Zebras brayed in the midst of the fire, attempting to flee the inferno. Jashua ran after them, terrified. He paused for a moment, the thick, choking smoke irritating his throat and eyes. He coughed and blinked. The landscape around him was engulfed in flames, which had an unsettling red glow. He desperately looked around for any sign of a way out.

Spotting a ridge that rose high above the flames, Jashua ran toward it and jumped, catching himself on the edge. He struggled to pull himself up, feeling the heat of the flames beneath him. He eventually made it, breathing heavily once he was away from the immediate danger of the flames.

The pale cream lion tried to take a step forward to continue his escape, but collapsed, overcome by the smoke and flames, oblivious to a dark figure with glowing eyes moving through the mist toward him.

Sherise came to a halt beside the semi-conscious prince. She took a quick look around. The land had quickly deteriorated into a fiery red wasteland of death and destruction. She noted that the fire was still some distance away from where they were. That didn't mean much, though, given the shifting winds. She had to get the prince out of here as soon as possible.

The brownish lioness nudged him. He moaned but didn't stir otherwise. She frowned before nudging him again, a bit harder this time. This time he groaned and struggled to open his eyes, looking up at her weakly.

"Hey, Princey. Come on, let's move."

Jashua groaned. "Wh-who…who are you?"

"No time for that now. Get up!" Sherise urged him.

Jashua attempted, but failed, to struggle to his paws.

"You must get up!" Sherise insisted harshly. She noticed the flames getting closer and closer to them. They wouldn't be able to escape if they didn't hurry.

Jashua grunted as he tried once more. This time, he managed to stand and take a few unsteady steps forward before looking at her.

"Good. Now come. Follow me." Sherise said as she steadied him. She turned, and he followed her on shaky legs.

She looked back a few times, just to ensure he was still following. They began to make their way as the fire raged behind them. It was difficult. The smoke irritated their eyes, forcing them to keep low. Embers fell from the sky, sparking new fires and forcing them to reroute several times.

Coming to a ridge, they slid down it, narrowly avoiding the flames as they did so. They heard some cracking among the crackling sounds of the fire. Looking up, their eyes widened as several flaming branches fell toward them.

"Move it!" Sherise growled sharply. They sprinted forward, avoiding more falling, flaming branches.

They eventually arrived at a cliff overlooking a lake. Sherise looked at Jashua . "There's only one way out. We'll have to jump."

Jashua took a deep breath as he looked down. "Okay."

A creaking noise caused them to turn. When they saw a flaming tree falling toward them, their eyes widened.

"Princey, jump! NOW!" Sherise ordered. The two jumped into the lake below as the tree crashed to the ground behind them.

They soon emerged from the water, coughing. "Come on. Land's just this way." the brownish lioness urged the prince, leading the way once more.

Unaware that above them, Arella flew overhead. She gasped as she spotted them. "I must tell Queen Eshe!" She flew off as the two lions reached dry land.

...

Sherise stood there for a few moments as Jashua laid there, trying to catch his breath. "You okay, Princey?" She asked.

Jashua coughed a bit. "I guess so." As his vision cleared, he lifted his head and looked closer at the lioness. The memory of a lioness cub he had met flashed through his mind. "Wait…Sherise? Is that you?"

"It's been a while, Princey."

Jashua smiled as he stood just as his black rimmed ears flickered to his mother's voice calling out, "Jashua!" before the future king could say anything else. He turned to see his mother lunge at Sherise, who took a few steps back.

Mheetu ran over to his son. "My son, I'm glad you're all right!" the tawny Prince-Consort nuzzled the younger lion, clearly trying to soothe himself.

Nala along with Askari, the rest of the lion guard, their maternal grandmother and the other lionesses stood behind them, watching.

"Father, I'm fine." Jashua said softly, leaning his head against the Prince-Consort's. As Eshe growled at Sherise, he drew back.

"Who are you, Outsider?" Eshe questioned harshly.

Jashua spoke up before the brownish lioness could respond. "Mother, Father, this is Sherise. She res—" but his mother cut him off with a snarl before roaring at Sherise.

Which Sherise responded to the queen's roar with her own.

Mheetu looked at his mate, unbelievably stunned. "Eshe!"

Eshe gave her mate a quick glance before returning her focus to Sherise.

Jashua quickly took the chance to finish his earlier statement. "Mother, she rescued me from the fire! I probably wouldn't have made it without her!"

Eshe looked closer at Sherise. "You saved him? Why?" her voice was tinged with suspicion.

Sherise smirked with a raised eyebrow. "Did you expect me to just leave him to die?" She dared. "Besides, I've left the Outsiders. Now that I'm a rogue, I humbly request to join your pride."

Eshe's response was quick. "No! You were banished with your brother and the other Outsiders."

"Oh? So, you're blaming me for a crime I didn't commit?" Sherise growled. She met the queen's eyes. "All I ask is that you judge me for who I am now."

Eshe began to snarl as she paced back and forth.

Mheetu frowned. "Eshe, you owe her our son's life."

Sarabi, who has been watching the situation alongside the lion guard and some of the pride's lionesses stepped up to her daughter. "Dear, we are clearly in her debt. And royal protocol since my mother's rule, requires that all debts be paid." the dark beige lioness' orange eyes narrowed as she glared at Sherise. "However, in this case, you might want to make an exception."

