Najol swallowed the lump that formed in his throat, Jai's face didn't indicate good news.  He had to know eventually.  It was his responsibility as king, and if he didn't, some of the lioness may loose faith in him, thinking he didn't care.  "Who did we loose..." he said after mustering up enough courage to ask.

     With a sigh, Jai began, "Four... we lost Swasa, Wadi, Bwaani and...  Zuwela.  The others checked... they were dead."

     Najol grimaced, Zuwela had been Jai's best friend.  He looked into her eyes and saw the pain there.  Is it worth the cost.  Four lionesses for vengeance over the murder of two cubs...he asked himself.  He caught himself slipping and regained his calm demeanor.  I can't let them see me slip...  They would loose confidence in me.  I have to look strong.  He had known each of the lionesses that had died, and each death hurt him to the core.  He continued walking toward their rocky home that was slowly coming into view.  Suddenly remembering Jai, he turned his head to her and gave a brief nod.

     His father had died only a few months before.  He had gone to sleep and never woke again, leaving Najol as king.  Najol was young, and the burden of being responsible for the entire pride weighed heavily upon him.  A young king, inexperienced and always questioning himself.  He sighed, Father... what would you have done?  Did I act wrong in haste and condemn four lionesses to their deaths over two cubs...

     He turned again to Jai, "How many hyenas dead?"  He had to act confident.

     "Too many to count.  I would say close to a hundred, Sire."  Jai replied.

     Since his father's death Jai had become his right paw.  They had grown up together and knew each other well enough that one could usually tell what the other was thinking, and Jai usually knew what he was going to ask and already had the answers ready for him.  She was indispensable as an advisor and a confidant.  Najol nodded again.  "Good, but post guards tonight, the hyenas may try something.  Make sure everyone gets sleep though, they need it."

     Jai nodded, "Yes, Sire."  If she didn't know him, she'd believe the confidence in his voice.  What is he thinking?  she wondered.

     When they arrived at their home Najol briefly told them how proud he was of them all before slipping off into his cave.  Jai did as he had told her, giving everyone a turn at guard so the time they would be awake was short.  After she finished she went to check on Najol.

     She stepped quietly into the cave and found him lying on the smooth rock floor, sobbing quietly.  Her heart went out to him, he had made some hard choices and now had to live with them.  She walked up and sat beside him, now this was the Najol she knew.

     "I've given everyone who is able a turn on guard.  Hopefully this way they won't have to be awake any longer than necessary."  She said.  Najol jumped, he had not heard her come in.  When he saw Jai he relaxed a bit.  Jai looked at his soft face, a damp trail formed by tears streaking down each side of his muzzle.

     Najol nodded, "Thanks, Jai...  I'm...  I'm sorry about Zuwela..."

     Jai looked at him and nodded quietly, tears of her own forming, "It wasn't your fault Naj'.  She chose to fight, just like everyone else."

     "Jai... did I make the right choice?  Did I condemn them to their deaths..."  He asked, shaking his head.

     Jai studied him quietly, his eyes told her everything.  The question was tearing him up inside.  "Naj' you did what had to be done.  We couldn't let the murder of two cubs go unpunished, or it would happen again.."  She hung her head, it was getting heavy, and she was tired.

     Najol's expression turned to one of worry, "Jai, you ok?"

     Jai shook her head, "Tired..." she slumped to the ground.

     "Jai..."  Najol said, a flash of panic welling up.  He rushed outside and found the nearest lioness.  "Kita, go get Yajari, something is wrong with Jai..."  Kita blinked and rushed off to find the old lioness.  Najol returned to the cave and stayed by Jai's side until Yajari arrived.

     Najol waited for what seemed like forever, but was, in reality, only a few minutes before the old lioness came into the cave.  Yajari was Najol's aunt.  She was the eldest of the lionesses and the most respected.  Najol just hoped she would know what was wrong with Jai, and what to do about it.

     Yajari stepped into the cave with her usual leisurely gait, which annoyed Najol to no end at times.  She took her time at everything, and now even when there was something wrong with Jai.

     The old lioness looked over at Jai's unconscious form then turned her eyes to Najol without moving her head.  "What happened?"  She asked in her smooth voice.  Najol recalled many times when that voice had put a certain hyperactive cub to sleep.

