Akiro roared with bloodlust and anger, he couldn't believe the clan had let the little bitch get away. He knew he should have listened to Akuma and killed her when his father killed her mother, but he thought the lioness would be obedient and quiet, like the others. He swiped at a nearby puddle of water and began his pacing again clearly agitated. One of the lionesses, Nova, peeked in on him.

"Sir?" is All she had to say when Akiro turned around and slashed her cheek. Blood began to gush down her face and she winced in pain but laid submissively on the ground.

"WHAT?" He demanded angrily, "I told none of you to bother me unless it was absolutely important." He snarled between closed teeth. He was completely on edge.

Nova winced timidly. "I'm sorry sir but the other lionesses they were concerned you might be-"

"I'm fine." He cut in, growling under his breath. He paced away from her again looking at his reflection in the puddle he had smacked at earlier. He had many minor scratches and bruises from the black lion. A Decent chunk was taken out of his ear, but it was scabbed over and slowly healing, his mane was caked in blood, mostly his. He had a few rough scratches on his cheek, but for the most part they shouldn't heal with too much scarring. His worse injury was his ear and his pride. Beaten by that pathetic rogue his father shooed away back when. He roared again and Nova laid down and flattened herself to the ground, shivering in fear. Akiro's eyes glowed in the darkness of the cave making him look even more angry.

"You are dismissed…" He said with finality, "Only bother me again, if you're bringing me a portion of the food."

"Y-yes sir." She said bowing her head submissively and ducking out of the room.

Nova winced as her cheek throbbed from being clawed. She ducked past the other lionesses so they wouldn't see her fresh mark until she had a chance to look for herself. She sighed as she walked to the river staring at her reflection in the water. This wasn't the first time he had struck her. When they were cubs together, along with Mira and Soran, Akiro was a bit older than the rest, a teenager when they were still just cubs. He was always prone to much more violent tendencies too, when they all use to play wrestle as a cubs, Akiro was the worst. Noone wanted to restle with him because of the way he was. A small chunk out of her own ear, and some scars on her front legs said it all. He was always ruthless and she never really liked him. Her ears flattened and she stared angrily at her reflection for some time willing herself to not cry. A rustle nearby told her she was not alone, she turned around and bared her teeth, expecting it to be Kira Or Shira coming to taunt her.

"Woah, Easy Nova…its just me," A Young silver colored lioness stepped from the shadows of the night. Her icey blue eyes shimmered in the moonlight and the dots around her eyes seemed even more visible. Nova turned her head away back into the shadows, she didn't want Yuki to see her new marks. Yuki approached her and studied her expression and her eyes sort of hardened with hatred. "He did it again to you didn't he?" she growled under her breath, "Injured or not, he has no right to take his anger out on you, especially being the youngest. You did nothing wrong."

Nova's tears began to hit the ground and a whimper laced with the growl escaped her throat. "I wonder how Mira is doing…if she's happier now that she's escaped Akiro…Oh Yuki I should have run away with them…"

"Its alright now Nova," She said soothingly. "we'll get this settled im going to go teach that brute a lesson he wont easily forget."

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," A Sleek but muscular black lioness appeared from the shadows. "From peaking in on him earlier…he's in a pretty sour mood even after attacking Nova. If you guys go in there now you may just end up dead. He's not focusing on reason or how much he might need us, he's enraged."

Yuki glared at the lioness. "And how do you know all this Mercury?"

"My coat helps me blend into the dark shadows of the cave, he was ordering Kira and Shira out on another search party which means we're stuck with late night hunting duty and we better bring back something good."

Yuki snarled in irritation. "That King is getting a bit to big for his crown, I would much rather be joining Mira about now. "

Nova chimed in next, "Her mother may have made some mistakes, but at least it was for the right reason. I'm certain if we talked to Mira we'd figure out why she spared the cheetah cub…"

"Hush now, both of you, before Someone Like Autumn overhears, last I knew the king gave her no task." Mercury's eyes scanned the darkness as her nose sniffed the air for any sign that they may not be alone.

Nova pawed at the ground, clearly depressed. Her new mark was undoubtedly going to scar…and the last thing she felt like doing was hunting. She thought back to all the times Akiro had done wrong, the pain he had caused to her, in her and tears began to poor out of her tightly closed eyes. Her claws dug into the ground, and a fear burst forth, causing her to shiver and her legs to buckle.

