The next morning, Soara awoke to the sound of a distant scream, sharp and panicked. Her eyes snapped open, ears flattening against her head as she jerked upright, a growl rumbling in her throat.

Mufasa came barreling toward her, his golden fur streaked with dirt and sweat. "Come on," he urged, nudging her to her paws. "We have to go. Now."

Soara winced as her healing wounds stretched and stung. She pulled back from Mufasa's touch, blinking in confusion. "What's going on? What happened?"

"It's the outsiders," Mufasa said, his voice tight with urgency. "They're here. They're looking for you."

Her heart skipped a beat. "Why? Why me?"

Mufasa didn't answer. His gaze darkened, and his tone grew sharp. "Just run, Soara. Eshe said I had to get you away—far away from here."

Soara's paws trembled as she glanced toward the ancient Seitri tree. "But Eshe—"

"She'll be fine!" Mufasa snapped. "But we won't be if we don't move!"

Without another word, Soara took off, her paws pounding the dirt as she followed Mufasa away from the tree that had sheltered her for so long. She ran fast, ignoring the sting of her reopened wounds, ignoring the blood trickling down her shoulder. All that mattered now was escape.

Behind them, another set of pawsteps echoed. Taka was catching up. "Where are we going, brother?" he called out breathlessly.

"I don't know!" Mufasa shouted back. "Anywhere but here. We can't let the outsiders get her."

Soara's ears twitched. She caught the slip in his words—Zamani. The name her mother had given her. Her true name. But there was no time to dwell on it.

They raced across the plains, their shadows long in the morning sun, until they reached a rocky plateau. A towering waterfall thundered down the cliffside, cutting through the jagged rocks below.

Taka skidded to a halt. "We can't go any further," he panted, looking around. "We're trapped."

Soara, panting heavily, lifted her head. Her eyes locked onto the churning water far below. "I know where we can go."

Mufasa followed her gaze and balked. "You're mad," he said. "We can't jump down there. There are probably crocodiles in that river!"

"I don't care," Soara growled, her tail lashing. "I'm going first. You'll follow. I'll catch you."

"You're wounded!" Taka protested. "You can't carry us both!"

Soara smiled grimly. "Watch me."

And before either of them could stop her, she leaped from the cliff.

Mufasa's instincts kicked in. With a snarl, he launched himself after her, the wind roaring in his ears. Behind him, Taka hesitated only for a moment before throwing a final glance over his shoulder. Kiro and his lions were closing in fast. With a resigned sigh, Taka leaped.

They plummeted for what felt like forever before crashing into the river below.

Soara gasped as the cold water hit her, the salt stinging her wounds. She surfaced, sputtering, scanning for crocodiles. To her relief, there were none—at least, not yet.

"Here!" Mufasa called, his claws scraping against a slippery rock. He heaved himself out of the water, dripping and breathless.

Taka followed moments later, dragging himself onto the rock beside his brother. "We did it!" he panted, his eyes wide with disbelief. "You saved us!"

Soara didn't answer. Her eyes were locked on the water, glowing faintly blue. She narrowed her gaze, a low growl rumbling in her chest.

"Soara?" Mufasa asked tentatively, stepping closer. "Are you—"

A snarl cut him off. One of Kiro's lionesses had followed them into the river. The outsider swam powerfully toward them, teeth bared in a fierce grin.

But she didn't make it far.

Suddenly, a crocodile's jaws snapped shut around her leg. The lioness let out a bloodcurdling howl as she was dragged under. The water churned red.

"Crocodiles," Soara muttered, her voice cold. She moved quickly, grabbing Mufasa by the scruff with her teeth and Taka with her claws. With a powerful heave, she hauled them both higher onto the rock.

"Run!" she barked, nudging them toward a narrow ledge that led to another cliff. "Go!"

The two brothers scrambled up the ledge, their paws slipping on the wet rock. Soara stayed behind, her glowing eyes locked on the approaching crocodiles.

One of the massive reptiles lunged at her, jaws snapping.

Soara roared. The air shimmered around her as a powerful gust of wind blasted the crocodile backward. It crashed into the water with a splash, flailing before disappearing beneath the surface.

"What the—?" Taka muttered, wide-eyed.

But there was no time for questions. Soara leaped onto the ledge, her paws slipping slightly before she found her balance. She lashed her tail, her gaze hard.

"Run," she said again, her voice firm.

And they ran—away from the river, away from the danger, and deeper into the unknown.

SCENEBREAK

The air was thick with the scent of dew, clinging to the grass beneath Soara's paws as she padded in circles, searching for a comfortable spot to rest. The stars above still shimmered faintly, but the horizon carried the first hints of dawn. Finally, she settled herself beneath the twisted roots of an ancient tree, her body sinking into the soft earth as exhaustion weighed heavily on her limbs.

