There was a figure sitting infront of the cave as you approached. His dark green eyes met yours; filled with a seriousness that made you stand taller. "Well?" His voice was harsh, a challenge. You didn't know what to say; his glare made you lose thought.
"Don't be rude" A voice chided, and a sleek looking lioness exited the cave, eyes shining warmly. She was a mottled golden yellow and warm, hazel colored brown. "You'll have to forgive Rivet; he takes his cave guard role seriously."
"As one should" The lion -Rivet- growled, flexing his claws in a obvious display of power. You followed the beckoning lioness into the cave; larger then it looked on the outside. There were cubs of all ages milling about. Some splashed in the underground lake, and some tackled eachother on the earth. There were a couple lionesses lazing around, licking their pridemates ears and gossiping idly as little ones played.
"Welcome" The mottled lionesses voice sounded in your ear. "To the adoption cave. We take in cubs left unwanted; and give them new homes. Now, what are you looking for?"

"Aspenflight, you cant be serious!" Sunstreak cried, voice filled with shock. "Hes our son! We cant kill h-"

"We have to, its our duty to the clan" For the first time in awhile, he met her gaze head on. "Blueblaze is right." He dropped Sparkkit, making the kit wail, and Sunstreak rush forward to cradle her son. "We cannot put one cat over everyone else. If he really will grow up to be an inferno, we should stop him now."

"Whats wrong with you?!" Sunstreak spat, fear ebbing away to anger. "That isnt fair! Theres only one cat who can decide his future, and its him! Why should we listen to Blueblaze?!? Hes never been right in the head, you know that!"

"Gingerstars words are the law" Aspenflight said simply. His voice was devoid of emotion, there was no reasoning with him.

"But he's your son! How could you even thin-"

"That cat is no son of mine."

Those words broke her, shattering her heart. The empty space created a steely determination as she straightened, drawing herself up to her full height.

"Then you are no mate of mine. You're a monster, and everyone who wants my son dead is too. I will not allow anyone to take him. Anyone."

Aspenflight met her glare with a blank expression. "Then you'll be exiled."

"I will turn my back on starclan as they have done to me" The declaration was strong, but a mothers love knows no bounds. Sunstreak knew that what she said could never be taken back, but she didn't care. Her kit, her only kit, was hers and hers alone. She wouldn't allow his fate to be decided by the stars above.

"If you won't, then I will" And the brown tom lunged, claws out.

Sunstreak met him halfway, allowing her fury to lash out with wild abandon.

Blood splattered the clearing as Sparkkit whimpered. He could barely see, and barely walk. But the fight infront of him screamed danger, he was scared. Crawling on his belly, he hid underneath a thorn bush, the darkness hiding him. Two blurred figures fought, and the brighter one fell first.

Mother.

The second one paced around, snarling the name he knew was his. But he did not dare make a sound, shaking. Soon the second figure was gone, leaving the first.

Mother, are you okay?

He struggled out of his hiding spot, sniffing. The smell was scary, so he turned around and heaved himself in the other direction. He felt something urge him away, away from the blood and fear.

Step after step he moved, until he could no more. Exhausted, scared, lonely and hungry. Sparkkit cried, head resting on the ground. His eyes closed as he wailed, too weak to stay open.

"Hey, it's a kit!"

"Stay focused and alert" A trio of lioness stalked the savannah, footsteps light and precise. "We can't afford to lose anything else today."

The comment was said with an underlying tone of accusation, though only one lioness looked bothered by it. 'It's not like I meant to' Aura thought, black tipped ears flattening against her skull. 'Every lion miss's prey, is it fair to bully me about it?' To the adolescent, it seemed overly harsh, especially since this was only her fourth hunt. But Sora wasn't known for her kindness and was always tough. Because she was the prides lead huntress, she was particularly brutal with her words on hunts. So, despite being a newbie, Aura wasn't spared harsh words and am even meaner sideways glare. She ducked her head despite her thoughts, trying to ignore the flare of embarrassment she felt as Harmony -the other lioness in the trio- gave her a sympathetic glance.

"Sora!" A call made the group look up, as a tan colored lioness bounded over. Sunny was small but quick, the perfect scout. "A herd of gazelle northwest from here. It's a small herd, seven with three calves."

"We're moving" Sora flicked her tail silently telling the group to move closer at her flanks. This way, it would be easier to give commands without the need to speak loudly. Aura kept to one side, a little nervous since her previous screw up.

With Sunny in the lead, the group soon came across the gazelle. The tan lioness dropped back, letting Sora take her rightful place in the front.

"We'll take that one" The four crouched, hidden carefully. Sora's voice was barely audible, causing Aura to strain her ears to hear. She zeroed in on a wandering calf, who was just far enough from the herd. It wasn't quite a baby, but still clearly younger than the rest of its herd.

"Sunny, you're the fastest, so get ready to run and cut it off from the rest of the herd. Harmony will go with you ask back-up"

The two nodded, slinking off with care.

"Sora" Aura couldn't help but whisper. "What about...me?"

"You'll watch. We can't afford to miss this."

Aura flinched at the words, stung. But what was she supposed to do, talk back? Of course not. So, she dipped her head submissively, eyes lowering. "Yes, Sora"

"Good" The larger lioness growled, gaze darting to the left. Her tail tip twitched, and the grass to the side exploded in movement.

Aura watched as Sunny and Harmony darted out from their cover, fangs on display. They roared in unison, shooting for the small gap between the herd and calf. The ground shook as hooves collided with the earth, the herd looked wide eyed and fearful. The calf seemed frozen in fear, letting out a helpless wail for its mom. However, the mother was unable to get to her baby, Sunny and Harmony blocking its way. The two snarled and snapped, fending off the braver herd members whilst dipping between hooves.

Aura's gaze was taken from them as Sora in front of her suddenly moved. In only a few moments, the speckled gray lioness had leapt, using her body weight to throw the unsteady calf down. Sharo fangs pierced its throat, and it began to kick out with its legs. The attempt didn't work, with Sora keeping a firm grip.

A solemn sense of understanding seemed to wash through the herd as Auras ears twitched with a sorrowful call, the gazelle fleeing. Sunny and Harmony ran them off several yards before whipping back around and returning. By the time they'd gotten back, the battle was over with Sora the victor. Even from afar, Aura could see that the calf's breathing had slowed considerably, and as she emerged from her spot to creep closer, could no longer see its chest rise and fall.

"Good work" Sora said, giving a short nod to Harmony and Sunny. The two exchanged happy looks and though she wasn't able to help this time, Aura felt a surge of pride and happiness as well. Her pride would be fed, which was the most important part.

Sora bent down to grab the now dead calf by its neck, and the group began their slow journey back home.