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Una was customarily a cautious and thoughtful lioness. If it had been any other day or any other circumstance, the thought of approaching Shinda when the Warrior's most recent temperament was so widely (and infamously) known would have never crossed her mind. Una knew her place. She didn't like to step out of bounds or to ask for favors. It wasn't in her nature. Unfortunately, now, she couldn't see that she really had any other choice.

Impetuous Petra; sister, dearest friend and runaway Sacrifice, was in terrible peril. Una had taken it upon herself to deliver Petra from her wayward destiny and now, above all else, she required a mind of similar properties to help her prepare. It was imperative that Petra be rescued from the rebels. Una knew that Petra might never forgive her for the these future schemes and a part of her was devastated by the idea. However, another part of her (the one that trusted so completely in the will of the Spirits), knew that it was for Petra's own good. It was better that she return to the Mizimu'Tungika and redeem what was left of her soul before it was too late. Una knew she was about to risk the love of her sister, but she also believed she was saving the other, far more reckless girl from an even worse fate.

The bright blue lioness approached Shinda with a respectful expression on her pretty face. Her vibrant eyes were full of a silent determination. Everything about her countenance suggested business.

When Shinda gestured that it was, indeed, okay for Una to approach the Sacrifice returned the nod and quickened her pace, moving in to step beside the Warrior. She glanced sideways at Shinda, unsure of how to continue now that she was there. Her heart thundered painfully as the moment where she was to betray her sister drew closer and then, when she thought of flighty Petra warring against somebody as interminable and strong as Shinda, the delicate organ convulsed so sharply within her chest that Una's breath hitched. Petra was in so much danger; in both this life and the next.

It was up to her to see that her sister be saved.

After a heavy sigh, Una licked her lips and started; "I've come to you because I need help. Petra, my sister-

As much as she wanted Petra returned to her, Una also didn't want the other Sacrifice punished to severely. It was important that Shinda knew everything Petra had told her. The survival of the Mizimu'Tungika, as well as Petra's, depended on it.

"My sister came to me," Una announced boldly, "after she ran away, she met up with the Second and the Pure. She told me that they're building up their own pride. They're plotting against us. She said it could be war."

"I've come to you because I would like to set a trap for my sister," Una continued after a moment; her eyes were trained carefully ahead of her, so that she didn't stumble over any boulders or ruts in the soft earth, but she did glance sideways at her companion every now and then; curious, and somewhat fearful, of Shinda's reaction to her news. She worried that Petra's recklessness would forever condemn her in the eyes of the pride, even after the orange lioness was returned to their ranks and the correct path. All she wanted was for her sister to be safe amongst the Mizimu'Tungika and deserving in the eyes of the Spirits. If Petra ended up injured or maimed because of this, Una wasn't sure she'd ever be able to forgive herself.

The Sacrifice hesitated for only a moment before she started up; "Before Petra left, we agreed to meet again after a couple days time, at the same place- I told her I'd runaway with her. But I don't want to leave, and I want her back here, where it's safe. I don't know how she expects to be able to fight against Warriors trained like ours... like you, consequently," Una nodded pointedly at Shinda, "have been. But she does! She has always been this way. Never thinks before she leaps and, so, I must do the thinking for her."

Una licked her lips thoughtfully as she considered her next words. The truth was that she'd come to Shinda because she wasn't entirely sure how to go about trapping her sister. The Warrior and the Sacrifice were very close in age; they'd grown up alongside each other. However, having been groomed for different lifestyles and taught to expect different things from their destinies, Shinda and Una weren't what you'd call the best of friends. Their relationship was more of a toss up between casual friends and general tolerance. Una had come to Shinda because she knew the other lioness in that special, and strangely indifferent way, that only people who've been familiar their whole lives but never really taken the time to truly understand each other can be.

"I don't think its a simple matter of convincing her to come back," Una said slowly, and chose her words carefully- the best to avoid irritating Shinda. The other lioness was clever and a Warrior. Una needed her help if she was going to succeed. It wouldn't do to piss her off, and risk losing Petra's rightful destiny forever.

