The cave in the giant mouth-like crease of pride rock was warm and somewhat stifling at night, from the collective body heat of the dozing lions. Ahadi heaved himself up from where he lay between Uru and Kass and proceeded to weave his way carfully around his slumbering fellows. The air steadily got cooler as he made the short trek to the cave's mouth. Inhailing deeply, Ahadi sighed in relief. He'd been feeling more and more suffocated as the hours since sunset had passed, unable to sleep. Finally it'd gotten too unbearable and he decided that if he wasn't going to sleep, he might as well go for a walk.

He stepped out of the shadows and into the moonlight that spilled onto the floor of the cave. He paused and looked back over his shoulder into the darkness behind him. At she space where he'd been restlessly trying to fall asleep, at Kass curled neatly, tail tucked beneath his chin, beside Rutto who was sprawled out on his back. A few feet away lay Macka, snoring softly. Tiny Kisip was cuddled against her flank, smiling sweetly even in sleep. Ahadi had to grin at the sight of Nadra lying half on top of Tabini, who when awake, couldn't stand the other lioness any more than Ahadi. There'd surly be quite a ruckus when they woke.

And, of course, his heart clenched painfully when his eyes landed on Uru. He just about collapsed there for the helplessness that had been the only emotion he'd been able to feel for the past few days. How could he even begin to imagine life without her? For time had done nothing to dull the tender feelings he had for the beautiful lioness. Quite the contrary, in fact, and it was now clear to Ahadi that he loved her more than anything.

He gazed longingly at his friends and tried to remember every detail of the scene. This would be the last time he'd see them like this, for when dawn broke tomorrow, everything would change. The three males would say their goodbyes to the rest of the pride and head out into the savanna, leaving behind everything they'd known, or in Ahadi's case, come to know. For the other two, it would be the first time setting foot outside the pridelands.

Reluctantly, he tore his eyes away and walked down the natural ramp that cut down the side of the giant rock. He walked slowly, his tail dragging behind him. 'I should savour each second' He thought dismally. 'For I'll never walk this path again.' His claws sank into the soft grassy ground where to anchor rock sank below the turf of the grassland. So many memories had their roots to the places around him. All the events of their day-to-day lives that had seemed so…routine now came rushing back to him. How could he ever have thought that they had been just meaningless, normal moments? He recalled being bored often, on lazy days with the others at the waterhole. Hell, they'd even longed to leave the territory on some cub-like fantasy adventure. When he should have been enjoying peaceful time with his loved ones.

Now he waded into the black pool and sat on the very rock in the centre where he'd lain, too hot to move, on that day. He closed his eyes and pictured the scene. Nadra and Rutto were bickering about something or other; the heat had made them all irritable. Rutto shoved Nadra, sending her tumbling backward off their miniature island and into the water. She'd retaliated of course, and the whole thing had resulted in a snarling splash war.

When Nadra finally dragged herself back up on the rock, she took one look at Ahadi and shook, splattering him with blissfully cool water before plunking down beside Kisip who was gazing cross-eyed at a water bug perched on her nose. A thoughtful gesture, she wasn't all that bad.

He'd rolled over in the puddle dripping from Nadra's wet sand-coloured fur, and come to face Uru. She'd been watching the water-fight with a delighted grin across her muzzle, and now her eyes met Ahadi's. Her gaze softened and she graced him with a warm smile that made him tingle all over.

The stars shone in the blank depths of the pool, and suddenly another lion appeared beside his sullen reflection. "Okay, you look waaaaay to angsty to be allowed at this time of night, or should I say morning?" Uru yawned, flopping down beside him. She rested her chin on her paws and rolled her amber eyes up at him expectantly. "Sorry." He sighed in response. "Did I wake you?"

"Yeah." she said bluntly. "Your great thumping steps shook the whole rock." She stretched out, her spine popping audibly. "But no, I wasn't sleeping well either, so I thought I might as well join you."

"Oh? Why can't you sleep?" He decided to venture the question, his heart pounding in anticipation of her answer. She closed her eyes. "Same as you, of course, what did you think?"