Taka, ever quiet and observant, padded over to her side and lay down between her and Mufasa. He pressed his flank against hers, his warmth a silent reassurance. She glanced at him, then at Mufasa, who was already dozing, his chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm. It was strange how much peace she felt with these two by her side. For a moment, her heart swelled with affection. She loved them both in different ways, but the thought of having to choose between them hung over her like a storm cloud.

Eshe had never said she had to choose, but the pride had expectations. Yet out here, away from judgmental eyes, she could simply be with them. They were her family now, her protectors, her equals. She sighed softly and rested her head on her paws, letting her eyes flutter shut.

Just as sleep began to take her, a faint rustle stirred her from her drowsiness. Her ears twitched, catching the sound of pawsteps—soft and deliberate, far lighter than any lion she knew. Soara's eyes snapped open, her senses alert. She glanced toward Taka and Mufasa, both lost in sleep, their breathing undisturbed. Slowly, she rose to her paws, careful not to wake them, and stepped forward, ears swiveling toward the sound.

The bushes ahead trembled, and from the shadows emerged a lioness with a sleek golden-brown coat, her fur shimmering faintly in the soft light of dawn. Her gaze was calm, curious, and oddly familiar.

"Oh," the lioness said, blinking in surprise. "I didn't know anyone was sleeping here tonight."

Soara tilted her head, studying the stranger with a curious gaze. "You sleep here every night?" she asked.

The lioness shrugged. "Every other night. I've been wandering these territories for a while, looking for my pride. I haven't found them yet."

Soara's expression softened. "Oh," she murmured. "Well... why don't you join us? You need someone, don't you?"

Before the lioness could respond, a flutter of wings broke the silence. A hornbill swooped down from the trees, landing on a nearby branch with a disgruntled squawk.

"Oh no, she doesn't need anyone," the bird said haughtily, puffing out his chest. "She has me."

Soara chuckled, her tail flicking with amusement. "You have a hornbill to protect you?"

The lioness smirked. "It's more like he follows me around, whether I want him to or not."

"Well, can you fly?" Soara teased, looking at the bird.

The hornbill raised an incredulous brow. "You're not a bird, sweetheart."

Soara's grin widened, a playful gleam in her eyes. "I don't need to be a bird to fly, little one."

The hornbill blinked, clearly confused. "Riiight..."

Ignoring him, Soara turned back to the lioness. "What's your name?"

"Sarabi," the lioness said with a smile. "And you must be the famous Gojo lion from Pride Gojo."

Soara blinked in surprise. "You've heard of my pride?"

Sarabi nodded. "Oh, yes. They were well-known in the Pride Lands—or as you might call it, Melele. My mother used to speak of them."

Soara's heart skipped a beat. "You know the way to Melele?"

Sarabi tilted her head thoughtfully. "In a way. I haven't been back there, though... but I've been searching for it."

A flicker of hope sparked in Soara's chest. "You can come with us," she offered without hesitation. "You too," she added, glancing at the hornbill. "The more the merrier. After all, we're going to need a lookout for the outsiders."

At the mention of outsiders, Sarabi's eyes darkened, shadows clouding her gaze. "You're fleeing from them too?" she asked softly.

Soara nodded solemnly. "We've had no choice."

Before the conversation could continue, Soara felt the gentle brush of fur against her shoulder. She glanced to the side and saw Taka standing there, his green eyes half-lidded with sleep, but his voice warm and steady as he spoke.

"Can you two keep it quiet?" he murmured, his breath fanning her ear. "Some of us are trying to sleep."

Soara smiled, leaning into him with a soft purr. "Don't worry, Vahd," she whispered, using the nickname only she called him. "This is just Sarabi. She's looking for Melele too."

Taka blinked at Sarabi and offered a polite nod, though his eyes remained wary. "Why don't you join us, then?" he said quietly.

Just then, Mufasa stirred and padded over to the group, his golden coat gleaming in the dawn light. His gaze landed on Sarabi, and a smile broke across his face. "Well, it would've been fun to have more company," he said lightly. "Always the more, the merrier."

Soara laughed softly. "Exactly why I said to look to the sky."

The faint glow of dawn had begun to brighten, casting soft pink and gold hues across the horizon. The stars had faded, but the promise of a new day lingered in the air.

"Well," Soara sighed, "we didn't get much sleep, but we'll make do." She turned to Sarabi with a warm smile. "Lead the way."

Sarabi nodded and began to walk ahead, her steps graceful and sure.

Soara nudged Taka and Mufasa with her shoulder. "Come on, you two," she said with a grin. "We've got a long journey ahead."

Together, the four lions—and one determined hornbill—set off toward the unknown, the rising sun casting their shadows long across the earth as they walked toward a new beginning.