The next morning, Blacksoul and Redeye sent out another search through the Pride Lands, and even a bit into the Outlands. But there was nothing to threaten them, and so they called off the search. To them, Rafiki was just another stray animal who was still loyal to the former king of the Pride Lands, but to the lionesses of Pride Rock, his sacrifice would always be remembered. They had mourned his death, but had also felt a calming feeling – almost like he too was watching over them. Although there were days when the lionesses felt miserable and frustrated, they always had hope. They knew now for certain that Daren was somewhere out in the world beyond, and that he would come and free them all when the time came.
The only lioness that was really worried about things was Azmera. She had felt comforted before, knowing that Rafiki had been out there with her son, training him to become a just and honorable king. Now, with Rafiki dead, she didn't know how Daren would be able to manage. As the days went by, Azmera worried more and ate less. Soon, she had fallen ill with worry, and after a while, could not even go out to hunt.
One day, as she was laying alone in the cave, silent tears rolling down her cheeks, Azmera suddenly felt a warm body pressed close to hers. Thinking it was one of her friends; Azmera sighed, and placed her head down on her paws.
"Azmera, everything will be alright. Daren is strong. You'll see."
Azmera froze. She recognized that voice! She looked up and around in surprise, and gazed into the soft brown eyes of Kimoni.
"Oh Kimoni!" She buried her face in his soft mane, and sobbed. "I've missed you so much!"
The king held her close with his soft paws. His fur rippled, like it was made up of the stars and the wind. The couple lay close together for a few minutes and then the great king sighed.
"I cannot stay with you any longer. But I wanted you to know that Daren is safe. He is being cared for by honorable creatures, who are teaching him well." Kimoni gazed deep into Azmera's eyes and smiled. "I love you Azmera, with all my heart. Don't ever forget that."
Azmera nodded, her eyes wet. "I love you too Kimoni." She closed her eyes and felt herself being held again by her mate. Too soon, the warmth had faded away, and Azmera looked around her to find the cave empty and cold.
Standing up, she walked out of the cave. She was still a bit weak from being so ill, but she could already feel her strength returning. Shooting a thankful glance up at the sky, she walked over to where Blacksoul was sitting at the edge of Pride Rock. Sitting down beside her, she looked out over the once beautiful lands. Blacksoul glared at her, but didn't say a word. When Nightblood returned that evening with her hunting group, Blacksoul informed her that Azmera was well again, and would be hunting the next morning. Azmera nodded, but her heart soared. In one day, she had learned everything she needed to know to be happy. Nothing could dampen her spirits now.
Time passed in the Pride Lands. The stars continued to be hidden by the thick clouds, and a chilling silence seemed to echo throughout the lands. The black lions grew stronger and the lionesses of Pride Rock continued to live as captives in their own home.
As the months went by, Kianga grew to be a strong and beautiful lioness. She was a skilled hunter, and learned quickly how to fight. Every night, she would still go down to the water hole, under the watchful eye of Nightblood. And every night, Kianga would think about Daren and dream of the moment when she would see him again.
Deep in the forest, Daren had grown as well. Now he was a strong lion, and his mane was starting to thicken. He was much bigger than the floxes now, but it didn't seem to matter. Daren had spent so much time with the floxes, he had begun to think of them as family. They had mourned together when Rafiki had failed to return to them, and they had celebrated together when Jayson and Cayliess had their first set of cubs. When Rafiki had failed to return, Jayson had taken it upon himself to train Daren. He taught Daren how to hunt, fight, and track. He taught him about the different plants of the forest, and about the animals. Often, Jayson would take Daren off for a few days at a time, and they would travel and hunt together. Jayson spent many long hours teaching Daren how to cover his tracks and keep hidden if needed.
Although Jayson taught Daren many survival skills, he also taught Daren to be compassionate and caring. He taught Daren that hate and revenge was wrong, and would only blacken an animal's heart. He spent hours telling Daren stories of the past kings of the Pride Lands – stories that he had been told by Rafiki. As Daren learned from him and looked up to him, he began to think of Jayson like a father.
Jayson's dear mate, Cayliess became best friends with Daren, and they spent many afternoons hunting together, or play fighting. Daren loved her cubs, and often played with them and watched over them when Jayson and Cayliess had other duties. He also spent time with many of the other floxes – talking, hunting, and playing. Daren became very loved by all the floxes, and they truly adopted him as one of their own.
Of all the kind animals Daren had come to know though, Lisha was his very favorite. He felt he had a special connection to her, and he loved every moment he spent by her side. One of his most favorite things was when she would go out in the evenings and sit in the clearing. He would sit beside her, and together, they would watch the beautiful night sky. Daren found himself learning many things from Lisha, even though she was never able to speak a word to him. Lisha showed him many things to do with the moon and the night sky, and Daren began to think of it as fate that he had met her. They could communicate better than anyone else, and her moon-shaped marking still amazed him.
One thing that Daren began to realize was that when the moon was full and shone across the land, he felt strong and healthy. But when the moon was new, and disappeared from the sky, he felt tired and weak. The reason he was able to recognize it, was because he noticed the same thing happening with Lisha. Often, when the night sky was dark, she would remain in their den and sleep. But when the moon was full, she was out sitting beneath it, her eyes sparkling. Puzzled by it, Daren decided to try and find an answer.
