Chapter 3

"Come on, Badrani!" Nyimba yelled playfully. "Catch me!"

A large white lion stopped to catch his breath. "You're too fast for me, Nyimba! Where are you taking me, anyway?" he panted.

Nyimba looked at her tired friend and laughed, "You'll see, ya big slowpoke!" She took off in a sprint again, looking over her shoulder occasionally to check and see if Badrani was following. Although he was a good distance behind her, he managed to run the rest of the way.

She stopped in front of the mouth of a cave and yelled to her friend, "We're here!"

Badrani caught up to her and tilted his head. "Where are we?" he asked in a puzzled tone.

Nyimba smiled and said, "You'll see." She walked cautiously into the cave, being careful not to tread on a sharp stone or hit her head on a stalactite. Badrani followed close behind her, slightly afraid of the dark cave. Eventually, they submerged into complete darkness, unable to see even right in front of them. Nyimba felt her friend's shaky breath on her, and reassured him that they were almost at the destination.

They walked in the dark for what seemed like hours, although it was actually a few minutes before Nyimba saw a bright light in the distance. She widened her eyes with excitement, and sprinted to the light. "We're here, Badrani! Hurry up!" She came to a halt at the cave opening, and gasped at the amazing sight. An icy clearing was a few feet below them with a frozen pond in the middle. Although this icy wonderland was underground, a few openings in the roof had allowed snow to fall in. Due to the drought, not much snow was left in the cave, but some had been preserved.

Badrani roared and jumped into a pile of snow, rolling around. Nyimba purred and slid down the ledge she was standing on, landing in snow. The cool sensation made her purr with delight, and she laid down, belly upwards, on the frozen ground. She closed her eyes and smiled, hoping that this weather would come back to her home soon.

"It's great, isn't it?" Badrani purred as he lay down next to his best friend.

She nodded, but switched her expression to a serious one. "You can't tell anybody about this place. You can't tell your mom or your sister because nobody can know."

Badrani dipped his head in acknowledgment and purred, "It can be our little secret."

Nyimba grinned and nuzzled her head under his chin. "You're my best friend, Badrani, and I trust you more than anybody."

The white and grey lion licked the white and black lioness' head and whispered, "I trust you too." He looked down at his paws and shakily whispered, "I…I love you, Nyimba. I know we are young, but I want to be your mate. There's no other lioness out there that is as wonderful and beautiful as you, and I want you to be mine."

Nyimba gasped and opened her eyes wide. She was speechless, and didn't have a clue what to think of her friend's words. He's my best friend! I've never loved him like a mate…more like a brother! Then again, all of the other lions in my pride are either too young or old, and a nomad isn't likely to visit our barren pridelands. He's the obvious choice to be my mate and the future king.

Badrani saw Nyimba's confused expression, and immediately apologized, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean anything…well, I did mean it, but f you don't feel the same way, though, we can still be friends-"

Nyimba interrupted him, "I love you too." She nuzzled his chin and purred, "I really love you, and I want to be your mate."

Badrani's face beamed with happiness, and he licked Nyimba's shoulder fur softly. She closed her eyes and purred with bliss; she wanted to spend the rest of her life with her new mate. She couldn't wait to rule with him, and someday have cubs and even grand cubs. My life is starting to get so much better, she thought before Badrani spoke again.

"We better get back home to make the announcement." He mumbled between licks.

The lioness nodded and stood up. "You'll have to catch me first!" she laughed playfully, and jumped back onto the ledge, running away.

They ran all of the way home, bursting with the energy of their new love. Badrani had no trouble keeping up with Nyimba, and they ran side-by-side until they spotted something in the distance. They stopped running once they saw the object, and stalked up to it. "What is that?" Nyimba questioned. It was a big, yellow machine that was bigger than an elephant. It reeked of horrible smells, but Badrani recognized one scent.

"This belongs to humans." He growled. "I've seen them before, hunting the other animals with long sticks. I even seen them take on a cheetah; their machine was faster than it."

Nyimba wondered why they were so close to her home, and realized that the pride would be in danger. "We have to get back home, now!" she snarled, and sprinted back to her pride's dens.

As they got close, smoke from a fire started choking them, and the flames could be seen surrounding their home. Nyimba gasped, and realized that they had arrived too late. Badrani immediately ran to the source of the flames to save his family, but Nyimba stood and stared in shock. My home, my kingdom, all gone, she thought. She roared and charged toward the burning dens to help her pride escape.

Please, don't let anybody be dead! Please, Great Kings, keep my pride safe.