     "We were talking then she said something about being tired and slumped to the ground..."  He rattled off.  A small smile formed on Yajari's face; she had heard the urgency in his tone.  He was really worried about Jai.

     She walked over to Jai and leaned her head down by Jai's muzzle, listening to her breath.  With a sigh she pulled her paw across Jai's body and held it up for Najol to see.  "Cub, she's exhausted and sleeping.  You've had her fighting all day and she's lost a bit of blood from all of the wounds, which doesn't help any."  She examined Najol with a practiced eye.  She had seen many fights and their results.  "I'm surprised you're still on you feet, probably because you're so bull headed and don't know when to quit."  Yajari, if anything was blunt and told it like it was.

     Najol nodded, he was really tired, but he was too worried about Jai to sleep.  "Thanks, Yajari... is there anything I can do for her?"

     The old lioness sighed, "She'll be ok, Cub, she just needs some rest, that's all.  I'd say that you do too, so get some sleep.  Things can handle themselves without you for a bit."  She had always called Najol, Cub, because to her, he was just a big cub.  She turned and began to walk out of the cave.

     With a sigh, Najol laid down beside Jai.  His eyelids were heavy and they fell shut within moments.  The horror of the day had finally taken its toll on him.

     Yajari stopped and looked back at the two sleeping forms.  She thought about all of the needless death that had happened.  "Cub, you need to learn that there is more than one way to win a battle."  She said before she walked out of the cave.  Najol stirred, his half awake mind grabbed the words, and they echoed through his dreams.

     The morning dawn seemed to come quickly for the pride.  Najol woke to the gentle lick of someone cleaning his wounds.  He opened his eyes to find a shaky Jai tying to clean his wounds before he left to get more.  Slowly and stiffly he stood up.  Stretching, he tried to work out the stiffness, but winced as some of his wounds protested with their sharp sting.  He turned to Jai who was looking at him worriedly.  "You feeling better?"  He had to know if she was strong enough to accompany him and to fight.

     Jai nodded, "Yea, just a bit on the weak side."  Najol noticed that she was shaking with effort to just stand.  His decision was made.

     "Jai, lay down.  You're staying here."  He said.

     Jai blinked, she had to stay with him.  "Naj' I'll be ok, just give me a bit to get my strength back."

     Najol shook his head.  Jai wouldn't do any good like this.  She'd only get herself killed and he wouldn't be able to live with that.  "No, Jai, you're not coming."  He said and turned to walk out of the cave.

     "Naj' please don't go... you're weak too, stay here..." She said with a hint of desperation in her voice.  He'd probably go off and get himself killed, and she didn't know what she'd do if that happened...

     Najol turned his head to look at her, he was weak, but he had an obligation to fulfill.  "I have to go Jai.  This has to end... one way or another, it has to end."  He looked back at the entrance and walked out to the waiting lionesses.  He had seen tears on her face, but he shoved them out of his mind with thoughts of battle.

     The lions walked steadily towards the ground that had been soaked with so much blood the day before.  Najol looked over the lionesses that had come with him.  Three, like Jai, had to stay behind because they were too weak to fight.  He thought about the coming fight and blinked when an idea hit him.  He looked behind him and found Kita, who had taken Jai's place until she was stronger.

     "Kita."  He called.

     Kita, rushed up beside him when she heard her name.  "Yes, Sire."

     Najol sighed, Kita wasn't nearly as skilled as Jai, but she had to do.  "Kita, go break the lionesses into three groups.  One will come with me and the other two will circle around out of sight to the right and left of the hyenas.  Tell those groups to close on the sides when they hear me roar."

     Kita nodded, she didn't understand what he meant to do, but obeyed his order.  "Yes, Sire"  She rushed off  and begin to form the groups.

     Najol and the lionesses saw the hyenas approaching from the same direction as the previous day.  Stomachs began to knot as the reality of what was coming began to descend on them.  Najol wasn't in much better shape than the rest of them.  He had to constantly fight the tightness in his throat.  Loosing it would not bode well for him.

