Hey, I'm back! And it's only been a little bit over a month, that's an improvement right? I've got some motivation and time is easing up on me so hopefully there won't be another three month wait like 14-15 was.

Obiben27: Thanks man! Always nice to see a review from you.

L0RD3N: I know it's old but oh well lol. I'm glad you like Shelyra's past because that's one thing I wasn't sure how others would feel when reading it.

SnowyMarble: Is that a good questionable or bad one? lol. Thanks for the review.

Thank you guest reviewers!

And a special thanks to L0RD3N for beta reading! Go read his new story "A Ranger in Wolf's Clothing" if you like this story, you'll probably like his just as much.

Enjoy!

Chapter 16

"Reinforcements"

"I'm here," I started with a cold glare, "For my family."

The shocked face on the white lioness queen was enough to tell me that this was unexpected. I glanced around me, the guards had encircled me and blocked the entrance. I rolled my eyes and took another step forward, which almost seemed to scare the queen, "Well? You had a promise. I really hope you haven't forgotten your honor as royalty."

She seemed to compose herself finally as she cleared her throat, closing her eyes with a nod, "Of course not, Danie-"

"Do not say my name." I commanded her rather boldly, "Only my friends and family get to."

She shrugged, "As you wish," she turned to regard the large group of guards that watched this conversation, "You know what to do." She said simply as many nodded. About half of them dispersed, hopefully to fulfill her wishes. I momentarily watched them, curious at the camp I was in. It was primitive, sure, but it wasn't… it wasn't plausible for lions to make this. I briefly recognized the furnishings in the individual tents and it baffled me.

A guard briefly handed something to the queen, and she nodded as she turned to me. "I hope you understand, this is purely a precaution." She said holding up something that looked like a literal leash. I felt dread wash over me and I gulped, but regardless I leaned my head forward and allowed her to slip it over. After it tightened I felt… wrong. She wrapped the other end around her front paw, and it was now impossible to escape by myself. This would be it… "You know, my mother used one just like this on me at your age…" She said as if I really cared.

I ignored her as I watched the guards, I noticed two walking out of a rather large tent, with a cream colored cub being carefully transported. "Let me go!" She yelled and wrestled in their grasp.

I couldn't help a small chuckle from escaping my lips, Kiara never changed. Shelyra must've noticed as well, as she called to them, "Let the young princess go, she is no longer a prisoner!"

A confused Kiara was gently set on the ground where she froze. looking in our direction. She inched closer, "Daniel?" I heard her mutter with tears brimming on the edge of her eyes, "B-But… Why?"

The two guards who just released her stepped in front of her to block her path, and Kiara looked up again with hatred and a low growl, I sighed, "Kiara. It's okay now. You're all going home." I said with a smile as I slowly approached.

She shook her head slowly, "I-I dont understand…" She said sadly, as her tears started to stream out, "Why did you do this? Why didn't you stay away?" She said with a hint of anger.

I leaned closer, "I'm just… fixing my mistakes is all." Kiara looked devastated by that answer as she sat in disbelief. I glanced up at the two guards blocking her, and they quickly averted their stoic gaze. I turned my back as Shelyra began to lead me away, "Take care of yourself sis." I said with one final glance.

The sound of the imprisoned pridelanders was becoming loud as many guards were lined up as they were let out. I could hear the pridelanders shout in confusion and protest at being approached. I caught a glimpse of the three royal guards hissing and growling as they were forced down a specific path, and Mkali must've been looking for the queen in anger, and caught a glimpse of me in the collar. I had never seen a lioness's anger become so apparent on their face. In fact, never had I seen such anger in all my life.

She reared her head back and roared mightily with a steady gaze on the queen. "What are you doing with my prince?"

Even the queen was caught off guard by the yell as she gazed in her direction, a few guards rushing in front of Mkali to push her back and away. She looked to be fighting to get to me. Sanaa and Kimya seemed unable to even push back against the guards, but Mkali was surely giving them trouble to keep her back. "He's made a deal with us, he's hardly a prisoner, really." Shelyra replied curtly.

