"Leave now! While the sun is still to your backs!" Those were the last words the king spoke before the great migration. He had gathered the pride together and offered each of them his blessings, before sending them on their way. Now, he stood upon a small hill and watched with a heavy heart as they trudged forward. He wouldn't be seeing them anytime soon.

The queen walked up the hill and took her place beside her mate. Together, they lifted their heads and roared. Both their sounds echoed around the plains in harmony. Their cry was so loud and powerful it resonated throughout the whole land. It was the call of departure. One filled with sorrow, regret, and it signified the end of an era. The kingdom was no more. His rule had ended.

As it reached the ears of the pride, they turned around and roared in response. Unlike the former, their roar was one of honour. Their last cry towards the lion they once called king. Hardening their hearts, they moved forward to the borders. No tears could be shed. When or if they ever met him again, he would no longer be called king. The baton had been passed on and their mission now was to ensure their own survival.

The two figures on the hill watched silently until the pride disappeared out of view. All was quiet save for the birds chirping as they flew overhead. The queen turned her head to face the king.

"Don't worry about them, they'll be much safer leaving than staying here."

"I know. But I have the feeling sending them off wasn't such a good idea. There are many dangers out there... evil my father told me about."

The queen just smiled. "All of them know the dangers out there, but they still chose to remain loyal to you. Besides, the cub is there with them. It gives them something to fight for."

"Yes, the cub." The king nodded in agreement. Nala was such a joyful and energetic cub. The cream coloured cub was always spotted running around the land looking for adventures and getting into trouble. It was a shame that she had to experience this at a young age.

"Nala is the light of our pride. She will bring them hope wherever she goes. But right now there is nothing we can do but pray and hope for their safety."

"You're right. Hope." He looked out one last time at the scenery before him. "Let's go, there's still much to be done!"

With that, the two lions left their vantage point above the hill. A small breeze picked up as they walked down the slope. It blew over the hill and continued westward, stirring up grass and dead leaves. The branches of the trees swayed left and right, as if bading farewell to the leaving pride.

-TLK-TLK-TLK-

It was slightly windy as Nala marched forward in the desert. There was not a single living thing in sight apart from the moving pride. The hot wind blew against her face, and sand flew into her nose and caused her to sneeze. The pride had been moving for two days already, but she still didn't have the slightest clue to where they were heading to.

"Mom! Are we there yet?" she asked impatiently.

"Not yet Nala. But we're almost there," Sarafina replied.

She knew that Nala was thirsty and hungry. They had walked all day without rest, only stopping at night to rest. She herself was already dehydrated. If they didn't find water soon, her daughter would surely collapse.

"So where is this place we're going to? I asked the other adults, but they wouldn't tell me."

"That's because they don't know exactly where to go," Sarafina pointed out. "I'm not sure myself too, the king's direction wasn't specific."

"But if you don't know where to go, how do you know we're almost there?"

She thought for a moment, before replying. "Go ask Yeena over there. She's very close to the king. He might have told her where to go." She watched as Nala bounded off to pester the grey-furred lioness.

"Aunt Yeena! Aunt Yeena!" Yeena was busy leading the pride along their journey when she heard that familiar voice. As Nala trotted by her side, she rubbed her head affectionately with a paw. The cub was always so restless and full of energy.

"So Nala. What brings you here to the front? You should be protecting your mother," she said with a small laugh. It's quite dangerous out here."

"Oh, she can take care of herself." Nala replied with a dismissive wave. "I just wanted to ask you a question."

Yeena nodded her head, waiting for her to continue.

"Where did the king tell you to take us? He didn't say anything to my mom."

"Well, when we were still young cubs like you, the former king would tell us many stories about our ancestors. One of those stories was about where they once lived before moving to the valley."

"You mean we didn't always live there?"

"No no, our great-great grandparents came from a land beyond the mountains. Our previous king said that if we follow the setting sun, we would come across a watering hole so wide, its edges couldn't be seen. That's where I'm taking all of us."

"So we walked so far to get to a place that might not exist?"

"Why would you say that?" Yeena was confused at where those thoughts were coming from.

"Mom told me that bed time stories aren't real. We shouldn't believe all of them."

"That's true. Some stories aren't real. But others contain histories of our pride that are passed down from our ancestors." She ruffled Nala's fur. "We just have to believe and have faith!"

