Hello lovelies. So, I've recently been enamoured with Lion King fanfiction. There have been a few great stories that I've actually already completely read through and they inspired me to come up with my own for my all time favourite film. Please do be kind in the critiques. I'm sensitive about my stories and tend to lose my temper though I've learned how to better keep it under control so I don't lash out like I used to. I suppose that comes with growing up. I'm not the sixteen almost seventeen year old I used to be when I first started out on this site. Anyways, I'm going to stop talking your ears off now. On with the story. Enjoy.

If I Don't Have You

Prologue

The sun beat down on the African savanna harshly as the lone lionesses continued their trek through the heated sand. The duo had been traveling for days, heading in the direction of a pride the elder knew of from the stories told to her by her late mate, to be a welcoming one, with a King who ruled over his subjects fairly and a Queen others would envy for her gentle nature and exotic beauty. The thought of a new, welcoming, and most of all, safe home is what made the two continue their harsh journey with smiles on their muzzles and lights in their eyes.

"It shouldn't be much further now," the elder lioness mused aloud, causing the other, a younger carbon copy of herself with the only real difference between them being the colour of their eyes, to look up at her mother. A brow rose on the younger lioness' face at her mother's words. "Oh Nala don't give me that look. It really shouldn't be much further now. Maybe just a few more miles."

The younger lioness, Nala, merely smiled, "You said that two days ago Mom. How can you be so sure this time?"

The elder female smiled, nodding her head to the north, just ahead of them. "Just look for yourself."

"Wha–" Nala started as she turned to look in the direction her mother indicated before her mouth fell opened.

It was perhaps eight kilometers or so ahead, give or take a few feet, but she could see the beginnings of green pastures at the edge of a river that separated it and the sandy desert they had traveled. Further along, what would appear as a small speck to one with eyes that were not as keen as her own, was a structure that had a protruding front and tall top. Trees dotted the land in clusters and the silhouettes of animal herds could be seen from afar. It was absolutely breath taking.

"Wow," was the only word the teenaged lioness could muster as she took in the sight in front of her. "Those are the Pride Lands? The ones you said Dad came from?"

Her mother nodded, the smile that had been on her muzzle growing wider. "Yes, it's beautiful isn't it?"

"Very," Nala quickly agreed as her own smile returned to her muzzle, washing away the awed look she had held for quite some time upon seeing what would possibly be her new home. She then turned to her mother, placing her left forepaw in front of her. "I'll race ya there."

And with that she took off, laughing all the way.

"Hey!" her mother called after her as she too bound off, trying to catch up with her younger, far more energetic, daughter. "No fair, you got a head start Nala."

"Perhaps you should be a little quicker on your paws Mom," Nala laughed as she continued forward, running across the log that acted as a bridge to cross over the river that ran below. "Or is that your old age showing through again?"

The apple eyed lioness scoffed as she pushed herself forward to catch up with her daughter. Soon they were neck and neck and she spoke again. "I'm not as old as you think Nala. I do still have some spunk left in me."

Nala laughed again, pushing herself to get ahead of her mother once more, "Yes while that may be true, that doesn't change the fact that I am still younger with way more energy at my disposal!"

They continued to run; their paws treading through the lush green grass as laughter rang out around them. It wasn't until they were a little less than two miles away from the rock formation that stood in the centre of the land that they were cut off by a blue hornbill swooping in, in front of them.

"I beg your pardon madams, but you are trespassing on private lands," the blue bird with a funny accent said staring at the two lionesses without a shred of fear as he landed on the ground. Usually other animals would run at the sight of a lion. So why did this fellow just stare at them defiantly like he was used to coming face to face with their kind? "I will have to ask that you leave."

"Zazu," a male voice called out to the bird who responded by turning his head. A massive lion with an auburn red mane and beautiful golden pelt soon appeared, stopping to take a seat in front of the two travelers with the hornbill between his front two paws, a curious look on his face. So that's why he wasn't afraid of the two females. He must have had some connection to this massive lion. "Who do we have here?"

The bird, Zazu, opened his mouth to speak only to be cut off by the younger of the two lionesses who stepped forward. "Forgive us, we did not mean to trespass. My name is Nala and this is my mother, Sarafina. We have traveled from afar in search of the pride that resides here in hopes of being permitted to stay and become part of said pride. We learned about this place from my father, who has passed on."

The male nodded in understanding. "I see. You both must be fatigued from your long journey. Come with me, I will see to it that you are fed and given a place to rest for now. We will discuss your joining the pride when you have had some time to regain your energy."

He gestured for them to follow as he stood from his seated position and began making his way to the large rock that he must have called home.

"My daughter and I thank you, Your Highness," Sarafina spoke; figuring that this lion had to be the King of this pride as she and Nala followed close behind the large male.

They walked, the elder telling the King their story on the way, only stopping briefly so that she and Nala could take a drink from the crystal clear watering hole that resided not far away before continuing on.

When they reached the rock formation, Nala stopped and stared in complete awe at the large structure she learned on the journey there was called Pride Rock. It was massive, bigger than anything she had ever seen before in her young life. The only coherent thought that came to the lioness on how to describe the magnitude and beauty of this place was wow. She couldn't believe that this would be her home now if the King and Queen agreed to allow she and her mother to stay. She had been so wrapped up in her thoughts that she didn't notice her mother and the King had left her behind until the large lion called after her.

"Nala, is everything alright," the King asked as he glanced back at her over his shoulder.