Mkali gave her a look as if she was stupid and snarled again, "What?" She cried loudly, "You have a damn collar around his neck!" She said pointing with her whole paw.

"She's right, Mkali." I said simply, "If I go, you will all be free. That's what I've agreed to."

Mkali's vigor faltered as she stared at me with pity and sadness, "Daniel…"

She was shoved forward, "Get moving, you're holding everything up!" A guard yelled at her. He was threatened very quickly by a sharpened claw from Mkali who growled in annoyance before finally continuing forward, not taking her eyesight off of Shelyra.

Shelyra tugged at my leash a bit, "Come now, your friends are quite talkative, and I'd like to get things moving."

She led me farther away from the pride who was being herded, and kept taking me towards another seemingly ordinary metal cage, as opposed to most of the cages my eye caught which were wooden. It was also rather large, enough for me to be human and not be crushed, yet the bars were too thin to crawl through as a cub. "Well?" She urged, gesturing toward the open cage in front of me.

I sighed, and began walking forward. A commotion was becoming louder and louder as I briefly looked back towards the entrance. Shouting and what sounded like fighting could be heard, and the horn was blown once more. I heard a deep growl from right above me, and I looked up. Standing on top of the cage right behind me was Nala, "Mom?" I said suddenly in surprise.

Shelyra growled and before anything could happen shoved me into the cage as mom lunged down from up top at her. Shelyra got out of the way and they circled each other slowly, "Let my son go," she said resolutely.

"I can't do that," Shelyra replied before lunging forward.

Kiara was shocked as she was suddenly freed, her mind still racing at the fact that her brother just told her to allow him to be taken. She wondered again, why would he sacrifice himself, when he had already sacrificed so much? The thought made her tear up again, even though she hadn't stopped crying anyway. The guards that were just carrying her ignored her as if she hadn't even been there, as they rushed forward to help and herd the rest of the pridelanders out.

Suddenly, the horn went off, and shouting could be heard. Not much long after, she heard what sounded like fighting from the same place. A choice came to Kiara's mind at that moment, she could either pursue the queen who took her little brother, or see what the commotion was. She hoped it was the long awaited backup from her father, but she couldn't be too sure. She glanced backwards, and growled as she turned forward and ran towards the sound of fighting. If it was her father, she'd need his help.

As she pushed herself past all the white lion guards, she realized what was going on. It wasn't just a fight, it had quickly turned into a battle: the pridelanders who had just been released and ones that had been left at pride rock, fighting against the Nchi Kavu. Every direction she looked was a separate whirlwind of claws, tails, and gnashing maws. She vaguely noticed one intriguing thing about the fighting; the Nchi Kavu were not attempting to harm the pridelanders. She scoffed, yet mildly admired their ability to hold up their word.

One lion's form caught her attention very quickly, because it was backed by a deep threatening roar which garnered many to tense their muscles at just the sound. Almost every other fight paused for a moment. She saw her father, just as he swung a paw towards one guard only for him to continue to back off like a deadly game of tag. "Daddy!" Kiara shouted, as she hesitantly ran forward.

Simba briefly forgot his target, and breathed a sigh of relief as he turned to see his daughter. He grabbed hold of her in his front paws quickly and nuzzled her, before looking up and growling at all the surrounding lions. None dared to approach for a moment, "Kiara! You're okay!" He said thankfully as she nuzzled under his chin.

"Yes daddy but… they took Daniel!" She uttered worriedly.

Simba steeled his gaze and held back a growl, "Your mother is already attempting to save him, and I need to go help her." He looked down at his daughter and smiled warmly, no hint of worry or anger distorting his features. That comforted her greatly, "You are so brave, Kiara, I'm proud of you." She smiled warmly back at him, but was caught off guard as he suddenly picked her up by the scruff and handed her off.

Barely recovering from the whiplash, she realized she was in the jaws of Kimya, and to her left was Sanaa And Mkali, who had Mjanja in her mouth. Kiara looked at her father in disbelief, "N-No! Let me stay, I can help!" She pleaded.

