Chapter 7: Love and Age.

The 3 cubs of Rio where now training for the hunt, each having important roles. "Cayla! I do not need to hunt, for the lionesses do it!" growled Ruto in annoyance.

"Dear me Ruto you foul little heir" her tone was completely comedic even if she meant it "If your fathers suddenly collapsed and died, if you failed to keep hold of the pride in face of new males. Who would you turn to for food?" she asked slyly. Ruto looked stubborn and was about to say something that matched his ego but Cayla entered in "with your attitude the females would surely allow the males completely. You will be left to starve, most probably" she said with a smirk.

"You will be the first to go when I become king"

"We will be sharing the throne, and if you have a stupid idea like banishing a brilliant hunter and stalker to the enemy, surely you will be first out. No one would you take you seriously" said Storm coolly. Storm was much more laid back than his brother, taking the easy side of life into account, Ruto was obnoxious, and an ego as big as pride rock. As nothing is allowed to be bigger than Pride Rock it was often found dejected and hurt.

"Maybe the lions should hunt instead of us lionesses. We may have more cubs" Juda suggested. Cayla looked down at her with a smile, ignoring Ruto and his laughing.

"If that were so, little princess, we would surely starve. Lions do not make as good hunters as us lionesses do. So we would not have cubs because we would all be starved or we would have left them because they could not support us" she smirked slightly. Storm shook his head but Ruto's mouth hug open, shocked at this discrimination. He was male, and so better than females. His brother Storm was more open minded and thought deeper. "Now little ones do not startle anything. We are not hunting here, and we must let them know we are passing through. Otherwise, we will not be eating lunch, for they will spread the news to be on high alert" she said as she led them towards the watering hole. Storm took some notice, but took this only as already known common sense. Juda listened intently; she wished to be a great hunter like Terra once did. Terra however was not as good at hunting as she had wanted, but the terrible secret she held weighed on her, especially in hunting. Terra was also pretty, and Juda however much Mystu wished her to be, was an ugly duckling child. Her brothers were to be handsome and she was to be a lioness of great hunting. Her mother had before she could understand told Cayla that when she hunted, her appearance must not be an issue. Mystu was very fond of her daughter but she found it unfortunate that she must be so ugly.

Cayla lapped up water, Juda sitting by her side doing the same thing. Storm had drunk a little and was lying in the shade. Ruto was being his usual self. Suddenly, out of the blue Ruto was up and rolled into the water. Stirring every animal around and lessening their chances for a good lunch meal. Ruto caused trouble. He had been stalking up to Storm. Unfortunately he was bad at stalking and quite loud. He pounced at Storm, who rolled and and bounced Ruto away. The direction happened to be the water. The watering hole was deserted, Cayla looked up at Ruto. Now bedraggled and climbing out of the water, a lily pad on his head. It fell as Cayla sighed.

"Well done Ruto… No lunch it seems… where you hungry?" she asked sarcastically

"Wasn't my fault! It was Storm's fault!" he commented

"Ruto, if you did not pounce, and dare I say stalked a little quieter and better it wouldn't have happened!" she looked at him severly.

"Storm will never let you win… EVER Ruto. Face it!" She said to him, he replied in a harsh tone. "Shut up Juda!" Storm lay smirking as he basked in the half shade, tail flicking slightly. Cayla lapped a little more water and turned back to them.

"Rest up a little, we will go to another stop and try again… Ruto? Where's Ruto?" she asked puzzled looking up to Pride Rock. She was slightly relieved to see Ruto running up towards the cave. She called to him, but he only ran faster. She saw him meet up with a figure, it was Zenobia. She was a day away from her first lone hunt.

"Mother will send him back Cayla. He has met up with Zenobia see; she will make sure that he is safe. We should stay here for a while, he will be sent back the moment his paw sets foot on the rocks" she smiled mockingly. This happened all to often, Ruto's pride and ego was always being hut.

