Blacksoul paced back and forth in the cave on Pride Rock. She had just woken from one of her nightmares again, and it had troubled her. In it, she had relived the events of her sister Lisha's last day alive. Blacksoul had recounted everything that had occurred, but one thing bothered her. When she had first met Redeye, he seemed strange and evil. How did her opinion of him change so quickly?

The black lioness walked in circles, deep in thought. How was it that such a blood thirsty lion had suddenly come to her rescue? She frowned as she thought of Redeye.

Straightening up suddenly, Blacksoul looked around the cave. Her eyes narrowed into slits. Someone had been watching her. The black lioness let out a low growl, before slipping out of the cave. She had to be more careful in the future.

Kianga let her breath out slowly after holding it cautiously when Blacksoul had looked her way. Kianga had been searching for a weakness, anything that she could use against the black pride. It had been months since Rafiki's death, and no one had heard anything of Daren. Kianga had felt that she should take it upon herself to find a way for him to come back, and save the lionesses of Pride Rock.

She had begun to focus on the working of the black pride. Every chance she got, Kianga would watch the lionesses and how they interacted with their leaders. She tried to listen to where patrols would be, and where the new hunting groups would be placed. And for the last few weeks, she had been watching Blacksoul. Kianga sat, genuinely puzzled when she thought of Redeye's mate. Blacksoul always seemed to be on edge, almost like something was haunting her. Kianga wondered if there was any way she could use this against Blacksoul. Yawning, the young lioness lay back down and drifted into a deep sleep.

Outside the cave, Blacksoul sat for a moment on the edge of Pride Rock, waiting for Redeye to come back from his walk through the Pride Lands. The wind ruffled her fur, and her ears twitched as she heard a sound from behind her. Turning, she saw her mate climbing up towards her. He came to sit by her and looked out across the lands. Blacksoul let him sit for a moment in silence before she cleared her throat and spoke.

"Redeye, do you love me?" Her words fell flat, almost as if they were as afraid of hearing an answer as she was.

Redeye's head snapped up and he looked over at her. He had never heard Blacksoul speak of something like that before. It was so unlike her, but it made him feel uneasy. He needed her.

Redeye thought to himself. The truth of it was, when he had first seen her, he had been struck by her beauty. He had wanted her for himself, and in rescuing her from the hyenas and then telling her that her sister was dead, he had created a way for her to join his pride. It had been pure luck that she was so intelligent and that she knew so much, but he had used it to his advantage right away. She had been easy to persuade and he had captured her quickly with his lying ways. He had needed her from the moment he met her, but did he love her?

No.

Redeye almost snorted with laughter. He was an evil lion, filled with hate and the constant thirst for spilling blood. He loved to conquer and he loved to destroy. He was selfish and ruthless, and nothing would ever be able to change that about him. Redeye would never feel love or compassion. But, as he looked down at his mate he smiled. Moving closer to Blacksoul, he lowered his voice.

"Of course I love you Blacksoul," he whispered. "I did from the very moment I met you and I always will."

His words flowed, thick like honey, and his eyes sparkled. Blacksoul looked up at him, believing every word he spoke. She loved him more than life itself, and didn't have a reason not to. If she had known the truth she would have been heart broken.

Redeye brushed against her, leading Blacksoul off with him. He would make her believe that he was sincere. He knew the perfect place that they could be alone together, and that was where he would prove it. Then she would have bigger worries and she wouldn't ever ask him such a stupid question again.

Weeks passed by at Pride Rock, and then one day, Nightblood fell ill. Blacksoul was furious and struck her when she could not get up to go hunting. Snarling, the black lioness sent for one of the Pride Landers. As she looked down at the pale lioness now, she saw that it was Kianga. Blacksoul thought for a moment. She had watched Kianga grow into a strong lioness that obeyed orders and went hunting every day. True she had a rebellious streak in her eyes, but Blacksoul believed that would be conquered with time.

Blacksoul looked down at Kianga. "You are a lioness under the black lioness Nightblood, correct?"

