AN: Sorry for the long delay. Life has been busy.


Chapter 3


The sun was just reaching the peak of mid-day. That was the only way for him to tell just how long he had been out there for. Having slipped out and away from the den just before his Father and sisters and woken up, at the very crack of dawn that is, Maji had been monitoring the borders of the Pride Lands for some hours. Doing his best to stay downwind as much as possible.

While he was waiting for a glimpse of what laid beyond the borders, it was not the males that walked that land that he had any interest in catching a glimpse at. No. He was far more interested in seeing that young feisty lioness that he had run into four days prior.

Unfortunately for Maji, he hadn't been successful in any of his attempts at seeing her. He did however manage to catch a glimpse of some of the males that lived in the Kingdom. Two were clearly older then the few young males he had seen, the largest male was whom he could only suspect was the King. The uncle of the lioness he was seeking to see.

Maji had thought on many occasions to try and approach them to see about requiring seeing the lioness. Whose name he still did not have. He often wondered if he should have pressured harder to get her name, but then again…his paw went up to touch the spot that she had hit him during their encounter. She might have done more to him than just hit him. He went over in his head once or twice on the possible prospect of names that could be hers, but of course without really knowing there just wasn't any point in guessing now was there?

Looking back across the borders, his eyes scanned for any of the patrolling males. Once again considering if it was worth approaching one of them. But it wasn't like he hadn't had a problem like this in the past; it wasn't uncommon for males in a pride to be protective of their females especially from a rogue such as himself. So there was no guarantee that they would stop and hear him out instead they might as well just run him out of their lands. That had happened before…but then again he thought, there hadn't been a time where a female in the past had rejected him as much as this one did.

Nurisha had begun taunting him with the possibility that, that had to be the reason he was so hung up on seeing her. "You just can't handle the fact that someone finally rejected you and your foolish charms." Was what she had told him with a face full of mirth. Maji thought his sisters were having far too much fun with his plight. At least his Father understood or at least Maji figured he was. Kali not once put his son down about seeking out this young lioness, but had warned him about being careful.

So here he was, being careful.

And not getting a single glimpse of what he was hoping to see. Maybe his sisters were right. He couldn't figure out the reason why he was so hung up about seeing her. Shaking his head he sighed pushing himself up onto his paws and took one last look at the lands, turned and began making his way back to the cave his family now called home even if only temporarily as he figured given that's how it been for some time.

He made it five steps when he noticed his Father sitting in front of him and stopped just before he bumped into him. "D-Dad?" he fumbled over his words. "What…what are you doing here?"

Kali watched his only son with a slight grin. "I've come to find my son. Who once again I wake to find missing." His grin turned into a smirk. "Have you seen her yet?" He watched his son's shoulders slouch just a bit and he sighed. Reaching out he gave his only boy a good pat on the shoulder. "Son, I know you want to see this girl. But you got to face it that you might just not. And this isn't like with the other prides we have come across Maji…I don't think we'll be having any contact with this one." His eyes looked on over his shoulders head toward the Pride Lands once more eyeing the large Kopje in the distance that always caught his attention.

"Why not?"

Blinking, Kali looked back at his son to see Maji watching him intently awaiting the answer to his question. The silver lion really had to think for a moment on what his answer was going to be. He never really told his offspring about where he had originally come from. Just never crossed his mind to do so. He was a rogue and though born in a pride a rogue is all he's ever been and what he figured he would always be to the day he died. Then again, he had once thought he would never actually see the lands of his birth again and yet here he stood on the very borders of those lands watching them with wistful thinking.

Hearing his son clear his throat to catch his attention. Kali turned his attention from the lands of his birth to the emerald eyes of his son who was still watching and waiting for him to answer his question. Grunting, the lion just shook his head causing some of his white mane to fall around his face. "I can't give you a direct answer to that."

Maji who had a suspicion that his father was hiding something, furrowed his brow at the answer he was given. "And why is that Father?" He pressed. Determined to get a proper and honest answer out of his old man.

Kali wanted to smirk again. But kept his face neutral. Despite seeing that his son rarely changed from that curious cub he had once been that would ask him questions like they were meat that he devoured every hour of everyday. Reaching over he laid a paw on his son's shoulder. "I'll tell you one day. But right now isn't the time…alright?" He was hoping Maji would drop the subject for the time being.

