Hi everyone! I am sorry for the long wait. Life has been very busy lately, and I couldn't find the time or the will to write. But I'm back now, and here's the next chapter of To Reclaim A Birthright.

I wanted to add, as of 9/13/14 all previous chapters have been updated with added content. I've gone over each chapter, fixing sentences, adding to and polishing dialogue, and in some cases adding new scenes. If you read those chapters prior to 9/13/14, you may want to have another look. Either way, don't worry about missing anything in particular. I've fixed it up, but I have not changed any of the major events.

All that aside, on to the current chapter!

As he and Msafiri reached the cave that was Mikazo's childhood home, Mikazo crept as close as he dared and edged his way toward the entrance. He hadn't seen his pride mates or Jinamizi anywhere outside the cave, so, with caution, he glanced inside. Msafiri, who stood at his side just out of sight of the entrance of the cave, tensed as Mikazo did this, but did not protest.

It was around mid-day, so Mikazo could easily see inside the cave. At the moment it looked to be empty of both his lioness friends and of Jinamizi. Mikazo frowned and straightened from his cautious crouch, turning to Msafiri. "Looks like they're not here," he noted. "Where do you think we should check, now?"

Msafiri shook his head. "These are your lands, Mikazo. You would be able to guess better than I."

"Well... maybe the lake?" Mikazo suggested. "That's the first place I can think of, at least. That, or the flat rocks we used to sun ourselves on, and I guess my pride mates still do. But it's not really sunny enough for that right now."

"Lake it is, then," Msafiri agreed.

They set off across the lands, traveling with a measured, silent pace. Within short order they reached the waterhole, but to Mikazo's frustration, his pride mates were nowhere to be seen here, either. He and Msafiri picked a new direction and started walking. This time Mikazo took Msafiri toward the sunning stones in the hope he would finally see his friends. They never made it to the sunning stones, however.

It was a shock to both when a growl split the silence around them and a voice snapped out, "Twice in one day! What is it with today and trespassers? Who are you two?"

Mikazo and Msafiri spun toward their left, from where the voice and accompanying trotting paw-steps came. Mikazo's heart had thrust itself into his throat, and his fur bristled with alarm. They had been spotted, despite their efforts to stay hidden.

It was a leopard who approached them, Mikazo realized at once, one of around his own age. He had a lean body with bright golden fur and black rosettes packed densely throughout his pelt, and a golden-tan muzzle, underbelly and forepaws. His hind paws were of the same gold as the majority of his fur. As the leopard slowed to a halt a short distance from them, Mikazo tried to remember why he looked so familiar. He had known several leopards in his lands, but it had been some months, and at the age both he and this leopard were, a lot could change in a few months.

Putting the thought briefly aside, Mikazo shot a quick glance toward Jinamizi in the distance, to be sure the cruel lion had not heard the challenging cry. Fortunately, he and Mikazo's pride mates had continued without a pause. Relieved at that piece of luck but still panicked at being caught, Mikazo turned back to face the leopard with Msafiri at his side. Whoever this leopard was, he was clearly somewhat injured. His back was bleeding, and he was limping slightly. Mikazo wondered what had happened to him, but he had bigger worries on his mind right now.

Mikazo was at a loss what to do. If this leopard told Jinamizi he was here, then the former rogue would know Mikazo lived. But there was nothing he could do to keep the other big cat from reporting him if he chose to do so. The best Mikazo could hope for was that the leopard would not recognize him.

Mikazo himself still could not place the leopard's face, though he was sure he knew him. Briefly stunned by alarm and uncertainty, Mikazo was unable to think of any excuses or lies he could give.

Msafiri, ever the peacekeeper, stepped forward a pace. "Ah, well, I apologize for trespassing," he told the leopard, inclining his head. "I had not realized we had crossed any scent markers. I suppose the rain faded them."

The leopard was still frowning. "Two scent markers, actually. Those of the lions of this land, and my own nearby. Assuming you didn't cross over any other leopard's markers around here."

Msafiri nodded in acknowledgment. "It is possible," he agreed. "Again, I'm sorry. We mean no harm – my son and I are just passing through, and we'll leave right away."

Mikazo felt a ripple of surprise pass through him at Msafiri's term, though he knew it was the cover story that made the most sense. If the leopard was to believe they were simply traveling together and passing through, rather than spying, as they in fact were, posing as father and son might work.

Nonetheless, Mikazo had to work to hide his momentary surprised confusion. There was also a part of him that felt a pang of longing at the term... It reminded him of how much he missed his parents, and he realized how quickly he had grown attached to Msafiri.

Msafiri's words seems to placate the leopard. "Hmph... well, be quick then," he cautioned, in a way that made it both an order and advice. "Trespassing in my lands aside, you really don't want the lion who's king of this place to know you're here." Before either of them could respond to that, the leopard's yellow gaze flickered over to Mikazo and fixed on him. He frowned thoughtfully. "Hey, do I know you?"

"Me?" Mikazo's heart jumped to his throat, and he realized with dismay that his voice had sounded alarmed. "No, I'm sure we haven't met. First time traveling through here, you know." As the blatant lie passed his muzzle, Mikazo realized who the leopard was.

It was one of the leopard cubs he had played with the most when he himself was a cub, and had been a fairly close friend of Mikazo's – he was named Eupe. Mikazo was surprised it had taken him this long to recognize him, but Eupe had changed in the intervening months. He was much larger, his body shaped more like that of an adult leopard's than like that of an adolescent, and his pelt had become sleek.

"Quite," Msafiri inserted calmly. "You must be mistaken."

That line earned Msafiri a slightly irritated look. "No, I don't think I am," the leopard responded with some frustration. "I do know you," he continued to Mikazo, who shot a quick glance at Msafiri.

Msafiri's expression was blank, his eyes bright with alarm, and Mikazo realized they were both out of ideas.

"I don't think so..." Mikazo said. His body was so tense his shoulders had begun to ache, but the leopard didn't seem deterred by his words. Indeed, as he spoke, the leopard's eyes widened in abrupt shock and he sat down with a soft thump.

"N-no way," the spotted feline stammered. "Mikazo? Is that you?"

There was a moment of silence as Mikazo and Msafiri stood in place, and then Mikazo sighed quietly and said, "Hey, Eupe."

