The Shadowland Princess
Chapter 2
A decision must be made
Three weeks had passed since Vitani's birth, and she had become a playful little cub, which always kept her mother or any other lionesses who were watching her on their toes. All the pride sisters (aside from Zira) had come to love her, knowing full well she was Scar's daughter, but that didn't matter since her father never came to see her. She was always keeping their spirits alive and they saw her as a blessing other than her half-brother, Nuka, who seemed destined to grow up like his father. The lionesses did their best to protect her since the hyenas were always threatening to kill her while she slept. Whenever Vitani saw them she knew they weren't friendly and ran to her mother or babysitters, and they would always offer her protection and comfort. Vitani knew Scar was her father, but didn't like him one bit. She had been told as far back as she can remember of what he was, and didn't understand why he did such bad things. Nala always told her one day things would get better, but how soon that one day was, she did not know. Vitani always suggested they go find help, and Nala knew she was right. She had been thinking the same thing (like mother, like daughter), but didn't have it in her heart to leave her daughter or even her mother. One day a decision finally came that one of the lionesses had to do something about Scar and go find help, but they were having a hard time choosing who should go. Nala finally said she would go, but her mother intervened and said, "No Nala, I don't want to lose you to what dangers lurk out there."
"They Can't be any more dangerous than what we have here," Nala argued.
"But what about Vitani? You can't leave her," Sarafina said.
They all look at Vitani who was sleeping not too far away. "I won't mother, she is coming with me. If I leave by the time the sun has set tonight, I can be at the jungle by sunrise tomorrow. Plenty of time to get Vitani out of the blazing heat before it can harm her. Then, I can possibly find some food for me to eat so she can have a decent amount of milk. She won't last much longer if I don't go mother," Nala explained.
Sarafina knew there was no beating Nala at this argument and she knew Nala was right. Nala always had a plan, even when she was a cub, she always managed to get out of trouble. She finally says, "Alright, just promise me you'll be careful. I don't want to lose both my daughter and grand-daughter."
"Mom, you won't, trust me. I'll be back before you can say 'gifted hyenas'," Nala says as she nuzzles her mother.
She then goes to wake up Vitani. "Vitani, time to get up my little one," Nala says as she nudges Vitani awake.
"Mommy, what's going on?" Vitani asks, slowly waking up from her nap.
"You and I are going somewhere honey, but we have to leave now," Nala tells her.
"Where?" asked Vitani.
"I'll show you once we get there," Nala says and she picks up her daughter.
Vitani knew it would be a while before they got there since her mother usually lets her walk to wherever they're going. So this had to be quite the distance. She just let her mother carry her. Soon they were off. The pride sisters watched, making sure no one saw her take off, and Nala soon came to the desert. It was now or never, because there was no going back without help. She ran as fast as her legs could carry her and didn't stop. Her only focus right now was getting her daughter to safety. It felt like forever, but she finally made it to the jungle, and just as suspected, just before sunrise. She soon came to a stream and put her daughter down gently so she wouldn't wake her. She then drank from the stream to quench the thirst from her long trip. Once she finished she caught a scent, a scent she had not had a fill of for a long time. Warthog, but there was another scent she caught that she could not place, though it was so familiar. She brushed it off and woke up Vitani. She told her to follow her since she was going to find them some breakfast. Vitani nodded and followed. They both went deeper into the jungle.
Dun..Dun..Duuun, yes that is Pumba and Simba she smells. But they don't know that, and what will happen now that Simba knows Nala has a daughter. That is for the next chapter. Please review. Let me know what you think.
.