Author's Note: Whew! I'm still around and so is this story. I was having hard time figuring out some of the battle scenes and trying to get a good picture in my head but it's all clear, as you will read. In the last chapter, the Pridelands lions, along with the hyena clan have gathered for the final battle with the red lioness, Onea and her rogue pride… I know many of you have waited for a long time so here it is. The second to the last chapter and how one fight will determine the fate of the Pridelands monarchy.

Chapter 19: One Last Struggle

The rain made the ground slippery but neither lioness stopped. They continued running, jumping up and down ledges and circling the grasses. The young Queen's paws were aching and her eyes squinted in the darkness. She growled and continued but a mock made her halt at first but she wasn't falling for it.

"Getting tired yet Tasa," Onea called with a laugh. "Some things never change!" The gray lioness only snarled which made her chuckle mindfully. She suddenly stopped and Tasa, knowing her land, did the same. She shivered. She knew where they were.

The red lioness laughed. "See anything familiar? Maybe something we heard as cubs? A tale of a time long forgotten?"

Tasa growled, her teeth bared and the fur along her back rose. She hissed. "How dare you! Do you know what this is?" She walked up to the ledge and peered down. The bottom couldn't be seen. "This is sacred ground," she continued. "It's…"

"… Where a king died," Onea rudely interrupted. "The great King Mufasa. Murdered by his own brother. Yes, we all know the story. You know why I ran here?"

Tasa barely met her gaze. She shivered, not from the cold but fear. "Don't think you can spill royal blood here," she said softly. "You won't be Queen! The Pride wouldn't allow it."

Lightning struck filling the lands in a silver glow. The two lionesses stared and when the light died darkness covered them.

"And you think you've filled the role of Queen?" Onea asked with ice. "Let me ask you something. You and Kuenzi are mates so s that in name or everything?" She narrowed her eyes with an evil smile.

Tasa growled. "None of your business!"

The red lioness threw her head back, laughing. "I knew it! How can he live with you? Pffft! I'm surprised he's lasted!" She saw Tasa snarl and her eyes flash with anger. "Aww, what's the matter? Does the little Queen have a thorn in her paw?" she said teasing, using the same tone she had used on Tasa as a cub. "Tell me Tasa have any nightmares?" Onea sat on the cold rocky ground. "Please tell."

"No!" the gray furred hissed and looked away. The anger she felt had been reduced to pain.

Onea's tail tapped the ground. "You have. What about? Those times I picked on you… ha, those were good! I'd do it again and even now, after all these years, you can't take it. Those who defended you are not here. Kuenzi's fighting my lionesses and your mother died while hunting. She should've been more careful. Your father died of a mysterious illness before any of us were born." She saw the hurt in Tasa's eyes. "Now the Pride is about to loose someone they care about. Their 'Barren Queen'! Oh don't worry I'll take real good care of Kuenzi and he'll be happier with me!"

Tasa grew hot with rage and anger. The thought of seeing Kuenzi with Onea at his side made her sick and her parents… She never knew her father but had been told good things about him by her mother, the old King and Queen – who were like second parents to her, especially after her mother died – and by the lionesses. Though Dabiri never lived to see her, she knew she had made him proud.

Those mentions were enough and Tasa snapped out of her pained trance. The fire in her eyes intensified and a deep snarl came from her throat. Without warning she charged towards Onea.

The red lioness stood. Tasa ran into her.

The lionesses fell from the ledge, into the darkened gorge.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

For one fleeting minute as the lightning flashed, Kuenzi saw his mate and a former friend run towards the gorge. He leapt from the royal rock and clashed with the rogue lionesses. Claws and teeth raked into his body. He broke from the pile and started running. He came to an overflowing waterhole, away from his pride with four rogues close behind.

Kuenzi stopped and turned, clipping a lioness's face sending her to the water. Another jumped onto his back, biting. Kuenzi roared in pain and turned his head, biting the lioness's neck. Due to the pain, she fell off him. The third smacked him in the face. At this, Kuenzi rose to his hind legs, slamming a paw to the rogue's cheek while her companion, the fourth lioness, tore at his side. He roared, calling for help.

In an instant Kusudi pounced on the lioness, tearing her throat. The King was grateful to have the hyena leader on his side.

Having only been in a few fights, Kusudi was doing well. After killing the lioness he looked around for his family and clan members, hoping they were all right.

"Kuenzi, step aside!" the hyena called out and the gray lion did as told.

