Chapter 24

One moment she had been standing in the cave, with Yessen and Rafiki. The next Sundar was somewhere else. For a moment of blind panic, she wondered if she had somehow created a gateway, only to have it sweep her away, far from the friends and family she was attempting to protect. The thought chilled her. Lost without anyway to return to her family and friends.

As she looked around though, she saw this wasn't the case. High above her, she saw a dismal red sun and a world of misty grey. She recognised the place. This was the realm she had found herself in when she had first encountered Danyal. The strange ethereal world where she had found Danyal's spirit and guided it back to his broken form. She immediately felt a crawling sensation on the back of her neck. Did that mean that her own spirit had become likewise detached? A cold fear gripped her. She was alone however. There was no one else around. She slowed her breathing as Yessen had taught her and took an experimental step forward . The grey-white mists coiled like smoke when she came near them, clutching and reaching towards her, almost sticking to her fur. Tendrils of the stuff moved like tentacles, and the mist was cold, and unpleasant. Eventually, the mist became denser, no matter which direction she moved in, until it covered her vision. And then... it seemed to melt away, revealing flecks of colour and pale flashes of light. She peered ahead, and stared in wonder as the mist seemed to form figures, which faded into existence right before her eyes. One was a chocolate brown lion cub... a girl from the look. The other was an older lion, with fur as white as snow.

"Daddy!" the lioness cub shouted as the other white lion mock-pounced upon her, pinning her to the ground and growling in an exaggerated manner. The cub laughed and swatted at her father, giggling.

"Sundar! Lukaan!" Another voice said, causing Sundar to start and look around for whoever had called her name, but to her surprise, a second male lion entered her vision, and with a good start, Sundar recognised the other pair. It was herself... and her father! She remembered this day! Somehow, she was being shown a memory. The other lion walked forward, smiling apologetically at interrupting their game.

"Malaki." Lukaan nodded as his brother approached. Malaki was a perfect twin of his brother, except he lacked Lukaan's white coat. His was a rusty brown, his mane a deep bronze. His features were chiselled and fine like his brothers, but his eyes were a deep sapphire blue.

"Uncle Malak!" Sundar gasped. The lion looked serious. He was talking to his brother.

"Is it serious?" Lukaan asked in the shadows.

"I don't know, brother." He said. "Emperor Shan-Yi has called the Kings and Lords of the Imperium together for a meeting. There are rumours he intends to announce his successor. I don't think we are in for any surprises since he has only the one Son, but there will doubtlessly be celebrations and festivities. I know I can count on your in my absence." He said. Lukaan nodded.

"Always." He said.

"Does that mean daddy gets to be king for the moon? Does that mean I can be a Princess?" The cub asked. Lukaan sighed and Malaki grinned.

"The word is 'Regent' Sundar. Dad is going to look after the Kingdom for me. You're already a Princess, like your father is a Prince!" Malaki reminded her. The young cub only scowled and shook her head, sticking out a tongue.

"It doesn't really count unless you're going to be King or Queen!" She said, as if explaining something oblivious. Malaki laughed at Lukaan's exasperated expression but then paused as if remembering something. He gave a small smile.

"Actually, I have a job for you Sundar. Would you mind helping me with something?" He asked her. Sundar beamed.

"Sure!" She said, even as Malaki waved a paw over his shoulder to someone who must have been too far away for the vision to manifest, and a little while later, a young cub hesitantly paced over, looking awkward and uncomfortable. The young cub didn't seem to recognize him, though he kept his head bowed low in the presence of the royal family.

"Sundar." Malaki said. "This young lion is named Helio. Helio, this is my niece, Sundar." He turned to Sundar. "Helio and his mother have just returned to the Pride after a very long trip to visit extended family. Unfortunately, his mother was hurt on the way back thanks to a few jaguars looking to poach a free meal." He said darkly. "She'll be okay. We'll make sure of it. But she needs plenty of rest and can't go hunting for a while. Can I rely on you to look after him whilst she's getting better, so he doesn't need to worry about her?" He asked. Sundar grinned.

"Hi Helio!" She said. Lukaan grinned.

"Good idea." He said quietly. "She hasn't played with someone her own age since Prince Azai and his pride visited."

"Hello..." Helio said, staring at Sundar. He shifted awkwardly. Sundar smiled at him.

"Hello Helio. Heh. That sounds funny. Hello Helio. You want to come and play pounce on the gecko's there is a huge spawn of them over by the nearest waterhole? We can get a drink while we are there?" She suggested.

"Uh..."

"Great! Come on!" She said, leading the way. Helio looked confused, but ran after her, whilst Malaki and Lukaan smiled.

"She's instantly in her element. She is very good at telling everyone what they ought to be doing." Malaki said.

"I think she prefers the term 'organising people'." Lukaan pointed out. Malaki grinned, before he continued discussing more serious matters with Lukaan before his trip. She could remember that that trip. It wasn't the last he had taken, but it was the first time she had seen her uncle act as her uncle's regent. The one he had come back from when things seemed to be going well. So unlike the one many years later that had heralded disaster. To see an old memory before her eyes, it was an amazing thing. Sundar let out a huge breath that she did not know she had been holding in.