"You are... you are, aren't you?" Eupe said in shock. "You called me Eupe, you know me, and you, I know you, you're... You are! Mikazo!" He sprang back to his paws, all aggression gone and replaced with incredulity. "You're alive, Mikazo!" He laughed. "Well, I'm sure you already know you're alive, but I didn't-" He broke off. "And now I'm rambling. Wait a minute... all these months, we all thought you were dead, and now all you have to say is 'hey, Eupe,'?"

Mikazo wasn't sure what to make of this. "Uh... that, and it's good to see you."

Msafiri glanced between the two, both curious and cautious, but he kept his silence.

Eupe drew in a breath, seemingly trying to calm himself. "Well, it's great to see you!" He frowned. "So... I guess, when Jinamizi chased you out, you survived? You got away before he had the chance to kill you, every animal in these lands knows that, but most of us... we assumed you starved or something out there."

Mikazo shook his head. "No, I made it alright on my own. I mean, I went a bit hungry, yes, but... Well, after a while I found help at another pride, so I'm staying with them." While Mikazo trusted Eupe, he saw no reason to mention that the pride he was staying at was Simba's.

"So what are you doing here?" Eupe asked. "It's not safe around here, not for you. Jinamizi would flay you alive, if he found you."

"I'm checking on my pride mates," Mikazo answered him, frowning slightly at the last comment. "And I plan to fight Jinamizi one of these days, Eupe, for my pride and for the kingdom."

Eupe's eyes widened, but then he gave a small nod. "Well, I... I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. And I sure hope you win, whenever you do. I can't much say this current king is a favorite of mine... or anyone else's, really. I'd like to see him lose." He paused briefly as Mikazo nodded in agreement. "I'm glad you survived, Mikazo... You were always a good friend, and you are the heir to this kingdom. Both my parents and I approved of the way Hodari and Kawanja ran things, and we miss them. I'm truly sorry that you lost them."

"So am I," Mikazo agreed.

Eupe glanced at Msafiri. "And, no offense, but who are you, anyway? And what was with lying about who you both were?"

Msafiri dipped his head. "My apologies for that. It seemed better to hide our identities, or at least Mikazo's, so that there was less risk of Jinamizi discovering he's alive. As for me, my name is Msafiri. I was in fact traveling when I came to the pride at which Mikazo and I are now both staying, and I am here to help Mikazo, should anything go wrong on this trip."

Eupe nodded and seemed about to speak when Msafiri stiffened, looking off to the side. "Mikazo, look," Msafiri said quietly. "There they are."

Mikazo twisted quickly, his heart leaping in excitement. Indeed, his pride mates were visible as vague shapes on the horizon, identifiable by their number and their leonine shapes. But they were not alone, Mikazo noticed immediately. Jinamizi strode at the head of the group, and it seemed they were in a hurry to get wherever they were going.

Exchanging a glance and coming to silent agreement, Mikazo and Msafiri started after them, but kept back a safe distance to keep from being noticed. They were too far away from the lionesses and Jinamizi to hear them speak, if indeed they were talking among themselves; they were also too far away for Mikazo or Msafiri to be heard and hopefully to be noticed.

Mikazo shot a quick glance at Eupe as he trotted ahead. "I have to go. Please keep quiet about this," he said in an undertone. "Jinamizi can't know I'm alive and that I'm here."

Eupe gave him an offended look. "I am not going to say anything to him!" he snapped, quietly but fiercely. "I would not put you in danger, both because you are my friend and I don't intend to get you killed, and because you may be our only chance to dethrone Jinamizi. I don't exactly want to wait around until he dies of natural causes. That will take too long."

Mikazo sighed, relieved. "Thanks, Eupe. Sorry, I didn't really think you'd tell him, but..." He trailed off, looking toward his pride mates in the distance. "Let's hurry, alright, Msafiri?"

"Yes, of course," Msafiri agreed. "But when we get close, move with caution. I know you want to speak with your pride mates, but we must wait until they're away from Jinamizi."

"I know," Mikazo acknowledged, picking up speed as he headed after the distance shapes of his pride mates and the former rogue. Msafiri matched his pace. "I'll see you later, Eupe," Mikazo added quickly, glancing back over his shoulder. "It was great running into you!" While Mikazo did not want to leave his old friend so abruptly, he was reluctant to risk his pride mates getting too far out of his sight. Something seemed to be happening, and Mikazo wanted to know what that was.

"Well, wait for me," Eupe hissed, catching up to Mikazo and Msafiri and padding alongside them. "I'll come along, too. It looks like they're heading the same way the hyenas went."

"The hyenas?" Mikazo asked. "They're still causing trouble, then?"

"Yes, of course they are," Eupe said. "I found them stealing a buffalo just earlier today, and we got into a bit of a disagreement when I told them to drop the prey and leave. They refused, so I attacked them, and well... Short version is, I lost."

Mikazo frowned. "So that's why you're injured!"

"How many hyenas were there?" Msafiri asked.

"Five of them. Including their leader, Chana," Eupe answered.

Msafiri gave him a sharp, surprised look. "Five hyenas? You were quite out-numbered, in that case. That would be most dangerous, especially for a leopard."

"I know, but I was not about to let them steal prey from these lands. This is my territory as well, and I don't like thieves." Eupe scoffed and shook his head. "Not that I managed to stop them from stealing, although I landed some good hits." He gave them a slightly offended look. "And isn't it said that lions can handle five hyenas? I am not so much weaker than a lion, simply because I am smaller."

"Perhaps three hyenas against one lion," Msafiri amended. "Five would give any lion trouble. I did not mean to imply that you, or leopards as a whole, were weak, though, I assure you. I only meant that leopards are somewhat less able to fight against hyenas then are lions, just as lions are less agile than leopards."

Eupe nodded in response. "That's true," he replied, mollified. "After our fight, the hyenas left with the buffalo. I was just going to inform Jinamizi and your pride mates, Mikazo, about what happened when I saw you two. I would have told them sooner, but after the fight... well, I needed a rest. It looks like someone beat me to it, though, since they seem to know about the hyenas... Or at least they're heading in the direction the hyenas went."

