“Just a few more days,” Sarabi said, walking a bit ahead of Mrembo.

“Yeah...” The Cheetah replied. She... hadn't gotten up the courage to say... what she wanted to say.

Currently, they were walking through a forest, following game trails through thick brush.

“So, I've been thinking,” the Lioness continued. “About when we get back to my pride.”

“Oh?” Mrembo perked up.

“Our territory is... pretty big now,” she began. “I think I could probably sell the pride on letting you stay if you act as a scout for us.”

“A... scout?” Mrembo repeated.

“Yeah, you know, help us keep track of the herds, let us know if there's anything that might be trouble,” Sarabi turned back to her with a smile.

Mrembo just stared at her. “Is that what you think I want?” The Cheetah asked cooly. “To just... exist on your periphery? Be allowed to stay 'cause I'm marginally useful?”

Sarabi looked shocked. She'd expected her to be excited. “Hey, I'm trying here,” she defended.

“Are you?” Mrembo scoffed. “Cause it seems like you're just trying to justify my existence.”

“I'm sorry I can't just tell the pride to let you stay,” Sarabi huffed. “The King doesn’t want other Hunters around, I’m sure they’ll appreciate you helping me but... yeah, I need more of a reason than ‘she’s my friend’ okay?”

“I don’t want my home to depend on proving myself useful to your pride!” Mrembo shouted.

“Well what do you want?!” Sarabi growled back, feeling deeply frustrated. “I’m really trying here, Mrembo!”

“I want to live my life Sarabi!” She reached forward, grabbing the Lionesses' hands. “And I want to live it with you.”

The anger and frustration fled the Lionesses face, replaced by a look of shock and confusion. “What?”

Mrembo gulped. This... was not how she imagined this going. “S-Sarabi I...” she looked up into the Lionesses' deep amber eyes.

She leaned up, stood on her tiptoes, and kissed Sarabi.

Sarabi’s eyes went wide. This was... what was this? Why was her heart pounding so hard?

Mrembo broke the kiss, leaning back. “I... I want you Sarabi,” she said, looking up at her. “... that’s what I want... just you.”

“Mrembo,” Sarabi looked down at her, a thousand things rushing through her head. All the time she’d spent with Mrembo, what Ma Tembo had said about losing something beautiful, she thought back to her mother, telling her to play nice with the male cubs, because one of them would be her mate someday.

She leaned in and kissed Mrembo, wrapping her arms around her as she pushed her forward, the pair falling into the thicket as the Lioness threw herself at the Cheetah, the sun beginning to sink over the horizon.

It was intense and passionate, an explosion of emotion that had been building for some time.

As darkness fell over the savannah, the two lay there, Mrembo purring in her sleep, a soft smile on her face as Sarabi had wrapped her arms around her.

The emotional high of the moment having faded, Sarabi was having a much different experience.

Unwilling or unable to pull away from the Cheetah, she didn't move away from Mrembo. She just stared straight ahead, swallowing hard.

“What have I done?” She asked quietly.

~~~

Mrembo stretched awake, feeling herself press against something warm and fuzzy.

Oh.

Oh that was right~

“Mmmmmr... morning beautiful,” she purred, her eyes only half open as she turned and looked at Sarabi.

“... morning,” the Lioness replied, not making eye contact. She looked exhausted.

Mrembo rolled out of her arms, letting the Lioness sit up.

“Did you see where my top went?” Mrembo asked. Last night had been... intense. Not that she was complaining.

Sarabi just looked away.

“Heh, no need to be shy,” Mrembo purred, standing up and approaching the Lioness. “You weren't last night after all.”

“Just... stop,” Sarabi said, turning away from her. “Let's just go.”

“Sarabi?” Mrembo asked, putting a hand on the Lionesses' shoulder. “What's wrong?”

Sarabi pulled her shoulder away. “Here,” she reached down, grabbing the Cheetah's top and tossing it to her.

Mrembo caught it and looked at it in her hand.

She let it drop.

“Sarabi, talk to me,” she said, circling around Sarabi.

“There's nothing to talk about,” the Lioness huffed.

“I think there is,” the Cheetah insisted. “Why're you acting like this? Last night-”

“Last night was a mistake!” The Lion turned and growled.

“... what?” Mrembo asked, her eyes going wide.

“It was a mistake,” she repeated, glaring at the Cheetah. “Maybe... whatever that is works for Hyenas, but I'm a Lion. And we're not even the same species!”

“Why does that have to matter?” Mrembo asked.

“Because I'm part of a pride!” Sarabi shouted. “And this,” she gestured between the two of them. “Will never work with that.”

“Oh would you shut up about your pride!” Mrembo growled. “Why don't you think about what you want instead of trying to prove yourself to them!?”

“What I want is the same thing I've always wanted! I want to go home! I want to be back with my pride! And I'm not gonna give up my whole life just for some stupid Cheetah!”

Everything went quiet after that, and Sarabi immediately felt a wave of guilt wash over her.

“Mrembo I-”

*smack!*

The Lioness stumbled as the Cheetah slapped her.

“How dare you,” Mrembo said coldly, tears welling in her eyes. “How dare you make me think someone like you could care about me. How dare you make me think a Lion could be different,” she swallowed hard. “And how dare you make me think I could ever love you.”

With that, the Cheetah turned and ran.

Sarabi reached forward, finding herself unable to take a step as she fell to her knees, arm outstretched.

She felt like someone had reached into her chest and ripped out something vital.

“Oh great Spirits,” she gasped out, tears running down her face. “What have I done?”

