The young hyena cub eagerly shook the fine dust from the burrow out of her blue-gray pelt. With a smile, she hurried towards her mother, excited by the prospect of playing for a few hours in the remaining sunshine.

"Mother? After we come back from getting water can I—"

"I hunt tonight, Najia," the adult said, looking up from where she had been tending the healing gash on her left leg. "You must be quick to drink, then head back underground. I leave as soon as the sunsets."

And the child froze, a sad frown draining the joy from her face, "I've spent all day down there."

"And so you shall spend the night," the adult said, frowning. "We've talked about this. You must stay hidden."

Thinking fast, the cub made another attempt, "What if I come with you? I'll be good, and I won't make any noise."

"Don't be foolish, child," Waseme snapped, glancing with disapproval upon her daughter. "You cannot go."

Turning to peer out over the expanse of bones towards the red-yellow sun sinking down in the west, the elder of the pair released a frustrated sigh. How could the cub could complain all afternoon about being hungry and then protest their only means of getting food?

Maddening child.

The sound of bones clattering against the hard, dry ground drew her attention back upon her young daughter.

"Najia!" she scolded. "What have I told you? Do you want the lions to find us?"

Cowering beneath the angry, snarling form, the cub shook her head. "N-No, Mother. I'm sorry."

Grumbling low in her throat, the older hyena limped away from her charge. After several deep breaths, she allowed her worn body to sink heavily into a sitting position on the ground.

"Come here," she demanded.

Not daring to hesitate, the young female was sitting at her mother's side in a few short moments, well-tensed for the punishment to come. Waseme, however, surprised her.

"My child, you are very dear to me," she began, glancing down at the cub. "Even when I am angry with you, it is out of a desire to protect you. I cannot do that if you do not obey me. You must remember that we are not safe here. Not ever. And this is not out home. We are just passing through so that I can heal. If the lions catch us because you are foolish, I could not defend you as I am...Do you understand?"

Mournfully, the cub nodded.

"You stay here while I'm hunting because here I know you are safe," Waseme continued, giving her daughter a rare rub of affection. "When I am better, we will find the place where we belong, somewhere you can run and play and make as much noise as you want…but for now...Now, you must trust me."

The young cub gazed longingly at the green fields just beyond where she sat, curling into the adult's side. "I trust you, Mother."


After watching the king rush off in the direction of the southlands, Kopa had settled himself on a low kopje at the base of Pride Rock.

He was well out of view of his would-be supervisor, Nura, and he knew he would get in trouble if he was found, but he didn't care. The rocks beneath him had been his parents' favorite day-time resting place since they were cubs, and as such were infused with the royals' scent. It was a combination of rich, summer grass and morning dew blanketing the savanna. It was balanced, soothing to his troubled mind. And being enveloped within it while he awaited his father's return had helped keep the tears at bay.

"Kopa! Kopa, where are you?"

The cub tensed, urging himself to become invisible as Abasi appeared beneath his pile of rocks.

"Kopa, come on! This isn't funny!"

The release of a low sniffle turned out to be the prince's undoing. Abasi spun at the sound, and a brotherly scowl darkening his features.

"What are you doing up there, kid?" he questioned. "Nura was about to go tell the Queen she couldn't find you. Do you want to be grounded again?"

Kopa tucked his head inside his paws, "I don't care."

And the elder sighed, "Kopa, I told you that everything would be okay with your parents. Lions fight sometimes. Just like you and Afua the other day or me and Kondo a few weeks ago. It doesn't mean anything bad."

"But they've never done that before," Kopa whined, gazing down up with sad eyes upon his friend. "Not ever. Even you said so."

Abasi rolled his eyes, "Okay. I did say that, but just because we've never seen them fight before doesn't mean they haven't. Everyone does. Later tonight they'll make up, and it will be just like it was before. You'll see. Now, come on. We've got to let Nura know I found you before she tells your mom."

Un-soothed by the older male's short words, the cub curled himself into a tighter ball upon the rocks. "I'm staying here."

"You can't be where Nura can't see you, Kopa."

"I'm not going," the younger cub protested, his brow furrowing in determination as he looked out towards the southlands. "I can't see Dad coming back from the other side."

Shaking his head, Abasi huffed, "Your funeral, kiddo."

He bounded off with the same quickness that he had appeared, and Kopa dropped his head onto the top of his paws, watching the herds shift against the southern horizon.


"What a beautiful picture you make, my daughter," Sarafina softly called to the lone figure standing at the base of Pride Rock's promontory. "Never had I dreamed holding you in my arms as a cub that you would grow into such a fine, young lioness. Into such a Queen."