"Helio…" She muttered. "I need to get back. Yessen? Rafiki!" She called out into the mists. But there was no sound.

"Sundar? Sundar! What's happened!" Danyal asked in terror as Sundar collapsed. Rafiki reached out a paw to her, and jerked back. She was brimming with power. The cave around them shook, and Sundar was beginning to give of familiar wisps of power. The air smelt of the sea. He crouched down and ran a claw along her fur. She was burning hot, and occasionally she twitched as if experiencing some kind of nightmare, but she didn't seem to be sleeping. Her eyes were screwed shut.

"I think… I think she is wrestling with her own power." Yessen told him.

"What do you mean?"

"She has always been the largest obstacle to her own strength. She was able to do such wonderous things for you, but when it came to others, she could barely heal a scratch. There was a connection with you, that wasn't there with the rest." Yessen told him. "When it comes to anyone else, she stopped herself." Yessen shook herself. "Now she's trying to clear that blockage. She is facing her own battles now." He admitted.

"What does that mean?" Danyal snarled. Rafiki placed a hand on his shoulder but he didn't find it very reassuring.

"If she really is a Shai'tan, she will pull through." Yessen told her confidently. But how long would that take? It could take minutes, hours, or days. Outside the sounds of battle only grew louder. With each scream and roar, Danyal felt himself cringe expecting to recognise the shout and hear Almasi or Vitani or Sara. He knelt beside her, heart pounding in his ears.

"Sundar. Please. You can do this. I believe in you. I need you." He whispered to her.

Rish'ut watched the creature's fight. Uchungu stood nearby, the wilddog commander occasionally shouting out commands. Rish'ut didn't say much at all. It wouldn't take long now. They were flagging. They fought with fierce bravery and heroism, but the wilddogs trained and practiced for such things. He recognised many of the former slaves among their number. The rhinoceros was giving them trouble. He seethed in fury. He drew his own claws and took a step forward.

"My Lord?" Uchungu asked him.

"I tire of this." He said. Then took a step forward and cleaved at one of cheetahs. It reared in pain as his claws sliced through sinew and flesh and sprayed blood, and it gave a howl. His eyes narrowed as they fell on a small lion standing next to the fallen leopard. It was one of the lion cubs. The one with flame coloured fur on his mane who had inspired such defiance. He grimaced, and permitted himself the indulgence and charged forwards like a lightning bolt.

"Lord Rish'ut!" Uchungu cried out at the unexpected action. Inti looked up in terror as Rish'ut thundered towards him.

"Inti move!" Koron cried out, shoving him to the side. Rish'ut claws closed on empty air, and he coiled like a snake, muscles rippling. He let out a growl. The cubs were gone disappearing under the feet of the other fighters. He growled in fury.

"Kill them all!" Rish'ut crowed. "Ugh!" He grunted as something pulled at his limp. A lioness had clawed at him, dragging him back and away from the cubs. "You!" He growled. The Oracle was there, staring at him with crimson age.

"I've been dead before." She snarled at him. "It didn't take."

"Oracle. I do not need your insight to foresee your demise." Rish'ut snarled.

"Don't call me that. I am not your Oracle, Rish'ut. I am Zira! Let me tell you what I can foresee, Rish'ut. You dying. In pain. With my claws around your throat." She growled. She lunged at him again, and Rish'ut stepped back to avoid a blow that might have taken the eyes of lesser beings. Then he returned the blow savagely, aiming to add to the myriad of scars and wounds that marred her broken twisted form.

A short distance away, Vitani was having a duel of her own. Asamode had slinked off, much to Kion's chagrin, but in his place, She, Lukaan, Almasi and Kion looked in horror at the approach of one of the mighty tigons with a mad, murderous gleam in its eye. Then it began to speed up... slowly at first, but quickly gaining momentum, it charged and became almost a blur as it crashed into them. Kion and Damu leapt to the side. Lukaan stood his ground, and Vitani timed a jump to sail over its head and slice into its side.

As she moved though, the tigon seemed to flinch, before striking upwards at her unprotected belly. Claws carved into her flesh, spraying blood and she fell to the ground with a cry. Kion grunted in pain.

"Kion!" It was Jasiri. On her back was Makini. The mandril swung her stick and knocked the teeth from the jaws of a snapping cheetah, and leapt from Jasiri's back as the hyena found herself blocked a pair of wilddog, who growled at her. One of them was the wilddog commander. Uchungu glowered at the traitor, and snarled at her, forcing her back, and Makini vaulted over their shoulders, and landed next to Kion.

"Makini!" Kion didn't know if he ought to be relived or terrified that was there next to him. She and Lukaan moved to Vitani's side and helped the injured lioness up, who was glaring at the tigon with a venomous gaze. Anger bubbled and simmered away inside her, the salty sting of tears of pain and sweat of labour stung her vision. Makini quicky checked her injuries. It was a bad blow, but not crippling.

"Is that all you have?" Vitani bellowed, making the mandril jump back. "This is your Imperium? You are flesh and tooth and claw! Monsters. Tyrants. But the Pridelands are where tyrants come to die!" She called out. Her words had some effect on the others. Stirring something within the others. She slashed at the creature, ducking under its blow. It missed her and arcs of red flashed into existence and he hissed in pain, recoiling from the new and unexpected sensation.