~~~

Mrembo ran.

She ran and she ran until her legs gave out. Her heart pounding in her chest.

She collapsed onto the savannah, having broken through the treeline a while ago.

She sobbed as she fell into the tall grass. Feeling... broken.

“It's better this way,” she choked out. “Better if I'm alone...”

She curled up, pulling her knees to her chest. Feeling the wind pick up around her.

In her mind, she cursed herself for being so stupid. To think, she actually thought they could have something.

Her mind drifted back to last night. Remembering the Lionesses strong arms around her, her hands running through her soft fur. Their bodies pressing against each other.

It all felt so dirty now.

Was it really wrong? Jasiri had seemed happy, even having lost her mate.

And... it hadn't felt wrong. Not in the moment. Not with her.

Mrembo sniffled. Cracking her eyes open. “Better alone,” she repeated. If Sarabi was so sure her place was with her pride... then that was Mrembo's place. Alone.

The wind was really picking up now, and Mrembo could feel something pelting her fur.

“Really?” She sighed, sitting up. First she loses Sarabi, and now another storm was-

As she turned to face the oncoming storm, her vision was filled with red.

It was a storm alright. A sandstorm.

Mrembo cried out in pain, clutching her eyes as a gust of harsh wind hit her face, throwing sand into her open eyes.

She doubled over, clutching her face. Holding back from rubbing her eyes even as they screamed in pain.

She tried to get to her feet only to stumble forward and fall again. She had to find shelter, a storm like this could bury her alive, but she couldn't see.

Eyes still stinging, she covered her face with her arm and crawled forward, feeling for anything she could use as cover.

She was alone in this. That was the way it had to be. Even if she wished, more than anything, that she could have her friend at her side.

~~~

Sarabi lost track of how long she kneeled there, staring in the direction Mrembo had run.

She... she had to come back. She needed her to come back so she could apologize. So she could hold her tightly and tell her how sorry and stupid and wrong she'd been.

She cried without sobbing, tears rolling down her face, staining her fur. The pain in her chest was still just as sharp as it had been when Mrembo had turned and ran.

“Please...” she muttered. “Please...”

Her ears twitched as she heard something howling in the distance. Not like a canine howl, like wind.

Turning her head, she saw a wall of red approaching. Oh... oh Spirits.

“We need to...” no, not we, her. She needed shelter... “Mrembo...” she finally pushed herself to her feet, grabbing the Cheetah's discarded top as she took off, tearing through the underbrush. “Mrembo!”

She had to find her. Even if she could never take back what she said. Even if Mrembo hated her forever. She had to find her. Had to know she was safe.

The storm overtook her just as she pushed through the treeline. She covered her face and turned away from the direction of the storm. “Mrembo!” She called out, trying to shout over the roar of the storm.

The roar...

Sarabi grit her teeth, raised her head and roared as loud as she could.

~~~

Mrembo's ears twitched as something sounded over the roar of the storm around her.

At first she thought the storm was just picking up, but then it stopped... then it sounded again.

A Lion's roar.

“Sarabi...”

Mrembo turned in the direction she'd come... or she tried to. She still couldn't see.

“Sarabi!” She called out, stumbling forward as she tried to run.

She tripped, tumbling to the ground and coughing, the sand stinging her lungs as well as her eyes.

She rolled onto her back, facing the sky and yowled.

