Karasi felt the warmth of Tene's body pressing into her spine. The two cubs were lying back-to-back, sunning themselves in the heat of midday. They had their eyes open only halfway, and had all but forgotten about Ifama's meanness just hours before.

There was a deep, guttural roar as Banji padded out of his den. "Lionesses, let's hunt!"

The lionesses got to their feet and moved closer to their chieftain. Ayanna leaped up. "Mother, can I come?" she asked Cyrah, her mother.

Cyrah cuffed her cub's ear gently. "No, Ayanna. You're not one yet; you can't come on the hunts."

Zuri turned back to her cubs. "Tafari, are you coming?"

"Yes!" Tafari raced after her.

"Tene, what about you?" Zuri asked.

Tene looked up at his mother. "No, Mother, I think I'll stay here with Karasi." Approving comments were murmured among the lionesses at the cub's loyalty to Karasi.

Karasi rolled over to look at Tene. "Don't you need to practice your hunting? In case you know what happens?"

'You know what' was the unspeakable thing that might happen to Tene and Tafari. They might get driven out of the pride by Banji when they turned three, adult age, just because they were males.

Tene batted at her face with a large, flat paw. "That won't happen. There aren't any adult males in the pride other than Banji. Even if it does happen, I'll be fine. Are you saying I can't hunt?"

Karasi sat up quickly. "Maybe," she teased. Tene widened his eyes at her, then lunged.

"I'm gonna get you for that!" They chased each other through the long grass around their pride's home, until they collapsed.

"I smell blood. And zebra. The lionesses must be back!" Karasi lifted her head hungrily. Abeje, one of the lionesses, dragged a bloody zebra into the clearing. Its stomach was ripped open.

The lionesses instantly swarmed the carcass. Banji pushed his way through the crowd to crouch and eat. Karasi lowered herself to the ground, prepared to wait her turn. It didn't matter that these lionesses were her pride; they would still snap at her for trying to eat out of turn.

A large slab of bloody meat dropped to the ground in front of her. Tene smiled down at her. "Share this with me?" he asked.

Karasi licked his jaw. "Of course. How'd you get it out?" She gnawed a piece of flesh off the bone.

The male cub crouched beside her, craning his neck to rip his own piece of meat away from the chunk. His warm pelt pressed into hers. "Tafari managed to wiggle through the others and snatch a few pieces."

The two cubs finished their food and lounged in the sun until dusk. Banji gathered the pride and they set off the watering hole. The River Pride and the Stone Pride were already there. The River Pride's chieftain, Jabilo, greeted Banji with a small amount of warmth. The Stone Pride, the pride of the royal family, sat with their heads high.

Karasi, Tene, and Tafari ran over to join the cubs of the River Pride. They tussled in the grass until the Grass Pride arrived. When they did, Karasi raced to find Asante in the crowd. She skidded to a halt in front of a large male lion with a full, golden mane.

"Asante," Karasi breathed in awe. She never got used to seeing the wonder that was Asante. He was the image of a perfect lion.

"Karasi," Asante said back. "You've grown since I last saw you."

Karasi grew angry. "No wonder. You haven't seen me in half a moon cycle!"

Asante scuffed his paw over the ground. "I'm sorry," he whispered. Karasi's stomach fluttered unexpectedly, and she remembered that Asante was not very much older than her; he was only four. She knew that she might mate with any of these males here, even Asante.

A sudden tension overcame the lions at the assembly. Karasi turned to see the chieftains push their lionesses behind them. Asante bared his teeth in the direction that the chieftains were staring. Karasi stood beside Asante, and could soon see why all the male lions at the assembly were suddenly anxious.

Pushing through the long grass around the watering hole were four big rogue males with thick black manes.

"I assume we are welcome at this assembly?" the lead rogue male asked with a sly growl.

A loud roar announced the arrival of another big male lion; the king. All the prides turned to see King Fabumi on the big rock slab above the watering hole. Queen Eshe joined him there quickly.

"All are welcome at the assembly, Kisembo," Fabumi said. "As long as they recognize the truce."

Kisembo let out a throaty laugh, that sounded nothing like a laugh. "Of course, of course." He ran his gaze over the prides. "Quite a night for an assembly, don't you agree, Eshe?"

Fabumi scowled. "That's Queen Eshe to you, Kisembo."

"Can't a lion greet his sister?" Kisembo scoffed.

Banji let out a growl. "I think we should get started, King Fabumi." Karasi felt grateful towards her father at that moment, for he had broken up the moment of tension.

Karasi sat beside Asante as the assembly began. "I didn't know the queen had a brother," she said.

"Most lions didn't know," Asante answered. "For obvious reasons; the beast is disgraceful."

"Asante!" Karasi exclaimed. "That beast could be you someday. If Jabilo ever runs you off, you'll have to join rogue pride."

Asante swiped his tail across the ground. "At least I'd be able to make the rules, and there would be an even wider range of females."

Karasi's jaw dropped. "Asante!" She quickly closed her mouth when Ifama turned around to look at her.

Fabumi started to speak. "We have very important news. As most of you know, my son, Prince Reon, will turn one in just two days. All prides are welcome to the home of my pride for the celebration. As he is preparing for his first hunt, my son was unable to attend this assembly."

Kisembo growled. "Are we invited as well, Fabumi?"

Jabilo sprang up from near Banji. "You will call him King!"

"Another comment like that, Kisembo, and you will not be welcome!" Fabumi roared, stepping to the edge of the rock slab. He sat back down. "There will be special announcement during Reon's ceremony concerning the female cubs reaching the age of one. That is all for tonight."

Karasi dipped her head to Kisembo and said goodbye, with the promise that he would come to train her in two nights. She took her place at Tene's side as their pride made their way back to their territory.

When they got home, the lionesses, including Ayanna, settled in a group in the center of the clearing to sleep. Ifama followed Banji into his cave. Karasi curled up between Tene and Tafari at the edge of the lioness group.