Maten remained cowering behind the large stone he had hidden behind while the strange lion killed those who had been following him. His body shook as he cried; Vitani hadn't made it; he was sure Kovu had killed her. He listened to the pained howls from the lionesses as they died, and then suddenly silence.

The lion dove around the corner suddenly, laughing wildly as he dripped the blood of the slain off his body. Maten cowered back at the fearsome sight. He was huge, bigger than Kovu, and his body was a pale yellow all over except for his lower jaw and under his chin, which was black. His mane was black, as was the brush of his tail, and his bloodshot brown eyes glowed crazily. He stalked to the cub and sat down in front of him.

"Looked like you were in trouble, couldn't leave you alone! Name's Saga!"

Maten's voice cracked.

"M-My n-name is Maten…"

"Maten? And who was chasing you?"

"M-Members of my Pride…"

Saga looked sad for a moment before he chuckled again and stretched out in the grass, growling with pleasure as he rolled on the dawn-kissed grass. Maten started to move slowly away from the crazed lion, when he suddenly flipped to his paws and beckoned the cub to him.

"I'm sure you've got a story, eh? Well, I do too! I'll tell you the life of Saga! I was born right after my dad died, and my mom took over the Pride with the help of my older brother. Well, I killed him a couple months back after my mother died and took over the pride. A short time ago, a group of furless apes walking on hind legs came to us and started to shoot at us like mad, making sounds I didn't understand. Whole Pride died, but I escaped with one of the things they were shooting lodged in my skull. Drives me mad with pain sometimes, it does!

I think they're still chasing after me, but no matter! I'll give 'em the slip eventually. Here, sonny boy, climb onto my back. I'll find this Pride of yours and repay them!"

Maten's eyes suddenly became bright at the thought of having this stranger murder Kovu for killing his mother. He jumped eagerly to his back and Saga surged to his paws as if Maten weighed nothing, moving back around the rock and in the direction Maten had come from.

Maten looked at the dead lionesses sprawled on the ground, shredded and covered in blood. He snarled at their bodies, which caused Saga to laugh again.

"You're a good kid! How about we go off on our own? Take one of the lionesses from your pride and start one of our own!"

Maten grinned and nodded.

"Let's."

Saga picked up a surprisingly fast pace as the sun rose and Maten simply bounced along for the ride, stewing in his own anger. Kovu… He would curse that name for his entire life, even after he slashed his life away to revenge Vitani's death. A flicker of hope suddenly welled within him. Maybe Kovu hadn't killed her, maybe she evaded him and was going to make her way around and look for him. Maybe… Maybe…

He drifted into sleep, still clinging to the powerful back of Saga. The crazed lion looked over his shoulder and smiled a little at the lanky cub, slowing his pace some. His eyes had cleared as the insane pain receded, and now clear thought rushed through his mind.

He remembered his childhood and his mother. She was a light brown and had a white underbelly; such a sweet lionesses she had been. His sister, Trava, looked very similar to him save the diamond of black over her right eye. He was just Maten's age, Trava was barely younger, and his brother Raevn was his mother's son in color and attitude. He was a good father figure in Sekun's absence, but he desired power. He craved it, and Saga's mother would often lament quietly that Saga was not older.

He flashed to the final day of his pride's life. Raevn was dead, his mother was dead, and now he led the pride. Saga's mate, a reddish-brown green eyed lioness Char, was pregnant with his cubs. He was the proudest father that could be imagined. Trava was sitting next to him as Char rested on the grass. Saga looked at her and flashed the charming smile he used to win the elusive Char over. He was still handsome back then, with mellow brown eyes and a handsome mane, his fur glowed in the moonlight, and he didn't have a violent bone in his body. He had only killed Raevn because he had tried to rape Char, and when Saga jumped in to defend her Raevn attacked. It had really been self defense that had murdered his handsome brother, but regardless of the past the pride was peaceful now.

Saga gritted his teeth and jerked his head around, refusing to let himself sink deeper into the memory. The final vision of his chosen mate and sister near him was enough. He sobbed out quietly, pausing by the watering hole. His body trembled as he stood with his nose just brushing the ground, his cracked voice lamenting to the morning air.

"Char… Trava…"

In this moment of sanity Maten woke suddenly, as if Saga's halted movement woke him. He blinked and jumped off the mighty lion's back, looking into the tearful face. Saga turned from him with a growl and collapsed at the edge of the waters, pleading quietly.

"Leave me."

Maten slunk off quietly after he watched Saga's body tremble. The lion had spoken so casually about all the death when his eyes were strange, but now he seemed saner than Maten imagined.

He wandered aimlessly but didn't go too far in case Saga regained s… insanity. He was gazing across the lands when he saw a strange shape not too far off. His heart sank and he ran forwards, dreading what he would find.

Vitani's body lay where Kovu had murdered it. Maten fell limply to her side, brushing her bangs slowly from her closed eyes. His eyes swelled with tears and he screamed into the empty plain, burying his face into her shredded neck. His tears mingled with her drying blood. It was while his face was streaked in her redness that he growled under his breath into her torn skin.

"I swear on your life, mother, I swear I will murder Kovu. I will avenge your death, I swear…!" His voice trailed off into a loud wail and he held her body tightly. It was after several minutes a giant paw wrapped itself around him and held him close to a leg like a tree trunk. Maten buried his face into Saga's leg, ashamed of himself. Saga smiled down at the small lion and stroked the beginnings of the light brown mane to sooth him.

"I know how it is, Maten, to lose someone close to you. It's okay to cry, I still do. My wife and unborn cubs were taken from me, as was the rest of my pride. I returned after I'd been chased away with their burning stone in my skull… They…" He shook his head and gathered Maten into one giant paw, helping him onto his back.

"I will take you home, young Maten. Rethink your course of action. Whatever you choose, I will help you with it. I won't leave you alone."

Maten clung to Saga's huge back, his thoughts still burning for revenge. His deep desire was to sink his claws into Kovu's skin, to pierce his heart and rip it out, feel the blood spraying over his face. But for now he simply grieved.