"Well done, 'Tani!" Kion shouted. The tigon, recoiled away from the two fiercest, and turned its attention to the weaker of the fighters, lashing at Almasi who couldn't help but cry out in pain, even as Kion and Vitani struck in tandem against the exposed flank of the tigon. It gave a primal howl of agony, and twisted around to see its attackers. It lurched to the right, slashing with both claws at once, moving in separate curves, trying to strike at Zira and Vitani. Zira moved like liquid fire, spinning and weaving, and carving gash after gash, strike after strike into the immense creature, but Vitani was like lightening, darting under an overextended forepaw, and biting away mouthful of flesh. Makini preoccupied herself trying to keep the jackals and wilddogs back and letting the larger lions deal with the tigon unmolested, but it was like trying to hold back a wave of teeth and fur.

Asamode had slunk away from the group of lions allowing the tigons to stand between him and his foes. He grimaced and surveyed the battle. The tigons were sowing devastation wherever they walked. It was a beautiful thing to see. They were almost as powerful as the Shai'tan themselves, but followed instructions without a single original thought of their own. Precisely as the fallen Shaman had engineered them. His single eye narrowed as he looked over the battlefield. He had to admire the Pridelanders' bravery. So far none of them had broken and fled. None of them had dared turn from the battle, in fact they were standing their ground and refusing to give so much as an inch. It was impressive bravery. So impressive that he wasn't sure it was bravery. Amun was the better analyst at such things, but he was no fool when it came to strategy, he cocked his head, pausing only as one the rebels clawed at him, only for Asamode to casually seize the offering animal and brained it against the rocky wall of the canyon. No. They were defending something. One of the dens? Their wounded? He snorted. They weren't so well off for fighters they could afford to have injured animals hanging at the back. Their young? He could see the cubs scattered here and there. He growled. Then he took a step forward and called to the jackal commander. When hunting the parts of the animal they most seriously protected were always worth targeting. They could cause the most pain. He knew it well. If that was their vulnerable underbelly, he knew to cleave it away. He seethed. He glanced at Rish'ut, who was locked in battle with the former Oracle, distracted by her presence and no longer paying attention to the battle beyond what was directly in front of his eyes. His vindictiveness and unforgiving nature proving to be as much a distraction as any shred of compassion. To his delight however, he saw the tigons were devastating, equal in power to many of the Pridelands' best fighters. He gave a cruel grin.

Lukaan gave a cry of victory as Vitani spat out the chunk of flesh expecting the wound to kill or at least immobilise their adversity. The tigon it swayed on its feet slightly, but then let loose a calamitous roar. he remained standing even as blood poured from its side. Then it gave a terrible, primal, ear shattering howl of odious pain, before leaping straight over Lukaan at Vitani. It seized her with both of its long, talon-like paws which hooked into her flesh from both sides, and then slashed in a magnificent x-shape, cutting deep into Vitani's flesh. Vitani fell to the ground, unable to support her own weight on such injured paws, and fell still, overcome with deliberating pain. Lukaan and Kion were each shoved aside and it loomed over her, and Vitani gave a gasp for far. Hear heart pounding, and rolled away and the creature's claws slammed into the ground with such force that rocks from the canyon edge were sent tumbling down. Vitani jumped to her feet, wincing in pain.

"It just won't go down." She muttered. They seemed, against all odds, to be keeping the tigon at bay, but even so, it wasn't enough. They weren't the only ones struggling. She threw a glance behind her to the cave where Danyal and Sundar were waiting. There was no sign of Lukaan's daughter having any success. More cries of pain were heard as more of the former slaves fell, despite their comrades' efforts to relieve and reinforce where required...

Koron cut down a wilddog with a cool elegance that seemed disproportionate for cub, even as Sara and Inti took down another by splitting up, and striking from two directions at once, clawing at the vulnerable pieces of flesh and face. But they were tiring now, and it was beginning to have an effect upon the battle.

"Vitani! We need to fall back and regroup! We won't last much longer as we stand!" Inti shouted over the din. Vitani's ears twitched as she heard, and she too looked around with growing anger and twinge of fear. He was right. They were going to be overrun soon.

Jasiri danced away from Uchungu and the wilddog snarled as Jahi slashed at her. Jasiri couldn't push her advantage as the battle shifted and she was swept away from her foe. Her eyes pricked up as she heard Vitani call out to the others.

"Fall back! Get closer. Pull together!" She shouted. Their only hope now was to defend Sundar as best as they could... and hope that she could master her talents in time for it to make a difference. She and Lukaan limped away as Damu and Zira covered their backs. Wilddogs charged after them as the former slaves, Asiatics and the lionesses withdrew from the battle. The tigon looked back at its master, before following slowly behind another wave of wilddogs.

Zira pulled back away from Rish'ut, who glowered, looking at Asamode. The one eyed Shai'tan hauled him to his feet.

