Tears glimmerd in the gold lioness's amber eyes. "Are you sure?" she asked horsely, not wanting to belive it.

The lioness in front of her, who's coat was as tan as the sand on a sunny day, nodded gravely. "I'm so sorry, my queen." she murmerd gently.

Akinyi turned her head away as tears began dripping down her cheeks. No, it couldn't be! What had happened? Why had it happened?

"Shall I tell King Kamau, my queen?"

Akinyi nodded, tears flowing down her face. She heard the faint sound of pawsteps walking away, soft murmers of voices, then more pawsteps, fast and worried.

The golden lioness looked up through her tears at the large form of her mate. The brown lion, his green eyes filled with sorrow, reached out and pressed his face agasint hers. "I'm sorry, my beloved." he whisperd.

                                      ~~~~~~~~~~~

"Kayode!"

The terrified scream pierced the air as a mighty paw slashed across the golden lion's face. With a definate roar, the golden lion swung around and launched himself onto the attacker.

"Adeola, run!" he orderd.

Adeola backed away, her eyes wide with terror. Why was this happening? Why now?

All around her, her pride was fighting, and one by one, they were falling. No, please! It can't be this way! she thought desprately.

She watched in horror as Kayode was struck to the ground, then he and his attcker were rolling away, clawing and thrashing eachother.

"My queen, we must hurry!"

Adeola swung around to see the pale face of one of her pride memebers.

"But--"

"No." the lioness growled. "There is no time, we must go. Now."

Reluctent to leave her mate and pride in a time of fighting, Adeola dissapered with the lioness into the tall grass.

Their paws pounded agasint the earth as they ran. Adeola could still here the roar of fighting behind them as they ran.

"This way my queen." the lioness urged.

Adeola obayed and swung left, heading out onto open ground. "Are you sure? They'll spot us!" she cried, as a sudden amount of pain swept through her.

The lioness nodded and the two burst out of the grass and made a dash for the stretch across the open land. A few meerkats scrambled out of their path and a couple birds took flight, squaking loudly.

The lioness kept flicking her ears at every sound, and Adeola urged herself onward as another shot of pain ran through her body. Surely now wasen't the time? It couldn't be time!

"Hold on, my queen. We shall stop soon." the lioness promised.

Adeola would have nodded, but a sudden roar tore through the air and both she and the lioness came to a hault.

The lioness placed herself in front of her just as a large grey lion charged from the grass.

"Run my queen! Now!" the lioness roared as she ran head on into the attacker.

Adeola was terrified. He'd sent one after them? But that must mean-- NO! she wanted to scream. It can't be!

"Adeola! Run!"

Adeola took no hesitation this time. She turned and bolted. The sound of the fight rang in her ears as another seering sense of pain coursed through her body. No, not now! I can't do this!, she screamed silently. She forced herself on. She needed help. Their had to be help somewhere!

Great kings, help me!, she cried as pain shot through her again.

She tried ignoring it and going on, but the pain increesed and she cried out in distress. She couldn't do this!

"Help me!" she screamed.

Her legs gave out and she crumpled to the ground, pain surging through her. She panted hard as the pain subsided for a moment, then cried out again as it increesed once more.

Then the ground was vibrating. Panic shot through her. Oh no, please no, she thought desprately. Had the grey lion got passed? Would he soon be upon her?

Struggling to stand, Adeola screamed as another course of pain shot through her and she fell back to the ground. The vibrating stopped. Squeezing her eyes shut, Adeola braced herself. She was going to die.

"It's your time, isn't it?"

The soft voice startled her. Opening her eyes, she saw a dark form of a lioness standing over her. She didn't recinaize this lioness, though.

"Who are you?" she maneged to ask before crying out in pain again.

"That is not inportent right now. Come, we must get you somewhere safe."

Nudging her to her paws, the black lioness leaned herself agasint Adeola for support. Slowly, they made their way foreward.

                                    ~~~~~~~~~~

After what seemed like forever to Adeola, a small den like structer apered and the black lioness urged her inside.

"Wait," she panted as the lioness started to leave. "What do I do?" she asked, biting back a cry of pain.

The lioness regarded her with eyes the color of fire that stood out agasint her black fur. "You'll know." was all she said before dissapereing.

Adeola cried out as seering pain coursed through her.

                                    ~~~~~~~~~~         

She must be done by now. It's been far too long.

The black lioness watched the entrence of the den closely. No sound had come out of it for quite some time, and it worried her. Surely everything was allright?

Deciding to go with the sense that told her to find out, the lioness aproched the den and slowly peered inside.

The den was empty.

Oh no. The great kings said nothing about the heir dissapereing!

__________________________________________________ 

All chars (C) Me