Imani bit back tears as Zeus nuzzled her.

"Zeus please. You'll die." She whispered, a lump forming in her throat.

"No it's not just a Buffalo. That thing will kill you Zeus. Please. Let me come." She pleaded.

Zeus could see she was on the verge of tears, but he knew what he had to do. "I want die. I'll come and see you by tomorrow. I promise." He said sincerely. He could see the pain in her voice. He gave her one last nuzzle. "You have to promise you wont follow me. I'm not losing you." He said. Looking into her eyes. He didnt want her to follow. He barely had any confidence. But he knew that if he succeeded, the Queen would let them be together. He would fight for Imani with everything he had.

"Zeus if you die... I have nothing left here. I don't know what I'll do if..." She didn't finish the sentence as her voice cracked.

Imani looked at Zeus's face, memorizing his eyes, nose, mane, everything she could. Just in case.

"If you don't come back, I promise I'll rip off the Queen's head myself." She growled, her heart aching at the thought.

"I wont die." He said once more, giving her the softest glare he could. "I can promise you that. I'll try to be back by the end of the day." He said, trying to give off a brave smile. He took in Imani for the last time before he left. He took in a breath. "I have to get going." He said, looking into her soft brown eyes. "Goodbye Imani." He said, and with one last quick lick of her ear, he turned around slowly and began to make his way out of camp.

"Goodbye, Zeus." Imani whispered hoarsely. She turned her head away so she didn't have to watch him leave. Imani didn't move from her spot. She even went as far as to refuse a hunting request. Of course, the lioness who asked asked her what was wrong, as it was unusual for her to refuse.

Imani just brushed it off, saying she didn't feel well. It wasn't completely a lie.

It had been awhile since he had left, and almost immediately after his paw stepped ober the border line, vultures soared overhead. The lead vulture circled and landed in front of Zeus. Zeus made a few grunting and clicking noises, telling the vultures of his situation, he even added that he'd hunt an antelope for them, which the vulture eagerly agreed. It took off towards the air and flew north, which Zeus quickly followed. He came up on a antelope herd, and swiftly killed a young ome for the vultures. It was an easy hunt, and barely took any of his energy. The vultures told him through clicks and pointed beaks where the water buffalo were, and the two parted ways.

After about an hour or two, the sun now high up in the sky, he saw the outline of a water buffalo. Alone. Yet it was a large male, its horns almost bigger than Zeus's tail length. This had to be it. He thought as he entered a hunter's crouch, sneaking up on the buffalo, which at the moment didnt know he was there. His eyes scanned the horizon, looking if any other predators were nearby. A maniacal laugh answered him. He turned to see two hyenas, teeth bared. Two mored appeared, one on each side. He let out a sigh of annoyance, as the water buffalo caught on and made its way away fairly quickly. His brown eyes made his way to each of the hyenas. Each snarling at him. Then, they attacked.

Zeus lept to the left, avoiding one hyena as the each nipped and scratched at him. Zeus would turn quickly, sbapping hus jaws, causing the hyena to back off for a second, before coming back again. Another one from the oposite direction leaped, attempting to land on his back, but Zeus was waiting for that. He pounced, matching the hyena's heigjt. He pushed down his paws on the hyena's back, crushing it as they hit the ground. One down, three to go. His sides and hunches were bleeding slightly, thankfully not heavily. He turned and swiped a paw, catching a hyena and the face and sending it, tail tucked, back into the undergrowth. He snarled as teeth bit into his back, claws scratching down his sides. Zeus rolled, pinning the hyena underneath him, as the other one lunged for his neck. It connected, biting into the neck fur beneath his mane. He took his other paw and swiped at the hyena, connecting and sending it flying back, that one giving up. He rose to hks paws, and knowing the hyena still under him, brought himself down with all his weight. Swiftly killing it.

Zeus, sweaty and bleeding heavily now, just lay on the warm Savannah sand, breathing heavily, trying to regain himself. He pictured Imani in front of him, as the former rogue's eyes closed, passing out from exhaustion.

Imani's head shot up, realizing she had dozed off. The hunting patrol was back by now, and the sun was just starting its decent. She knew Zeus wouldn't be back by now, but she decided to search the camp anyways.

She walked around camp, trying to be as discreet as possible, she made sure to avoid the King and Queen's den, not wanting another run in with her. Each paw step she took increased the sinking feeling in her stomach, and her head fell in defeat when she realized he wasn't here.

She made her way back to her waiting spot, lying down again, praying that he came back soon.

Zeus came back to consciousness, just as the sun was starting to decent. How long had he been out? He attempted to rise to his paws, but his exhausted legs not moving, after a couple more attempted he got to his feet, looking around. The water buffalo hadnt got far, as it was grazing a little ways from him. He could wait for tomorrow, give him time to heal, but a possibility that the buffalo would be gone. He wanted to lay down and sleep but suddenly an image of Imani entered his head, and he seemed to get strength. The yoyng male lowered into a painful hunting crouch, and creeped up on the buffalo. One paw in front of them other. He told himself, getting within pouncing range just as the sun went down. Quickly adjusting to the darkness, he locked eyes with his target. Putting his head lower to the ground, he got closer and closer. He had never hunted a buffalo before, but how hard could it be?

He wished he could fight more hyenas.

Zeus leaped from his shelter and landed, claws unsheathed, on the buffalo's back, clawing and hoping to drag him down. Which didnt work one bit, and clawed harder, finally getting through its tough skin. It bellowed and kicked, hitting Zeus square in the hip and making his fall off. His right hip full of pain he hobbled after it. Managing to catch and and graze its shoulder with his teeth, then grabbing at the neck. The buffalo swung its head back, horns piercing Zeus's side, going deep within. He roared in pain and gripped harder on the neck, not letting go. The buffalo started to breathe heavily, and Zeus eventually pushed it to the ground. The buffalo struck one final time. Hitting Zeus painfully hard in his shoulder, drawing blood. It took in one last breath, and was dead. Zeus collasped, breathing heavily. His body throbbing with pain. He wanted to lay here forever, unmoving, but then the thought of Imani entered his head. To his body's screams, he rose once again to his paws, and started to drag the buffalo home.

Imani's breath caught in her throat as the sun went down. Zeus still wasn't back. He promised her he wouldn't die He promised.

That was what rung in Imani's head as she laid in the den with the other lionesses. She knew tonight would be even more sleepless than the one before, but suddenly, Imani didn't care about what Zeus was hiding from her. All she wanted was for him to come home. She stayed awake for a long while, staring out into the serengeti, waiting for something that may never come.

Zeus entered camp, the buffalo and a blood trail from himself following behind. He had done it, what many had said was impossible. He had taken a water buffalo himself. He dragged the carcass to the middle of camp, to where he had left Imani that morning. Imani wasnt there. Exhausted and breathing heavily, Zeus licked his wounds for a bit, before lying his head on the buffalo's neck, and drifting off from conciousness.