"Pursue them! Chanse them down!" He roared. He turned to his brethren. "Do you see? Overrun them, and they will scatter like droplets of water. But apply pressure slowly, gradually, let them think that they have a chance of success, and then they will keep deluding themselves! Hope, Rish'ut, is more lethal than despair." He chuckled. "They are sealing their own fate... Now, let us follow them to the place where they have chosen to die." He said. Rish'ut looked around in surprise at the number of wilddogs they have lost.

"A costly battle." He muttered.

"In numbers perhaps. In value, I consider it to be inexpensive." He said dismissively. "There. The cave. That is where they're defence lies." He said. "Pierce it." He commanded them. Uchungu nodded.

"By your command." He said.

Danyal listened to the sounds of the battle outside the cave and paced. Helio was standing by the cave entrance, grimacing darkly. The battle didn't seem to be going well. Occasionally, one of the wilddogs would see him, and make a lunge towards who they thought was an injured and easy prey, but for the most part they had to get past all the other creatures and animals Vitani was leading. She fought with strength and power and he found himself admiring the lioness. She also occasionally acted oddly around Danyal, which had to be a sign of a good judge of character. He felt his heart in his mouth as he watched Lukaan duel with the tigon, and heard Vitani shout out the order. They hadn't lasted half as long as they had hoped they might. He looked over his shoulder at Danyal and Sundar. Yessen and Rafiki were looking on anxiously.

"They're falling back." He muttered. "Danyal. Get up here." He said. He watched as in the middle distance and her lionesses pulled into tighter lines. They had been spread out from wall to wall in the canyon. Now they were closer together as the wilddogs and jackals gave chase. The lionesses were trying to make sure they paid in blood for every inch they gave, but they were slowly being forced back. Danyal stayed where he was for a moment, muttered something to Sundar, and then approached him and stood shoulder to shoulder.

"They'll be okay." Helio muttered, seeing his agitated state. "Its us I'm worried about."

A few moments later, and trio of jackals leapt from the overhanging rock directly onto them, with teeth bared and they too were sucked into the battle.

"There!" Helio cried out, and lunged, become a whirlwind of claws that Danyal had seen before when they had sparred, slicing, and carving with powerful blows. Danyal grunted as one of them snapped near his neck, and he twisted awkwardly, before landing a blow of his own, and then shoving the creature back with uneven shoulder. It caught the canine under the jaw and knocked it up, exposing his delicate and vulnerable neck. He bit forwards and crunched down, shaking his head violently as he did so. He spat out the foul-tasting blood, and gave a growl.

"Come on then!" he challenged them. "Just try it! You aren't getting past us!" He declared. Behind them, Sundar stirred.

"I need to leave!" Sundar roared. "I have to go!" But nothing answered her. She could do nothing. The mists descended upon her, like wild animals. Her vision blurred, shifted, and then all was calm. She opened her eyes, fighting the urge to rub them with her paws... She looked around. There was no one to be seen. No vision, no mystery to unravel. No flashbacks from her past. No discernible features at all. The air was a milky white, yet unlike before, seemed lighter somehow. The mist gradually thinned until it was almost gone completely and Sundar was struck by the sensation that she was not it the Twilight world any longer. Tired, and frustrated, she ground her teeth... and the air pulsed and flared around her in response to her anger. Surprised, she blinked, and again, the world where she now stood seemed to reflect her mood with hues and colours shifting.

"Leave?" A voice answered her. "Do you even know where you are?"
"Who is there?" She called out desperately.
"Noone. Nobody. Just you." It replied.

"Show yourself!" She shouted.

There was a rushing sound, like wind or flame... And then, standing in front of her... was a lioness. A Lioness with chocolate coloured fur, and eyes the shade of rosewood. Sundar took a step back in surprise as horror as she beheld the lioness that stood before her.

It was like staring into a reflection on water. A mirror image of herself stood there.

But it was wrong. Twisted faintly. The lioness was scarred, her claws sharpened, and her teeth, though they were not visible beyond a few points as the lioness smiled, were yellowed and darker. Her eyes were bloodshot and reddened. And her whole manner was different. She stood with an arrogant stance, her eyes piercing and seemed to look down upon her even though they were of identical height.

Not-Sundar laughed at her reaction.

"Why the surprise?" She asked her. Light lit up around her.

Sundar looked on in shock.

"What am I… Is this some kind of trick?" She asked.

"Hah. Of course it is. But you're the one tricking yourself, Sundar. This is what you want isn't it? The power you're trying to move. The forces you're trying to seize command of. The power of creation commanded by the Shaman. This is what it looks like."

"You look…"

"Amazing? Powerful?" She asked her.

"Wrong. Somehow." She said. Not-Sundar laughed at her.

"Of course it does. Because power corrupts, doesn't it? I mean, you saw what became of Marsade. A being of such age and wisdom. With the ability to twist the world. To make it convulse at his touch. How could you do better?" She asked her. She advanced towards her threateningly, and Sundar couldn't help but stumble back in shock from the shade. "This is what power looks like. This is the power that you are trying to gain! This is the power that you are struggling to control! The Power to fight the Shai'tan! The Power to break them! The power to kill all those who would hurt you or those close to you!" Not-Sundar held up a paw, and Sundar saw coils of blue light whirling around it. It crackled like flame, or like bolts of lightning and the air became frigid. Energy sucked from the air. The ground cracked and heaved and Sundar gasped, as Not-Sundar then thrust out a paw. Sundar ducked to the ground and it sailed over her head, scarring the ground.