Snapping out of her trance, the cream coloured lioness looked forward again and shook her head yes. "Everything is fine, Your Majesty. I was just thinking about how big this place was."

The King laughed, nudging his head forward. "I suppose I can see what you mean. This is your first time here and many are awe struck by Pride Rock's sheer size upon first seeing it."

Nala nodded in agreement before she moved to catch up with the other two lions.

"Are there any others my age," Nala asked as she walked beside the much larger lion; her cornflower blue eyes wide and shinning with cub like curiosity.

"Yes, actually, there are," the King answered her. "There are about fifteen or so young lions and lionesses that are all roughly around your age, my own son and his friends included, so you'll have someone to keep you company should you stay."

"Really," Nala said brightly, a smile on her muzzle. "In the last pride we were part of everyone was much older than I was. It'll be a pleasant change to have lions my age to hang out with."

The King chuckled, leading them up to the entrance of a cave, "Sarabi? Have you returned?"

"Mufasa," a gentle voice said as a beautiful tawny lioness stepped forward, her brows shooting upward upon seeing the newcomers. This must have been the gentle queen her mother had told her about. "Who do we have here?"

"Travelers looking for a home," Mufasa answered. "This is Sarafina and her daughter, Nala. Nala and Sarafina, this is my mate, Sarabi." The adoration in his voice when he spoke his Queen's name was enough to tell Nala that he loved her very much. Secretly, she hoped that someday she would have a mate that looked at her the same way the King looked at his Queen. "Is there anything left from this afternoon's hunt? They've been traveling quite a ways here and look to be quite famished."

"Ah, I see, yes, there is still some meat left from this afternoon's kill," Sarabi said smiling before she looked at the two newcomers. "Please come with me, we will get you something to eat."

"Thank you," Sarafina spoke gratefully as she and Nala followed after the gentle lioness.

…

Nala sighed in content as she finished the food that had been given to her. She glanced over at her mother who was licking her chops after finishing the zebra meat she had been offered.

"I hope that you both enjoyed the food," Sarabi said from across the cave; her head resting on her paws as she smiled. She had just recently returned from speaking with her mate about whether or not they would be allowed to stay. She couldn't wait for them to hear the decision. She was sure they would be over joyed. "You must have been very hungry. But surely that is to be expected. From what Mufasa has told me, you have traveled far and for many days. I don't blame you for devouring that zebra meat the way that you did."

Sarafina and Nala glanced up at the sound of the Queen speaking and nodded their heads towards the other lioness. Nala was the first to speak, albeit a bit embarrassed from the other seeing how quickly she had delved into and devoured the meat when it had been offered to her. "Ah, yes, thank you Queen Sarabi, for all that you and your mate have done for us so far. We are eternally grateful to you both."

"Oh please dear, call me Sarabi," the lioness said as she got to her paws again. "Just Sarabi is fine. I don't require you to use my title like that." She began to make her way towards the entrance of the cave, gesturing for them to follow. "Now, please come with me. I'm sure that now that you've filled your bellies you will want to know if you will be permitted to stay here or not."

"Yes," Sarafina said as she and Nala stood, gathering the bones from the carcass in their mouths and disposing of them before they followed the other lioness out to the peak of Pride Rock where Mufasa and Zazu sat, looking out at the vast savanna that lay before them.

"Mufasa," Sarabi said gaining her King's attention.

"Ah, have our guests finished their meals?" Mufasa inquired, his brow irked.

"Yes," Sarabi said coming to stand beside her mate. "And they've come to hear our decision."

"I see," Mufasa said with a nod of his head and a smile on his muzzle. "In that case we shall not keep you waiting. You both may stay on several conditions. You abide by the laws of the Pride Lands, Sarabi and I will be more than happy to go over them with you as you settle. You will also do your part in assisting the pride, this includes going on hunts and watching after the cubs as a unit."

"We understand and are more than happy to abide by these rules," Sarafina spoke, "And any others that we will learn in the near future."

"Plus, Mom is excellent with cubs," Nala pipped. "And I seem to be very popular with them as well."

"That's good," Sarabi said; her smile growing on her muzzle when she saw the two's faces brighten at her mate's words. She knew they would be happy about what she and her King had to say. "I do sincerely hope that you two will enjoy your new lives here in the Pride Lands."

"We thank you," Sarafina said as she and Nala bowed their heads.

"It is our pleasure to have you join us," Sarabi said in return. "I can always use some new huntresses. I'm sure Nala is old enough and has been out on a few hunts herself."

"I have," Nala said proudly. She had been out on her first hunt with her former pride six moons ago just after she had turned two years of age.

"Good," Mufasa said. "We have recently had a few injuries, some more severe than others, so we're down two lionesses in the hunting party. Your timing could not have been better."

"It will be an honour to hunt with your pride, perhaps we can give one another a few pointers. I'm quite sure you all hunt differently from the way our former pride does," Sarafina said placing one of her forepaws forward.

Nala quickly nodded her agreement. Like her mother, she too had a few tricks up her sleeve and was more than happy to learn from someone like Sarabi who looked to be a very skilled huntress in her own right.

"I think that would be a fabulous idea," Sarabi said as she moved to walk forward. "Now, how about we give you a quick tour of the lands? And introduce young Nala to the other adolescents."

"I think that, that is a fine idea," Mufasa agreed as he too stood. "Please, come with us."

Nala and Sarafina nodded, quickly following after the King and Queen.