"The young prince and his friends spent all day playing, getting into all sorts of trouble. Tojo was kind, but fell over often due to a bad sprain that never fully healed. Malka seemed brave, although it was merely an act so others would stick with him. Chumvi and Kula were as different in personality as possible with only their looks telling that they were siblings; Chumvi was arrogant yet his sister was sweet and kind. Tama would occasionally be seen with them and, of course, there was…"
"You, right Nala?" a young male interrupted the story, leaping between the young adult's paws and standing up against her chest, looking at her.
"Yes Nuka," she chuckled softly, "me. However, that was a long time ago."
"Nuka!" a voice called as a small female appeared from outside the entrance of the small cave. Her dark fur seemed darker due to the shadows and night time sky and her cheeks fluffed out to the side. A small black spot was visible on the left side of her mouth, just on her jaw bone, "Queen Zira wants you back in the main cave."
"Thanks Beauty-Spot," was the brown male's response, "Tell mum I'm on my way!"
"Sure thing," the cub responded, turning and running from the small cave on the outcrop at the bottom of pride rock and making her way up to the main, larger cave.
"Will you tell me more stories later Nala?" Nuka asked the light, sandy female as he climbed up to his feet.
"Whenever I can, Nuka," she smiled sadly but the youngster didn't notice. He trotted out of the cave, jumping over a few rocks and yelling out his goodbye as he left. Nala looked down to the ground, troubled green eyes closing.
"…Simba," she sighed, wishing more than anything that her cubhood friend was there. An older lioness fast approaching old age approached her. She stood tall and regally but was thinner than in past days, when she had ruled the pride lands. Rubbing against Nala comfortingly, she spoke, "Don't worry dear; help will come. I know it."
"But will it Sarabi?" Nala asked, looking into the elder lioness's eyes painfully, "So many are already dead or have left. I fear the pride will only continue to get weaker. Zira's supporters grow ever stronger and their numbers are growing," she thinks of young Beauty-Spot, "They may only be young now but they'll grow fast. We barely have enough to feed one lioness in the outer cave whilst they and the hyenas have as much as they can."
Sarabi nodded, knowing the truth of the situation. She knew also that the fault of this lay on Scar's shoulders. She didn't want to blame him, but it was he was let the hyenas into the pridelands, "What would you have me do Nala? I am getting on and have felt weaker since the loss of Mufasa and Simba." They spoke in hushed voices to stop others from outside listening in.
At one side of the cave, a lioness of Nala's age lifts her head, the tuft of sandy fur atop her head moving with her movement. She listened to the conversation of the lionesses, hoping they have a solution.
"I shall have to go," Nala said bravely, "Most our mine and Tama's friends left long ago and I think it's time that somebody finds help."
At the mention of her name, the lioness with the tuft atop her head slowly rose and padded to the other two.
"You're going?" she asked Nala sadly.
"Yes Tama," Nala nods, "in a few days time just before sunrise I shall leave. The hyenas will be resting by then and I can slip away quietly."
"I…I want to go with you," Tama muttered, not wanting to be the only one of their friends to be left.
"No Tama," Sarabi shakes her head, talking fast under a hushed breath, "You need to stay and help look after the lionesses of the pride. You're one of the strongest here and I need your help."
Tama sighed and nodded, sitting down and looking out at the stretch of the empty pridelands, "There's no water, no food. Our pride is starving and has been pushed to a lower status than hyenas and Zazu is trapped by Scar in the main cave so we can't ask for help. I understand now that Nala needs to go," she nuzzled her head against Nala's side, "Good luck."