At that moment, Kali wasn't comfortable with telling his cubs the truth about the Pride Lands. More so since he rarely remembered all that much from it. Having been so young when he and his mother left them it only had a few vague memories as he went over many times in his head trying to make any sense. But it wasn't his home in any way…as sad as that was. It was his birth place but never his home. His home was the plains that he travelled across his entire life. Those were the only true home he ever knew.

Kali hadn't really thought he'd ever return to the Pride Lands until he had seen the familiar kopje in the distance when he and his offspring were in the midst of yet another…migration? He couldn't be sure if that was the right word…though it suited the situation they lived their lives in rather then adventure. What word really described the life of a rogue?

He mentally shrugged.

Watching his Father's face for a moment trying his best to read him to see if he could pick up what he knew his old man was hiding. Maji grunted. "Fine but one day I want a proper answer."

The larger of the two lions laughed and mussed up his son's mane causing the younger lion to quickly dodge out of reach and attempt to fix up the mess his Father had made of his mane. "What was that for?" Glowered Maji and Kali were sure if his black fur wasn't hiding his skin the boy would be red in the face. He prided his mane a bit too much he thought.

Guffawing, Kali answered. "Because you reminded me of your mother in that moment. Bossy." He smirked at the glare sent his way and patted his sons back. "But as I was saying before…I very much doubt we will be making contact with this pride. And by the scent of it Hiassen is near…I don't think it would be wise for us to stay any longer than we already have." Kali held up his paw to cut his son off when Maji had made to interrupt him.

"I know your views on the matter Maji…"

"Then why are we simply sitting back!?" The younger lion demanded to know. He was beginning to think his Father didn't care at all about what had happened to his mate, Maji's mother. "We should have gone after them already. With them being this close now is our chan-chance…" Maji stuttered in the end from the cold look that came over his father's face and he took a step back lowering his head just enough but kept eye contact with the older male.

"We have been over this Maji." Kali spoke forcefully.

"Yeah but…"

"NO BUTS!" Maji flinched as Kali raised his voice. Something that the silver lion rarely ever did. More so with his own family.

But Kali was beginning to have enough with his sons constant pushing on the need for them to get revenge. Did he want to hurt those that had taken his beloved Usafi away from them? Yes. Did he want to get back at those who had hurt his family the way they had? Of course. He even wanted to get them before they caused any more hurt to anyone else like they had with so many others. But was he willing to risk what was left of his family in order for that to happen?

As selfish as it may seem…no he wasn't.

That didn't mean he wasn't feeling guilty that others may suffer or angry that those who did this to his family were running free.

But Kali simply could not risk what he had left of his family that he had built. A family he had always wanted. He had lost one member already. He could not and would not loose any more of them. Closing his eyes, Kali took a deep breath to force himself to keep his anger in check. As angry as he was that his son kept pushing an issue he told him time and time again that they would have no part of. Kali did not want to end up loosing his temper too much that he would end up taking his anger out on his own son.

That was simply something he would never do.

When he eventually opened his eyes, and with enough calmness that he could muster opened his mouth... "I will only have this conversation one more time with you. And that is it…you will not bring up this foolish idea of yours again." He spoke with gritted teeth taking one more deep breath. He felt his anger dissipating only to be replaced with fear at the thought of something happening to his son.

Sitting down in front of Maji, Kali reached up and grasped his son's shoulders with his front paws. With tears brimming his eyes he looked into the emerald green ones of his son. "If I lost you or your sisters…or god forbid something happened to me in which resulted in something happening to you and your sisters like I said…dead or alive it would eat away at me. Maji I know you want revenge…but your Mother would not want you to give up your life so recklessly. The thought of something happening to you is more than I can possibly bear." He gave his son a small shake.

"I don't expect you to understand…but when there is someone in your life…you can't afford to loose. You'll understand what I mean one day." Kali softly sighed.

