Jiro, Jalena, Jira (C) Claire Cooper

Tamu, Sassia (C) Namacub95

Malka, Mohatu (C) Disney

Kayin (C) SixNewAdventures

Judas, Ari, Quanna, Nomusa, Zuri, Nyako, Halla, Olric, Sia, Baako, Enu, Kayode, Gwandoya, Lindiwe, Eshe (C) DakotaWereWolf

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In the Hands of Fate

            They all stood in a circle around her, beckoning for her to come back to life. Her hearing had long been gone, and she could only acknowledge that they were praying for her to be okay, that the bloodshed will wash off in the oncoming rain, and that she would be able to climb back onto her paws, and live another day. After all, had she not outlived some members of the pride, who were gone much too soon?

            Ari and Quanna.

            Kayode.

            Zuri.

            Her own mother, Kumba.

            They were gone, and yet she had lived through all of the struggle and strife. Had seen her sisters tear their relationship apart over a petty jealousy of love; seen Judas defeat Ari in a fair battle, and watched as Ari and Quanna departed in a dignified manner; observed Zuri's drip into insanity as she returned to proclaim her murder of her own brother, and then her own murder by her sister, Ari's, jaws.

            So much strife, and so much struggle, and yet, for all those who surrounded her at the moment, she was glad she had lived her life as full as she could. That she died for a cause worth dying for.

            Nomusa took an exhausting inhale of air, but never exhaled it. Her life ebbing away quickly, she only had moments to gaze upon her sister, Sassia, one last time before her eyes completely closed themselves.

            Nomusa, awaken. She heard a deep voice calling her, far deeper than Judas's. She opened her eyes, and found a brown lion standing before her in an unfamiliar setting. Then she realized that she could hear fine, and that she was no longer lying on the cold African ground while she bled out her wounds. In fact, she felt healthier than she had been feeling in years, a reminiscent of her time as a cub.

            She completely stood up and faced this brown lion, who was larger than other lions his size, though he still was much shorter if he stood toe to toe with Judas. The lion smiled at her, and she smiled back, and knew where she was.

            "Nomusa!" The cry was distinctive and familiar, and Nomusa nearly wept as her younger sister, Quanna, came running towards her, her eyes glinting as brightly as they ever had long before she had completely lost her sight. The two sisters rolled onto the ground, licking and pawing one another in glee. Then another figure arrived, and Nomusa's heart swelled at the sight of Ari, who no longer looked as old and deranged as he had been in his final days.

            He leaned down and nuzzled her. She breathed him in, and sighed as she recalled his scent. "Welcome home, dear," he said to her.

            Nomusa looked up at the brown lion, unable to contain her smile. "Am I truly here..?"

            He nodded. "Where all lions of greatness come when they pass." A pale gray lioness trotted up beside him, and immediately Nomusa knew that this had to be his mate.

            "Sis, look," said Quanna, unable to contain her glee. Nomusa followed her gaze, and tears came rushing down her face as her mother, Kumba, stood in front of two others. To her left was her father, Olric, still rugged and tough as he had ever been. To Kumba's right was a pale light lioness who had been her adopted mother after Kumba's sudden death. She was Sia, mother to Quanna and Sassia.

            Another pale gray lion entered the picture, and, if she had already not been crying before, she would've started now. Kayode stood with them as well, a smile on his face, and a certain peace to his character, even if the way his life ended had certainly not been peaceful.

            "Mohatu leads us all here," said Quanna, gesturing to the brown lion. "Him and his mate, Thema."

            "I could lead too, y'know," Ari grumbled good-naturedly.

            Nomusa could not believe the sight of those before her. All her loved ones, and even some new faces, were greeting her on the way to a newer life for her, one without pain and misery and struggle. Nomusa looked down, and saw the earth below her, saw the last scene she had seen before she passed. Her family surrounding her body, grieving as the rain went on. Her heart tugged, and Nomusa almost wished that she could return to them, just to make them stop their tears. But as Quanna's head leaned in and brushed against hers, Nomusa was reassured that everything would be all right.

            "Come home," Quanna whispered to her.

            Nomusa nodded her head. "I'm home, my sister."

~ * ~

A few hours earlier...

            Judas opened one eye and watched the crowd of lionesses bask in the sunlight before him. Another lazy day was a welcoming for the growing pride. Any day that didn't bring drama was welcoming for Judas.

