Kopa had given his son a lashing he would never forget. Saaka lay beaten on the ground, blood slowly seeping from his wounds.

"You would do well to remember this lashing, boy," Mavuto chastised, but Kopa was yet to be done with his son. He roared and walked up to his son, his own paws caked in blood.

"Saaka of the Riverlands. I, Kopa, first of my name, King of the Riverlands and protector of the Mkali pride, hereby exile you and your descendants from this land."

Saaka looked to his father in fear, Kiasi's head bowed and his eyes refused to meet his brother's, and Mavuto stood there at Kopa's side. As adviser it was his duty to advise in situations like this, but he knew that Kopa was making the right choice. Mavuto had never truly liked Saaka, and this was the way that he could make sure he never returned to claim the throne.

"Go, now,"

Saaka nodded, his legs shaking as he arose from the dirt below. A pain shot through his leg and he stumbled, but the growl from his father made him realize that he would die if he stayed here. With that, Saaka ran as fast as his injured legs could take him.

Kiasi now spoke, "Father, disinherit him, but don't exile him. He'll die out there,"

Mavuto countered, "My prince, he'd die here if he stayed. It is a great shame to be a disinherited prince, and an even greater crime to attack our king. You know this is what your father must do,"

The heir to the Riverlands nodded, "I understand," But he looked to his father once more, "Maybe you'd understand what I feel if you'd lost a brother yourself,"

Kopa's eyes widened, although Mavuto and Kiasi weren't there to notice it. For the first time in a long time his thoughts traveled back to his family, to his sister Kiara, to his mother and father, to his brother Chaka who remained at the Chill, to Naba... Of course he knew the pain of losing a brother, he had been old enough to remember the kindness his brother gave him before his fostering in the Ashlands, but he was still so young when he had died. No, that wasn't the Kopa who stood here now as king of this pride. That Kopa was weak and a fool.

The king watched his son run from the lands, his figure still visible from the high rock he stood upon. His eyes narrowed, his anger welled up inside him again. How dare he, how dare that insolent child!

And yet, he couldn't help but feel a sadness wash over him.

As Kopa looked on, making sure his son truly left the kingdom, Naba looked onto his brother with sadness and disappointment.