At the familiar voice, Nala turned towards the den and watched the aging female emerge from the darkness and draw near to claim the vacant space by her side.

She grinned. "Mother..."

The pair shared in a warm nuzzle before the queen looked up to meet familiar blue-green eyes, bowing her head humbly at the words Sarafina had spoken.

"Thank you, Mother," she breathed. "I have...I have tried to be a good queen."

Smiling, the elder nodded and hummed her agreement, "All you can ever do is try. It's all any of us can ever ask of you...or the king."

Nala shifted her eyes back out over the land, trying and failing to ignore the swell of hurt that rose at the mention of her mate. She was silent.

And Sarafina nodded with silent understanding, a faint smile on her lips as the sound of cubs laughing in the grass below filled her ears.

"I don't know if you remember this, Nala, but shortly after we lost Mufasa in the gorge, your father lost a little bit of his mind."

The queen turned with wide eyes upon her mother, "What? I-I knew they were close, but—"

"No, no, my dear. Let me explain. You see, after Mufasa's death when Scar brought the hyenas to Pride Rock under his protection, you father became extremely protective of you and Mheetu." Sarafina paused and shook her head in mind frustration as the memories resurfaced. "I told him it was foolish, but he left Rogue Haven anyway and joined us here. Every time a hyena even walked past you two, your father snarled at them chased them away."

"Oh, no."

"I warned him. I begged him to see reason, but he wouldn't listen. In fact, he accused me one night of not caring for the safety of my children. Can you believe that? But Scar saw your father's behavior as a threat to his rule, and banished him from the Pride Lands—not without giving the hyenas their satisfaction, mind you..."

Nala frowned, shaking her head into the stone, "Yes. I remember...You were crying."

"Mm. Indeed I was."

Lifting pale, blue eyes onto Sarafina, the queen's brow furrowed even deeper at the phantom pain she saw on her face. "Mother, why did you tell me that?"

"Because," the elder lioness began, brushing her daughter's face with her paw. "You also are in love with a foolish lion."

At the confusion in Nala's face, Sarafina continued, her voice low and soothing.

"I know it doesn't make it hurt any less, what happened today, but it might help you in fixing it to know that the king behaved the way he did out of fear. Out of uncertainty...Simba only wants to keep his child safe, just as your father did, and in his mind, you were standing in the way."

The queen turned from her mother as she pondered these words, feeling the balls click together in her head. In a matter of moments, she found herself agreeing on all counts.

Simba had acted out of uncertainty.

Simba had been scared for their son.

Simba had seen her as stopping him from protecting their son...which made him a fool, and she was still very much in love with him.

"That idiot," she hissed, glancing over her shoulder in the direction he had gone to intercept Rafiki. "If he doesn't watch out he's going to end up getting himself banished from our kopje."

Sarafina laughed, her eyes warm and light.

"I'm serious, Mother," Nala said. "Scared or not, we're in this together. He needs to listen to me, especially in times like this. He doesn't think straight when he's stressed. Not to mention eat or sleep right...I'm worried about him."

Her mother agreed with a soft nod, "He has always pushed himself hard. Lost his father too young, right at the age where he was still believing that Mufasa was perfect. Now he's trying to be perfect himself. He is lucky to have you, my dear."

Nala huffed, "How can I help him if he won't listen to me?"

The elder lioness grinned, nudging her daughter's shoulder suggestively. "You'll just have to make him. He may be King of these lands, but you are Queen, a beautiful one at that. I'm sure you could subdue him enough to where he'll listen."

"Mother!"

"Well, can you or can't you?"

"Mother, that's inappropriate," the queen grumbled, trying to hide her smile. "Besides…there won't be much more of that for a few months at least."

Sarafina's smile widened, "You...You're pregnant?"

Nala nodded, "Kopa will have a sibling."

"Or siblings!"

"No," Nala disagreed, smiling as she glanced down at her belly. "I feel like it's going to be just one. A girl."

And Sarafina's eyes softened with pride, "Praise the Great Kings. Another circle is begun."

The sun was low in the western horizon, casting a calm stillness upon the land as mother and daughter basked in the afterglow of Nala's news. The roll and shake of a short roar, however, briefly unsettled the easy quiet and caused both to look up.

"Looks like the scouting party's returned..." Sarafina noted, her eyes focusing on the lionesses she could see nearing Pride Rock.

Nala turned from her mother and hurried towards the stepping stones that lead down from the Pride Rock.

"Tell the den," she called back to Sarafina. "Have them make room!"

