This part is sorta like part 2 of chapter 6, 'Tag With Teeth'. Enjoy!

"He did what?" Gyasi snarled.

Cheja cowered backward, only to back up into Kafara who kept him from leaving.

"Yes, sir. He saved their cub, and also told the cub his name." Kafara growled.

"You moron!" Gyasi raised a massive paw, unsheathing his claws, and slapped it across Cheja's face.

Cheja went spiraling to the ground, large claw marks stung his cheek.

"I'm sorry sir." He staggered to his paws, struggling to keep his voice straight without shaking or whimpering. "I...I wasn't thinking."
"I should think so!" Gyasi growled. "Do you have any idea-"
"I know, I know." Cheja lowered his gaze down to his paws.

"Gyasi, dear, what has happened?" Penzima came padding over to stand at her mate's side. She gasped as she saw the bloody red claw marks which were slashed across Cheja's cheek. "Oh, dear." She stepped forward and nudged Cheja's fur gently. "You should get that checked out by Daktari." She said softly.

"He saved the enemy's cub and then told her his name." Gyasi had rage in his eyes.

"On the other paw," Penzima's eyes grew savage. "Why doesn't he just strut off into the desert and die of thirst while his wounds grow infected." She let out a low growl.

"Please," Kafara stepped forward. "With all do respect, I was Cheja's mentor. May I decide a punishment?"
"Why not?" Gyasi growled. "Just make it suitable." He nudged Penzima away, who looked as though she would explode with anger.

As soon as they left, Kafara turned to gaze into Cheja's eyes.

"Why did you do it?" He asked.

Cheja sighed. "I don't know...she just...that cub seemed so helpless...and she wasn't hurting any one. It wasn't like she was a threat to our pride."
"I know. You still have a lot to learn." Kafara sighed. "Listen," His gaze locked with Cheja's. "I'm not going to assign you to anything too harsh. Uh...let's say...a week of probation."

"Great," Cheja glared down at his paws. "Lord Gyasi will make me feel as miserable as possible."
"I can make it worse if you'd like." Kafara warned.

"Fine, fine, fine." Cheja raised a paw as he spoke. "A week is...just fine." He sighed.

"Good. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some business to attend to." Kafara dipped his head to his former apprentice and padded off.

Cheja's ears flattened as he padded off to Daktari's den to get his cheek wounds treated. He came to a more underground-like cave, many plants and herbs sticking out through the entrance. Cheja passed by them, letting them brush up against his pelt. He saw a mocha furred male with a darker brown mane in the back of the den, his back turned to Cheja. When he turned, Cheja immediately noticed that the male had one normal-looking brown eye, while the other was an icy-blue color. That lion was their shaman, Daktari.

"Cheja," Daktari's eyes brightened. "What can I do for you?" He gasped as he saw Cheja's large open wound which just oozed with blood. "Oh, gosh, Cheja...come here."
Cheja sighed and sat down where Daktari treats patients.
"What happened?"
"Gyasi struck me."

"Again?"

"Yeah." Cheja remembered the last time Gyasi had struck him. He was just a small cub at the time. He shuddered as the idea of Gyasi's massive paw slapping Maisha across the face. I can't stop it. He thought. All I can do is hope that he doesn't. He didn't have time to worry about that. Cheja needed to worry about his punishment for now, and when it ended.

"So, did you hear about Penzima and her cubs?" Daktari asked.

"Yeah," Cheja muttered.

"Excited?"
"Why should I be?"
"Well, I just thought-"
Cheja blocked out the rest of Daktari's speech while he got deep into thought again. Daktari placed cobwebs over the claw marks to stop the bleeding. Then, after the blood was all sucked away by the cobwebs, Daktari spread a poultice of some sort to the real cuts.

Cheja gasped and flinched away. "That stings!"

"I know." Daktari's voice was soothing. "I'm almost done."
Cheja sighed and slowly moved toward the shaman lion again.

By the time Daktari was done it was turning darker out.
Cheja sat outside the Warriors' den and watched the sun set. Movement behind him caused his ears to flick.

"What were you thinking?" Laini's voice growled.

"I don't want to hear it." Cheja muttered, grateful that he didn't have to respect this lioness. She didn't scare him as much as Gyasi and Kafara did either.

"Either way, that was stupid." Laini's voice softened. "Look, I don't like Lord Gyasi any more than you do. But you need to follow his orders if you want to survive around here."
"He didn't pass out orders." Cheja pointed out. "He just told Kafara and I to look around those lands beyond here. If I hadn't saved that cub...we would know nothing! Don't you see? She gave me information that Lord Gyasi might find helpful to his plans."
"Come again?" Laini's ears pricked.
"That cub's father is King of those lands, and she said they have a pride. Her father came and stated that he and two other males were the only two males in the whole pride. The only other male was that cub who will obviously rule when he's older. But other than him, the whole rest of the pride must be made up of lionesses." Cheja explained.

"So, what? Are you saying that the pride will be poorly defended just because the rest of the pride is made up of lionesses? We aren't weak, you know." Laini stood up and was now snarling at Cheja.

"No, no...I mean, males defend the pride most. Lionesses hunt and cub sit. They don't fight as much, only if defending their cubs, and the males might just do that. So, if we take out all three males-"
"then we can just kill off the rest of the lionesses without a worry..." Laini finished his sentence, pausing for a moment before turning to gaze into Cheja's eyes. "I never thought I'd say this to you...but...you're a genius. I'll have to look into explaining these plans to Lord Gyasi." She padded off before Cheja could reply.

Cheja stared back down at his paws, his gaze darkening. "That's right..." He pawed at the leafy bandages which were stuck to his cheek fur, keeping the wounds from getting...infected.

Lord Gyasi, Laini, Kafara and the rest of the Senior Warriors and higher ranking members were in Gyasi's cave, deep in discussion.

"Hmm," Gyasi paced back in forth in front of Laini. "Bring Cheja in."
"Yes, sir." Laini dipped her head and padded out from the den.

About a minute later, she returned with Cheja at her side.

"Is what Laini says true?" Gyasi asked.
"What ever do you mean?" Cheja tilted his head.

"She says that you found out useful information about attacking the pride who lives in those lush lands." Kafara spoke before Gyasi could reply.

"Yes." Cheja sounded confident, but really, his heart skipped a beat. "They only have three males, which could come to our advantage."
"Didn't you say that there is another male, but he's a cub?" Laini questioned.

"Yes." Cheja replied.

"Well, he should be taken out first, if I may suggest, sir." Kafara said.

"No, Kafara." Gyasi growled. "Those males will keep their guard up, now. Since he knows that there are other lions nearby."
"What are you saying?" Laini asked. "That we'll try our chances at when he gets older?"
"We must." Gyasi sighed.
"Things will only be harder," Penzima pointed out. "If we wait until he gets older, that leaves us with putting up with four adult males."
"I don't believe those males will let a cub be harmed." Gyasi said softly, lifting his tail and gently stoking Penzima's side with it.
"Uh," Cheja chimed in nervously. "If I may suggest...why not try killing off one of the more elder males?"
"Not a bad idea." Kafara murmured.
"I agree." Penzima nodded.
"Then we should wait a while," Gyasi said. "We need to build up our rankings until that pride will not stand a chance against us."

"These cubs I am carrying will be a good addition." Penzima purred.
Each lion in the den murmured their agreement and approval.