How Things Work

As the sun rose above the horizon, the savannah was slowly covered in a blanket of orange that seemed to stretch as far as the eye could see. The early morning cries of the african animals echoed through out the gloomy elephant graveyard, all the way to the glorious Pride Rock and beyond. A silloette of a adolesent Lion, sluggishly crept itself out the cave of Pride Rock, to reveal it was indeed the saviour and leader of the entire kingdom, Simba. The creamy browned haired Lion made his way to the edge of the enormous rock and sat down. Looking out towards his lands, he smiled with pride as the sun's rays reached further and further, revealing more and more of what was his.

"Everything the light touches is our kingdom." He chuckled to himself quietly as he looked up in the sky to see the clouds take the shape of his deceased father.

"Simba?" Came a high voice from behind him, Simba turned round to see his wife, Nala, walking out briskly from the cave where all the other Lionesses were sleeping. Simba strolled over and met her halfway of the rock, he nuzzled against her and purred together as they embraced the moment.

"Good morning." Simba said with a warm smile. Nala blushed and smiled back, turning her attention to the Pride Lands, she looked at the ever rising sun and the orange like blanket that covered the savannah.

"Beautiful, isn't it." She said.

"It is when your here." Simba replied looking deeply into her eyes. Nala looked at him and couldn't help but to chuckle with embarrasment at the compliment.

"I suppose I better go and get everyone a meal." She said grinning. Nala leant over to Simba and put her lips just on the edge of his left ear. "I'll be sure to bring back something extra for you." She whispered, licking him on the cheek before leaving and making her way down the stone steps that led to the grasslands. Simba made his way back to the tip of the rock to see his anxious wife run into the distance and out of sight towards the wilderness. Suddenly out of what seemed nowhere, a small blue hornbill perched itself on the shoulder of Simba who didn't look as though he even realised it.

"Good morning, Sire!" Greeted the mysterious hornbill. Simba turned his head to look at the bird who was grinning happily at him, waiting for an answer.

"Ah, Zazu." Simba replied joyfully with a smile. "Anything to report today?" The King questioned. Zazu shook his head.

"No Sire, everything is fine shape today." The bird replied cheerfully. "Oh, but I must mention. The buzz from the bee's is it seems the Cheetahs are in a bit of a spot." Zazu added shamefully.

"Oh, really?" Simba asked.

"Yes, Sire. Apparently..."

"Uncle Simba!" Interrupted a muffled high pitched voice from within the cave. Simba quickly turned around to see a small Lion cub, flowing with tears, running towards him. Sobbing, and using his forearm as something to hug. "I had a really bad dream." It whimpered. Simba took the cub and stroked it with his paw, hugging it tightly.

"Awww, Kilow its ok. It's ok, don't be scared. I'm here." Simba repeated over and over to try and calm the destressed little lion.

"But, I dreamt that..."

"Shhhh..." Simba interuppted. "I'm here now, hunny." He added purring softly.

Eventually, the cub began to settle down, she looked up at Simba who was looking down at her, smiling at her warmly and still gently stroking her fur.

"You ok now?" Simba asked grinning slightly. The cub sniffeled a few times but then nodded. With the pad of his paw, he wiped away the moist trails of where the tears had led from her face. "You go back inside now with your mom and dad, I'll be in in a minute." He added licking her lovingly on the cheek and attempting to nudge her lose from his arm in the direction of the cave entrance. The cub released her grip on the King and retrieved back into the safety of the cave where all the other Lionesses were sleeping. The cub stop and paused, turning back round to look at Simba.

"Grandpa, where's Grandma?" The cub questioned.

"Hunting, sweetie." Simba replied to her with a smile. Kilow turned back to the cave and carried on her journey, she vanished out of sight as the darkness of the cave seemed to consume her.

"Well done Sire, you've only been a Grandfather for a few weeks and your doing an exquisit job!" Zazu congradulated.

"Yeah." Simba replied sighing. "I still can't believe that MY daughter has had her own cub. I just can't get my head around it. And my she'll be Queen soon, and Kovu..." Simba crindged at thought. "...He'll be the new king of the Pridelands. I...I'm not too comfortable with that happening." The King explained to Zazu, who was still perched on his broad shoulder, listening to his troubles and concerns.

"I'm sure Kovu will be great ruler, just like you and your father." Zazu assured happily.

"I have no doubt of that, its just that...He followed in Scar's paw-prints and has no knowledge of being a King or ruling MY kindgom." Simba said loudly so it was made clear to Zazu that the Pridelands still belonged him. Simba stared out towards the rising sun, it made him remember of what Mufassa said to him when he was just a cub. "A King's time as ruler, rises and falls like the sun. One day Simba, the sun will set on my time and will rise with you as the new King." Simba recited quietly to himself. He paused as his memory flashed back. He remembered the good times he had with Mufassa, he didn't know his Father that well, tradgically taken from him at such a young age by his mad Uncle Scar. Simba's ears pricked as he heard the a joyful laughter from within the cave, he turned to see Kilow merrily exiting the cave, followed closely by her Father, Kovu. His dark brown complexion came apparent when he walked slowly into the open and was basked by the suns intense hot rays. His eyes were still squiting, showing that he had only just woken up. He yawned, showing all his teeth baring and roaring loud in the process. He turned to little Kilow and winked at her.

"Don't go too far." Kovu said with a warm smile. Kilow winked back at her Father.

"I won't Daddy!" Kilow yelled before running happily down the stone steps onto the grasslands, laughing cheerfully while chasing after a small butterfly. Kovu smiled as he watched his daughter frollock endlessly into the yellow and green grasses of the Pridelands. He seemed to memorized by the beauty of her. Simba coughed loudly in order to get his attention.

"Simba? Oh sorry, did she wake you?" Kovu asked walking over to him.

"What, Kilow? No. Why?" Simba replied with one eyebrow raised.

"Cos she woke me." Kovu chuckled. "She also said that she came running to you because she had a bad dream or something." He added looking rather ashamed.

"Yeah but I settled her down." Simba answered. That's when he noticed that Kovu was gently swiping the dirt from the floor with his paw and looked pretty down.

"Kovu are you ok?" Simba asked. Kovu looked at the King, bit his lip and turned his head away from him in shame.

"...No, to be honest Simba...I'm not." He said sighing. "Look, I have only been a Father for a few weeks now and I know nothing of caring for her. I need help. What's even worse is that she dosen't come to me for comfort, she goes to you, and that makes me feel like I'm doing a bad job as a Father. Will you help me...please?" Kovu requested with needy eyes. Simba chuckled under his breath.

"Kovu, I can't help you." Simba replied. Kovu looked at him with wide eyes when the King announced those words. "Parenting isn't something you can teach, it's instinct. I can give you some advice but I'm not going to tell you how to raise your cubs." He explained. Kovu sighed but then managed to crack a small smile.

"Thank you...when do we start?" Kovu asked, jumping against a wall and dragging his nails down it to sharpen them. Making a noise that could be compared to nails on a chalkboard.

"Hmmph...Now." Simba replied with a cocky smile.