"Wait! Don't! Please!"

"Begging, Sundar? When has that ever worked?" She asked her. Energy coiled around her and then it flew at Sundar like an arrow, and struck her in the chest. She was thrown away from her doppelganger with great force, and crashed to the ground with an almighty crack. Not-Sundar cackled and moved over to where she lay.

"Please. I just… I just want to go. I just want to help my friends." She said.

"Friends?" Not-Sundar asked? "What friends? The friends and family you've already failed? The ones you've abandoned? Who you can't list a paw to save? Don't pretend to care about your friends and family, Sundar. Not to me. I know you. I see inside your heart. I know your fears, your hopes, your dreams." She shook her head in disappointment. "And it disgusts me." She hurled another bolt of energy at Sundar who yelled and turned and ran. But there was nothing to run to. Nothing to hide from her.

To Inti, the cacophony of the battle was unlike anything he had ever seen. The days and moons spent in the pits of Golgorath had left him somewhat numb to violence and blood, even if this was more lethal and merciless than he had been used to. But the sounds were different. In the pits, the sounds were of the cheering baying crowd, fearsome and echoing in the bits. Here, it was nothing but gnashing teeth and growls and savage roars wherever he looked.

He didn't have time to look too closely. Koron was by his side, clawing at one of the wilddogs and he had lost sight of Sara a whilst back, and hoped desperately that she was okay. The last he had seen, she had been fighting near the jaguar sisters and he had to hope they would make sure she was okay. He saw his mother fighting a pair of jackals at the same time and was impressed.

"Koron!" he called out. "We need to fall back!" Koron didn't show any signs of having heard. There were more jackals now, but the dark cub was focused purely on the jackal he had been fighting. Inti rushed forwards and clawed at the eyes of one of the jackals that leered at them and whose jaws snapped around empty air with an almighty snap. "Koron!" he cried out again, reaching for his shoulder and dragging him back. Koron reacted to the touch and whirled and nearly took off Inti's head with a swipe before recognising. "Didn't you hear! Be have to fall back!" Inti cried out and dragged his friend back. Koron's eyes widened realising the danger. He pulled back with Inti, but one of the other wilddogs was suddenly there in front of them. His eyes landed on the cubs and spying an easy kill rushed towards them. The two cubs flinched but the wilddog was stopped when a dark shadow darted from the side like an ambushing viper and bit at the wilddog. It howled in agony as the teeth of the hyena snapped down on its foreleg with such force, they heard the limb break. She bit again and flung it away from her twisting as she did so that it might have broken again in another place. Jasiri looked at the two children. It wasn't the wilddog commander. She had lost sight of him in the battle's fury.

"You weren't supposed to be out here!" She shouted, but she didn't chide them, the two just ran under her feet, and she moved with them.

"Are we winning?" Koron called out to her, but he didn't hear her reply as the fighting moved and she was swept away.

"Inti!" It was his mother. Almasi was moving towards him, and he saw Sara there with him. "Stay with me!" She commanded, apparently deciding she could protect her children in the battle herself better than trusting that they stayed away. Inti was happy to oblige her when he ducked the teeth of another snapping wilddog and Almasi struck it with a mighty blow to the head that sent its skull rocking back and leaving its ears ringing. It didn't go down, but turned its gaze to her, the more serious of the threats. The cubs' clawed at and fought with the smaller of the canines, and ran and ducked away from the larger animals. At one point the mighty foot of the rhinoceros came down dangerously close to Sara's head as it lumbered past her, its horn slamming into one of the larger shapes. They were moving away from them.

"They're heading for Danyal and Sundar!" She shouted out in alarm. Somehow the Shai'tan had sensed they were protecting the cave where they had hidden, and were moving towards it.

"I'm on it!" Inti cried, but he barely got a step forward before the another wilddog was there and he was shoved back. Danyal would have to be enough.

Sundar continued to flee from the echo of herself.

"Just give up! Give up – or fight back! Do something! Have the will to act! Don't just run! You've always ran! From the Shai'tan, from the Imperium! When did you last stand and fight? Fight!" She taunted her. Grinding her teeth, Sundar span, and struck out at the shade with her claws, but the shade merely leapt backwards with impossible speed, and then returned and struck her with the force of a tidal wave. Sundar was sent flying into the air, and Not-Sundar lashed out, sending another pulse of power, a wave of energy which crashed and twisted through the air until it struck her. Sundar screamed in agony as she landed on her right forearm and felt bone snap under the force. Gasping for air, she tried to struggle to her feet, but her other front paw was kicked from under her.

"Who are you?! What do you want!" She asked frantically. She didn't reply. Sundar shuddered, her heart in her mouth.

"Sundar! Help me!" It was another voice. Another voice. She knew it well.

"Danyal?!" Danyal cried out in pain. But that was impossible. Danyal couldn't be here, in this realm of the spirits. It had to be another shade. Sure enough, when she laid eyes on the spectre in front of her, it was not Danyal as she had seen him. He was wounded. Badly. Covered in wounds old and new, and he wasn't alone. Helio was there as well and so was her father. The three lions were lying in pools of their own blood. The wounds they had looked fatal. Not-Sundar walked between them, carelessly running a paw over one of their bodies, but looking decidedly uninterested.