     The hyenas lined up as they did the previous day.  Najol counted his opponents and blinked when it barely reached thirty, and most seemed to be injured.  He noticed the look of relief on the hyena's faces.  They had expected a much larger group of lions and now had a glimmer of hope when they saw the small group with Najol.

     A smile formed on Najol's face, an unnerving sight to both hyena and lion.  Father, please let this work.  He sucked in a breath and let out a roar.  Some of the hyenas laughed, thinking he was trying to intimidate them, but faded when they saw the lionesses approach from their sides, their unprotected sides.  The hyenas stood in shock, their hope for victory smashed.  Najol began to walk slowly toward the hyenas.  The lionesses, following his lead, also closed.  He was about to charge them when a thought flashed through his head and he blinked.  Cub, there is more than one way to win a battle.  Where had he heard that, in a dream perhaps.  Najol decided not to charge them, he had an idea that might just work.

     The lions walked right up to the hyenas who just stared at their approaching death.  They knew that fighting was a useless gesture.  There were simply too many lions.  Najol walked up to a hyena and lifted his paw, placing it under the hyena's chin, making sure his claws were dug into its skin for effect.  The hyena whimpered from the sharp pain.  "Where is your matriarch?"  He asked loud enough for everyone to hear while he stared the hyena in the eyes.

     "She was killed yesterday, I've taken her place."  A voice rang out from the group of hyenas.

     "Come here."  Najol said to the nameless voice.  He saw the fear in the hyena's eyes that he had with his claws and blinked when he saw its rounded belly.  "You're with pups?" he asked the hyena.  The hyena croaked out a yes.  Najol looked over the other hyenas and saw a few more who seemed to be carrying pups.  We hurt them that bad yesterday, so bad that they have to get the injured, sick, and pregnant to fight...This would be a massacre.  He blinked as the thought again came to mind.  There are more ways than one to win a battle... yes, that is.  Najol smiled at the hyena and pulled his claws back from her chin.  "Go, I will not murder one with young."  He told the hyena who quickly backed away, still wary at the odd acting lion, but relieved and thankful for his mercy.  He saw another hyena approaching and turned to face it.

     "Are you the matriarch?"  He asked.

     "Yes, I am now, at least."  They hyena replied.

     "Do you wish to fight this day?"  He inquired, knowing the answer, but asking it for effect.  Please, Father, let this work.

     The hyena blinked, of course she didn't want to fight.  She knew as well as the lion that it would be a massacre.  "No, I never wanted to fight in the first place."

     Najol nodded, again for effect.  "Surrender."

     The hyena blinked, "Surrender?"

     "I do not like repeating myself, Surrender and no more blood shall stain the ground.  You have my word."  Najol said, he had to look and sound confident.

     The hyena snorted, "A lion's word?"

     He gave the hyena a regal look, hoping it would have the effect that he wanted.  "You have my offer, take it, or would you prefer the alternative..."

     "I don't have a choice then, do I?  Very well, we surrender to your authority."  The hyena sighed.  It was either watching the last of her friends and family die, or taking the lions offer.  Now he would probably exile them to starvation, but at least it was better than dying here.

     "Excellent, now turn over the party responsible for the death of the two cubs."  He said, not believing that it was actually working.

     The hyena glared at him.  "I would, but they are already dead.  If they were still alive I'd save you the trouble and kill them myself for causing this."

     Najol nodded, justice had already been served, but at a great cost, "Very well then."  He sighed, praying what he was about to do wouldn't come back to haunt him.  He raised his voice for all to hear and spoke.  "I have accepted your surrender.  The cause of all this death was the murder of two cubs from my pride."  He paused for effect, "This would have been avoided and our friends and family would still live if your previous matriarch had only turned them over for judgement.  It is because of this that I make a new law for this land."  The hyenas frowned, this would probably be their doom.  "From this day forth no young shall ever be victim.  Any cub entering your land and any pup entering ours shall be escorted back to their lands unharmed."  All stared at the king, this wasn't what they expected.  After a brief pause he continued.  "Anyone who harms the young shall be turned over for judgement and fair punishment.  By right of victory I can forever ban the hyenas from these lands, but I will not.  These lands have more than enough hunting for all and I will allow hyena hunting parties within them.  Kills will not be scavenged from each other.  If lion or hyena is present the kill is off limits until the time that it is abandoned.  Does anyone contest this law?"  Najol looked at his lionesses then back to the hyenas.  It seemed that everyone was looking at him in astonishment.  Instead of banishing them and making the hyenas a constant enemy he had made a fair judgement that benefited both parties and insured the bloody scene of the previous day would not be repeated.  Najol turned to the matriarch who stared at him blankly.  "Do you agree with this judgement, Matriarch?"