Eshe cast a glance from her mother over her shoulder at Sherise. "Hmm…" Sherise met her eyes. "My grandmother's law will prevail. For now, I reserve judgment. We'll see who you really are," the light brown lioness said as she turned and began to walk away.

Sherise smirked at Jashua, who grinned with delight.

Mheetu smiled at the brownish lioness, silently thanking her. The Prince-Consort gave his son one last nuzzle before turning to follow Eshe.

Nala scowled, suspiciously eyeing Sherise as she followed her after her mother and father. Askari looked concerned as he followed his sister, the guard following. Along with Sarabi and the other lionesses.

Arella turned her back on Sherise. "Hmph! Riffraff!" She scoffed as she flew after Eshe and the others.

Sherise scowled at the majordomo before following Jashua.

~TLK~

The moon had risen by the time the pride returned to Pride Rock. What was supposed to be a happy day had almost become a tragedy. Many of the lionesses were thanking the Great Kings that the prince was still among them. As they entered the main den, Eshe was pacing on the promontory, growling.

The queen was lost in thought, still uncertain of their guest. She turned just in time to see Sherise try to follow the pride into the den. The queen snarled as she approached her. The light brown lioness moved past her, making it clear that she was not welcome in the den.

Sherise gave the older lioness a disgusted look. Before she turned and walked away from the den, settling down to sleep next to a tall rock on the promontory. She looked up in time to see the princess, Nala, was that her name? Glaring at her as she entered the den.

Jashua climbed onto Pride Rock, watching her with concern. He cast a quick glance toward the den's entrance. Everyone else had already entered, ready to retire for the night. He returned his gaze to Sherise and approached her.

Before he could say anything, she snapped, "What do you want you royal brat!"

Jashua blinked in surprise, taken aback by her reaction. He sighed and gathered his thoughts. "Actually…I just wanted to say thank you for saving my life today. I'm eternally grateful, and I hope that you'll eventually be accepted here."

Sherise blinked, surprised. That wasn't what she was expecting from him. It made her pause for a moment. Was this so-called 'royal brat' really that awful? He certainly didn't act like his ill-tempered mother.

When Sherise thought about it, comparison to the others, he appeared.. really sweet.

"Oh, well, um, you're welcome, Princey," she managed to say in response to his kindness.

Jashua smiled at her as Eshe's voice called from the cave, "Jashua!"

"Coming!" the future king said, looking over his shoulder. "Well...good night," he said, returning his gaze to Sherise. "I'll see you in the morning." He turned and walked into the den.

Sherise watched after him, with a thoughtful expression. The prince had no idea that the fire and his rescue were part of her brother's plan to gain Queen Eshe's trust. She let out a sigh as she laid down before she finally fell asleep.

...

Chumvi and Vitani stood at a distance away from Pride Rock, observing Jashua and Sherise's private conversation.

Vitani spluttered as they saw Jashua walk back toward the main den. "D-did you see that?!"

Chumvi rolled his orange eyes. "Hush!" the tan lioness ducked down sheepishly as her half-brother continued, "The fire rescue worked perfectly, and Eshe fell for it." he lowered his head down to Vitani. "And remember," he said as he straightened up and walked past his half-sister, "the closer Sherise gets to the precious prince, the closer she gets to Eshe."

Vitani went to make a thoughtful gesture as Chumvi examined one of his paws, claws extended. "And once she has Eshe alone..." the dark brown lion snarled and slashed at a branch close to Vitani, who dove down just in time.

Later That Night

Queen Eshe lay asleep in the den, twitching restlessly and grunting as she dreamed.

She was standing by the gorge. An eerie red light, gentle yet foreboding, washed over the landscape. She looked around, her green eyes wide, before she heard something.

"Eshe! Eshe!" Her father's voice called out to her. Eshe ran to the edge of the gorge and peered over the edge. Wildebeests were stampeding far below Taka as he clung to the cliff's edge. "Help me!"

"Papa!"

A familiar cackle sounded as Eshe reached down to help her father. She looked over her shoulder to see Mufasa slinking toward her. "No!" She returned her gaze to her father, stretching out herpaw. "Papa! Just a little further!" she encouraged the brown lion as he reached for Eshe's paw. Their paws were nearly touching when the light brown lioness cried out.

"Gotcha!" Mufasa hissed.

Eshe turned to see that the gold lion was gripping her paw with unsheathed claws. "Trust me," he hissed.

Taka slipped further down the cliff's edge."Eshe!" He cried out as he fell into the stampede.

"No!" Eshe cried out. She rounded on Mufasa angrily. "Mufasa…" He cackled as he morphed into someone else. Eshe's eyes widened and she gasped. "Sherise?"

"Ha!" Sherise grinned as she threw Eshe into the stampede.

"No!" She screamed as she fell.

Eshe jerked awake with a gasp, panting as she looked around in a panic. As she became more aware of the stars outside and Mheetu sleeping soundly next to her, she began to slowly relax.

Eshe let out a sigh and lowered her head. As she closed her eyes, she hoped for a more peaceful night's sleep.