New characters emerge, including Fig the leopard. Jackson witnesses the 5 cheetah boys coopreratively hunting. Notch and her young cubs attempt to journey across the plains. Jonathan witnesses a spectacular crossing before some old friends return.

A dispersed Marsh Pride faces weakened protection from the six male warrior lions, while Kabibi and Cloudy Eye desperately hunt to sustain their hungry new cubs. Also, Amani, the cheetah, works hard to raise three new cubs.

Jonathan discovers the secretive den site of Dada the lioness' newborn cubs. Olare, the leopard, displays a rarely seen mating ritual. And the Marsh Pride lionesses face off with an elephant who isn't happy with their presence.