            He yawned and moved his head over to gaze away from his pride. The memory of Zuri lay well rested in his mind. It seemed like so many years had passed since that nightmare intruded upon their normal lives.

            I come bearing the best news.

            Judas felt his lips curl back, recalling Zuri's delight as she spoke. It was all vivid, as though it had only happened just yesterday.

            My brother, Kayode, is dead.

            Judas's claws unsheathed themselves in anger. If he had known...

            But how could he? Zuri never...

            Was it his fault?

            You see how Kayode was weak! You see how I am so much better than him?

            No, no one was better than one another. That was why he tried to work on. He did not want to pressure his cubs in the same way his parents had pressured him with all the responsibility. Had he failed with Zuri?

            Obviously he did, for now he had two dead cubs.

            Judas swallowed the roar within him to take his anger out on something, anything, and pretended to continue his afternoon nap. Soon the lionesses would gather around him for orders of a hunt, and he did not want them to worry about him. After all the years he had lived with them, he knew that they would know if something was wrong.

            He felt something warm brush up against him. "Judas?" It was Baako.

            He lifted his head, purring as the two mates brushed heads. "Is it time for the hunt?" he asked, gazing into her eyes.

            Him and Baako, the two that had birthed Zuri.

            She nodded. "I was expecting to lead the hunt this time."

            Judas gazed over at Enu, who had her back turned on everyone. "I thought Enu would've-"

            "Led the hunt?" When Judas nodded, Baako sighed. "She needs some time, I think. After... you know."

            That he did know. "Okay, so what's the plan for the hunt tonight?"

            "I was thinking of bringing Eshe with me. She's starting to get restless. Nyako would be good too. I want to see how well she hunts."

            Judas nodded. That made sense. Nyako was their newest pride member, and a close friend of Jiro's, as his son had put it when he had asked. All he knew was that Nyako had been close to Kayode, and his death seemed to have destroyed her. He felt sympathetic towards her, and welcomed her into the pride with no protest uttered from his mouth. But now it was time to start moving on.

            "That's a good idea," he said. "Anyone else?"

            "I'm taking Jira, Kayin, and Kesi with me, and leaving everyone else behind with you."

            "That's a small hunting party."

            "They're capable."

            Judas smiled. "I have no doubts about that. Make sure to bring us back a fat buffalo, okay?"

            Baako snorted. "Hmph, if we get that lucky."

            The pair nuzzled again, and Judas watched as Baako walked off to gather her small hunting party. One step at a time, their pride seemed to be starting to recover.

            "Dad?"

            Judas turned to his daughter, Jalena, who had her ears perked, her stature completely alert. He stood and trotted over to her, licking her head in greeting. "Hmm?"

            "Someone's coming. I can smell them."

            Jalena had been born blind, but had made up for her lack of sight with an acute sense of hearing and smell. Judas had no reason to doubt that his daughter did indeed caught the whiff of someone approaching.

            Now he tilted his head and sniffed the air, and confirmed what Jalena had said. A lion pride was heading their way. The fur on his dull red mane began to bristle. No, we're not doing this again, he thought. "Baako, hold off on getting the hunting party together!" he roared. "We have company."

            The pride began to stir and lined up alongside Judas as they awaited for their arrivals to appear over the stretch of dull, yellow grass. It was not long before a bright tawny colored lion appeared, several others of the same color following after him. In fact, the only one looking out of place was the lion's companion, a mousy brown lioness, who looked somewhat familiar to Judas.

            Despite the warning signals igniting in his body, Judas refused to turn his head in fear. No, his eyes continued to bore into his rival's until the enemy pride came to a stop within a respectable amount of feet from them.

            Judas stepped forward. "Welcome," he said gruffly. There was no need to be any more considerate to the pride other than the greeting.

            The lion, too, mimicked Judas, only his face was more inviting. "Greetings, fellow lion pride. We have come far to find you all. I am Malka, of the Highland Pride."

            Highland Pride? Judas only knew of a few prides, one of which was his home pride, the Pridelands. Since when did other prides start coming up with fancy names to call themselves? His pride never felt the need to do such.