The two lions and the leopard were closing in on Mikazo's pride mates and Jinamizi, though they were being careful to keep a safe distance.

As the three of them followed behind Jinamizi and the lionesses, all of whom were traveling at a quick pace, shapes began to appear in the distance. Mikazo quickly recognized the group as hyenas, and they were dragging a buffalo with them, just as Eupe had said. At the sight of the hyenas, Jinamizi picked up speed as he made to intercept the poachers.

"This is not likely to end well," Msafiri said quietly as he, Mikazo, and Eupe hurried to follow the group as it reached the hyenas. The three of them moved to shelter near a rock as they watched, which Mikazo hoped would act as extra cover.

"Stop there!" Jinamizi's furious order was easily audible from a distance, and the hyenas released their grip on the prey and spun to face the lions' group.

Mikazo did not recognize any of the hyenas, as he had never personally met any of the hyenas that lived near his old lands, but he could guess that the female hyena who moved to meet Jinamizi was the leader of the clan, or at least a high-ranking female. It was obvious both from her powerful build and from the way she held herself. She must be Chana, Mikazo was sure.

"Here we go again," the hyena said – she seemed about to say more, but she never got the chance. With a snarl, Jinamizi launched himself at the hyenas.

Chana stumbled backward in surprise as Jinamizi sprang. She had not expected the lion, even short-tempered as he was, to attack so abruptly. Recovering her senses, Chana dodged to the side and barely avoided Jinamizi's first strike. Glancing quickly away from the enraged lion long enough to check on the lionesses, Chana noted they seemed startled as well, and for the moment, were making no move to aide their king in his attack.

Having taking only an instant to determine the actions of the others, the hyena matriarch focused back on Jinamizi as the lion attacked again. Chana attempted to dive underneath the swipe, but she felt the tips of his claws drag along her ears and she jerked back, repressing a yelp.

"No one trespasses in my lands time and time again," Jinamizi snarled, crouching low in front of the hyena as her clan mates' growls sounded out. "Stealing prey that belongs to me!"

With her ears stinging, Chana just returned his snarl and lunged to snap at his jaw. Perhaps it was not the wisest move, as she and her clan mates' current numbers matched those of Jinamizi and the lionesses, and among lions and hyenas, even numbers did not mean even chances. A group of hyenas could handle a lion, but their two groups both consisted of five members, and so the odds were not good for a fight. Chana, however, did not want to abandon the prey that she and her clan mates had caught, and she was angered by Jinamizi's violent attack. She did not want to leave without first giving him a few wounds.

She caught his lower jaw, yanked it, released it, and he growled while Chana quickly skipped back in a retreat. Before Jinamizi could jump for her again, Shambulio sprang in from the side and bit at Jinamizi's left hind leg.

Jinamizi spun at swatted at Shambulio, landing a powerful blow on the side of his head and sending him tumbling head over tail, but then Kuvunja, Jasusi and Kipande were there, biting at his side and clawing at his chest. As the other hyenas joined in, the lionesses did as well, with Cheneta's teeth snapping closed on Kipande's tail and dragging her backward, while Tumaini and Uzuri lunged at Shambulio and Jasusi and sent them scattering. Nuru's pounce knocked Kuvunja over, and the lioness and hyena rolled along the soaked ground.

Chana snarled worriedly as her clan mates were quickly outmatched, swiped aside in one-on-one fights against lions. She turned to face Jinamizi again and her growl changed to a yelp as he leapt at her and his claws slid down her spine. Chana jerked away, her back burning. She raced around the lion's flank and snapped at the same hind leg Shambulio had wounded, attempting to worsen the injury and improve her chances, but Jinamizi turned and swatted her hard enough to knock her over.

Now feeling a bolt of fear pass through her as Jinamizi crouched and lunged, Chana tried to scramble back to her paws, but the large lion landed heavily on top of her, slamming the breath from her lungs. Pinned beneath his paws, Chana clawed at his belly, churning her hind legs, but there was not enough room in between their bodies for her to attack effectively, and Jinamizi's claws struck her chest in a devastating blow. Chana yowled in pain and retaliated, sinking her teeth into his mane, but the fur there was too thick for her to reach his neck, and though it did constrict his throat and cut off his breath, before he could begin to strangle, Jinamizi's next swipe hit her in the head.

Though a daze brought on by the blow to her skull, Chana blinked blearily and saw Jinamizi's teeth loom into view as he lunged at her throat. Chana flinched away and braced herself, but then Jinamizi jerked back, growling, and stumbled off of her.

Chana leapt to her paws and saw that Jasusi was the reason Jinamizi had broken off from his attack. Eyes narrowed in fury, Jasusi was clinging onto Jinamizi's back and neck, his claws tearing along the lion's shoulder while his teeth were buried in the rogue's ear.

Taking a breath and wincing, Chana quickly glanced around to see how her other clan mates fared. Shambulio was crouched in defeat beneath Uzuri, who kept one paw lightly on the hyena in warning against further combat, while Kuvunja and Kipande were milling around uncertainly a short distance from Tumaini and Cheneta. The lioness Nuru stood nearby, ready to pounce in aide, and she whipped around at the sound of Jinamizi's pained growl.

Chana turned her own gaze quickly back to Jinamizi and Jasusi, and saw that Nuru did not need to come to the rogue's rescue, had she been so inclined. Jinamizi whipped sharply to one side and Jasusi was flung free from the lion. As he was tossed away, a fur-raising tear sounded out and Jinamizi roared, the sound so loud that Chana's fur bristled.

The reason for Jinamizi's roar was obvious – Jasusi's bite had ripped a tear in the lion's right ear, nicking it from the top to halfway down to the ear's base. It was a vicious wound, and as Jasusi tumbled along the ground and sprang to his paws, Chana realized her clan mate had made a terrible mistake.

Jinamizi's eyes were blazing in rage, and his body was trembling. With a roar, the lion leapt through the air and slammed down on Jasusi, pushing him into the ground.

Suddenly the two were a thrashing ball of movement and sound as Jinamizi's claws and teeth ripped downward, as he knocked Jasusi sideways along the ground only to pounce down on him again and continue the attack, and as Jasusi's terrified whoops and yelps rang out.

With her heart racing in her chest, Chana collided with Jinamizi's side and clawed at it, only to be swatted away before he returned to mauling Jasusi.

