Title: Follow in my Paw Prints

Author: Janine Z.

Rating: PG-13

Pairing: Simba/Nala

Category: Romance/Drama

Summary: When his father is killed, young Simba is forced to flee for his life. But what happens when Nala decides to follow?

Spoilers: First movie, the gorge scene is where my take picks up.

PLEASE REVIEW! Please, please, please because they are always welcome!!!

Author's Note: I usually stick to CSI fics, but since I love "The Lion King" sooo much.

Chapter 1 ~ Don't Stop Running

"Run away, Simba. Run away and never return," growled Scar as the pair sat next to the lifeless body of King Mufasa.

More tears, some of terror, some of sorrow, leaked again from Simba's large red eyes. He looked up into his uncle's eyes. Simba saw no pain. No compassion. No sorrow,, no tears and there was no shake in his deep voice. *What is wrong with him? Simba thought. His brother was just killed, and he feels nothing?* Simba did not understand Scar's hate for his father.

Simba did not understand hate.

Scar's blazing green eyes flared again and Simba gasped in horror.

Scar felt nothing.

Simba let out a sob of terror, then spun around and with lightning fast speed, he tore away from him loathed uncle. He vaguely heard the pounding of paws and snarls of determination coming from Scar's three favorite hyenas behind him.

Don't stop running...keep running.

Simba was so young. But Simba was also so grown up. So grown up that he understood what just happened. But too young to understand why it happened. Too young to understand why Scar wasn't sad about Mufasa's death. Why didn't that mean anything to him. But Simba also realized something about Scar that he hadn't before; Scar never really got along with the rest of the pride. *Well,* he thought, * I like Nala and she likes me. And my dad liked her. And my mother likes her and she liked them back. And I like Sarafina and she likes me too and she also likes my mom and dad. Sarafina and my mother get along very well; they were best friends when they were young, like Nala and I are.*

But not Scar. Not Scar at all. He never got along with anyone. No one liked him. And he didn't like anyone either..why was that? There had to be a word for it. But he didn't know of it. He was too young to understand. He was just too young.

Don't stop running...never stop running...never...ever...

Simba barely noticed that he had just tumbled into a thorn patch.

Just keep running.

The hyenas weren't following.

Bust just keep running.

Don't stop running. Never.