Imani was about to object. She wanted to come and help. Shd closed her jaws just as she was about to speak. This isn't just about me anymore. I need to think of the cubs too.

Imani stood as Zeus left, not taking long before she started pacing the den.

Out of no where, there was a loud commotion, and a very familiar roar sounded. The rouges were back. And the only lions here were the lionesses.

"Loki, go protect the nursing Lionesses and cubs. Now." She growled, trying not to panic.

"But the King told me to-" Loki started, but Imani interrupted him.

"That was an order!" She snarled. Loki didn't bother to hide his surprise as he nodded and quickly hurried to the other lionesses.

It was a trap, Imani realized. To get Zeus and the others out of camp and leave them vulnerable. Imani growled to herself. The fight had commenced by now, and she knew she needed to get out there and fight, but the cubs.

Imani didn't know what to do, and before she could make a decision, an all to familiar laugh sounded. Imani swallowed as the Rouge leader waltzed into the den, trapping her.

"Your Zeus isn't here to save you this time." He crooned as he walked closer. Imani took steps back, her tail lashing and fur standing on end.

Imani couldn't go back any farther, but the Rouge leader kept coming. When he was within striking distance, she lashed out with a paw, claws unsheathed. She clawed at his face, barely avoiding blinding him. "Get away from me." She growled, blood dripping from her claws.

The Rouge leader snarled, lashing out with his own paw. The giant paw smacked into the side of her face, the force strong enough to knock her over. She didn't have enough time to get back to her paws before the rouges paw was on her neck, just one swipe and she was dead.

"I would love to end you right here, but I have been ordered to keep you alive. Or mostly so." Without another word, his paw came down on her head again, knocking her out cold.

By the time Zeus had gotten there, the fight was over. Usually he would stay and mourn the losses, but he had to find Imani. "Lol for any more rogues. If you see them. Kill them." He said with a snarl, to the lions suprise, but they went and did their duty. He realized he sounded just like the firmer King Ares, and even Zuri partly. He hated that feeling, but he had said it. He raced into the royals den, only to find it empty, blood pooled in the back and he immediately ran towards it. He sniffed it. Imani was all his mind would tell him, a single tear fell down he check. He returned to the entrance. Several Pride lionesses lay unmoving in the dirt, although some seemed to be breathing. The survivors, along with the cubs, were huddled in the nursery, where several lions stood in the entrance. His eyes glanced iver to the healers den, so instinctively he headed towards it, could Imani be there?

The instant scent if herbs flooded his nostrils, as he peeked into the den. He heard boises inside. "Imani?" He called out, but to his suprise, a skinny, scrawny rogue, who seemed to still be an apprentice, jumped out at him. The apprentice managed to get a blow to his face, but thats all it did before he pinned it. He peered inside the medics den to find it empty. They'd taken the healer too? Why would they do that? Then he turned his attention to the apprentice. "Where did they take them?" He snarled, lowering his face towards the rogue. The apprentice took a breath, and tryed to act bold, but his eyes said othereise. Fear was all that shown in them, but it said boldly. "I can't say." Zeus lowered his head even closer, "You don't want me to kill you rigjt?" He asked, that seemed to do it. "Fine!" He squealed, pushing its paws on his mane and neck. "Just give me food, and I'll tell you everything you need to know!"

Imani woke slowly in a cave similar to the one she was kept in last time. She was once again, alone, with a guard outside, no idea if any others were here.

A few wounds on her neck bled slightly, and she had a faint headache. Her mouth was horribly dry, and it was an effort to keep from panting.

The leader of the rouges walked past the guard into the small cave, his malicious glare fixed on her. She didn't fail to notice Zuri at his side.

Imani met the rouges stare, unflinching. "Your lucky I didn't kill you when I had the chance, it would have been nice to kill multiple lions at once." He seethed, and Imani tried not to flinch away when hid hot, reeking breath washed over her face.

Imani bristled at the threat, baring her teeth in a snarl. "I don't know what you want with me, but just let me go. I have done nothing to either of you." She was satisfied to see the claw marks around his eye still remained.

"I don't think that's going to happen." The Rouge leader said, "You are far to valuable to just let go."

Imani turned away from the two, not wanting to heat any more. She hissed when claws raked down her shoulder.

"Look at me when I'm talking to you!" The Rouge leader snarled.

"That's enough." Zuri said, pushing the leader out of the den, leaving Imani alone again.

