Kurhula - Queen of Djuma - is dead. She has left two 13-month-old cubs, Xongile and Hosana. Can they survive? The would-be new queen, Thandi, is Kurhula’s oldest daughter and she wastes no time occupying her mother’s domain. The surest way for Thandi to ensure herlegacy is to produce an heir. Tingana, Duke of Djuma, accepts the new queen and their bond is cemented with mating. Three months later, Tlalamba - the Playful Princess - is born.

Just as peace returns, Tingana takes ill with a mysterious illness. He leaves his territory unguarded, a potentially fatal situation for the old Duke and also for his legacy. Young Hosana - the Little Chief - remains under Tingana’s protection as does tiny Tlalamba. The greatest threat these two leopards face is the arrival of a new, unrelated male. Enter, Hukumuri -The Pretender. He is a fit, young male in his prime, looking for territory and spoiling for a fight. As the Duke weakens, his son Hosana, against expectation, survives and begins to thrive. His hunting skills improve and his ability to avoid Hukumuri demonstrates a canny understanding beyond the Little Chief’s years.

Tlalamba is a cute, rambunctious and fiercely independent little cub growing up in blissful ignorance. But her ailing father is unable to protect her - surely it is a matter of time before Hukumuri finds and kills the heir?. Hosana, perhaps because his mother and sibling left him so early, relished the opportunity to spend time with his father. He is also an excellent hunter and the weakened Tingana begins to scavenge from his son. In doing so, he slowly begins to recover. Just as it seems certain Hukumuri will take the Djuma Dukedom, the old duke rallies - One night, his sawing rattles out across the land once again. Peace returns to the Djuma woodlands.Thandi settles as queen, Tingana reigns supreme and little Tlalamba flourishes under their protection.