A few seconds later, a familiar roar responded.

~~~

Sarabi rushed across the savannah. Roaring, then waiting for the response.

The yowl came. She was getting closer.

She wasn't sure how long this had been going on. Mrembo had run far in the time they'd been apart.

She steeled herself. She had to find her.

She had to tell her...

She roared again.

“Sarabi!”

The voice was faint, but she could hear it.

“Mrembo!” She called back.

“Sarabi!”

She was closer.

“Mrembo!”

“Sarabi!”

There!

“Mrembo!” Sarabi gasped, rushing forward and tripping over something soft.

“Ow!” Mrembo hissed as the Lioness tripped over her.

“Sorry! Are you okay?” Sarabi asked,

“I can't see!” The Cheetah hissed, coughing as she shouted, her throat sore from their call and response.

“It's okay, I'm here,” she reached down and helped the Cheetah to her feet. “Come on.”

Mrembo leaned heavily against the Lion as Sarabi led her back towards the forest. “Come on, come on...”

A shape loomed ahead of them, though they were still a ways away from the forest, and not a hundred percent sure they were going in the right direction.

As they approached, Sarabi saw the thick, woody trunk of a Baobab tree, with an opening at the base just big enough to squeeze into.

“Thank the spirits,” Sarabi sighed in relief. She helped Mrembo into the trunk, then squeezed in herself.

Mrembo leaned against the interior of the trunk, sliding to the ground, her eyes still shut tight.

“What happened?” Sarabi asked, kneeling down next to her.

“What do you think happened?!” Mrembo shouted. “The storm... grrrr.” She grasped at her face.

“It's okay... it's okay,” Sarabi said soothingly. “Here just... lean back.”

Mrembo felt one of the Lioness’ hands cradle her head, helping her lean back. Part of her wanted to resist but for now, she let it happen.

“Okay, open your eyes, I'm gonna wash them out with the water skin,” Sarabi explained.

Reluctantly, Mrembo slowly opened her eyes. Her bright emerald green eyes were bloodshot, and Sarabi slowly titled the waterskin, pouring water into her eyes.

The Cheetah winced, but managed to keep her eyes open.

“There you go,” Sarabi said as the water streamed down her face. “Better?”

Mrembo blinked a few times, her eyes still bloodshot and a little blurry. But stinging much less.

“Yeah...” she looked up at Sarabi. “You-”

Sarabi pulled the Cheetah into a tight hug. “I am so sorry,” she choked out. “I didn't mean it. I swear.”

“Sarabi,” Mrembo sighed. “That... I don't...”

“Please,” the Lioness leaned back. “I know I can't take back what I said but... I didn't mean it. Last night wasn't a mistake. I just... my mother always said-”

Mrembo grabbed her head and pulled her into a kiss.

The Lioness tensed for a moment, before relaxing and leaning into the kiss.

“You talk too much,” Mrembo said, pulling away after a moment.

“Mrembo... I-”

Mrembo put a finger to her lips. “No more apologies. No excuses, no explanations...”

She pulled her finger away.

“... you're amazing,” Sarabi said with a smile, shaking her head as she cried. “And beautiful, and just... you are the best thing that's ever happened to me... and I hope I didn't ruin that.”

Mrembo smiled, leaning forward and kissing her cheek. “That is exactly what I wanted to hear,” she purred, wrapping her arms around Sarabi's shoulders. “I’m sorry I sprung it on you like that. I just... I've been thinking about it a lot.”

“Can you forgive me?” Sarabi asked, cupping the Cheetah’s cheek. “Give me a second chance?”

Mrembo smiled at her. “I think I can do that,” she leaned in and kissed her again. Sarabi wrapping her arms around the Cheetah's back as they embraced... and realizing she was still holding her top in her hands.

“Um...” Sarabi blushed, holding up the top as the kiss broke. “Do you want your top back?”

“Mmm, I don’t think we're going to need it for a while~” she purred, grabbing the top and tossing it to the side as she pounced. The Lioness falling back as the Cheetah kissed her deeply.

Last night had been an intense experience, like two elephants crashing into each other in battle.

This was different. It was slow, deliberate. Like a pair of dust devils dancing around each other, slowly twirling and teasing until they built to a crescendo and two became one.

The storm outside drowned out cries of passion and whispered confessions alike.

And as the dance came to an end, the two Cats lay wrapped in each other, exhausted in the best possible way. Neither knowing exactly where one of them began and the other ended.

But Mrembo needed one last thing.

“Sarabi,” she whispered. “Promise me, no matter what happens... we'll stay together.”

“I promise,” Sarabi replied immediately. “No matter what... I'm yours Mrembo.” She meant that, taking a deep breath as she squeezed the Cheetah.

The Cheetah purred loudly. “My Sarabi... I'm yours.”

~~~

“I think it's all clear,” Sarabi said, poking her head out of the trunk of the tree.

They'd been in here since yesterday, waiting out to the storm and just... talking.

They had a lot to talk about. This was new territory for both Cats, neither having ever been in a relationship before.

“Where do you think that came from?” Mrembo asked as they emerged from the trunk. “It's still the rainy season.”

“Probably the massive expanse of loose soil where the Termites live,” Sarabi replied. “Think they're alright?”

“So long as they hunkered down from the winds, probably. I don't think sand would bother them much,” Mrembo pointed out. “So... back to it?” The Cheetah asked with a smile.

They'd talked a lot about Sarabi's pride and while they still didn't have much of a plan for introducing her, Mrembo had a much better understanding of its importance in Sarabi's life.

Mrembo might not have family but... she didn't want to be responsible for Sarabi losing hers.

“Actually there's something I want to do first,” Sarabi replied. “But I need to find something.”

The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

“Oh?” She was suggesting a delay?

The Lioness smiled at her. “It's a surprise~”

“It is way too soon for you to be pulling that,” the Cheetah crossed her arms.

“You sprung this whole thing on me, let me have a little mystery,” the Lioness replied with a smirk. “Besides, I promise you'll like it.”

