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''Forgive Me My Love...'' — Description
Blackie padded up the hill, eager to see his wife and tell of the news that King Thunder had finally released him from his time as a Warmonger. His time was done, he could focus on his family and he beloved. The meeting went well and the large lion had walked away knowing he was free to live his own life.

Each paw-step filled him with excitement.

''Sahara! Good news! It went well! I'm free I'm e-''

The lion's legs wobbled, his blue eyes widened as he fell panting for breath at the sight.

The tree, the symbol of thier love, engraved upon was thier names...forever. Everything shocked and rattled Blackie, the scent, the horror, the chill in the midnight air.

Sahara, the cheetah...pregnant with Blackie's first litter, his beloved since he joined the army...was ripped open. She was gutted, eyes shut but the terror was still ripped across her face. The lion got up and ran over to her, taking her for the last time in his strong limbs.

''I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have...gone...'' Blackie wailed.

Then he realized, where were her cubs? She was empty! Then he looked at the tree, it was ripped up, stained in blood as was the lush grass he lay in cradling his mate. Up in the branches, each little unborn was up high for him to gaze upon in utter disbelief. His children, his innocent children...left in the open to die a most horrific death. Blackie wept harder than ever, his growling was intense, vibrating the air around him. Each time he opened his mouth to speak of how sorry he was, his voice shook and trembled...rendering him mute.

He knew who did this, it was the King's henchmen. They had lured him in with the promise of peace only to tear apart his hopes, dreams and the lives of his beloved family. They spared no mercy, attacking the female at her most weak...she was unable to run far before they had done what they did.

''Sahara, i'm...I...Oh gods above...'' Blackie stuttered, tears streaming down his strong features.

He lay his mate on the ground gently.

Tenderly, he removed his unborns, one by one onto the ground with her, nuzzling them into her so she could be with them.

He started to dig, nothing on earth he could do but give them a burial on the land they loved, owned and shared together as a family. Silently the lion dug the soft earth, his massive paws taking scoops of dirt onto the land until he was deep enough to give them eternal rest.

Blackie draped her lifeless body into the hole, moving his cubs one by one to be with thier mother once more.

''Forgive me...'' He muttered, his body still trembling...now from rage.

The dirt was placed over his family, covering them and returning his beloved ones to the earth. He had buried them close to the tree they had once lived under. He picked up a large rock in his massive jaws and placed it atop the earth where they were buried.

''I will never return to this place, my Wife. I will find those who took you from me. They will face the wrath of a fallen warrior once more, this time, my strength will be against the King and his army. Each one will fall, each one will face my wrath, let it be known that tonight under the stars and the moon, I vow to avenge my family and forever my soul be blackened like ash.

I love you, Sahara...until my heart rejoins the pride of the sky. I will only return to you in spirit...''

Blackie, his eyes red from sorrow and rage, let out a massive roar to shake the foundations of any empire, past, present or future. The roar echoed throughout the earth, wind and sky. A falling star had caught his attention. It was fate.

He followed the star's direction, only stopping to look back once at his old home, his family.

''I love you.'' He whispered.

Then carried on padding away, each step filled with a new sense of power and determination.

A fallen warrior returns to face battle once more.

For the honor of love.