"Get off of him!" Chana's order was a panicked snarl, and she sprang again, accompanied by her other clan mates who had disengaged from their confrontations with the lionesses, Uzuri having released her hold on Shambulio as both the lioness and the pinned hyena had reacted in shock to the attack against Jasusi. The four hyenas focused an assault on Jinamizi, clawing and biting at his sides and back as he attacked Jasusi, who yowls and whoops had weakened into wheezes, until the rogue lion was forced to face the other hyenas.

As Jinamizi spun toward the four hyenas, Chana barked, "Enough, stop!" Her clan mates instantly obeyed, and as Jinamizi swiped at Chana's neck, she dove out of the way, spun on her paws, and lunged in-between him and Jasusi, making a living barrier between Jinamizi and her injured clan mate. Meeting Jinamizi's blazing stare, Chana crouched defensively but remained in place in front of the weakly whimpering Jasusi. "You win," Chana snapped. "Enough already! We'll leave without the prey."

Jinamizi snarled and stepped toward her, blood dripping from his torn ear. "Why would I let you leave?" he demanded, still shaking in rage. "Why not just kill you all?"

Chana stiffened and her tail did as well, sticking out behind her as anger roiled in her gut. Her first reaction was to lift her head high, her mane bristling straight up, a posture of dominance and aggression, but then she cast a glance back at Jasusi.

Her friend and trusted clan mate was laying in a pathetic heap, more of his pelt stained red than not, his eyes half-clenched and glazed with pain. His wounds were terrible; deep gashes in his sides and chest, shallow but deadly tears in his throat, and worst of all, a rip in his belly which stretched from his chest almost to his tail.

Jasusi needed help. He needed to be healed. If this fight continued, Jasusi would die.

Catching her clan mate's bleary eyes and seeing they were unfocused and dulled with pain, nothing like the usual bright glimmer that they often took on as he talked and joked with Chana, she felt something cold settle in her chest as she realized something. Even if they left here now and begin to do everything they could to heal Jasusi, he may die anyway.

Feeling as though her heart was stuttering along with Jasusi's ragged breath, Chana turned back to Jinamizi as the lion snarled and stepped closer toward her and the hyena she guarded, and Chana reacted without thought.

She dropped to the ground and gave a high-pitched whoop, tucking her tail underneath her belly and rubbing the side of her face into the grass as she looked up at Jinamizi, so that her muzzle was digging into the dirt. Pressing as tightly to the ground as she could, the hyena matriarch bared her throat to Jinamizi as she adopted all the poses of a low-ranking hyena cowering in submission before a high-ranking counterpart.

Chana had been born a princess of her clan. She had always been slated to be their leader, to be their matriarch, and in her life, she had never before taken on so demeaning a posture.

Jinamizi paused in his advance, surprise in his reddish-brown eyes as Chana's other clan mates stared in shock. The four lionesses approached silently, each of their expressions as stunned as were those of the hyenas.

Chana made one more high-pitched whoop, one of a hyena's gestures of submission, and said, "We'll leave the prey. We will leave now."

Jinamizi whipped his head back and forth, growling as his injured ear jerked. Once more, he sprang forward, slamming a paw into Chana's head and knocking her onto her side, smashing her against the ground. He stood over her, snarling and dominant, an imposing force of muscle and anger. He pressed down on her shoulder, pinning her to the dirt, and lowered his head to growl in her face. "Leave, and do not return, stupid hyena... or I will tear you and your entire clan apart."

He stepped back from Chana and seemed about to move away, but then lunged forward one last time and whipped his claws down her side. Chana yelped but did not retaliate, and Jinamizi turned with a growl and stalked toward the fallen buffalo that the hyenas had hunted down.

Chana drug herself to her paws and whined as she felt pain sear along her side. Meeting the astonished looks of Kuvunja, Kipande, and Shambulio, Chana felt the beginnings of shame. She had never before humiliated herself in such a manner, and now she had done so in front of members of her clan. In the moment, she had not thought about their reactions, and now embarrassment swamped her. Her pelt burned with heat, but Jasusi needed their help. That was still what truly mattered.

Turning away from their gazes, Chana headed toward the badly wounded Jasusi. "Come on," she mumbled quietly. "Let's get him out of here."

Jasusi had fallen unconscious, and Chana felt a flash of fear that was soon joined with relief as she saw him take a breath. His breathing was strained, but he was at least breathing. Chana crouched down and nudged her head underneath Jasusi's shoulder, trying to work her way underneath his body. She was soon aided by her clan mates, who had recovered from their shock enough to help move Jasusi onto their matriarch's back to be carried home.

Mikazo shifted restlessly as the hyenas began to limp away, Chana supporting her injured clan mate on her back with her other clan mates walking close by, ready to catch the injured one should he fall.

He was horrified by the violence with which Jinamizi had attacked. The last time Mikazo had watched Jinamizi fight had been when the rogue had killed Mikazo's parents, and now, seeing him fight again, Mikazo felt nauseous with the memories. It seemed as though Jinamizi was just as vicious as ever. Mikazo closed his eyes briefly and swallowed, trying to calm his stomach with limited success.

"Are you alright, Mikazo?" Msafiri asked softly, keeping his voice low. He was watching Mikazo with a concerned look, and Mikazo could guess he was not looking completely well.

Mikazo nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine," he assured Msafiri. "Just feeling a bit... sick, I guess. Last time I saw Jinamizi fight... well, you know what happened."

Msafiri sighed. "I do," he responded, and left it at that.

Though lions did fight with hyenas, and often fought more violently than with other species, Mikazo believed Jinamizi had gone quite a bit too far in this case. While that one hyena had torn Jinamizi's ear, something he was clearly furious about, all the hyena had been attempting to do was to protect his clan matriarch from a potential death blow, something Mikazo could not fault him for doing.

Now, with Msafiri and Eupe at his side, Mikazo watched as Jinamizi crouched down next to the buffalo and tore a mouthful loose, beginning to feed on the hyenas' stolen catch. Mikazo wondered how well Jinamizi could see from his right eye, as it seemed likely the blood from his ear was obscuring his vision. In any case, it did not seem to be affecting his appetite.

