The sun shone brightly and a soft breeze drifted about as Obsieron wound his way carefully through the tall grass. The young flox crept towards the small pond that Daren had pointed out to him, and as he went, his mind recounted everything Daren had told him to say. Nothing more, nothing less. Obsieron swelled with pride. He carried an important message – one that everything depended on.
Kianga paced back and forth near the pond. She had woken up feeling discouraged. The discovery of the black pride's secret hadn't helped her to form a plan, and every moment she spent thinking about it frustrated her more. And she couldn't even go to her mother to tell her what was troubling her. The beautiful lioness was completely alone.
Knowing she had a few hours to herself before she had to begin her duties, Kianga had left the cave at Pride Rock and had gone for a walk. Without realizing where she was going, she went directly to the pond she had discovered the day before. When she looked up and saw where she was, she sighed and began pacing back and forth, deep in thought. Then slowly, she stopped. There was a scent on the breeze, a new one mixed with something familiar. Frowning, she tried to figure out what it was, but was unable to. She was about to begin her pacing again, when she spotted something working its way towards her through the grass. Looking warily around her, she crouched, ready to spring at it.
Obsieron was almost at the pond when he stopped and looked around him, his body quivering. Almost immediately, a lioness sprang from the deep grass and flew at him. Obsieron flung himself to one side as the lioness came down exactly where he had been. His body recoiled, ready to jump again but he was too late. The lioness pounced and held him to the ground with her paws. As Kianga looked down at the tiny creature, she frowned. He was barely bigger than a lion cub, yet he looked so different. And he was full of fire. Even as she held him, the creature fought and struggled, trying to get away from her.
Obsieron was furious! How dare this lioness come in and pounce on top of him when he was trying to deliver a message for Daren. Glaring up at the lioness's face, Obsieron suddenly gasped. She had the markings Daren had told him to look for! Gulping, Obsieron stopped squirming and looked straight at the lioness.
"I'm sorry, Queen Kianga. I did not recognize you."
Kianga frowned, looking down at Obsieron. "What did you just call me?" she asked him, a little shocked.
Obsieron spoke a little louder than before. "I called you, 'Queen Kianga'," he told her.
Kianga sighed. Blacksoul must have sent him to mock her. "I'm no queen," she replied, her gaze dropping to the ground.
Obsieron shook his head. "Not yet. But you will be."
Kianga looked up in surprise. As she looked down at the creature before her, she saw his eyes were sparkling with excitement. Getting up, she took her paws off him and sat down facing him.
"What's your name?"
"Obsieron. But I don't have time to tell you about me. I bring you a message from the Prince of the Pride Lands."
"Daren!" gasped Kianga, looking wildly around her.
Obsieron nodded again. "He wanted to send you a flower as part of the message, but it has been many years since they have grown in the outlands."
Kianga smiled to herself as she remembered the first time Daren had given her a flower. It had then become a thing that he always did for her. Looking out towards the outlands, Kianga clenched her teeth. To think that Daren was there, just beyond the border. How she wanted to run to him.
Obsieron's voice broke into her thoughts. "He wants you to know that he will attack a week from now."
Kianga looked at Obsieron in surprise. "But he can't! There's no way, no plan – nothing to help him!"
Obsieron smiled, his whole body swelling with pride as he told her what Daren had said. "He said it doesn't matter. He's waited long enough. He will take his pride and his lands back or he will die trying."
Kianga nodded. She somehow knew that Daren meant it. Then an idea came into her mind. "Wait here," she told Obsieron, turning and bounding off. A few minutes later, she was back. She placed the blackened leaf on the ground.
"What is it?" Obsieron was confused. It looked like it had seen fire, yet it didn't smell like it.
"The black lions who control the Pride Lands coat themselves with it," Kianga said. "If you can discover how they make it, perhaps Daren could use it to his advantege?"
Obsieron nodded. "There's one last thing. Daren wanted me to tell you that…he loves you."
Kianga's heart leapt. After all this time, he still felt the same way about her. Kianga recalled the question he had asked her, so long ago, under the stars. "Kianga, when we grow up, will you be my mate?"
Kianga stood, looking around them and then down at Obsieron. "You'd better go," she told him. "When you see Daren, please tell him that I said 'yes' a long time ago. The answer is still yes." The young flox frowned.
"Alright."
He picked up the leaf in his mouth and faced Kianga, bringing his small body into a bow. "Perhaps the next time we meet, you will be Queen," he said. Then turning, he bounded off towards the outlands. As Kianga watched him, she smiled – her hopes high once again. Glancing up to the sky, she stood for a moment in awed silence.
"Thank you," she whispered to the billowing clouds. She knew that somewhere up there, Kimoni and the other Great Kings had been watching over her. They had finally brought Daren back to the pride. Back to her.
Obsieron made his way back to where Daren sat waiting in the dead grass of the outlands. Together they crept back to where they had spent the night, and that was when Daren finally looked to the flox. Obsieron smiled.
