Hey everybody! This story will be an introduction to a few characters that will soon appear in The Second Love, the other TLK fan fiction I'm writing.

The three (yes, three) main characters are not true TLK characters, but instead they're all original to me, one being original to the general fan fiction universe though. Anyway, because they're original I needed an introductory story, so here it is!

I'll post a new chapter ever third day, and because I love you all I'm posting the first TWO chapters today!
Don't forget to also read my other story, The Second Love, new chapter every Friday!
Lastly, don't forget to R&R (Rate & Review) for Regis Rogers!


CHAPTER 1: REWARDING PUNISHMENT


Taka remained still. In all his life, in his miserable and short life, he never expected someone to stand up in his defense. For someone to stand in front of him, to claim responsibility to spare him. Jua had done just that, the unassuming female had taken the tongue lashing, the disgrace, the shame, and would soon take the punishment from King Ahadi.

Adult lioness' and cubs of various sizes alike were shocked that she would do such a thing. She had done it in their eyes, even though she didn't. Some were crying.
Why would that cute little girl commit such treason? What had possessed her to act that way?
A valid question in the eyes of the ignorant pride. But Taka knew he had done the deed. So his question was this:
Why is she covering for me? Why is she defending me?

Taka's face was concerned, confused, relieved, and somewhat angry at Jua for putting herself in harms way by admitting to something she didn't do.
Taka didn't know what to do with his paws, he shuffled and stirred, standing, not looking at his father, his mother, his brother.

Mufasa, he had been the key in this moment.
Taka's plan had gone smoothly. He had successfully preformed an act of muscular cunning and fended off a 'hyena attack' on the heir to the throne. But there was a flaw, Taka and Jua were spotted talking to the hyenas a few days afterward, and Taka was done for. He'd be ruined! Everyone would hate him even more, he'd be banished maybe.
But Jua said it was her idea, that she did it, that Taka knew nothing and still knows nothing.

She stood erect, facing the king who was pacing left and right, unsure what to do with her. He had two options, and he didn't like either. But what must be done must be done.

Jua was fuming with rage and shame, she had yelled at the king- addressing the fact that his second born son is completely neglected, and was in need of a popularity boaster, so she had given him one.

"What am I to do? This crime is punishable by death, or banishment."

King Ahadi spoke to no one but himself, listening to the words as they poured from his mouth, analyzing them. Feeling them up to see if they sounded the same out loud as in his thoughts.

"You should treat Taka better, if you learn anything from this, treat him better."
Said Jua softly, feeling that either way she was done for, so she mine as well speak her mind before her mind is silenced for good.

"Quiet! I am king, and I will not be spoken to in that tone! Have you no respect?"

Jua opened her mouth to reply, but was immediately interrupted by the king, who must have expected her to try and respond.

"Rhetorical!" Yelled the king while slamming his paw down in frustration.

He breathed heavily out his nose, closing his eyes in attempt to compose himself. King Ahadi picked his head up high, breathing in deeply and exhaling before speaking. Issuing judgement on the teenage girl.

She'd be an easy target If banished, Jua was only a year or two away from finding a mate and having cubs, and to a dirty rogue, this prospect may be too tantalizing to resist.
She shivered at the thought of being alone and unprotected.

"You are banished, and you will not return to the pride lands or you will be executed."

She starred down at the ground, saddened and frightened about what lie beyond the safety of this pride.

"Fine."
She said, feeling mad at the king for not wanting to protect her. She was a daughter of the pride, she lived there too! You can't just kick her out! But he did.

Jua turned around on her back paws, walking slowly out of the den.

"Goodbye Taka, tell our friends I'll be safe."
She was unsure the honesty in that statement, but someone had to say something positive, and it wouldn't be Taka.

He was in enough trouble, his existence got him in trouble.

"You should tread carefully boy, I know something's going on here, and it ends now."
Said Ahadi threateningly to his son.
Taka didn't look up, why should he?

This infuriated Ahadi, and he raised his paw, whipping his son across the face and knocking him down several feet away.

"Look at me when I speak!"

Taka looked up, tears of defeat welling in his eyes, but never spilling. His head fell back to the ground, his small and skinny body curling into a ball and staying like that.

Ura wanted to intervene, to help her second son, but that was impossible.
Mufasa did nothing.
The pride did nothing.

Jua heard the yelling, she'd go back. No! Going back meant death.

"What am I going to do now."
She was sad, Jua bit her lip and looked back at pride rock, seeing it small and grotesque figure in the distance. It was full of disfunction and hate.
She wanted nothing to do with it.