Meanwhile in Princes Pride Gavvo had just given Jeem some news on Zenobia. Jeem parted with a nod and ran to find her. Zenobia was sitting on a rock; the one Jeem had jumped down from to meet her the time she first came. She saw directly in the distance Pride Rock. Its main features preserved but as small as the pebbles by her feet. She was sitting in the shaded crack, it was nearly the full heat of the day so she would not have been in the full of it. Jeem stopped before he came up and looked at the direction she was looking longingly towards. He thought for a few moments before walking towards her once more.

"Zenobia, I have news"

As if from a distant dream her head moved over, eyes not taken from the spot until the head was turned too much and her eyes shone at Jeem. She blinked and smiled, Jeem moved closer and nuzzled her; they had grown closer over the time she had been away. It was half a year and she still longed for her home.

"Gavvo says that Prince still will not let you hunt"

"Yes, and I do not-" she was cut off.

"There is much more. He says you may hunt with me if you so wish?" Jeem beamed hoping this was something she was looking for.

"Jeem,.." her face had slunk "Do not tell Prince, but I would rather not hunt on this land" she lowered her voice "When we expose to Pravo, well Gae, his real home, his true family… I must go back… I have to Jeem" she looked at him wanting affection of understanding.

"Will you not come back?" he asked questionably,

"I belong at Pride Rock, you can come with-" she said before he cut her off.

"This is mine, my home, my fathers pride. He told me to be always loyal to this Pride," it was harsher than usual but Zenobia pleaded with her eyes.

"I… Jeem, I can't stay…" Tears began to form "I have to go home, I do not belong here" She added.

"When?" Jeem asked angrily "When must you tell him"

"I am not sure it is time," pausing she turned back for his face to be of more understanding, but it was not. Jeem held a face of anger, hurt and slight betrayal. This is the face Zenobia turned to, which her head instantly turned back. She turned again to him "Jeem… I…" she began but he turned away, with a flick of his tail he assured her he would not speak to her. Zenobia let tears flow from her eyes. They flowed with guilt, sorrow and heart ache. How could her homeland, the one she held dear to her bring so much anger and discomfort to her love when she was brought warmth and care from it?

She ran into the wind, out into the pride land, in which she was welcomed into. She ran with dusty earth between her paws, until she decided to stop. It was shady and she sat in a sobbing silence for hours. She was unable to feel hunger for her heart pained more than any basic instinct. Her side hurt and she still pined over the disagreement. She got up when it was dark, and moved on looking upto the stars and feeling the cool breeze flush past her. She recognised the star pattern, the same lion shape. Like that of the last time she came.

"Kiara?" she uttered out, but the face took a different look. It was that of Nimfi's or so it looked.

"No it is Nala, young Zenobia." The voice echoed out.

"Kiara was wrong… She said love will find a way. It won't find a way! She was wrong"

"Calm yourself child" it called soothingly "She tells the truth, and so you must stay. You will be sent home, and you must tell him then"

"And Jeem? If I am to be sent home, what do I tell Jeem?" she asked out mockingly

"You will not go home, you will stay with me"

"But I want to go home… To pride Rock!"

"Do you?" she asked and repeated "Do you?" the winds changed, the face disappeared but only the last words still echoed as a reminder to this image. She looked towards Pride Rock and a last tear fled her face. Her mother had told her that the stars held the last wise lions that reined the lands. They would protect us and their signs told us what must be. She was still perplexed with this, but knew she must stay with Jeem and so she took a pace to get back.

Pride Rock was quiet, Terra sat on the edge looking out. It was a long time since Zenobia left and she had felt in the winds a strange feeling. That male, the outsider she ran off with, brought a scent she so fondly remembered. She could not tell her father, because she knew it would ensue a war on the other pride. She also took the promise from Zenobia to her very strongly. It acted on her too. Her sister knew not what she knew and hopefully she could tell her to look for him on their borders. She had never come back as Cayla had suggested that she might if she did not come back with what they wanted. Her father now gave Terra freedom and she sat outside contemplating this. She was smaller than her sister was, but still had time to grow. Her coat was of a slightly darker and richer colour. She got up, stretched and heard the feet of a grown lion walking out of Pride Rock.