Staring right at his Father. Maji tried his hardest to understand what he was trying to say. He really was. But as far as Maji knew, he already lost someone he couldn't have afford to loose. His mother. She shouldn't have died the way she did and so Maji wanted to make sure her death would never be in vain by letting others suffer the same. What if what Hiassen did next was worst than take a mother from her cubs? What if he took the cubs from their mothers?

But seeing the look that his father was giving him…Maji knew in his heart he could not go against the lion. Kali had done much for them since the loss of their mother and even before that as well. It did not mean that Maji was changing his mind on what he thought needed to be done. It just meant he could not go against the lion he called his Father. And with the thought of his sisters…maybe his father was right about that…There really was no telling what Hiassen and his goons would do to them if something were to happen to both Kali and himself.

And that was something Maji wasn't going to let happen. Even if it went against what he wanted done about those who tore a vital member of their family away from them. But he wondered what his father meant about one day there being someone in his life that he could not afford to loose…didn't he already have that with his family?

He shrugged his shoulders knocking his father's paws off them. "Fine." He grunted under his breath but just loud enough for his father to hear and understand what he was saying.

"Promise me you won't do anything stupid. And that includes going into those lands again just to see some girl." Kali pressed. Hoping his son was finally seeing sense in what he was trying to do and keep his son from doing. But that spark he saw in the back of his sons eyes made him sigh inwardly and shake his head with a tiny smirk barely noticeable enough for Maji to see.

Perhaps his son just loved the ladies too much that keeping him out of the Pride Lands to meet that young lioness wasn't going to work. Oh well, as long as he promised not to do anything stupid when it came to Hiassen that that foul lions henchmen then Kali could only look his sons charming ways like he always tended to do. Who was he to stop the boy? He would have to learn on his own eventually that the way he went about charming females all the time wasn't going to end up in his favour and would one day come back to bite him in the behind if he wasn't too careful.

The moment his Father mentioned about crossing the borders again, Maji knew it might just be his only chance at seeing the lioness again. He had thought too much on approaching the males he had seen patrolling that he didn't really think to sneak across again. But that had been from the thought that he may not get as lucky as he had before in the way of not being caught. And there was no telling who he could have run into.

One of the males who wouldn't bothering asking questions he suspected or one of the other lionesses in the pride who he had no doubt would sound the alarm of a strange rogue male intruding upon their lands.

But now that the idea was put in his head, he could not push it away. So putting on his best smile that only made Kali all that more suspicious about his son but didn't say anything not telling the young lion know he was onto him. "I promise Father." Maji started placing a bow over his heart. "I won't go after Hiassen and do anything stupid and I won't go into the Pride Lands." Maji tried his hardest to keep a straight face as he vowed this. Though part of the vow was only true. "Good." Kali just nodded all the same and turned beginning to make his way for where he'd last seen his daughters discussing what they would hunt for dinner that day.

Maji waiting till his Fathers back had been turned took backward steps toward the borders but just as he turned he heard his Father call on back to him. "Don't get caught son. I don't feel like rescuing you from that girl's family if they are anything but protective of their females." There was a chuckle in Kali's taunt as Maji grumbled. He should have known his Father would know he was up to something. Always made getting into trouble all that harder growing up.

Taking a quick look back at his Fathers retreating back and seeing that Kali wouldn't be doing anything to stop him. The young lion let a wide grin spread across his muzzle. And with a galloping leap ran the rest of the way for the borders having already memorized the patrols during the last few days he would have time to get across and hopefully deep into the lands before anyone of those males would be able to catch onto his scent and try and drive him out.

Now he thought…he just had to see if he could find that lioness…wherever she was in these vast plains.


Reddish hued eyes squinted at the flickers of light that spilled through the leaves of the Acacia trees that were known to grow around and upon Pride Rock. It was such a boring hot day that Adimu had sought out shade in one of her favourite parts of the Kopje and thankfully she had found the spot empty of anyone else. It was not that she wouldn't have minded the company if it was there but she relished in the fact that she had some time to herself to just relax.

But her comfortable peaceful nap she'd been in the middle of had been interrupted by the loud annoying voices of Enzi and Annan who by what she could hear were in their latest argument on who was the better fighter of the two.

Enzi, of course, being quiet determined that just because she was a girl did not mean that Annan was any stronger then her and that she could whip his butt any day of the week. That of course had riled up Annan's pride enough that it was now in a two way shouting match with neither taking the chance to try and prove it physically just yet.