The queen meet the weary individuals at the base of Pride Rock, the group of females already surrounded by a curious few cubs which Nala pushed through firmly but gently.

"Your Majesty."

The young, soft brown lioness in the front bowed low before Nala, with those surrounding her following suit. It was show of respect the queen appreciated but wished they had bypassed this time, given the situation.

"Hanaa, where is Johari?"

Before the lioness could respond, a voice called out from the back of the group. "I am here."

The crowd parted to allow the lioness in question to limp forward, supported on her right side by her sister, Binti.

Just with a single look at her, Nala knew that she was in intense pain, not to mention still a bit faint from the rocks hitting her head. She urged them inside.

"Come. Simba should be returning soon with Rafiki. We must get you resting. Do you think you can make it up, Jo?"

Bravely hardening her face, Johari nodded, "I do."

"Alright then."

"Mom!"

The party was startled by the shrill, panicked voice, and before any of them could do anything, a dark brown cub had bolted to Johari's side.

"Oh!" the wounded lioness moaned, her son's soft scent filling her nose. "Afua."

The cub gazed up at his mother with worry-filled, green eyes, "Mama, what happened? W-Why are you limping?"

"Hush now," she soothed, nuzzling him through her pain. "I'm alright. Just hurt myself a little. That's all."

"But what happened?" he cried, burying his face in her neck. "Y-You've never come back hurt before."

Johari closed her eyes, feeling tired, "Baby, Mama needs to rest."

"But—"

"Afua, I know you're afraid, little one," Nala gently interrupted, "but your mother needs you to be brave for her right now, alright? Can you do that?"

Swallowing hard, Afua nodded.

Nala spared him a quick smile, "Good cub. Now, I need you to gather your friends and Nura and head inside. You can talk to your mom more there."

Doubtfully, the young cub glanced back up at Johari's face. She was smiling at him reassuringly. "Obey her, Afua," she said.

The young cub nodded, giving a final rub against his mother's side, "Yes, Mama."

He scurried off, taking the rest of the gathered cubs with him, and Nala exhaled in relief. "Alright. Please get her to the den. She looks like she might be going unconscious again, and at that point there will be no moving her."

The lionesses departed with surprising speed, assisting Johari until she reached the top while Nala remained at the base.

Something had struck her when she noticed that her ever-curious son was not among the huddle of cubs surrounding the lionesses. She remembered that she hadn't seen the cub playing after her argument with Simba and suddenly felt the need to see him. To have the little fur ball curled up in her arms and know that he hadn't gotten a wild hair and raced across the savanna after his father.

She stood in expectation when the pale-gray lioness rounded the corner, cubs of varying ages bouncing around her.

"Nura, where's Kopa?" Nala questioned her voice high and anxious at noticing his absence.

"Y-Your Majesty, I—"

"I know where he is," the elder cub Abasi said, rolling his eyes to himself. "He's on the kopje above the chipmunk cave."

Her panic lessened, but the queen still frowned, "On the...What is he doing all the way over there? Nura, the other cubs were not playing anywhere near those caves! Could you not see him?"

Flinching, the three-year-old lioness paled beneath her fur, "Well, h-he refused to leave and would not come when I called. Abasi stayed with him for a while, and then I—"

"Enough!" the queen snapped, glaring hard at Nura. "Just get the cubs inside. Make sure they're all accounted for."

And without another word or moment of hesitation, Nala bounded through the darkened grass towards the familiar rock configuration, praying to the Great Kings that her son was still there.


"Where is he?" Simba grumbled, frowning in the direction of Rafiki's tree. "He should be here by now."

The king had been pacing at the halfway mark between the baobab and Pride Rock for a good while. In that time, he had debated about going on to fetch the monkey himself. He had debated about going back to Pride Rock. He had debated about staying where he was and just waiting (which was what inadvertently ended up happening, though it was not his decision). His argument with Nala had filled him with unsettling waves of uncertainty—as they always did. He could never decide even in the simplest situations what was best, what was right, when his relationship with his mate had been shaken.

He knew this, and he growled into the dirt in frustration, "Why couldn't she just let it go? Why does she always have to act like she knows everything?"

Because she does.

Simba hissed, pacing irately in the opposite direction. "She doesn't understand. I have an obligation to this kingdom to do what needs to be done in order to protect it."

Was that really what needed to be done?

"I am the king!" he roared into the sky. "Who would know better than I what needs to be done?"

Perhaps the queen...

Simba extended his claws and slashed into a nearby umbrella tree, frightening several birds from their shady perch within its branches. He watched them go with a sigh, Nala's startled and pained face flashing like a picture in his mind, and bowed his head in shame.

