Huh. It occurs to me how uncommon it is, for me, at least, to write a Lion King fanfiction on this place here. I guess it's just because it was what I felt like putting up first? I've felt like writing Lion King a lot lately, and of course I'm obsessed with OCs, so I had to throw in one, or two, or twenty... only three are actually important to the story. The rest of the names don't matter.

Anyway, I'm hoping you enjoy reading this. It would be nice to get a few reviews, but I see how small this section of Fanfiction is compared to a few of my other fandoms, so :3

So, I hope you enjoy, or at least don't think my writing is horrible and such. I'm pretty proud of these OCs - not necessarily my writing, but the characters. Please enjoy? Haha.

- B

Kuchoma - young lion, about the same age as Simba was at the beginning of the first movie. Golden brown fur with a dark red tail-tuft.

Angani - young lion, roughly the same age as Kucho. Her fur is white, and her eyes are a reddish brown.

Nyasi - Pale tawny young adult lion, with a tar-black mane and green eyes. He constantly looks upset about something or another.

Other names you'll see: Vita (Nyasi's friend) Matu (Pride member) Vuli (Current King) Muziki (Vuli's mate)

"Get her out of there!" A desperate roar sounded from outside the ring of fire, where a small white cub stumbled out of a cave. It was surrounded by the fire, trapping the cub, and she was coughing. Her fur was stained with soot, and painted orange by the flames surrounding the rock. As others watched through a wall of flame, the cub tripped over her paws and collapsed on the ground, not moving except for the occasional cough that racked her small body.

With a choked cry, a second cub leaped through the wall and ran to the first cub's side, prodding at her gently with his paw. "Anga! Hey, Anga, get up, okay?" he said, raising his head briefly to look at the walls of fire. They were closing in, slowly, yes, but they were advancing. That always meant danger. "Angani!" he cried desperately, nudging her with his nose.

She blinked her eyes open weakly, smiling slightly. "Kucho..." she whispered, bursting out into another fit of coughing. "Kucho, you have to run. If you don't run... the fire... it will..." Her brown eyes widened, and she rolled over to shove herself to her paws. "I don't want to die like this," she coughed weakly, her legs shaking.

"I know," the other cub nodded, moving to her side to support her. "I've got you, Anga. Let's get away from the fire, now."

"The cave is surrounded..." Anga whispered. "There's no way we'll get out."

"No," Kucho's eyes narrowed, and he shook his head strongly. "No way. You've got to be wrong. I'll find you a way out, Angani. You won't die. I promise."

"Don't..." she was interrupted by a coughing fit. "Don'y make promises you can't keep." He stood firm, and she nodded to him, struggling to her paws and leaning against his shoulder to help her walk. Haltingly, and painfully slowly, they reentered the cave.

Kucho led Anga behind a rock, peering out from that measly shelter at the fire as it consumed what little vegetation lay between the two. The heat seared his throat, his lungs, his face, but he didn't duck out of the way, because Anga was there and needed all the protection she could get.

He heard a roar beyond the ones of fire and blood that filled his ears, and strained to hear. "...cho! Anga! Are you there? Answer!"

"We're here!" Kucho yowled back, as loudly as his voice could handle. "Nyasi! Vita! Matu! We're here!"

Angani raised her head, letting out a mewl of "Here!" in an attempt to help. Still, their pride didn't seem to be able to hear them. Kucho called out until his voice would no longer respond, and he was nearly knocked out by the heat of the fire.

As quickly as it had come, it left. A heavy rain started falling, drenching the fire and weakening it until it died completely. Kucho stepped out into the rain to cool himself down, and look for his family. "Nyasi!" he called, gaining a new voice now that the fire was gone. "Vita! Where are you guys? Matu! We're here!"

Behind him, Angani stumbled out of the cave, coughing. "The fire's gone," she said between them. The rain began to was the soot off her fur, revealing the cloudy white fur underneath.

"Yes," Kucho said, hanging his head. "But so has our family. I'm sorry, Anga."

Anga sat, resting in the cooling rain. "Don't worry, Kucho," she said confidently, "As soon as they know the fire's gone, they'll come looking for us." She settled down, resting her head on her paws. "I'm going... to... sleep..." she said, exhausted.

Kucho smiled at her, laying down beside her to offer what little comfort he might be able to give. "It won't be long," he promised both her and himself, closing his eyes.

When he awoke, the sun was against the horizon, about to set. The rain had cleared. He pricked his ears, raising his head to look around. Anga still rested peacefully beside him, and his eyes softened at the sight of her so rested, without the coughs that so often plagued her.

A stone hit the ground behind him, and he swung around, getting to his paws to see Nyasi behind him. He was a young adult, with a constantly disapproving expression and a tar-black mane wrapping around his face and neck. His green eyes conveyed more emotion than normal at this moment, though Kucho couldn't place it. Was it anger? Disappointment? Disgust? Pride, perhaps? Or maybe he was just seeing things. Nyasi never showed emotion.

"Kuchoma." Nyasi growled, slinking down off the shelf of rock on top of the cave that he perched on. "I have to congratulate you, dear brother, for protecting her." His pale tawny pelt shone orange in the direct sunlight, "When you jumped through that fire, I was sure you both were going to die."

Kucho stood his ground, glaring at the other lion, "We're both alive, Nyasi. No thanks to you, of course. Couldn't you hear me calling for you guys?"