Kusudi leapt and stood on his hind legs. He pushed an enemy lioness to the grass and jumped on her chest, his teeth biting into her neck. Using her front claws, the lioness scarred his back but it was no good. In a few seconds, she was dead, blood pouring from her wound. Kusudi panted and stepped away but barely missed a swipe from another rogue.

Kuenzi saw and ran, clawing the lioness's side. When she landed on the ground the King bit her neck, hitting the arteries. The lion looked at the body then to Kusudi. He nodded once and it was back to business. He wondered how his brother and sister-in-law were fairing but in his heart he wondered about Tasa.

"Ancestors, please let her be safe," the gray king prayed to the still cloud covered sky.

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Uchaji roared, trying to shake a lioness from his back. She was strong, not showing signs of letting go; her claws were dug deep into his side. "Damn it, get off me!" he yelled.

His call was silently heard and a few moments later the crushing weight was lifted. He heard the lioness screamed as she was thrown some feet away from him. He winced as pain tore through his back. Another scream was heard and after … silence. Uchaji looked. The lioness was dead; a stream of blood came from a wound in her neck.

In the rain, Hawa came towards him with a blood soaked muzzle but she wasn't alone. A rogue lioness was preparing to strike her from behind. Before the Prince could speak, the lioness was pulled down by a group of six hyenas, lead by Kusudi's mate, Saidia.

The hyenas were strongly built and obviously well trained by Saidia herself. They tore the wounded lioness to shreds and Saidia looked at the older Prince and Princess, bowing respectfully. The lions returned the gesture and went to continue the fight.

Saidia howled for her companions to search for more rogues. She smirked. The pack was fighting very well and so far no one had been hurt due to a case of mistaken movements or identity. During their exile and stay in the Pridelands, the hyenas learned the movements of the lionesses and how they sparred with one another. It was easy to separate them from the rogue lionesses but everyone watched their steps. Saidia was proud. She knew some would die in the battle but they were more than willing.

"I'll see you on the other side," she thought to herself and ran to help a Pridelander lioness. A rogue had her pinned to the grasses.

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The first lioness Kubali clashed with was feisty. He managed to avoid claws to the face. The lioness sidestepped which allowed the white lion to push her down. Placing a paw on the top of her head and the other to her lower neck, Kubali leaned forward, sinking his teeth. The lioness struggled to move but Kubali pressed harder and sank his teeth deeper. After a few minutes, the lioness's body ceased to breath and move.

Kubali got up and spat out the blood. He opened his mouth to taste the fresh rainwater. He loved the rain and wished he could enjoy it but this was more important. He looked around for Haya only to see that she was fairing well against a lioness. He sighed with relief. He also noticed Kusudi's hyenas getting in the mix and felt it best for to due the same. The white lion went towards Haya. He didn't want to lose her or…

"Bahati," he thought. "I wonder how he is?"

He looked up to see Haya hit a rock. They were ten feet from Pride Rock. When he first jumped into the fight, Haya was beside him. When he ran to lure some lionesses away from Kuenzi, she did the same. They were a team, looking out for each other. Now they were in an area that was surrounded by rock ledges, small waterholes and tall grass.

His mate struggled to her paws but the impact caught her off balance. Haya closed her eyes, waiting for the final blow. It didn't come. She cracked open an eye, seeing the lioness pinned by Kubali. She smirked and rose shaking her head free from dizziness.

After the white lion killed one lioness another jumped on his back, clawing his side. He roared and that was Haya's cue. She ran fast, ignoring the pain and slammed herself at the lioness. The two felines were in a fight and Kubali winced. He searched for other attackers. In the distance, he saw some hyenas being overrun. He turned to Haya, hoping she'd be all right without him.

When she nodded, he ran to help.

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Hodari had managed to dodge a strike to the jaw. He swiped at lionesses' left and right, careful not to accidentally hurt any of his own pride members. The savannah was a bloodied and rainy battlefield. He sighed sadly. He had to kill some rogues.

"This could've all gone differently," he said to himself.

He promised his parents he'd keep watch on his sister. A lioness was sneaking up behind her. "Tamu go low!" he yelled.

The Princess didn't bother to hear who was calling and complied. She ducked and Hodari ran, hitting the rogue lioness in the face. It was enough to knock her out. "Thanks Hodari," Tamu said with a quick smile.

"Anytime sis," the gold lion replied.

"Where's Bahati?" she asked while looking for other rogues to attack.

"I don't know. I'm sure he's okay," Hodari said hopefully. He turned to the right. Jamala crowded by three rogues. She cried out in pain. The Prince left his sister's side and ran towards his love, ramming his full weight into the enemy. He roared angrily.

