Imani stared after him as he walked away, wondering if she would ever see him again.

She didn't know how long she sat there for, gazing out over the Serengeti, but when she finally came to her senses, the stars had already appeared in the sky. She broke into a run back to the pride, and not surprisingly, found everyone asleep when she got back.

She laid down in any open spot she could find, hoping Zeus would be okay on his own as she drifted off to sleep.

Zeus' den was a small ways away, so he just stayed at a walking pace til he got there. Stars appeared in the sky as he entered. Of course, he could hunt for the vultures tommorow, but for now, he needed some rest. He layed down on his own. His head facing the front of the den. He stared out as a light wind stirred the grass in front of him. Maybe for once, Zeus should listen to his own advice. But almost as soon as he thought that thought. His eyes closed, and the rogue male drifted off to sleep.

Imani woke early the next morning. She stood with a stretch and a very long yawn that she thought was going to split her face open.

The Queen was already gathering lionesses for the morning hunt, and the King was perched on a rock not to far from her. She was relieved when the Queen's gazed skipped over her, so she went to find the cubs.

Imani loved playing with the cubs when she wasn't busy. She had always wanted cubs of her own, but none of the lions around here were father material. Most of them were very harsh, along with most of the lionesses, including her own mother and father, and her siblings, whom she rarely spoke to anymore.

She found were the cubs were played and walked up to them.

"Hey guys, what game are we playing this time?" She asked.

"Oh, hey Imani! We're playing Hunt! You can be the antelope!" One of the cubs responded. Without warning, four cubs charged at her, and Imani took off running. She purposely slowed her pace so she would be easily to catch.

By the time the cubs caught her, Imani was breathing hard as she was tackled to the ground, four wriggling cubs climbing over her.

Zeus' brown eyes blinked open. The rays from the sunrise filtered into the small den he had found, under some fallen rock from a plateau. He was still relatively close to the Queen's territory, but far enough for her to leave him alone. He stretched his heavy paws, and rose. He gave out a yawn, shook his mane, and began out of his den. After some water from a nearby watering hole, he began his day. Vultures flew overhead, close enough that he knew they were hungry, not happy about not getting prey yesterday. So the young rogue set off to do just that.

He crossed a small hill, which rarely occured on the Serengeti. This hill overlooked most of their territory, which he ususally laid on and watched the Pride, trying to build up courage. He knew every lion in the pride could see him, lest he didn't care. Zeus continued in search of prey, for which he owed the vultures.

Imani played with the cubs for a while afterwards, and left them to their games.

She found herself bored, as she usually did when she wasn't hunting. So, as usual, she decided to go on a little walk around the territory.

She told one of the lionesses where she was going, just so the Queen didn't bite her head off for leaving without telling someone.

As she strolled through the savanna grasses, her thoughts kept drifting back to Zeus. He was the closest thing she had had to a friend in years, and they had only had their first real conversation yesterday. She had a few friends during her cubhood, but most of them had grown tired of her, others had been male cubs that had been forced out of the pride when they turned 2.

She padded through the grasses, listening for any signs of life that could entertain her.

Zeus's ears perked up when he heard the sound of prey. He looked up, seeing a huge wildebeest in front of him. It was alone. It was bigger than an average wildebeest. But it was no match for him. He crouched down, advancing slowly on his big target. One paw in front of the other, he advanced. He was within pouncing range, when something seemed to spook it. It took off in alarm, and Zeus began chase.

His paws moved fast below him. He was gaining fast on the healthy wildebeest. He licked his jaws in anticipation. He was about a tail length from it now, and thats when he pounced. His hind legs thrusting him forward, his muscles rippling on his pelt. His jaws bit into the back of its neck, his claws catching its hind legs. The two fell to the ground. The wildebeest was able to get a strike of its own, its horns puncturing Zeus' upper shoulder. But this was a fatal mistake. As it raised its head, it exposed its neck, where Zeus instantly bit, and after holding for a couple moments, the beast was dead.

Zeus let go of the wildebeest. He took one bite from its neck, a piece for his reward. Then he let out a long roar. Soon, vultures surrounded the wildebeest. Zeus gave a nod of his head, and so did the lead vulture. His hunt completed, he began at a trot back to his rocky den. As he got closer he started to hear the laughs of hyenas. How he hated hyenas, always taking more than they needed. He decided to go and see what they were going to catch this time.

Let hin say this, he was surprised. As he bounded over the hill that bordered the Queen's territory, he noted six hyenas, chasing something that was almost twice their size. From where he was it looked to be an antelope. But as they got closer to him, he noticed it wasnt a antelope, but a Lion. He put his nose up to the air. Hopefully it was the Queen, how he would love that. But a certain smell got to his nose, Imani.

The rogue took off full speed, not knowing why. "Imani!" Be yelled, coming up towards her.

Imani ran and ranuntil she couldn't run anymore. She thought she heard someone yell her name, but her thoughts were blurring together. Finally when she couldn't run anymore, she whirled around and swiped a paw at the nearest hyena. The hyena yelped and lunged at her, just as the others were arriving. Everything was a blur. She kicked, swiped, and bit anything that got near her.

One of the hyenas latched its teeth onto her leg, and she let out a loud roar, scratching the hyena over the face.

Two of the hyenas were down, wether they were dead or not, she couldn't tell. The remaning four lunged for her, going for her legs, trying to make her stumble. If she fell, she would be ripped apart faster than she could do anything.

She tried to keep her footing, throwing a hyena off of her back. Her paws were heavy as stone as the hyenas kept returning, Imani didn't know how much longer she would last.

Zeus couldnt help but growl as the hyenas attacked Imani. He picked up the pace, nearing them at a fast pace. He was almost flying across the Savannah. Imani fought back, but took off running again before he got there. Four remained chasing Imani. He was close enough to pounce, which he sidnt hesitate to do. He leaped with all his might. He landed on one, with all his weight, which snapped its back, killing it instantly. He then lept skillfully off the back of that hyena onto another one trailing behind. He didnt land on it, but had clamped his teeth to its hind leg. The hyena started to nip and claw at his face, making him release for a moment. Blood coming from a gash on his muzzle, he clamped his teeth on the other leg, and eventually to its neck. In a moment that one to was dead. Two were left trailing Imani, and so the rogue got back up and started after them.