Exiled...

*Nala15's prize for this picture.
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The fire had finally died down enough for Rehema and Rejeza to venture out of the den. They took a few steps out to survey the damage and they were anything but prepared for what they saw.

"...Dad?"

There, in a heap just strides away from the den entrance, was their father. He had burns all over his body, but they could tell he died from exposure to the dense, hot air and smoke.

Rejeza turned his head away. Rehema closed his eyes. He shook his head as if trying to rid his mind of the image before him. They stood there a few silent moments more. They knew they needed to get back to the few lionesses in the den, but they couldn't seem to move.

"The drought is winning," Rejeza finally broke the silence. Rehema looked up at him. "I didn't think it was dry enough to catch fire, but. . ." his voice trailed off. He remembered suggesting to their father about moving the pride. He remembered wanting to find greener lands. He remembered giving up his share of food so Rehema could eat.

"Rehema, I want you to leave this place. Go find land, a mate. Start a family! I can't let you stay here any longer."

"Come with me!" Rehema replied, realizing what his brother was asking of him. "We can gather the lionesses and be on our way and. . ."

"No," Rejeza said, cutting him off mid-sentence. "Father wouldn't want me to abandon our land."

"Father wouldn't want you to kill yourself over this land either," Rehema countered.

"It's too late for me," Rejeza said, tears finally springing to his eyes. "For the lionesses too. We made sure you had plenty to eat, because you are the youngest. We wanted you to have a good future... we thought things would get better."

"Then I'm staying! I can't leave you to die! What would mother and father think if they were still here? I can take care of you all!" Rehema was desperate to stay with his family. "You have taught me to hunt and fight, I can do it!"

"Rehema, I didn't want to have to do this. But, as the new king, I sentence you to exile."

"WHAT? Exile for what?"

Rejeza thought for a moment. "For. . . stealing more than your share of food." Rejeza paused and held up a paw to silence the outraged young lion before him. "I know we gave it up willingly. But I've gotta have a reason." The tears were beginning to flow again. "I can't let you die like Dad. And Mom. I - I can't. You have a chance of making it out there! I can't just let you stay in this wasteland."

Rehema nodded, knowing his brother was right.

"Carry on our family, Rehema. It's too late for us, but you can make us great again," the older lion continued. Rehema began walking the ash-covered trail out of his once-jungle home. "And Rehema," he called after his brother. "Please, for your own sake, don't ever come back."

Rehema nodded and walked on again. He took one final look back at his brother, the king. Too late. he repeated in his mind. He knew this was the last time he'd ever see his family. And he cried.

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Whew! Congrats if you read all that! This is my entry for 's contest! A lot of people are making the brother sort-of a jerk, and it never said he was in the comic. So my brain went straight to "What if there was a tragedy?" So here you go! Have an exiled Rehema taking one last glance at his home.

I might upload another entry for Rehema at a different point in his life, since everyone seems to be doing this one.

Didn't work too much on the background because I wanted the focus to be on Rehema and his brother.

Rehema © Nala15