"No!" She gasped. Not-Sundar grinned.

"What? Does this bother you?" She asked. "Why? They'll die soon enough anyway. Even if you win. Even if you defeat the Shai'tan. Even if you win. Yessen practically said it. If you're a Shaman, if you're this being of power, if you are me then they'll blow away like smoke! You'll linger, immortal. You know it. You fear it."

"They'll die if don't!" She retorted.

"Then do something!" She roared at her, and hurled another bolt of power at her. Sundar's eyes widened and reacted purely on instinct. She didn't wrestle with the power in her but with the power at her claw tips as it hurtled towards her, bringing it under her control and her command with a touch. It was a gentle thing, a quiet thing. Light burst from her eyes and from her body as she did so, and yanked the power to the side where it dissipated harmlessly into the air like dew. She panted.

"How about that?" She snarled in frustration. The spectre snarled angrily.

"Who are you to do that? Who are you to touch that power? To use the blessed power of the Shaman? The power granted by the Creator to hold the Shadow at bay? Who are you to touch its majesty? You're no one! You're nothing!" She roared. Sundar howled in agony as more light and more power burst from her and bombarded her with shamanic power. The cold was so intense it burned. It seared. The shadowed forms of Danyal and Helio and Lukaan were blasted apart, vanishing in light, scattering into atoms.

"No!" She gasped. "Stop it!" She begged. Sinking to her knees. It was right. She was a fool to even try. The white world around her began to fade. Patches of black appearing and spreading, like drops of ink in clear water. The light began to fade. The tempest of power only grew and grew. The shadows were indistinguishable now.

"You are weak! You are nothing!" Her shade said.

"Sundar..." A voice whispered again. And this time, it wasn't her own voice. It was another. One she had never heard before. It was soft. Quiet. Comforting. The darkness reacted to it, crying out in pain.

"Do you believe any of that nonsense? Sundar. You would not have been chosen if you had been weak. You are not weak. You are strong, daughter of the east. These are just shadows. Shadows and Dust. And they have only as much power as you give them."

"But... She said so! I can't control it! She's right! I can't do this! I can't wield this!" She cried desperately, as Not-Sundar moved towards her. Her gaze was terrifying. Her claws were drawn, and coils of blue light flew and whirled around her, seizing her helpless foe, lifting her into the air. She grunted in pain. The voice came to her again.

"You already are. She is you, remember?" It told her.

Vitani saw Damu and almost choked when she saw her covered in blood. But it wasn't hers. The viscera and carnage around them weren't hers. She was okay. She also saw Danyal holding back a pair of wilddogs.

"Kion!" She called out, searching for her second in command. The red maned lion nearly cleaved the head off of a jackal commander, and heard her pleas.

"We can't go any further!" She commanded "Hold them here! Hold! For the Pridelands!" She shouted out over the carnage. She didn't know how many had heard her command. Defensive fighting was never her forte. Her mother had prioritised ambushing and offensive fighting. Overwhelming the enemy with pure force. It was a fighting philosophy that presumed their superiority. They were not well suited to fighting a larger, more powerful opponent. Kion was better at that. On the few occasions they had clashed in the outlands, she had never beaten him for that exact reason.

She saw the Shai'tan and their tigons at the back, and an unassailable number of wilddogs and jackals lunging towards them. There wasn't enough room to fight them all at once. That was something. They couldn't be overwhelmed from all sides. But it was exhausting. Unrelenting. Implacable.

"Daughter!" Zira cried out to her, "Look out!" The other tigon was slashing at her now. Unwounded, fresh, and untested it swiped at her head and its claws cleaved into rock and dirt as easily as if it were bark and leaf. They were left together. She ground her teeth and retaliated, but on the few occasions she could land a blow it barely seemed to react to the pain she inflicted and its blows didn't seem to weaken. She heard Rish'ut's voice over the din and wanted to claw his throat.

"Kill them all!" He bellowed.

"Vitani! What do we do?!" She heard someone cry, but who it was, she couldn't make out. Kion was by her side, shoving her back and the tigon swiped at him. Asamode watched impassively as he saw the former King of the Night Pride fall to the ground and the hybrid stood over him. He leaned forward, the only outward sign of his interest in this particular slaying even as his mouth twitched into a smile of bloodlust. Kion took a blow the face and felt blood in his mouth. He grunted.

"Kion!" Vitani called out.

"No!"

"Makini! Get back here!" It was Rafiki, standing at the mouth of the cave, and adding his strength to the handful of creatures holding the mouth of the cave. Makini was there in front of Kion, stepping over her friend, she raised her rod up defensively, and the tigon swiped towards her. It's almost blow reduced her rod to splinters in the air, and cleaved through fur. She gasped out in pain and was flung across the cave as Kion roared in pain. Suddenly Vitani was there, forcing the tigon back, and was joined by Lukaan and Damu. Zira dragged Kion from where he lay.

