on it. And they did.

            "Stay away from my daughter!" he heard Eshe snarl at a lion who had gotten too close to Jalena. Beyond her, he saw Jiro and Nyako, creating a beautifully synched dance as they maneuvered around their foes. Kesi and Kayin were helping Nomusa take down a lioness while Jira, Tamu, and Sassia made a thinly-lined circle to protect Baako and Lindiwe, who were shielding Gwandoya from any further attacks.

            Distracted, it gave an enemy lion the opportunity to strike Judas. The gray lion roared and slammed his giant paw into the face of his opponent, stunning him long enough to bark a command to his pride. "Get Gwandoya and Jalena out of here!" he cried. He didn't care who fled with them, just as long as they were safe. He was not going to lose another cub, not again.

            Instead of worrying of his stunned opponent, Judas leapt into the fray to find Malka. If he destroyed the leader of this organized attack, it would be over. It was not hard to find the lion, who stood on the outskirts of the fray, smiling. His mate was nowhere in sight.

            "Well?" asked Malka, once Judas broke free from the crowd of lions and lionesses. "Do you like what I've offered here? After the chance I gave you to stop this, you chose this. Let it be known that your pride was destroyed because of your judgment."

            Mane bristling, Judas lunged at Malka. Despite his large size, Malka was swifter, and easily passed underneath Judas before the gray lion landed on the ground. Judas whirled his body, but felt strong teeth digging into his massive mane. The force of Malka's impact left Judas standing on two hind legs, struggling to not fall over.

            Judas swung his body, causing himself to fall onto his back, but forcing Malka to release his hold on Judas's thick mane. The orange lion fell, stunned momentarily by the fall before quickly recovering to lunge at him again. Sharp claws dug into Judas's fur. The gray lion bit back his cry, and returned Malka's attack with his own, slapping the orange lion with heavily brunted paws that he saw were leaving the smaller lion stunned.

            Ignoring his new wounds to watch Malka carefully, Judas felt satisfied to see that the orange lion was struggling to get back onto his paws. This was it, the killing blow. He darted for Malka, but the smaller lion surprised him when he lunged. Holding his paws out, he shoved Judas's enormous weight away from him, causing the gray lion to sprawl clumsily onto the ground.

            "Pathetic!" roared Malka. "Absolutely pathetic!"

            Judas panted, slowly rising back onto his paws. He could see Malka rush for him, but he was