Mrembo chuckled. “Alright, fair enough. So what're we looking for?”

“I need to find some flowers,” Sarabi explained, looking around at the sand blasted landscape.

“Flowers?” Mrembo asked in confusion.

“Yeah... probably not a lot around here,” Sarabi admitted, rubbing the back of her head. “Come on, let's head back to the forest.”

“What do you want with flowers?” Mrembo asked as the two got their bearings and started heading back towards the forest.

“I told you, it's a surprise,” Sarabi said with a smirk. “You'll just have to wait.”

“You are being much more mischievous than usual,” Mrembo pointed out.

“Maybe it's payback,” Sarabi said, taking the Cheetahs hand and pulling her close, putting her arms around her shoulders. “Or maybe I feel like I can really be myself around you~”

Mrembo couldn't help but purr as she felt Sarabi's arms wrap around her. She literally couldn't help it. After so long on her own, it seemed she was weak to an affectionate touch.

“F-fine, keep your secrets,” the Cheetah huffed, her face heating up.

Sarabi chuckled. She found Mrembo's purring to be positively adorable. Especially once she figured out all she needed to do was hold her hand to make it happen.

“I will, thank you,” the Lioness smirked, leaning in and kissing Mrembo's cheek. “Now come on, I do wanna try to make up some time today.”

If she couldn't find what she was looking for out here, there was a place just outside their old territory that her mother had taken her to once.

She remembered something her mother had told her that day. ‘I know it may seem silly now, but when you find the one who you'll spend your life with, it won't’

Sarabi looked over at the Cheetah beside her. She knew this wasnt what her mother had had in mind when she said that but... she couldn't imagine being with anyone else.

~~~

It took a few days for the pair to reach the location where Sarabi knew she could find what she needed.

They came to a grove of white flowering Acacia trees, surrounding a small pond.

“I will admit, this place is beautiful,” Mrembo said, strolling through the shade at Sarabi’s side. “Is that why you brought me here? Some sorta... romantic getaway~”

“Of a sort,” Sarabi admitted. “Help me gather some flowers alright? Ones still on the tree.”

Mrembo kinda liked this new mysterious side to Sarabi... at least as long it was about a surprise for her.

“Alright,” Mrembo said, jumping into the branches of one of the trees. She might not be a Leopard but she was very acrobatic.

Sarabi began picking flowers from some of the low hanging branches, before she heard a soft thud behind her, and turned to see Mrembo with her arms full of flowers.

“Think this'll do it?” The Cheetah asked with a smirk.

Sarabi chuckled. “Alright, but the next part is going to take some time,” the Lioness replied as she sat down, patting the ground beside her.

Mrembo placed the flowers down and sat cross-legged next to the pile.

“So are you going to tell me what this is for?” Mrembo asked.

“Just be patient,” Sarabi chuckled as she started picking out flowers, and some more supple twigs and vines, and began weaving them together.

The Cheetah watched curiously as Sarabi slowly weaved together a flower bracelet.

“Is... is that for me?” Mrembo asked as Sarabi held it in her hands.

The Lioness was quiet for a moment. She'd... never been meant to make this. Not the first one anyway.

“Amongst Lions,” she began. “There's a tradition. When a Lion decides he wants to be mates with a Lioness, he goes off and makes a bracelet like this,” she explained. “Then it's up to the Lioness to make a matching bracelet if she wants to be his mate as well.”

“O-oh,” Mrembo felt her face heating up.

“Mrembo I...” she took a deep breath. “The other day, before the sandstorm... you said you wanted to live your life with me,” she turned and smiled at the Cheetah. “I can't imagine spending the rest of my life with anyone else.”

Sarabi took the Cheetahs arm, and began wrapping the bracelet around her wrist. “Mrembo... I offer you my heart,” she said, looking in her emerald green eyes.

“I... Sarabi,” Mrembo gasped out. “I don't know what to say...”

“You don't have to say anything,” Sarabi assured her. “If you want the same thing,” she gestured down to the flowers.

The Cheetah seemed to think for a moment, and Sarabi worried she might have overstepped. Before she felt the Cheetahs hand squeeze hers. “Would... would you help me? I... don't really know how to do this.”

Sarabi chuckled and smiled. “Of course.”

Sarabi coached and guided Mrembo, thankfully they had a surplus of flowers, as the Cheetah needed to restart a few times.

“Yours is much nicer,” the Cheetah sighed as she looked at the finished product.

“I think it's beautiful,” Sarabi assured her. “Cause it's from you~”

She held out her wrist for the Cheetah.

“I'm... sorry if there are words I'm supposed to say,” Mrembo apologized.

“Just speak from the heart,” the Lioness said with a smile.

“The heart huh?” She considered that for a second. “You said you remember me saying I want to spend my life with you,” she said, tying the bracelet around her wrist. “I said something else that day... something I regret saying in anger...”

Sarabi tilted her head, so much had happened so fast, she wasn't sure what she was referring to.

“I love you Sarabi,” Mrembo said as she looked into Sarabi's eyes. “I love you and being your mate makes me the happiest Cat alive.”

“Maybe the second happiest,” Sarabi said, wiping a tear from her eye as she looked at the bracelet. “I love you too Mrembo, I'm sorry it took us going through all of that for me to realize it.”

“That's all in the past my darling,” Mrembo purred, climbing into Sarabi’s lap as she wrapped her arms around her. “Mmm... should we... consummate our new relationship?~”

The Lioness smirked. “I like the way you think my love~”

The two fell backwards into the flowers as they kissed deeply. Neither realizing, at the moment, that they'd done something no one else in the savannah had ever dared.