What's going to happen to me? What If someone finds me before I can get somewhere safe?

The tall grasses were becoming nearer as she travelled NorthWest, toward the outlands.

There was no one there, no one would ever go there, so she could be alone. A safe place until she figured out a plan.

"I can't go to the hyenas, they're really creepy and a little to stupid."
Said Jua with a slight laugh.
She'd sleep alone, she'd go with out dinner, she'd go without warmth, she'd go without love.
Tonight, and nights to follow, will be awful hard.

She didn't regret taking the fall for Taka's crime. It wasn't a crime! No one got hurt, or killed, it was just to make people respect him, or at least have the good sense to tolerate him.

Ahadi wasn't and isn't a nice person to Taka, Mufasa doesn't care or so to good to notice, and Ura is powerless, smiling at him and telling him to have fun only goes so far.

The grasses brushed against her body, like fingers pulling her back and trying- desperately trying- to keep her in the pride lands.

That territory was ending though, and the outlands were beginning.
The tall grasses became less tall, the dirt became loose, trees were dry and lifeless, then the grass died out all together. This was the outlands, it must be! Nothing dare live hear, not even plant life.

The small section of dirty ground in front of Jua dropped, down into a bowl like area.

Her paws slid on the looses dirt and gravel, her body like a rocket, quickly, speed increased. Just as Jua reached the bottom, she leapt up and out, away from the sloped side and toward the flat edge of the bowl.
"Umph!"
She released a noise as she hopped down, finally standing in the outlands.

There was nothing alive in this bowl, the dirt was loose as it always was, and there was no one around as far as Jua knew.

"This place is disgusting."
Said Jua, her eyes slowly tracing over the nothingness of the ground, her mouth slightly open.
"And really scary. Is anyone there?"
A tumble weed was rolling around in the distance, as if it were having difficulty deciding to stay or leave.

Someone's here. I can feel it!
Jua felt uncomfortable, she needed to get into a position that was less vulnerable.
Her paws flex on the ground ever so lightly, not wanting to disturb anything.

Her fur was a light cream, neatly kept and soft. Jua's chest was darker, a few shaded heavier then sand. The tuft of fur on the end of her tail was brown, and was waving nervously back and forth, unsure what was about to happen.
She had a tuft of fur on her head, addition creamy lengths that stuck out to the left.
Her chest had more fur then usual too, in some cases the dark sandy fur reached out in a cow lick, not in attractive- but different.

It was not a good thing to be a pretty girl her age, alone. Anyone could find her! And anyone could do anything.
Jua swallowed hard, tears forming in her eyes, then falling. She didn't know what else to do.

"Kings above this isn't fair!" Screamed Jua through broken language, sorrow and tears choking her, she was being very loud.

A rustling was heard not far from her, not from the pride lands, but in the outlands.
She looked, tears still dripping from her face and muzzle.
She saw nothing.

But then, she heard something, she saw something, her muscles tightened and her physique flexed taught with worry.
It was a lion.
It was a rogue lion.
It's was a dirty rogue. He mustn't have cleaned himself in a while.
It was a male. A dirty male rogue lion.
Dammit!

He stepped forward, eyes looking at his paws, deciding where he should place them. His eyes redirected upward to Jua, his head following not far after. He was growling. Dammit! This lion could kill her, or rape her. Probably both.

She had no time to speak, to ask a question. He pounced, traveling low to the ground at a very fast speed. His growl was heavy like bone, and his eyes were deep and focused.
What color were they? No time! She had to get away. But where? Good question, there was no where to go. The pride lands? They'd kill her!
She was stuck between death and maybe death- possibly worse.

Her body flung in the opposite direction, her paws skidding as she ran away, she escaped for only a few seconds, for only a few feet, before he grabbed her hindquarters and pulled her to the ground.
This lion, he had his jaw wrapped around the scruff of her neck, his back legs startling her rear. She was belly down, her eyes clamped closed tightly, or maybe they were open?
Jua whimpered desperately, he had her, like prey between his sharp teeth. What could this male want? She knew. All males wanted it, and she had it, and he would take it.
The thoughts and images made her cry.
Hot salty tears dripping down her face, only held back by her inner pride, telling her to be strong. To get through it and survive.
Her chest rose and fell quickly, her heart beat rapidly, she was still crying. Pride be damned. Her claws dug into the ground, keeping her from being dragged anywhere else.

He was dirty, she knew he'd be dirty. She knew someone would come and take her in more ways then one.

