her trainees in turn, giving them through examples before allowing them to try techniques with each other. The young learners eagerly practiced while Jet sat to one side, eventually tired out, and gave directions from the sidelines. 

Finally, Jet organized them into two teams; Rin and Olea on one side and Sula and Kabi on another. At Jet's word, the opposing sides fought against eachother in a tremendous scuffle.

'Bam! Kabi and I won!' crowed Sula, having just pinned Olea down with both paws on her opponent's head. Kabi sat proudly on the back of a splay-legged Rin, grinning in silence.

'Hey, mama, we did it. Mama!'

Jet sat hunched and panting, her face creased in pain.

'The cubs!' the Queen gasped. 'The cubs are coming!'

CHAPTER VI

It was the darkest hour of night. The wind was keen, almost icy; it cut over the brown grass of the Stone lands and it whistled by the rocks of the Stone Tribe's Camp, howling around its entrance - where two lions, Imammu and Kelly, stood, close, side-by-side, staring out southwards. 

The two lions began to walk into the night - a fast, furtive walk full of urgency. They travelled south and did not stop. Every now and again Imammu would lift his head to look around, but never faltered in his step. Kelly walked doggedly on with head bowed. In her mouth was a golden bundle. 

The couple moved on across the territory at this pace, the strong wind bulling into their sides from the west, until they reached a line of grey clifftops; and here they paused, resting. The cliffs were not high but they were steep. They stretched far to the east and west. This was the southern border of the Stone Lands. Imammu stared forelornly at this wilderness. It was the Elephant Graveyard, a mass of bones, canyons and jagged rises.

He did not speak but his expression spoke volumes. He was immensely sad.

Kelly said not a word either. She put down the golden bundle in her mouth, arranging it gently at her forepaws with her muzzle. Her eyes, tearing up, gazed at the small ball of fur that lay at her feet - a cub; her little son, only two days old, still without a name.

Imammu and Kelly had made a decision and it had been hard. Painfully hard.

'I can't let you Kelly,' said Imammu, breaking the silence that was only edged with the wind's whine. 'I really can't . . . This is mad. Just mad.'

'Imammu - ' Kelly's reply crumbled like chalk in a half-sob. She buried her head into Imammus' thick golden mane. 'It's for our son. We can't keep him here safely. After Lagiza's lions actually came into the camp . . . the-there's nobody to help protect the Den, let alone our cub!'

'We can't go along with this idea.'

Kelly tried to lighten the mood with a small laugh. 'It was your idea.'

'Well, it's a crazy idea . . . '

The couple stood with the strong wind buffeting them. Kelly pressed her shoulder comfortingly against Imammu's, understanding his pain. He wasn't in the least happy about being separated from the only family he really had. His older brother Comoros was missing; his litter brother - well, Kudan was an enemy on Jafiya's side. Now, Imammu was faced with being split from his beloved mate and their son. It was understandable that he would be torn.

Imammu swallowed hard. He leaned down to give his cub a nuzzle and a brush with his tongue. Who knew? It was perhaps the last time he would caress his son - his first, his only son so far. The cub gave a loud, grumbling squeak. He was a healthy little lad with a good set of lungs. With a twinge of realization  Imammu remembered another reason the boy needed to go elsewhere. The prisoner. Lagiza's warrior that the Stone Lions had taken prisoner. She couldn't - or wouldn't - speak, but she coughed like anything. She had some kind of horrible illness. Imammu and Kelly fretted that their young cub would catch it, especially if he didn't get enough food and became weak. Kelly was scraping by on what little prey the Stone Lions had, but if the food depleted any more, Kelly would suffer and thus so would her cub.

They would both be well fed and safe in the Pridelands...

'No. Go, Kelly, take him to safety.' Imammu's jaw clenched resolutely. 'Roho will be here in a bit - '

Imammu broke off as a blue and white shape materialized from the gloom before them, diving and sweeping in the strong breeze.

'Greetings!' Roho exclaimed, landing at the cliff edge not far from the lions. The young hornbill tipped his head. 'Phew! Wind's rough. It's dying down, luckily!' He coughed nervously. 'Ah . . . are we  . . . are we ready to go then?'

'Ready,' nodded Imammu.

'Be careful with Obbler, Imammu,' Kelly murmured anxiously as she nuzzled Imammu one last time. 'He's not going to be happy when he finds out.'

'Agh, I'll be fine!' Imammu replied, returning the nuzzle. 'He'll get over it, you know . . . Yeah . . . ' Imammu's voice trailed off.

'Goodbye, Imammu,' Kelly whispered, seeing Roho was waiting. She picked up her son and walked towards the hornbill, her escort to the Pridelands. All the while she looked back at her mate, sitting forelornly but trying to be strong, for his family.

Roho took off into the blustery sky. He led Kelly along a path running safely down the sheer cliff face and into the shadows of the Graveyard.

'Goodbye.' Imammu said in weak cry, watching Kelly materialize into the cold, windy darkness.

Suddenly he stood up.

'I'll have a name for our son when you come back!' he shouted, forcing a smile. 'Take care, Kelly! I love you both!' 

'I love you, Imammu!' Kelly's final parting words seeming to waver with the wind.

Imammu allowed a tear to drop to the ground.