"Not a word," Nyasi chuckled lowly, in a way that said that yes, he had absolutely heard. Circling around and bringing his face right in front of Kucho's, he breathed, "Jeez, Kuchoma. Imagine the despair of Muziki and Vuli and the others when they learn that you two died in a fire. Can't you understand the despair that you've caused them? They'll have to find another heir!"

Kucho wrinkled his nose at his brother's bad breath and odd words. "But, Nyasi, we're still alive-"

Nyasi began moving again, shaking his head as if he were disappointed. He stopped near the sleeping Angani, looking down on her with something in his eyes that Kucho didn't like at all. Maybe it was hunger.

"And this cub," Nyasi said, his voice dripping with fake grief, "Her death will cause an uproar! We won't only have lost our prince, but our bargaining chip as well! And you know what happens, Kuchoma, when an important member of another tribe dies under our care, yes? You're the heir, how could you not?"

Kucho felt the blood drain from his ears as he heard that, and understood its meaning. Nyasi had always come up with cruel strategies for getting what he wanted. But this... even this seemed over the top for him. "Nyasi... you wouldn't. You couldn't do that."

"Couldn't I?" Nyasi's grin grew wider with each word. "All my life - all my life - I've waited to be made prince, you know. You have always been my only obstacle; perfect, darling little Kuchoma." His expression darkened. "You can do no wrong in our great leaders' eyes. Unless..." He opened his eyes wide, and began to laugh gleefully, "Unless they believe you dead! And then, when they deliver the sad, sad news about your little white cub there-"

"Anga," Kucho narrowed his eyes, letting his claws slide out as he looked at his brother carefully. "Her name is Anga."

Nyasi chuckled, "Dear Kuchoma, you know how rude it is to inturrupt someone when they're speaking, especially over something so trivial as a name. And you also know how rude it is to address figures of power by silly little nicknames. Angani there is merely a consort - a bargaining tool. As long as she's here, her pride is at our mercy."

"That's wrong!" Kucho spat, "Anga prefers this name! She told me that herself! And we couldn't simply use her. She's as alive as the rest of us!"

"Ah, you're right there, clever little Kuchoma. She's alive at this moment. But she doesn't always have to be. Just imagine it, Kuchoma!" Nyasi threw back his head and laughed uproariously, "Imagine it! A war with another pride, over their lost little princess! It would be just the opportunity to prove myself to Vuli that I am destined to be the next King around here!"

"Nyasi!" Kucho protested, "You can't! You can't kill her! If you do, you'll never be the prince. Vuli can recognize those with blood on their paws with a single look! That's why he's King around here!"

Anga stirred, and Kucho pricked his ears, narrowing his eyes in her direction. Now would be the absolute worst time for her to wake up, he realized.

"Oh?" Nyasi chuckled, following his gaze "It appears your princess is about to awaken, Kuchoma. Now is the time I should strike." He narrowed his eyes, however, as if in thought. "Perhaps, though. you are right about Vuli, so... why don't I cut you a little... deal?"

Kucho glanced warily at Nyasi, noticing how unlike him it was for him to change his mind. He flattened his ears. "What do you have in mind?" he growled lowly.

"Ah, look at that!" Nyasi laughed loudly, "Kuchoma, you've never sounded so threatening in your life! Dear brother, do you think you have a bit of a crush? A need to protect that little princess of yours?"

"Tell me, Nyasi!" Kucho growled, though he did cast another glance at Anga as the other lion mentioned her. "What is this deal?"

Nyasi rolled his eyes, "Dear little Kuchoma; always knows how to put a damper on a fun situation." he muttered to himself. "But if you want to hear it so bad... here it is." He leaned his head in extremely close to Kucho, "You leave. You and your little princess, run away and never return to these lands, and I'll spare you."

His eyes narrowed, and his grin receded, "But, if I find you or the princess on this land after morning tomorrow, I will kill you both without another thought. I hope you understand that, brother. I don't want to kill my kin, but I will. I was prepared to when I came here."

Kucho backed away, seeing Anga start to grow concious. "Alright," he said to Nyasi, "We'll leave. You can count on it." Just imagining her white pelt stained red sickened him. No matter what it was that stained it.

Nyasi's eyes glinted, "I'm sure I can," he said smoothly, backing up and beginning to walk away. "Remember, dear Kuchoma. You only have until dawn to get as far away as you can. Good luck, with that handicap of a princess."

Once he was out of sight, Kucho turned to Anga and began poking at her. "Angani, wake up," he said softly. It took a few moments, but the white lion blinked open her eyes.

"Yes, Kucho?" she asked, yawning.

"Listen, Angani, we have to leave. This place isn't safe for us anymore." Kucho said urgently.

"What?" she asked, sitting up, "Why?"

"I'll explain later," Kucho promised, "But we really have to leave. We have until dawn to get as far away from here as possible. If we don't..." he couldn't bring himself to say it.

Anga's eyes glinted with recognition. "It was your brother, wasn't it?" she said softly. At his affirmative answer, she smiled sadly, "I understand. We'd better get going, then. Lead on, Kucho."

Kucho nodded, turning and doing just that. Nyasi, from his nearby hiding place, chuckled ominously. "That was so much easier than I'd hoped it would be. Don't make me regret leaving you alive, little prince. I can't believe I hesitated there, of all times."

With a final snort, he turned away, drawing crocodile tears to his eyes as he walked back to his family. Goodbye, dear brother.