His eyes were red and fiery, a deep and hot shade of auburn. His mane was a pretty tan, with a dark brown mane. He looked so... Dirty. Everything about him was dirty. His way of looking at her, the way he was straddling her, his existence. It wasn't right.

From the corner of her wet green eyes, Jua saw his front paw, big and dark brown digits with... no claws. His claws weren't extended. That's not normal... He should have his claws out...

"Stop squirming! What's the matter?"
He spoke, for the first time. He asked her what was the matter, he was on top of her! That's what was 'the matter.'

"Get off of me! Let me go!"
Said Jua, her eyes still crying. Pride, that inner feeling was slipping, she was loosing herself even more then she already had.

"If I let you go, you'll run."

How do you argue that response? Of coarse she would run!

"Don't hurt me, please please don't hurt me."
Said Jua, her breath sharp and hot, she was scared.
The tears continued to fall.

He didn't look sympathetic.

"Stop crying, please stop crying, I'm not going to hurt you."

'Im not going to hurt you' is what a murderer would say! But maybe he was being honest. Jua always believed in the better side of people, she believed in Taka's better side.

Jua nodded her head, her tears slowing until there were no more. She would stop crying.

"What do you want from me?"

"Are you in a pride?"
He said, still hard, but he was softening, his straddle lessened, he was no longer biting her nap. He must have been looking down at her, but from his position they couldn't make eye contact. She didn't want to make eye contact with him anyway.

"No."
Said Jua, the word opening her up to be sodomized and left to die, or worse, left to die pregnant with something she didn't want.

"I could use some female company, my den isn't far from here."

"You're going to hurt me."
Said Jua, still unsure his intentions.

"You have nowhere else to go."

He was right, she didn't have anywhere to go. But going with him didn't sound like a good idea.
He was looking around, she could hear his dark brown mane swish as his head turned from left to right.

"I don't want to go with you."

"I'm sorry, but I can't let you say no."
His voice was soft, almost worried. Why would he be worried?

He reached down again. Jua coiled back as his mouth enclosed around her neck once more, grabbing her nap firmly, and pulling her out from under him. She wasn't resisting anymore.

He bent down, sitting on his belly next to her, looking over toward her face and neck.

She had a pretty face, a nicely sculpted and narrow muzzle, sharp and tall framework surrounding her eyes, green eyes? Yes. Her ears were tall and perky, standing up attractively. Her neck, it must be so soft! He hadn't been with anyone, had any friends, for... ever.
She'd make for good company.

Jua turned her head, looking at his muzzle. His nose breathing in fresh air, her scent.

His muzzle was rather nicely shaped, like stone jutting out from his mountainous and pretty face. But he was dirty.

"Get on my back, I'll carry you."

"I can walk."
She said, not wanting to actually walk, but preferring to defy his wishes over submission.

"I know you can, but my carrying you is better."

"Why?"

"You can't run away if I'm carrying you."

"I could run right now."

"But you aren't, because with me, there's somewhere to sleep, food, water, and someone to protect you. Let me carry you."

"I don't need protection."

"Maybe not, but if someone worse then me comes along, you'll be wishing you had it anyway."

He was right, with him, there was everything she needed to survive, but without him, she had nothing, at least until the next male came along and actually took a piece from her nothing.

She straddled his body, feeling in control, less insecure now that she was on top. She could kill him and run, but something told her not to.

If she went with him, he could kill and rape her- but if she stayed, someone else could kill and rape her. Bad odds.

He stood up, her paws gradually floating off the ground. Jua readjusted, her body now comfortably resting on his back. He was large for his age. How old was he? She'd make sure to ask. What was his name? Soon.

"Comfortable?"
He said, turning his head to face her better. He wasn't sarcastic, but he wasn't very caring either.

"You're filthy."
She insulted him, honestly at least- he was filthy.

"I'll handle that later."

He walked on, paws leaving light markings in the ground with each step. He was headed away from pride rock, and out beyond the outlands.

He was feeling like that wasn't enough, it was vague, it could scare her that he would 'handle' something without directly addressing what that something was.

"I'm sorry I'm so dirty, there's no one to impress when you're alone."

"You're not sorry you pinned me to the ground and made me cry?"

Yelled Jua, angry at the incompetence of her kidnapper. Maybe not incompetence, more like overall just disappointment, she expected something different. Someone with more...

"I am, but you're feeling better now, I'll make up for it."

She didn't respond. How would he make up for it? An assault of the sexual nature was not off the table, so his 'make it better' could make it a lot worse.

The silence hurt his feelings, she wasn't being very nice. He hadn't been nice to her. No, he hadn't- pinning her and making her cry wasn't very nice. He could fix this.
She'd be good company.
He knew she'd be good company.