Jamala quickly rolled to her paws and helped Hodari. "I hope Bahati is okay," she said with thought.

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Juza was trying not to hurt the Pridelanders but it was a struggle. Claws, teeth and drops of rain and the occasional flash of lighting and the rumble of thunder, made things difficult. When the roar of the Pridelands King sounded everyone charged.

Juza kept her claws in. The lionesses and hyenas who were trying to attack her, racked their claws and teeth into her flesh and she took it without clawing back. She was able to swipe the hyenas off but the lionesses were different things. They were just like her, strong, willful and powerful. A Pridelander sunk her teeth deep into Juza's neck. She roared out and threw herself onto her back, which put the lioness on her back as well. Juza rolled to her feet, looking on in the darkness for any sign of the King. Her ears perked up. She had heard the Princess voice her concern for the red lion.

"Bahati?" she asked herself. She strained hard to look through the rain for any sign of the Prince. Nothing was seen. A shiver rolled over her body and she shuddered. Her eyes darted all around the battle. It was then Juza realized that Jasira wasn't anywhere either. Her eyes grew wide in a shattering realization.

"Oh no, I hope Bahati didn't go after her," she said quietly but any other thinking was interrupted as another lioness slammed into her shoulder, clawing at it. Juza roared out in pain and smacked the lioness away. The lioness stumbled back in confusion, wandering why this rogue wasn't using her claws.

Juza tried to make her way over to the royal siblings. She knew that her next move would get her killed by either her pride sisters or one of the Pridelanders but it was a risk Juza willed to take. She bit her way through to the younger Prince and Princess. She saw a large gap that lead straight to Prince Hodari. She let out a huge sigh and ran towards him. Hodari saw the lioness and leapt to his feet, growling. Juza leapt into the air, pinning him to the ground.

"Where's Prince Bahati?" she asked in feign yet threatening snarl.

Hodari looked on this lioness with an inquiring stare. There was something different about her. He looked at her paws and was shocked to see her claws in. She didn't want to hurt him? He heard her question regarding his like brother. Again he was startled and managed to answer. "He went after that brown lioness… Jasira. They're to the west…" He jerked his head in that direction.

Juza smiled and leapt off him, running to the west, which from another standpoint was the southern side of the Pridelands.

Hodari rose to his feet, still in shock. "Who the heck was that?" he asked himself. He shook his head. His questions would be answered soon.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

Darkness was heavy and rain was fierce. Even through rain, Bahati never lost sight of his target. She may have not known the lands but the red lion was determined to follow.

"You willing to keep going?" Bahati asked in a snarl as he leapt through the grass. He knew he strayed far from the pride. He didn't care. Seeing Jasira among the opposite side made his blood boil. If there was something he didn't want, it was to let the jealously that turned his real mother against everyone repeat.

"My Pride has been through enough suffering," he thought.

"You getting tired Bahati," Jasira asked with a chuckle.

Bahati growled. "No!" He had been chasing her for twenty minutes maybe longer. He was edging closer and closer to her, his heart pounding with every step. Taking a deep breath, he jumped into the air, landing on her back.

Jasira fell on her stomach with a loud grunt. Bahati stepped back and with his claws, front and back out. He was prepared.

"You wanna fight now?" she asked, rising to face the Prince.

"Yes!"

"Sure you're not worried for your girlfriend?"

"I chased you away remember! It's just us now!"

Jasira narrowed her eyes and got into a fighting stance. "Okay, you asked for it…"

The two felines backed up about five feet. Bahati roared and ran towards Jasira, who did the same. Within a few moments the red lion and the brown lioness clashed, teeth biting, claws raking into each other. Being stronger, Bahati gained the upper hand and pinned Jasira down. His eyes were ablaze with fire.

Jasira only looked at him with amusement in her green eyes. "You're cute when you're angry."

Bahati leapt away, not wanting to fight her while she was unable to defend herself.

Surprised, Jasira rolled to her feet. Thunder was heard but neither feline paid attention. Jasira barreled into Bahati pushing him to his side. She jumped on him, licking his cheek. Bahati snarled and hit her in the face. When Jasira landed on the grass, Bahati was up on his feet again and he flew into her, claws out.

The two rolled another five feet but soon separated and did the same thing again. Bahati stepped aside and tore into Jasira's shoulder. The lioness cried in pain and smacked the lion in the side of the head.

