Shadows of the Night

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The night was a special kind of blackness, the kind that wants only to hold the stars and help them to shine all the brighter. It was a warm black that hugged you no matter what, and within its safety you could feel your own soul more clearly, that innocent inborn spark. Zira and her lionesses have been traveling for long exhausting hours in desperate search for a safe resting spot. They are officially outside of the Pride Lands. There is no protection but themselves to defend. Nuka rides on his aunt Niyara's back. His small stomach growls continuously.

"Mom, I am hungry." He whined.

Zira knows they must stop their travel to find food. Nuka is not the only one hungry, they all are. The air that had been so still on previous days had gain a slight movement, as if it had discovered its direction yet was content to meander at its own pace. Zira paused in her steps. Her nose caught a familiar scent, a zebra was nearby. This is great news! They had not eaten a zebra what seemed to be forever. Zira knew that it would supply them for a day.

Niyara and the others noticed Zira had stopped walking. She looked over her shoulder, "Zira, what's wrong?"

Zira smiled, "Don't you smell it, Niyara? A zebra is nearby."

Niyara and the lionesses gave the air a quick sniff. They smiled too at the thought of food.

"We must hunt. It will help regain our energy and keep us all full for a day."

They nod their heads in agreement allowing Zira to take the lead. Nuka jumped from off Niyara's back. "Can I join the hunt too mom?"

Nuka is still a young cub and is not old enough to hunt. He must stay behind. If Zira brings him along, he may ruin their only chance at food. Who knows when they may luck up again on prey.

"No dear, you must stay here with Kaisa." Zira ordered. "We will be back shortly with food." Kaisa is one of the camel-colored lionesses. Kaisa has tan colored paws, muzzle, and underbelly. Her ear rims do not have color and her eyes are carnelian red. Her nose is shaped like the Pride Landers nose and is colored dark brown. She is a young adult sharing the same age as Simba and Nala. Nuka sighed with disappointment, "Yes, mother..."

Kaisa stayed behind to watch over Nuka while Zira and the others track down the zebra's scent. The moon was a warm milky glow in the sky. The grass moved like a heaven-weaved quilt of the earth, as if by root and stem it stood in protection of what mattered. The grass on the lionesses' paws is soft on soft, warm on warm, a gentle tickle as each giving wand forms a cushion of green. The lionesses find themselves approaching a river. The river is mother to this land. It is famously known as the Atu river. It can stretch 2,900 miles making its way through the Pride Lands, Western Highlands, Grasslands, and many more. Legends say that the river can supply life and wisdom. A lonesome male zebra is there having a midnight drink. The zebra had loved the plains all his days, for this was the place of his birth and the only reality he knew.

The lionesses quietly ease their way in, their furry bellies touching the grass as they crouch down below to not be seen.

"What's the plan?" one of the taupe lionesses whispered. Her name is Winda. Unlike the other lionesses, Winda's paws and muzzle are both colorless. Her nose is curved but colored a blush pink. She has dark brown ear rims and eyes the color of cinnamon. She and Zira both share the same age. Winda is known as one of the best huntresses during Scar's reign. She is very intelligent, skillful, strong, and fast.

"I want you to take the lead Winda. Niyara, Essence, Salihah, Banji, and I will close in." Zira instructs.

Winda nodded. Essence is another taupe lioness with cream-colored paws, muzzle, and underbelly. She is Winda's sister, sharing the same blush pink nose and dark brown ear rims. Her eyes are amber. Salihah and Banji are cousins sharing the same fur color camel. Unlike Kaisa, their camel fur is tinted dark, and they have a small tuft of hair on their heads. Their paws, muzzle, and underbelly are tan. Salihah's eyes are meadow green and Banji's mint green. The cousins are adolescents.

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