Aluna stared at her best friend for the longest before shaking her head. "Cassiel...?" Starra slowly nodded. "But.. he's Tojo's uncle."

"I know," Starra sighed before walking off and looked at her reflection that's in the water. "Every since we established a friendship...I have been feeling funny. But the feelings...I like them and don't want them to go away."

Aluna was silent as she thought. When Starra turned away, a disappointed expression on her face, Aluna frowned and went to say something, but an awful wave of nausea hit her. She swayed a bit before bending over and beginning to vomit.

Starra looked up as the sounds caused her brownish rimmed ears to perk. When she saw Aluna vomiting she ran over and nuzzled the light beige lioness. "Aluna..."

"It's alright. I was going to see Rafiki later today anyway."

Starra frowned. "Let's go..."

Before the goldish lioness could finish a loud screech caused the lionesses to look up and see Zazu. Where Starra immediately had a bad feeling about the hornbill's presence.

"Young lionesses, you must come quickly! Cassiel is in danger!"

Starra felt like the ground under her was about to crumble right beneath her. "Where is he!"

"The northern border!"

Starra looked at Aluna with her ears pinned. "I'm so sorry..."

Aluna shook her head before embracing the younger lioness. "It's alright. Go."

Starra nodded before running off towards the northern part of the Pridelands. As Zazu went ahead to priderock to get extra help.

-TLKTLKTLKTLK-

When Starra apporched the border she gasped at the sight of Cassiel's body. The young lioness took off towards the unconscious light brown lion. Looking at him now reminded her of the day of when Scar killed Sarafina's mate, Nala and Mheetu's father Mateo. Which was the point that caused Nala to run away and later return with her brother.

Starra shook her head with a growl, as much as she still grieves for her friends' father but he and the monster who she once called uncle wasn't important at the moment. The goldish lioness walked over to the unconscious lion and took a defensive stand when she heard noise apporching.

When Starra saw it was Tojo and her cousin Malka, she relaxed slightly. Malka ran passed her and Cassiel, her guess was to make sure the area was cleared of danger. Namely Cassiel's attackers.

Starra's attention was brought to the tan, light brown mane lion as he growled with bared teeth.

"Hyenas..."

Starra gasped before looking over to Cassiel and noticed the wounds were indeed made by hyenas. She was once again brought out of her thoughts by a nudge this time. She moved her orange eyes from the light brown lion to see Tojo looking at her with concerned pale blue eyes.

"Are you hurt?"

Starra turned back to Cassiel to see Malka putting the unconscious lion on his back. "I'm fine. Is he going to be okay?"

She didn't care about their reaction to her crying. How can she not, when she just realised that the love of her life could die?

Tojo nodded, silently understanding. He sees the love and fear in the young lioness' eyes. "Let's get back to priderock. So you both can be checked over by Rafiki."

Starra didn't have it in her to object to a check over but followed the older males back to the kopje anyway. All the while thinking what she is going to do, if Cassiel dies.

-TLKTLKTLKTLK-

While Starra and Tojo were waiting for news on Cassiel, a council meeting was being held in a cave not far from priderock. The entrance hidden by vines and the walls were covered with paintings. A large pool sat in the center, as many rocks surround the Lair of all shapes and sizes. One noticeable rock hangs over the pool, which bears a resemblance to Pride Rock itself. As small shaft of light also peers down from outside.

Simba entered the cave with wonder in his orange eyes. "What is this place?"

Already at attendance were his mother, his fraternal grandmother and aunt. Along with Nala, his cousin, Malka and Mheetu. Nala quickly rushed from her brother's side over to the gold lion where she buried her head in the King's red mane.

"Thank the spirits you're okay!"

Simba nuzzled the tawny lioness before looking at the others. Mostly his grandmother, the gold-tan lioness who had white around her dark red eyes and muzzle smiled as she looked around before looking back at her grandson.

"This is the lair of the Lion Guard."

Simba's ear flickered as he tilted his head. "Lion Guard?"

Afia nodded before speaking with a lot of emotion in her voice. "I was born with two younger brothers, Askari and Ajabu. Later on in our teens, while visiting another kingdom, the Tree of Life, my brother Askari was gifted a very special power. The Roar of the Elders. With that roar, Askari founded and lead four lions to protect the kingdom and help the sovereign ruler."

"But grandma, I thought advisors were used to help? Besides Zazu, like Cassiel?" Simba questioned, clearly confused but still interested.

Afia nodded before continuing. "Yes dear. My father had your grandfather Masego's mother, Tula as his advisor already but my brother and his guard was a major help."

"So we should reinstate this Lion Guard? Why didn't uncle Mufasa have one?" Malka asked looking at his maternal grandmother.

Talia nuzzled her son before sighing. "I was just a pre-teen when Mufasa found his way to Milele..."

Mheetu tilted his head. "Milele?"

Talia nodded. "It's what the Pridelands were famously known as before Mufasa became king. He untied all of the kingdom to stand with the Lion Guard to defeat Kiros and his pride of Outsiders."

Afia took a deep breath before speaking. "Yes. Kiros was a dangerous threat but apparently we had a snake inside of the pride... my brother, Ajabu. He was furious about not being able to be king. After your father was crowned, he appointed his adopted brother, Taka now Scar as the new leader of the Lion Guard and a young lion he met on the way home as his advisor."

"Cassiel.." Simba put the pieces together. "But what happened, why isn't there a Lion Guard anymore?"

Afia sighed heavily and everyone can clearly see the pain in the old lioness' eyes. "Because Scar was manipulated by Ajabu. Scar filled with raging jealousy and wanting to be king, as at first believing he was the only one with royal blood, believed that Milele was his destiny. When his guard refused to help him he later killed them."

Simba gasped before he stood. "I need to check on Cassiel,"

Everyone frowned as they clearly see that the young king was horrified by the information he just heard.

"Son, wait!" Sarabi trotted over to her son and nuzzled his head with hers. "I want to see the best of everyone. But given our family's history... you be careful with Kioi and Zira. Kioi was Ajabu's daughter, she was a result of your great-uncle mating Kiros' sister that surrendered. As Kioi was Scar's official mate."

Simba nodded in understanding before leaving the lair and headed towards priderock.