Bahati was dizzy. He put a paw to the wound. When he withdrew it, blood soaked his paw. "She hit me hard," he realized and knowing that gave him strength. He smacked into Jasira, clawing her face, leaving four marks on her cheek.

"You're a good fighter," she said, spitting the blood that seeped into her mouth.

The red lion's back fur rose. His eyes snapped and he came again. They rolled longer, slashing.

Bahati had many thoughts coursing through his mind. How was the Pride? How were Hodari, Tamu and Jamala? More importantly, how were his mothers?

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

The gorge was eerie and dark. Being in a place that in some ways held no life, turned into a sacred cavern when the flashes of a distant lightning strike was seen. Anyone who came, much less, went inside, could swear that ghosts roamed the ledges down to the bottom.

The two lionesses had fallen off the main ledge, becoming separated when a slope caused them to let go. Tasa fell from the slope and a ledge, hard on her back but above Onea had landed on her side. Groaning in pain, the red lioness rose to her feet and stared down. The Queen was still breathing. Onea growled as she saw Tasa get up on her feet, shaking her pelt. The rain was coming down and the occasional streaks of lightning and clashes of thunder could be heard and seen but that didn't bother them.

The red lioness jumped down on Tasa's ledge hitting her in the face. Tasa roared in pain and smacked Onea, leaving three claws marks on her left shoulder. Onea stepped back, her back paws touching the edge. Tasa smirked but Onea saw. She jumped over the gray lioness and turned slamming a forepaw to her face. The Queen stumbled and like Onea expected, she fell off the ledge, down to another but the impact was so hard that she rolled towards the edge. Onea walked up with a satisfied smirk. She jumped down staring over.

Tasa groaned. Her side and head hurt badly. She also felt that a piece of rock jabbed her left forepaw. With the hard impact and the roll, her eyesight was very blurry. She shook her head carefully, trying to stand. She was wobbly but managed.

Onea jumped down but the Queen regained her eyesight instantly. When the red furred came at her, Tasa went on her back, her hind paws making contact with her opponent's stomach sending her over the edge. Tasa rolled to her side, watching as Onea fell and rolled off two ledges, landing on a third. She sighed. They were close to the bottom.

The Queen of the Pridelands jumped to one ledge, then another. Onea got to her paws by the time Tasa faced her once more. They clashed again and lighting lit up the gorge.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

Kuenzi slammed a lioness to the ground. He was about to strike when she spoke.

"Please sire, don't!" the lioness pleaded. Kuenzi stopped and looked down at her. She continued. "Please your majesty, none of my pride sisters wanted this. Let me up and I'll explain everything. Please!" she begged.

The King wasn't sure what to make of this but with narrowed eyes, he withdrew now standing in the grass. "Speak!" he commanded.

The lioness rose, shaking water and blood. She cleared her throat and roared. Kuenzi was surprised has he looked around, seeing all fighting had stopped. The lionesses on Onea's side came up, some limping, others walking against their friends due to serious wounds. Kuenzi saw his own pride members; fifteen come towards him. The hyenas did the same with Kusudi and Saidia standing together in confusion. Kuenzi couldn't blame them. He turned to face the rogue lioness.

"What are you doing?" he asked in a strong yet confused voice.

The lioness looked on her friends to make sure those who survived were okay. She knew that some, many, had fallen under the Pridelanders and the Graveyard hyenas. It was inevitable that they all survive. Some had to fall. The lioness noticed that a few of her companions were deeply distressed at the loss of their pride sisters. She could clearly see the want, the need to avenge them but she knew better. In a way she wanted to continue the fight but what would it prove? Onea's deception had done enough. She also believed that Juza had had a change of heart long ago. She looked into her companion's eyes, seeing the hurt, the want to surrender in some but in others, there was pain and burning fire. They wanted revenge.

She was about to speak but one of her pride sisters beat her.

"Farisi, how dare you speak to these murderers? They killed our friends! They deserve to die!"

"Stay quiet Hasira! You know as well as I that fighting the King and his friends won't bring ours back!" The dark grayed lioness just snarled. Farisi continued. "S-sire, we… we never wanted to fight your pride, nor hurt your mate. We were… some of us were searching for a home; another lot of us were kicked out of our old prides. When we came to the Outlands Onea saw and asked us to join her. She forced us into war and lied. She said that a wonderful and peaceful king was ruling the Pridelands but his queen was unfit to rule… that she was weak and barren. Onea said that you and Queen Tasa kicked her out of the kingdom unjustly and… and that she was forced to mate with a rogue in order to be allowed back into the pride."