Zeus fed the young apprentice, who was eager to eat the zebra leg Zeus had tossed him. The apprentice finished it in moments, leaving only the bone, which he hungrily chewed on. "So," Zeus started. "Tell you everything you know." He said, partially annoyed, he knew this young cub knew where they took Imani, and he needed to get there fast. He stopped chewing the bone for a second. Just a little wats off your border." He started, ch e ing the bone again, "There is a small den, thats where they are." He finished, chewing on the bone even more. "Take me to them." Zeus ordered, swiping the bone out of the cubs mouth. "Fine, Fine, Fine." He said, "You dont need to be." He said loudly, then murmured, "Such a jerk." For some reasons those words stung deep in his heart, but he pushed it away, "Lets go, now." Zeus said, pointing his tail in the direction of where they needed to go. "Fine, your majesty." The rogue mocked, and git to his paws, ribs showing, going tiwards the rogues den. "Pride!" Zeus yelled, "After me." The Pride was in their way to save the Queen, if only they still could.

Imani's thrist only grew, which didn't help the fact she was starting to feel nauseous again.

The sun was starting its decent when the guard outside of her cave changed, she thought momentarily about trying to escape, but quickly dismissed the thought. She just hoped Zeus was looking for her.

The apprentice led them on the way towards where he said the den eas. Je could hear the lioms behind him, doubting thr cub knew his way. Zeus just gave them a glare, and they stopped talking. This had to be their chance. If it failed, he migjt neber see Imani again. But aure enough, he saw the den up ahead. The apprentice stayed upright, but Zeus and the other lions lowered into a crouch, as they advanced. The neared the den, and were about a eighth of a mile away, when the cub got ansy, he then ran towards the den screaming, "Lions, lions, they're coming after me!" All the rogues heads popped up, and all chaos broke loose.

Imani raised her had at the sudden commotion. There was what sounded like a cubs voice, then an uproar of snarling and roaming.

She hoped the guard would leave, but they seemed to have been punished for the mistakes last time and he stood firm. The only way out was to fight him, and there was no chance Imani would win. She braced herself to run if anyone came to find her.

Zeus growled, stupid cub, but he had no choice. He raised his tail and all the lions at once rose to the feet. Zeus's head high, he yelled, "Attack!" And at once, lions from both sides collided into eahmch other, fur flying. Zeus manuevered his way through the chaos, delibering an occasional blow to a rogue. But he had ither matters to take care of. Zeus found the entrance of the den empty, but he had sworn he saw a rogue gaurding it, right? Either way he poked his head in, "Imani, are you there?" He asked, then he saw her towards the back. He smiled, relieved to be back together, but her face read a different story. Was she trying to warn him? He turned towards the entrance, as she seemed to be signaling tiwards that direction. Suddenly, the rogue leader ran full speed into him, sending him flying into thr den wall, he hit his head, shoulders, hips, and back on the wall, immediately rendering him unconscious, and most likely giving him a severe concussion.

Imani couldn't look away as Zeus slammed into the wall and crumpled to the ground.

Forgetting everything she had told herself, blind rage overcame her as she leapt for the rouge and latched her teeth onto his throat, killing him almost instantly. Zeus was still breathing, and with a quick further inspection, luckly his spine hadn't been broken.

Imani saw Loki fighting amongst the bunch. He brought the lion he was fighting to the ground, and she called to him.

"Loki!" He hurried over, casting a worried glance down at Zeus.

"I need you to drag him away from here, I'll be right behind you. Loki nodded and grabbed Zeus, quickly tugging him away. Imani followed quickly. She told Loki to take him to the cave they had stayed in the last time she was kidnapped.

"Thank you." She said, "I have to stay with him, go back to the others. Your in charge." Loki nodded and vanished into the oncoming night.

She looked back to Zeus, who was still lying unconscious on the ground.

"Zeus, please wake up." She pleaded, "We need to get back before they find us."

Zeus stayed unconscious for another twenty to thirty minutes, before regaining conciousness. His eyes opened to complete blur, he coyld hear Imani's voice, but only every few wirds. His head throbbed, his neck and shoulders hurt, and his hip was probably sprained. "Imani.." He stammered, "Is that you?" He asked, looking towards the wall to his rigjt. He felt hopless alone. Still a blur he looked around trying to hear Imani's words. "Did they get the healer too?" He asked, if Imani was even there to listen to him. He just hoped her was, because a loneliness feeling krept into his heart.