"I told you, Dad."

            "EKENE!" Chinter's voice shattered the euphoria between father and daughter. Ekene leapt into action, his heart beating as he raced to where Chinter had cried out.

            He picked up a familiar scent and skidded to an abrupt halt. Winta sidled up to him, confused. "Dad, what's the matter?" she asked.

            That scent... It was Shadowland's scent, that much Ekene could remember. It couldn't have been Ikuta who came to them, could it? No... Chinter was afraid, he heard that much in her voice. It was someone else.

            Winta leapt in front of her father, roaring, "Dad, Chinter!"

            Ekene shook his head and pursued his daughter. The fog seemed to be lighting up, as the Shadowland's scent became more prominent. It mixed well with Chinter's and Gotto's as well. Now that he could start seeing ahead of his nose, Ekene saw Chinter and Gotto standing across from a burly gray lion. Both their stances mimicked their readiness for battle, but it seemed to do little for the male, who only stared down at them.

            Ekene and Winta slowed down, and approached them. The closer they got, Ekene saw that this male was not alone. He had a small party of lions and lionesses behind him. Beside him was a yellow lioness who appeared skittish. He did not like this at all.

            "Who are you?" Ekene demanded as he sidled up to his friends, his green eyes falling upon the gray lion's face. His eyes were a bright orange, and they were heavily scarred.

            The lion smiled, showing off his white teeth. "Are you the leader of the Outlands?"

            "Yes. My name is Ekene. You're from the Shadowland pride, aren't you?"

            "Hah, indeed. My name isn't that important to you, but what is important is the message I'm here to bring from my... beloved sister."

            Ekene's heart froze. What could Ikuta want from him?

            "Yes?" he prodded, eagerly wanting to hear more.

            The attack had surprised Ekene. He had sincerely thought that Ikuta wanted something of him. Instead of indulging Ekene with his purpose of being there, the gray lion launched himself at the leader, his claws completely unsheathed with the intention of killing.

            "For the Shadowlands!" the lion cried out.

            Ekene had been too slow, but it was Gotto who rushed to his defense. He knocked aside the gray lion that rivaled his own size, and the pair tumbled off to the side. Chinter launched herself at the yellow lioness, who cried out as her back hit the ground. Ekene backed up into Winta, roaring at the slowly approaching supporters of the gray lion.

            "Winta, get out of here! Warn the rest of the pride!" he cried.

            "You can't hide, leader of the Outlands!" called the gray lion as he knocked Gotto aside. "My loyal supporters, attack!"

            "Winta, go!"

            "But Dad!-"

            Ekene roughly pushed into her, urging her to retreat. She reluctantly turned, and he chased her heels.

            A force fell upon his backside, and claws pierced his fur. Ekene cried out, but the feeling was short lasting as the foe was knocked away from him.

            "Get everyone out of here, Ekene," snarled Gotto, blood beginning to drip from his nostrils. "They're here to kill us."

            Kill. The words rang in Ekene's ears, and he suddenly had a flashback to when Zira, a vengeance-hungry lioness, had killed his father in cold blood. Only this time, these lions were looking to wipe out the entire pride, not just one lion. He was not going to let that happen.

            Ekene leapt to his paws, and ran to the heart of the Outlands where the pride usually stationed itself. The lions and lionesses who lived within the lands had free reign to wander wherever they pleased as long as they stayed within the borders of the territory, but the heart of the land was where they all came together to be a pride.

            Fortunately, the fog began to lighten up, and Ekene was able to see the dirt beneath his paws. He felt someone run alongside him, and nearly lashed out until he saw it was Winta, who was now bleeding from a cut between her eyes.

            Fire rose within him. "Who did that to you?" he demanded, not once slowing his pace.

            Winta scoffed, though she was still shaken. "I took care of him, Dad."

            "We're going to need to leave the Outlands with the pride."

            "Where are we going?"

            That was a fairly good question. Between the Outlands rested the Pridelands and the Riverlands. The Riverlands would be the easier choice because they were the closest, and all the pride would have to do was cross the large river in between them. Not only that, but Khari, who was Ekene's half-sister, ruled the pride. Despite the turbulent past the two prides had, Khari had always made it known to Ekene that he would always be welcomed on her lands.

            "We need to gather the pride, and go to the Riverlands!"

            "The Riverlands?" The excitement that came to rest on Winta's face was as clear as day. "Seriously? We're really going over?" She frowned. "But what about here? This is our home."

            Ekene shook his head. "Forget it, I'm not risking staying around if we're expecting a large scale invasion. Just help me gather everyone, and fast!"

 

            "I think we've chased them off," snarled Gotto as he paused to lick a cut on his shoulder.

            Chinter sighed, licking her paws. "That was horrible. Who are they?"

            "Shadowland lions."

            "But... I thought Ekene and Ikuta..."

            "It doesn't matter now. We need to meet up with Ekene and find out what we're going to do." Gotto turned his head to Chinter, examining the pale lioness. Her normally pristine coat was covered in mud and blood, but she didn't seem too seriously hurt. Good. Ekene would've scratched his head off if he let anything happen to her.

            Chinter looked around, her eyes narrowed. "I... can't smell them, Gotto."

            He brushed up against her and sniffed the air. Despite the fog beginning to clear, it still hindered their senses. "Did you see where they went?" he asked.

            Chinter glared at him. "I was too busy helping you to notice." Her eyes softened, and she turned away. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to snap like that."

            Gotto shrugged. He was used to females snapping at him. That was why he didn't like to associate with them, among other things. "Don't worry. We just need to meet up with Ekene before the pride attacks us."

            "You don't think the pride is going to attack us, do you?" asked Chinter as the pair began to move forward.

            "Why not? I heard that lion say it loud and clear, they're doing it for the Shadowlands."

            "Something about that bothers

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