"You know, my den is very nice, it's cleaner then I am anyway. I think you'll like it, the floor is smooth and dry, the roof is sturdy, easily defendable, and it's warm- you'll like that."

"How do you know what I like?" Said Jua in an angry hiss.

"Am I warm?"

"What?"
A strange question asked by a strange male. Was he warm? She was still on his back as he walked, he did feel warm.

"You're pretty warm. What's this about?"

"Then you'll like my den."

"Why? What are you trying to say?"

Jua lifted her head from his shoulder blade, looking at his ear because his eyes were to far away. She sat with her eyebrow raised, concerned at his line of thought. Where it might lead...

"I'm warm, and you've been purring this whole time, so you'll like my den, which is also warm."

Jua's eyes opened fairly wide, shocked and mad, at him, at her, at the world. Had she been purring? Yes. She liked feeling his warmth, even if his fur was dusty and he was strange.

"I'm not purring because of you."
Said Jua in a poisonous tone, but she knew she had been, she was lying.

He smiled and nodded his head, sarcastically excepting her conclusion.

"We're almost there."

The tall grasses that now surrounded them rubbed Jua's limp and hanging legs as he strut onward. His body had relaxed some, he must have felt safe in this area. He didn't feel safe in the outlands, and no one blamed him.

Unlike before, the tall grasses willed her legs onward, telling her to go with him, like a guardian angel.

He strut up a slight incline, walking through a small hole, and entering a den. The walls expanded outward as he continued, forming a large room capable of supporting at most fifteen lions and lioness'.

"It's a little big."

"Room to grow." Said the man, placing Jua down on the floor.

"I'd like to go get you some dinner, are you going to run and make me chase you?"

"Maybe."

"Were you expecting something different?"

Yes.
"What do you mean?" Jua said sarcastically.

"Did you expect me to kill you?"

Yes.
"No."

"Did you think I'd hurt you?"

Yes.
"I said that already." Said Jua in frustration.

"I'm not going to do anything you don't want me to, but if you expected to be violated and murdered I suppose I could do that."

He stood there, looking down at her as she lie on the ground. She was afraid of something, and he knew exactly what.

"I won't leave." Said Jua with equal frustration

"Do you promise?"

"Fine."

"Say it please."

"I promise."

"You promise... what exactly?"

"Just go!"

"I'll be back soon, don't leave me, please."

He sounded so sad and vulnerable. Not demanding she stay as he had before, but almost begging her not to leave him alone.

He turned on his paws, walking out of the den, stopping at the door to speak.

"You can look around the area, just stay close."

She rolled her eyes, he was ridiculous. Just mount me and kill me already. I've had enough of this.
Jua almost wished he'd just rape and kill her already.
Where had she ever gotten the idea of rape?
Her body and age. Right.

"What a girl." Whispered the lion as he went out, away from his den and off to find her some food.

Jua explored some, looking around the inside and outside of the den. It was pretty nice- no pride rock, but for a single male? Perfect. Perfect even for a family or two.

He returned within the hour, the sun beginning to set on the horizon. A small zebra on his back, carried just the way he had carried her, but this time, the animal was dead.

He placed it on the ground, not far from where Jua was lying down in a pout. She stood at the den's mouth soon thereafter, looking down upon the male and his catch. It was small, but there were only two mouths to feed.

She trotted downward, sitting on the short grass and beginning to eat.
He did the same, waiting for her to eat first, she nibbled and chewed, but he waited for her to have eaten some before he made his move toward the food.

"What do you plan to do with me?"
Said Jua, her mouth momentarily void of food.

"I'd like to get to know you some. Maybe you'll like it here."

"You can't just use me like a toy."

"What's your name?"

"My name's Jua."

"Jua, you're excellent looking, but I wouldn't do anything you didn't want me to."

She blushed, speaking again:

"Excellent looking Isn't a normal way to talk to a woman."

"You're pretty? What more do you want?"

"That's fine. What's your name?"

"My name's Uzuri, but everyone calls me Zuri."

Jua giggled, rolling onto her back and releasing hysterical bursts of laughter into the air.
Zuri just frowned.

"That's a girls name!" Yelped Jua, still laughing at him.

"It's not a girls name." Said Zuri under his breath, mad because his name was a girls name, and no one hesitated to point it out. Ever.

"I'm sorry I'm sorry, that's just hilarious."

"You claim to be a prisoner, yet you seem to be having a lot of fun."