Mikazo turned his attention to his pride mates, relieved to see that they did not seem badly injured from the fight. At most, they had a few scratches and shallow bites. Mikazo let his breath out and allowed himself to relax. It had been difficult not to leap into the battle to help his pride mates, though they had been more than holding their own against an even number of hyenas. Now, the four lionesses approached the fallen buffalo on which Jinamizi was feeding, and sat down a distance away to wait their turn to eat – if one came, Mikazo thought darkly. Knowing Jinamizi, he might not leave much for the lionesses, although even the rogue might have trouble eating an entire buffalo in one sitting.

The three felines remained hidden as Jinamizi ate his full on the buffalo and then stood to leave. Mikazo realized that Jinamizi had, in fact, not been able to eat all of the buffalo's meat, which meant there was some left for his pride mates. Excitement swept through Mikazo again. If Jinamizi left, and his pride mates stayed behind to eat, then Mikazo would have a chance to approach them without being caught by Jinamizi.

Perhaps, in just a short while, he could speak with his pride mates again for the first time in months.

"I will be at the cave," Jinamizi announced abruptly. "If there are any more problems, deal with them yourselves. If you see those hyenas back in my lands, kill them."

Mikazo frowned. Driving them out was one thing, but killing them seemed extreme.

"I doubt they'll be returning so soon," Uzuri said mildly. "Helping Jasusi recover from his injuries, if he can, will keep them occupied for a while." Mikazo just caught a well-concealed undercurrent of reproach in Uzuri's voice. It seemed his pride mate did not approve of the violent attack on Jasusi either.

Jinamizi snorted. "Those injuries will take good long while to heal, with any luck," he growled. "I should have killed them all for this wound." He raised a paw to his ear as though about to touch it, then dropped it without making contact with the sensitive injury.

"Your ear should recover just fine," Nuru told him, flicking her tail along the ground with an unconcerned air. "The wound may be painful, but ear wounds always are. It's deep down the height of your ear, but it's not so wide that it's likely to scar. Just clean it, make sure not to part the two sides of the ear, and get some rest."

"I don't need you telling me how to treat a wound, lioness!" Jinamizi snapped. "I'll say it again, if those hyenas return, kill them." He turned and marched in the direction of the cave. Jinamizi was growling steadily as he walked away, the sound a continuous bad-tempered grumble.

Once he was out of ear-shot, though not yet out of sight on the flat Savannah, Tumaini asked, "Nuru, I don't suppose the ear wound might miraculously prove fatal, will it?"

"No, there's really no chance of that."

"That's a pity."

Mikazo winced. Tumaini's tone was, again, darker than he was used to hearing from his friend. He could not blame her for despising Jinamizi, especially after he had impregnated her against her will, which was the worst deed he had done among a long list of other crimes. Mikazo just hoped that Tumaini's cheerful nature would reassert itself once Jinamizi was gone, if he, Mikazo, could succeed in taking the rogue down.

He pushed the worries away as Jinamizi disappeared from sight and his pride mates began to gather around what remained of the buffalo, and he stood straight up. Now was his chance. Now he could go and speak to his pride mates and nuzzle them again. He could tell them himself that he was going to do everything he could to help them in this situation, that they would not have to live like this forever if he had anything to say about it. He wanted so much to run to them, so why were his paws frozen to the ground?

Msafiri nudged Mikazo's shoulder with his muzzle and nodded at the lionesses. "Go on, Mikazo," he encouraged. "They know now that you are alive, and I imagine they are just as desperate to see you as you are them. Don't keep them waiting."

His excitement and impatience broke through his nerves, and Mikazo leapt forward, leaving Msafiri and Eupe by the rock they had sheltered by. He approached his pride mates at a near run, slowing to a trot when he was about six lion-lengths away.

Uzuri, Tumaini, Nuru, and Cheneta were startled by the noise his running made, and they all looked up from their meal. Mikazo froze in place once more as his pride mates saw him. Meeting their stunned gazes in turn, Mikazo felt as though his heart would burst from his chest as it beat wildly, and nervous energy shook his body.

Uzuri was the first to move, as she took a step toward him, her eyes wide. "Mikazo?"

He smiled, feeling overwhelmed and unable to say anything except a simple, "Hi, everyone."

"Mikazo!" Tumaini's joyful shout was echoed nearly simultaneously by Cheneta and Nuru.

Bounding ahead, Mikazo raced toward them, and his four pride mates met him at a run. Suddenly he was surrounded by them, and their smells were so very familiar, their fur was so warm and comforting despite the rain that soaked their coats, and their glimmering eyes and wide grins mirrored Mikazo's own joy.

Tumaini nuzzled her head under his chin, Uzuri rubbed her head against his, and Cheneta and Nuru pressed against his sides, leaning into him. Mikazo felt, for the first time since he had been driven away from his pride mates, his family, that he was home.

A long moment paused as the five lions greeted each other with joyful nuzzles, pressed together in a warm huddle.

"Mikazo," Uzuri murmured, nuzzling her cheek against the top of his head. "Oh, it's so wonderful that you're alive, precious cub..." She was the first of the lionesses to pull back, her gaze warm and sparkling as she regarded Mikazo. "Cub..." she chuckled. "I couldn't really call you that when we saw you last, and now, you look less like a little cub than ever."

Mikazo realized then that while Uzuri was still taller than he was, he had gained a bit of height in the time he had been gone. He was still not full-grown, and all four of the adult lionesses had some more height and length than he did, but he was catching up. "I guess so," Mikazo noted. "And my mane's grown, too," he added with a twinge of pride.

"How have you been?" Nuru asked him, sitting down at his side as the group hug broke apart. "It's been so long since we saw you last. You're living in the Pride Lands now, aren't you?"

"Yeah, I am, since Simba was good enough to let me stay," Mikazo agreed. "I've been alright, I suppose. It's been hard, being away from you all. And with my parents... with dealing with their deaths."

"It was horrible, what happened to them," Tumaini said sadly. "I am so sorry you had to watch it happen, Mikazo. And you were driven away before we could even try to help you deal with that, your parents, I mean." She shook her head. "I'm sorry."

