CH.2: Narrow jaws of death

Vitani stared down at the female cub with a mixed reaction, one of horror and one of delight. However it soon set on her that she was not one of the Outlanders…she would know. No, and this was the part of horror…she was a Pridelander. She could tell by her glossy like fur from a mother's bath and the eyes…oh dead give-away. The female stared at her as her chest rose and fell with her heartbeat.

"Are you going to eat me?" She asks timidly and Vitani pulls away shaking her head. Her mother had told her to never play with her food…well…there were occasions but still a meal was something to rip into and hear it wailing out before its death. Growing up with Zira as a mother it did things to the mind…hardened the heart so taking the life of a wounded animal did little to phase or slow one down. While she had only taken down smaller animals she had tasted blood.

"N-No…why would I do that?" She asked as she sat on her haunches. Studying the girl she notes her still lying there not moving.

"Well…I heard that Outlanders take no prisoner, so, seeing how you did beat me-." The cub was really getting on her nerves and she shot her a derisive look.

"If I wanted you dead I would have…and besides…don't go making leaping conclusions till you actually encounter a Outlander…which I'm not." She was lying through her teeth sure but some part of her wanted this cub to like her. It was preposterous and she didn't know what compelled her to do it.

"Oh yeah…then how come I haven't seen you in the Pridelands then?" The female slowly gets up and walks around her. "Your fur doesn't look clean…and there is something about your eyes…"

"I'm a tomboy…so baths aren't really my thing. Plus my eyes are original…I mean who would want boring old brown or red eyes anyway?" Vitani didn't know how to feel about this girl circling her. Normally when another lion did this it was a challenge or sizing up their opponent…but this felt different and she fought off a blush.

"Uh huh. Well I will have you know my eyes are reddish brown and secondly…baths are vital to one's image. Don't you care…I mean if you say you aren't an Outlander then-."

"What is it that you want me to do to prove I am not an Outlander huh?" Vitani had it with her tone and as she advanced on her she found them practically nose to nose. Kiara was startled and was moving away from her.

"W-Well for starters the attitude…cause my dad says that Outlanders are known for outlandish behavior, often times irritable." The female seemed quite sure of herself. If she knew Kovu she would second guess the words of her father.

"Alright…how about proper introductions then? Would an Outlander do that?" Vitani challenged her and noted the indecision over her striking features. She was quite stunning and beautiful and standing in her presence…it affected her in ways she didn't care to admit.

"Alright…that seems fair enough. My name is Kiara. What is your name?" She moved closer to her and once again Vitani was on edge.

"The name is Vitani…and I'd keep a bit away…as I'm not used to having someone so close. You see…I've been living on my own…yeah my parents died so I've been living off what I can find out here." Another lie as she had a mother and two brothers…but…she had to make things convincing; it was vital…and the last thing she wanted was to kill her.

"Oh wow…that sounds harsh. What is it like…living on your own? You see where I come from I am almost always under surveillance and going off on my own is often a no no. The fact I am out here by myself is a wonder…but…I won't waste a second of it thinking how this is affecting my parents."

Vitani moved past Kiara as she looked out at where the crocs were. "So…would making my way across those crocs make me less of an Outlander to ya?" Vitani looks over and sure enough Kiara has fear in her eyes.

"What…no…if anything it means you have a death wish. Come back here…there is no need to endanger your life on whether or not you are an Outlander-."

"There you go again throwing that word around. I will have you know I can be quite brave and virtue like. Care joining me?" Vitani jumped down then and landed on the top of one of the sleeping crocs without so much as waking it up.

"You are nuts…but…I won't be outdone by you." Kiara slowly makes her way down joining her on the croc. Vitani can see the beautiful lioness cub trying to keep from falling in and each time they brushed up against each other she felt her cheeks flare up.

"See…nothing to it…now on to the next one." Vitani shot her a wink before jumping to the next one. Kiara follows after and soon they are on the third. Vitani is feeling quite good about all this…until the one they are on wakes up.

"Uh…Vitani…I think we just woke up the sleeping croc!" Kiara was frightened and Vitani gave her a nudge.

