CHAPTER:  SO CLOSE, YET SO FAR

	The heat started to build as the sun rose in the sky. A lone 
lioness walked through the golden savanna, unsure where to go.  
	Her future looked bright just the day before, but now she was 
alone again.  She had been with Kubali for so long, she had forgotten 
what it felt like to be alone.  Looking around, all she could see was 
the flowing grass.  Not only was she alone...she was lost.
	She continued to walk, desperate to find her way back to where 
she was.  She continued to look for any sign of a jutting rock that 
signaled her childhood home.  Her mind now set...it was time to face 
her punishment.  If they accepted her back, at least she would have 
companions.  If not...she would join her long lost husband.
	The problem was trying to find her old home.  She had been 
walking for nearly a full day, and her legs were starting to buckle 
under her.  It had been a few days since her last good meal, so 
hunger started to return to her body.  Finally, after she had walked 
as far as she could, her body gave out and collapsed the ground.
	Her stomach protested, but she tried to put that in the back of 
her mind as she did with the memory of her husband.  Her aching limbs 
seemed to make a sigh of relief as her weight now spread over her 
whole body.  She laid her head down on the ground and mumbled softly, 
"Hunt tomorrow..."  She was soon asleep.
	Her sleep was restless.  Her first night in a long time with 
out someone next to her was troublesome.  She missed the warmth of 
Kubali's body and she missed the safety she felt when next to him, 
her head buried in the soft hair of his mane.  How she wished she 
could be next to him, but deep down she knew it wasn't meant to be.  
	Aiheu had other plans for her, but what?  She wanted to be in a 
group--she hated being a rogue.  The fear of what her old pride still 
felt about her preyed on her mind...the hyena's warning rang in her 
ears.  "They'll rip you!"
	She woke the next day, not really feeling refreshed at all.  
She rose out of the grasses and yawned, looking around. She looked 
into the sky, seeing them.  "Can it be the same group," she wondered 
aloud.  She wasn't going to take the chance that they weren't and 
began to move towards the circling birds.  In a few minutes, she 
caught up with the group and smiled.  
	"Hello Markaaagh."
	The buzzard pulled his head out of a impala carcass and looked 
to the lioness, "well...if it isn't Fuzzy's mate.  Har har!"
	She smiled slightly, remembering how he hated that name. 
"Yeah...it's me." She moved to the carcass.  "Is the deal still in 
place...because I could really use some food."
	Markaaagh flapped a bit out of the way.  "Of course."  He 
looked around, noticing the absence.  "So...where is he?  After you 
two routed that lion, I thought you two wouldn't be more than a step 
away from each other.  Don't you love him enough to stay with him?"
	She sighed slightly, taking a bit of meat from the carcass, "I 
love him too much to stay with him."  She gulped down the slightly 
aging meat and sighed, reaching for some more.
	"Eat up, Honey Tree!  You are delirious!"  The vulture moved 
closer to her.  "If there is anything you need that I can get, I will 
offer it to you.  Our old agreement still stands."
	She looked at the vulture, her nose wrinkling slightly at the 
familiar foul smell.  "I do need one thing.  Do you know of a place 
called `Pride Rock'?"
	He seemed to go in thought for a moment and shook his head, 
"No...I'm sorry...can't say I ever heard of it.  But I don't usually 
talk to them what can talk back.  Har har!  Maybe if you describe it, 
I might know where it is."
	Elanna described to the vulture about the lion pride that lived 
there, the huge rock the dominated the skyline, and about the 
terrible drought that over took the land.  Markaaagh took some time 
and nodded, "I know where that is...had some fine pickings a while 
back, but now it's lean times for us."  He smiled only how a vulture 
can.  "Not that they're sorry to see us go."
	"Can you show me the way?"
	He just chuckled.  "Of course...we were heading that way 
anyway. Times may be good for the lions there, but there is always 
something for us to eat there. Har har!"
	She just smiled.  "Oh thank you..."
	After she had a bit of meat and let the vultures feed on the 
remaining portion of the carcass, they started to make their way 
towards her old homelands.  After a walk that took the better part of 
the day, she finally saw it...the jutting stone of Pride Rock.