            "Look at yourselves, how ill-formed you all are," continued Malka, beginning a taunting pace in front of Judas. "You are so unorganized, so rampant with no rules to guide you. The Highland pride is proud to have established its rule on laws and rules to keep it secure. We can offer you the balance you so desperately need if you were to join us."

            Judas's claws unsheathed at once. Behind him, he could hear the growling protests of his lionesses. "Join with you?" he spat. "I'm sure you give the same rehearsed speech to all the lion prides to go to. I refuse your offer."

            Malka smiled, and he took a step forward. "Refuse? I don't think that is an option, my friend. Tell me, what is your name?"

            To humor the lion, Judas muttered, "Judas."

            "We only come to you with good will and intentions," spoke up the mousy brown female as she sidled up alongside Malka. "I am Halla, Malka's adored mate."

            "Good for you," huffed Judas. He turned his attention back to Malka. "Your empty threats don't scare me. We have no further business to conduct here."

            "Oh, but we do," said Malka, his grin growing wider. "I'll make one last offer - join me, or be destroyed."

            Judas laughed. What was with these lions and wanting to destroy him? It was not the first empty threat he had received throughout his years, nor was it his last. "That's cute, really cute. And once again I'll say no."

            "Very well then. Attack!"

            Judas stopped laughing as a wave of orange-tawny lions lunged forth for him and his significantly smaller pride. He felt a brute force tackle into him, forcing him onto the ground. He roared, slamming his hind legs into his opponent. No one was going to make a fool of him! No one!

            Rising again, Judas caught a glimpse of his lionesses fighting if their lives depended on it. And they did.

            "Stay away from my daughter!" he heard Eshe snarl at a lion who had gotten too close to Jalena. Beyond her, he saw Jiro and Nyako, creating a beautifully synched dance as they maneuvered around their foes. Kesi and Kayin were helping Nomusa take down a lioness while Jira, Tamu, and Sassia made a thinly-lined circle to protect Baako and Lindiwe, who were shielding Gwandoya from any further attacks.

            Distracted, it gave an enemy lion the opportunity to strike Judas. The gray lion roared and slammed his giant paw into the face of his opponent, stunning him long enough to bark a command to his pride. "Get Gwandoya and Jalena out of here!" he cried. He didn't care who fled with them, just as long as they were safe. He was not going to lose another cub, not again.

            Instead of worrying of his stunned opponent, Judas leapt into the fray to find Malka. If he destroyed the leader of this organized attack, it would be over. It was not hard to find the lion, who stood on the outskirts of the fray, smiling. His mate was nowhere in sight.

            "Well?" asked Malka, once Judas broke free from the crowd of lions and lionesses. "Do you like what I've offered here? After the chance I gave you to stop this, you chose this. Let it be known that your pride was destroyed because of your judgment."

            Mane bristling, Judas lunged at Malka. Despite his large size, Malka was swifter, and easily passed underneath Judas before the gray lion landed on the ground. Judas whirled his body, but felt strong teeth digging into his massive mane. The force of Malka's impact left Judas standing on two hind legs, struggling to not fall over.

            Judas swung his body, causing himself to fall onto his back, but forcing Malka to release his hold on Judas's thick mane. The orange lion fell, stunned momentarily by the fall before quickly recovering to lunge at him again. Sharp claws dug into Judas's fur. The gray lion bit back his cry, and returned Malka's attack with his own, slapping the orange lion with heavily brunted paws that he saw were leaving the smaller lion stunned.

            Ignoring his new wounds to watch Malka carefully, Judas felt satisfied to see that the orange lion was struggling to get back onto his paws. This was it, the killing blow. He darted for Malka, but the smaller lion surprised him when he lunged. Holding his paws out, he shoved Judas's enormous weight away from him, causing the gray lion to sprawl clumsily onto the ground.

            "Pathetic!" roared Malka. "Absolutely pathetic!"

            Judas panted, slowly rising back onto his paws. He could see Malka rush for him, but he was beginning to lose his fighting energy.

            Suddenly, a presence leapt out in front of him. "I'll defend his honor!" croaked Nomusa, her body clashing with Malka's. The pair fell aside.

            "Nomusa!" he heard Kesi cry out.

            Judas's eyes fell upon the pair, who were wrestling in the grass. Nomusa was struggling against the weight of Malka's jaws, which were pinned to her neck. Her own paws were stretched out, her claws digging into any part of Malka they could reach.