A quick and firm shake of the head was all she got from her father as he locked eyes with the three guards, "Get the sick and wounded out, as well as any cubs. I'm counting on you girls." All three of them nodded firmly, as Sanaa began giving orders. Mkali and Kimya were already carrying her away from the battlefield, away from her brother. She found it strange that the Nchi Kavu made no attempt to stop them, they just stood their ground in a line formation. Her father glanced back one last time, before he roared valiantly again. Kiara's eyes filled with tears as she stared back, she couldn't do anything. She knew everything yet had no power to stop anything from happening, it made her feel sick and filled her with anger. Why must she be so helpless? She would think.

Mjanja spoke up from nearby as Mkali and Kimya slowed down. "It's alright Ki, I'm sure your father has it under control." But she lowered her head as her tears continued to fall to the ground, she didn't give a response, but Mjanja didn't need one. He knew more than most how she felt about this.

"Come back to me Daniel…" She whispered to herself sadly.

It was then that Mkali glanced at something in the corner of her eye. She slowly lowered Mjanja to the ground, and Kimya did the same for Kiara as the three guards huddled around the two cubs in protection. "Stay on your guard," Mkali warned.

"Watch out!" Another pridelander yelled from nearby, sadly it was too slow as someone had tackled Sanaa to the ground. Afterwards, all realms of fire burst open.

Nala and Shelyra were caught in a deadly fight, after the queen lunged at mom, they went tumbling to the ground. They were kicking, clawing, and gnashing as hard as I'd ever seen lions do. The way mom was fighting reminded me of the time she saved me from the hyenas, she was scary, but somehow… Shelyra matched her in that sense. I was so entranced by their fight I couldn't even move. After a few seconds, mom managed to upset Shelyra's balance. She held a paw to the opponent's chest, as she hastily tried to finish her, but Shelyra skillfully dodged both and used her back legs to kick Nala off of herself.

Shelyra approached somewhat cautiously, and Nala crouched down in anticipation. Shelyra went to strike her with both paws, but she pulled back suddenly, and swiped dirt up, blinding Nala. Mom thrashed wildly, taking a claw or two in that short time. She turned and used her back legs and tail to kick up dust, causing a cloud to settle around themselves. Removing the dust from her eyes, she sank back into the recesses of the cloud, Shelyra growled but reluctantly and cautiously followed her in.

I can only imagine what sort of trap mom had set for her, but I saw that Shelyra was thrown staggeringly out of the cloud, coughing loudly and getting up slowly, stumbling back onto her feet. She tried desperately to regain her posture. Nala wasted no time in pouncing out of the dirt cloud directly towards where the coughing was. Shelyra barely had time to brace for the impact as they went tumbling to the ground once again. Nala had her under her paws, pushing her into the dirt. She hastily took advantage of her position by going for the back of her enemy's neck as Shelyra struggled. Nala was cut short when the white lioness pushed her back legs as hard as possible once more. Nala was sent flying forward a few feet into a crate, as Shelyra fell onto her back.

They both stood on their feet, and tried to regain their postures. Nala was the first to regain her footing. She quickly made a plan, and picked up a large wooden splinter nearby in her maw. She rushed the recovering Shelyra, swiping at her with the rather sharp piece of wood. Her foe managed to dodge, but not fully, as she still took a sizable cut to her left cheek. Shelyra quickly turned and whipped Nala mercilessly with her tail in the face, causing her to drop the piece of wood, which Shelyra merely batted with annoyance a few yards away. Looking back at my mom with what seemed to be understanding that she wasn't to be underestimated, she growled loudly. With a speed unassuming of the rather large lioness, Shelyra sprinted at Nala and shoulder bashed her staggeringly, catching her completely off guard.

Nala went skidding a few feet. She had a cut or two on her face and limbs. Although there wasn't anything serious, she was still wincing in pain. I wanted to plead for her to leave, but I couldn't bring myself to let out even a single sound. I was stone solid, stuck in my own mind. How had I somehow managed to get caught up in all this? It almost made me want to laugh. I noticed a few guards creeping up from behind mom, and it broke me out of my trance as I yelled, "Mom behind you!"