Kianga met the black lioness's gaze, her eyes blazing. She didn't want anything to do with Blacksoul, but she knew that this could give her a way to help Daren. She nodded, and her voice rang out loud and clear, sounding much like the lionesses of the black pride when they spoke to their leaders.

"I am."

Blacksoul nodded thoughtfully. "And where do your loyalties lie?"

Kianga gulped. She had spoken of her plan weeks before to her mother and Azmera. Kianga believed that Blacksoul was not as strong of a leader as she pretended to be. Kianga wanted to try to work her way into the black pride, pretending to be loyal to Redeye and Blacksoul. At first, her mother and Azmera had forbidden her to try, saying that it was too risky. But as time went on, with still no word of Daren, they had been willing to let her attempt it. And now was the time. Kianga felt cold inside, and a bit scared. She was risking her life but it was the only way.

"I do not believe in being loyal to a king who is dead. His son no longer lives and now the Pride Lands are ruled by a strong new pride. I am their humble servant." Kianga lowered her head, and gritted her teeth. She felt terrible saying such things about Kimoni and Daren, but she hoped the Great Kings would understand and forgive her.

Blacksoul stood in silence for a moment, thinking to herself. Her plan was working and one of the lionesses of Pride Rock was willing to be loyal to her. She spoke sharply to Kianga, making sure the lioness was listening to her. Blacksoul wasn't in the mood to repeat anything. She had been in a foul mood ever since she had spoken with Redeye and she knew that the reason was because of the cub growing inside her. It was a constant reminder that Redeye loved her, but she felt tired and ill because of it.

"From now on, you will lead the group Nightblood had charge over. You will arrange their hunting and sleeping times. You will have the freedoms my black lionesses enjoy, but beware. I will be watching you closely and if you make one mistake, I'll kill you." Blacksoul turned away, leaving Kianga shaking.

Azmera walked up to Kiana, her eyes moist. "You are a brave lioness," she said. "We will always honor you, no matter what happens."

Kianga nodded, looking down at the ground. "From now on, I won't be able to talk with you very much. Please tell my mother I love her." Kianga looked up once, and then turned away and walked down towards the water hole.

Azmera went to find Sauda to tell her what had happened. The two lionesses sat together, their hearts filled with sorrow. Kianga was brave to try and find a way to stop the black pride, but they needed Daren's help. Where was he?

In the clearing with the Floxes, Daren sat waiting for Jayson. He had asked the flox leader to go for a walk with him. After a while, Jayson stepped out of his den and the two walked in silence. Finally, Jayson turned to Daren and stopped.

"Daren, I know that something is troubling you. What is it?"

The lion looked down at Jayson and let out a deep sigh. "I'm going to the Pride Lands. I need to find a way to defeat the black lions and claim back my lands."

Jayson's eyes filled with worry. "But you can't! Not yet. We haven't made a plan!"

Daren nodded. "I know Jayson, but this is something I need to do. Every moment that I spend here, I feel like I am running away from it. I need to go back and help my pride."

Jayson nodded. "I understand."

Daren smiled. "Don't worry about me. I am going to stay in the Outlands for a while, watching and waiting before I enter the Pride Lands. I know I'm marked, so I won't go in there until the time is right."

The flox forced a smile. He didn't want Daren to go, but he knew that the time had come for them to part ways. "I'll always treasure you as one of my greatest friends," he told the lion.

Daren nodded. "I feel the same way." He turned to go and then stopped. "Please tell Lisha and Cayliess goodbye for me. I want to be on my way." And with that, the Prince of the Pride Lands bounded off into the trees.

Jayson nodded. "May the Kings go with you Daren," he said as he watched the Prince disappear. It felt like only yesterday that Rafiki had brought the scared cub to him. And now he was off to fight for his kingdom and his family. Jayson smiled. Daren was truly the son of Kimoni.

Weeks passed in the Pridelands. Kianga now had freedoms that she had never imagined – but she didn't enjoy them. Every moment she spent following Blacksoul's orders tore her farther away from the ones she loved. She could only acknowledge her mother from a distance and was never given the opportunity to speak with her. So, as the days dragged on, Kianga grew more and more lonely, wishing with all her heart that Daren would return to them. And so, in preparation for him, she spent every moment awake searching for a weakness. And then finally one day, she found it.

