Jashua reached the pool where Sherise had been earlier. He quickly crossed it and began sniffing around, eventually finding the last traces of her scent, though it took some time. For the first time since seeing his mother and Sherise leave that morning, Jashua allowed hope to grow within him.

After following the trail, he arrived at the burned-out area of the Pride Lands. He paused for a moment. This was his first trip back to the area since the fire, and the memories still lingered in his mind. As he stood there, he could almost smell the smoke in the air and hear the crackling of the fire as it raged across the savanna.

He took a deep breath before continuing on his way, his paws kicking up small clouds of ash and dust with each step. He frowned, cautiously looking around, as he realized the extent of the fire's devastation. As he paused at the burned shell of a tree, he remembered something his Grandmother Sarabi had told him when he was a cub.

"Where one thing falls, another grows. Maybe not what was there before, but something new and wonderful all the same."

Jashua took a step forward and then drew his paw away, revealing a new, green shoot at the tree's base.

The pale cream lion smiled, feeling the hope within him grow stronger. Even in the midst of such devastation, there was new life. It was small and fragile, but it was there. With renewed determination, he resumed his search for Sherise.

He wasn't sure how long it had been before he noticed a familiar silhouette sitting dejectedly on a pile of ash.

"Sherise!" he called out, relieved.

Sherise pricked her ears and turned. Her face was filled with surprise before she smiled and ran down the ash pile. Jashua rushed to meet her, and they nuzzled tenderly, taking a few blissful moments to enjoy their reunion.

"I never thought I'd see you again, Princey," Sherise said as they pulled apart.

"Nothing could keep me from you, amor," Jashua stated emphatically. "Besides, my mother was wrong about you. You wouldn't have been a part of the ambush."

Sherise took a step back, frowning.

"Amor?"

Sherise closed her eyes for a moment. "Well...your mother wasn't entirely wrong, Princey. Chumvi did have a plot, and I was part of it. I was supposed to gain your mother's trust before luring her into an ambush."

Jashua stared at her, dumbfounded.

"I wasn't expecting my feelings for you to become genuine," the brownish lioness went on. "The more time I spent with you, the less I wanted to be involved with his plot."

Jashua was stunned. So, in a way, his mother and sister had been right. He shook his head slowly as he took a step back. "So...the ambush...was that planned?" he wondered, his voice shaking.

Sherise fixed her gaze on him. "I had absolutely nothing to do with the ambush that occurred. If anything, Chumvi and the rest of my family practically disowned me as soon as they surrounded your mother, claiming I was disloyal because of my feelings for you."

Jashua closed his eyes for a brief moment. "Anything else?"

Sherise shifted her gaze to the ground. "The fire...wasn't what it seemed to be. My sister and brother started it on purpose as part of our —of Chumvi's plan. I was supposed to be regarded as a heroine for saving you in order to impress your mother and persuade her to let me join the pride."

Jashua sighed and remained silent as he processed everything he'd just learned. It was a lot to take in, and while he hated admitting it, even to himself, it hurt to realize his mother and sister had been right at first.

Finally, he looked back at her. "Thank you," he said softly.

Sherise jerked back in surprise as she looked at him. "For what?"

"For being honest with me," he replied. "I know it wasn't easy…and...this is all a big shock to me, but... it doesn't change how I feel about you…amor."

Sherise's face lit up with relief, and the two embraced once more. "What do you say we get outta here, Princey?"

Jashua looked at her in surprise. "What?"

"I've lost everything, and both of our prides hate me. You're the only one I have left." Sherise nuzzled the pale cream lion gently as she whispered, "I don't want to lose you again."

Jashua nuzzled her in return. "Nothing will ever tear us apart again, amor. But...we have to go back."

"Why? Why take the chance now that we're finally together?" Sherise asked, pulling away in frustration.

"Because our place is with our pride. If we run away, then they'll be divided forever. We are one." Jashua took a moment to reflect on his feelings for her and her apparent feelings for him. He could tell she was skeptical and frustrated by her expression. With a deep breath he went on. "Besides I can't abandon my son."

Sherise's purple eyes flashed with hurt while her tail whipped around. "Your son?"

Jashua took a deep breath before explaining. "My parents were in the midst of gaining a alliance with the Avaloria kingdom. In return I was betrothed to King Ojore's granddaughter, after some time we started a relationship. It led to a night of passion, Alejandro was born. But unfortunately I felt something was missing and now that you're here I know it was you that I needed. Olisa and my relationship is over. I love my son dearly but that doesn't stop me from how I feel about you."

Sherise was completely speechless. But she couldn't be upset, something like this was bound to happen. Besides he must really love her to defy his mother.

