Pridelands, and she's sent some messengers to the Savannah pride to warn them."

            "Good, so then there won't be any more surprises coming from this."

            "Stop beating yourself up over it." Ekene leaned in and licked Ikuta's nose. She still smelled the same, even if she was drenched in the rain. "I've missed you."

            Ikuta allowed herself to lean into Ekene's touch. "I have too." She turned to Winta, love dancing in her eyes. "Winta, you've grown so big since I last saw you. I hope you don't hate too much."

            Ekene nervously turned to his daughter, wondering how she was going to react to Ikuta. He never lied to her about who her mother was, but there still could've been some hidden resentment inside her.

            To his joy, Winta leaned in and nuzzled her mother. "I always wanted to meet you," she said. "Dad told me everything about you."

            Ikuta was touched. "Oh Ekene..."

            Smiling, he said, "I didn't want to lie to her. She deserved to know everything."    

            "Did you tell anyone else?"

            "Only my friends, Chinter and Gotto."         

            As soon as Ikuta sat up in alarm, he quickly added, "They can be trusted. Well, Chinter now. Gotto's gone."

            Relaxing, she settled back down. "Truly I'm sorry about your loss. If I had known..."

            "Ikuta, I told you to stop beating yourself up."

            "Sorry..." She gave him a small smile, which made Ekene's heart soar. He remembered when she smiled for him the first time. "I suppose our business is done here, then? I've explained what I could to you. I hope that the other lion prides will not think it was the Shadowlands who organized this."

            "I'll make sure that isn't the case. Right, I suppose it is time to go. Winta, you ready?"

            Winta seemed to hesitate, looking back and forth between her parents. "Actually, Dad..?"

            "Yes?"

            "I... want to stay here."

            "NO!" both Ekene and Ikuta roared, the pair rising to sit up.

            Winta scrunched her face. "Why not? I'm old enough to say what I want to do or not."

            "There was a reason I wanted you to stay with your father," sighed Ikuta. "The Outlands would be better-"

            "We got invaded there! Why can't I just stay with you, Mom? Dad has everything under control."

            Ikuta faced Ekene. "Ekene, I don't think..."

            He shook his head. "I agree, you should come back home."

            Winta flashed her teeth. "I'm calling the shots, and I'm saying that this is my home now. Mom, I want to be here with you. Please?"

            "Winta, your uncle could return here any day now," reasoned Ikuta. "He'll want to garner any chance to attack us."

            "Dad says I'm a good fighter. We'll just fight him off."

            "Winta, listen to Ikuta..."

            "No, I've already made up my mind." Winta dug her claws into the dirt below her, to prove her point. "Please, let me stay."

            Ekene and Ikuta exchanged helpless glances with one another, neither knowing how to react to their daughter's sudden demands.

            In a small voice, Winta said, "I'll try to come visit, Dad..."

            Ekene sighed. "Ikuta, would you mind?"

            Ikuta hesitated. "Winta, is this what you really want?"

            Winta smiled, licking her mother's nose. "Yes."

            "Fine... but if Ashiki returns, you're to live with your father permanently. Is that understood?"

            Winta rolled her eyes. "Yes ma'am."

            The gesture made Ekene smile. "She reminds me so much of you," he said to Ikuta. "You're both equally stubborn."

            Ikuta rolled her eyes. "You've always had a sense of humor, Ekene. Come, I'll see you off then."

            "Ikuta, I..." began Ekene.

            But the gray lioness stopped him. "I hope this is the last time you come here, Ekene," she said, her voice hoarse, holding back the pain of saying such a thing.

            Ekene laid his ears back. She had a point. If he continued to stop by, it would only make things harder for them when they left each other.

            "I told you that I wouldn't be upset if you found another," continued Ikuta. "I recommend you find someone in your pride. Settle down, be happy."

            The brown lion snapped his head up, his expression defiant. "I did find someone, and I wouldn't trade her for anyone else."

            Ikuta sighed, but Ekene saw her trying to hold back a smile. "You're such an idiot..."

            Behind them, Winta groaned. "Can we not with the lovey dovey stuff? I mean it's kinda cute, but at the same time..."

            "Agreed, it would be better to stop with this now." Ikuta emerged from the mouth of her den, growling as the rain struck her. "I wish this damn weather would stop. You'll be all right going home?"

            Ekene came up alongside her, also scowling about the weather. "We arrived here in one piece. We should be all right."

            "Like I said, if the Outlands need anything-"

            "We'll let you know."

            Ikuta smiled. "Good. Tell your sister that, that the Shadowlands had no part in what Ashiki had done, when you return, all right? We'll fight with you if you need us. We'll also extend the offer to the other prides, if they'd like."

            "I think they'd appreciate that. Okay Ikuta, take care of Winta?"

            "Always."

            Ekene wanted nothing more to nuzzle Ikuta, breathe in her scent again, tell her that he loved her... but that would be compromising too much. Instead, he gave her a curt nod, trying to convey all he felt for her in that simple gesture.

            She seemed to understand, for she nodded back.

            Ekene faced his daughter and nuzzled her. "Take care, okay, Winta?"

            She laughed. "Of course!"

            Ekene gave the two one more

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