The Shifting Place calls!

Answer! It's the only way it will end!

Who are you?

Wake up!

Hover!? What are you doing here? Someone'll see you!

Then get your rump up already, sleepyhead.

Hover and I have been meeting in secret for the last few weeks.

She gets bolder every day.

You were really out back there. You sick or something?

Nah, I was just dreaming.

Aw, about me? You'll make me blush.

Come on, we gotta get up here to get a good view of the sunrise!

No, Hover. Not about you.

I keep having this weird dream where my leg is healed and I'm in this jungle...

And there's always this strange white lion there...

Heh, is he handsome?

It's not that kinda dream, Hover.

Anyways. I'm just starting to wonder what it all means.

Easy! Dreams don't mean anything.

I've had this one since my injury. It has to mean something. Doesn't it?

I dream about my teeth falling out! All it means is I'd look really grody without teeth.

Why do I tell you anything?

Because you like me.

I do like you.

Sooo...how are you? Outside of weird dreams?

Eh. Sharptongue's getting sicker. I miss Fire. Quickmane's brat won't leave me alone...

Feather? But he's so cute!

You've never had to babysit him, you don't get a say.

Typical pride lioness! Ignoring the insights of their prideless sisters!

The plight of my people continues!

Hover?

What?

Do you ever think about... leaving Prideless life behind?

Not usually, no. Why?

Well, I was thinking, Sharptongue isn't able to hunt anymore and... I was thinking...

Maybe I could ask my mother if you could take her place in the Pride.

If that's something you'd like.

You want me to join your Pride!?

Is that so strange?

To me, yes! It is! Very strange!

You KNOW how I feel about Prides!

So, what? You just want to meet in secret forever?

Look, Nothing I like spending time with you. I really do, but that's asking a lot.

You must see that!

You're right. It was stupid.

Come on Nothing, wait up! I never said it was stupid.

I have to get back to the Pride.

I'll see you later, Hover.

And where were you this morning?

I ate something that turned my stomach--

That's enough information. Sit.

Firstly, I'd like to announce that Quickmane has scented a band of No-Manes near the outer rim of the territory.

I'll be doing extra perimeter checks for the next few days to make sure none of them breach our border.

Next order of business: a large herd of wildebeests has stopped in our hunting grounds to graze.

Silentstalk investigated last night.

The herd had more elder members than young so I suggest we target--

[coughing]

Mother? Are you alright?

I apologize for the interruption Hunt Chief. Please continue.

Hm. Right.

Um, I'd like Farleap to take the lead, Waterhunter and Silentstalk flanking and myself at the rear.

Nothing, you'll remain here to look after the cubs. You too, Mother.

Move out, Huntresses!

Can you tell us the story about how ya' scratched up my dad's face again?

No, Feather. I got in a lot of trouble for telling you that story the first time.

But it was so cool!! You were so small and he was so big and you went all RAAHH!!!

And he was like, "auuugh, my eye!"

You're so weird, Feather.

Yeah Feather, Dad said Nothing got possessed by a demon or something, it was really serious.

No offense.

I think it was brave! If a No-Mane tried to hurt me, I'd do the same thing!

If you want a real storyteller, you could ask Sharptongue.

I've heard all her stories!!

Have ever told you about Sunce's great fires in the Emerald Valley?

No! What's that? Isn't Sunce the sun goddess?

She is!

Once she was so enraged, she raised the earth!

Dried the rivers and burned the trees!

What!? She did? Nobody's ever told me this part!

I haven't heard this one either.

Sunce would have burned everything if it hadn't been for Cansu, who brewed storms to save us all!

But Cansu... [coughing]

You should rest, grandmother.

Find the Shifting Place! Where Sunce's eye is blind! You can end the cycle, Nothing!

Sharptongue?

Sharptongue??

Someone help!!

Today, we have lost the...

We have lost, the wisest lioness I have ever known.

We ask Asra to guide her spirit out of her body so we may return it to the Earth.

Huntresses!

Let Asra hear yourvoices so she may find our beloved Sharptongue in the dark.

[ROARING]

Goodbye, Mother.

Her spirit is with Asra now. We must let the Earth take her body.

Psst! Nothing!

So... what was all that roaring?

When a huntress dies, her Pride calls to Asra to come and take her spirit to the stars.

It's one of the reason Pride lionesses are so afraid to be Prideless. Who will call to Asra when you die?

I can't believe Sharptongue's gone.

I feel so alone.

You're not going to be alone. I promise.

You can't promise that.

Yes I can.

I'm going to join your Pride.

I.. thought..

I want to be where you are, Nothing. That's what's important to me.

If it means joining a Pride... it's worth it.

Mother?

What do you want?

I have someone I want you to meet.

I wish to join your Pride... erm... Ma'am.

Can't you see your mother's in pain!?

Get your fleabag out of here and let Powerstrike rest.

Wait.

You have faith in this lioneess's abilities, Nothing?

Very much so.

We've needed help in the hunts since Sharptongue fell ill.

I kept hoping she'd recover, but now...

I'll miss her too, Mother.

Don't touch me!

I don't want your pity.

You main join the Pride if you perform a successful Huntress Evaluation and take a Pride name.

Yes ma'am! I won't disappoint you!

See that you don't. We'll perform the ceremony under the highest eye of Sunce tomorrow.

There, you got what you wanted! Now let her rest.

I can't believe it! We have a shot! You really might be able to join!

Yeah.

Are you sure this is what you want?

Of course. I just need some sleep, that's all.

You joining me?

I didn't realize until later how much of herself Hover was giving up for me.

I wouldn't have let her do it at all if I knew what would come next.