Mom's eyes locked on me before she glanced back to see the guards approaching. In that brief moment, Shelyra took her chance and tackled Nala down. I felt a horrible sense of dread crawl up my spine as I watched the guards approaching, much faster now. Nala fought back, but Shelyra had a lot more muscle, and easily pinned all of her limbs to the ground. The guards jumped, and I was prepared to see my mother's throat get torn out right in front of my eyes. I couldn't stop tears from welling up. But my confusion set in as the guards only jumped over her, and ran up to me. They quickly threw a few things off what I was sitting on that weren't my cage, and two of them got on their back legs and placed them against the wood. We began moving, and it was only then that I realized I was placed into a cart. A one way delivery to my death at the hands of the outcasts. I was being pushed away by the guards and I stood up placing my paws on the cage, "Don't hurt her!" I yelled at Shelyra, "I don't care what happens to me mom, it's okay! But just don't hurt her!" I continued to yell with tears.

Nala's head was being held against the dirt, but I could feel her eyes on me as her rage began to burn even deeper. Suddenly, a mass tackled Shelyra off of my mother, yet lost their grip on her just as fast. It took me a moment to recognize it as Simba. Nala wasted no time in sprinting towards my cage with intense ferocity and the speed I'd expect from a cheetah, knocking the two guards pushing me to the left and right as they stumbled off. She began rambling in panic as she fumbled with the locked cage door, "I don't even have all the words ready to tell you how stupid this was! What do you mean you don't care about yourself!? How do you work this damn thing!"

"Mom, you can't just…"

"You know I can't just read that note and just let you go off and die! Who do you think we are?"

She continued, but futilely was unable to unlock it with just paws, she began to grow desperate and I looked at her with a downcast look, "Mom…"

"And you think you're so mature and brave that you can make decisions like these for yourself…"

"Mom." I tried a bit louder, holding back my tears.

Nala glanced left and right at the now recovering guards, Shelyra was still locked firmly in a fight with Simba that she could not escape. She began to fumble with her paws until she gave up and just began hitting the cage door, "But you're not! Daniel! You're not ready, you're my little cub and…" she couldn't even hit the cage door anymore as she slumped against it, "I don't care what these monsters want, I just want you… please… ancestors… why won't you give him back..?" She pleaded as if I wasn't right there myself.

"Mom!" I said getting her attention finally. The guards were shaking off their dizziness now, I steeled my resolve as best I could. Well… I was still crying but it was good enough. We both stared into each others' eyes, "I am your cub, that's why I did this… I will never stop being your cub, I love you. Just… take care of Kiara for me, that's all I really ever wanted. Ever since that day you guys found me in the graveyard. I don't regret a thing." She stared at me in shock, I knew this would still hurt no matter what but… at least she knew now… that this is what I wanted. The guards didn't even really have to fight her off the cage, one of them just rather respectfully pulled her away and let her fall to the ground, mom didn't have any fight left in her…

It was with a roar that Simba let his disposition to the issue be known, as he left Shelyra who had been nearly overpowered, shakily rising to her feet after being thrown. Simba ran forward to come help, with Shelyra right on his tail after just a moment of recovery. But before he could make any serious headway on helping me, he was tackled to the ground. And to my surprise, it was Zira… Were they going to have me killed in front of my parents right here and now? That would be absolutely vile…

I saw outcasts rise nearby from the grass, some ran inside to join the fight, others stayed to keep my parents back. Of course they would arrive, they were practically allied with the white lions now, against the most common enemy of seemingly everyone… myself. It was hopeless, and my parents knew it, I could tell by their expressions. As the three prides looked at each other, it was obvious that mine was not going to win. Shelyra rather aggressively stepped on Nala's back, to keep her down once again, but clearly to cause pain as well. I don't think she felt it with all the emotions racing through her…

"No…" Nala pleaded one last time as she look at me with so much pain and sadness, "You can't do this… Give him back, please! Kill me, torture me, I don't care! Just don't do this!" Shelyra averted her gaze and locked eyes with me as the guards continued to push me away.

Zira smirked victoriously from on top of Simba, "Thank you my dear friends, Shelyra, you've made me the happiest lioness alive!" She announced.

