One Kingdom Against the Stars

[gem]

Nala looked around quickly, trying to find everyone within the mists of the battle. Scar's supporters greatly outnumbered the three lionesses that were fighting back. How could there only be three? It did not make any sense? Didn't they remember how wonderful Mufasa had ruled them? All Scar and Zira had brought them was hunger, fear, and death!

Nala looked back at Kayani, and understood. They were all scared, terrified of what Scar and Zira would do if they went against them. Her blue eyes took in the cub's actions and terrified expression. "Kayani, listen to me, ok. Shujaa will always be with you. The memories that you share will always be with you, not with a place or a thing. Can you come with me away from the fighting?" Nala spoke softly, not even trying to get away anymore. But no cub should have to fight against hyenas and lionesses. If she had to, Nala would grab the cub up by force and move her to safety but she didn't say that out loud.

[/blockquote]

[mistwolf]

Tears filled Kayani's scared blue-green eyes. She looked once again over her shoulder, like sh was looking at Shujaa. She looked at the sky, then back at Nala. She swallowed hard. The decision was a tough one. Leave her home, and the place where her memories of Shujaa were the strongest, but where without the protection of other lions and lionesses she could be eaten by hyenas, or come with Nala, into the wilds of the areas beyond the Pridelands, far beyond where she'd been before, and maybe, maybe find safety. Could she leave this place? Was it really like what Nala said, or would Shujaa abandon her? She felt so lost. But surely Shujaa wouldn't want her to die. She could almost see him, looking at her with those green eyes, telling her to go on.
It's okay, Kayani, she could hear his voice saying. I'm still here.
Kayani straightened, swallowing once more. She knew also that now she could no longer be a cub. She had to move on, had to grow up and leave the past in the past. Shujaa would always be with her. Her eyes became set and she looked at Nala, seeming to grow older.
"Okay," she said strongly. "I'll come with you."

[- lauren]

Sarabi was about to answer the cub but Nala spoke, insisting they all get out together. "No, Nala, if I run..." she started. Sarabi, you fool. Don't let your pride cause your loved ones to die. She closed her eyes for a second and then nodded. "Okay," she said softly. Kayani was scared, and was refusing to go, but Nala talked her through it. For a moment, Sarabi looked at the young female with admiration. She considered Nala family, and was proud to do so. Nala was so strong...

When Kayani agreed to go, Sarabi went into survival mode. She looked up to see if anyone was around but the kings of the past must have been on their side because no one seemed to spot them yet. Not yet anyway. She knew it wouldn't be long. Sarabi turned to Nala and the others and spoke quickly. "If we're going to do this, we need to move now." She wondered if maybe there was a cave or something they could hide in, or maybe Nala already had another plan.

Sarabi hated running away, but what other choice did she have?

[Scar]

"Ila! What kind of cubsitter are you! Leaving the children scattered all over the battlefield..." A yell followed by muttering, after biting Nala, Bakari made her way through the war pursuing the missing cubs.

Her search for Kayani led her to the lionesses' hiding amidst the fog. By one moment the hyena froze, but her recovery was quick, and in no time at all she was shrieking like a monkey: telling everyone of the rebels current location.

Back at Priderock, the battle was lost. Overwhelmed by the outlanders and hyenas, the lionesses had no choice but to run for their lives. The leonine stampede happened to head towards Bakari and the others. The hyena only narrowly avoided being turned into a sticker.

Some of the lionesses noticed Sarabi and stopped. Turning around they were ready to give their lives for the true Queen.

"Run, your Highness!" one lioness pleaded. "We'll hold them as long as we can."

[gem]

Nala hissed in rage and pain as Bakari bit her, she turned around fast to swipe at the hyena with her claws. Bakari was already gone though. But it got Nala to focus on what was going around her once more instead of just on Kayani. She also finally connected what Sarabi was saying to her.

