worried about Yejide. She's acting more distant than usual."

            Kagiso nodded her head in approval of her mate's words.

            "You're spending some time with Khatiti. Why not try and help Yejide out too?"

            Khari considered what the pair were asking of her. Already she was devoting her time to helping her pride out, while teaching Khatiti the makings of a pride leader... to also take on Yejide as her responsibility was asking for a lot more.

            If only Bour could help her out...

            But he wouldn't. And she wished he would.

            So instead she forced a tired smile to her face and said, "I'll try what I can. But maybe get her more involved? Maybe take her hunting perhaps?"

            "Maybe we can... We're just scared about her, is all," Nzuri admitted.

            "Don't worry, we can see what we can do for her." Khari leaned in and licked her daughter's nose. "Everything will be just fine."

            Leaving the pair to their own devices, Khari decided she would inquire her pupil about her sister's behavior. Even in passing conversations, Khatiti would praise her sisters, and if Yejide was acting up, then Khatiti would know the reason why.

            She found her conversing with Sauda. But as Khari started towards them, Reno leapt in front of her, blocking her way.

            "Hey, can I see you for a minute?" he asked her.

            Khari frowned - she really needed to see to Yejide - but if Reno had something important to ask of her, then who was she to deny him? She nodded, and allowed herself to be distracted from her true intent for the present moment.

            Reno led them a ways from the pride, out of earshot with no one around, and as soon as he was happy about the distance, he turned to her and sighed. "Khari, I need some help with something. It's about Sauda."

            "Oh?" Khari sat down, prepared to listen to him talk. "Is something wrong?" She knew about the history of her sister's relationship with Reno - and as far as she knew, there was no longer a relationship between the pair. They were still friends who had wanted to find their family, but had no luck doing so, but as far as being in love went, well that was the past.

            "Lately I've been thinking... about me and Sauda. I kinda miss it - being in love."

            Not quite following him, Khari asked, "Okay... So are you and Sauda getting back together?"

            A surprised look crossed Reno's face. "Oh no, we're not. But... there is someone else."

            "Oh, good for you then! Someone in the pride, hopefully?"

            "Yes." A tinge of pink began to glow on Reno's cheeks. "And I want to tell her, but it's Sauda I'm worried about."

            "Sauda?"

            "We're not mates anymore, but is it betraying her if I chase another? It's funny, I never used to care about this kind of stuff when I traveled with Ikeena... but now..."

            Khari thought about how her sister would react. When she had pulled her aside to ask how she had been, Sauda had mentioned her and Reno's past, and she seemed absolutely certain that their love for one another was completely fizzled out. She couldn't see her sister becoming angry with Reno over something that was long gone. After all, she had no right to say what her former mate could and could not do now.

            "Sauda's going to be fine," Khari said with carefulness. "You don't need to worry about her. Actually, it's you I'm more worried about." As Reno raised his eyes to meet hers, she continued, "You do what you got to do. And if Sauda has a problem, she can talk to me about it." Khari smiled. "I think you should pursue this female you're interested in."

            Reno smiled. "Thanks Khari."

            "No problem. I hope that that answers your question."

            "It does, and, Khari, I was wondering if-"

            "Khari! Khari!" With thick clouds behind them, Khatiti and her twin Tatu raced over to them, panic on their faces.

            Her face creasing with worry, Khari ran to meet them, Reno not too far behind her. "What is it, Khatiti? What's going on?"

            "It's Y...Yejide," her pupil and granddaughter panted. "She's disappeared! And we don't know where she went!"

 

            Crossing the river had been easy - after all, she was raised a Riverland lioness. She was used to the currents, and how reckless they could be on some days, and smooth on others. No, the river was the easiest part.

            It was getting through Outland territory without being detected that had been difficult.

            Yejide knew that Ekene was her great-uncle, but beyond that she knew very little about him, other than he was the leader of the Outlands. It didn't bother her that she knew so little of her family tree - on the contrary, it was better that way. Less emotional attachment meant that escaping her fertile lands had been the easy part.

            She tried not to keep along the river for too long - she was sure someone in her home pride already knew of her escape. But she didn't wander directly through the Outlands either - someone might've thought she would be an intruder, and perhaps kill her. Yejide thought herself a decent fighter, but she was one lioness against an entire pride who was banding together. Yeah, there would be no chance.

            Fortunately, it never came to that. She passed through the lands at a brisk pace, and once she saw the distinguishable crest of Pride Rock beyond the horizon, her heart began to race. She knew, deep down, she shouldn't have done this, seeking out the enemy. But hearing of the gray lion intrigued her, excited her even. And Yejide needed that, needed that adrenaline rush, needed that satisfaction from life. She wasn't going to ask Ekene for help, but maybe someone in the Pridelands knew about the whereabouts of the gray lion.

            Who was going to care that she was gone anyways? Her parents had two other daughters, and another cub on the way. She wasn't going to be missed, no way.            

            She needed to do this.

            The closer she came to the lands, the faster her heart raced. And as soon as the pads of her paws felt the fertile grass of the Pridelands, it was like her heart nearly exploded with joy. She was here! She made it all the way from the Riverlands!

            But it only took a couple of steps into the land for her to bump into trouble. And trouble was right now taking the form of a slender gray lion.

            Yejide was confused. This can't be the gray lion everyone was getting all upset over, she thought. He looks like a pushover!

            The gray lion seemed just as surprised to see her. "Um, who are you?"

            Oh yeah, this definitely could not be the lion.

            But before she could respond, another voice cut across them. "Nunka! What're you doing?"

            Compared to Nunka's soft-laced voice, this one was accented with anger and a

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