Adanna.

            What an insolent female. Kill her, commanded Zuri.

            Abel was near the point of slaying his half-sister. For now, he only glared back at her. "Oh I see. Can't handle the fact that I'm in charge, and you're not. Should've thought about that when you ran off, huh?"

            "I knew you were going to be trouble."

            "Hmph, not a very nice thing to say to a King. With one flick of my tail, I could have the whole pride chase you down." Abel slowly approached her, baring his teeth. "I could have them torture you, kill you, whatever I desired because they're following my orders now. You lost your right to say anything when you left."

            "Abel? What's going on out here?" From the shadows of the den appeared Nala, her eyes blinking the sleep out. Steadily following behind her was Simba, who equally looked like he had just been disturbed from his sleep.

            Adanna took a step backwards, looking prepared to run, but it was too late. She had been spotted. "Adanna? Is that you?" inquired Nala.

            Abel snorted. "The traitor came back."

            Much to his disgust, neither of his grandparents acknowledged what he had said. They were so enthralled by Adanna.

            Nala had wrapped her body around Adanna, pulling her into a tight nuzzle. The brown lioness did not react to her grandmother's greeting; her eyes were completely focused on Simba.

            "Is it true?" she managed to say. "Is she dead?"

            "Yes," Simba said sardonically. "She's gone."

            Adanna sighed heavily.

            "Where did you go?" asked Nala. "Your mother had been so worried about you, and Defir... They were searching all over for you."

            Adanna shook her head, too paralyzed by the news that she was unable to form words.

            Disgusted by the exchange, Abel spoke up, "I refuse to have her spend the night in my territory. She's a traitor, and no sister of mine. Now, get out."

            "Abel!" Nala cried. "She's still your sister!"

            "Did I stutter? I said that she's not my sister. She never was, and I have no use for her here. Get out, Adanna. Consider this a favor."

            Simba stepped in between the three of him, his eyes glaring into Abel's. "That's enough, Abel. You can't exile her because you don't like-"

            Abel threw his head back and laughed. "Excuse me, but I think that I hold the title of King now. Which means what I say goes. Do you dare to deny that?"

            "Abel-"

            "Do you dare to deny that I am King?"

            "No," the red maned lion admitted. "But-"

            "Ah, that's all I needed to make clear. Move aside now, dear grandfather."

            But Simba refused to budge.

            Abel's nose twitched. "Did I not say it clearly enough?"

            "Oh no, you did," growled Simba, his voice beginning to rise. Other occupants from the den were beginning to poke their heads out to see what was going on. "And you might be my kin, but I will not have you exile Adanna. So back off, Abel."

            Traitors, they're all traitors! cried Zuri.

            "Traitors! You're all a bunch of traitors!" roared Abel, throwing his body at his surprised grandfather. The pair tumbled, claws and fur flying everywhere. The moment Abel's back hit the ground, he was fighting for his life. He became a barrage of claws, swiping out, not even caring whether they hit Simba just as long as they were enough to make the older lion bow before him.

            "Simba, enough!" cried out Nala.

            Simba began to crawl off of Abel, disgust in his eyes. "You-" he began before Abel interrupted him. The dark lion lashed out, catching his grandfather off guard as his claw caught Simba in the face, slashing the bridge of his nose.

            Adanna was upon him in an instant, her teeth digging into Abel's mane, which was still not thick enough to fully absorb the impact of her bite. Abel threw his head back and unleashed a powerful roar. As soon as his calling ended, Ashiki and his band of lions had raced to the top of the Rock. Ashiki lashed out, hitting Adanna's head with his outstretched claws, leaving the lioness dazed.

            "What's going on here?!" Ashiki demanded.

            Adanna rolled off of Abel, allowing the young lion to find his feet. To Ashiki he stated, not without a crack in his voice, "My family is full of traitors! I want them exiled immediately! Or kill them, if you have to!"

            "This is madness, Abel!" said Nala as she took a step forward. "Banishing us? For what?"

            Ashiki moved so he stood in between the two. "The way I see it," he began, a low rumble emerging from the base of his throat, "you attempted to murder the King. Killing you would seem like a much better deal..."

            More of the Pridelands lions began to join the growing crowd outside, including Tojo and Kula, who brushed past Ashiki's own forces to join the inner circle. "Simba, what's going on?" inquired Tojo.

            "ENOUGH!" roared Abel. To Ashiki he demanded, "I want them GONE, do you hear me?! Exiled, killed, whatever you want to do! Just get them out of my sight, and make sure they never come back!"

            "Abel, listen to me-!" began Simba, but Ashiki stopped him.

            "Seems like the King wants you gone," he snarled, unsheathing his long claws. "I'd do just that."

            "Where's Defir? I'll speak with him-"

            "You're not speaking to my father!" shouted Abel. "Go! Send them away!"

            Ashiki pressed closer to Simba, Nala, and Adanna, glaring down at them. "We can do it the easy way, or the hard way. Which will it be, exile or death?"

            While Nala and Adanna shuddered under Ashiki's intense gaze, Simba attempted to stand up to him. "This is madness," he said to Abel.

            Abel scoffed, turning his head from them. "Ashiki, why are they still here? Did I not say get rid of them?"

            "Well?" prodded Ashiki.

            "Simba, don't..." whispered Nala.

            After a long staring contest with the gray lion, Simba finally turned his head away, sighing in defeat. "Exile. And don't worry, we'll escort ourselves out-"

            "Oh no you're not," growled Ashiki. "I'll personally see you out. Nunka, you will come with me."

            A smaller gray lion emerged from the crowd behind Ashiki, his brown mane indicating no resemblance to Ashiki's. "Okay," he said, a bit of

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