            Fire brewed within Judas, and his vigor to fight returned. He rushed at Malka before Kesi could, and tackled the orange lion off of the old lioness. Judas did not allow for Malka to recover from the assault before he tackled the lion again, and again, never allowing Malka to fully be on his paws long enough to realize what had happened. With one more tackle that left Malka on the ground for good, Judas stood over him, and pinned his enormous paw to Malka's neck, pressing down to leave the smaller lion gasping for breath.

            "Leader! Malka!" Around him, the fighting ceased, all eyes trained on Judas and Malka, who was left helpless underneath the gray lion's weight.

            Judas leaned in, his drawn blood dripping onto Malka's face. "Still want to keep this up?" he snarled. "If Nomusa dies, you'll die with her."

            He saw Malka's face pale, and smiled.

            "Judas, we have her!" cried Baako. With Baako's teeth trained into her neck, and with Eshe on her hind leg, Halla was trapped.

            "H-Halla!" cried Malka, but Judas silenced him with a rough shove to the throat.

            "Don't worry about me, love!" cried Halla. "We can win this!"

            "If you really want to try," snarled Judas, "we can keep on going, and you can watch your beloved mate disappear before your very eyes. Is that worth it?"

            Malka looked back and forth between his mate and Judas, conflicted. Finally he spat, "F...Fine, this fight is done with! I thought you would've been better than this, Judas!"

            "Oh I am. Just not with scum lions like yourselves. Now get out of my sight, before I really show you my power."

            He carefully lifted his paw off of Malka's throat. At first the orange lion stared back at him with contempt in his eyes. Halla was released and she ran to Malka. The smaller lion did not move for a moment, staring back at Judas with contempt full in his eyes. Finally, he slowly turned his back on the gray lion, and marched off. Halla and his pride mates followed after him, all retreating until the only things left behind them was Judas's pride, and their own fallen.

            Judas waited until they had completely disappeared behind the grassy hill they emerged from before falling onto his hindquarters, relief flowing through his body.

            Then he heard sobbing. "Nomusa! Wake up!" He snapped his head around, and saw a small circle beginning to form where Nomusa had been wrestled to the ground only moments ago.

            "Nomusa!" It was Kesi who was crying out. She had her face buried into Nomusa's fur. Jira was beside her, her paw resting on her daughter's backside.

            Judas joined them, eyeing each of the lionesses to see how much harm had been done. Besides their wounds, everyone looked to be in good condition for the most part.

            "Judas..?" He turned and found Tamu facing back at him, Jalena and Gwandoya by her side. Judas sighed with relief that the three had been unharmed. He moved aside, and allowed Tamu to see Nomusa. The pale lioness cried and slowly sidled up to her family, who had circled the body.

            "Sa...ssia?" he heard a croaked cry, and immediately his attention was garnered. Roughly making his way into the circle, Judas watched as Sassia approached her sister, her expression unreadable.

            "Yes?" she whispered, pressing her nose to Nomusa's.

            Nomusa lifted a paw up and placed it on her sister's crown. She was smiling, Judas noticed, looking almost peaceful. "Tak..e care of them..."

            Tears came to Sassia's eyes. "Oh Nomusa..."

            Judas had to avert his gaze. He had been through heartbreak, but it never stopped unsettling him to see his family break down before his eyes. Someone had to be strong for them.

            Everyone fell silent, the only thing they could hear was Nomusa's strangled breathing. Finally, it ceased. Kesi cried out while the lioness only dipped their heads in, quietly shedding their tears to their departed friend.

            Judas broke away from the group to stare at the sky. It had begun to cloud over. Rumbling began. It was going to rain tonight, shed away all the tears and blood that had been shed.

            "Judas..?" Baako sidled up to him, rubbing her face into his mane. Her face was stained with a mixture of blood and tears.

            He leaned into her, inhaling her scent. "She saved me."

            Baako didn't say anything in reply.

            "They'll accept her, wherever's she gone," he went on. "She was a hero tonight, Baako. We need to honor her before the storm comes."

            As he broke away to trot back to the circle, Baako stopped him. "Will it pass?" she asked, and when he cocked his head, she clarified, "This storm?"

            For a second he was unsure how to answer her. Then a smile broke out on his face. A genuine smile that had been forgotten for a long time. "They always pass," he answered.