I only own the ocs! Everything else belongs to DreamWorks!

Leopard the Warrior of Africa

Chui ate some of his breakfast while Shani just moved hers aside. Zuba raised an eyebrow at his eldest daughter's behavior. She's been acting strange for the past week, and it was starting to bug the Alpha Lion.

"Shani? Is everything alright?" Florrie asked, also taking noticed of the brown lioness's actions. Shani looked up to and looked back down at the meal.

"Just not hungry, Mama," she said quietly, looking slightly to the entrance of the den. 'What I wouldn't do to go and learn more from Makunga…,' she thought, sighing at the thought of her lessons. After some silence between the entire family, the eldest child decided to say her decision to them, not wanting to hide that part of her plans any longer.

"I'm going to the Crater Pride."

Alex spat out his water, causing Rosalina in be drenched in it. Florrie's jaw drop, while Deka and Wema stared at their oldest sister. Kerneels and Asita looked at each other while Ayo looked at everyone. Zuba stood up, towering over Shani.

"No, you are not going," he said, the tone of his voice making Shani wanting to back down. She stood her ground though, not wanting to give in.

"Yes, I am. I'll be able to raise Chui there with out any other cubs teasing him. The Crater Pride has hybrids in it, so he won't be the only one,' she said, crossing her arms. Zuba glared at her, making Alex and Ayo shrink back.

"You are not going. You are staying in this reserve, Shani."

"And what, may I ask, Baba, is a reason I should stay here!? You can't keep me in the den forever, and even if you do, I'm not raising my son the same way! So tell me, what, in all of the things that I know of, will keep me here?"

Zuba and Florrie looked at each other before looking at Shani with wide eyes. Florrie sighed and looked at her daughter.

"We were planning on telling you sometime later, but since you've asked… your father and I have picked out a mate for you," the golden lioness said, her blue eyes looking at Shani's green ones. Rosa looked at her parents and then at Shani.

"What do you mean you've picked out a mate for Shani?" the reddish orange brown lioness said, now standing up. Shani just looked in shock before making Rosa sit down, her green eyes looking at her mother in disbelief.

"We agree with you on one thing, Shani. We can't have you in the den forever, and… well... we also thought that Chui should have a father figure at his age. Your father and I picked out a husband for you," Florrie said, closing her eyes. Alex looked at his mother, opening his mouth to say something, but quickly closed it at the look his father gave him.

Chui looked at his grandmother in confusion. "But… I'm alright with Mama! I don't want her to marry some random dude because I don't have a baba!" the cub said, thinking that it was his fault. Shani held her son in her arms, keeping him close to her.

"Shh, shh, shh. No, no, no Chui, no, it's not because you don't have a baba…" she said to him, one of her paws running through his mane tuff. Shani looked back up at her parents, her eyes now full of betrayal. Zuba looked down at his meal before talking.

"He's a nice lion, Shani. One of the best fighters this pride has, and he's very independent. You'll get along with Jasiri just fine. And yes, you'll be able to get to know him before the marriage."

Alex stood up, finally speaking. "Look, this isn't really fair on Shani's part. She barely knows him already, and if she wants to raise Chui on her own, she can. I mean… it's her decision," he began.

"Alakay, stay out of this."

"I'll shut up now."

Shani glared at her father before shaking her head. "No…"

Florrie reached over to her daughter, trying to comfort her. "Shani, it'll be alright. You'll fall in love with Jasiri in time," she said, trying to put on a smile. Shani kept shaking her head, the look of horror on her face as she stood up and moved away from her parents.

"No, no, no, no, no!" she kept saying, looking at both of them, Chui still in her arms.

Zuba stepped forward, placing his paws up. "Shani…"

"No! I won't go through with it!" she finally yelled, running out of the den with her son still in her arms, away from the rest of her family. To the only place she now felt safe for the moment. To the banished area.

Meanwhile…

Makunga looked at the waterhole from his and Zorillo's tree. They had finally finished up an underground den for themselves, and dug up enough water to last a few weeks for them before they would head out for the crater with Shani and Chui.

