Sol was on the side of the Queen and he had started a revolt, at least not everything was going terrible. Now a slave for the pride he came to save, he had talked with some of the other slaves and convinced them to rebel against the ruler. He told them that he knew different prides were they could be safe, but they had to get rid of the Queen and her guards. After over a week of planning they were ready one stormy night. They had placed herbs inside the Queens meat to cause her to be extra tired. This would give Ajani a chance to sneak up to her den and kill her. He would try and convince Sol to go with him, but if he didn't want to come back to 'Nera that was his choice and he would have to deal with the consequences.

A young lioness approached him. “I gave her the meal. Everything should be in place.” He nodded his head. Everything was coming together.

“Alright everyone. We will get our freedom. Just stick to the plan.” He ordered. The others nodded. He wasn't a fighter, but he needed to be. “Go as far as you can from this pride if the mission fails. I do not want anyone sticking around, even if someone gets captured, keep going, understand.”

He took a deep breath. The words were partially for his own sake. He couldn't imagine leaving anyone behind, but it might happen. “Lets go.” They broke up in teams, leaving Ajani alone. His mission was to kill the Queen, the hardest task of all. They took out the guards first, then continued, knocking out any guards they came across. The slaves were weak, but together they stood strong.

Ajani started up the path upward, toward the main dens. When he reached the Queens den, he was shocked to see she was not sleeping. In fact she seemed to be waiting for him. Next to her was Sol. “Welcome Ajani. I was curious to see how your little plan would play out. So far it looks good. You might even be able to kill all my guards. However you won't be able to kill me. That is your mission isn't it? Kill the evil Queen?” She asked with a grin. “If you apologize I will forgive you and you can join Sol and me. You can be my personal entertainer. That way you can be with Sol whenever you want.”

“I'm sorry, but I've been away from my home too long. I am not sorry for anything I've done. All I am sorry for is for not trying to get Sol out of your clutches and taking so long on this mission.” Ajani said with a scowl. “Sol, You can come back with me. I promise not to tell anyone about what happened.”

“He does not belong to your pride anymore. He is mine.” The Queen hissed. “Sol kill him, show him where your loyalties are.”

Sol looked down at the ground. “I cannot my Queen. I can do anything else you ask but not that.” He said. There was still some hope, Ajani thought. There must be a little bit of Sol still there.

Ajani went in for the attack, but to his surprise Sol moved quickly to block. “I might not be able to kill you but I can't have you kill her either.”

“Use your head Sol, she is only using you. There are cheetahs in 'Nera who actually care about you. Think of Rada and your family. If you don't come back they will be devastated.” Ajani yelled as he was thrown back. “She cannot replace us Sol.”

“You don't know that. She is the only one that understands me. Unlike you who tried to suppress my personality, she embarrasses it.” Sol pushed Ajani back. “Look you can leave now. You can just leave us alone. You are free to leave Ajani. No one will stop you.”

“Except me.” The Queen said, about to slash Ajani, however she was stopped. Sol moved in front of him. She hit him in the face, on his left eye. Blood splattered but Sol was able to do another attack, hitting her in her throat, causing a fatal wound. She collapsed to the ground, having a hard time breathing. Sol fell to herside, tears in one of his eyes. “I'm sorry, I'm sorry my Queen.”

“Sol...” Ajani started to say.

“LEAVE.” Sol yelled.

Ajani left to give Sol some peace. He went to where he first saw the Queen, the den for entertainers and grabbed Sol's old wrap. For now that would work to wrap his eye up. Hopefully he would keep his vision. Ajani returned to the Queen's den, his steps quiet.

“Let me fix your eye.”

“If you would have just left. If you wouldn't have to finish the mission everything would have been okay.” Sol said angrily as Ajani started to wrap the cloth around his eye. “I finally found happiness, the first true happiness I ever found.”

Ajani wanted to say something, but he couldn't think of anything that could make the young fighter feel any better.

“It's funny. The first time I feel love, and I kill the one I love to save the only a** who took time to pay attention to me.” Sol said with a sigh. “Just so you know, I'll never forgive you, I'll never forgive myself. But for now lets go back to 'Nera. I never want to remember this place again.”

Ajani nodded. Sol would have to go through a tough grieving process. Ajani would give him some time. Hopefully they could return to being friends again. They grabbed some of the treasure and left. Ajani would keep what happened a secret. He didn't want his friend to get punished. Instead he would tell Rada. She would be one of the only ones who could get through to Sol, and the only one Ajani would trust.

“I am sorry Sol-Lucius, I would tell you everything will get better, but I've lost enough to know it will never get better. It will just go on.”

Sol didn't say anything on the rest of the trip to 'Nera. Ajani wish he would. Silence was something that should have been welcoming, but wasn't.


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