~~~

It was later that same day, pushing into the night, and the two Cats, both still smelling slightly of flowers, were trying to make up a little of the time they'd lost due to their earlier amorous activities.

“I think we're gonna have to set up camp and keep watch tonight,” Mrembo said, looking at the almost fully set sun.

They'd gotten lucky the last few nights, finding places they could hunker down together and... well, snuggle.

“Looks like it... so you really can't see anything at night?” Sarabi asked. She'd mentioned it before but Sarabi had never really questioned it.

“It's not like I'm completely blind in the dark,” Mrembo said with a sigh. “It's just... not very good.”

“I feel like we should really figure this all out at some point,” Sarabi said as the pair crested a small hill. “Speed and strength aside, I always assumed we were the same.”

Mrembo laughed. “Not to open old wounds but... you acted very much like we weren't the same for a long time.”

“I just meant like... you know, Cats,” Sarabi replied sheepishly.

“I know,” Mrembo chuckled. “Mmmm... if you're interested in seeing more of my moves...” she spread her arms and threw herself down the hill in a cartwheel, turning it into a backflip as she landed at the bottom. “I'm also very flexible, but I think you got a hands on demonstration of that earlier~”

“Keep your voice down,” Sarabi said, chuckling as she ran down the hill. “You want the whole savannah to hear that?”

“Oh come on, no ones around,” Mrembo chuckled.

“Yeah... that's a little weird,” Sarabi knew where they were now. Only a day or so from the edge of the pride's territory. That meant there should've been Prey around here.

“Maybe the Wild Dogs or the Leopard scared them off,” Mrembo offered. Remembering some of the other Hunters who'd shared or bordered her old territory.

“Mmm... maybe,” the thought made Sarabi kinda sad. Ever since they'd helped Moyo, she couldn't help but wonder why they all had to be separate. And those thoughts had only gotten stronger after she and Mrembo had become mates.

Then again, all parties involved in both of those situations were Hunters. Or at least weren't exactly Prey.

“Come on, let's keep moving,” Sarabi said, taking Mrembo's hand as they tried to find a place to set up camp.

A short time later, they'd found an area mostly clear of grass to set up camp. “I don't like being so out in the open like this,” Mrembo said, fidgeting nervously.

“It's fine, no one's going to sneak up on us,” Sarabi assured her.

“Mmmm...” Mrembo grumbled as she sat down.

“Come here,” Sarabi said, pulling her close. “Better?”

“I do feel safer with you,” the Cheetah chuckled, purring softly. “... so, what're we going to do when we get back home?”

“You're my mate now... that's all that matters,” Sarabi assured her. “They'll have to accept you as part of the pride.”

Granted, there was no reason the King wouldn't just exile both of them right after that but... well, they'd cross that bridge when they came to it.

“Mmm, a Cheetah in a pride,” Mrembo chuckled. “I appreciate you doing this for me Sarabi... I really do.”

“Hey, you're worth it,” Sarabi said with a smile. “If they can't accept us... what do you think, would Jasiri or Moyo be a better fit for us?”

“Well, we are Hunters, so...” she stopped, Sarabi seeing the Cheetah's ears twitch before her eyes went wide.

She grabbed Sarabi by the shoulder and flung her back, the Lioness yelping as the ground behind them erupted.

Mrembo jumped back as a massive stinger impacted the ground where they'd been sitting.

“Scorpion!” Mrembo shouted as a massive creature rose up from the ground.

It was jet black, with a shiny exoskeleton. The stinger curled up behind a long body with six legs. From there its body curved upwards, a pair of massive claws were its arms, and an insectoid face even stranger than the Termites had been.

“Explains why this place is so empty,” Sarabi growled as she got to her feet.

No one really knew much about Scorpions. They were few and far between, and hunted whatever, and whoever, they pleased.

There was even disagreement as to whether they were people at all. Given their odd appearance.

“Watch out!” Sarabi warned, both Cats dodging as the claws made a grab for them.

“Can we please catch a break?!” Mrembo shouted, rolling as the tail stabbed at her again.

Sarabi roared and rushed forward, catching the Scorpion off guard as she pushed it back a few feet, before its many legs dug in.

The stinger took position above her, but as it moved to strike, Mrembo swung her staff and smacked it away, causing the Scorpion to hiss in pain.

