interesting...

            It is very interesting, my handsome prince, said Zuri. How ruthless lions can be. So unorganized...

            This interested Abel. "What do you mean?" he asked, as quietly as he could. His parents were not far from where he laid in the grass, and he did not want them to overhear his private conversation with Zuri.

            Isn't it obvious, my love? They're letting themselves get caught. They're not being sneaky enough.

            "Isn't it better like that? Then everyone will be afraid of them."

            My love, it would be more terrifying if no one knew about them.

            Shivers ran up and down Abel's spine. The idea tempted him. "They destroyed the Outlands," he purred.

            All the more reason to want them on our side, no? Powerful allies... can you imagine?

            "Hm... when I become King, I'll make a note of that."

            "Abel, who are you talking to?"

            Abel shot up as soon as Kiara's voice crossed his ears. Please don't have heard that! "Uh, nothing Mother! Just thinking aloud!"

            Kiara tilted her head, smiling warmly at her son. "I know it's a dull day, so your father was thinking of taking you out into the fields to do some hunting."

            Though Zuri scowled, Abel leapt at the opportunity. "Of course, Mother! He wants to go now?"

            "Of course he does," laughed Defir as he brushed up alongside Kiara. "I know you're getting a little restless, son, so I thought it'd do us both some good."

            Abel nodded his agreement.

            It's a bad idea, said Zuri.

            But Abel disagreed. After all, his parents never gave him reason to hate them, right? True, he felt Kiara was holding far too long onto her namesake, but she was still his mother, his flesh and blood.

            He and Defir bade farewell to Kiara, and began their trek into the fields. Blood began rushing throughout Abel's body, and pleasure spiked through his spine. He wanted to taste the blood of a gazelle in his mouth, useless under his weight. True, he was still nowhere near the height of his father (in fact, Abel rivaled the height of Kiara than he did of his father and grandfather), but he still weighed enough to be a threat.

            He was never going to be a vulnerable being, not now, not ever.

            "I know you still haven't turned five years old yet," Defir spoke up as the pair passed through the grass, "but your mother and I had been talking. We might let you step up earlier than we had intended."

            Abel pricked his ears. Did he hear exactly what he thought he heard?

            "Really?" he managed to say.

            Not breaking his stride, Defir turned to Abel and smiled. "We think that you're showing a maturity beyond your years, and your grandparents seem to agree."

            Abel smiled at this, but in the back of his head, he was damning his grandparents. Who cared what they thought of him? As long as Kiara held him in high regard, he was guaranteed the throne...

            "Plus, your mother and I would like to relax one of these days," Defir laughed.

            "When, Dad?" asked an eager Abel. "When can I become King?"

            "Soon. We're still discussing when, but we're thinking a bit before you turn another year. We were hoping to surprise you."

            It was the best surprise anyone could've asked for. To show his appreciation, Abel brushed up against his father. "It's the best surprise," he said, and meaning it.

            "I'm glad. Your mother would kill me for telling you, but I thought it wouldn't hurt to tell you."

            The image of Kiara outright murdering his father crossed in Abel's mind.

            How delicious, said Zuri.

            The pair came upon the watering hole where the animals routinely mingled. Abel could feel his own mouth began to water, and his claws dug into the dirt.

            However, he felt Defir tense beside him, and it erased his own eagerness to hunt as he stared up at his father in confusion. "What?" he asked.

            But Defir's attention was only ahead of him. Abel followed his father's gaze, and saw what had disturbed his father so. There were no animals gathered about the watering hole, which was unusual.

            Something was out in the fields.

            "We better go home," said Defir, nervously taking a step back. "If they don't know..."

            Abel nodded. His eagerness returned. So, something was hunting on their grounds, and it had disturbed the life that lived on their land? Excellent! A worthy challenge then!

            The lions quickened their pace, and slowed once they saw the Rock from a distance. However, there was a gathering taking place below the base of the rock. Even from the distance they were at, Simba's yellow fur and red mane were not too hard to notice.

            Defir left Abel's side as he bolted for the crowd. Abel paused to survey the scene below. There were too many pride members clustered together that he could not make out what the ruckus was, but he was not mistaken to see a new face on the lands. A gray lion, almost the height of his grandfather, perhaps a couple of inches taller. Something dangled from the lion's mouth.

            A kill? asked Zuri. How very interesting... Go and see.

            So Abel did at her command, following his father's path at a brisk pace until he came closer to his pride. There seemed to be no hint of hostility in Simba's face as he approached him, and all chatter ceased as eyes fell upon him. Abel didn't see his father anywhere amidst the crowd.

            "What's going on?" he demanded, eyeing the gray lion who stood opposite of Simba. He had scars over his eyes. The lioness that dangled from his mouth was unfamiliar to Abel, but the way she had been killed was savage.

            "NOOOOOO!" Defir's cry rang to the skies, its suddenness startling Abel, who felt he must've leapt at least a few feet from the ground.

            Simba moved to the side, and that was when Abel saw what the problem had been, for his dear mother, Kiara, lay crumpled on the grass, blood oozing from her exposed neck.

            Abel's body went completely cold.

            "Who... did this?" he growled, the edge in his voice shaky.

            No one rushed to answer him.

            Abel whirled upon them, shouting, "WHO DID THIS?!"

            A loud thump hit the ground, and Abel spun his head to face the gray lion who had dropped his prey. "This one did it," he said calmly, smacking his paw against the head of the lioness.

            Abel scrunched his face.

            "A simple thanks would be appreciated,"