Kianga had just returned with her group of lionesses from a hunt. Making sure they returned to Pride Rock, she ate a small portion of the food before turning and walking off through the dry grass. As she walked, she realized she was near a small pond. It was a rather hidden pond, one that she had never been to before. Kianga was just about to step out into it when she heard voices. Ducking down into the grass, she peered out at two creamy colored lionesses that she had never seen before. However, she recognized their voices. As she crouched, Kianga watched the secret of the black lions reveal itself right in front of her. The lions had some sort of mixture that they painted onto their fur. As Kianga watched, the lionesses rolled in it, coating their lovely fur in black. Then, when they were finished, they turned and headed off towards Pride Rock.

When she was sure they were gone, Kianga made her way carefully out of the grass and over to the water's edge. The grass was smeared with black, and she knelt to smell it. Looking around her, she found a large leaf. Picking it up in her teeth, she brushed it against the ground, coating one side of it in black. If she could figure out what made it, she was sure it could help Daren. Standing back up, she was surprised as she looked out at the Outlands. She hadn't noticed how close the pond was to them. Glancing up and down the border, she noted that there wasn't a patrol nearby. It was, of course, because she was almost one of them now. Blacksoul trusted her.

Kianga paused for a moment. It would be so easy to cross over the border and leave the Pride Lands. She could go search for Daren, and then together they could finally find peace and happiness. Then she sighed. She couldn't run away. She was needed in the Pride Lands. Turning, she started back towards Pride Rock, stopping only for a moment to hide the leaf under a large rock. Then she continued on, her mind whirling with thoughts, trying desperately to form a plan.

Deep in the Outlands, Daren lay crouched, watching the figure of Kianga moving away from him. His heart burned and he felt torn. Part of him wanted to run to her, so that he could hold her close. It was painful to watch her walk away, not even knowing that he was there.

Daren sighed to himself. He had only just arrived in the Outlands yesterday and already he felt nervous and impatient. He didn't know what he was waiting for, but he knew that he had to find some way to get to the leader of the black pride. Without defeating him, Daren knew that he stood no chance against the pride.

As he sat thinking to himself, the silence was suddenly broken by a snapping twig. Daren's ears flicked back and he turned cautiously to look at the place where the noise had broken out. A young flox cub stood just behind him, wearing a rather sheepish grin.

"Obsieron! What are you doing here?" Daren exclaimed, getting up and walking over to the flox. Obsieron, Jayson's oldest son, was an adventurous flox who adored Daren to no end. He looked at the ground and spoke in a quiet voice.

"I wanted to help you, Uncle Daren."

Daren sighed. "This isn't the place for a young flox. I'm going to go fight to reclaim my lands. I have to go and save my family. There's going to be a war here. Don't you understand?"

Obsieron nodded. "Don't you remember when the hyenas came? You said you would give your life for us. I will do the same thing."

Daren pulled the flox close to him, smiling sadly. "Thank you Obsieron, but I can't allow you to do that. Tomorrow, I must take you home." Obsieron hung his head.

"Then there's nothing I can do to help?"

Daren shook his head. Then, an idea came into his mind. He glanced back towards to Pride Lands. Kianga had disappeared now, but what if she came back to the same place tomorrow?

Looking down at Obsieron, Daren spoke. "You can deliver a very important message for me," he told the flox. "But if anything goes wrong, you must promise me that you will run like the wind."

Obsieron beamed up at the prince. "I promise."

Daren smiled at him, feeling like he was doing the right thing. If he could just get a message to Kianga, he knew that making a plan would be easier. She could create a diversion, or something – anything to help him. Pulling Obsieron close to him, Daren closed his eyes and went to sleep. As they slept, Obsieron dreamt of being the greatest messenger ever. He could run faster than anything and carried messages to many different lands. And Daren dreamed about his pride. He remembered his mother, the hunting lionesses and Kianga. But then his dream turned red – filled with war and pain. As he slept, Daren's mind was filled with a nightmare. A nightmare about the end of the Pride Lands – and everything in it.