CHAPTER:  IN THE SHADOW

	Through the walk...the thoughts that haunted her dreams came 
back. Would she be accepted back or be killed for her husband's 
crime?  She finally reached the stream that marked the border of her 
lands...the lands of her family.  She stopped...the small trail of 
water becoming a huge stone wall blocking her quest.  Markaaagh 
noticed her balking and flew down to meet her.  "Is this not where 
you want to be, Missy?"
	"No...this is it."  She slowly scanned the sky...and something 
caught her eyes.  It was a small bird...flying from the rock.  To her 
horror it was coming right towards her.  It must be Zazu, she 
thought.  How could she face him after what Taka had done to him?  He 
would tell the king immediately and the hunting party would be formed 
to go after her.  She gasped loudly and shook. "No...I can't stay 
here."
	The buzzard just looked at her, "what...what is it?"
	Without answering, she turned quickly and ran into the grass, 
leaving the flock of buzzards in complete confusion as she 
disappeared.
	Heart pounding and sweet dripping from her brow, Elanna put 
more distance between her and her home.  She had stood so close to 
going back to her old life...and yet.  It was the doubt in her mind 
about how she would be greeted that made her run. 
	The thought of being alone ran through her mind also.  Now it 
would be for good. She couldn't go home...and she definitely could 
not go back to Kubali.  The feelings were just too strong for her to 
be anything but his mate. 
	The urgency of getting away soon faded and she slowed down to a 
slow trot.  She looked around the surround area to get her bearings.  
Her gaze fell back to where she came from.  Only the very tip of 
Pride Rock was barely visible over the golden grass.  She dropped her 
head and continued to walk away slowly, until Pride Rock was nothing 
more than a memory.
	The day slowly faded away as the sun set in the west.  Not 
seeing anyone coming after her, she figured it was safe for her to 
lie down and try to rest her aching muscles some.  She flopped into 
the grass, disappearing from sight.  She sighed, thinking of her 
future.  Now, even the vultures wouldn't talk to her.  She was truly 
alone...or was she?


CHAPTER:  ANOTHER TRAIL

	"Hello there," a booming voice cut through the air.  Elanna 
froze, hearing the voice...her breathing picking up.  "I know you are 
here...I can smell you, lioness.  Why don't you just come on out.  I 
promise I won't hurt you."
	Elanna held her position, trying not to let her breathing give 
her away.  Suddenly, she could sense that the huge form was moving 
towards her.  "So you want to play, lioness, I'm game"
	Elanna still had no idea what was after her...but she was 
ready.  She wasn't going to go with a fight.  She growled softly, 
baring her claws as her body tensed to jump at the owner of the 
voice.  Suddenly, she jumped out...straight at a maned figure.
	"Whoa..." he said as he tried to scatter back from the lioness 
flying towards him.  Elanna landed squarely in front of him, growling 
loudly.  "I said I wasn't going to hurt you!  Now calm down."
	Elanna got a good look at the lion in front of her.  He wasn't 
like Kubali at all...he was much larger and older.  Slowly, as she 
realized that the lion wouldn't attack her, the growling in her 
throat died down as her muscles began to loosen.
	"There we are...I was just wondering what a beautiful creature 
like you was doing on my lands."
	Elanna chuckled to herself, thinking how flattering some lions 
are.  Suddenly it hit her, did he say his lands?  "Oh Gods," she 
thought, "I have wandered into someone else's kingdom!"  She spoke 
softly, "I...I'm sorry...I didn't mean to intrude."  Slowly, she 
began to back away from him.
	"Hold on...it's all right.  I'm not going to hurt you.  Do you 
need help?"
	Elanna just shook her head, continuing to back away from him.
	"I am King Mabongo...and you are?"
	Elanna stopped for a moment...her body still shaking, "I...am 
Elanna."
	The king just looked at her thinking, "I have heard that name 
before..."
	Elanna looked down.  "I was a member of the pride at Pride 
Rock."
	Mabongo nodded.  "You were the queen if I remember correctly.  
Your husband was named Scar.  Latest news that I heard from you old 
pride was that his nephew came back and took the throne from him."
	She breathed softly, "Simba..."
	Mabongo looked at her, "Yes, that was his name.  From what I 
hear, the lionesses were happy to overthrow your husband and have 
Simba as their king."
	She nodded softly and looked down.
	Mabongo shifted softly, "That was tactless of me.  I'm sorry.  
It's a pity about your husband...I'm sure it was a great loss to 
you."  Elanna stood there, quietly as he continued.  "You don't have 
a home, do you?"
	Elanna shook her head, "I thought I did..."
	He sat down slowly, "If you want...I could always use another 
lioness in my pride.  We are small but tightly knit group."  He 
smiled to her softly, "You are tired.  Come start a new life here.  
Would you like that?"
	Elanna looked up, "I...I'm not sure, sire."
	"Mabongo...I don't go for formalities here.  If you want, you 
can come with me and I will introduce you to the pride.  We are a 
friendly bunch and if you like what you see, you may stay for as long 
as you want."
	Elanna looked at him speculatively then rose, "All right...I 
will try...Mabongo."
	He smiled to her, "There you go...you will fit in fine."  She 
smiled to him softly and followed him through the grasses.

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