"I did it just like you said to. There was only one problem though."
Daren's head snapped up from looking at the black leaf, and his gaze met Obseiron's. "What was it?"
The young flox chuckled. "She attacked me!"
Daren smiled to himself, remembering how Kianga looked in the early morning light. He couldn't wait to see her again.
Obsieron pawed at the leaf. "Don't you want to know what this is?" he asked Daren. The lion nodded, and so Obsieron related what Kianga had said. Daren listened to him, his mind already at work. He could sneak into the Pride Lands, undetected, as a wandering member of the Black Pride. He could hide the marking, and no one would know until he made his move. When Obsieron came to the part about the word 'yes,' Daren smiled. He knew what Kianga was talking about. It was from when they were only cubs and he had asked her to be his mate. She still cared about him! Then, his mind reverted back to his newly formed plan. Nodding to himself, he called Obsieron and the two of them began their journey back to the forest.
At Pride Rock, Kianga was preparing to take her group out hunting when Blacksoul called to her. The lioness was far along in her pregnancy and her rounded belly prevented her from hunting with the others. Kianga went and stood in front of Blacksoul, her body still and her head held high. Yet, even though she looked strong and vengeful, she bowed her head to the black pride leader and waited. Blacksoul watched her with burning eyes. She had done well over the weeks and now she was ready.
"Kianga," she snapped. "I have seen your loyalty and you are worth much to this pride. It is time for you to fully join with us. You will no longer be counted as a lioness of these lands. From now on, you will be called…" Blacksoul paused, thinking for a moment before she spoke again. "You new name is Deathdream. Kianga doesn't exist anymore." Turning, she looked at the two black lionesses nearest her. There was Nightblood, still frail and weak from her illness, and Painclaw. Blacksoul summoned them and they came quickly.
"Accompany Deathdream down to the black pond," she told them with a fierce snarl. "Teach her about our black coats and let her don her first one." The lionesses nodded and started down Pride Rock. Kianga followed them, glancing back at the cave once. Her mother and Azmera stood together in the mouth of it, watching as she made her way down the rocks. Tears fell fast from Sauda's eyes as she watched her only daughter walk away, knowing that she would come back with a new name and that she would have to act even more different than before. And beside her, Azmera looked up and whispered, "Watch over her Kimoni. Kianga is a brave and caring lioness. Only you can protect her now."
As they walked slowly towards the pond, Kianga felt her body numb with fear. How far was she willing to go to try and protect the pride and Daren? Hadn't she done enough already? Taking a deep breath, she wondered if it was too late to turn back. To beg to be nothing more than a captive again. Shaking her head, she quickened her pace. This was the best way. As the group approached the pond, Kianga took another deep breath. She knew that to completely convince Redeye and Blacksoul, she had to make it seem like she believed it herself. As she stood in the mixture of black, she closed her eyes and focused for a moment. No more Kianga, no more pride. Daren, freedom, love – it would all need to be in the past for now. No mention of Daren's attack, or her pretence. It would all be pushed away to the back of her mind.
Rolling like the lionesses instructed her, Kianga coated herself with the black. Then, standing up, she went over to the water's edge and looked down. The dark face looked back up at her, the black color disfiguring her beauty and making her seem evil. Her markings were gone, black like the rest of her, and only her bright blue eyes were the same. They were a small window into the past lioness. Everything else had changed. The two lionesses, Nightblood and Painclaw looked on in wicked pride. Painclaw let out a low laugh, which chilled Kianga to the bone. Nightblood smiled, her eyes blazing. When a new lion or lioness joined their band, it felt like when they had conquered a kingdom. Another creature had submitted themselves and shown that the Black Pride was superior. Nodding to Kianga with approval, they started back towards Pride Rock. And taking one last look at herself in the pool, the new black lioness stood and turned to follow them.
As Deathdream stepped up to present herself to Blacksoul, the lionesses of Pride Rock watched, their eyes filled with sorrow. They knew why Kianga had done this, but they feared for her life. Never had a more courageous lioness lived in the Pride Lands. Even the Great Kings, Kimoni, Kovu and Simba would have been proud.
Jayson's body relaxed as Daren stepped back into the flox clearing with Obsieron at his side. "You had us worried sick!" he exclaimed, chastising his son. Sending him off to find his mother, Jayson nodded to Daren to follow him. Daren quickly took the black leaf over to Lisha's den. The silent lioness's eyes lit up as he walked into the den and she rushed forwards to him. Licking his cheek, she pressed her body against his and looked deep into his eyes. Daren knew that she was saying she was glad to have him back and that he was safe. Smiling, he asked her if she could figure out what was in the black mixture. Nodding, Lisha scooted him out of the tunnel. Daren chuckled softly, and then left the clearing to go find Jayson.
Stepping up to where the flox leader stood, Daren stopped. Jayson was looking at him, his eyes curious and his ears perked. "What did you find?"
