The young lions were learning how to hunt in pairs today. Eshe took Sade with her to teach her how to start the hunt while Mufasa waited in the tall grass. The plan was for Eshe and Sade to startle the animals by getting a kill; force them to run towards Mufasa's hiding place. Then Mufasa would jump out and get a second kill.

Both Eshe and Sade crept up towards a fallen tree, the wood was rotting and the branches were sharp. They had to be careful around those so they didn't accidentally cut themselves.

Eshe and Sade kept low to the ground, down wind. They were scenting the antelope in front of them when a new scent reached their nose. Both lions froze as Eshe turned to Mufasa. She silently told him to stay where he was, that danger was coming.

Sade focused on the two new scents coming their way. It smelt like a lion, but not one Sade had ever meet before.

"Eshe, the outsiders?" Sade whispered to the older lioness. Both lioness stayed crouched behind the downed tree, hidden from sight. Eshe nodded in confirmation while spotting her son, Taka on the other hill. He hide in the tall grass watching with wide eyes.

The antelopes made bleats of warning as they jumped over the fallen tree towards the hill Taka occupied. The antelopes got scared by the approaching lions, yet none made noise of being taken down.

Mufasa felt his breath leave his lungs as he watched two male lions jump over the tree and attack the two lionesses. They had coats of white fur and scars littering their body. The lions had seen many fights compared to the few Eshe had seen and even less fights for Sade.

"Run Mufasa!" Eshe managed to yell out as she battled with one of the lions. Sade battled the other, teeth bared and claws out, scratching at anything she could. The male in front of her was much stronger than her, he had a more developed mane than Taka and Mufasa, showing his older age. Sade wouldn't go down easily though, that's not how Eshe taught her.

Sade managed to rake her claws down the lions side, blood leaking from the gash and the liquid staining her paw. Sade felt a small glimmer of hope in winning this fight but then the male used his body to throw Sade to the ground. Her head hit the ground, a pained yell leaving her lips as a dull ringing sounded in her ears.

"Sade!" Taka watched Sade get thrown to the ground, his mother yelling her name. His heart squeezed in panic, his limbs frozen as he watched Mufasa run towards the fallen female. He should help them, help his mother, his betrothed.

Instead, all he could do was tuck his tail and run back to his pride.

"Sade!" Eshe yelled out again, trying to reach the disoriented female. Sade managed to get back on all fours but her eyes looked glossed over, almost as if she wasn't really registering what was going on.

"I'm okay." Sade replied back, her teeth bared towards the white lion before her, a satisfied look on the males face. The male pounced towards Sade, wanting to finish the kill when another force barreled into him. The white lion was thrown against the fallen tree, a branch stick out from his body. Blood oozed out of the wound as the other white lion looked to his companion only to see him dead.

Mufasa growled at the other lion, prepared to fight him too, but the lion ran. Sade would think to ran back to his pride and report about the lions death.

"Sade! Are you alright?" Sade felt Eshe next to her, her worried eyes scanning the lioness she saw as a daughter. Sade looked towards Mufasa, his eyes conveying his worry and stress about her wellbeing.

"I am, just a little dizzy. I don't think it's bleeding though." Sade said to try and comfort the two lions. Eshe breathed a sigh of relief before gesturing them back to the shade tree.

Eshe looked once more at the dead white lion before heading to the shade tree herself. Mufasa stayed in front of Sade, his eyes still holding worry for the hurt lioness.

"I am fine, Mufasa. I promise." Sade said as she took a step closer to him. Mufasa turned to the white lion, anxiety and worry filling him.

"He's dead, he can't hurt you." Sade tried to reassure the lion. Mufasa turned back to the female, beginning to walk to the shade tree with her.

"I was worried about him hurting you." Mufasa confessed as they slowly walked over the hills. Eshe was a couple of yards in front of them, keeping close enough to watch Sade but far enough to not overhear their conversation.

"Me? Why? I'm fine." Mufasa shook his head, flashbacks to Sade hitting the ground and not moving for a second flashing through his mind.

"Yes... yea you are. You're okay." Mufasa said, trying to convince himself of Sade's wellbeing. He never wanted to experience watching Sade go down again. He swore his heart stopped beating, his breath left his lungs, and all sound in the world just stopped. All he could focus on was Sade, on the ground, unmoving and cold and eyes lifeless with blood–

"Mufasa!" Mufasa felt his head snap towards Sade. She was looking at him in worry.

"Are you okay?" She had been calling his name the last few minutes. Mufasa swallowed the dry lump in his throat before he nodded. Sade found herself doubting that he was okay, but decided not to push it.

Sade didn't want to tell Mufasa, or Eshe, for that matter, but she didn't feel fine. Her head was still dizzy and her limbs ached. She wanted to sleep for the next day and a half. Yet when she saw how nervous and scared they were for her, she didn't want to tell them the truth. It might just scary them more.

"Obasi." Eshe said as the three reached the shade tree. All the lions and lionesses stood at attention, their worried eyes focused on the three. Taka stood next to his father, shame written all over him.

"What happened? Are you alright." Eshe nodded before nodding back to Mufasa.

"We wouldn't be if Mufasa wasn't there. They got a hit on Sade, but otherwise, Mufasa saved us. But Obasi, these lions, they were twice as big as us. The rumors were true." Eshe reported.

Obasi sent a nervous look before telling Chigaru to go find the outsiders and report back on the pride.

Mufasa walked Sade to the tree, helping her up a rock to lie down on. As she laid down, she found her body instantly going limp as her eyes shut involuntarily. Mufasa found himself slightly worried about the lioness and her fast slumber.

Obasi approached the two young lions quietly. He was ashamed of his actions and words towards Mufasa. All he ever did was make Mufasa feel unwelcomed and unwanted and he still saved his mate and Sade.

"Thank you Mufasa. For saving them." Mufasa sent a curt nod to Obasi before lying down next to Sade. Obasi watched as Mufasa gently nudged Sade's head with his. He was trying to push her head onto her paws, so she wouldn't wake up with an aching neck.

Eshe also noticed the interaction, worry gnawing on her insides at the gesture. Everyone knew about Sade's and Taka's engagement. While the action would be valid as Sade was injured, it was still worrisome to see Taka frown at the Mufasa's gesture.

"Taka! Come with me." Obasi said, nodding his head away from the shade tree. Taka felt his ears flatten as he sent a look to his mother. All he found was sympathy and heartache. He knew in that moment that Eshe told Obasi about him running away. He was hurt to see his mother talk positively about Mufasa and negatively about him.

Taka and Obasi left the safety of the shade tree, only to come back when the stars were high above them and the sky was black instead of blue. Obasi went over to Eshe while Taka walked towards the still sleeping Sade.

"How is she?" Mufasa looked up to Taka, he stood on the other side of Sade while Mufasa laid next to her.

"Sleeping and cold. I'm trying to use my body heat to keep her warm." Taka nodded his head before lying down on the other side of Sade. Together the brothers encased Sade in a blanket of warmth and, unbeknownst to her and one other, love.