Kubali roared. He wanted to lunge but couldn't. Haya was leaning against him, barely able to stand. He turned to her, licking her cheek lovingly then put his stare back to the opposing pride. "I am not a rogue! I'm a Prince!" he snarled.

Farisi lowered her head, slowly nodding.

Kuenzi softly growled at the white lion. "Continue," he said.

She did. "W-when the cub was born, Onea said she tried to pass him off as your son… saying that you betrayed your mate because she was unable to give you a cub…" Farisi saw tension in the King's eyes and body. She bit her lip. "One of our pride sisters, Juza, spoke with your son not long ago. We knew she had changed. She told some of us about her listening in on the conversation Bahati had with his mother. After that we didn't want to fight. Juza told us everything from Bahati's point." She stepped forward. "Sire, please forgive us. We don't want anymore to die…" She bowed her head.

She didn't want to fight him again so she lowered head, afraid to say more. Like her pride sisters, she was ashamed, ashamed of ever having followed the crazed red lioness in the first place.

Kuenzi stared at the opposing pride in pity. He looked around. Where there had been twenty lionesses, their numbers had been reduced to seven, though some were badly wounded. Uchaji turned to his brother. He had a feeling that the lionesses were truly saddened by what they had done. Kuenzi felt the same way. He walked up a few steps. "None of you need to fear. I see that some of you, my own and the hyenas included, are in need of treatment for our wounds. Please, come to Pride Rock and our shaman will treat you."

The lionesses, both rogue and Pridelander looked on the gray king in surprise but no one could go their separate ways. Kuenzi turned his eyes to the rogues with forgiveness in his eyes. These lionesses were guilty of no crime for as their friend said, they were lied to.

"Besides, too much blood and anger has been spilt tonight," he thought.

Kuenzi roared and turned, limping on his left forepaw back to Pride Rock with his pride, the rogue pride and the hyenas following.

Uchaji walked up to his brother with a terrible gash underneath his right eye. He spoke softly. "Brother, I believe them. Onea has always been good at lying." He looked at them out of the corner of his left eye. "I feel sorry for them, but they'll be alright. Could they stay with us?"

"For as long as they want and if things go well… maybe permanently. We'll see." Uchaji nodded. "I hope Bahati and Tasa are okay," he said, hoping. The gray prince gently nuzzled his worried brother.

Both prides and the hyena clan were also worried for the missing queen and prince.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

Bahati roared, falling to the ground. Jasira had dealt him a heavy blow to the chest. His white mane was covered in mud and blood. He was about to rise but fell. His right forepaw and left hind leg hurt badly.

"I can't let her beat me," he said to himself.

Jasira came up ready to strike but a body slammed into her.

Lifting his head, Bahati saw the form of a familiar golden lioness. "Juza! What are you doing here?" he called, surprised.

"I'm here to help you," the lioness replied, stepping off Jasira. She walked to over to him. "Don't worry about our prides I have a feeling all is well…"

The Prince nodded, hoping she was right. He looked at the brown lioness. "Jasira, we can end this! No one has to die. Come back with Juza and I. I'm sure my adopted father can give your pride a safe haven if that's what you're looking for."

Jasira scoffed. "No thanks Bahati but you're right about one thing … we can end this… starting now!" She leapt.

Exchanging glances, the red lion and the dark gold lioness charged, meeting Jasira's attack. The three felines clashed. Bahati received a blow to the face while Juza ran, pressing the brown furred to the grass. After shaking the dizziness, Bahati ran to Juza who held the lioness firmly underneath her paws.

Jasira growled. "Bahati, this could've gone differently."

The red lion sighed in pity. "It doesn't have to be this way. Come with us… please…" At the edge of his voice was pain. He didn't want her to die for nothing. "Jasira…"

A moment passed and Jasira felt a surge of strength and pushed Juza away with her hind legs. The gold lioness landed on her side. Bahati roared and clawed Jasira, scarring her shoulder. The two felines fought ferociously. They were locked in each other's grasp, clawing, biting and snarling. Though the Prince didn't want to harm her, he felt he had no choice.

You forced me Jasira… he thought sadly.

He clawed her face. She hit him in the shoulder and scarred his right hind leg, leaving four bloody marks. Bahati slammed into her side and stepped back, standing on his hind legs. He waited for an opening. Jasira saw this and ran at him. Bahati watched, speaking in his mind.

Wait for it… A little farther … Jasira stood on her hind legs. Now! Bahati hit her in the chest. Jasira stumbled and fell. She tried to move but her wounds were too numerous. The red lion ran up to her with pained eyes.