"You still proud of me now, Father?"

He groaned resignedly and lowered himself to sit upon the dusty ground beneath the scarred tree.

"Who are you, Simba?"

Looking up to find Rafiki perched on a low branch of the tree, the king started, his eyes wide with emotion.

"How long have you been up there?" he questioned, furrowing his brow. "Johari is injured, you old bat!"

Though he probably should have, Simba did not anticipate the rather large melon than fell upon his head. "Oww!"

"Do not insult Rafiki," the shaman scolded, appearing beside the king. "He knows your father. And Rafiki has been here long enough to know that you do not know who you are again."

Simba winced as he massaged his head, "What?"

"Who are you?" the monkey repeated.

And the king moaned as he stood, "Oh, not that again. I know who I am, okay?"

"No, you don't."

"Yes, I do."

"No. You don't."

Shaking his head, Simba began walking away but Rafiki's cane blocked his path. He huffed, "I know who I am, Rafiki. King of the Pride Lands…just like my father."

"You think all Mufasa was, was a king?"

At this Simba frowned, turning back in the direction of Rafiki's voice, but he was gone. The sound of faint mumbling drew him in the direction of the Pride Lands and the monkey that was somehow already several yards ahead of him.

"Hey! Wait!"

Upon reaching his friend's side, Simba frowned at him. "Why do you always disappear?"

Rafiki shrugged. "Why do you always stay where you are? Rafiki cannot meet everyone's expectations. I am not a god."

The king huffed, "You said that my father was more than a king."

The shaman began ticking off individuals on his fingers, "Ahadi. Uru. Scar. Sarabi. You...That's at least five individuals besides the general kingdom that your father had responsibilities to. Not to mention his friends and acquaintances...like Rafiki."

"So?" Simba snapped, still irritable. "What does that mean? Everyone has those things."

"Exactly," Rafiki mumbled. The shaman closed his eyes and hummed as he walked, seeming to signify that he was done talking, but Simba's patience had reached its end.

He snatched the staff from Rafiki's hand and proceeded to whack him on the head with it.

"Oi!"

"Could you speak plainly for once?" Simba growled, dropping the staff as he stared at the old baboon. "What is it? What other part of this am I missing?"

Rafiki glared hard at the king, muttering to himself once more as he picked up his cane.

"What was Mufasa to Ahadi and Uru?" he questioned.

"Their son."

"To Scar?"

"His brother."

"What about you?"

"My father."

"And to Sarabi?"

"His wife."

Rafiki narrowed his eyes as he asked again, "Who are you, Simba?"

The king looked away, gazing back across the land at the faint and small image of Pride Rock against the horizon. "I am a king..."

"What else?"

Furrowing his brow, Simba called out his other titles, "I am a son, a father, a...a husband."

"Yes," the shaman agreed with a nod. "Like your father, you have responsibilities to these too, even more so, perhaps, than your responsibility to the kingdom. Being ignorant of them interrupts your balance and interferes with your abilities as King."

Simba dropped his gaze onto the ground, watching it roll away beneath his feet. He shook his head, "Rafiki...What have I done?"

"Nothing that has not been done before."

"I don't know what I'm doing," Simba continued forlornly. "He never taught me how to do this. How to be king. How to be king and everything else…"

"Ah, but Mufasa did teach you about balance," Rafiki noted. "Think about your pledge as king: How can you be lead and protect the kingdom without first doing so for your son? How can you honor the Pride Lands and all it is without honoring Nala and all she is? Father and son balance each other. As do husband and wife. King and Queen."

Simba looked away with a frown, and the shaman continued, smiling at the troubled lion. "You must not forget, Simba, that your father lives. You can still learn from him."

Glancing at Rafiki, the king looked up into the blue sky, at the clouds drifting over the landscape. He yearned for the return of the stars, and again the sudden wallop to the back of his head surprised him.

"Ouch! Geez, what was that for?"

"For Rafiki...and Rafiki's stick!" the monkey grumbled, massaging the old wood with a rough palm. "Now there are two sets of teeth marks. Both yours!"

Still rubbing his head, the king fought back a smile, "Sorry."

"Mm...you are not sorry. Not a bit sorry."

"...No, I'm not."

Another solid whack.

"Ahh! Rafiki, come on!"

"You are the one who needs to come on!" Rafiki called back to the suffering king from at least twenty yards away. "One of the lionesses is injured, you know."

Simba growled lowly in his throat as he ran to catch up with the old baboon.