Most likely because they're afraid of Mom. Was the amusing thought that passed through her mind.

They were now recognized as growing young adults in the pride but that did not mean they did not fear upsetting their mother.

Adimu however wished their Mother was around to tell them off. Adimu had been sleeping so nicely that was until they had awoken her and all attempts at trying to fall back asleep had failed miserably. So here she was…lying awake under the acacia trees watching what little bit of sun pass through the tree canopy in the leaves that swayed on the slight chance of breeze that would hit them. And listening to her two bickering siblings who she wished nothing more than to give a few good whacks over the head to shut them up.

Draping a paw over her eyes blocking out the light, Adimu let out a frustrated sigh. Sometimes, despite how much she loved her brothers and sister, there were moments she wished she was a single cub to her mother. She thought she was just too different from her siblings but of course Sakina would tell her daughter they all shared similar traits even if they weren't aware of it. Of course, a mother would always be able to know how different and similar her cubs could be was what Sakina would tell her cubs whenever they argued about being related to one another.

When she could take no more, Adimu rolled from her side up onto her paws. Stretching out her body with a loud yawn. The young brown lioness decided she had enough of their bickering but rather than go over there and get involved Adimu jumped on down from the rocks she was previously sleeping on and out of the shade she had taken refuge in from the heat of the day.

Thinking that maybe if she took a walk she could find a place to finish her nap far away from anyone who could wake her. But remembering the warnings her Uncle's gave her and the others about the strange scents they came across near the borders of the Pride Lands Adimu would not go further then the waterhole. Just to be on the safe side, she told herself.

Basking in the heat that brushed her fur from the sun that bathed down upon her. Adimu despite how rudely she been awakened had a smile on her face. She always enjoyed the feel of the sun on her fur and the wind whenever it brushed against her. Uncle Simba would always tell her that when the wind blew on you it could be the soul of your loved one looking over you.

Growing up Adimu thought often of her Father. Always seeking stories about him from her Mother, and from her Uncle Kovu and Aunt Vitani. When she had first heard of what had happened to her Father when she had asked the question of where her Daddy was to her Mother when she first released she did not have one with them, Adimu had cried for days.

Her brothers and sisters did as well.

But of course only Adimu could recount for what she thought on the matter, not what they did. She did not have their minds nor could she read them to know what they had been thinking at that time. Only that they all cried together. It had been Simba who had come to them and told them the stories his father before him had told to him when he was a cub. About their ancestors watching them over from the stars above. They had been four months old at that time.

Simba and Sakina had laid out that night on Pride Rocks promontory with the cubs, under the stars and telling stories of what they knew about the Kings and Queens of the past and that of their Father and like all those above that he was looking down on them.

Adimu growing up whenever she was upset or just wanted someone to talk too but didn't feel like talking to those around her. Would go off alone and speak to her Father in hopes he was hearing her. She was never sure if he was but that faith that he could be always made her feel better. So closing her eyes, she sighed happily as the wind rustled her fur. "I miss you too Daddy…" She whispered like it was her father telling her how much he missed her.

It didn't take long for her to reach the waterhole. There were some animals around but not many at that time of day. This would do, she thought. If she wanted to take another nap she did not think any here would really be that much of a bother to her. Plus who would want to wake a sleeping lion? She laughed at her own joke.

Approaching the waters edge Adimu bent and lapped at the cool water. Mindful of the crocodiles that lived in the water. While the animals respected the pride and the lions that ruled over them, it was only life that predators would hunt and could hunt anything that could be food for them. The Circle of Life as she was taught her entire life.

When she had her fill, Adimu used some of the water to clean some dirt that may be on her fur then with a shake shook the access water off her enjoying the coolness it gave her from the heat of the sun. Though she never minded the suns warmth of course anything could get too hot in the grasslands during these times. When she was sure she was dry enough now, Adimu looked around for a suitable placed to try and take another nap.

Ah, the laziness of a lion, she snickered.