"Can you not sleep Terra?" her mother asked.

"I'm not too tired, and I need to think" she explained.

"After tomorrow will be your first lone hunt. You will become a proper lioness" She smiled.

"You miss Zenobia" she stated.

"I do, and I know you do too" She said gathering an awkward smile to her face.

"All the lionesses do. It was quite out of character for her to disobey her father, but maybe she sees no future here" Nimfi's smile faded.

"What do you mean?" Terra asked.

"Where are the males?" she asked "there are a few we left at the old pride, they would not flee. Some females too that did not wish to leave, we were shocked that Cayla did" she laughed slightly.

Terra smiled a little before looking out to the pride lands, "I think I will do what she used to do, and roam out for contemplating thoughts" She said jumping down to the path.

"Be back before daylight, otherwise your father will be angry, as you cannot hunt yet" she called warily. She did not know if she should let her go. She didn't realise how much freedom she was given. It was astonishing to her.

Terra ran, wind in her coat and the earth in between her paws. To the hills she had watched Zenobia run to when she was little, before she fell asleep and was taken inside. She smiled, closing her eyes every few minutes. She opened them to see she was near the edges of the border. She should go back; the grass had grown long and was only starting to wither. It was the hottest season of the year and it was a year since she was a small cub. She smiled at this thought and crept around the long grass. She was covered in the darkness and she smelt something. Something so very familiar, she crept half excited and half wary. Suddenly an outburst of conversation occurred. It was an argument between two males. Now scared, she was no match between these two and they certainly were not her fathers. She lay low, her breathing paced, her eyes glowing more and listened to the conversation. Thankfully the slight breeze was in her favour and hid her position and scent.

"Miko! We should not be here!"

"Shut up. There has to be a few gazelle or antelope over the side of this long grass. If we creep quietly enough we should be able to get there without…"

"Miko, we can't! That's too far from the border, and open land. We would be spotted surely," he hissed "Your Father told us to not get spotted in this territory…ever!"

"You spoil everything Pravo. Go back if you want"

"Well I am going! I am not risking two fully grown males for anything"

"They'll be old, easy fighting as a baby warthog"

"Sure… 'cept warthog babies have their mothers, that will be fully grown tusks in your butt again" he laughed walking off.

"Leave then… coward" he muttered. He was only 3 lions away from Terra and yet he didn't notice. She dared not move in case he spotted her. The smell he gave off was not as familiar but had hints of familiarity. It was strange, which male was it and why was the smell so familiar? She racked her brain for an hour. He seemed to be a sleep so she began backing away through the grass. It was hard because she could back into anything, she knew her place but not what her paws landed on. Snap. A small twig broke on her back feet. She stopped, still low on the ground. Watching, the male was aware but she did not know where he was. Her ears twitched and she jumped backwards. He had stalked her round and up the small hill around to where she was and had just pounced.

"Quick reflexes" he smirked "trying to stalk me"

"No" She barked out holding a strong stance. He sniffed the air, the winds had changed and he looked at her, smiling.

"We meet again," he laughed.

"Do I know you?" she asked confused but still wary.

"I have a suspicion that the female coming at us is yours?" he smiled. She looked back seeing no one she looked back at him. His eyes had rings around them; they were as dark as mud. She remembered him as a small cub, which looked the same age but was taller. She realised he must be the same age as herself; just he was much taller and looked slightly older.

"You?" she said realising and looking at him strangely.

"The name is Miko, pretty lioness" he flirted. She smiled slightly but shook it off.

"Don't be so…" she began "… Just don't" she warned

"Your father not going to be happy you are being thought off highly by an outsider"

"My father not going to be happy me knowing an outsider" she smirked

"He must not let you out so late… so far?" he asked questionably "Running away? Sneaking out?" he asked.

Terra shook any friendliness from her; she wasn't going to be exiled like her sister. She didn't want to fall for such a male, a charming male, a male that probably was in the same pride as her. But she couldn't ask him about her, she couldn't say anything. That was betrayal, she wasn't sure Zenobia had betrayed the pride.