He sighed. "Sherise, I know you're upset...but if you truly love me like you say you do, you'll come with me and help me fix this."

Sherise sighed heavily. "Yes I'm a bit upset but I understand." She fixed her gaze on him and eventually relented after seeing his resolve. "You aren't going to give in so easily, are you, Princey?" He shook his head. She took a deep breath, bracing herself. "Alright, then…let's do this."

The two exchanged a grim expression before taking off running in the direction of the Pride Lands, both hoping they wouldn't be too late as thunderclaps rang out and rain began to fall.

Pridelands, Pride Rock

Mheetu couldn't get his son's heartbroken expression out of his mind as he came to a stop near his mate. He wasn't sure if encouraging Jashua to leave was a good idea, but then... hadn't he done something similar once? Leaving with nothing but desperate hope?

"Eshe?" Mheetu waited until her gaze fixed on him. "Don't you think you were too hard on Jashua? He was devastated."

Eshe faced him completely. "Mheetu. Enough. I've already explained what happened. Sherise led me into an ambush. She's been helping her family plan my death the entire time."

Mheetu frowned. "Eshe, just because Chumvi and Avana said they were planning something doesn't mean it was true! Sherise said she had nothing to do–"

"And you actually believed her?!" Eshe cut her mate off.

Mheetu glared at her, his tail lashing. "To be honest, I'm not sure. But I have faith in our son. And even if you were right about Sherise, there's no way to find out now! We both know your decision was biased and unjust!"

"All I want is to keep Jashua safe! And if he gets hurt as a result of this, it'll be your fault for encouraging him to run off like this!"

Mheetu winced, unable to hide his pain at those words. After all, wasn't he a little worried about that very thing? "Eshe, please! Just listen to me!"

The light brown lioness frowned but nodded.

Relieved, Mheetu met his mate's eyes. "I know you only want to be a good queen and follow in your mother's pawsteps. This, however, is NOT what a good queen would do. A good queen would have given Sherise the opportunity to speak and tell her side of the story. Then, and only then, would she be able to give a fair and honest verdict."

"I...I suppose so," Eshe murmured thoughtfully.

Mheetu softened as he noticed he was getting through to Eshe. "I understand you want to protect Jashua. I do too. But he's not a little cub anymore. He sees something special—something good—in Sherise. Maybe he is taking a risk...but so did I when I left the Pride Lands all those years ago."

Eshe frowned, clearly thinking about what he had said. Before she could respond, however, Nala dashed into the den, Arella and Hemidel close behind, rainwater trailing off them.

At her parents' bewildered expressions, Nala quickly explained. "Heimdall ...he saw the Outsiders! They're on the attack, heading this way!"

Eshe and Mheetu exchanged stern looks.

"It's war," Mheetu quietly stated.

Eshe looked at the tawny lion, their argument put aside for the time being. "We need to stop them." Looking up at Arella, who'd been hovering just above them, she ordered, "Arella, find Jashua!"

The hornbill flew away after nodding.

"We need to assemble the pride, who's able to fight and the guards." Eshe instructed.

Nala nodded, and the queen and Prince-Consort rushed towards the pride, their close behind.

~TLK~

As thunder rumbled and lightning flashed in the sky, the mud-splattered Outsiders stalked slowly across a rocky plain near the gorge. Squawking Guinea fowl fled ahead of them. Simba growled as he saw the Pridelanders striding across the plain opposite them.

As Eshe stalked along the line of his her, Askari and several of the pride let out defiant roars.

Vultures circled above as herds of antelope, zebras, and giraffes fled the approaching battle, desperate to avoid the bloodshed.

Chumvi scaled a tall rock as the Outsiders formed a battle line, the fresh clawmarks on his face emphasizing the gleam of vengeance in his orange eyes.

Despite her recent injuries, Eshe stood tall and proud at the head of the Pridelanders as they formed up opposite them. The queen couldn't help but be concerned. The ambush had clearly taken its toll on her, but she refused to ask more of her pride than of herself.

Chumvi snarled before shouting, "It's over, Eshe! I have dreamed of nothing else for years!"

Askari rolled his green eyes before whispering to Nala, Akua and Kopa, "She needs to get a life."

Eshe locked her gaze on the dark brown lion's. "Last chance, Chumvi. Go home."

Chumvi grinned, his clawmarks adding to his crazed appearance. "I am home." As lightning flashed, a thunderclap rang out. He gave the command. "Attack!" The Outsiders reared onto their hind legs, roaring, before advancing.

Eshe roared, and her pride walked to meet them. It wasn't long before both sides broke into a run. Eshe cast a quick glance at Mheetu.

"Mheetu, stay close to me!"

Mheetu only had time to nod before the prides collided and began fighting in the middle of the battlefield.