A few days had passed since the rise of the new king, and slowly life was beginning to go back to normal. Some of the herds had moved on, unsure of how life would be under such a young and inexperienced king, but Kimoni's pride stood strong behind him. And with the kind baboon to guide him, he began to fulfill his duties and meet the challenges presented to him.

One evening, as the sun was setting, a soft rain broke out across the lands. Kimoni was sitting alone on Pride Rock, when he noticed Azmera leave the cave and wander off towards the waterhole. Standing, Kimoni quietly followed her down the rocks and through the grass. When she stopped, he crouched silently in the grass, waiting while she drank. After a few minutes, he stood, and slowly made his way to the water's edge.

Glancing up, the pretty lioness bowed her head with respect, and her eyes met Kimoni's again. Just like before, he felt his heart leap as their eyes met. Azmera looked down, and began to walk away.

"Wait," said Kimoni, surprising himself with the anxious tone in his voice. The lioness turned back to look at him.

"Yes, sire?"

Kimoni frowned. How to say what he felt? He had never paid her any attention before. Would she even believe him?

Taking a deep breath, he started. "You are a very beautiful lioness."

Azmera smiled slightly, and looked at the ground. "Thank you, your highness."

Feeling successful, Kimoni continued. "And you are a talented hunter. Smart. Kind."

Azmera looked up at the king. "Thank you. But why are you telling me this?"

Kimoni gulped. It wasn't an easy question to answer.

"I want you to be my queen. A king would be blessed to have someone like you at his side."

Azmera's eyes narrowed. "Is that why you followed me here? So you could try and win me with your charms? I have wanted to be anything to you – even just a friend, since I first came to this land – and you never once looked to me. Don't think you can have me now!"

Turning, the lioness stormed off through the rain, and as Kimoni watched her leave with a sinking heart, it began to pour. Kimoni hung his head. Her words had attacked him like a fierce opponent, but he knew there was nothing but truth in them. He had ignored her as they grew, and now, as he looked back, he realized how many times she glanced at him or said something kind. And as he watched her disappear into the rain, he knew he had just lost the one lioness he had fallen in love with.

I have to do everything I can to win her back, he thought. She doesn't understand. I don't want her to be at my side because of her talents or her looks. I want her because I love her.

Making up his mind, Kimoni decided to try everything he could think of to prove his love to her. Marching back to Pride Rock, the first thing he did was call together the lionesses. In the rain, under the stars, he made Azmera the lioness in charge of all hunting.

The next day, Azmera began her new assignment silently. A hunting party was formed and she led them off into the fields. Because so many of the herds had left the lands, hunting was becoming more difficult. When the lionesses returned to Pride Rock with their kills, they felt exhausted – as the always did now. As Azmera went into the cave, tired from her new position, she noticed a chunk of meat waiting by the spot she always slept in. Looking around, she noted that none of the other lionesses had come into the cave. Sniffing it carefully, she realized who the scent still lingering on it belonged to. Smiling to herself, she lay down beside it, and began to eat.

Outside the cave, Kimoni stood in the shadows, watching as the lioness ate. Kimoni had spent the day checking the borders, attending to his duties as king, but at the end, he had hunted on his own – specifically for Azmera. Seeing her accept his small gift gave him hope. Smiling, Kimoni turned to join the other lionesses as they ate.

As the days passed, the ritual continued. Azmera lead a strong, healthy party and every evening, when they returned from their hunt, there was always something waiting in the cave for her. One day, as the lionesses went out to hunt, Azmera glanced back at the cave, and there, standing in the entrance was the king. They held each other's gaze for a moment, before Azmera turned to lead the lionesses. Then, thinking the better of it, she looked back once again. Kimoni was still watching her, and so Azmera spoke, her words soft and gentle.

"Good luck with your duties today, your highness." She smiled, as she saw the sudden surprise in Kimoni's face. "And safe hunting."

Kimoni watched in silence as Azmera hurried off after the lionesses, and a warm feeling suddenly crept into his heart. There was still hope! He bounded away to check the borders, and when he hunted, he made sure to find something extra special. Taking his kill back to Pride Rock, Kimoni waited, his face filled with joy. He couldn't wait to see Azmera again.