Spotting a nearby tree that would do nicely Adimu padded over to it. Stretching out her body on the ground in the shade using the patch of grass she found beneath the tree to give her some cushioning from the hard ground, Adimu rested her head down on her paws. From where she lay, she had a perfect view of the waterhole and its inhabitants. Watching them and how they went about their lives made Adimu wonder what it would be like if she lived a life outside and away from Pride Rock and the pride.

Not that it was ever something she thought she'd do. But Adimu figured it was a thought that might cross the mind of any young lion or lioness at one point in their lives. Those who eventually became rogues and those who would forever stay with the pride that they were born into.

Adimu in the past had many conversations with birds that had passed through the Pride Lands hearing stories of other lands that the birds had come from. They were always fascinating to hear. Stories of distance lands sounded exciting for a pride lion. But sadly Adimu didn't think she had it in her to be exciting and adventurous…that was more Enzi than it was her. But it didn't mean she could not think of something's now and again. Though she was certain Enzi might poke fun at her if she ever heard.

With a sigh, Adimu decided to clear her mind and thinking of a song her mother would sing to them as cubs started to hum the tune in hopes it would help her fall back asleep or in the very least allow her to relax. Humming the tune and getting lost in her thoughts, Adimu almost missed the sounds of someone moving through the tall grass and rocks nearby her.

Body tensing Adimu kept her ears up and alert, but at the same time kept on humming to make it appear as though she was not aware of who or what might be creeping nearby. Inside she was hoping it was nothing, just a stray animal that had wandered too close but that was when the scent of lion reached her nose. The scent of a lion she did not know.

Warning bells going off in her head, Adimu stopped her humming and slowly moved up onto her paws. Being certain and careful to remain silent. Taking into effect her training from her hunting lessons and what she used in her own hunting to her advantage of being quiet. Debating with herself on whether or not it would be wise to just run and sound the alarm for her Uncle's to know there was someone in the Pride Lands or to confront them herself.

But if this lion was apart of the group that Zazu had been warned about in his telling of the rogues that had been spotted nearby…Adimu was quite sure she didn't want to have a run in with them. So quietly she manoeuvred around the tree and slowly slid her way up the trunk and into the branches to see where she could see the intruder.

The grass was so tall and thick that even from above she could not completely make them out. But what she could make out was the body slinking its way through the grass. They were good she would give them that but not that good that they weren't going to be caught. Adimu still not sure on what to do, decided to embrace what courage she had inside her and leaping from the tree when the intruder was close enough she lunged herself at them.

Colliding with them with enough force it knocked the wind from her lungs and the attack must have surprised the intruder for it knocked them both to the ground. And roll upon the ground, crashing through the grass until they both came up along side the waterhole limbs entangled. When Adimu finally opened her eyes she froze when she found herself looking into a pair of striking emerald green eyes so unlike that of her mothers and Uncle's.

Maji stared shockingly down at the lioness that he pinned beneath him. He had been surprised that he had managed to make it further into the lands than he had the previous time. Trying to keep from getting caught had turned to just trying not to get lost. Sure the Kopje was easy to spot if one wanted to head there but that didn't matter for Maji on account of not trying to get caught he would for sure be handed over to the King under suspicion consequences if he went there.

Granted that could say the same for just being caught in the Pride Lands by just any of the pride's members.

Immediately upon catching the fresh scent of water, Maji determined that he would find someone at the waterhole had gone that way. That had been when he had caught the sound of what sounded like someone humming. Taking his chances on whether or not it was actually his feisty lioness he was search for, Maji had sought out the source of it. He had picked up a scent soon after that had told him that the lioness he wanted to see was no where in the area.

That had made him take more caution when slinking on through the grass. Doing his outmost best to keep from getting caught. If the lioness wasn't at the waterhole like he had hoped she might be, then he would just have to keep on searching elsewhere. If he didn't find her by nightfall than he would need to find a way to slip out of the lands again without being caught and then maybe, just maybe try the next day. Surely he'd find her if he kept up the hard work.

He'd been prepared to leave the area when he had been surprisingly attack from above. It took him a moment to recognize the scent of his attacker was that of the lioness he caught when he came closer to the waterhole. What captured his uttermost attention next were the reddish hue eyes he found himself feasting his eyes upon that peered back into his holding a look of pure curiosity and wariness.

