Part 3

After Kela finished her meal she decided to groom herself. Her pelt was dirty from her travels. "So you're the one my mate was talking about." Scar came in and stared at Kela.

Kela stood and slightly lifted her wounded leg.

"My mate and I have discussed it and we want you to join our pride. Since you don't have one and my son needs a suitable mate."

"You want me to be your sons mate? I just got here and I don't even know him."

Scar narrowed his eyes. "You will get to know him once he starts showing you the lands of my kingdom. He will start first thing in the morning."

He padded out of the cave. Kela sighed and lay down. Then she fell asleep.

The sun shone over the horizon. Nuka opened his eyes. Kela was sleeping a few feet away. He yawned and stood. Then he padded over to her.

"Wake up. My father wants me to show you our territory."

Kela yawned and stretched her front legs. She didn't want Nuka to know how embarrased she was about what Scar said to her, so she avoided looking in the eye.

He led her outside and through the tall grass. Her leg started to bother her, but walking on it turned the pain into a dull throb.

"This is the waterhole. You can come here and drink water if you are ever thirsty. Make sure you don't hunt here though. Sarabi, the leader of the hunting party, will not allow it."

Nuka didn't hang around the waterhole long. She listened carefully as he explained some of the features of the pridelands.

"That is the end of your tour. You can go back to the cave if you wish."

"I was wondering if you would like to go to the waterhole with me? I haven't seen that much water in days."

She looked at him hopefully. Nuka knew that his father had told her about wanting her to be his mate. This was his chance to impress her.

"Sure."

Kela smiled and headed back in the direction of the waterhole. Once they got there she leaned down and drank some water. The water felt cool as it ran down her throat. Her cut stung, so she slowly slid into the water.

"What are you doing?" Nuka questioned.

"I'm swimming. Haven't you ever swam before?"

Nuka looked at his paws. "No I haven't. When I was a cub my parents thought I was too weak to be alone. I promised myself that someday I would prove them wrong."

Raising a paw, Kela splashed water at him. He growled when the water hit his side. She laughed. He shrugged his shoulders and took a flying leap into the water.

After a while they were both laughing and splashing each other. Nuka got tired and swam around the edge of the bank.

"Nuka! What are you doing?"

He winced at his mothers voice. Zira stood at the bank of the waterhole. "Hi mother. Kela and I were just swimming."

"A son of the royal family does not swim. That is for the lower ranking lionesses. I see you haven't told Kela that. Now come." Zira growled.

Nuka and Kela followed with their heads down. "I'm sorry I got you into trouble." Kela whispered. Nuka glared at her and moved ahead.

When they got back to Pride Rock, Scar was waiting for them. They saw the look on his face and sat infront of him. "As punishment for this foolishment you two will hunt for the entire pride alone."

Kela growled. "Foolishness? Having fun is foolish? In my pride it was entertainment for everyone. What kind of pride is this if you can't have fun?"

Zira, who was standing next to Scar, slashed Kela across the face, leaving three claw marks on her jaw. "Do not dissobey your king. It is very disrespectul especially since he will be your father-in-law."

A tear ran down Kela's face at the sting of her new wound. "I suggest you get on with your hunting or you'll be hunting during the night."

Nuka and Kela nodded and slowly padded back to the grassland.