"It hasn't been easy," Mikazo admitted. "But it's been worse for you guys since then, with Jinamizi in charge." He sighed. "I've been visiting, now and then. Well, sort of spying, but on Jinamizi, not you guys. I wanted to find out if there's any weak points he had, any old, badly-healed injuries or anything in his personality I could use against him, so I've been coming here to spy on him."

"We know," Cheneta broke in. "Simba told us about the spying trips. I'm glad you're trying to help us, but really, spying?" She shrugged slightly. "No one likes being spied on, but it makes sense why you did."

"Sorry!" Mikazo dipped his head sheepishly. "I didn't want to upset any of you, and I wasn't at all trying to invade your privacy. I just wanted to find a way to stop him. And to make sure you were all okay, which is part of why I was coming to see what was going on."

"How much do you know, of what's been happening?" Uzuri asked.

"Most of it, I think. I know Jinamizi wouldn't let you have much of the food, about the hyenas causing trouble, about a few fights you've had with them, and that law Jinamizi made about driving the hyena clan out of these lands. I know about Jamili's death, Uzuri..." Mikazo trailed off. "I'm sorry."

Uzuri nodded. "As am I," she said quietly.

Mikazo lowered his gaze. "I wish I could have saved him," he said. "That I could have taken him with me."

Uzuri shook her head once, a sharp, rapid movement. "No, you could not have. You were in too much danger at the time, and had you hesitated before you ran, we may have lost you, as well." She sighed. "I didn't... I didn't even think that Jamili was in danger until he pounced on my little cub." Uzuri breathed out shakily. "Because I couldn't imagine someone would kill a cub, just like that, not one so young, and so special. I couldn't save him. I couldn't stop Jinamizi, none of us could."

"But if I had thought to take Jamili with me..." Mikazo began, "maybe I could have saved him." As much as Mikazo knew this line of thinking was pointless, he could not keep the thought was haunting him.

"Mikazo, had you taken Jamili with you, he would have starved," Uzuri said softly. "He was still drinking milk, something you could not give him. He would have died out there, starved to death."

"I guess so," Mikazo acknowledged. He was aware that Uzuri's reasoning was something he had previously thought of, but still, he wished that things had been different. "But to be killed by Jinamizi doesn't seem much better."

Uzuri closed her eyes. "The only thing I can be glad for is I believe it was over quickly. Jamili... it took only a second for Jinamizi to kill my cub." She trailed off for a long moment. "Now, did you learn anything else in your visits, Mikazo?"

As Uzuri obviously wanted to change the subject, Mikazo nodded and continued without complaint, "Well, just one other major thing, I think." He turned to Tumaini. "I also know about what happened to you, Tumaini, what he did."

Tumaini flinched. "You mean about the cub?"

"Yes. I overheard you yelling at him a while back, when he warned you not to do anything on a hunt that would hurt the cub."

Tumaini's eyes widened. "You were there that day, then, I guess. Right, Simba said as much." She hesitated. "Yeah. I am carrying a cub now... Jinamizi's cub." She swallowed. "You know I didn't agree to it, right? I'd never be Jinamizi's mate by choice."

"I know that!" Mikazo exclaimed. "I heard you say he forced you to carry the cub, and even if I hadn't heard that, I know you well enough to know you didn't agree to it, would never had agreed to it."

Tumaini sighed. "Good. I just don't want you to think I'd... taken up with your parents' killer."

Mikazo ducked his head. "Tumaini..." His throat was feeling tight, choked again by the thought of what his pride mate had gone through. "I nearly killed him when I found out." He growled quietly. "I wanted, and still want, to rip him to shreds for what he's done. I would have attacked him then, but a few friends of mine stopped me. They were there with me, that day," he explained. "They didn't think I could beat Jinamizi, were worried I'd get killed, so they stopped me."

"I think we owe these friends our thanks," Nuru commented. "Training or no, Mikazo, I believe you're still too young to fight Jinamizi."

Mikazo frowned at her. "Being young can't be an issue," he said. "Maybe I'm young, but I'm training. And I can't wait a year or more to be full-grown to challenge him. I won't leave you all under his control for that long, not if I can help it."

Tumaini stepped forward and touched her nose to his cheek. "I know you want to help us," she said. "But don't get killed doing it." She paused. "I hope this training of yours is helping."

"It is!" Mikazo confirmed. "I've learned so much from Simba and the others, and I've trained enough that I've gotten much stronger than I was before. Maybe I can't beat Jinamizi yet, but I'm working on it." He smiled. "Next time we play-fight, Tumaini, you won't stand a chance."

Tumaini smiled as well, somewhat reluctantly, still troubled. "You'll just have to prove that, then, won't you?" she retorted lightly. "As soon as Jinamizi is gone and you're back with us."

"Definitely," Mikazo agreed. He paused. "Have you all been okay? I mean, I know you haven't, not really, but... have you been holding up alright?"

"Well, like you said, it hasn't been easy," Cheneta broke in. "What with Jinamizi, and the hyenas, and just everything all together. But we're making it."

"And physically, we'll all doing well," Nuru added. "No sickness to speak of, and any injuries from our meetings with the hyenas are healed." She shrugged. "Well, not counting those we earned today."

"Yeah, I saw that battle just now," Mikazo said. "You all fought so well."

"Thanks," Tumaini said, lifting her head. "We did have the advantage, though."

"All and all," Uzuri said, "there have been many hard times since Jinamizi took over, but we are surviving." She glanced at the others. "We have found moments of peace, of happiness, when we are away from Jinamizi, on a hunt, or when he is sleeping. We are doing well enough, all things considered."

Mikazo nodded, his worry lessened, just slightly, by Uzuri's words. "That's good," he said.

"How has life been for you in the Pride Lands?" Uzuri asked. "Aside from any worries, have you been happy?"

Mikazo smiled. "Actually, yeah. I've been worried about you all, frantic, really. But I've made friends there, and they're wonderful. Simba's been great, and so have the others. When I first got to Simba's pride, I met a lion there who's about my age, Kimada. He's one of the ones who was with me when I found out about the cub, Tumaini. You know, Kimada's been doing all he can to help me through this, and not just training with me, though he does that, too. He's talked with me about things, came here with me when I wanted to see how things were going. Kimada's been a constant help."

"He's a good friend, it sounds like," Tumaini said.

