gratefulness on Haja's face. Well, maybe we've been traveling too far...

            "Okay," he answered. "Just enough to have something to drink."

            Adwin nodded, a smile back on his face again, though it seemed more forced. "We have a nearby oasis you're more than welcomed to drink from. If you're hungry, we also have scraps."

            "Thank you." Haja politely dipped his head and trotted off to find this oasis, leaving his companion behind.

            Faraj cocked his head at Adwin, and asked him a question that had been nagging at him since they arrived. "How can you stand the heat here?"

            "Haha, you get used to it after a while. Come, are you thirsty?"      

            Far from the savannah, it had begun to rain for Ekene, Winta, and Leo as they traveled to the Shadowlands. Despite how heavy the rain was, it didn't break stride for Ekene, who was more than determined to break through the storm to see Ikuta. His mind danced with too many agonizing thoughts that it made his head throb.

            How could she do that?

            I thought we were in love.

            Would she do that?

            Why... why Ikuta?

            Winta had been unusually quiet the whole trip, and Leo was like Gotto in many regards. He, too, spoke little, and served as nothing more than an intimidating force. It only made Ekene yearn for his fallen friend. Then he thought of Chinter, who barely reacted to him asking her to come along. Perhaps the trip would do her some good.

            He had found her by the shores of the river, staring across their land. Scouts had told them that the land was habitable again, and once he returned, Ekene would lead his pride back across the river. "Are you okay?" he had asked her.

            Chinter barely looked up at him, but Ekene noticed that it looked as though she had just been crying. "Chinter?"

            "Why, Ekene? Why him?" After that, she grew unresponsive to his prodding questions, and, with much encouragement from Khari and Sauda, Ekene left Chinter alone. Perhaps going home would bring some life back into his friend, who seemed to have died the moment Gotto did.

            "The pride's ahead," growled Leo.

            Ekene broke free of his thoughts to see that Leo had been correct, and the pride was not far from their reach.

            "Let's go then," he huffed, surging forth to set the pace.

            As they neared the pride, a dark lion stepped out in front of them. "Halt! What business do you have here?" he growled.

            Ekene stepped forward, not intimidated by the lion. "I need to speak to Ikuta."

            The whiskers on the lion's face twitched. "Of what business?"

            "One of your lions attacked our pride."

            Suddenly, the dark lion's suspicious glare subsided, replaced by a knowing look of fear. "Uh... yes, all right. I'll take you to her."

            "Thank you."

            As the lion led them to Ikuta's den, he stopped short to stare into Ekene's eyes again. "This lion... did you get a name?"

            "No name. He was a gray lion. Had scars across his eyes."

            "A gray lion?" A sharp voice came from the bottoms of the den. Two eyes illuminated in the dark. Ekene's heart began to race. He recognized that beautiful anywhere.

            Ikuta emerged from her den, a hard look to her face. She was a lighter gray color, had one torn ear, and was as cold as ice. But it never stopped Ekene from loving her. As he studied her, trying to recall all of her features, he took notice of her hind leg, which was naked and badly burnt, raised above the ground as though completely dead.

            "Ikuta! What happened to you?!" he shouted, allowing his feelings to overwhelm his sense of rationality. You idiot! No one is supposed to know anything!

            Ikuta inspected her leg, then met Ekene's gaze again. "A fire. You said a gray lion attacked the Outlands?"

            "Invaded, and killed my friend, yes."

            Ikuta fell silent for a moment. Finally, she said, "Ikinya, would you mind leaving us for a moment?"

            The dark lion nodded his consent. "Of course."

            "Ekene, call off your escort. I just want to speak to you privately."

            Ekene nodded, turning to Leo. "It's okay, we won't be long."

            Leo growled, claws unsheathed. "I would hope so."

            "And you, what is your name?" inquired Ikuta, to Winta.

            The gray lion did not stammer under the leader's gaze as she said, "Winta."

            Ikuta seemed to ponder it, then nodded. "Yours?" she asked Ekene, not hinting any emotion.

            Ekene nodded. "My daughter. She stays with me."

            "Understood. Come into my den and we'll discuss this. You two may leave, please." Ikinya and Leo took their cues to leave, and once they were a safe distance away, Ikuta ushered Ekene and Winta into her den. "Towards the back, so no one can overhear us."

            Once they were pressed deeply within her den, Ikuta spoke up. "That lion is my brother, Ashiki. Remember I told you about him?"

            Ekene nodded. When he and Ikuta had snuck off in the night during the leaders' meeting, she had indulged him some into her past life, and had spoke of her brother. She had praised his qualities quite well, as he recalled.

            "Well, he's been exiled from the pride," continued Ikuta. "He's a complete rogue. Took his mate and several of our pride members along with him."

            "He attacked the Outlands," said Ekene. "He drove us from our home, and killed Gotto."

            "That, I had nothing to do with. Do you really think that I would send him out to attack another pride?"

            "I don't know anymore, Ikuta. Would you?"

            Hurt flickered in Ikuta's eyes before disappearing. "No, never. We're much better than that, Ekene. No, Ashiki has gone insane. I didn't think he'd do this... probably should've killed him when I had the chance." Ikuta sighed. "If there's anything you need from the Shadowlands, you have our support. It's the least I can do for your loss."

            Ekene softened, relieved that the attack was because of a sudden change of heart in Ikuta. She still cares, he thought. "We appreciate it."

            "He's my brother, I just couldn't do that to him. But if he's going after other lion prides, then he must be put down. Have you warned the others?"

            "My sister has gone to the Pridelands, and