“Oh you don't like that?” Mrembo asked, seeing an opportunity.

She jumped up, using Sarabi as a springboard, and punched the Scorpion in the chest several times, staggering it as she flipped over its head, landing on its back and using her staff to pin the end of its stinger to the ground.

Sarabi grunted, using the opening to grab its claws and pin them under her arms. “Stand down! NOW!” The Lioness roared.

“You're trying to talk to it?” Mrembo asked incredulously. Her own mother had described these things as monsters.

She pushed down on her staff, planning to push until the stinger popped off.

The Scorpion seemed to realize what she was doing as well.

“Sssstop!” A very deep, hissing voice called out.

“Oh they do talk,” Mrembo muttered. “... I'm still taking this off.”

“No!” The Scorpion hissed, straining against Sarabi. “You consign me to a fate worse than death!”

“You're trying to eat us!” Mrembo replied.

“You are Prey!” The Scorpion shot back.

“Quiet! Both of you!” Sarabi shouted. “Mrembo, don't dismember them.”

“Fine,” the Cheetah huffed, still keeping the pressure on the stinger.

“And you,” Sarabi glared at the Scorpion. “Give us one reason not to pull you apart.”

The Scorpion glared back at her. “I do not need to explain why I hunt.”

“Well why're you hunting us?” Sarabi asked, pulling on their pincers.

The Scorpion winced. “Why would I not?” They asked.

“We don't hunt anything that talks,” Sarabi replied.

“Why?” The Scorpion asked.

“This doesn't seem to be working,” Mrembo replied. “Maaaybe they'll be more understanding if we take off the bit that can poison us?”

“Hrrrrr! Evil!” The Scorpion hissed.

“Most people would say the same thing about you hunting people,” Sarabi growled. “Everyone else has agreed that if it talks, it's not food!”

She knew things used to be different, a long, long time ago. But their ability to reason was what separated them from their cousins.

“My stinger is what makes me a Scorpion,” they hissed. “If it is lost... I am nothing.”

“Sounds like it's important to you,” Sarabi considered. “Would you ever remove another Scorpion's stinger?”

“Never!” They shouted, they clearly felt strongly about that.

“Well for us, hunting another person is as unthinkable as removing a stinger is for you,” Sarabi explained. “I don't know why your people didn't get that message but... consider this a warning.”

The Scorpions mandibles clicked. “Warning?”

“Leave this territory and stop hunting people,” Sarabi growled, pulling them closer. “Change is coming to the savannah... and you don't want to be on the outside of that.” She took a deep breath and let go of the claws.

“Sarabi....” Mrembo said nervously, tightening her grip on her staff.

The Scorpion raised back up to its full height, just staring down at the Lioness.

“Mrembo... let them go,” Sarabi said, keeping eye contact with the Scorpion.

“Are you serious?” Mrembo asked in confusion.

“Trust me,” Sarabi smiled.

Mrembo groaned. Her mate was going to get her killed one of these days.

She pulled her staff away and jumped back, expecting a strike.

Instead, the Scorpion flexed its tail, curling it back into a resting position.

For a moment, it regarded the two Cats, before turning and scuttling away into the night.

Sarabi let out a sigh of relief.

“That was insanely risky,” Mrembo said, walking up to her.

“Hey, it worked out didn't it?” The Lioness asked with a smirk.

The Cheetah grumbled. “I don't want you to get hurt.”

“I know,” Sarabi wrapped her arms around the Cheetah. “But someone needed to try to talk to them.”

Mrembo sighed. “For someone who started out trying to run me out of my territory, you've become quite a people person.”

“I'll take that as a compliment,” Sarabi rolled her eyes. “Come on, let's find somewhere else to camp.”

“What? You don't trust your new friend will leave us be?” Mrembo asked, following behind her.

“I'm optimistic, not stupid,” Sarabi chuckled.

That was... how she was looking at the meeting with her pride too. She had hope that things would turn out well but...

“Big day tomorrow,” Sarabi sighed.