Mikazo nodded. "Honestly, Kimada's like my brother."

"I'm glad you've had him," Tumaini said with a small smile. "So apart from Kimada, who else do you know? You said friends."

"Well, there's Kimada's sister, Zawadi." He paused briefly, smiling in amusement. "She's unique. She's great, I mean, and a great friend. She just seems to love teasing Kimada and I."

"Oh, I like her already," Tumaini commented with a grin.

Mikazo rolled his eyes. "Right. Anyway, Zawadi's been great, like Kimada." He paused. "Oh, she came from a different pride, not Simba's, because she and Kimada got separated as cubs. Actually, everyone, you've met her."

"When?" Cheneta asked. She was laying on the ground, stretched out on her stomach.

"Remember a bit ago when a small pride passed through here?" Mikazo asked. "There was a sick lioness with them, and Jinamizi wouldn't let them stay."

"Oh, yes," Uzuri said. "Are you saying Zawadi is from that pride?"

"That's right," Mikazo confirmed. "The pride's king, Msafiri, said that he thinks one of you indicated that they should head to Simba's lands for help. That was you, wasn't it, Tumaini?"

"Yeah," Tumaini agreed with a grin. "I wanted them to get help, and I thought Simba's pride would probably give them that. How is the sick lioness doing?"

"Well... Msafiri's mate, Masa, she was really sick. She died the day after they arrived in the Pride Lands."

"Oh, no." Tumaini's smile dropped as her expression fell.

"She was just too sick, I guess," Mikazo sighed. "But speaking of Msafiri, he's here right now. He came with me."

"What?" Uzuri asked. "Why would he come with you?"

Mikazo shrugged. "Msafiri is another one of my friends, I guess you could say. In a way, he's sort of... I look up to him. Msafiri helps me with any problems, when he can." He nodded back toward the rock where he, Msafiri and Eupe had sheltered. "He's back there, along with Eupe. Remember Eupe, the leopard? We ran into him by accident this trip. Sort of failed to stay out of sight. I guess they are both staying back to give me time to talk with you all." Mikazo got to his paws, smiling. "Come on, I want you to meet Msafiri."

Mikazo trotted back toward the large rock with the lionesses following. "Msafiri, Eupe?" he asked as he reached the hiding place, circling around it to find the lion and the leopard laying down as they waited.

"Mikazo!" Msafiri said with a smile. He glanced behind Mikazo's shoulder as the four lionesses came into view. "And ladies," he added, getting to his paws and dipping his head to them.

"King Msafiri," Uzuri replied for the group, bending her forelegs slightly and lowering her own head in a bow, a gesture that was echoed by the other lionesses. She and the others straightened. "It's a pleasure to see you again. As it is to see you, Eupe. You've grown magnificently, young friend."

"Oh, I know," Eupe said with a grin. "And of course, thank you."

Giving the leopard a smile, Uzuri then returned her gaze Msafiri and continued. "First of all, I must apologize for how Jinamizi acted when you and your pride were here. He should not have turned you away, especially not when you needed help."

Msafiri nodded slightly. "None of you are to blame for the actions of that lion. I could see that you all stood against his decision to send us away, and I appreciate that."

Tumaini sighed. "We stood against it in how we felt, but we didn't do anything about it." She paused. "Seems to be a running theme, doesn't it?"

"It does not!" Mikazo said sharply, breaking into the conversation. "If any of you tried to outright argue with Jinamizi over anything, I don't want to think about what he'd do to you."

None of his pride mates disagreed with this worry, though they all seemed subdued, and Tumaini continued, "I'm just tired of not being able to stand up in any real way against what Jinamizi says or does." She scoffed. "The consequences would be bad, of course, maybe fatal, and I know we can't really argue with him in big ways. It's just really... mortifying not to do anything."

"If any of you would be harmed for speaking out against him," Msafiri put in, "I'd say it is good that you haven't done so to an extent that would put you in physical danger. I do not think you are wrong not to do something that would risk your health, especially if nothing would come of it. If you argued with Jinamizi, would he be likely to take your arguments into account?"

"You are both right, of course," Uzuri conceded. "I can't pretend that I do not wish, as Tumaini does, that we could stand against his more harmful decisions. However, I am aware it would be foolish in many cases to do so." She shook her head. "Nonetheless, in this one case, I truly wish we had convinced him otherwise," she said to Msafiri. "If it were our choice, we would have given you and your pride mates shelter, and help for your mate." She paused. "Mikazo told us what happened. I am so sorry for your loss."

Msafiri lowered his gaze. "Thank you," he responded quietly. "Masa was already so ill, I do not know if help then could have saved her. After all, it was not much longer before we reached Simba's pride... and by then, Masa was too weak to go on." He sighed. "All the same, I do partially blame Jinamizi for her death. Perhaps earlier treatment would not have saved her, but that lion made even that possibility an impossibility. As a result, my desire to see Jinamizi's reign end is also, in part, in retaliation for Masa's death."

"That's understandable," Uzuri said with a small nod.

"However," Msafiri continued, "I know that Jinamizi's rule coming to an end would be most important for how things will be for the four of you, and for Mikazo. It is mostly for that I wish to do what I can to help that happen. As long as I can lend any assistance to Mikazo here, I will. I want to see your lives improve, and I want to see Mikazo have his home once more."

Mikazo smiled at Msafiri. "Thanks," he said. Msafiri nodded, and Mikazo told his pride mates, "Msafiri's been helping me train, too. He has some awesome fighting skills."

"I appreciate that, Mikazo," Msafiri said warmly, then he glanced back at Mikazo's pride mates and addressed Tumaini. "Ah, yes, I also wanted to thank you for directing my pride and I toward Simba's lands. We have been treated well in the Pride Lands, and it has provided us all with time to heal from Masa's loss."

"It was all I could think to do to help," Tumaini said. "I'm glad I managed to help you in some way, even if it wasn't as big a help as it should have been, thanks to Jinamizi."

"Speaking of what Jinamizi has done," Mikazo commented, "I wonder how that hyena he hurt is doing."

"Not well, I'd guess," Nuru said. "He looked pretty badly injured."

