Chapter 3

As he stepped outside, a light breeze stirred his mane. He glanced backwards, his family had just settled in with the new lions. Penda and Atari were already used to thier new denmates and were happily playing together while Nulma and Nzurie were talking together about what Kita's life had been before she came into the now called CliffPride, because of the surrounding cliff's.
There was a gasp from Nzurie and he spun around and bounded inside to see what was wrong.
"What is it?" He asked.
"Oh, Kita was telling me how one of her cubs had died from a male lion protecting his territory." Nzurie replied, her eyes still wide with worry.
Kita nodded, her head bowed and her ears flattened to her head, she remembered that day, she was taking her cubs out for a drink when the lion attacked her and the cubs, she had managed to save Somore and Nulma.
"I'm sorry to hear that." Kitura said, her eyes showing compassion.
"That reminds me, we need to border our territory, we don't want lion like that to come into our pride." He said. "I will take Soclo with me, since he is the only lion old enough and well enough to come."
"Can I come?" Somore stumbled over to Kitura, tripping over his big paws.
"Not yet, young one, when you are old enough I will take you." Kitura purred, though it sounded more of a deep growl. He wasn't used to being this happy.
"What is patrolling?" Soclo asked. His eyes bright.
"It is when we walk around our territory, marking it, and making sure other lions or animals don't stray within. And by other animals I mean hyenas and other big cats like cheetahs. It's okay if zebras and prey do though. That's what we eat." He told the young lion as he stepped back outside.
"Okay." Solco said, confidence and determination shinning in his eyes.

It had stopped raining as the ventured towards the forest, marking trees and rocks they would remember. "I think soon we should be able to move back to the main area." Kitura said as he looked up into the sky, the darkening clouds now moving on. "It won't rain for awhile now, maybe even a couple of days."
"That's good." Solco replied, though his awnser seemed distance.
"What's wrong?" Asked Kitura.
"Nothing, I thought I smelled something."
"Was it another lion?" He asked
"I don't know... maybe, I'm still not used to being around other lions." He said. Before he met Nzurie and her family he was a loner lion. Looking for his old family which had been killed by poachers. All of them. Gone. He closed his eyes and snapped back into reality.
Kitura opened his mouth and let the scents seep into his scent glands. There definatly was an animal around. Another lion. No. Two. One male, and one female.
He stepped closer, judging his paw steps carefully so he didn't make a noise, he waved his tail as a command that Solco kept quiet. He edged even closer until he could hear voices.
"Athan, I want to go home." said the female lion.
"No, Icara, we have no home now, we must move on until we find somewhere safe." replied the lion named Athan.
Kitura crouched low and Soclo followed his movements. They both looked at each other sharing the same thought. The two lions needed a home and Kitura's pride would be perfect. But he had to make sure they were not hostile lions.
"But are parents were back there, and we just left them!" Cried the one called Icara, her voice was a small and Kitura guessed she must be a cub.
As the two lions came closer to Kitura and Soclo, Kitura leaped out from the bushes, his hackles raised. Soclo leaping after him. "What are you doing in our territory?" Snarled Kitura.
He was wrong, the female was a bit bigger then a cub, but smaller then Soclo.
Icara squeaked in alarm and hid behind her older brother Athan. "We are just passing through. We will leave now. Please don't harm us." Athan's voice was calm but his eyes shown fear, but not for himself, but for his little sister.
Soclo relaxed and stepped forward. "You need somewhere to stay?" He asked.
Kitura relaxed also and let his hackles down.
"Yes, we were driven out of our old homes and are now travelers. Lions have droven us out everywhere and we are in need of a permanent home." said Athan.
Kitura was impressed, this lion showed wisdom and strength, he would be a great asset to his new, growing pride. "I have a home and I am welcoming all lions in need. You are more then welcome to stay."
Athan's eyes lit up and he moved from infront of his sister. "I am Athan and this is my sister Icara." He introduced himself.
"I am Kitura, and this young lion is Soclo, there are more lions back at the den who would welcome you." With a flick of his tail he turned around and led Soclo, Athan and Icara back towards the rain-den. His eyes bright and proud.
"Lions of CliffPride." He yowled as he dove inside. The other three lions following. "We have two new lions joining us today."
The cubs who were resting woke up and bounded towards the newcomers.
"Please welcome Icara and Athan." He started. "Athan will be my second in command, and will perform duties as I would," he went on, "and Icara will train next to Soclo as an apprentice."
Icara's eyes glanced toward Soclo, blushing lightly. The young lion was definatly handsome.
"Soclo please show Icara around the territory after you have rested. I will speak with Athan after he has rested and has had his share of prey also." He said as he ushered his cubs, who were pestering the new pride members with questions, towards their mother.