The sun was high in the clear blue sky, a sign that it was high noon. The pride and wolf packs gathered around the base of Pride Rock to see their prince off on his first patrol.
The new Royal Mjuzi, Jackson stood by a hill when Mateo appeared. The young prince looked nervous until he looked up at the dark red wolf, who smiled and gave a nod.
Mateo smiled and walked down the line of the pride and pack. Once at the end Sherise and Jesús met him.
"I know you will do just fine." purred Sherise as she nuzzled her son.
Jesús smiled and hugged his son, "Whatever happens, I'm proud of you."
Mateo smiled before running off down the side and off to the Northan Border.
"You think he'll be okay?" Jesús asked he stood on the edged.
Sherise chuckled lightly, "I thought you should be the one to be telling me it will be okay."
Jesús gave his mate a playful glare before poucing, which sent them rolling. Jesús soon found himself on his back staring into the eyes of his queen.
Sherise chuckled before nuzzling Jesús with a purr, "He'll be fine."
Jesús got up and looked back out into the savannah before following his mate in the cave.
-O-
"I really don't know why we have to be here!"
Cullen rolled his brown eyes and put the sicks on a gresyser before looking at the older orange-brown coated lion.
"I don't want to be here as much as you do, Kova. But we got a job to do."
Kova walked over, shaking his black mane out of his green eyes, "If you feel that way, then why do it?"
"I can't go against King Simba."
Kova looked down, knowing what the young lion felt. The gresyer soon lit the sticks a blaze.
"Come on the prince has already started his patrol."said Cullen with a stick in is mouth before running off.
Kova picked up his blazing stick and ran after his pride member. The two had just made it to a hill top when they saw the prince heading towards the border.
Cullen sighed, "Let's get this over with..." before running down and lighting the plains on fire with Kova right behind.
-O-
Mateo had just finished his patrol when the sound of hooves reached his ears. He looked and to his horror, he saw herds running from flames. He turned and ran as the flames consumed the savannah.
...
On a ledge above the blazing flames was Simba and Astra.
"The plan is in motion, go!"
Astra quickly moved down towards the Pride Lands with a cold, heartless expression.
-O-
Adrien ran up to the side of priderock and howled. Sherise and Jesús came running out.
"Adrien, what's wrong?" Sherise asked.
"The plains are on fire!"
The royals gasped, but Sherise looked at her blonde fur friend, "Get the others and make sure Mateo is alright, but I'm sure he's fine."
Adrien nodded and leaped off Pride Rock and started running without taking a breath.
-O-
Mateo ran from the hot flames that was behind him. The sky was full of black smoke and it started to choke the young prince.
Mateo looked and saw a ledge. With a new determination, he ran and leapt for the ledge. But he didn't jumped far enough, as his front half had made it but his back half had slipped. Now he's clinging on the ledge like his great grandfather did before.
With all his energy that he mustered he leapt up. Once he landed he collapsed on his side. A pair of purple eyes was the last thing he seen before blacking out.
-O-
Astra snarled before grabbing Mateo and lifted his front half over her back. Then she started running carrying and dragging the prince.
Out of the blue a flaming tree fell in the way. Astra growled before leaping over and tumbling down into a river. Astra gasped when she saw Mateo go under. She dived down and grabbed the prince and resurface.
Once on shore, Mateo started to cough up water.
"Where am I?"
Astra looked at the prince, her cold features beaming, "You're in the Pride Lands."
Mateo looked up shocked, "The Pride Lands?" Then when he saw the tawny lioness he growled, "Who are you!"
Astra was taken back but she regain her hard-core feature, "I'm the one who just saved your life!"
Mateo stood up and said, "Thanks but I had everything under control!"
Astra chuckled, "Not where I was standing."
Mateo rolled his eyes and started to walk away when Astra pounced on him and sent the two rolling.
Astra eventually found herself on her back with aloud thud. Mateo bared his teeth but calmed when he looked into the tawny lioness' purple eyes.
"Astra?" Mateo asked as he stepped off.
Astra stood and smirked, "Long time no see, your highness."
Mateo smiled just as Adrien ran over with Sirius, José and Jackson.
"Are you alright?" Sirius asked.
Mateo nodded, "She saved my life."
The wolves looked weary of the young lioness.
"I'm sure the king and queen would want to see their son's saver." said Sirius turning to head towards Pride Rock with the other three wolves following.
Mateo looked at Astra, who lifted her head and smirked at him before following the wolves.
Mateo smiled before walking after the wolves and Astra.
Astra smirked before giving a low growl.