"Move boy!" She shouted at him as he struggled to his feet, shaking blood, and sweat from his brow and rushing to Makini. Helio was there standing over her body, and protecting her from a vicious jackal. Kion roared with such fury that she half thought to hear the sound of the roar of the elders. No such miracle occurred. Instead it was cry of pain and loss.

"Makini! No no no! Please." He dragged her free. There was blood.

"Here." It was the older Shaman, Yessen. When had he woken up?

"Please. Help her!" Kion called out desperately. There was no time. The battle was surging. Was she even alive? She didn't seem to be moving.

"Kion!" It was Jasiri. "Come on." She called to him, "We need you!" The second of the tigons was charging now. Their line buckled. A pair of cheetahs ran into the weakness made by their devastated blows, and there were minions inside the cave, pushing their back lines where the most wounded and most exhausted of their fighters were. The cacophony deepened. Any semblance of structure was rapidly fading now. There was fighting in every direction and on all sides. Vitani slipped and dripped on a body, but friend or foe she couldn't say.

"Stand!" She called out. "Stand your ground!" The cave caused her voice to echo over the din.

Sundar twitched and writhed in the grip of the shade. The words of the Shaman cut into her. She is you. With the words, it was as if the world crystalised in front of her. Yessen's words came to her. Stop doing that, and instead do the thing that you actually want to do. Her father, Helio, and Danyal! Danyal! And with a supreme effort, Sundar brought up a paw, and struck the Shade in the face. It recoiled, in pain, ethereal blood flowing. One eye was screwed shut in pain. She howled in agony.

"AAAAAAAAARGGGGH! NO!" The shade howled. Sundar landed on both feet, her injuries healing. Blue light moved around her. Thin coils at first... But it was there. She reached inside herself to that familiar vault of power. That well of shamanic magic. It was like a flame, and she heaped fuel upon it in her desperation. Feeding it with fear, anger, and her desire to protect her family! To protect those she loved! To protect the ones she loved

"No! Its not true! You know it! You cannot bind me!" The shade bellowed. Then she cried out, and roared. her roared echoed around her, and a hundred different spikes of ice coiled up behind her like serpents, preparing to bite. Then they arched forwards, headed straight for Sundar.

"I am not afraid of you."

The pillars of ice slowed, then stopped mere inches from herself.

"I fear the Shai'tan. I fear the Emperor. I fear the coming battles." Sundar admitted, her eyes blazing. "But you? You are me. You are what I could be become. And I am the one who decides that. I am the one who decides what I will be. And I have no reason to imagine that I am anything like anyone other than myself! No reason to think I can't do what I want with these gifts, these miracles. Because all I want is to protect and help my family."

The Shade thrust out another paw, sending another blast of power at her, but the bolt dissipated before it had moved a foot. She stumbled back, eyes wide in panic.

"These powers are mine, and they obey me." She declared. And with that, she sent a single blast of blue light spinning towards her foe. She screamed once, as the bolt collided with her, and her form seemed to collapse. Her entire body vanished into the white mists and dissipated into the wind, evaporating without a trace, leaving only a scream. The world around her cleared. The tempest of Power subsided. Sundar crawled to her feet. Her eyes were alight with power. She inhaled deeply, feeling every ebb and flow of energy move within her. She sighed. There were no more spectres or shades or ghosts. No trace of that distant comforting voice either. Thank you. She thought to herself. But there was no answer. Not a sound. Looking around her, she saw the familiar mists descending, and smiled. She had control now. She could create a gateway. As the mists descended, she felt herself awakening.

Sundar opened her eyes.

"Yes! Sundar!" Danyal cried. Beside them, Sundar's body had stirred. It had shifted and then blue light had lit up their lair like a wildfire. The scent of sea air, flooded the cave. Vitani, Lukaan all turned in shock. The wilddogs seemed shaken, confused. Rafiki and Yessen seemed a strange mix of concern and elation. Helio whooped.

"She's doing it! She's doing it!" He cried.

Asamode watched in disbelief.

"NO!" He shouted. "The lioness! Kill her! She's a shaman as well!" He roared. Both tigons moved forwards, unflinching from the blue light.

Helio and Danyal leapt at the first, whilst Two of the asiatic lionesses, joined by a cheetah of about Danyal's age launched themselves at the other. The two hybrids staggered, then slashed out with their claws.

Sundar screamed. Her eyes were closed, but her back arched, as her muscles spasmed. She screamed, then her eyes opened, and more blue light flooded from them. Then her scream became a roar.

"Mine!" She declared. Rafiki felt her move and he felt power move within her. His attention whipped from Makini to Sundar, an expression of relief on his face. He moved with her, letting her lead in a complex, convoluted dance of power invisible to all but the two of them as they moved powers and energies and then a flare of light brighter than anything seen yet flashed into existence between them. He threw back his head and laughed.

"She is a Shaman!" He cried.

Uchungu couldn't believe his eyes.

"Another Shaman?" He gasped. Then there was a mighty bang as the world itself was torn. In front of them, the fabric of the world began to tear. It was like tunnelling through light. The edges of the rifted glowed with heat, but beyond that, she could see light. Real light. Grassland. No dirty brown canyon at the edge of the Pridelands. Somewhere else. Somewhere far from where they stood. Vitani was the first to speak.

