Welcome fellow readers and writers to Trials of the Heart. I was going through a story of mine when I got this idea. So without further ado, here's the first chapter. Enjoy and remember to leave a review. Thank you.

They had to get away. Their old home wasn't a home anymore. The father and son that took over was unbearable, even when they killed her father and impregnated the lionesses, her included. Now she was travelling with a friend who was returning to her birth pride. The light cream lioness walking ahead looked over her shoulder with concern in her green eyes.

"You okay, Cala?"

A dull brown lioness nodded, because honestly she wasn't okay. She was pregnant with her siblings' murderer cub. How can she be okay? Cala shook her head to clear her thoughts before continuing walking. It wasn't going to do none of them good, travelling through the dessert longer than necessary. The light cream lioness frowned before getting into step with her dull brown friend. The journey through the dessert was hot and horrible. The burning sand scorched their already worned paws. After awhile the light cream lioness stopped with a heavy breath.

"Cala! My paws hurt!" the light cream lioness voice her complaint for the hundredth time that day since it was a day and a half since she asked her friend was she okay.

It's been five days since they decided it was time for them to leave; the morning after they made our way to the new pride. She hasn't given Cala much information on their new home yet though except for the fact that she guarantees she's going to love it. She is glad to have her trust even though the last pride they thought was home, was more to the description of a living nightmare than a blissful dream.

Just the light cream lioness forgot to mention that the would have to cross the desert. It's so hot! And dry! They have been walking through this wasteland for most of the day and every step they take feels like it's going to be the last one! Their paws ache from the brutal temperature of the scorching ground beneath them and the light cream lioness could almost hear her saliva sizzle as soon as it escapes from her mouth and hits the sandy ground. The light cream lioness sighed, she could hear her mother now saying, 'How unladylike!'

"I know Alina, but we need to get to a shelter before it gets dark. It's too dangerous to be out here another night." Cala calls as she falls back until they're side by side.

Alina knows that Cala is feeling the heat but the way she's handling, even with a load as well it is truly inspirational. She makes walking through a vast desert look like it's a walk on the beach! She seems to ignore the sun slowly cooking them alive and continues to lead the way gracefully while Alina barely manage to trudge on behind her.

This isn't healthy for them or the cubs. Alina think to herself as a kick from her little one tells her that he or she totally agrees.

That reminds Alina, she haven't even thought about what her baby would turn out to be. Is it a boy or a girl? What she's going to name it? For some reason, she can't imagine what it would look like. Would it take its good looks from her or that useless piece of vulture crap called Auldin? Alina prayed it won't have his cocky and irresponsible personality. The world doesn't deserve another Auldin or his son, Paxton running around thinking it owns the place. Alina vow to raise her son or daughter the right way.

"ALINA!" Cala's scream ripped Alina away from her thoughts. Alina looked up to meet her face and her look of horror and panic frightens her, "WE HAVE TO RUN! NOW!"

Okay now she's pushing it.

"Cala, I can hardly walk in this heat, the same with you and you want us to run?"

"Alina, we have no choice! We need to move NOW!"

Alina was still confused though and this huge gush of wind that came out from nowhere doesn't seem to be helping...Suddenly she aware of her surroundings. The wind has picked up drastically and the sky has gone dark too quickly. Cala's terrified gaze is focus behind her and the light cream lioness dare to take a look. Raging a hundred feet away from them is a huge brown wall of desert sand picked up by the howling wind.

A sand storm.

Alina didn't even have time to stand there in shock because the dull brown lion is frantically pulling her and screaming at her to run. Suddenly, the heat wasn't a problem and they were now sprinting for their lives! Alina looked back and the storm is now hot on their tails which only encourages them to pick up speed as if that was even possible. They're now running so fast, they don't even feel their legs. It's like they were just floating. So this is how it feels like to be a cheetah...

The wind is louder than ever and it drowns out most of Cala's voice but Alina do catch a few words she was saying. Something about 'run faster' and 'shelter' and 'rock'. It doesn't make sense until the light cream lioness look in front of them and spot a pile of rocks in the distance. Cala had gained more speed and is running straight towards it, leaving Alina to put two and two together. She wants to hide behind the rock to get away from the storm. Sprinting faster, the pile of rocks become closer into view... but the faster Alina seem to run, the faster the sand storm seems to chase after them. Alina's legs were aching, her lungs are burning and the light cream lioness' whole body is screaming for her to slow down. The storm has gained speed and it started growling in height too.

Alina almost engulfed in it, the swirling sand scratches, stings, and burns her eyes, but she press on. She has been through too much just to die from a sand storm. Sucking up her pain Alina race towards the rock. It's now right in front of her and she scramble to take shelter behind it. Although it doesn't protect her from the sand hitting her left and right, it does shield her back.

But then Alina realize that Cala wasn't with her. She looked around, desperately trying to spot her but she is nowhere! There is just too much sand flying everywhere and when Alina tried to call her, sand only goes in her mouth. Alina sighed as she had no choice but to wait this one out.

So, curling her light cream body into a fetus shape, Alina closed her exhusted green eyes and prayed that Cala makes it, because Alina seriously have no idea what to do if she doesn't.