It was the start of a new day in the Outlands. Zira had woken her children up before sunrise to train them. Kovu, since the visit to the volcano, was much lore eager to the training. He was never like that, always wanting to play instead of practising killing and hunting. Nuka and Vitani were with him. Vitani was learning to hunt with a piece of wood, and Nuka did the same.

"Nuka, I have something for you." Said Zira, signaling him to follow. She didn't went far before she pointed to her surprise. "There it is, your first prey." She smiled. A raven was om the floor, panting, with his feathers all ruffled and messy. His eyes were closed.

"Enjoy" said Zira, petting his head, and leaving him surprised. She was never that nice to him. Maybe she was starting to appreciate what he could do, at last? Nuka smiled, and took his claws out. The crow didn't cared, or at least didn't moved. Nuka stopped on his tracks. He recognized that crow. It was the one who messed with him and made Kovu and Vitani able to go away. He was eager to take revenge, wasn't he? He quickly got near, a vengeful growl growing on his throat. But he stopped again, unsure of what to do.

"Make it quick, please." Spoke the raven. His voice was broken, and showed all the sadness he had. Nuka opened his mouth, to bite his neck and end his life. But the crow spoke again. "And… sorry about the other day. We messed up. Big time. Please, don't hurt them, take me". He was speaking about his flock. Nuka's mouth was still opened, but not in anger, this time it was in surprise. The raven waited, pressing his eyelids strongly. The only thing that came was a loud thump.

"What are you waiting for?" asked the raven, opening an eye cautiously. Nuka was sitting in front of him. "The sooner, the better…" Nuka repeated the process, but he ended up sitting again.

"I… I can't." he nearly whispered it. "I just can't do it."

"Try to hate me with all your might… Trust me, it's the best for both of us, especially for you." Said the bird.

"I said I can't!" roared Nuka, desesperate. "I'm helping you, if you do what I say, we'll both end well." Said the young lion. "Can you fly?" he asked to the bird.

"I don't know, my wings hurt, a lot." Answered the raven.

"Let me check if they are broken." Nuka had spent a lot of time with Mganga, and knew what he was doing. The raven was unsure, and cocked his eyebrow. "Please?" asked Nuka, nicely. The raven sighed and rolled his eyes, but still opened his wing. Nuka checked it, and then the other. They weren't broken, just a bit bruised. Zira had been really careful with him, most of the prey she brought weren't as near as lucky.

"I'll have to hide you." Said Nuka, lowering himself. The raven seemed unsure of what to do. "Come on, get on! We can't lose any minute!" said Nuka, nearly screaming The bird obeyed, surprised by Nuka's sudden burst of leadership. "Hold well, it's going to be a fast trip." Warned the lion, suddenly running, with his stomach low to the ground. But he had to pass in front of Vitani, Kovu and Zira. There wasn't another way to his den. He crouched, hpong not to be seen. He ordered the raven to get off, and to make a run for the den, a small cave near the training plain. He would distract his family, and then check on them. But first, he needed a plan. He looked around, to see what he could use. He saw a flock of birds eating some red berries. Perfect. He ran to the bush, picked up a mouthful of the berries, and pressed hard. The red juice ran on his chin, turning it red. He pawed at the bush, leaving his paws red too. It was perfect. The raven was really impressed, that was a nice trick.

"Not bad for a dumb, useless runt" he winked to Nuka. The young lion was astounished

"How do you know that?" he asked. That was the way his mother used to call him.

"We know more than everyone thinks." Replied the bird, stood for a moment, not sure about what to say. When he saw his family distracted, he told the bird to run, and he ran to his mother, yelling in happiness.

"Mother! Mother!" he shouted, jumping with his long legs and slim body. He looked like some kind of weird, sharp teethed gazelle.

"Have you ended yet with your surprise?" she smiled.

"Yes, I did." He said. "Thanks, Mother." He bowed to her. Zira smiled, and saw Nuka wander off to his cave.

"OK, so here we are. Keep really quiet and hide whenever you hear someone." Said Nuka. "I'll bring you some painkillers." The raven nodded and hid between some rocks.

During the following days, Nuka and the raven, called Akili, befriended each other. Nuka spent all night hunting for himself and the bird, and so, his tasks as caretaker of the cubs failed usually, as he felt asleep easily. Zira started suspecting. Nuka developed a sign with Akili, to let him know he could come out. He tapped three times a rock with a claw, and the bird did the same.

After two weeks, Akili felt strong enough to fly again. He tried in the morning, early, soaring the sky easily. He was so excited that a caw escaped from his mouth once or twice. Nuka watched him happily and worried at the same time. If Zira saw it…

"Well, I suppose now you can go to lead your flock again" sighed Nuka. He was a bit sad to see his new friend go again.

"Well…" started Akili "That will be a bit of a problem."

"Why?" asked Nuka, sitting and cleaning his paws.

"Ummm, my flock won't be happy to see me again. When someone of us is caught, and if that someone is the leader, he is inmediately humiliated, and not anymore part of the flock. Much less the leader."

"I can help with that too" smiled Nuka, jumping up. "Let's go!"

"Where?" asked Akili.

"Come on, there is no time to lose!" the bird reluctantly got up, and Nuka started running. After a bit, Akili took off, flying along the lion with happiness. He cawed. He felt so free. Nuka ran faster, trying to roar too.

Finally, they arrived. Akili's flock was on the same tree that the past time. Nuka pushed gently the raven with his snout. Akili cocked an eyenbrow. Nuka smiled and pushed him again. Akili took a step forward. The others spotted him.

"Hey, guys, look who is back"

"I knew this would be a bad idea" muttered Akili as the rest jumped to attack him. He stood, prepared for fight. Just when they were going to get him, Nuka jumped out of where he was hiding. He pinned the one who ordered the attack, who now cawed scared. The lion growled, but released the bird after some threats. Akili got on Nuka's shoulder.

"I see that's the way you treat some of your own kind, that has been hurt and that you seemed to care for not long ago."said the raven, serious. The others looked ashamed.

"Sorry, Akili" they muttered, first the new head of the flock and then the rest.

"I know it's our tradition, but that doesn't mean it's good. What if, now, I set up a new tradition: feed traitors to the lions?" said Akili, seemingly wondering. Nuka lickes his chops. "Luckily for you, that's not happening… I'm still the same as before." The rest sighed, glad because they knew what could have happened to them.

"Thank you, Nuka. You are truly noble." The raven then flapped his wings, cawing, and the rest of his flock followed inmediately, cawing too.

Nuka came back slowly. The sun was coming down, leaving pretty shade of oranges and reds in the sky. Nuka kickes the rocks, taking his time and enjoying the walk. He smiled, but he was also sad, he didn't knew if he would see his new friend again. When he arrived at the den, it was completely dark outside, except of the light of the stars. Nuka, as always, and as he didn't remember Akili wasn't there, tapped the rock three times. He sighed, smiling and proceeded to enter when he heard three taps answering him back. The blood on his veins freezed, as pure horror came to his face.