Hours passed, and the sky grew dark. The hunting party still hadn't returned. Joyful waiting turned into anxious pacing. When Kimoni decided he could wait no longer, a group of tired, injured lionesses finally made their way up the rocks. Rushing forwards, Kimoni's eyes searched them frantically.

"What happened?"

"Sire," spoke Sauda, "as we went to hunt today, we chased a herd down into the gorge. We often use this technique to trap them. But today, they turned on us! There was barely enough time for us to escape, and as you can see, most of us met some sort of injury."

Kimoni nodded. "Rafiki will tend to your wounds at once." Then, searching the lionesses once more, he suddenly spoke, his voice trembling.

"Where is Azmera?"

The lionesses hung their heads. Sauda answered; her voice soft and sad. "She was the one leading us. I'm afraid she was the first to fall. There was nothing we could do."

Kimoni's heart sank, and he felt the hot tears prickling his eyes. Breathing heavily, he felt that he didn't know what to do. He remembered his father telling him of a story about Simba's father, and what had happened in the gorge. He couldn't bear the thought of Azmera – his Azmera, being injured by wildebeests. Blinking away the tears, he saw Rafiki arrive and begin to help the lionesses. That was it. Kimoni turned and ran.

Racing off through the darkness, Kimoni made his way to the gorge. Looking to the stars as he went, he prayed with all his might.

"Father, please let me not be too late. I love Azmera. Don't make her pay for a mistake that was mine."

But the stars remained silent and the king pressed on.

Arriving at the gorge, Kimoni quickly leapt down the rocks into the basin of it. The dust had settled and an eerie silence remained. Kimoni wandered through the gorge, searching everywhere. Soon he had reached the other end – without finding Azmera.

"Azmera," he called, going back the other way and searching as he walked. "Azmera, where are you?"

Finally, about half way through the gorge, Kimoni noticed a narrow opening in the rocks. Rushing over to it, he peered inside and there lay Azmera. Stepping into the crevice, Kimoni moved closer to the lioness. She was breathing, but she didn't wake when Kimoni spoke to her. Feeling torn, Kimoni lay down next to her, pressing his warm body against her. Although he wanted to go for help, there was no way he could leave her now.

The night wore on and Kimoni tried with all his might to stay awake and watch over Azmera, but finally, his exhaustion took over and sleep set in.

As the morning rays shone down into the narrow cave, Kimoni opened his eyes. There, lying next to him was the beautiful lioness, her soft blue eyes gazing back at him. Kimoni lifted his head in amazement.

"Azmera, you're alright!"

The lioness nodded and smiled. "Yes sire, thanks to you."

Kimoni looked down at the ground. "Azmera, I'm so sorry."

"Don't be," replied Azmera. It was silent for a few moments and then Kimoni finally stood, clearing his throat as he did so.

"Azmera…I…I love you."

Azmera's face lit up. "Oh Kimoni, I have always loved you."

Lowering his head, the king rubbed his nose against hers before helping her up. Together, the pair stepped out into the sunlight and made their way out of the gorge. Pausing at the top of it, Azmera's eyes sparkled as she turned to face the king.

"Where to?" she asked, as a group of birds fluttered past overhead. Kimoni thought for a moment, and then he smiled.

"Why don't I take you on a tour of our lands?" he asked.

Azmera nodded. "I'd like that very much."

As the pair set off together through the thick grass, Rafiki stepped out from behind a pile of rocks and watched them as they went. Then, glancing up at the blue sky and its billowing clouds, he spoke.

"I take it you always have a plan for us, don't you?" he asked, his eyes searching the sky.

But the only answer he received was the happy laughter of the king and queen, being carried back to him on the breeze.

The baboon smiled. It was enough.

Well guys, there you have it. I really hoped you enjoyed this story, and that you like the way it ended. As for the next part, I'm going to work on The Marking now, so give me about a week before you read that, as I will be adding and changing a few things in it. Anyways, just wanted to say thank you one more time. You have all been awesome, and its been a blast writing this and looking forward to what you have to say about it.

Hugs to you all, my friends, and take care!

Luv Sunny