NUKA

"Tomorrow you and any lioness of your choosing will leave here and deliver a message to the King and Queen of the valley pride for me." I felt he lioness blue eyes on me. Wary of the situation I had placed before. When Sarafina and the other older lioness came and told me that night they would follow me, I wasn't in the least surprised. I knew taking one look at Vitani would seal any decision they would make.

"Me, why me?" Sarafina asked, I turned around to face her. She stood distance to me, not wanting to get close. Even from this distance I couldn't help but see how eerily I saw my Nala in her. It was like she was standing before me again, just older.

"Of course you, I trust you the most out of everyone here. Besides, it will be more convincing that way."

"More convincing them you going yourself." don't think I haven't thought about that. but weighing my options, I think the best look for me, is for my lionesses to vouch for me before I am introduced. the last thing I would want is to impose myself, I have time for that later. I can't take all of Africa with the numbers I have. I have the play the long game and win them over as much as I can before I attack.

"yes, it is more convincing that way sending you, rather than myself. I can't send my hyenas over there for me. Though I have thought about it, im not trying to intimidate them just yet." I watched her ear flick. She swayed to the side, visible unsteady with having to be involved in my schemes."Do you have to say something? speak now." I was not expecting her directness when she looked at me.

"I have nothing to say to you, and if I did, you wouldn't listen." I stepped out of the shadows that was my den. The moonlight eclipsed half of my back as I came more into the clearing. The night's light fueled me. The darkness that was all around me made me stand taller. I feel my most at home when the sun is nowhere in sight. I can be my true self

"See not only are you trustworthy, but you're also smart too that's why I like you so much. Hopefully, that will pass on to the other lionesses here. Questioning me gets you nowhere." she didn't like me toying with her.

"May I leave now?" her abruptness was annoying, but with nothing more to tell her for now, she had no reason to be here. I nodded my head for her to leave me,.

" Fine, come by here before you leave. I want you to leave early I suggest once you get back to the pride you do what needs to be done, so you can ber here frist thing at daybreak. It's about a full days travel til to get to the center of their territory."

"Fine Nuka." she bowed before leaving me. The twitches in her upper lip expressed the resistance she felt in her body but could not express. Hmp, not if she wanted to live to see the next day. I watched her disappear into the shadows before she was out of sight. It was then I felt a presence behind me.

"You truly trust her?" I looked back to see Shanti standing in the entrance of the den.

"No, but I know she's not going to do anything that could cause harm to her pride. That I can predict to a T. Even if she's resistant, she'll pull through." I began to walks towards her, when I came inside she nuzzled me.

"I could have done this for you Nuka."

'I know, but I'd rather have you here with me." Shanti raised a neat brow that was cut down the middle. A permanent injury she sustained. It adds an edge to her, for me.

" Hmm, that almost sounds like you're the one keeping an eye on me." as sneaky as I knew this lioness could be, I trusted her. I trust she won't do anything stupid to ruin this partnership we both have."Who's going to keep them accountable, what if they try and abandoned the whole plan altogether." does Shanti not know I think everything through before making my next move.

"I'll have them be followed from a distance."

"I see, any news on Shia. They finally find her?"

"Yes, from what I can tell it's just her."

"Did you send any more reinforcements up there to bring her back?"

"Naw, the two I sent before, I'm sure they can handle."

"You don't think they could be outnumbered, or in your hyena's case outwitted."

"Hmm, likely, but I can spare those two. we have more coming and they should be here within a day or so. But I told them to report back to me with anything they finds, by tomorrow night. If they don't show up, I get my answer I'd been asking for." yet still, I felt my brain want to think of any other siding factors, all I could think of -from what I know is Nala ad Roho might be with her. since she went down the same trail that had their scents. but they pose no threat to me. So why waste my time thinking over them."Vitani has something to do with where Shia went that I know for sure...now why she went there, I don't know."

"She could be getting reinforcements? but...I didn't think king Kijivu was a lion who called on allies if we even have any being for isolated."

"No allies, not one?"

"His father never did, I assume the same of his son."

"The sons suppose to learn from his father's fuck ups." Shant, I came and curled up beside me. leaning her head against my left shoulder. it was times like this when I cursed not having my left eye. I guess you can say Nala and I both took something form each other. After living without that sight didn't change much for me. of course it took some adjusting. but I overcame that handicap. I could still get the job done.

Yet now, it's at times like this when She's leaning against me when we sleep. I want to be able to look down at her. To see her sleeping, to not wake her.

"Not all the time." her exhaustion of breath relaxed me.

"You feeling better?"

"yes much better, I don't know what got ahold for me today."

"Well whatever it is, you need to shake it off. I need you at the top of your game. I don't expect any surprises to come. I've thought of everything- but just in case we need to be ready." I saw her nodding her head.

"Everything will go fine Nuka, The lionesses won't try to usurp you and the hyenas will come through also and pull their weight when we attack the valley pride."

"I know them, if they're given a chance they'll take it. that's why I have to remind them what is at stake if they try to do anything else."

"Whatever is in store I promise I'll be at your side, my love."

" My love?" her words took her off guard. it sounded ridiculous.

"Yes, you heard me." and her expression didn't falter... my heart began to race. What was this consuming feeling? it's not lust or greed, or my ambition... a feeling that constantly pulls at me. The fuck is this.

" You must be tired and confused." I rebutled these words out of confusion for myself.

"I know what I said."

"those were words my own parents barely told me... and promises of being my side...those are words my own mother couldn't even keep."

"Good thing I'm not her." leaning in, Shanti got hid of any space that could have been left between us. we were body on body. I could smell her scent, and tase her desires as she licked me slowly across my cheek.

"Yes, it's a very good thing you aren't."

*Alert! this is a two-chapter day, I got lazy yesterday at work lol.

+RyanSquad, I promise you he going to get his and soon! #breakneeded

+KawaiiCutie12 , I know I love him! when I write that fight scene, I have to play GOT, listen to some very intense music in the background while drinking at least three cups of coffee to get those chapters right.