Shelyra chuckled rather humorously at that, and my intrigue in the conversation was cut short as a black cloth was draped over my cage, and sounds became muffled to me. Other than the sounds of the guards pushing me along. I put my ear against the cage, and the only rest of the conversation I caught were bewildered and even angry words that escaped Zira's mouth, "W-What? We had a deal! Wait!"

And that was it. I heard nothing more.

I was just glad I had the privilege to meet them all, a few extra days onto this miserable life I've led. Then again, maybe just… staying away and dying out in that savannah would've been for the best, it wouldn't have hurt them as much…

Hours must've passed, my confusion had definitely grown, wasn't their plan supposed to be to hand me over to the outcast tribe to be slaughtered? Or to be slaughtered for them? Then again, those words that Zira said had rang in my head over and over again, trying to make sense of it. Shelyra must've changed whatever sick "deal" they had, but if it involved me then what exactly did they want with me? Was their intention no longer to kill me? We hadn't stopped moving ever since they had begun, and not a single hard turn was made. Keeping track of time was hard, as I was fighting back tears the whole time, but I estimated about three hours.

I had finally grown bored of the black curtains of my container, and attempted to make noise on the bar. When that didn't work, I called out, "Can somebody entertain me before my death? It's quite boring here!"

No response or stopping of the cart told me they were stone cold drones at the queen's orders. I impatiently sighed, tapping my claws on the bottom of the metal cage, "Come on, one of you has got to have a good story. Like maybe one about murdering an orphan, or exiling a dying elder. Something up your guys' alley."

A continued lack of response made me wonder just how important this must be to them. It's not like I'm getting out of this situation, at this point I'd rather get made fun of at the very least! "Hey!" I yelled, "Guess I'll just be annoying the whole way!" I said right as the black curtain was lifted.

A guard looked into my cage, a terrifyingly large scarred one, with the coldest glare in the savanna. His left eye was blind and his face halfway scarred, I jumped backwards as he growled deeply and banged on the front of the cage. "Shut it you little runt."

I laughed nervously as I cowered at the back of the cage, "Y-Yes I was just… thirsty."

He grunted as he grabbed something off to the side, when he returned he popped open a container and poured some water onto the floor of my cage. "There. Now pipe down, or I'll make you."

I nodded vigorously as he covered my cage once again. I hadn't gotten very good luck at seeing past him to the outside, but it had appeared a bit more barren than usual. It was hard to tell as the sun had set almost completely, but the moon was full tonight. I sighed, and walked over to the water he poured in. I wasn't exactly expecting hospitality, so I couldn't really complain as I lowered my head and tried to lap at the little water on the floor. After getting the bulk of it I returned to the corner and layed down. My eyes were heavy as ever and my limbs were exhausted, and after crying so much I was also mentally exhausted. When was the last time I slept again? It had been almost a whole day since I last slept. I curled inward on myself, the cold metal floor would usually be useful, but since this was the desert at night, it only served to make me feel extra cold. I buried my face into my front paws, and tried to get what little sleep I could. My thoughts kept floating back to my parents, I hoped they were okay. Hopefully they don't do something stupid.

Zira looked down devilishly at the King and Queen of the pridelanders with disturbed glee, "Thank you my dear friends, Shelyra, you've made me the happiest lioness alive!" She announced.

Shelyra began chuckling quietly, until it was audibly heard by everyone. "Oh dear Zira, you really are desperate." She said, wiping a tear out of her eye.

Zira looked at her in confusion, then towards the retreating cart with her promised prize. "Where are you taking the cub? You were supposed to-"

"I was supposed to do what, Zira?" Shelyra questioned with feigned innocence. "I thought you wanted me to get rid of him?"

Zira growled out the words loudly, "W-What? We had a deal!" She called after the guards taking the cart away, "Wait!"

Shelyra stepped off of Nala, who was so stunned with anguish that she didn't budge at being released. Shelyra paced in front of the outcast, "I do thank you for informing us about him. But I'm afraid the deal is mine to change here."

Zira grunted and stepped off Simba to swipe at her, Shelyra raised a brow as she backed away, "I think you should leave, Zira." She told her with a pitiful smile.

