Tabasuma snapped out of his shock first, leaping forward closing his teeth around the dark lion's neck. The lion struggled until Tabasuma bit down harder and ceased the lion's movement before the grey pelted lion dropped the corpse.

"Who was that?" Msimu questioned as she sniffed the lion.

"I don't know...I - I've never seen him before." Malka muttered. Mufasa glared at the body before looking around, everything was quiet, which was odd considering Ajabu's kingdom was always teeming with life. He examined the body closely, noting the dark pelt. He thought back to Ni's warning. It couldn't possibly be true. Better safe than sorry though.

"Msimu cover any blood with dirt, we don't want who ever is here to catch the scent. Tabasuma, help me out here." Mufasa leaned down, grasping the dead lion's pelt in his teeth, Tabasuma did the same before the two dragged the body away, Msimu covering the blood trail with dirt to mask the scent. They hid the body in bushes not to far away. Mufasa brushed the taste of unwashed fur off his mouth before turning to the three lions in his present. "Msimu, take Malka back to the Pridelands and tell my brother to bring a few lionesses. Tabasuma and I will find King Ajabu." Msimu nodded before turning and leaving, Malka on her heels. Mufasa turned to Tabasuma. "Follow me."

The Smiling King, that's what they called Ajabu. Though the king of the Eastern Pride was not smiling at the moment as he lay on the hard ground, a large gash on his shoulder and three deep claw marks on his side. His great black mane was matted and bloody, his eyes dull and his mouth twisted into a frown.

"My, my Ajabu..." A voice mocked. Ajabu growled, struggling to his paws.

"If you're here for another fight..." Ajabu snarled, unsheathing his bloody claws.

"Pssshh, sit down." A slim black pelted lion with hazel eyes strolled into the cave and scoffed at Ajabu's poor attempts at standing tall. "You're lucky you've haven't died from you're injuries. Perhaps I should've let them rough you up a bit more." The lion huffed. "But then you would've died and my dear sweet brother would throw a tantrum. If it was up to me, you'd be dead already."

"Enough!" Ajabu roared. "What do you want!?"

The lion laughed. A sinister sound that made Ajabu's skin crawl. "It's not about what I want Ajabu." And with that, the lion strolled out of the cave. Ajabu growled, before he sank to the ground in defeat.

"I'm such a failure." He grumbled to himself.

"Oh come on Bu, you're not that bad." Mufasa chuckled. Ajabu's face lit up as he leapt up, ignoring the pain from his wounds.

"MUFFY!" He shouted, crashing into his friend.

"I'm happy to see you too Bu, but I'd rather you didn't tell everyone we're here." Mufasa smiled. Ajabu chuckled as he stepped back.

"Some how, I knew you'd be here." Ajabu poked Mufasa with his paw. "You always were good about saving my tail from certain doom." Mufasa grinned.

"Of course, it's always been that way, Taka saves me, then I save you." Mufasa's face turned serious. "Now, we need to get you out of here."

"I can't leave my pride Muffy." Ajabu replied.

"We won't, we'll be nearby, I sent a lioness to get Taka, then we'll come back and help everyone else. For now though, we need to get you out of here." Mufasa explained. Ajabu nodded as the two started walking.

"How'd you even get in here, the guards are huge?" Ajabu whispered as they neared the cave entrance.

"They're also really stupid." Mufasa whispered back before picking up a stone in his jaws and creeping towards the mouth of the cave. In front of it stood two large males. He chucked the rock outside of the cave.

"What was that?" One of the males asked.

"I think it was a bird." The other male answered.

"Do birds make that sound?"

"I don't know, we should probably check it out."

"But what about the prisoner?"

"Aren't his legs broken?"

"Oh yeah..."

And with that, the meat heads ran off. Ajabu looked at Mufasa.

"That made my head hurt."

The two kings managed to sneak out of the overrun kingdom undetected. Meeting with Tabasuma at the border, the three made their way to a small hill where they rested as night set in.

"What happened Ajabu?" Mufasa asked the Smiling King, who looked at the ground.

"It was late into the night, almost dawn actually, we were asleep, all of us," Ajabu sighed. "I'm so glad Malka was away. The attack, sneaking into our den, practically blending into the night with their dark pelts. But I woke up, and all hell broke loose." Ajabu swallowed. "They went for me first, my lionesses tried their best but, there were too many, and most of them were males. We...we had some losses." The king swallowed. "And they beat me and took the lionesses and Furaha away and left me in that cave."

Mufasa patted his friend. "We'll get them back Bu."

"Yes, we will." The males turned to see a smirking Taka, flanked by five lionesses. Ajabu smiled and tackled the small lion.

"Awww yeah! The backup's here!" Ajabu shouted.

Taka grunted, "Yeah, yeah, the backup's here now get off of me!" Ajabu grinned and did as he was told while the lionesses with Taka giggled. "Anyway, we need plan. And lucky for you all, I am the smart one in this family."

"Watch it." Mufasa warned.

Taka smirked, "Now here's what we do..."