I don't own any of the animals.

"What in the name of the great kings of the past are they," Simba asked, astounded and confused at what Zazu had led them to. Kovu had similar feelings at the sight, but didn't say anything. "She's being kept here," the king asked, after a few moments.

"Yes, sire," Zazu replied.

"Where, 'exactly'," Kovu asked.

"She was being held in the middle," Zazu replied, "but I will check again."

Kovu nodded, and muttered, "thanks."

It took longer than expected for Zazu to return, but when he did, he said, "she is still being held in the middle,"

"Hmm," said Simba frustratedly, knowing that while Vitani was in the middle of this place, there would be little chance of getting her out.

"And, er..." Zazu said, slightly unsure of whether he should say what he intended.

"Yes," asked Simba.

"I also, er, got a bit closer," Zazu said, "she appears to be sleeping, but she appears to be alive, at least, for now."

"Thanks," Kovu said.

"Is there any way we can get in without being seen," Simba asked.

"It's...unlikely, sire," Zazu replied.

Simba growled discontentedly, then turned to Kovu, and said, "are you staying here?"

"Yes," Kovu replied, "why, aren't you?"

"As much as Vitani is important to all of us," Simba said, "I can't afford to shirk my duties as king."

"So that's it," Kovu asked accusingly, after a few moments, "we're just leaving her here?"

"'I' have other duties to attend to," Simba replied, slightly coldly, "you, at the moment, do not." With that, he turned, and walked away.

Kovu was stunned for a moment, then he started to think about what Simba had just said. Suddenly, he realised that the king had left him here because he wanted Vitani back, and he'd left the prince to do it.

"Er, sire," Zazu asked, as he took off, then made his way over to Simba, "what shall I do?"

Simba thought for a moment, then replied, "stay here with Kovu, he''' need you more than I will."

"But sire," Zazu began, prosesting.

"Zazu," Simba said, with an odd, threatening, tone in his voice.

"Sire," Zazu said, shrinking back a little. After a moment, he took off, and made for Kovu.

Simba sighed, thought about the choice he'd just made, then continued on towards the Pridelands.

"Da...father, where's Kovu," Kiara asked, as Simba made his way up Pride rock for an afternoon rest, and a meal.

"He wanted to stay to see if he could get Vitani out," Simba replied.

Kiara glanced around, then picking up a leg that had remained untouched, she said, "I might just take something to him then."

"A good idea perhaps," Simba said after a moment, glaring at the lionesses who'd given Kiara odd looks.

Kiara adjusted her grip on the leg slightly, and gave her father an imploring look, reminding Simba that she didn't know which way to go. The king looked up, glared at the pride slightly, then turned, and with the princess following him, descended Pride Rock.

"Eurgh," Vitani moaned, waking up. Yawning, she rose, and took a step forward, then gasped, as her muzzle touched on something cold. Yawn cut short, she opened her eyes, and saw that she was in some sort of trap, one made of stone by the feel of it.

Vitani twisted her head to get a grip on one of the uprights, and tried to break it off, but all she did was strain her neck, and almost break a tooth. Trying to kick the trap apart also failed, except for one whole section, which seemed to move slightly, but now enough.

"Hey," Vitani called, "what's going on, where am I?" The level of commotion from nearby dropped a bit, and a few moments later, a head appeared. The head itself shocked her, there was no muzzle, except what might have been the nose, no real hair, except a patch on the top, and it was an odd colour.

The face looked in for a moment, then disappeared. Just as Vitani was beginning to wonder what was going on, the face appeared again, and this time, it came fully into view. It was tall, thin, and stood only on its hind legs. Some of its hide appeared to be very loose. It was carrying a long, straight branch, which put her in mind of Rafiki, though whereas the shaman's staff had gourds on the end, this one had, what might have been meat.

The creature, staying well back, put the end of the pole into the trap. Vitani sniffed at what was indeed meat, then detecting no untoward scent, pulled it off the end of the staff. Looking at the creature, she said, "thank, yeah, I'm hungry, but I still..." Either not listening, or not understanding, the creature left.

Vitani wondered if she should roar, but decided against it, it was unlikely to do anything except annoy whoever was holding her here. She sniffed at the meat again, she didn't recognise the smell, but it seemed alright to eat. Her stomach gurgled, reminding her she hadn't eaten today, and so, with nothing else to do, she ate.

"Kovu," Kiara hissed, when they found him.

"Mm," Kovu replied. He was concentrating hard on the odd place, and didn't seem to hear them.

"Kovu," Kiara hissed again, and this time, nudged him as well.

"Mm," kovu said again, but this time turned to see, "oh, uh, hey Kiara, Simba." then he spotted the leg, and asked, "what's that?"

"Food," Kiara replied, the nodded over her shoulder, "coming?"

"er..." Kovu said, turning to Simba, who nodded. He followed Kiara a little way from the odd, place, and they began to eat the leg.

"You looked kind of, well, intense, back there," Kiara said, as they ate, "what was going on?"

"I thought I heard Vitani," Kovu replied, downcast.

"You're not sure," Kiara asked sympathetically.

"No," Kovu replied, sighing, "it might have been her, or it might have been a leopard."

Kiara paused a moment, then nuzzled Kovu, and said, "don't worry, I'm sure we'll get her back somehow."

Kovu looked at Kiara, who was smiling encouragingly, and felt the beginnings of a smile on his own muzzle. "Maybe she will," he said, though without much conviction.

"Anything new Zazu," Simba asked, when Kovu and Kiara had gone.

"Little change sire," Zazu replied,, then brightened up slightly, "although I do believe Miss Vitani is awake."

"That's good news at least," Simba said, "any chance of getting her out?"

"Not as yet sire," Zazu replied, "there as still a fair few creatures around, perhaps later."

"Perhaps," Simba said.

A while afterwards, Kovu and Kiara approached, and the princess asked, "father?"

"No change," Simba replied, guessing. Turning to face them, he asked, "you're staying here tonight?"

"I am," Kovu replied, "I don't know about Kiara."

"If you're staying, I'm staying," Kiara said.

"As you wish," Simba said, "I'll come out early tomorrow, come on Zazu."

"At once sire," Zazu said.