"Hurry…get hopping pridelander!" Vitani urged her and as Kiara began bounding across she followed suit just as the croc pushed up with its mouth.

The two girls were ambling about awkwardly as the other crocs were also awakening from their slumber. Vitani had not intended for things to get so rocky and yet even now the danger was very real. She had just met Kiara but she did not wish any harm to befall her.

"Keep moving…don't slow down lest you want to be croc food!" Vitani yelled. She dove for the next one just as Kiara was already landing on the shore. She was relieved to see her ok. Kiara was already ambling up the side but her paws were so wet there was no traction.

"I can't hold on…Vitani!" Kiara was slowly falling and Vitani put power to her hind legs as she burst forth with all the speed and force she could muster.

"I'm coming!" Vitani leaped for her and as the croc opened up its mouth to swallow her whole she pushed into her body sending the two into the water. Sinking down she could see the crocs they had awakened pushing with their tails towards them. Vitani snarled at one slashing at its face as it neared them. Finding Kiara she urges her to swim and the two push through the water to the far shore.

Vitani found herself scared but if she showed any fear then Kiara would also feel it and show it and…vice versa. A croc snapped at her tail and she had to twist her body a bit just to avoid being pulled down to a rather watery grave. Vitani could see that Kiara was struggling and soon a croc appeared out of nowhere and with its mighty tail smashed it into Kiara who went into the wall. Vitani could see these crocs were not messing around here.

She had done this to her though…not the crocs. If anything happened to Kiara it would be on her. Watching Kiara sink she maneuvers her body around the crocs as they try and block her passage. She was starting to see dots swim before her vision and any moment the lack of oxygen would drown her and she'd be croc food. Kind of ironic that she was a predator but amongst these crocs she was mere prey.

Making it to Kiara she grabs at her with her paws and struggles up against the water. The crocs continue to close in on them and she barely breaks the surface in time as a croc nearly takes off her foot. Coughing up water she drags Kiara to the shore and has to keep dragging her even as her energy was about to run out. The crocs would no doubt chase them up.

"Go away…leave us…alone!" She managed and saw the lead croc stare at her. It was the same one she had scratched back in the water earlier and one eye was shut. It seemed to hesitate and Vitani was about a bit away she estimated from being croc chow. The croc slowly turned away then and the others took the message loud and clear and disappeared.

Vitani let go of Kiara but she could not rest yet…not yet…not while Kiara hung on a thin thread of life. With Kiara on her back dripping wet she began to apply pressure to her chest with both paws. Ever since finding an affinity for water, unlike most lions, she remembered a near death experience like this when she was younger. One of the lioness under Zira's command saved her and taught her how to do this. Leaning down she gazes at her closed eyes and serene beauty before pressing her lips to hers to breathe air into her body.

The pressing of lips together surged within her a sensational amount of guilt and want that she fought hard against. Repeating the motions she waited staring down at her…and it pained her to see her like this. "Kiara…you wake up now…don't make me hit you."

Suddenly Kiara sits up coughing up water and Vitani sat back finally letting the exhaustion sit in. "W-What happened to me…and why am I wet?"

"You nearly were croc food and on the edge of life or death…I however saved you." Vitani suddenly found Kiara on her hugging her.

"Thank you Vitani…even though you were the one that got us in that mess to begin with." Kiara said it light hearted and Vitani attempted to push her off.

"Yeah yeah…now get off me will ya." She manages to get Kiara away and then she hears a roar in the distance. "Oh that can't be good…"

Vitani hadn't even considered how far away from home she had traversed and as the wild mane of Simba was seen along with several lioness and a warthog and whatever the little one was she attempted to leave. However Kiara stopped her.

"Don't worry…I'll let them know what happened…" Kiara does little to ease her worries and as they approach she suddenly blacks out.

Authors note: Vitani and Kiara sure had an adventure in the croc infested waters didn't they? Well Vitani will soon find herself in the company of Simba and the others and all on a lie she made up to keep in the company of Kiara. Meanwhile Vitani's lie will continue to haunt her and her interest in Kiara will not go unnoticed.