A big thank you to moonlit severus for the great review ^_^ Appreciate the time taken out to write it….
This chapter is short but I have good reasons for putting it. There is only one left after this and needed to break it up just right. So enjoy:
The dead have been buried and Prince Kikomo climbed up a tall rock that had a winding path. He released a roar of pain, guilt, loss and fury. His pride responded with a roar of forgiveness, love and promise. The new king roared again and this time the Fallen Pride's new friends joined in. Their king had lost the battle to several injuries. His old age hadn't left him with the ability to fight the fast setting infection.
Miles away a roar touched the ears of three lioness. They turned their heads to the home they had never truly left and roared. They found energy they thought had long since left and raced back. The lioness broke through the lining of the clearing a couple hours later and even though their ribs showed and their fur was scared they looked around with bright eyes.
"Mother!" King Kikomo and Prince Heshima rushed to her side. Imani and her mother followed slower. Her mother was happy to see her dear friend.
"What, how?" The old queen said looking around.
"All in time, my dear friend." Imani's mother said leading the queen away to fill her in.
"Brother." Heshima greeted his king affectionately. "The Pridelander's are leaving."
The lions walked out from the den together. It had been four days since the battle and physical wounds had healed. Kikomo looked over at Imani's mother who sat near her son's grave and knew time would heal others as she padded away to sit by her daughter. Near Imani was the once rogue Hai. Heshima let out a sigh next to his brother causing him to look over in concern.
"Does it hurt, to see Imani and Hai?" The two had been really close since he saved her life.
"Yes." His tone told his brother to drop it, which he did. They came before Prince Jana and the others.
"Thank you for sheltering my brother and Imani all this time. Thank you even more for coming with them to save my pride. Without I fear what would have happened and Hodari would have died for nothing."
"Our pride's now have a deep past that join us." King Kikomo said dipping his head to the young king who returned the gesture.
"May the generations to come never forget it." Prince Jana said. Heshima looked at Jana and raised an eyebrow. He almost laughed as the young lion took an extreme breath and stepped away from his pride's side. He looked at the king and Nafsi. "I do not wish to return to the Pridelands. I wish to remain here. Before my pride says a thing please listen. Even if King Kikomo declines I will only return home briefly then leave. I don't want to be king. Everyone in their right mind knows Maji will be a queen few come across. She will mirror Queen Sarabi's reign, only I pray things will not be so hard for her.
"All this time she wasn't trying to earn her rightful position as queen as much as she would have liked it but father's respect, praise and trust. She only thing she wanted his love. She has everyone else's." He finished. He looked to King Kikomo. "I stand before you not as a prince running from his title but as a rogue who wants a home he would proudly give him life for. A pride that is willing to take him in."
To Jana, Nyoka, Imani and Heshima's surprise King Kikomo placed his paw on Jana's shoulder and nodded before backing away. The oldest lioness in the Prideland group stepped forward smiling.
"Penzi," Jana said. "My last act as prince is to give you command over the pride until they are safely home under the rule of my sister. Tell her I'm sorry I broke my promise and I could not be there to watch her become queen but..."
"But?" Penzi asked as he trailed off.
"But tell her she was always a queen to me so it shouldn't matter to much." He smirked. He took a place next to King Kikomo and nuzzled each lioness that came before him. Nyoka was last and with her Roho.
"I'm leaving so much behind." She said sadly. She looked at Jana, then Heshima and Imani trotted over. "Your father would be so proud of you Jana."
She turned to her friends.
"Goodbye my brave Imani. You and Hai better send word some how when there are cubs on the way!" Imani blushed horribly and all Heshima could do was laugh. Nyoka shoved him and began to walk away. "I'll see you sooner than you expect."
"Did you say Hai?" Roho asked. Nyoka nodded and flicked her tail at the male. As Imani made Nyoka promise to inform her of cubs with Roho the lion padded over to Hai. "You joined the rogues!"
"Roho!" He exclaimed. "I thought you were dead brother. I didn't know what to do. I'm so sorry I feel like I betrayed mother and father."
"Don't Hai. You killed the one who took their lives. They can rest in peace knowing you have a mate and life now." He licked his little brother on the forehead and walked over to Nyoka. The two followed Penzi in to the forest to begin the long journey home.
Days later in the middle of the night Jana woke. He walked out of the cave and stood on the king's rock. He wasn't exactly meant to be up there but he wanted to see above the trees. He jumped from the rock on to the outside of the cave the king slept in. He climbed until he had a clear view. He looked at the stares and smile.
"Time, father, time." He said and then he roared in to the night. He felt something stir in him and he knew his sister had claimed the thrown. He jumped and almost fell when Imani, Heshima, Hai and the king himself joined in the roar. Their roars weren't loud or challenging just a relief. The pride stirred little in their sleep but slept on.
"Sorry if I woke you my king."
"No Jana. I've been waiting for you to let us know your sister is queen. We wanted to share her victory with you."