One morning, Daren was trotting through the forest when he picked up a strange scent. It was coming from upwind and so Daren crouched low to the ground and worked his way forwards to see who it was. As he neared where the scent was coming from, he heard voices. Carefully picking his way through the brush, he looked down into a clearing and gasped.
In the clearing below him, about twenty five hyenas were pacing back and forth. One of them barked out a command, and they all leapt forwards, dashing off through the trees. Their eyes had been full of fury, and they seemed hungry. Daren watched in horror as he saw them go off in the direction of the floxes clearing – his home. Turning, he tore off through the forest, running with all his might in order to make it there first.
Daren burst into the clearing, scattering a bunch of young cubs that had been playing together. They began whining, and Jayson looked over in surprise at the lion. However, his expression changed at once when he saw the look on Daren's face.
"What is it?"
Daren gasped for air. "A pack of hyenas are coming this way! They look ready to fight. We have to get everyone out of here!"
Jayson looked up at Daren in dismay. "But we can't leave! Some of the cubs are too small to travel, and we wouldn't get away in time carrying them. We will have to remain here." Daren's heart sank as he remembered his mother saying the same thing. However, this time, he was old enough to fight.
As the two spoke together, many of the floxes crept closer in order to hear what they were talking about. Some of the mothers gasped and hurried to find their cubs, but the younger floxes listened with interest.
Daren looked straight at Jayson, his thoughts still drifting for a moment to Kianga and his mother back in the Pride Lands. Then, standing tall, he looked down at the flox leader.
"Then I will protect the pack with my life."
Daren went over to the entrance of the clearing, his claws digging into the earth and his ears listening to the sounds of the approaching. Jayson bounded over to him, looking up at the lion like he was crazy.
"I won't let you throw away your life for us. You still have to go back and save your friends in the Pride Lands."
Daren looked down at the flox he loved like his own father. "You cannot stop me Jayson."
The flox nodded. "I know. But I can help you." He stepped up next to Daren, his face twisted into a snarl, and his ears flat against his head. As the floxes in the clearing watched, an adolescent female flox stepped forwards and positioned herself on Daren's other side. Then a male stepped forwards, and another female. Soon, almost all the floxes in the clearing stood by Daren, ready to fight to protect their home and their loved ones.
As the sounds of the hyenas came closer to the camp, Lisha stepped from her den and joined the line of warriors, ready to fight. Daren glanced over at her, and he felt the pride and approval that shone in Lisha's eyes. Turning back towards the trees, he saw the first of the hyenas leap through before the clearing broke into battle.
Daren fought with all his might, slashing left and right with his great claws. He glanced around the clearing every so often, making sure that his flox friends were alright. At one point, he went to help one of his friends, and then roared with anger and pain as two hyenas leapt on his back, digging in deep with their claws. Suddenly, he heard a sickening crunch, and turned to see Lisha fighting them off of him. And then time seemed to slow down. One by one, the hyenas stopped fighting and looked in horror at the lioness that they believed to have been dead so many years before. They recognized the long, deep scars on her neck, and the small moon-shaped marking. Yelping in pain and terror, they turned and ran, yelling back that they would never set foot in the forest again.
The floxes looked around them in surprise. They had never expected the fight to be so short. Daren glanced from one flox to another, and sighed with relief. Although they all had cuts and scratches, no one was seriously wounded. As the floxes settled back down again, licking their wounds, and speaking of the strange morning events, Jayson called Daren over to him.
"Let's go for a walk."
Daren nodded and followed Jayson out of the clearing. He wondered what exactly Jayson wanted to talk about, but waited in silence for the wise leader to tell him.
"I want to thank you Daren. You showed amazing courage today. You reminded me exactly of your father, Kimoni. I'm sure he is very proud."
Daren nodded, a lump rising in his throat. "I did it because I care about all of you. You are just like family to me; therefore it was my fight too."
Jayson smiled. Then he turned to look at Daren, his expression serious. "Daren, I know you have wondered why you and I have the exact same scar."
Daren's ears perked up at once, and he looked at Jayson with interest.
"When we were living near the edge of the forest quite a few years ago, we were attacked. A pride of black lions came through and destroyed everything we had. They injured many of the pack and killed lots of our prey. Then they ran us off the land, but not before they had given me this scar. They told me that it is the marking that identifies their greatest enemies. I was told that if they ever saw me again, they would recognize me at once and kill me." Jayson sighed, and then continued. "These lions – they're murderers. They don't care about anyone or anything but themselves. That's why we have to find the perfect way for you to defeat them. You cannot try and fight them, because they'll just destroy you. Promise me that you won't go and try to save your friends until we have a plan worked out. The courage and strength you showed today was incredible, but that will not work against them."
Daren nodded. "Don't worry, I understand Jayson."
Jayson smiled, and the two made their way back to the camp. But Daren felt very uneasy, knowing now that the black lions killed for fun. At first, he had thought that they held a grudge against his family, but now knowing this, he realized that they killed whoever and whatever they pleased. This meant that not only was his mother in danger, but that Kianga wasn't safe now either. Daren's heart sank. He couldn't bear to think of Kianga in danger. He closed his eyes for a moment, remembering her beautiful shiny coat and dazzling blue eyes. Oh, what he would give to see her again.