Imani felt Zeus tense.

"What's wrong?" She asked, looking up at him. He was staring off into the distance, and he was obviously looking at something. And not something good, his eyes are narrowed, anger flaring in the endless brown pools.

Zeus blinked quickly and looked down at Imani. "No.. Nothing." He said quickly, staring back to the spot where the Queen was just standing. "Just thought I saw something." He said, anger growing on his face. "I.. I think we should go to sleep for the night." He said, hesitating before stepping away from Imani. "Good night Imani." He said with a smile, before looking back to the spot, then quickly retreating to his den. Not wanting Imani to get in any more trouble then he knew they were going to be in.

"Zeus?" Imani said quietly as he walked into the den. "Good night." She whispered and walked into her own den, flopping down heavily on the ground.

Imani rested her head on her paws, she tried to fall asleep but she kept running through the situation with Zeus in her head, trying to figure out what he could have seen.

She came up with no ideas, eventually drifting off into a light doze, but she knew she was in for a sleepless night tonight.

Zeus knew what he had done was wrong, not telling Imani. But he knew she'd stand up for him no matter what, and he didnt want to get her in any trouble. He wondered what she was thinking, after he abandoned her with no answer. He shook his mane sligjtly bedore resting his head on his paws. Eventually catching a doze, and felling into a dreamless sleep.

Imani awoke early the next morning, her eyes tired from the lack of sleep the night before. She groaned as she pused herself into a sitting position, taking a few moments to groom her fur. Not many others were up yet, but she decided to get up anyways, knowing she wasn't going to get any more sleep.

The clearing was nearly empty except for a few lions who were already awake. She didn't assume she would be joining the morning border check, so she settled down under a tree watching the beautiful sunrise.

Zeus awoke and gave out a yawn, which turned into a low roar. He licked his chops as he rose to his paws. He entered the front of the small den, where he saw Imani watching the sunrise. His brown eyes scanned the camp, the Queen wasnt up yet. With a smile in his face he trotted over to Imani and sat next to her, his tail swishing in anticipation.

He looked down at her and saw that she didnt look well, the happy look was wiped of his fave as a worried one caught on. "Are you all right Imani?" He asked, his words carrying out an anxious tone.

Imani snapped out of her trance, not even realizing Zeus had woken up.

"Oh! Yeah, you just scared me." Imani plastered on a mostly fake smile. She was glad to see him, she just couldn't shake the feeling she felt when he lied to her yesterday. She took a deep breath. He'll tell me when he is ready too. Until then, nothing happened. She told herself.

"Beautiful sunrise this morning." She said, glancing at Zeus from her perferal vision.

Zeus smiled at her response, all though he felt there was something she wasnt telling him. "It is." He said, watching Imani and the sunrise. Suddenly a familiar voice sounded behind him. "Well, well, well," The Queen said, looking Zeus' ocha pelt up and down, then turning her gaze to Imani. "What do we have here?" She said, giving Zeus a disgusted grin. "Zeus, go find and hunt a water buffalo yourself. Now." She ordered, "Imani," she said, "You stay here." She finished with a smile, before walking away, tail swishing in the air with pleasure.

Imani's fur stood on end at the Queen's order. She stood and marched up to her side. "He'll die if he goes alone!" She exclaimed, her tail lashing angrily.

"Well that's too bad for him, isn't it?" She said maliciously, baring her teeth in a snarl. Imani stopped walking, looking at the Queen, dumbfounded. How could she be that determined to get rid of Zeus? Imani tried to fight down panic at the thought of Zeus going alone. There was no way he could take down a water buffalo by himself. She looked back to Zeus, panic in her gaze.

Zeus knew it was almost an impossible task. But that didnt stop him. He looked to Imani then to the Queen. "I'll go." He said, trying to put on a brave face. If he could take down this buffalo and survive. No doubt he and Imani would be safe, and could be together. He looked back to Imani. Worry was the only thing he saw in her eyes, with a tinge of anger. "I'll be okay." He said, finally, he nuzzled Imani's neck in farewell, then turned back to the Queen. "Dont come back till you have one." She ordered, then turned her back and left. Zeus took a deep breath. "Dont follow me. I'll be alright. Its just a water buffalo right?" He said with a sligjt chuckle, trying not to look scared, even though he was panicking inside.