"Nova!" Yuki called to her in panic. "Mercury, whats wrong with her?!" She demanded anxiously.

"I'm okay.." Nova managed to choke out, still surrounded by all the painful memories associated with Akiro. She couldn't be here anymore…she was tired of the pain he caused, the anger that struck fear into her heart. She stood up firmly, looking at her reflection one last time, she found it staring angrily back at her. Yes, tonight, she would run away and find Mira, and beg her for forgiveness. She would ask if she could join Lila and her on whatever it was they planned to do.

*meanwhile*

Mira yawned exhaustedly as the search for new and far territory continued….It had been three days since they all last left the Raidon pride and been attacked by the hyenas. Nia lay curled up next to her, snuggled up into her side for warmth. Kurayami was patrolling the general area keeping a watchful eye for danger. She felt safe with Kurayami, it wasn't that she didn't, but somehow she still couldn't seem to sleep. They had not gotten anywhere in there travels, where they had places to stay temporarily they were far to open and vulnerable for Nia and the cub to come.

She had learned that the Rogue lioness's name was Ayami, she was accidentally separated from her pride some time ago and during one of her many seasons alone, she gave into a wandering male. It was only one night and she hasn't seen him since…her guess was that the male didn't even know he had gotten her pregnant. Mira glanced over at Ayami and Lila both seemed to be sleeping peacefully, the urge to pace was strong, but she wouldn't leave Nia alone. She looked beyond Nia now, to the strange baby of the group the hyena pup. She quietly yipped in her sleep as she dreamed, kicking her legs against whatever she was dreaming of. Mira curled her tail gently around the pup, in hopes of comforting it as it slept next to Nia. When the kicking ceased, she stared out on the horizon again her heart aching for many reasons.

Losing her home didn't hurt so much as losing some of the lionesses she had seen as companions, as friends. Her heart also ached as She remembered Soran , the guilty and resigned look he had given her as his father closed down on her neck. She growled softly under her breath as to not wake the children. She couldn't believe that she was almost starting to care for him, maybe even- she stopped that thought short with an angry snort and laid her head on her paws. It would never happen, childhood friend or not, if he couldn't be bothered to rescue her, she wouldn't waste her thoughts on him. Her thoughts wondered out to her pride mates though and how they all faired with Akiro injured. She may hate half the pride, but she had some friends there too.

*Back at the Raidon Pride territory*

Akiro roared, loud and deep, it echoed through the cave with malice and hate. The hunting party was taking way too long, he was becoming very irritable. Autumn answered his call.

"Yes Master?" She practically purred the words. His ears perked at her interest in him, but he quickly dismissed it, there'd be other opportunities for that.

"Where are the lionesses with the food, Its long past time for me to eat…" He growled irritably and began pacing. Autumn flashed back to the three lionesses that had been gathered together talking in hush tones. She had attempted to hear what they were saying, but she couldn't get close enough without looking suspicious. Instead she decided to tell the King what she knew.

"Master," she said thoughtfully lost in thought, "I saw them gathered together earlier in the night, they were talking in hushed tones…I thought that maybe they were discussing the hunting tactics…but since they havent returned maybe they were up to something."

Akiro roared and slashed the puddle with all his might, the water sprayed everywhere and Autumn wrinkled her nose slightly from getting wet.

Akiro smirked than and slowly walked up to Autumn pressing his body against hers, he looked her in the eyes. Autumn was the easiest of all the lionesses to manipulate into what he wanted. She was a copycat and loved to do good by pleasing her master. It was all too easy to do what came next. "Autumn," he purred in a semi-seductive tone. "You did so well telling me all this information you will be rewarded for your work…" he paused and walked away from her attempting to hide his evil smile. "If you track down Nova and bring her to me."

Autumn was in season, he knew as much from the way she stared at him, her legs partially spread apart. The look she gave him said she would agree to the terms he had just given her if it meant satisfaction. Akiro settled into some leaves and and dead grass he had strewn together to soften the injuries from before. He would be satisfied in more than one way tonight…he would make that little Nova pay for thinking she could just up and run away like Mira did. Noone would have that kind of freedom anymore. He rest his head on his paws and decided he may as well get some rest before the real fun began tonight.