Well that was a start. He was beginning to feel nervous, doubting himself. But he pushed on-he wouldn't get another chance to find out how she felt about him, if she felt the same way. Under the light of the moon, with the buzz of thousands of insects the only thing breaking the silence of the night. It was the most perfect opportunity he could have hoped for, if he didn't take it he'd regret it for the rest of his life.

"I don't want to leave." He said, plain and simple. "I want to stay here, in the pride."

Uru didn't seem to be at all surprised by that answer, but she said nevertheless "Why? I would've thought you'd be excited, all the freedom and stuff. Running around, no rules, doing anything you want. I know Rutto can't wait, and even Kass seems to want to go."

"Yeah well, I'm not Rutto." He grumbled, remembering the conversation from months ago bitterly. 'Rutto and Uru, hrmph.'

"I know, I know." Uru said smoothly. "Of course I know that. But you must be looking forward to it a little, I mean, you'll finally be able to hunt for yourself like you've always wanted to."

"I guess that part won't be so bad, but other then that..." he trailed off, not sure what to say. That it'd be awful? That he'd hate every moment he was away from her?

"You'll be fine, I know you will. And you'll have Kass and Rutto there with you."

Yes, having Kass there was a comforting thought. Ahadi genuinely enjoyed the other male's company. And Rutto was bearable...in small doses. But Ahadi needed to get to the point, the sky to the east was brightening ever so slightly, and then it would be too late. "But they won't be there forever, they'll find mates and have prides of there own someday, sooner than later most likely. They won't have trouble establishing themselves."

"You won't either! Is that what you're so down about? I'm sure you'll find yourself a mate in no time."

"Don't flatter me Uru, I'll be lucky if I even register in a lioness' day. I'm not blind, I'm much to small to start my own pride."

"Don't be ridiculous, sure you're a bit smaller than average, but that's only part of it! You'd make a great king!"

Ahadi opened his mouth to reply, but Uru wasn't finished. She'd gotten to her feet, and her voice was raising to a risky level, they weren't that far from priderock. "Any female would be lucky to have you! You're so...so smart, and funny and kind and beautiful and you're good with cubs, spirits know how rare that is in males. You're do darned perfect it makes me so angry sometimes and the worst thing is that you don't even know it! But that just adds to how charming you are! So who cares if you are as big as Rutto, it doesn't matter to me!"

Well, he hadn't expected that. Ahadi gaped at his friend in shock. But inside his whole self was singing with joy. Uru had all but said that she loved him. He felt a goofy smile spreading unintentionally across his face, and he ducked his head to hide it. "I don't want to leave you either." He murmured softly, peeking up at her to watch her features change. Her eyes widened in mortification. She hadn't meant to say all that.

But determination soon took the place of embarrassment, and she puffed up her chest. "Then come back." She said forcefully, her tone leaving no room for debate. "Come back to me someday."

Well, now he was having fun watching her squirm, so he decided to play the idiot. "But Uru, that's not allowed. Your father would just chase me away again, you know that."

Uru slumped in disbelief. "Idiot." she hissed and got up to leave. Woops, that was no good. "Wait Uru, I'm just kidding!" He called hurriedly. "Don't go."

She glared at him, but thankfully stopped in her tracks. "Sorry." Ahadi apologized "I shouldn't be joking around. I'm just really...happy." His face cracked into a grin again, he just couldn't help it.

"Yeah..whatever." She grumbled and settled back down "I mean...it's ok."

They fell into a not quite awkward but not totally comfortable silence. The sky was definitely getting lighter. "So..." Ahadi started, but fell quiet again. Uru huffed and shuffled closer, laying her head against his shoulder. "Shut up" she grumbled. Ahadi smiled gently and pressed his nose against her soft neck. They lay together and watched to sun creep up from behind the distant hills. When the orange orb was fully in the sky, they'd head back to priderock to meet with the others. They'd say their goodbyes and Mohatu would walk them to the edge of the territory in their final moments of being members of his pride. On the way he'd speak and give them advice that would be all they had to take with them on their journey. But now Ahadi would go with a lighter heart knowing that this was not the end, that he'd one day return to the land he had come to think of as home.

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Better than the last one no?

So anyway, as for ages;

Ahadi, Uru, etc: Late teens