Imani saw the blur of mocha fur behind her but didn't stop as she kept running, only two hyenas trailing her now. She kicked one with a back paw as a lept for her, leaving it behind her. Deciding she could handle the last one, she whirled around and grabbed it's neck in her jaws, killing it.

Imani stopped running, her sides heaving as Zeus caught up to her. Blood gushed from various wounds on her legs, a few nicks on her side, and a small gash below her eye.

"Thanks." She huffed when he got close enough. He deserved a bigger thanks, but she didn't have the words.

Zeus stoped and looked over her wounds. They wouldn't get too bad he concluded. He nodded at her thanks, and looked around at the dead hyenas. He also looked back to see if the Queen was near. "Well I ought to get back." He said, looking back to Imani. "I dint wont you to get in trouble by being by me." He finished. He had always known one strict rule within the pride. Dont mess with rogues. As they were dangerous. Now as a rogue, he hated that rule. But rules were rules. He looked back at the lioness and waited for her response.

Imani finally caught her breath and looked back towards her pride.

"Maybe you could come back with me. Maybe since you saved my life, they would let you stay in the pride." She suggested.

She had never heard of anything like that happeing before, but it was worth a shot. Unless Zeus didn't want to go back.

"If you want to come back, that is. If not, then thats fine too. I just thought we could maybe use something like this to maybe get the King to let you back in."

Zeus thought about that for a moment. Still, he could have saved the Queen and he'd still not let him in, not that he'd save the Queen anyway. He looked back at Imani. "Its worth a shot." He said, and began to walk towards the pride. "If they still reject me, I wont be allowed near their territory anymore. You know that right?" He said, worried this was his only bite at the apple. If they rejected him, Imani and Zeus would never see each other again. He looked back up at her. "Is it worth it?"

Imani mulled over his words for a second. "It's worth a shot if you think it is." She said, letting him inturprate the words.

They walked in silence for a while, but when they got closer to the pride, she spoke. "Let me do the talking. I'll just tell them what happened, I went out on a walk, hyenas attacked me, you saved my life, and you can request to join the pride again." She explained, trying not to panic.

Zeus thought iver her words for a bit, what did she mean by if you think its worth a shot? She said it as if she wanted him to come, but not if he was ready. Did she have feelings for him. No, no one wanted a rogue. The two walked in silence as she told him her plan. "Yeah, that'll work. But before you explain, they are going to think I attacked you, with all the claw marks." He said, knowing what was going to happen. "But they will believe you over me." He added, as the two neared camp quickly. Would he be accepted? And if he did, how would they treat him?

"I'll explain everything. But I'm not making any promises on what they will say." She said, trying to warn him. She wasn't sure what the King and Queen were going to say. The Queen seemed to have a grudge against Zeus, for whatever reason.

They were almost to the camp when Imani stopped. "If you don't want to do this, don't feel like you have to. I don't want you to not be happy." She said quietly.

Zeus nodded, worry growing in his gut. But no, he trusted Imani, and she would make everything right. They were almost to the entrance when Imani stopped once again. He turned over her words in his head, then opened his mouth to speak, "I do want to do this, it will make me happy." He turned his attention tobthe entrance where the Queen was approaching, a malicious smile on her face. Other lionesses approached behind her, and he looked around for the King. He had just rose his head. The King was a golden lion, with scars over portions on his pelt. His mane was a lighter brown, getting darker as it approached his underbelly, where it was black. He looked to Imani, worry lit in his eyes, waiting for her to speak.

"Imani, what have you brought for us?" The Queen asked, malicious smile growing.

Imani took a deep breath, trying to ignore the other lion's gazed fixed on her. "I would like Zeus stay in the pride." She tried to keep her voice from shaking.

"Leave us." The King ordered. The other lions quickly left as the King stepped forward, much to the Queen's dismay.

The King took a closer look at her, noticing her still bleeding cuts. "What happened to you?" He asked, shooting an accusatory glance at Zeus.

"Hyenas. I went put on a walk and they attacked me. Zeus saved me. They would have killed me if he hadn't been there. That's why I think he deserves to join the pride."

Zeus stared at the Queen through Imani's words, he smile fading at every word. Yet he didnt mutter a thing, knowing that if he said anything, she would say it was a lie. The King, who looked different since his exile, looked Zeus up and down. Of course, Zeus was younger and smaller the last time he had seen him. But now Zeus and the King were about the same size. He looked up at the King, his Golden gaze lingering on Zeus. "Yes, I would like to join the Pride." He said, and he could hear a slight growl from the Queen, whose eyes were on fire. The King gave a last look at Zeus before saying, "Very well, welcome to the Pride."