“Yeah, big homecoming,” Mrembo took Sarabi’s hand in hers as the two continued on. Pushing ever closer to the morning, and their old home.

~~~

“It's weird being back after so long,” Sarabi said, walking alongside Mrembo through very familiar territory.

Hers.

Well, her prides.

It had been early in the afternoon when they'd passed over the border. Now... they were heading for the center.

“You know we might not find them today,” Mrembo pointed out. “The territory is pretty big... might take us a while to reach wherever your pride is.”

They were both nervous about this. Mrembo at the idea of being presented to a bunch of Lions, Sarabi at the idea of confronting her pride.

“I can see if anyone is around,” Sarabi said, stepping forward and raising her head as she let out a loud, echoing roar.

“A little warning next time please,” Mrembo said, rubbing her ears.

“Sorry,” Sarabi apologized, looking out over the savannah and waiting. After a few moments, a roar sounded in the distance.

Both Cats looked at each other. “So... this is it,” Mrembo said.

“Yeah...” Sarabi stepped forward, taking her hand. “I promise, I'm not going anywhere, no matter what.”

“I know,” Mrembo leaned up and kissed her. “Come on, let's get you back to your family.”

The pair continued on, walking side by side through the familiar lands. Until, coming over the hill, they saw them.

Four Lionesses and two Lions.

Sarabi recognized all of them. But she especially recognized two of them.

“Mom... dad!” Despite herself, she took off running towards them.

“Sarabi?” Her mother gasped. They'd been out hunting when they'd heard the roar. She'd never thought... “Sarabi!”

The two met halfway down the hill, the older Lioness wrapping her arms around her daughter.

A few seconds later, Sarabi's father caught up with them. Pulling them both into a tight embrace.

“I can't believe it! You're alive!” Her mother said in disbelief, tears in her eyes.

“When the flood hit, we thought you'd,” her father choked out.

“I know, I'm sorry,” Sarabi said, nuzzling under her mother's chin. “I never stopped trying to get home, it just... took a while.”

Mrembo smiled softly, though while Sarabi's parents were focused on the reunion, the other Lionesses, and the Lion especially, were looking at her.

She swallowed hard as she made her way up the hill. Sarabi’s father looking up at the approaching footsteps.

“Sarabi?” He asked, taking a step back. “Is this the Cheetah from that day?”

“Oh! Yeah,” Sarabi pulled free of her mother's arms. “Mom, dad, this is Mrembo, I... I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for her.”

“It's nice to meet you,” Mrembo said with a nod. “You have an amazing daughter.”

“Oh... thank you?” Sarabi's mother looked at her husband. This was quite a change. Considering Sarabi had been trying to kill the Cheetah last they saw her.

“I'm Shujaa, this is Mwindaji,” Sarabi's father introduced them. “... you helped our daughter get home?”

“I like to think of it as we helped each other,” Mrembo said with a smile.

“It's her home too,” Sarabi added, standing next to Mrembo. “We wouldn't have made it back if we hadn't worked together and...”

Mrembo felt Sarabi's hand grab hers. And, for the first time, her parents noticed the floral bracelet on their daughter's wrist. And the matching one on the Cheetah.

“Sarabi... what is this?” Mwindaji asked.

“Mom... dad, Mrembo isn't just my friend, she and I are mates.”

Her parents both looked on in shock. While the assembled Lionesses all gasped.

The other Lion though...

“What,” he asked with a sneer. “Do you mean?”

Sarabi swallowed hard. “Prince Kwanza.” Well, this was less than ideal. She'd wanted more of a test run before having to explain their situation to the King or his sons. “I asked Mrembo to be my mate, and she said yes.”

“Sarabi,” Mwindaji put a hand over her mouth. “What did you do?”

“I followed my heart mother,” Sarabi replied. “I love Mrembo, and inspite of how we... how I treated her. She loves me.”

“It's true,” Mrembo chimed in. “I-”

“Don't you speak Cheetah,” Prince Kwanza sneered.

Sarabi growled in response. “Don’t you talk to my mate like that.”

“Sarabi,” Shujaa said warningly.

“You would dare speak to your Prince in such a manner?” Kwanza huffed.

“In defense of the one I love, I will,” Sarabi replied. “Mrembo accepted my proposal, that makes her a member of our pride.”

“You’re a Lioness! You can’t propose!” The Prince scoffed.

Mrembo blinked, wait, that was a rule?

“No, I can’t propose to a Lion,” Sarabi corrected. “Luckily, the one I fell in love with is a Cheetah.”

“... Sarabi, please tell me your plan doesn’t depend on a technicality in tradition,” Mrembo whispered.

“Just go with it,” Sarabi whispered back.

The Prince snarled at her, looming over the Lioness. But Sarabi stood her ground. She’d faced worse than him. “I should banish you right now,” he practically spat.

“Well you can’t,” Sarabi replied, stepping forward defiantly. The Prince taking a step back. “Only the King can leavy that kind of punishment.”

“You think my father will stand for this?” Kwanza scoffed. “You’d just be wasting his time.”

“Well, I spent months getting back here so you’ll have to indulge me,” Sarabi stated, crossing her arms.

“Sarabi, it’s not too late,” Mwindaji said, putting a hand on her daughter's arm. “You’ve been gone for a long time, everyone would understand if you’re a little confused. If you made a mistake.”

“I’m not confused mother!” Sarabi growled. “And Mrembo isn’t a mistake. She’s. My. Mate. I love her... and I want her to be part of our family.”

Sarabi knew she was in for an uphill battle but... she’d really hoped she’d at least have her parents on her side.

