Marjani and Daren stumbled through the darkness towards Pride Rock. When they finally climbed up its slope and entered the cave, Daren fell down with exhaustion. Azmera rushed over and nuzzled her son. Then, her eyes filling with tears, she looked up at her friend.
"And Kimoni? Where is he?"
Marjani only bowed her head. Rafiki stepped forward, and places his hand on Azmera's shoulder.
After he had caught his breath, Daren shakily got to his feet. As his small cub face looked up at his mother, his eyes suddenly seemed years older. "Mother," he said, "there is a pride of black lions coming." A few gasps were heard in the cave.
"They sent me as proof," continued Daren, showing the deep wound to the pride. "Mother, we have to move the pride out of here right away."
Azmera sighed. "My son speaks what I wish we could do." She turned to her pride. "However, we cannot run. There are still young cubs, and there is not enough time. They would still catch us."
The lionesses nodded, and pulled their cubs in close to them. Rafiki stepped towards Azmera, and whispered something in her ear. She looked at him, and then slowly nodded.
"Come, my son," she said, beckoning to the mouth of the cave. "And you too, Kianga."
Azmera stepped outside of the cave, and walked slowly down to the bottom on Pride Rock. Rafiki and the two cubs followed her. She looked up at the sky, and saw the strangest sight. Both the moon and the sun were gone now, but a bright ring remained in the sky. Azmera found it was too bright, and lowered her eyes. They began to ache, but she pushed the thought out of her mind.
"Daren," she said, clearing her voice. "I want you to leave the Pride Lands with Rafiki."
Daren looked up at his mother. "No! I won't leave you! I want to stay and fight!"
Azmera smiled sadly. "I know. But you must go."
Daren shook his head. "No, I won't leave." He dug his claws into the soft earth, and winced as the cut on his hindquarters throbbed. Kianga looked at the queen and then at her friend. She didn't want him to go either.
Azmera's eyes filled with tears. "My son, you must go. I say this because if you don't, they will kill you. You are all I have left. Go, and perhaps one day we will be able to reclaim the Pride Lands."
Daren slowly nodded, knowing his mother was right. He snuggled into her fur, and breathed in her scent for one last time. Azmera wrapped her front paw around him, and held him tightly. Then, she let go and gently licked his cheek. Daren turned, and looked at his best friend. Even in the strange light she looked beautiful. Daren gulped. Had it really only been yesterday that he had realized that he loved her?
As Kianga gazed back at Daren, a sudden feeling came over her. She wanted to go with him, and would do anything, as long as it meant they would be together. But she knew that this was a journey Daren had to make on his own.
As Daren walked towards Kianga, he stooped down and picked a daisy from the ground. Carrying it in his mouth, Daren stepped up to Kianga. He placed the flower on the ground in front of her, and then looked into her eyes.
"One day, you will be my queen," he whispered to her. "I promise Kianga. I will come back."
Rafiki stepped forward and motioned that it was time to leave. Daren nodded, and nuzzled Kianga. Then, he turned and followed Rafiki off into the gloom.
As Azmera watched her only son disappear off into the distance, a single tear trickled down her cheek to land in the dust. Kianga's ears pricked up, and she turned to see her mother walking towards them. She ran up to her, and buried her face in her mother's soft fur.
"Mommy, he's gone," sobbed Kianga. Sauda placed a paw on her daughter's head.
Azmera turned to face the Sauda and Kianga. "We need to get back to Pride Rock. The black lions will be here soon."
Sauda nodded, and the group quickly made their way back to Pride Rock. Everything was quiet as they climbed up the rock, and no one came to meet them. Kianga sank down low to the ground, and looked around her in fear. As Azmera walked towards the cave, deep laughter came from within. She stopped and watched with narrow eyes as a large black lion stepped out, accompanied by a smaller black lioness.
Sauda gasped and held Kianga close as the two dark figures circled Azmera, low growls rumbling from their throats. Finally, they stopped and sneered at the queen.
"What do you want here? asked Azmera, her voice trembling a little.
The black lion stepped forward, his eyes flashing, but the lioness beside him shot him a warning look. "I am known as Blacksoul," she said, lowering her head a little, "and this is Redeye," she continued, nodding towards her mate. "And you. You are the queen of the Pride Lands. Another ruler in a long line of great lions." Redeye snarled, and spat at Azmera's paws.
Sauda snarled and made ready to throw herself forwards, but Azmera shook her head. "It's not worth it." she said softly.
His face twisted into an evil smile, Redeye looked at Azmera, his right eye glittering like fresh blood. "Your lands belong to me now," he said. "As does your pride. None of you are to leave the Pride Lands. No one will send messages out of the Pride Lands. This is your home, and you will stay living here." He laughed, and his voice made even Azmera feel chilled to the bones.
Blacksoul stepped forwards. "Where's your little prince?" she asked, her voice dripping with disgust. Azmera looked straight past her, and refused to say a word.
"No matter," said Blacksoul, after a few minutes. "We've given him the mark. He's an enemy to anyone in our pride, and we are everywhere. Your little cub won't last long." Then, she looked up at the sky, shielding her eyes with a paw. Turning back to Azmera, Blacksoul chuckled. "You have no chance against us, for even the sun and the moon obey us."
Blacksoul pointed at the sky. "Look." She sat down and cleared her throat. "Moon, give us back our light," she commanded.
Azmera gasped as she saw the moon slowly move away from the sun and the darkness began to fade from the land. Kianga peered out from behind her mother's leg, her eyes wide and full of fear. Blacksoul looked at Redeye and nodded. Some of the black lionesses stepped forwards, and motioned for Azmera, Sauda and Kianga to follow them into the cave. Unable to do anything, the group entered the cave to join the rest of the pride.
Redeye walked to the edge of Pride Rock, and looked out across the beautiful Pride Lands. As the sun began to appear again, its rays glimmered off the river and made the air shimmer. Blacksoul joined Redeye at the edge of the cliff. "This was the greatest attack we have done, she said. Redeye nodded.
"Lets stay here a while."
As Daren ran through the darkness after Rafiki his mind raced through the events that had happened that day. In only a few short hours, his whole life had been torn apart. His eyes began to water, and soon he was crying. Stumbling along behind Rafiki, Daren suddenly realized that the land was growing lighter. He stopped and turned to look back at his home. What he saw made his fur bristle. Two black lions stood at the edge of Pride Rock, overlooking all the lands. Daren snarled, and Rafiki turned around, quite startled. He walked back to where Daren stood.
"One day, Rafiki," panted Daren, "I'll come back here, and put things right." The wise baboon nodded, and patted Daren's shoulder.
"I know. Now hurry, we must keep moving."
Daren turned and began to follow him. As he ran, he made a promise in his mind. Soon he began to whisper it out loud, and then he began shouting it.
"I will get my revenge! I promise!"