Zira glanced around her with a growing feeling of anxiety and anger at having to flee. The white lion guards held Simba to the ground, and there were still many more who looked to her unsheathing their claws. With a final grunt of annoyance she muttered, "Fine." She released a roar, which was answered by many more roars. What she wasn't expecting was for half of the outcasts to have already lost, being thrown out of the camp unceremoniously by a few white lions. One particular lion dropped an outcast he had carried in his mouth, which struggled to crawl to its feet as it retreated.

Simba grunted, catching the attention of Shelyra, he coughed out a few words, "What now? My pride is killed, my son… captured."

Shelyra hummed, "Oh no of course not." She gazed back at the very large lion, "What of the pridelanders, Mlima?"

He only nodded, which was enough information for Shelyra, "All pridelanders survived, and have mostly retreated."

Simba looked at her in shock, and so did Zira. Zira growled again in disbelief, "My pride didn't get a single one?!"

Shelyra chuckled again, "I promised the cub, his family wouldn't be harmed if he came. He considers the whole pride family, so we protected them all."

Zira backed away with a glare, "You're a traitor!" She turned quickly, "We're leaving!" She shouted with a snarl at the outcast pride, who quickly stalked their way into the grasslands along with their grumpy leader.

Shelyra watched her leave, than nodded as she turned her gaze down to the two pridelanders. "My, what a mess this entire thing has been!"

A growl escaped Simba's muzzle as he stared at her with hatred, glancing over at his mate; she was still staring after the cart, which was nearly out of sight by now. Simba struggled under their grip but had to relent just as quickly when they pushed him down harder. "Don't worry," She began again, "We'll release you shortly, just have to make sure you can't be a nuisance first." She said as she walked off, "Mlima! Are we almost ready to go..?" She asked in the distance.

Simba looked over again at his mate, he desperately wanted to comfort her. He began to struggle again, and when they pushed him down he growled, "Back off, will you? Just back away a few feet, it's not like I can do anything!" he shouted at the two guards on him.

They reluctantly obliged, placing themselves in the path of the cart as they allowed him to finally move. At first Simba almost fell as his bones fell back into place after being roughed up, and he growled at the aching pain. He trudged over to his mate and sat above her, "Nala, dear…" He said putting a paw on her shoulder. He grew worried as he gained no reaction, then he lowered his muzzle down to hers and nudged her, "Talk to me, please."

She looked at him with the most empty look he'd ever seen, and his breath caught in his throat. Her eyes began to well up with tears, and Simba quickly embraced her as she sobbed into his chest. He didn't know what to say. He had failed her, and they had both failed Daniel. It was an awful feeling that he couldn't hope to express in words. So, he didn't. He merely held her as the last remaining vestiges of sunlight receded on the horizon.

It wasn't long when Shelyra passed by again, with a caravan of her own people carrying the bulk of their camp in wagons. She briefly regarded them with a look of intrigue, but then she shook her head and continued on past them. Setting aside her feelings for the good of the pride was all she was required, all that was expected. If she were to care for the feelings of the leader of her pride's oldest enemy, then what queen would she be? Surely not one that would be followed by the entirety of the white lion pride's might. She cleared the thoughts from her mind. She had acquired her goal, and held up her end of the deal for the cub. Though she may have made a new enemy, they were only outcasts, and outcasts were but a petty afterthought for her people. It was only when she heard the broken distraught voice of the queen she was locked in a deadly fight with that she froze in her tracks.

"Shelyra… W-What are you… going to…" She stuttered with a whimper, "Going to do with my cub?"

Of course the two by now had caught on that she intended not to give him to the outcasts. She cursed herself for not leaving quick enough, she refused to turn and meet her enemy's gaze. "It's over, Nala. Go home." She told her, forcing one paw at a time through the stiffness until she was out of their vicinity. She had no clue why such a large feeling of weight overcame her in that moment, of course Shelyra knew that this was an awful thing to do to a parent. It was always the answer of whether the reward would outweigh that fact.

She growled and banged her paw against the side of a crate, "Get it moving you muscle heads! I'd like to return before we get scorched in the sun!" The caravan hurried at a quicker pace, and Shelyra washed the thoughts from her mind with a smile, she won.