As the pair walked at a moderate pace back towards the Pride Lands, the king informed his advisor of the reason behind his and Nala's argument, expressing his unease and uncertainty about the new and yet unrevealed threat from near the Elephant Graveyard. The shaman nodded and mumbled in agreement as he listened, and was silent for a long while after Simba finished.

Finally he huffed in mild annoyance, "The whole place just needs drop into the ocean. It would be better than all this darkness surrounding it."

Simba glanced at his friend as they ascended the steps of Pride Rock. "So you think there is real danger then?"

Rafiki shrugged. "Eh...Maybe so. Maybe not. The Graveyard has corrupted many lives, yes, but Rafiki cannot be sure if this time will be the same…I would advise you not to be too rash. I feel all is not as it seems."

Simba furrowed his brow at this, but nodded in acceptance of the wise fool's words, turning to lead him towards the den.

They were greeted by Sarabi, whose brow was knitted in concern.

"She is very weak, Simba," the dowager queen whispered. "As soon as they brought her in she fell..."

Rafiki stepped forward, his face and tone very serious now. "Take me to her."


"Kopa!"

Lifting his head, the Pride Lands' young prince felt a sickening wave of déjà vu overwhelm him as his mother's voice echoed angrily against the quiet of the hour. He flattened his ears and lowered his entire body onto the rock as Nala appeared beneath it, her eyes already intent upon his hiding place.

Darn it, Abasi...

"Kopa, get down here right now, young cub!" she demanded. "I know you're up there, and you're in enough trouble as it is. If I have to lift one paw to come get you..."

Too afraid to hear the rest of that particular sentence, Kopa lifted his head into the queen's line of vision and flinched at the fire in her eyes.

"Come down here!"

Slowly the cub lifted himself from the kopje, looking down at his feet as he dragged himself down the stepping stones. The second all four paws were on the grass, he froze, not relishing the idea of drawing any closer to Nala at the moment. But the queen was not in the mood for games.

"One..."

Kopa died a little death at the realization that his mother had started counting. His gaze widened upon her stern figure.

"Two..."

The young prince was in front of his mother in the span of a breath, and she wasted no time.

"What has gotten into you?" Nala hissed, scowling at her child. "Sitting out here by yourself, not listening when you're told to do something. I just can't believe you've done this after four days on punishment! Do you need more? Is that it?"

Kopa winced, "No."

"Or what about a hiding? Your Grandma Sarabi swears by them."

"No! Please!" the young prince insisted, shaking his head vigorously. "I-I'm sorry! I'll be good! I'll be the best cub ever, I promise!"

As the tears began their steady journey down Kopa's face Nala felt a nausea completely unrelated to her pregnancy seize her stomach. She had been too harsh. Frowning sadly, the queen lowered herself into the grass and pulled the crying, young cub into the hollow formed by her arms. She nuzzled around his small frame, purring until his tears had slowed.

"There, there," she cooed. "It's alright, my son. You just scared me so bad...It's alright now. I'm here."

Kopa curled into his mother's chest, his eyes closed as he listened to her words, her purring, the steady pace of her heart. "Mom?"

"Yes, my treasure."

"Mom...you...you and Dad are okay, right?"

Nala felt her heart fall deeper into her stomach, "You did see our argument then..."

He nodded, wiping meekly at his face, "Yeah. Abasi said that it was normal, and that parents fight all the time, but I've never seen you two do it until today...Dad looked so angry...I-It wasn't funny like the first time."

"I bet not," Nala agreed, pulling back to meet her cubs eyes. "It wasn't funny for us either, love."

An anxious look crossed the cub's face. "So you were fighting?"

Taking a deep breath, the queen pawed gently at Kopa's face.

"For starters, my little prince, let's stop using the word fight," she instructed. "Your father and I were having an argument."

"Abasi called it a fight."

"Well, we're calling it an argument," Nala said, raising her eyebrows. "You didn't see us roaring and baring our claws at one another, did you?"

"No..."

"Now, in the other respect, your friend Abasi was very right. It is normal for all animals to have disagreements with one another from time to time...Even animals that love each another like your father and I do. Most of the time arguments happen because those involved can't agree on something, and that too is very normal, Kopa. It's part of the great design in making us all different."

Kopa furrowed his brow a bit as he mulled this information around in his mind. "So...So you and Dad have had arguments before?"

The queen nodded, "Mhm, many times, and we still love each other and you very much. Nothing could ever change that."

She paused to gaze apologetically into his eyes, "But I am sorry you saw us arguing, my son. I know you seeing that made you upset." Releasing a mournful sigh as a thought crept into her mind, Nala continued. "Is that why you were out here, Kopa? You were hurt by what happened?"

The young cub nodded, "I guess. I didn't want to play anymore. I was watching for Dad to come back."

