About an hour later, Simba dropped Nala off of his back and let her slide onto the cold stone floor in Pride Rock.

"Brr…" shivered Nala on the floor. "You know…I think I'd like it better out in the sun, honestly."

"Well I'm not carrying you again," replied Simba, still wheezing from all the effort he had to put into carrying his mate across the Pridelands.

Suddenly, a loud thunder clap sounded from outside and raindrops began to spill from the sky.

"Oh no…" said Bilauri, "we still have to finish our hunt."

"Come on girls, you've hunted in the rain before," reasoned Simba. "You're the greatest hunting party a king can ask for."

"Well think you could come and help, Simba?" asked Sarafina.

"I'd love to," replied the Lion King, "but I think Nala will want someone to keep her company."

"Oh that's okay," replied Nala. "That's what Kopa's for."

"Aw…but Mom…I want to go outside."

"In this storm? Ha! Fat chance. You're staying with me here, Kopa. I don't want you to get hurt."

"Well let's get a move on then," said Bilauri. "Come on Simba, you can take Nala's place."

The hunting party walked out, leaving just Nala and Kopa in the den.

Kopa sighed.

"So…" began Nala, "what do you want to play."

"How about hide-and-go-seek?"

"Now Kopa…you know I can't walk."

"Tag?"

"Come on now."

"Race around the room?"

"Kopa! Look…how about I just tell you a story?"

"You always tell stories," replied Kopa, "I don't feel like listening to a story today. I want to do something today."

"Well I'm sorry, but until it stops raining you're stuck here with me."

Suddenly, the rains stopped and the sun broke out from the clouds. All the magnificent birds of the savannah came out of their hiding spots and broke out into song as they fluttered around the trees.

"Cool! The sun's out!" exclaimed Kopa. "Bye Mom!"

Nala watched as her son ran outside and disappeared from sight.

"Be careful!" she called back. Kopa didn't reply. Nala knew he was already long gone. She sighed. "Well Nala girl, just looks like it's you and me here now."

She looked around the cave. There was absolutely nothing she could think of fun to do.

"Oh well…" she said, letting her head drop to the ground, "the sooner I sleep, the sooner my shoulder will heal up."

And with that, Nala dropped her eyelids shut over her eyes, and drifted off to dreamland.

When Nala woke up, Rafiki was in the room.

"Hello Rafiki."

"Argh!" yelped Rafiki, jumping up into the air. "Oh…it just you, Nala. You scared me."

"Sorry…I didn't mean to. What are you doing in here?"

"Just checking dat you were okay. Hmm…seems your shoulder is pretty bruised still. Just remember…do not try to walk. Dat shoulder needs rest and relaxation – no stress."

"How much longer do you think I'll be in here for?"

"Not much longer. Sorry dat dis had to happen to you, Nala. But remember, everything happens for a reason. Every bad thing…every bad dream…everything in life that's not fair, there's a reason for all of it. Just roar if you need anything…okay?"

"Will do."

"Alright, kwaheri Nala."

"Goodbye to you too, Rafiki."

Rafiki walked out and Nala was left on her own again. The lioness yawned and looked outside.

What beautiful lands we have, Nala thought. I wish I was out in them, but it's just enough to look at them from here.

However, then something caught Nala's eye that she wasn't used to. From a hill on the far East-side of the Pridelands, a set of three small, gray animals were making their way into their lands.

Nala gasped. "Oh no!" she exclaimed. "It's the hyenas – they've returned! I've got to…ouch!" She looked down at her shoulder. In her panic, she had completely forgotten that she wasn't allowed to walk. "Ooh…what do I…oh, right…of course!"

Nala let out a big loud roar to let everyone in the Pridelands know that they were in danger.

"Ooh…" she moaned to herself, "I hope the hyenas don't find Kopa…"