Taji was sitting in a strange clearing. The air was warm and the ground surrounding the clearing was covered in pale pink and purple flowers. Suddenly she had the sense that something was following her. She spun around, but no one was there. A familiar scent hung in the air, though Taji wasn't sure where she remembered it from. Then, someone appeared. It was a beautiful, snow-white lioness with light green eyes. But almost immediately the lioness faded away, to be replaced by two lions, both the same color as the lioness but with dirty, shaggy manes.

The lions shared a few words, when suddenly another lion appeared. He was a brownish-gold with a golden-red mane. The two snow-colored lions leaped at the other lion. Hostility was clear in their gazes as they fought each other.

There was a sudden shriek of pain as the younger-looking white lion collapsed to the ground. Blood poured out of his throat. The golden lion looked shocked at what he had done.

"No!" The word wouldn't leave Taji's throat. She tried to help, but her paws wouldn't move; she was stuck in her own, invisible prison. 

"Why won't you help him?" The question sounded distant, but it was coming from the older white lion, who was staring at Taji. "You betrayed your own brother!"

Brother? This is my kin? Taji wanted to escape this place, but her paws were still rooted to the ground.

"Your brother is dead! You didn't help him!" The older lion stepped closer; by now the murderer had vanished. 

"I didn't mean to!" Taji wailed. The words were coming out now. She felt her paws loosen, and ran off. She could still hear the lion calling after her, blaming her for her brother's death.

Suddenly Taji found herself in a new clearing. She could immediately tell it was different, more comforting than the last one. She closed her eyes. Then she felt warm breath stirring her ear fur. She opened her eyes  and turned around. She spotted the lioness she had seen before. 

"It's okay, Taji," The lioness whispered. "My beautiful daughter, it's going to be okay."

My... My mother. Taji snuggled up close to the lioness. The world around her started to fade. She snuggled closer, hoping the moment wouldn't end.

But it did.