Nala gave her son an affectionate nuzzle, regretting the pain that he had suffered. As she released him, she glanced up at the sky and was somewhat startled to see the stars starting to come out and shining above her. On cue, the cub in her arms yawned.

"Alright, young one," she said, urging Kopa up onto his paws. "Looks like it's past time to get you in the den."

The young prince smiled hopefully, "If it's time for me to go to sleep, does that mean I'm not in trouble?"

"Nice try," Nala scoffed as she stood. "Do you have any idea how worried I was when you didn't return with Nura? You know better than not minding her and staying where she can see you. Your father will be furious."

Kopa fell into step beside his mother as she began walking back in the direction she had come, his head hanging at the mild scold. "But, Mom, I really am sorry."

"Mhm."

"Really, I am!" the prince insisted. "Please, please don't ground me again. Please?"

Nala rose an eyebrow, "I don't even know if that worked, Kopa. It sure didn't keep you on your best behavior today. Maybe we should take up Sarabi's idea and—"

"No! No, It did work!" More worried than he would have dared mention at the prospect of a hiding, Kopa turned wide eyes upon his mother, "It did! I learned my lesson, honest!"

"And what lesson was that?"

The cub answered without hesitation, "To not fight with my friends or be jealous or tease them."

Nala nodded to herself, "Mm, and were any of those things part of today's mishap?"

"Well…No. But I know that lesson too!" he vowed. "Mind Miss Nura and don't go running off. Mom, I won't do any of it ever again, just please don't ground me."

Glancing down upon the bright-eyed cub at her side, Nala smiled a bit to herself and made a mental note to apologize to Simba for giving him such a hard time about sticking to punishments. What he had said was true; she could not say no when it brought her so much joy to see him happy, to see him playing and racing with his friends. When her entire heart was screaming yes it just wasn't possible to refuse him. And even if he never admitted it, she knew Simba felt the same way.

"Mom?" Kopa called out, worry etched into his face at her delay. "Mom, if you're thinking about it, you should know that this time, if you don't ground me, I'll get a second try at being good. I know I can do it, and..."

I try to be a good queen, Mother.

All you can ever do is try, my dear...

As the echo faded against her ear, another soft smile lit up Nala's face, and she turned to flick her son's nose with her tail.

"Alright, young cub. I'll see what I can do," she agreed, raising her eyebrows in a failed attempt to remain stern. "But if I succeed...and that's a big if...you will have some chores like cleaning out the den by yourself, and I will want no complaints from you about bath time for at least two days."

Giggling Kopa nodded. "Deal."

"Okay then."

"I love you, Mom," the prince whispered, curling about his mother's legs.

Nala's chest swelled as she nuzzled him in return. "And I you."


Back inside the den, Johari lay prone upon the ground. Her soft moans and unconscious growls of pain sounded louder and frighteningly exaggerated among the heavy silence blanketing the den. All present watched on bated breath as the aging monkey poked and prodded at the huntress' wrist.

When he reached up to massage the lioness' shoulder, heads cocked in curiosity and concern, their eyes only widening further as the long fingers of both his hands shifted from there to perform a practiced dance across the entire plane of her body. Rafiki lingered long upon the crown of her head and the faint outline of her ribs, somehow sensing the wellness of what lay beneath. Eventually he shook his head, mumbling to himself in that familiar and yet ever foreign language, his hands coming to rest upon the center of Johari's tan chest.

"W-What is it?" Afua whispered anxiously. "What's he saying?"

"Hush, little one," the king soothed, smiling at the small cub huddled behind Hanaa's legs. "It's alright."

Once the cub's eyes had shifted back upon his mother, Simba stood from the crowd and stepped closer to his primate friend. He whispered low.

"It is alright, isn't it?"

Rafiki opened his eyes, sighing as he nodded. "It will be...Bones have been broken, moved. She is in a great deal of pain…But she is young. She will recover."

Relieved, the king moved away as the shaman reached for one of several gourds beside him. He watched as Rafiki poured a small amount of dark green powder into his hand, holding the hand up close to the lioness' nose.

He glanced up at Simba. "For her head."

Johari's ragged breaths drew the concoction in through her nose, and after a few lungfuls, Rafiki lowered his hand and turned to retrieve another gourd, some liquid audibly swishing within. The shaman shook it a little, looked back up at the king, and unplugged the opening.

"For her inside."

Fearlessly, he pulled aside the lioness' lip, revealing her bone crushing canines, and poured some of the liquid into her mouth.