"I am a prisoner Zuri." Said Jua, now more serious, biting into her food again. Still giggling on occasion.

"The only thing that makes you a prisoner is that you can't leave, because I don't want you to."

"Why not?"

"It gets lonely, that den, no one but me in it. Like I said, female company would be nice."

"Why female? I'm not going to..."

"I never said you have to do anything but stay here, if only for a while."

"You're not a normal lion are you?"

"I'll tell you about me if you tell me about you."

"Like what?"

"What's your favorite color?" Asked Zuri as if his question were perfectly normal.

"Seriously?"

"Yes, mine is auburn, like my eyes, it's a sort of orange-brown."

"I suppose I like orange too." said Jua, she had never really thought of what her favorite color was, no one had asked her before.

"What do you like to eat, your favorite."

"My absolute favorite is antelope, but I'm not that specific."

"I like antelope too, do you like the ribs or the hindquarters?"

"Definitely hindquarters."

"Me too." Said Zuri, happy they had things in common.

"Do you like to play?"

"Do you?" Said Jua, giggling at the thought of Zuri bouncing around like a cub.

"I use to, I really like cubs though, I don't spend much time around them, but when I do I always enjoy it."

"How cute, my kidnapper likes cubs."

"And you? Do you play with cubs when you can?"

"I never really played with any cubs."

"Why not? You're missing out!"

"They scare me a little, to think I could have one of those... it's just weird. I want to be free and live, cubs don't seem like me."

"Maybe those cubs don't seem like you because they're not yours."

"You're sweet Zuri, and a little creepy."

"Also, cubs are the ultimate freedom. You can over react emotionally and act like a little kid, and no one would dare question you."

"You're a little to sweet Zuri."

"I like cubs, hate me for it."

"I've got a question for you now, do you have any friends out here? Lionesses?"

"None, you are the one and only. No lioness would last alone out here for a minute."

"I made it about two." Said Jua smiling. At least she felt comfortable.

"This zebra is good, but I'll make sure to catch antelope as much as I can from now on."

"Thank you for at least making me feel comfortable."

"I'd hope to get the same treatment if I needed help."

"I feel bad."

"Why?" Asked Zuri, unsure what could set her off kilter.

"If I was you, I'm not sure I would have helped me."

"Nonsense, you don't know what it's like to... if you felt it in your heart like I did, you'd do the right thing."
Said Zuri with certainty.

"You're not going to try and sleep with me tonight right?"

"Not if you don't want me to."

"I don't, just because we both like antelope and the color orange..."

"Auburn, I like auburn."

"Whatever, just to lay some ground rules: I'm a guest, not a play thing, and if you treat me like a play thing I'll beat you silly."

"Teenagers now a days."

"And don't condescend me!"

"I won't, and I'm..."

"Shut up and eat you creep." Said Jua with some acceptance in her voice, not toward Zuri, but of what she said about him.

They finished eating in silence, his auburn eyes would pear up occasionally to see her pretty tan face eating up the zebra.
They were the same age, she had asked, and they were about the same age.

The two lions walked into his den for the night, settling down at opposite ends.

"You're very pretty." Said Zuri as he laid down. Crossing his paws and looking at her body, innocently looking, but she didn't agree.

"Don't look at me like that."

"Like how?"

"Like you want to touch me."

"I don't want to touch you, I want to get to know you."

"Stay away from me."
Said Jua, her voice shaking as she stared back at him. Zuri sat in a non-threatening position, unarmed and not prepared to do anything. He wasn't who she thought he was, he wouldn't touch her, even if his mind veered off toward that fantasy.

"Is it to much to ask to want a friend?"

"You want to be more then friends."

"I want to be happy, but I'm not going to hurt you to make that so."

"Clean yourself off already."
Said Jua, trying to change the subject and avoid whatever it is that would make Zuri happy.

"By the morning, I'll be spotless."

"For your sake, I'd hope so."

"Why for my sake?"

"Because you're not going to get any 'pretty' girls if you look like that."

"Good night pretty girl."

"You don't have a chance with me."

"Wait until I'm nice and clean, then tell me that."
Jua huffed in disbelief.
"Just prey I don't run off."

She laid down, her back facing him as she closed her eyes, huffed a long sigh of disappointment, and fell asleep cautiously.


So what did you think?

Every chapter I'll post a question, and your answer will help me write the story!
Question:

Is Jua safe with Zuri, or will he hurt her like she suspects?

Post your answer in the comments section!

Didn't like the chapter? Constructive comments are welcome!
Now go on and read chapter two, it will surprise you.
Thanks everyone!