'Shani...," he thought, his mind going back to the young lioness for who knows how many times that week. She was still learning hunting from him, but Makunga had to give her credit for being determined. And Chui…Makunga couldn't be more proud of such a cub. It was as if he was starting a family all over again when ever he thought to the tiny cub. The lion rubbed the back of his neck as he sighed. He was getting too distracted by those two, and Zorillo wasn't helping. The polecat would always try to point out all the good things of Shani, which even though he would never admit it, Makunga agreed with all of them. And with Chui, Zorillo would try to bring the cub and lion closer together, making them seem more like father and son.

Makunga sighed and laid his head back against the tree. It just wasn't right even if a relationship could happen between Shani and him. He was old enough to be her father, and he was probably too old to give Shani anymore cubs if she wanted more…

He ran a paw through his mane. He needed to focus on how to win the crater pride over so that he himself would be Alpha lion there… and maybe then have Shani as his Alpha lioness and Chui as the heir…. Wait, focus! Focus! Focus!

"Hey, Makunga! Thinking about your new lady friend?" Zorillo said, popping out from the den.

"SHUT UP!" he yelled, covering his ears.

"Makunga! Zorillo!" a familiar voice yelled out, causing both males to look and see Shani and Chui. The cub stretched out his arms from his mother's grasp towards them, a big smile on his face.

"Kunga! Rillo!"

Shani stopped just in front of them, looking at them, panting from running. Makunga looked at her in shock, seeing tears running down her face. "Shani? What's wrong? Did someone hurt you? Did they hurt Chui?" he asked, placing a paw on her shoulders.

Shani whimpered and sniffed. "My parents put me in an arranged marriage with Jasiri…"

"Well, he is a nice guy, isn't he?" Zorillo said, looking at the lioness with a smile. Makunga slapped the polecat on the head and looked at Shani.

"I told them that I was going to raise Chui in the Carter Pride but….." the lioness trailed off, more tears going down her cheeks. Makunga looked at her in shock and looked down in thought. He knew what this was like… it was how he ended up marrying Lillian… Makunga looked back up at Shani, seeing the panic in her eyes. No… he won't let Shani go through the same thing he did.

"We'll leave as soon as we can. I'll store up on the prey we'll need for the journey, while you and Chui stay here. Zorillo, you keep an eye on them and make sure no one else goes near the den," he said. Shani smiled, despite her tears and hugged him before taking Chui into the den. Zorillo gave a salute and began pacing at the entrance of the den. Makunga went off to hunt, knowing that the best time to leave now would be in the evening.

Later that night…

Chui sat on Shani's back, watching as the reserve waterhole got farther and farther away. The cub looked back at the adult male lion, his mother, and the polecat. The edge of the reserve was getting closer, a somewhat path being guarded by high rocks from hunters easily seen. The cub couldn't help but look confused as he looked back to where the distance waterhole was.

The traveling group stopped just in front of the rock guarded path, as if they all were deciding if it was the right idea. Zorillo gulped and held onto the prey on Makunga's back as the male lion studied the path. The ground was hard enough that no track would be left, yet clear enough that an elephant could walk through it. Shani on the other hand looked at her son, wondering if it was right for him. Chui's green eyes, being emerald glowing in the night, shined at his mother. Shani looked back at the path and took a deep breath in and stepped onto the path, Makunga soon following her with Zorillo on his back. Chui looked back to the waterhole one last time and waved good-bye.

There was now no going back for the four of them.

Julien: oh… I got the heebie-jeebies at that last part. Oh, that is creepy.

Me: yeah….. *shivers*

Marty: and so… the journey begins.

Mort: *is singing* Tell everyone that I'm on my way! New friends and new places to see! With blue skies ahead and a smile on my face, there's no place that I'd rather be!

Everyone: *stares at Mort* …

Mort: oh, sorry, that was the wrong song. I mean, *starts singing* Shadowland… the leaves have fallen, Shadowland….. It was our home….. But the river's now dry, the ground has broken. So I must goooooooooooo, now I must gooooooooooo. And where the journey, may lead me…

Me: *looks to the readers* Review please before I start drowning Mort with my tears.