Rafiki then stood and turned to face Simba with both gourds in his hands. "Two days I must administer this. I will stay nearby. Tonight she must continue resting, but she should be awake by tomorrow."

"King Simba?"

Simba turned at the hesitant call to again face Johari's small cub.

"You may come, Afua," he said.

Afua hurried to his mother's side, nuzzling her face, "Mom?"

"She is sleeping, child," Rafiki assured. "She needs a lot of rest. Tomorrow you can talk with her, but for now, you may watch over her and get some rest of your own."

The king nodded his agreement, watching as the cub curled up into a tight ball by his mother's head. "You have been very brave today, Afua," he said, smiling. "Do not pester her now, and go to sleep."

Burying himself into the side of Johari's neck, Afua nodded and closed his eyes, worry lines still bothering his brow. "Yes, sir."

The majority of the gathered lions dissipated, giving the mother and child pair fond, worried glances as they moved away to find their own corner in which to rest. Simba turned towards the mouth of the cave with Rafiki.

"You said you will stay nearby..."

The monkey nodded, "There is a young baobab that needs blessing behind Pride Rock. I will be there...Maybe."

"And if you are not there?"

"Then I will come to you from where I am," he answered simply.

Simba rolled his eyes. "Right."

"Don't you worry about my business, young lion," the mandarin-baboon scolded. "You have other things to be concerned with tonight."

"Like what? What could be more important than taking care of my pride?" Simba questioned, turning to raise an eyebrow at his friend.

But the shaman was gone. In his place, Simba could hear the voices of his wife and son as the pair ascended the stepping stones to the Pride Rock.

The king bowed his head, a smile playing across his lips. "Right. That."

"...Ijara won the first time," Kopa was saying, bounding ahead of his mother. "But then I won. With Kondo racing we both lost, but when he came back to find us we pounced him. It was so funny!"

"I bet it was."

The prince spun at the deep voice, suddenly realizing that his skipping and spinning had placed him right in front of his father. The youngster took a step back at the unexpectedly stern glint in Simba's eyes. "Oh...um, hi, Dad."

Nodding, the king sat down, his voice terse. "Son."

With Kopa fidgeting uncomfortably at the odd and short greeting, there was a long silence. Then Simba said, "I heard you had some problems minding Nura today."

Kopa's head drooped, "Yeah..." A few heartbeats passed and he looked back up. "But I wasn't trying to disobey her, Dad! It just...kinda...happened that way."

"Kopa, it doesn't matter—"

"Simba."

The king looked up at his wife's voice, taking in her expression, the patient knowing in her eyes. He remained silent as she walked forward to sit beside her son, observed the look that passed between them.

"Simba, Kopa and I have already discussed what happened," Nala said, meeting her mate's eyes. "Thoroughly. He assures me that he is very sorry..."

"Super, super sorry," the prince interjected.

"...And that it won't happen again."

"Not ever."

Nala cocked her brow at her son before continuing. "We talked about what would happen if it did happen again, and we agreed on a suitable punishment for this time."

"And what was that?" the king questioned, glancing curiously between the pair.

"Hafta clean out the den all by myself," Kopa grumbled. "And no complaining about baths for two days."

Simba chuckled despite himself, "Two whole days? Nala, that was cruel."

"Took what I could get," she defended, smiling as she surveyed the pouting cub at her feet.

Her mate laughed, "Still, I would want to be grounded before I—"

"No!" Kopa exclaimed. "No grounding! Please, Dad?"

And the king held up a paw in surrender, "Alright. Alright! Looks like you two have this one. I will gladly hold my thoughts…However, if I hear of this kind of thing again, young cub, I will not be holding back anything. Get it?"

"Got it."

"Good."

Simba reached out and pulled the small cub into his chest. "I love you, buddy."

"I love you too, Dad."

Watching her son snuggle sleepily into his father's arms, Nala smiled.

"Well, it's far past your bedtime, little lion," she said. "Inside with you."

"Aww, Mom," Kopa whined as his father released him. "I'm not that *yawn* tired."

Simba chuckled, "Mind your mother, Kopa."

The prince huffed, though he was so tired that there wasn't much muscle behind it. "Yes, Dad."

With another yawn, he turned from his parents and shuffled towards the inviting darkness of the den. His grandmother Sarabi received him at the entrance and escorted him on his way, leaving his parents alone beneath the stars.

"He is a good cub," Simba breathed, looking proudly after his son. "He will make a fine king."

And Nala smiled upon her mate. "Like his father."

Simba's eyes clouded with guilt, and he turned away to study the stone.

"I wasn't a very good one today."

"Simba..."

"Nala, please," he insisted, looking up into her face. "Let me say this."