Daren looked down at the flox. "I sent a message to a lioness of my pride," he told Jayson. "Obsieron took it. You should be very proud of him."
The flox smiled to himself, feeling pleased with his son.
Daren continued. "I told them that I will attack a week from now. They provided me with a way to sneak into the Pride Lands. Then, I can go against the leaders, and you can lead a group of floxes to back me up."
Jayson shook his head. "Daren, I'm sorry, but we will not be going with you. This isn't our fight. I do not want to lose any of my floxes. You will have to go alone."
Daren stood in silence for a moment and then slowly nodded. "I understand," he said to the flox, although he felt betrayed and hurt. "You have already done so much for me. To knowingly endanger your floxes for me would be wrong. Please forgive me."
Jayson looked up at Daren, worry clouding his eyes. "I'm sorry Daren."
The lion turned. "I have lots of things to do. I should get busy." He walked back to the flox clearing and entered Lisha's den, throwing himself to the ground. Lisha looked up inquiringly from her work and Daren sighed. He explained his conversation with Jayson and then closed his eyes. He was exhausted. Perhaps after he got some decent sleep, he would feel better.
Lisha watched as Daren's breathing got slower until she could see the steady rise and fall of his chest as he slept. Stopping what she was doing, she sat for a moment in silence. Jayson was wrong. This was his fight as much as anyone else's. He bore the same scar as Daren – given to him by the black lion himself. Soon, no where would be left free if he stayed alive. Sighing, Lisha went back to her work, carefully sniffing out the ingredients in the black mixture. A few berries, a type of mud, and some herbs – soon she had it figured out and went to find them. Over the next couple days she mixed until she found the right combination. The only problem with it was that it was water soluble. If mixed with water, it would just run off.
After his talk with Daren, Jayson had made his way back to his den beneath the rock, and told his frustrations to Cayliess. He didn't know what to do. Neither choice seemed right. But he would stay by what he had told Daren. The floxes would not provide any aid to him.
The days went by as Daren slowly prepared himself to go to the Pride Lands and fight back what was rightfully his. He knew that he would most likely die in the attempt, because he would be one lion fighting a whole pride, but he felt that it was the thing to do. Although he might not be able to free his pride, he had to try.
Finally the day came for him to leave. It was the day before the day he had named. Daren spent the morning with Lisha and then in the afternoon, Daren called together the floxes. They gathered by the large rock and said their farewells to Daren. Obsieron stood stubbornly by him until the very end, when Jayson stepped forwards to wish his good luck. Thanking him and the rest of the floxes, Daren turned and ran from the clearing. Jayson watched him go, a guilty feeling rising inside of him. He felt like he had just ordered the prince to his death.
Sighing, Jayson went into his den to be alone with his thoughts, but that wasn't to be the case. Cayliess followed him, her eyes looking at him with disapproval.
"You cannot let him fight them alone," she said in her soft voice.
Jayson nodded. He had already decided in his heart. Before Cayliess had another chance to speak, Jayson got up. He hurried out of the den and went over to Obsieron. Clearing his throat, he spoke to his son.
"Obsieron," he said, "its time that you be a messenger once again. But you must hurry, because everything depends on your speed." The young flox swelled with pride as his father told him the message, and he tore from the clearing.
Daren traveled throughout the night and slept most of the day in the outlands. As dusk began to fall, he prepared himself for his entrance into the Pride Lands. His heart grew heavy as he thought about how this could be the last time he walked in the lands of his birth. Perhaps the last time he would see his mother and Kianga. Taking a deep breath, Daren focused on everything he had been taught. He would use it all to help him fight this one last battle. Slipping noiselessly through the outlands, he made his way down to the border. He would wait until the perfect moment, and then slip into the Pride Lands.
The black lioness Deathdream had been patrolling near the outland border. She knew that tonight was the night Daren had named for his attack and thought it wise to be there, just in case. As she paced through the grass, she suddenly caught a whiff of something on the breeze. Closing her eyes, she smiled to herself. It was Daren's scent.
Roaring, she called to the other black lionesses nearby. She made it seem like she had caught an enemy's scent leading away from the spot. Snarling, the black lionesses charged away after her, leaving the border near Daren completely unguarded. He waited for a few moments to make sure that it was truly clear. When he could catch no scents and hear nothing, Daren stood and started forwards. As he did so, he heard a rumbling far in the distance. Looking up, Daren saw the sky begin to be filled with thick black clouds. He smiled to himself. The perfect cover. Glancing back at his hip, he smiled again. The scar was completely invisible. Kianga had been right.
The storm continued to fill the sky as a powerful black lion stepped across the border and made his way into the Pride Lands. Focusing on Pride Rock, the black lion rushed forwards, bringing courage and hope with him. He was different from the other black lions that had crossed that very border before him. They had wanted battle and bloodshed.
This black lion wanted freedom.