Nala wasn't convinced. "If that's so, then why didn't the king and queen come with us?"

Yeena paused in her steps. She didn't know how to respond to that question. The cub wouldn't understand why the king chose to go down with his kingdom.

"You're still young," she finally replied. "You wouldn't understand now. He still needs to sort some things out." And with that, the conversation ended.

As they continued their journey in silent, nobody noticed as unseen pairs of eyes watched from the distance among the sand dunes.

-TLK-TLK-TLK-

The pride halted abruptly. They watched cautiously as more than two dozen hyenas appeared in front of them. They were in a crouching stance, ready to leap forward at any moment. Even from a distance, the pride could see a waterfall of saliva flowing from their mouths, and their eyes glinted with insanity.

A lioness approached Yeena, unsure of what to do. "Do you think they're hostile?"

"Isn't it obvious? If they weren't, they wouldn't have followed us!"

She snarled. "We can take them easily. Their pack is disorganised and without a leader. Do we attack?"

"No!" Yeena exclaimed. "They are hungry. They're here for the cub." Sure enough, the hyenas were staring at Nala, licking their lips hungrily. Nala backed away in between Yeena's front paws.

Yeena looked at her. "Nala, go back to your mother now! And stay with her at all times!" She obliged, scampering back towards Sarafina.

Yeena turned to adress the rest of the pride. "Form a defensive line right now. We have to protect the girl at all costs!"

The lionesses followed the order, they recognised her as their unanimous leader. They began to take formation, and a semicircle soon formed with Sarafina and Nala inside. Yeena stood at the outermost rim. She retracted her claws and the others followed her lead.

Without warning, the hyenas leapt forward, barking out a war cry, and the two sides met in battle. The hyenas attacked the barrier viciously, trying desperately to get to the prey behind it. Together, they clawed and bit at the lionesses ferociously, trying to find a weak spot in their defense. They would dodge the prides' attacks, then pounce all at once, using their numbers to bring down the enemy.

Although they were outnumbered, the pride was not outmatched. The lionesses repelled wave after wave of attacks. Their brute strength did come in handy. Sharp claws swiped at the hyenas' throats. Sharp fangs sank into their fur. The hyenas couldn't get past them. For every lion they attacked, the ones beside them would come to their aid. The barrier remained impenetrable to the attackers.

A hyena leaped high into the air, trying to jump over the barricade. A paw grabbed it midair and brought it down to the ground. Yeena pinned the crazed beast to the ground as it tried to wriggle and squirm out. A paw extended and slashed it across the throat, killing it effectively. However, another hyena jumped onto her back and clawed and scratched. She spun around with great speed and sent it flying into two of its companions. With a mighty roar, she leapt and wiped out all three. The pride was spurred on by her bravery, and tore into the hyenas with more ferocity. This was one of the many reasons she was their leader.

However, the attackers were not easily discouraged. More and more hyenas joined the fight, fueled on by their hunger. Slowly, the wall of defenders were being pushed back. Sarafina was having her share of action. Every hyena that got past the pride still had to deal with her. She kicked at a hyena that managed to leap over the barricade in the head, and used the momentum to pounce on another one. Pinning it down, she ripped a hole in its chest. Nala huddled close to her mother's side and swiped at a hyena, causing it to yelp in pain and retreat. She didn't want to miss out on the fight too.

"Sarafina!" Yeena called out. "I see a stream up ahead. When the coast is clear, run for it!" Sarafina looked up from a carcass and nodded. Yeena plunged into the fray. She charged and swiped at the hyenas ahead, clearing a path directly to the stream for them.

"That's our cue!" Sarafina picked up Nala in her teeth and ran forward. She charged through their flank as fast as she could. Snouts bit at her and a paw slashed her side. But she continued to pick up speed and ran past them towards the distant stream, with Nala dangled helplessly from her mouth. Some hyenas saw them and started to give chase, but their path was blocked by Yeena.

"Stop them from reaching them for as long as we can!" Many of them were already seriously wounded. She herself was covered with bites and scratches. But the dogs would not pass. She would not let them. Not while there was still hope.

-TLK-TLK-TLK-

A/N: I wanna apologize for not filling out my profile. I use phone/tablet to write and for some reason they won't allow me to edit it. Oh well, so what do you think? Please review!