Juza lowered her head. Jasira… you were like a daughter to me. Why did you believe Onea?

Bahati neared the fallen lioness. He was badly hurt but being a lion had its advantages. Jasira had lived in the Outlands for a while. Even now, they held no life. He lived in the Pridelands. They held life and abundance. It was a paradise. "Jasira… please… I don't want to kill you. You can live in the Pridelands, at Pride Rock. I'm sure my parents will forgive you…"

The weakened lioness slowly lifted her head to meet his gaze. She herself had given up. She felt that if she couldn't have Bahati then… It's not worth it. Bahati, I love you though your heart is to another… She looked up at him and tried standing.

Bahati watched. When she was on her paws, he came near. "Jasira, please…"

She slowly met his gaze. "If… I do this… what of Tamu? I know you love her…"

The whitemaned smiled gently. When he was close he gently nuzzled her. It was not in the way she'd hoped. It was not one of love but friendship. Just as good, I think… she thought.

He spoke. "Don't worry about her. And yes, I do love her. I just hope you two can be friends."

Juza was watching this display with shocked look on her face. She couldn't believe it. Bahati had turned Jasira around and for the better. Well done Prince… well done… she said to herself.

The red lion and the brown lioness came to her. Bahati smiled to both of them and lead the way home, limping. Juza noticed and gave Jasira a gentle nuzzle. She came to Bahati.

"You all right?" Juza asked, concerned.

He only nodded. "Yeah, I should be… once Daktari and Dumu give me a good examination." He saw Jasira who was walking close to them. Rain soaked their pelts and blood dripped from their wounds. He spoke to them, softly. "Don't worry, they're the best healers."

Juza shook her head. "You are lucky my Prince, you are lucky."

Bahati smiled and they continued. The red lion sighed. He was happy this conflict was resolved without death.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

Tasa thought she felt something break in her left forepaw. She yelped in pain falling down, down and down again. She thought she had fallen forever and blood soaked her fur but the rain helped some to clean it. She wondered where her adversary had fallen. They had tumbled together but Onea had sidestepped and dug her claws deep into Tasa's fur, causing her to fall as well.

The two felines rose again to their paws but doing so weakly. They had numerous wounds and the dance they were doing in the gorge wasn't helping in the least. Tasa looked down. She believed that the gorges bottom could be seen. "We're close. There's gotta be another seven feet… if that." She looked back up, seeing how high the walls were and how far they had come.

"I'm ending this… even if I have to die!" the Queen decided, then felt regret. She knew that if she died… She shook her head. "Don't think about it," she mindfully reminded herself. Her back paw touched yet the edge of another ledge. The more she and Onea bloodied one another, the more they fell deeper into the gorge. She had a sense that they were near the bottom.

Onea jumped down and they fought more. Both lionesses were tired and wounded but there was no stopping… one had to come from this alive. The red lioness kicked her opponent in the chest, which sent Tasa falling down yet another long and narrowed part of the gorge. Onea looked down only to see the Queen's forepaws dug into the edge. She smirked and jumped below, walking towards her.

"Well, well, well… isn't this a sight!" she said, smiling.

Tasa was struggling. Her back paws tried to grasp into the base but the wall was too wet. "I have to pull myself up," she thought. She watched as Onea came closer with cold, cruel eyes. This was her last chance and she knew it. "Onea, please, we don't have to die. Face up to what you've done! It doesn't have to end like this!"

"It's too late for that and you know it. Now… now it's time for you to meet the royals in the stars." She lowered herself to the ground and slammed her claws into Tasa's.

The Queen roared out in excruciating pain, looking up at her opponent, fear written in her eyes.

Onea saw this. "Long…"

Tasa knew she had to do something otherwise within a few minutes, or seconds she would die. Was there a way for her to let go and take the red lioness down with her? She quickly thought about this in her mind.

"Live…"

Thinking fast, she spat in Onea's face, which caused the red lioness to take a paw, her right one, away to wipe her face. When the claws were pulled away from her left paw, Tasa dug her claws into Onea's shoulder, causing her to roar in pain. They both felt their bodies weakening under the heavy blows they had taken through out the fight. Without warning Onea's body cried out in terrible agony. She withdrew her paws from Tasa's. Instead she reached down, almost as if she would help her.

Tasa, unsure of what the red lioness was doing, grabbed the paw that was held out to her.

Onea smiled as the Queen's paw grasped into hers. With a free paw, she touched Tasa's shoulder. She pushed hard and they both fell from the ledge…