Prologue
The lioness smiled as she and her younger companion came up over the rise and had their first distant look at Pride Rock in years. It was remarkable how relieved she felt, knowing that she was here.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?" murmured the younger lion, who was staring around in awe.
"Yes," said the lioness. "Are you ready?"
He sighed. "I suppose. It's going to be… strange. I wonder what's been going on since we left."
The lioness shook her head. "We'll know soon enough." She glanced at the sun, which was making its steady descent toward the horizon; it was blazing scarlet and gold. "Come on, we can at least make it to the water hole before we lose the light. We can rest there, and wait until someone notices us.""Why do we have to wait?""I don't think we should barge in. It's already getting late, we can make a proper appearance tomorrow morning. You've waited this long, what's a few more hours?"The lion shrugged and tossed his mane out of his eyes. "Whatever you say. You've never given me bad advice."She chuckled. "Come on, then."
They moved forward through the long grass, their tails swishing rhythmically from side to side; they didn't stop again until the sun was lost to view beneath the horizon, and darkness had descended fully over the Pridelands.