"My sister's very passionate about this. It isn't likely she'll change her mind just because I ask her to. I think she'll need to be tricked and then, quite possibly, detained."

Una tried not to wince at the thought of her sister imprisoned, and pacified herself with the notion that Petra wouldn't be confined for long. Just until she saw the error of her ways or, if that didn't happen, until it was safe for her to be free.

This time, Una didn't hesitate. It was easy to tell, by Shinda's tone, that anymore stalling would only sabotage everything she'd come here to salvage. For a split second, Una couldn't help but wonder if she'd made the right choice in coming to Shinda. Maybe she should have sought out somebody closer; somebody with a personal investment in Petra.

She'd originally chosen to seek Shinda's help because the other lioness was reputed to be quick thinking and fierce. Also, a couple moments ago, it'd seemed a wise move to ask a favor of someone like Shinda, who didn't seem to care enough either way to further ruin Petra's reputation with fickle things like gossip. Shinda, Una knew, was better than that. Now, however, she was beginning to question Shinda's willingness to assist her.

"I'm considering a sort of decoy; something to distract her from her wayward dreams and misguided aspirations."

But, what?

"Something, perhaps, that would convince her to travel with me and away from all this rebel madness. Where I could somehow keep her occupied and then, gradually, show her, rather then tell her, that abandoning the pride is never the right choice."

Shinda was right. Una realized, with a bit of a start, that she had never really expected the other lioness to design any kind of trap. She'd come to Shinda because she'd seemed the best choice to bounce ideas off of and, on top of that, Una had her toes crossed that the Warrior would help her when it was finally time for her plan to commence. The intricacies could be handled by no one other than she.

The Sacrifice thought carefully for a couple of moments and considered Shinda's suggestion before she replied.

"I think, perhaps, that it might be enough for you to meet us at the border when she comes for me again. Let me go out to her first, and pretend that everything is fine, and then you can catch us. That might frighten her into returning- especially for my safety."

Una thought a little longer and then, with a sudden exclamation, gasped. She was inspired.

"My sister came back the other day because she wants me to be with her. She cares what happens to me. I think that, if she thought returning was the only way to keep me from harm, she would stay."

As a Sacrifice, Una was not adverse to the idea of pain. Sure, generally, and with the exceptions of a couple scrapes and bruises earned in her youth, she'd never really been hurt in her life. She'd never really fought before. However, since she'd been marked as a Sacrifice, she had accepted the inevitability and glory of death, and, along with that, the reality of pain. It didn't frighten her.

She glanced sideways at Shinda. There was no guarantee that the Warrior would comply.

"You and I could fight," Una explained slowly, "obviously, I will lose and that is the point. Perhaps, instead of catching Petra and me, you only confront me on my way to meet her. She may or may not see us quarrel, but that is not important. I would have have injuries sufficient enough to convince her that we should both stay, for fear of further punishment."

"That is a good point," Una couldn't deny the probable truth of Shinda's speculation. It was very likely that, seeing her beaten and bruised, would only further cement Petra's confidence in the rebels and destroy whatever was left of her faith in the ways of their homeland. That particular trap wasn't foolproof and, therefore, not really worth pursuing. Not when the likelihood Petra would remain with the rebels far outweighed the possibility that she'd want to return to the pride.

"I am willing to do whatever it takes to ensure the safety of my sister's soul," Una whispered passionately, "I fear for her. I don't want the Spirits to be angry with her just because she is reckless, and sometimes misguided in her recklessness."

Suddenly, her expression changed from one of perplexed thought to delighted inspirtation. She had it, this time! She was sure of it.

"I've changed my mind," she spoke quickly and her voice was low, "You and I can still fight, but it is imperative that she doesn't see us. That nobody sees us. Then, I will tell her when I see her that the Spirits came to me while I slept and punished me for aspiring to leave."

Nevermind that, as far as she knew, none of the other rebels had suffered in such a way. Petra might say that the Pure and the Second were healthy and safe and that Una couldn't possibly have been hurt by the Spirits. But Una would insist and, because she knew that her sister trusted her, she would persevere!