it."

            "You will!" she cried, tears stinging her eyes. "Now come on!" She grabbed him by the scruff of his mane, and pulled at him. She hardly had enough strength left in her to pull all of his weight.

            Grunting in pain, Gotto struggled to move. His claws dug into the earth below him as he exerted his remaining strength into getting his body to stand. Chinter moved underneath him, allowing for him to put most of his weight onto her backside. She had to dig her own claws to steady herself just from his own weight. Still, she was not giving up on him.

            "Okay Gotto, you gotta help me move along," she growled. "You're too heavy."

            "Should... just leave me here..." he grunted.

            She shook her head. "Let's keep going."

            "I... can't." Gotto's body slumped against her backside, and completely fell onto the ground. Chinter yelped as she stared down into the brown lion's eyes. "Sorry..."

            "N-No! We can make it to the river!"

            "Heh, like I... can make it... that farther."

            Chinter stepped over him, and curled against his backside. "Fine, then I'll wait with you until Ekene finds us." She licked his blood drawn face.

            Gotto grunted. "Stop..."

            She nestled her chin into his mane, breathing in his scent. "We'll just wait... It'll be okay."

            "Thanks... Chinter."

            A single tear fell down her cheek. "You're welcome."

            Chinter didn't know how she was able to fall asleep right there, but when she felt a paw tap at her and saw it was Ekene, she knew what he was trying to say. She had felt the life drain away from Gotto until his great stomach heaved no more, and his body started to grow cold. She had dreamt that it was all a dream, and there they were, the four of them - she, Ekene, Gotto, and Winta - just enjoying another day in their lands. Just seeing Gotto laying below her was proof enough that it was only just a dream.

            Ekene licked her nose, but was unable to find the words to convey what he was saying.

            She just nodded her head once, and weakly stood up.

            There was nothing left for them here.

 

            Khari of the Riverlands was waiting for them as Ekene and Chinter crossed the river. She laid her ears back, but bit down on her tongue to cease from saying anything. The pair were covered in blood and mud, and neither seemed to wish to talk about what had happened on the other side of the river. She would respect that, and would wait until a much better time to begin prying her half-brother.

            "Kagiso! Nzuri! Please take care of this lioness here," she called out. "Ekene, would you mind staying with me?"

            He met her gaze, and nodded solemnly. "Of course."

            A dark brown lioness and an even darker lion approached Chinter, standing on either side of her, and helping her move along.

            "Your daughter's grown a lot," he commented.

            Khari smiled. "She's my pride and joy, just like Faraj is. Nzuri is her mate now, and they have a beautiful cub."

            "Already a grandmother."

            "It's very pleasing, Ekene. Come, do you want anything to eat? Do you need tending to?"

            Ekene shook his head to both accounts. "Is Winta around?"

            A small smile came to Khari's face. "Is Winta your mate?"

            "She's my daughter."

            "Oh, you have a daughter as well? I know so little about you, Ekene! In a better moment in time, we'll have to catch up."

            "We will."

            As Khari led Ekene to her secluded area, she added, "I'll have to inform the other prides about this attack. We won't be sure where this fiend will strike next."

            "He killed Gotto. The next time he strikes, I will be there to strike him down."

            The amount of anger in Ekene's normally nonchalant voice surprised Khari, but she did not say anything about it. She would understand his anger in this moment, having been chased from his home by an unknown threat, and having a close friend of his killed in the struggle. If it had been her pride that was savaged, she would've felt the same way.

            The Riverlands were a vast flatland, modeled because of the flooding of the river. Besides the occasional fertile trees that grew upon the land, there were no molded sculptures of rocks or dens to hide themselves in. They lived upon the plains, adapting to the life made for them by the river.

            Khari's 'den' of sorts was underneath a small green tree. Beneath the shade was Khari's sister Sauda, and her former mate, Reno. Both gathered to their paws as Khari and Ekene arrived.

            "Ekene, it's been a while," greeted Sauda, as she nuzzled him.

            "Ekene, this is Reno," said Khari, leaving out the 'former mate' aspect only because it no longer seemed that important.

            The dark lion nodded his head, turning his gaze to Khari. "Did you want me to go and send word?"

            "Not yet," she replied, "we won't worry about it now."

            Reno looked about to protest, but Sauda nudged him, and he fell silent.

            "Where's Winta?" asked Ekene.

            "She's with Yejide, my granddaughter," replied Khari.

            "When will you send out word to the other prides about this?"

            "Soon. Whenever you want me to."

            "Then definitely soon. I want to pay a visit to the Shadowlands myself."

            Khari's eyes widened. "The Shadowlands? Why? They organized the attack!"

            But Ekene shook his head. "Khari, remember when we went to that arranged meeting with Simba and Ikuta?"

            Khari tilted her head back, as though pondering. "The leaders of the Pridelands and the Shadowlands? Yes, I remember."

            "I got to know Ikuta, and she didn't seem like the type to want to cause an attack like that."

            "So you're saying that whoever chased you guys out acted out on their own accord?" growled Sauda.

            Ekene shrugged. "Could be possible, but I want to find out the answers myself."

            "That's fine and well," said Khari, "but you will not go out there now. Rest. We'll hold a vigil, if you'd like, for the fallen. Then we'll treat your wounds. I don't want you to leave here, anyways, until we report the news

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