“You've completely lost it,” Kwanza said, shaking his head. “Fine, looks like the hunt is over,” he glared at Sarabi and Mrembo. “We'll deal with these two trespassers first.”

Sarabi growled as he turned, the other Lionesses turning with him... including her mother.

Her father looked at her sadly. “I can't believe I have to lose you twice...” he shook his head as he too turned and followed the others.

“Sarabi... do you really want to do this?” Mrembo asked. “We could just... go.”

“No... I have to see this through,” after everything they'd been through. She wasn't just going to give up.

It didn't take long to get to where her pride had set up camp.

Mrembo clung closer to Sarabi as she realized just how many Lions were part of her pride.

She'd thought Jasiri's pack had been large, but there had to be at least twice as many Lions here. And that wasn't even counting all the cubs she saw running around.

“I can see why you needed the extra space,” the Cheetah muttered.

“Kwanza?” Another Lion met the group as they approached. “You're back early... what's going on?” He asked, looking at the group, his eyes lingering on Mrembo.

“Sarabi has returned, but she'll be leaving soon,” Kwanza glared back at her. “Take us to father Pili.”

The younger prince nodded, leading them further into the camp, towards a large hide covered tent.

As they walked, all attention turned towards them. The other members of the pride whispering as they walked.

Sarabi just stared straight ahead, pulling Mrembo closer to her, daring anyone to get close to her mate.

“Father!” Kwanza called. “You are needed.”

There was silence, followed by a sigh. “What is it Kwanza? I thought you were going to handle the hunting.”

Exiting the tent was a tall, dark manned Lion. He rubbed his eyes and yawned, evidently having been awoken from a nap.

He blinked, his eyes adjusting, before they locked on Mrembo. “What,” he asked. “Is this?”

“Well, why don't you explain?” Kwanza said, crossing and moving to stand by his father. Pili doing the same, though the younger Lion was still confused.

Sarabi and Mrembo had all eyes on them. “Your majesty,” Sarabi bowed her head. “As you know, I've been... lost, presumed dead, for a while. Ever since the flood.”

The King nodded. “I recall, we even had a funeral... explain the Cheetah.”

Mrembo held back a snarl. She did not like this guys attitude one bit.

“Her name is Mrembo,” Sarabi corrected. “And I wouldn't have made it without her. She helped me survive.”

“You needed help,” he repeated. “From a Cheetah.”

“We helped each other,” Sarabi replied. “And as much as I'd love to regale you all with all of our stories,” she said loudly, looking around at the gawking Lions. “I'll jump to the part that matters to you.”

She held up her arm, showing off the flower bracelet on her wrist, the rest of the pride gasping as they realized the other was on Mrembo.

The King stared in shock, before his lips curled back in a snarl. “You make a mockery of our tradition!? You invite a Cheetah into our pride?!”

“I mock nothing!” Sarabi roared back. “I love Mrembo! She's everything I could ever want in a mate!”

“She's not even male!” The King roared.

“So what?” Sarabi glared at him.

The camp grew quiet as the two stared each other down.

Mrembo felt very small in that moment. Being watched by so many Lions.

“I should kill you both right now,” the King snarled. “Leave, now! And never show your face here again!”

“You'd banish me for following my heart?” Sarabi asked, not sounding surprised.

“You've defied our ways, broken our traditions, and invited an outsider into our pride,” he growled. “Leave or die.”

Mrembo thought for a moment, then turned to address the rest of the pride. Her family. “All I want,” she spoke up. “Is to spend my life with the one I love. Would any of you support me in this?”

The silence, even from her own parents, spoke volumes. A few, a small few, looked like they might want to say something. But either fear or peer pressure kept them quiet.

She scoffed. Had this really been what she'd been fighting to get back to?

“Come on Mrembo,” she said, turning away from the King. “There's nothing for us here.”

Mrembo followed her, the Lions watching the pair as they left.

Once they were out of the camp, someone did call out to them.

“Sarabi!”

She turned to see her mother and father standing there.

“Where will you go?” Her mother asked.

“I have a few ideas... you'd be welcome to join us,” Sarabi said.

Her mother seemed like she might take a step forward, but stopped, looking back at the camp before stepping back.

“... fine,” Sarabi sighed. “Just know this. Wherever I... wherever we end up,” she took Mrembo's hand and turned to smile at her. “We'll be happy.”

Her father gave the pair a small nod, before they both turned and headed back into the camp.

As Sarabi and Mrembo continued walking back the way they came, the Cheetah finally spoke up. “Are you okay?”

Sarabi sighed. “I don't know, I just... I don't know,” she shook her head. “But... I think I will be,” she smiled at the Cheetah. “After all, I've got you.”

Mrembo reached over, grabbing and squeezing her hand. “Always.”

“So,” Sarabi said, pushing forward. “What do you think, Jasiri or Moyo?”

“Mmm, maybe we just explore around for a while?” The Cheetah suggested. “There's a lot more out there we've never seen, maybe we could even check out that mountain we saw.”

Sarabi chuckled. She had to admit, there was something appealing about that idea.

She finally understood what Ma Tembo and Moja Kina had meant. It didn't matter where she was. So long as she had Mrembo. So long as they had each other.

They were home.