Transferring his attention next to the rest of the lioness, Maji soaked in the colour of her brown fur that reminded him of the colour of the darkest bark of a tree to the strange yet alluring contrast of the dark gray that stood stark her brown fur. He was so lost in his own musings that the soft voice came from beneath him startled him just a tad.

"What are you looking at and more importantly…who are you?" Adimu was most determined to inquire who this stranger was. When she had taken her gaze from the lions eyes it was only to find that his own were looking her over. A portion of her found herself flattered that she seemed to catch the attention of a male, more so given all the males she knew were family to her, on the other hand…a larger part of herself was suspicious of this male.

Adimu once again wondering what group of rogues was this male from? The only resolve she had was that he hadn't done anything to her just yet. In fact he seemed surprised in the fact that she had caught him off guard the way she had. When Adimu finally had enough of his leering looks she asked again. "I asked who are you and wha-"

"You."

"Excuse me?"

Holding back a chortle Maji let his ever so charming smile slip onto his face. Alas she may not have been the lioness he'd been acquiring to find but she was just as much of a beauty as the one he encountered days ago. Climbing to his paws and lifting his weight up off her at the same time, Maji took the opportunity to really give her a good look over whilst she was in the middle of pushing herself up off the ground. "What I was meaning to say miss…I was looking at you."

With a paw Adimu took the time to brush any dirt that got on her off. Even if as Annan and Basi would tease her growing her that her fur made it impossible to actually see the dirt that got on her. Adimu took pride in keeping her fur silky and as clean as she could possibly keep it. Fighting the urge to blush Adimu turned her attention back to the strange male. "Well not that you answered that…perhaps you can answer the question I asked about who you are." Adimu worked hard on keeping her eyes on his face.

Remembering what she'd been taught on turning her back on anyone that could be a threat. And while she didn't know whether he was or not. She just wasn't going to take her chance with it. That and she was going over in her mind exactly where she knew the male members of the pride were situated at that time of day and who it would take to get to the waterhole the fastest should she need to raise the alarm.

Which didn't seem like that bad of an idea…"If you don't tell me who you are, I will call my pride and they will run you out of our lands!"

Noting holding back the chortle this time around, Maji shook his head causing parts of his mane to fall into his face. Which with a lick of his paw he slicked them back over his head and up out of his face. Pausing when the sweet sound of laughter reached his ears taking him just seconds to realize it was coming from the lioness. And just how sweet her laughter sounded to his ears. "What's so funny?"

"Nothing…you just remind me of my brother…he's always fixing his mane." Great, was all Maji could really think. What a thing to hear when you were in the midst of charming a pretty female. That you reminded them of their brother. Strike one for his pride.

"Well if my mane fell any more into my eyes it would cloud my vision from the beauty before my eyes." Maji fought the urge to smirk when he saw the faint look of fluster come over the lioness's face. Well, she wasn't the same feisty lioness he met before but she had her own charms and it felt good that his charms actually seemed to be working again. Perhaps he hadn't lost his touch after all.

Taking this chance he took a step towards the lioness only to stop when he noticed she had taken a step back from home all at the same time. "Hey…I don't mean you any harm."

"How can I be so sure of that?" asked Adimu. Keeping a good distance from him still. Reminding her not to trust him until she was absolutely sure he wasn't a threat. But a part of her was saying if he was a threat he would have just attacked her by then but he hadn't. However that did not mean she wasn't going to be cautious. "We were told that there were a group of rogues out there that had attacked other prides. How do I know you are not one of them?"

Ah. So that's what made her so cautious. Then again any pride lioness could be wary of a rogue. From all the prides his family had happened upon in the past he had met his share of lionesses that were tentative of rogues but in the end they were always weak in the knees for his charms. Maji just had ways of making them comfortable enough to trust him and see he was not a threat like others. Well that and his Father had a way of gaining the trust of the pride's King's and that in the end would make the lionesses all the more friendly and approachable.

Making it look like he was thinking about her question, Maji took a couple more careful steps towards her. Taking note that she was standing her ground this time. Smart lioness. Cautious but knowing when not to show fear and standing up to defend herself rather than call upon someone to come and save her. He liked that in a lioness. If these were the kinds of lionesses that came from these lands he had to hang around a bit longer perhaps taking his time in knowing this young lioness and the one from before.

