She found herself in a strange land far south of the only somewhat familiar lands of the Edge.  The grasses were quiet, only lightly buffeted by the cold wind, and the whole land was cast in a strange glow as if the sun was trying to break back through the horizon many hours premature.
 
It was only then that she heard them.  It hadn’t stood out as unusual to her at first because the sound was familiar.  But that was exactly why it didn’t belong.  The eerie laughter snaked through the grasses, and Tsavo whirled instinctively, seeking the source. 
 
They were unlike anything the lioness had ever seen – not the hyenas from the plains – but creatures draped in shadows.  The only thing that seemed corporal was the egg held in the jaws of one of the creatures, its shell unmistakably solid and smooth.  No, she thought, though she wasn’t sure what inspired such a response.  However part of her knew that these creatures simply could not be allowed to keep the egg.  Before she could rationalize, she was moving.
 
She lowered her skull and charged the beasts, overcome by fury and an instinct she could only assume was something akin to a maternal impulse.  The rage thrummed through her veins, pouring life into her muscles, until everything seemed to explode in a shower of fury.  And then she was flying, detached from her body in all by spirit, tethered to the earth by anger and instinct alone.  In an instant, bones shifted and rearranged and her voice from her throat emerged a predatory growl.  She staggered, uncertain and dazed, and struggled to get her bearings.
 
Where she had once had hooves she now had great paws with claws.  Her equine body was now leonine; her flat teeth replaced with sharp canines.  Her vision had improved dramatically, and even in the low light cast by the strange underground glow, she could see every move the shadow creatures made in the low light.
 
The lioness had become her namesake.
 
She lashed out at the shadow beasts with unblemished claws - wondering if they would find purchase or pass through the shadow.  She focused her attention on the one holding the egg, doing her best to startle (or maul) the creature hoping that it would surrender its prize.