     The hyena blinked and nodded, "Yes, Your Majesty."  She had a new respect for this king.  Most would have condemned her people to starving, yet this one had made a decision that was fair and benefited all.

     Najol nodded and turned to his lionesses.  "Let's go home."  He told them and began the walk home.  The lionesses followed, looking at their king with new eyes, and respect.  He had turned a potentially deadly fight into something that would protect their cubs...

     The hyena matriarch watched the lions walk away in silence.  That king would definitely be a story to tell the pups about.  She smiled and began her walk home.

     When the lions arrived home they were met with sighs of relief.  Everyone that had left had come back.  Najol sat and quietly explained what he had done.  He received the same looks of astonishment that the lionesses who accompanied him had given.  Yajari sat quietly, nodding as he told them what had happened.

     After he finished Najol turned and headed to the cave, so he could tell Jai what had happened.  Before he reached the cave Yajari walked up beside him.  "Cub, come here for a second."  She said and walked out of site of the pride.

     Najol followed her curiously and sat when she stopped and began to turn around.  "Yes, Yajari?"  He had barely gotten the words out of his mouth when Yajari cuffed him across the muzzle with enough force to nearly knock him over.  "What the hell did you do that for!"  He snapped angrily, rubbing his muzzle with his paw.

     Yajari glared at him.  "How dare you put Jai through that.  She's been worried sick about you."

     "I know that!  I couldn't let her go fight, could I?  Although we didn't, she's my friend and if anything..."  He said before Yajari cuffed him again.

     "You stupid cub!  If you would stop thinking about your own self imposed inadequacies over being king and think about her for a minute you may notice that she loves you, and you've treated her like dirt!"

     Najol started to snap at her but stopped and stared blankly at her.  Jai is in love with me?  "I..."

     "Quiet!"  Yajari snapped, interrupting him, she was mad.  " Jai does everything she can for you and never asks for anything in return, and you let it go with a 'Thanks Jai.'  If you don't get that through your thick headed skull that she won't wait around forever, you're going to loose her.  You'd better be glad your father isn't here, he'd cuff you harder than I did."  Yajari spat out and walked away from him, leaving Najol staring blankly at the ground.  She had watched Jai waiting for him all day and her heart still ached from it, how could he be so damn blind.  Father...  Najol thought.  Yajari stopped and looked back at him, maybe she'd gone a bit too far by mentioning her brother.  "You did good today...  He'd be proud of you...  Sire."  She turned and walked off.

     Najol looked up at her and blinked, watching her walk away.  Yajari had called him 'Sire'...  She had never done that before.  He began to walk slowly to the cave, thinking about Jai.  She had always been there for him.  On the cold nights when the lionesses cuddled together for warmth he would sleep separate from the group.  After everyone was asleep Jai would sneak up and snuggle up to him, keeping him warm.  He smiled, tears beginning to form in his eyes.  She had always been content and happy to be by his side.  He sighed, Yajari was right.  He had treated Jai badly, not by anything he did, but by what he didn't do...

     He stepped into the cave and spotted Jai's sleeping form in the dim light.  She must have stayed awake as long as she could, waiting for me.  Najol thought.  Slowly he walked up to her and laid beside her.  He loved her; he just hadn't stopped thinking about himself enough to realize it until now.  Najol looked at her face, the dried trails of tears still there.  Softly, he nuzzled her.

     Jai was a light sleeper and her eyes snapped open.  She saw him and weakly returned his nuzzle.  "Thank the kings, you're all right..."

     He smiled and told her what he had done.  When he was finished she stared at him in amazement.  "It seemed like the best thing to do."  He finished.