"That's one way to put it," Cheneta said with a grimace. "He looked like dead prey after vultures have gotten to it!" She shook her head. "I don't much care about hyenas, usually, but that was horrible. You know, I still can't get over what their clan leader, Chana did."

"You're referring to her submission, aren't you?" Msafiri asked. "I have never seen a high-ranked hyena submit to a lion like that, even less so a clan matriarch."

"Neither have I," Uzuri added, "and for Chana to do so is a surprise as well. She is usually arrogant, at the very least toward us."

"She certainly was to me, earlier today," Eupe put in, twisting his head to lick lightly at a wound on his back. "I had a fight with her and the others as they went toward the border with that buffalo."

While Mikazo and Msafiri had already known that Eupe had faced the hyenas that day, it came as a surprise to the lionesses. "Why did you fight with them?" Tumaini asked. "Did they attack you?"

Eupe frowned. "Well... not exactly. I attacked them."

Uzuri's eyes widened. "Alone?"

"What?" Eupe demanded defensively. "They were trespassing! And stealing prey. I challenged them. I may have lost, but I still had to try." He cleared his throat. "I suppose my chances of winning weren't as good as they seemed before the battle itself happened."

"Well, it was brave to try," Uzuri said with some uncertainty. "Although, I have to say that attacking them alone was very dangerous."

Eupe sighed. "Yeah, so I've been told."

Msafiri was looking up at the sky, which was darkening slowly toward twilight. "It's getting late," he said. "I think we had better start on the way back, Mikazo."

"Already?" Mikazo asked, dismayed. He glanced up at the sky as well. "I... I guess it is kind of late," he admitted quietly. "But..." He looked at his pride mates, torn. "I don't want to leave you all, now that I've finally got to see you and talk with you again."

Uzuri stepped forward and laid her muzzle on top of his head. "We'll see you again, Mikazo. It is late, and you need your rest."

Mikazo's eyes burned and he nuzzled into Uzuri's chin. "I'll train as hard I can, I promise. I'll get you all out of this, and away from Jinamizi, I swear."

"We know you will," Tumaini said, pressing her head against Mikazo's shoulder. "I don't want you to get hurt, Mikazo... Just be careful when you fight him. And don't fight until you're sure you can win."

"I'll do my best," Mikazo responded. Nuru and Cheneta nuzzled him as well, and Mikazo was once again snuggled among his pride mates. "I love you all," he said, his voice trembling. "I've missed you all so much."

"We love you as well, Mikazo," Uzuri said.

"You're family," Tumaini added softly. "Always have been."

"And when you come back, you still will be," Cheneta finished.

Nuru sighed. "In case it isn't clear, we've missed you, too. Very much." Still nuzzling him, she rested her head on his back. "Just come back home safely, Mikazo."

"I will," Mikazo promised. "And you all have to stay safe in the meantime."

"We'll be fine," Tumaini promised.

They all stepped back from each other, and Mikazo said, "Tumaini, I am so sorry for what's happened to you, with Jinamizi and what he did... But I swear, that cub won't grow up under Jinamizi's reign."

Tumaini swallowed roughly. "I know you'll do everything you can, Mikazo, and I trust you to pull it off, though I don't want you to be at risk. I want this cub, my cub, to have a good life, and I don't think they can with Jinamizi in charge." She sighed. "I wish Jinamizi was not his or her father, that I had not become pregnant in the way I had. But I want my cub to be safe. I want him or her to be happy."

Mikazo nodded. "I'll end Jinamizi's reign, I promise. Your cub with be safe." He paused, thinking. "Have you thought of what to name it?" he asked, interested. In a way, this cub would be like a niece or nephew to him, given how close he and Tumaini were, and he wanted to know what he or she would be called.

Tumaini chuckled. "Well, I hadn't thought about it. I don't know what gender the cub is yet, or what their personality is. Kind of hard to name it." She shrugged. "I'll think of something."

Mikazo stepped back to stand next to Msafiri. "I guess we'd better go," he said reluctantly. "I'll be back to see you guys again, soon."

Uzuri hesitated, her gaze pained. "Mikazo, maybe you had better not attempt another trip just to visit us."

"What? Why not?"

"It will be too dangerous. As it is, Jinamizi could have caught you on this trip. I don't want you to be put in unnecessary danger."

"But I want to see you all again!" Mikazo protest, upset and, perhaps unreasonably, somewhat hurt.

"We want to see you, too," Nuru said. "But I think Uzuri's right. If Jinamizi finds you here, finds out you're alive, he'll try to kill you."

Mikazo hesitated. "But if I'm very careful, then I can stay unnoticed."

"I hate to bring this up, but I found you here," Eupe pointed out. "I just ran into the both of you. You were trying to stay hidden then, weren't you?"

Mikazo frowned, resisting the urge to glare at Eupe. "I suppose you have a point," he said reluctantly. "But... it's just not fair." He felt like a little cub, saying those words, but it truly did not feel fair. He had finally been reunited with his pride mates, however briefly, and now he would have to wait to see them again for who knew how long a time until he could dethrone Jinamizi. He could not help but be upset.

"I'm sorry, Mikazo," Msafiri said quietly. "They are right. It isn't safe for you to make these trips. I was worried about this trip, that you would be in danger, but I knew I could not argue. However, I ask now that you do not risk yourself by making such a trip again. If you're to help your pride mates, you need to stay healthy and safe yourself."

Mikazo lowered his gaze, defeated. "Alright," he said heavily. He turned back to his pride mates. "I'll see you all again when I defeat Jinamizi," he promised.

"We will be here to welcome you home," Uzuri replied softly.

Mikazo's eyes were blurred with tears and his heart ached as he again said his goodbyes to his pride mates, then he turned to Eupe. "I'll see you, then, Eupe," he said."

Eupe nodded. "And when you do, you'll be the new king of these lands," he said with a smile.

Mikazo laughed slightly. "I guess so," he said.

"See you, then, Mikazo," Eupe echoed his goodbye.

"It was a pleasure to see you all again," Msafiri said to the lionesses, dipping his head to them. "And I am pleased to have met you, Eupe."

Mikazo's four pride mates and Eupe replied to Msafiri in kind. Twilight had fallen, and Mikazo knew the trip back would be a long one. He and Msafiri turned and headed for the border to make the return trek to the Pride Lands.