Her pale brow furrowing with sadness at the pained regret in his eyes, the queen relented, and Simba began.

"My father taught me that being king wasn't about doing what I wanted all the time. He said it was about the balance that exists among and between all creatures…that, to be a good king, I would have to understand and respect that balance…working always to protect it."

Dropping his eyes over the savanna, he shook his head.

"I disappointed him today. I failed to remember my place with you in the balance. Nala, you are more than just a mate to me. You're my wife, my partner, my best friend since we were cubs, a wonderful mother to our son...You are just as much my Queen as I am your King, and without you, I would be incomplete as a more than just a ruler, but as a lion." Simba turned to face his mate and met her shimmering, blue eyes. "I had no right to belittle you today or make any accusations about your concern for Kopa or this kingdom. I ask your forgiveness."

The queen struggled to speak past the lump that had formed in her throat. She nuzzled against him. "Oh, Simba. Of course I forgive you."

He closed his eyes, taking deep breaths of her beautiful scent, bathing himself in the warm radiance of her compassion. They stayed intertwined in their embrace for a long time, until a distressed shiver vibrated through Nala and caught the king's attention.

"What is it?" he questioned, pulling away with concerned eyes. "What's wrong?"

The queen frowned, glancing towards the den as she gazed at Simba. "Kopa didn't come back and then you and...Kings, I forgot about Johari! How is she? Did Rafiki come?"

"Yes, yes. Calm down," Simba said, grinning at his somewhat panicked mate. "She broke a few bones, but Rafiki tended her. He said she will be fine."

Nala exhaled in relief, "Oh thank the Great Kings. Little Afua was so worried."

"Yes, I know," the king agreed with a nod. "He's asleep now. Also just fine...You see? I can take care of the den when necessary."

The queen scoffed, rolling her eyes at Simba's trademark grin, "As I can take care of defending it when necessary...I really don't think you should stay out at the Graveyard tonight."

"Don't worry, my love," Simba soothed. "I have decided I agree with you. Rafiki also suggests giving it more time and not acting hastily with this new threat. We will wait until the lionesses finish their search, and after that we will decide together what is best."

"Together." Nala smiled as she rolled the word around on her tongue. "I like the sound of that."

Simba nodded his agreement, reaching out to nuzzle her, but Nala backed away, grinning as she stood and began strolling in the direction of the den.

"Where are you—?"

"Tell me, Simba. How would you feel about having two, good cubs to raise together?"

"Two cubs?"

The king felt his heart seize for a moment in his chest, his eyes widening upon the pale lioness gazing over her shoulder at him. The moonlight caught upon the fine strands of her coat. She looked like an angel. "Nala?"

The queen smiled. "We're going to have another cub, Simba."

Surveying his wife in absolute wonder, the Lion King of the Pride Lands grinned like a child.

"What?"


In the faint light of the quarter moon, on a low hill just outside the borders of Rogue Haven, a young lion pushed himself to standing.

Beneath him gazelles and zebras had scattered at some sudden movement echoing out from the eastern brush, and the young lion felt his irises shrink in concentration, his keen ears twitching for the direction of the sound. When it came again, he leaped gracefully onto the ground below. His entire body flooded with adrenaline as he began a steady, silent trot towards the edge of the thick scrub. A familiar and despised scent filled his nose.

Hyena.

His pace quickened and within moments, he was extending his claws, swiping a heavy paw at a dark form.

Waseme's cry was shrill and loud, but despite the new pain to her back, she snarled aggressively at the larger carnivore, turning to face him in defense of the young gazelle lying dead behind her.

The lion bristled at this open challenge, fighting to resist the urge to kill her where she stood. Remembering that only the King could pass judgment.

"What are you doing here?" he growled.

While scanning her periphery for an escape route, the hyena bared her teeth and narrowed her eyes. She could feel the blood pouring fresh from her wounds.

"Answer me!"

The hyena's continued silence caused her adversary to growl angrily and stamp at the ground with both paws as a show of dominance. "If you do not speak, I will kill you."

Waseme groaned within herself, sparing a woeful glance at the kill she had made but would be unable to deliver. In anger and pain, she barked at her attacker and backed away from his massive form.

The lion pounced.

Again thick, black claws sliced deep into the hyena's flesh. She cried out, feeling a hot wetness tightening around her left back leg, his teeth beginning to bore into her skin and the muscle beneath. With thoughts of her daughter filling her mind, she spun and bit down as hard as she could upon whatever part of the lion was within her reach. He released her, his mouth opening in a dramatic roar of pain, and she fled into the thickness of the brush.