"Or were you made to leave?" he asked a little concerned.

"I am allowed out" she added truthfully "My father obviously does not think outsiders are so charming"

"Think they would so surely swipe you from your…" but he was broken in his words by a voice behind him.

"MIKO" the voice exclaimed. It was Jeem, his mane had grown slightly and his face was of strong voice. Miko sunk low before turning his head and smiling awkward but mischievously. "What are you doing?" he asked. Terra sunk, the last time she saw Jeem (although Terra did not know his name) he had brought winds of a familiar scent. Again he brought it and the male Miko had lost it. By the side of Jeem was the other male he said something but looked quite sorry for him self, he obviously let out were Miko was. He had not spotted Terra but Jeem had and he said nothing.

"I… Was just…" Miko began

"Come. We turn back. Never come this far again! Stay to the borders, you know what your father says" he said still looking at Terra. Miko turned his head back to her and looked at her with a curious face before getting up and walking off. Terra stalked with them to the borders. The walked towards the border and Terra kept her distance. She heard everything and saw what she could.

"Pravo. Go to Atraza and tell her we are returning"

As the male ran off slightly annoyed Jeem looked from Miko to the air sniffing around him.

"Call that female" he told Miko, who was perplexed and slightly confused. "I can smell her… call her" he told him.

"I do not know her name" he said slightly embarrassed "Why must I?"

"Female, come out. We are on border territory, we cannot harm you and do not wish to" Jeem called out. Terra was reluctant to move her position. She stalked down towards them, swiftly but quietly. She moved closer and Miko watched.

"Warthog" he muttered "I'm starving"

"She must have left as we stopped" Jeem said looking out towards the other side of the border. Miko pounced. Terra had not known what he was doing. She had stopped thinking him to be stretching. He pushed her to the ground and forcing her to roll on her side she kicked upwards. A yell of pain made Miko retreat swiftly, hunched and jumpy he gasped out silent pangs of painful squeals. Terra had not realised where she had kicked him. It was hard when someone thought you were a warthog and pounced on you to judge where you were kicking. She had in fact kicked him in a quite 'gentle' area.

He winced in pain still as she realised where she kicked him. She had stood up and Miko's retreat had received the interest of Jeem. He stood looking at Miko laughing quietly.

"It's not funny" Miko glared up, he was hunched like a hyena.

"You wished to speak to me?" Terra walked out towards them and answered. They had realised she was there at this point and Jeem found it very amusing. Miko glared at both of them.

"Miko to meet females of a different pride what do you think you should do?" he asked.

"Not go into their pride land?" he suggested.

"Or mistake them for warthogs" Jeem laughed.

"Sorry…" Terra muttered looking down and then back up, she didn't think they had heard her, but she didn't care. The two males joked and laughed and she felt slightly inferior.

"I will leave you two alone. If you wish to meet up again, meet up at the border, I'm sure the female knows an excuse" he said slyly walking away.

"I have to go" Terra said. It was past midnight, the moon was now nearing its end "I said I should be back before dawn" she told him

"Why does he know you?" Miko asked, he was hunched less now "I would never ask it in front of him, but why does he know you?"

"I do not wish to say" she said turning away. Miko ran in front of her, the pain made him waddle slightly.

"At least tell me your name, and if we can meet again"

"We can't" she uttered before running.

"Please!" he shouted back running after her, his speed was fast enough to catch up with her even with his injury. He pounced, and she tumbled.

"Get off" she pushed him off.

"You didn't kick me that time. Maybe I shouldn't have pounced"

"Maybe is an understatement" she hissed slightly"You're on my territory now" she growled "and we can't see each other again"

"Then let me know your name" he smiled

"I can't… What's the point?" she asked him, her face full of meaning.

"Your not going to have much of a Pride without us outside males, are you?" he said slyly before cursing himself for saying it.

"You right, but I don't wish to have the same fate as my sister" she ran. This time he did not follow. She got back and hour before dawn and slept near the entrance of the cave.