A/N: Once I finish one story, I start on another. Here's my version of the third instalment of the Lion King. Please RandR!

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Nalani crouched lower to the ground, her white hide almost invisible among the long grass of the African plain.

She spotted a group of warthogs gathered by the waterhole. Nalani clenched her claws and her ears flicked, picking up the sounds around her.

"Almost," she said quietly to herself. "Almost…"

With an instinct to pounce, she leapt from out of the grasses and hunted down the warthogs. Catching a sick one, she broke its neck and killed it.

Soon after, other lionesses began to appear, drawing closer to Nalani. They looked at her kill and made a noise in almost approval.

"I guess it'll do," said one. "We'll just see what Kasim thinks."

Nalani lowered her head and followed glumly behind the others. No matter how hard she tried, she could never measure up to her fellow lionesses. She was just glad that Kasim was a fair and just Prince.

They headed back to join the rest of the pride. When Kasim appeared, the lionesses bowed and stepped back from the warthog.

"Is that it?" he hissed, raising an eyebrow.

"It was Nalani's turn to hunt," replied Aminah, the same lioness that had disapproved of the kill.

"Well, then it's perfect," Kasim said. Nalani raised her eyes, and when the Prince had her gaze, he gave a reassuring wink. Nalani smiled weakly.

When Kasim said he had had enough dinner (although Nalani knew better), the lionesses moved in. Nalani looked around for a spot to eat, but the other lionesses were all bigger than she was.

She stayed helplessly back, until the bones of the warthog were picked clean. Sighing, Nalani found a little piece of skin and graciously took it.

"All right, Nalani?" came a voice. Nalani recognized it as the cool, calm one belonging to Kasim.

"Yes," she replied. "I'm fine. I just…I just wish the others would treat me as their equal, and not just some lioness they can push around."

"Believe it or not, Nalani, you are easily manipulative," reasoned Kasim.

"And why do you think that is?" questioned Nalani, in fury and anger. "I have no choice. I cannot stand up to them. If I do, they will challenge me and force me from this pride. If I don't, they will continue to demean me, until I am reduced to the mere soil on which we walk."

"Oh, Nalani. I know living here is hard, but I assure you that you will do much better in this pride, than by yourself in the out lands."

"Because I am small? A runt? Because I am easily manipulated, and will be taken over by outlanders? Is that what you think?"

"Of course not, Nalani, I – "

"It doesn't matter. I just want to go to bed. Please do not disturb me. Oh, and I'll try to get more meat next hunt, I promise."

Nalani, upset, but also rather ashamed that she had yelled at her Prince, took to her corner of the dark cave in which the pride of lions slept.

She had not chosen that corner herself, but was rather 'stuck with it', when the other lionesses excluded her from their circle. Nalani knew it was because she was different – because she had white fur.

Nalani turned around a couple of times, before collapsing on the ground. She sighed and waited for sleep to come. Thoughts of her pride's anger and hate towards her swirled in her head, and haunted her nightmares.

The next morning, despite the night of frights, Nalani woke up feeling refreshed.

"Oh, good, you're up," Kasim said. "Do you want to do the morning hunt?"

"You're giving me a choice?" Nalani asked, before she could hold back her words.

Kasim smiled anyhow and replied, "Of course. This pride isn't based on force."

Nalani nodded and said quietly, "Thank you."

"Hurry," he said. "Before the other lionesses wake up. It's almost dawn."

Nalani prowled around, until she found a herd of wildebeest. 'Excellent,' she said, crouching down.

In about two minutes, she took down a couple of the sick, slow ones. Out of nowhere, the lionesses in her pride came bolting up towards her.

"What have you done?" screeched Aminah.

"What do you mean 'what have I done'?" repeated Nalani. "I just got you breakfast."

"Breakfast?" Aminah said, clearly outraged. "Breakfast? Those wildebeest were planning to attend the celebration of Kiara and Kovu's first born son, Zaki!"

"Oh, no," said Nalani, sinking to the ground. "What have I done…?"