     She shook her head weakly, "I don't thing that even your father could have done better."  Jai smiled warmly at him, there was never any call for him to question himself.

     Najol smiled at her and decided that this time was a good as any, "Jai...  I need you to do something for me."

     Jai looked at him questionably, what did he need?  "Anything, Naj'."

     He smiled and slid his muzzle up by her ear.  "Jai, I love you... be my queen."  He whispered to her softly.

     Jai blinked hard, trying to keep back the tears that loomed.  Soon they began to roll down her face as she sobbed quietly, he loved her, after all this time she had almost given up hope...

     "So, will you?"  Najol asked softly, nuzzling the tears away.  Jai looked up at him and buried her face in his rich mane.

     "Yes." She whispered.

      Najol wrapped his paws around Jai and pulled her to him, she had said, "yes."

     He couldn't help smiling as he nuzzled her neck, creating a damp spot from the tears that ran down his muzzle.  Jai was just as happy, and as teary eyed as he was.

      Slowly, Najol stood, much to Jai's frustration .  She looked at him questionably as he gave her a wink and walked toward the opening of the cave.  "Kita!" he called.  Within a few moments the startled lioness ran up to him.

      "Yes, Sire?"  Kita asked.  What did I do?  She wondered.

      Najol smiled, setting her fears to rest, she wasn't in trouble, "Kita, make sure that the Queen and I are not disturbed short of some strange lion appearing out of nowhere and asking for me by name."

      Kita blinked, what queen?  "Queen, Sire?"

      "Like I said, Jai and I are not to be disturbed."  He said with a wink.  Najol had expected the response.

      "Queen Jai..."  Kita spoke the words, the reality of which hit her quite quickly.  "Yes, Sire!"  He had taken Jai as his queen.  She smiled, "You won't be disturbed short of a strange lion asking for you by name."  Kita couldn't wait to tell everyone the good news, which had been Najol's intention when he told her.

     He nodded, "See to it then."  Najol turned and walked back to the giggling Jai and laid beside her.  He nuzzled her with a chuckle, "Quickest way to spread the news and keep us from being disturbed."

     Soon the two lions were asleep, once friends, now king and queen.  Najol thought of how blind he had been as he felt the warmth of her body against his.  Jai would have said yes even before his father had died.  Najol's thoughts drifted to the old lion wondering what he would say about the events that had transpired, and the sands of sleep fell on him.

     Najol was woken by a gently nudge coupled with a whispered, "Sire."  He opened his eyes a bit and turned to the voice.  Kita stood near him, a look of concern on her face.  This had better be good.  He thought.

     "Kita... I thought I told you."  He began, a bit displeased at Kita for waking him.

     "Yes, Sire, you told me not to wake you unless a strange lion asked for you by name... and well... there is a strange lion asking for you by name."  She replied, before Najol could finish.  She had been talking with the other lionesses about their new queen and the lion had appeared.  He had politely walked up and asked to speak with King Najol after confirming that it was the correct pride.

     Najol blinked, a lion was asking to speak with him, why?  "Ok...  I'll be right there."  He spoke sleepily.  Looking out of the cave he noted that the sun was just beginning to set; he and Jai had been asleep most of the day.  Kita bowed her head and rushed out of the cave to tell the lion that the king was coming.  Slowly Najol stood and stretched, trying to shake off the last of the sleepiness that still clung to his mind.  He glanced down as the sleeping Jai, his queen, and smiled before he stepped out of the cave to meet this lion who had asked for him by name.

     He found Kita speaking to the lion when he exited the cave.  Najol looked over the lion carefully.  It seemed that one could always tell who was a hunter or fighter by the way they carried themselves.  Najol knew before he even spoke to him that this lion was a warrior, which could be no small amount of trouble if he wanted to be.  As he approached  the lion Najol felt the lion's eyes on him, probably doing the same thing that he had done, summing him up.  Najol walked up and sat beside Kita, who was visibly relived  by the kings presence, she could also see that this lion was a warrior.  "I am Najol, I hear that you wish to speak with me."  He said, hoping this lion's motivations were good ones.

     The strange lion bowed his head to Najol, "Yes, Sire."

