"It's okay." She said, nuzzling him one last time before she nodded and turned to leave.

The hair on Imani's neck stood up at the rouge's voice. She wanted to claw his eyes out just for looking at her like that. Like she was nothing.

"What do you want with us? Our pride never did anything to you. So just let us go and we won't bother you anymore."

The rogue looked to Imani, "Ha, nothing!" He exclaimed, giving a small laugh. "He killed my brother." He said with a growl. Staring at Zeus. He looked to Imani. "Its okay." He said, his voice full of reassurance. "I'll go, and you go back to the Pride. You've seen enough." He stepped forward towards the rogues. But then turned back and nuzzled Imani before whispering in her ear. "I will come back, wait for me by the entrance of camp." Zeus had a plan, but zero confidence that'll work. "Lets go." The rogues growled, and turned to leave, Zeus begining to follow close behind.

"Zeus, no! Are you insane?" She whispered, glancing at the rouges again.

"I just got you back." She said quietly, hating the sadness that welled inside her chest.

(sorry for short posts, writer's block)

"You have to trust me, your in no condition to fight." He said, looking in Imani's eyes, he knew one thing, he would protect her with his life, no matter what. "Just go." He said to Imani, more sternly this time. Then he followed to rogues out of the den, and back towards theirs. He just hoped Imani would listen, and go back to safety.

Imani scoffed. "What do you mean I'm in no condition to fight?" She hissed, pinning her ears.

She hoped Zeus heard her as we walked away. She stalked out of the cave, anger boiling in her stomach. She might be over reacting, but she was done with Zeus constantly putting himself in danger for her. She could protect herself. And that comment had been the last straw.

"No condition to fight." She mumbled to herself, "I'm not sick, there's nothing wrong with me! I'm barely even hurt."

She stalked into camp, greeted by the Queen, who looked rather angry.

"Where is Zeus." The Queen growled, not bothering to ask if she was okay.

"He found me and we stayed overnight Ina cave. The rouges found him and took him." She said, her voice emotionless. She stalked past the Queen and into the den, laying down and covering her eyes with her paws, trying to forget about what had just happened.

He could hear the anger in her words, but for once he ignored her, even as much as it hurt him, he knew he was doing the rigjt thing. Him and the rogues walked across the Savanah towards their den, Zeus being guarded on all sides. Maybe if he complied, they might let him go, but he knew they were most likely going to kill him, if not almost. He shook his mane, and kept on going, holding his head up high.

He didnt resist when they clawed and scratched at his back, leaving gashes, and didn't attempt to bite when they dragged him and bit him. He just layed there, feeling the pain, hearing their taunts, but the thought of Imani made him endure that pain.

"Well," the rogue asked, clearly unsatisfied. "Arent you going to roar in pain?" Zeus looked up to him. "No, I'm not giviing you that satisfaction." He sneered, getting a paw to the face at his answer. The other rogues had grown tired, nd bored, and had wondered away. Zeus had him right where he wanted. As the rogue asked another question, Zeus pounced, taking the rogue, who he learned the name of, Maliki, off guard. In a koment he easily pinned him to the ground. "Maliki, dont ever come near the Pride again." He said, breathing heavy, "Never set foot on the Pride lands again, and if you do, I'll kill you." He finished, and after a claw to the face, he walked out of the den, Maliki too stunned to say anything, the rogues looked to their leader, clearly shaken, and dint move. Zeus willingly got himself out of it, only because Maliki's cubs were inside the den.

When Zeus got back to camp, after washing himself off in the watering hole, he looked around for Imani. His cuts and gashes had scabbed, but he didnt see her waiting for him. His ears pinned back, realizing he'd been gone for the whole day, the sun setting when he returned. He walked into the lion's den, and lay there, blaming himself for what happened, and worrying he might have lost Imani forever.

(I didnt know I could write that much. Lol)

Imani trudged around camp for the rest of the day, joining a hunting patrol then playing with the cubs.

As she laid down for bed that night, she tried to convince herself that she didn't care that Zeus wasn't back yet, but she did. But that didn't mean she wasn't still angry.

She woke the next morning and saw her mother sitting next to a tree, her father beside her. Her mother's head was drooping, ears pinned back. As much as she didn't want too, Imani walked over to them.

"Mom, what's wrong?" she asked, the first words she had spoken to her in a long time.

When her mother didn't answer, she looked up at her father. "Kalemari is dead." He said hoarsely, "She died in the battle with the rouges."

Imani's whole world shattered with those words. Her sister was dead. Imani bit back her tears as she walked to the watering hole, sitting down next to the water's edge, but not taking a drink. Kalemari and Imani had never been close, but she was still her sister. Imani felt the whole in her heart grow. For the first time since Zeus moved in, she felt utterly alone.

(Love the new avi by the way)

Zeus awoke the next morning, still feelimg the pain from yesterday. He poked hisnhead out and looked around, looking for any sign if the Queen, or even Imani. His brown eyes locked on Imani, who was near the watering hole. He walked over slowly, not wantimg to reopen any wounds. His gashes on his back had scabbed over, leaving the claw marks there. He approached behind her. He looked her up and down, and saw that she was upset. "Imani?" He asked, walking up to her on her left side. "Whats wrong?" He added, concern flashing in his face.

Imani didn't look at Zeus as he approached. She kept her gaze on the water as thoughts swirled in her brain.

Her sister was gone. Forever. Imani couldn't help still being angry with Zeus as she turned her head away from him.

Zeus was about to ask again, but she turned her head away. He was left with his jaw hanging open. She clearly didnt want to talk or look at him, which was okay, she had just lost her sister. But be angry at him like that, for doing what? Did she think he killed her sister? He hoped not, but he couldnt be sure. He sighed, before turning away, and going out of camp, to catch up with the morning patrol.