Mari walked deeper into the territory, Tama at her feet.

"Where are we going?" asked the young cub, scared. "Why don't we live with daddy, anymore?"

Mari sighed and looked down to her cub. "Because, Tama, our home is no longer safe and to keep you safe I've brought you here, but daddy is not ... not welcome here." Mari gulped as she saw five patrol lionesses.

They all ran to her.

"Halt! Who are you? State your business here!" yelled a lioness, a tanned colour with green eyes.

"I..I..I'm M-Mari and this is T-Tama. We just needed somewhere to stay.. since our home was taken over by males and I brought Tama here because it was the only pride with cubs and we have no home now. Please, let us stay.. for the safety of my daughter!" Mari's eyes began to water.

Tama hid under her mother's leg. "M-mommy.. I'm scared." she cried. Her tears darkened patched of her fur and she felt uncomfortable.

"Uzuri, go and get Queen Sarabi." said the lioness. Uzuri galloped off into the distance.

"Have you arrived with any male of such? Anything harmful to the Pride? Disease?" asked the lioness. 'Stop interrogating me!' Thought Mari.

"No." Mari replied. A few mintues later, a beautiful tanned lioness with amber eyes approached them.

"Who are you?" she asked.

"I am Mari. You must be Queen Sarabi. Please your highness. I need somewhere to have Tama grow up, our pride was taken over by two males, who would kill my daughter. I have no diseases or anything harmful to the Pride. I beg of you, your highness." Mari replied.

Sarabi felt sorry for Mari and she could see Tama was afraid.

"Welcome to the Pride, Mari." she smiled, brightly.

"Oh, thank you! How can I repay you?" Mari sighed, relieved. She knew she was going to make it, but not this easily.

"Oh, don't worry. Come on, we need to get you some food. And who's this lovely cub?"

"That's Tama. May I ask.. what is the name of this Pride?" asked Mari as they began walking.

"The Pride Lands. It's truly a wonderful place, Mari. Lots of cubs for Tama to play with and we all share in this Pride. Come on, girls you deserve a break." said Sarabi, smiling as they reached the kopje.

The lionesses sighed in relief and followed behind.

"Now, you finally have a mate for Tojo, Tsiku." said Sarabi, looking back at the tanned lioness with green eyes.

"Wa.. you want to bethroll them? Tama and Tojo?" Mari didn't really know who Tojo was, but she assumed he was lovely.

The lioness nodded. "If that's okay with you,"

"Certainly." Mari was happy, not only did she have a happy pride, but she had bethrolled her daughter to a wonderful male cub.