That kicked her into action as she started giving out orders without thinking, "Sarabi, take Kayani and go as fast as you can. Head towards to the river!" She looked at the other lionesses ready to fight for their Queen to be able to have time to get away. Nala nodded, as if deciding something, "I'll bring up the rear but don't worry if I fall behind. I'll hold them off as well, so if any try to follow, I'll be able to stop them."

She was shocked to find the other lionesses staring at her and only then did it dawn on her what she had done. She had just ordered her Queen to leave. But there was no time for apologizing, "Now go! Kayani, you will be safe with Sarabi, I promise."

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[mistwolf]

Ila turned at Bakari's words. She'd been watching the dissapearence of Tojo. But now she saw Kayani with the traitors. What was she doing??
Ila leaped into action, certain not to let the cub get away. As Nala left, Kayani started to follow Sarabi. But Ila cut the cub off.
"And where do you think you are going?" she demanded, with the matronly attitude of the cub-sitter she was. Kayani looked up, ears falling back. But she seemed to regain some courage and faced off against the sitter. Before her eyes, Ila saw a startling transformation occur. Kayani looked up at her, and her eyes grew cold, and deep. Her ears stayed back, but the scared expression dissapeared from her face. Slowly, she straightened herself and glared at Ila. Ila hadn't realized how tall the cub had grown since her best friend's death.
"Away," she said. "I'm leaving."
"What?" Ila demanded. "You have no right! You are a cub! You are part of this pride!"
"No," Kayani growled, voice low. "I am not part of this pride anymore. I am part of Sarabi's pride. I am part of her pride, and Nala's pride and Tojo's pride. I am not part of Scar's pride. My alliegence to you and him died with Shujaa."
"If you leave here, you leave your best friend," Ila tried a different attack. But Kayani's eyes grew colder and harder. Deep in them, Ila saw a developing warrior. Kayani was growing up.
"No, I won't," she said. "Shujaa was my best friend. He is dead now, but his memory will remain in my heart."
The cub remembered what Nala had said. "The memories that we share will always be with me. Not with a place or a thing. Shujaa will be with me wherever I go. In fact, I am certain if he were alive now, he would not want to stay here."
"You leave and you will never be accepted back into this pride," Ila spat. "You will die with those lionesses out in the wilds. And if you ever do return, you will never be accepted back here."
"So be it," Kayani said. "I've made my choice in life. I am no longer under your control."
With that, Kayani turned and ran, following Nala and Sarabi into the wilds. Ila watched her go and let out a roar of anger. Kayani heard it as she ran, but ignored it. A final transformation had come over her. She was no longer a cub. She was a young lioness.

[- lauren]

Sarabi was feeling a little overwhelmed. The other lionesses' were going to risk their own safety so that she could get away? Nala told her to take Kayani and go to the river. Sarabi looked at the young cub and then at Nala. Slowly, she nodded. Whatever Scar thought of her running away, it didn't matter as long as she could get Kayani to safety. Nala then explained that she'd follow as soon as she could. Biting back her disagreement, Sarabi only listened as Nala went on with the plan. She didn't like that Nala was sacrificing herself as well, but it was for the greater good, the big picture.

It was past time to go, and Sarabi felt the window of opportunity closing the longer she stood there. Sarabi looked at Serafina and knew there was no time to hear her old friends plans. She went to her, hugged her with her neck, and then looked at her in a way that said she'd find her again. Then she turned to Kayani and the two of them headed off. Before they could really get anywhere, Ila jumped into their path and tried to stop Kayani from leaving. Tired, and frustrated with Ila for delaying them, Sarabi was about to say something, force their way through, but Kayani spoke up for herself. Sarabi watched in awe as the young lioness stood up to Ila. She felt her heart warming towards the cub as she spoke about Sarabi and Tojo and Nala as a pride, and Kayani a part of it. As much as she hoped it never came to that, Sarabi was grateful. She looked at Kayani for a moment and then they moved past Ila. With one final roar, Ila was gone, and Sarabi and Kayani were on their way to freedom.