     Najol blinked, he hadn't expected this response.  "May I ask who you are and what you wish to talk about?"

     The lion looked up and met his eyes, "Sire, my name Tunza.  I am from a pride a little over a day's walk north of here.  I have heard of you actions this day and I humbly ask to join your pride, and serve you with such honor as you have shown."

     Najol looked at the lion in amazement, "Why do you not serve you home pride?"

     With a sigh the lion spoke, "Sire, my brother Malic is the lord of that pride," Tunza spat the name of his brother out with distaste, "He has no concept of honor and only worries about his own pleasure and power..."

     "You speak of honor, so what leads you to me?"  Najol asked the lion, his head cocked to the side in curiosity.

     "Sire, honor is my life.  I live by it, and when I heard of your fair judgement of the hyenas, whom you had totally defeated.  I knew you were the one to seek, a warrior, and a king of honor."  Tunza spoke, looking upon Najol with reverence.

     Najol shifted, somewhat uncomfortable with the other lion's apparent reverence of him.  "How did you learn about the hyenas?"  He asked, trying to shift the focus of the conversation off himself.

     Tunza looked off at the sky, "A white lioness told me.  She said a bird had told her.  They have apparently spread the news quite quickly.  I was going to ask her more about it, but she disappeared"

     "A white lioness... told you?"  Najol asked, white lions were virtually nonexistent, and the sight of one was usually attributed to one of the gods.  It was said that a white lion was touched by them in some way.

     "Yes, Sire, a white lioness.  I could hardly believe it myself and when I spoke to her she asked me if I had heard about the battle, and then told me about it when I didn't.  She told me a bird had told her when I asked how she knew,  A noise drew my attention and when I turned back she was gone."  Tunza explained.

     Najol nodded, "How strange," he commented, "You say a bird told her?"  He asked, and idea forming.  Birds would make perfect messengers and scouts, now only if he could find some willing to help him.

     "Yes, Sire, I'm still confused by her disappearance, but I saw her with my own eyes.  There is no use in me dwelling on it though.  I still managed to find you from what she told me."  Tunza said.

     Najol looked over at Kita, who was sitting patiently.  Then back to Tunza.  He must be tired if he traveled so far, but I doubt he would admit it.  He thought.  He turned to Kita, who up to this point had been silent, "Do you think any of the lionesses would have a problem with him, Kita?"

     Kita blinked, he was asking her...  "Um... no, Sire,  at least I don't see any reason they would."  Why did he ask her, he was the king...

     The king nodded, "Very well," he turned to Tunza, "If none of the lionesses have a problem with you joining us, then I don't either.  I accept your request to join the pride."

     Tunza nodded, a smile beaming from his face.  "Thank you, Sire."  He bowed his head to the king.

     Najol smiled at the lion's enthusiasm.  "Kita will show you where you can rest.  The cave is open to all, but most of the lionesses enjoy sleeping outside and don't use it unless it rains, so if you need me tonight I can be found there with the queen."

     Tunza nodded, "Thank you again, Sire."

     Najol turned to Kita, "Kita, see that he finds a place to sleep, we can handle the formalities of introductions in the morning.  Oh, and are you still taking that hunting party out in the morning."

     "Yes, Sire, on both things."  Kita replied

     "Good, maybe you could take Tunza along and show him a bit of the lands."  Najol suggested.

     Kita nodded, that was a good idea, "I will, Sire, he can meet most of the lionesses then."

     Najol nodded, and looked at Tunza, "You up to it, Tunza?"  Tunza replied with a nod.  "Good, no go get some rest."  He said and watched Kita walk off with Tunza close behind.  "Tunza..."

     Tunza stopped and looked back, "Yes, Sire?"

     "I'm just curious, you said your home pride was over a day's walk to the north?"  Najol asked.

     "Yes, Sire."  Tunza replied

     "Then how did you get here so quickly?"  He asked.

     "I ran, Sire."  Tunza said with a grin.

     Najol motioned and Tunza went off with Kita.  He shook his head in astonishment when he thought of Tunza's reply; he couldn't keep the grin off his face.  He ran...

     All Material and Characters (c) of Michael Wolf and may not be used without author's knowledge and consent.