"Move!" Vitani commanded, after a microsecond of awe. Her people moved to obey her with eagerness and desperation. First the nimblest of the former slaves, jaguars, leopards, cheetah's, panthers. Inti and Sara moved, dragging an injured Koron between them. Calin kept one paw under the belly of a limping panther – one of the triplets. Kion surged past her; Makini's body draped over his back. The surviving asiatic lions led by Bhalli, moving in ones and twos moved across.

"No!" Rish'ut roared, grunting in pain. "You will not escape!" Asamode's face contorted into a twisted, angry expression as if he had bitten down on something sour, and pulled back. The rest of the wilddogs frenzied and surged forwards in desperation, some of them hitting each other in their desperation. The Pridelanders though found new hope and in the light of the possibility of escape. They had been fighting defensively this whole time trying to hold back the tide. Now they moved to something like an arrow or a lightning bolt. It was like trying to capture liquid in paws. It slipped between the toes. Almasi and Damu clawed their way to Vitani. About half were away. About two thirds.

"Come on Sundar!" Danyal called, touching her shoulder. Sundar moaned. It was clear that keeping the gateway opened was taxing her. One of the asiatic lioness howled as a tigon thrust its paws into her stomach and ripped away vital organs. Another screamed as they narrowly avoided losing an ear. Most of them were through now.

"Gah!" Helio cried out as a tigon slammed into him and pinned him to the ground. Its claw was raised heigh into the air. Then Lukaan gave a defiant roar and bit forwards holding the limb in his jaw and dragging it back and pulling him away. Helio rolled clear, wounded and his head ringing but alive. They kept moving. Rish'ut lunged towards Sundar, hoping to kill her and end this disaster. Danyal tried to block his path but two wilddogs leapt at him and it was all he could do keep them off of him. He clawed at them Rish'ut swung a claw, but felt the claws sink into his flesh.

"No! No you don't!" It was Vitani. Blood was pouring from the top of her forehead but she was still able bodied and she clawed at him. Suddenly Zira joined her. Rish'ut seethed as he once again came face to face with the Oracle and her daughter. Zira swung a blow that he ducked but then Vitani was there, biting forward and seized him by the neck. He howled in pain and pulled back, and her teeth scraped along his throat, drawing blood and filling her mouth with the metallic taste of his odious blood.

"I… will not stand for this!" Rish'ut bellowed. The slaves were escaping again, and this time, this time there was nobody to blame, nobody to stand between him and the Emperor's wrath, no underling to abuse. He felt as though he had taken a mouthful of charcoal. Vitani swiped at him, he blocked her blows, then slammed her to ground. She grunted in pain, but Zira launched herself and plunged her claws into his back and side. He bucked like a zebra but she clung on, practically mounting him, and slashing him again and again. He cried out in pain. Real pain. Burning, scything, biting pain! He was bleeding, it was pooling. He threw Zira free from him, gasping a choking lungful of air. Zira landed next to her daughter in a crumpled heap, the two injured, and he stepped towards them threateningly ready to crush the two lionesses he hated most in the world. However, after the second step he sank to a knee and gave a mighty cough. Blood. Blood came up. He wiped it free with a claw. He didn't realise he had bitten them so deeply. The rationalisations and justifications moved through him as his vision blurred for a moment, then solidified as the white-hot heat of his fury refocused him on the two lionesses. He reached out a claw to the two lionesses and to the lioness with the Shamanic gifts.

"Sundar. Come on. I need you." Danyal whispered to her.

She opened her eyes, and they were blazing with light. The cave shuddered.

"Lord Rish'ut! She's going to bring down the cavern!" Uchungu shouted urgently.

"Fall back. Withdraw." Asamode said, coldly.

"No!" Rish'ut called out as Asamode coldly usurped his command with an order the terrified wilddogs were all too happy to obliged him with. Sundar's glowing eyes settled on him, and there was a volley of ethereal energy was launched from her. Not at him directly but at the ground and rock around him and the other tigons. He was thrown back as rock was kicked up.

Lukaan hauled Vitani to her feet and Zira climbed to her own, landed a last look the Shai'tan then turned and ran, stepping through the gateway. Almasi grabbed Danyal by the shoulder.

"Come on!" She urged him and Lukaan called out to his daughter. They were through. They were safe. Nine tenths of them were away and through. And she let go. The light winked out, and the gateway began to close, slowly but with increasing speed. The last of them ran. Hardly any were left. Lukaan stared through the gateway, urging her to run fast. Rish'ut managed one last desperate look at them before howling in impotent rage, gnashing his teeth and Danyal and Sundar were through and away. The gateway was closed.

Sundar looked around her. Many were injured. Several had been killed in the fighting. The cubs were alive, she could see Inti and Sara and that dark cub they had found. Rafiki and Yessen. Calin too, most of the cheetahs. Most of the former slaves too, including the mighty rhinoceros whose lumbering form had just about squished through the tear in the world. Yoddha was there, and others. Her father and Helio, Zira and Vitani and the lionesses from Danyal's Pride. They were through. They were alive. They were safe. She sank to her knees in grateful thanks, to all the great kings.

She had done it. They had made it to safety.