"How about I give you my name first?" He posed leaning toward her with his best charming smile dotting his muzzle.

Shifting her paws, Adimu staying vigilant gave a nod. "A name would be a good start." She agreed.

Sweeping his paw out to the side, Maji gave a half bow toward her making her faintly blush at the action. "My name fair lady is Maji, now might I acquire the name of the beauty before my very eyes that I bet takes away the breath of any male she meets." Maji resisted the urge to smirk when he heard her small quick inhale of breath that told him she was taken back by his smoothness.

Fighting the flattery Adimu felt at this lions word she squared her shoulders holding her head high answering his question about her own name. "I am Adimu."

"Adimu?" Maji rolled the name on his tongue as though he tasted it. "Adimu…I like it. It suits you." Grinning Maji lifted his head having got close enough his nose almost touched hers. "You certainly are unique."

Adimu could not stop the blush she felt heating the skin beneath her fur at his words. What was it about this male? If Enzi was with her, her sister would be gagging at his attempts to charm them or be angry about it. Enzi was never one for mushiness. Adimu however having never really had any encounter with any male she didn't consider family, could not help but feel flattered at this strangers…this Maji's attention.

"I suppose that…I should thank you for your words." The young lioness mumbled softly beneath her breath.

"Well it is the right thing to do, to thank someone for complimenting them. But there really is no need." Maji kept his nose near hers till he noticed she was becoming nervous once more of his presence and opted for taking a step back. Just one mind you. Having already got this close to her without her running or even attempting to hit him like the last lioness did he still didn't want to take his chances. For as far as he saw it, his chance's were pretty good at the moment when it came to charming his particular lioness. "Only a fool would be too daft as not to compliment one of your beauty."

Paws shuffling on the ground. Scuffing the grass beneath them. "You keep saying that…and I want to believe you. Truly I am. Nevertheless I can't help but almost not want to believe you." Her whisper was so low that Maji had a heart time making out what she had said at first. Immediately upon figuring it out, he looked at her quizzically like he didn't believe what she had just told him. Regarding the look he was giving her Adimu provided an explanation. "The only males I know are family…and if my brothers were to call me a beauty it is typically followed by them doing some sort of prank like throwing mud at me. But that's brothers for you."

A throaty chuckle later Maji smirked. "I wouldn't know how that feels. Though I have a hunch that my sisters would sympathize with you. I was quite the prankster as a cub." His smirk broadened when he once again heard that exquisite laugh come from her.

Laughing a good solid minute and a half to get it out of her system. Adimu smiled. "Oh…" she asseverated. "If only they stopped at just being cubs…what's worst I have two brothers and a male cousin who loves to join in." This caught Maji's fully attention.

Ruminating over the images of the young lions he had seen during his watches of the Pride Lands, those that been on patrol he had to ponder on if she was related to any of those or were there more males younger ones that he hadn't seen. Racking his brain he could have sworn that other lioness he met, the nameless one he had wished he had the name of like he did this one, insinuate that she had brothers as well. Didn't she threaten to send them after him if he didn't leave her alone?

Shaking himself from his thoughts. Maji looked back at Adimu and furrowed his brow now wondering if this lioness had any relation to the other?

On the other hand, from the scents that washed the land it was not hard to know that this land hosted its fair share of lions. He had to wonder just how many were in his pride and how they handled having so many big in number. Maji hadn't come across too many very large prides in the past. So he put it down to their relation being too hard to determine and it wasn't like he was going to ruin the mood of getting to know this lioness by asking her about another. He knew from past mistakes that would not turn out well.

Instead he asked, "So…have I passed and proven I am not one of these of whom you heard such terrible things about?"

Brow creased. Adimu looked him over carefully mulling over everything she just heard from him comparing it to what she had overheard Zazu telling Simba and Kovu about the two rogue groups of whose presence he'd been alerted of. The more dangerous one being made up of three rogue males while the other a lion with his three offspring…so that meant…

Letting that all sink in along with the utterly large amount of relief that washed over her. Adimu allowed herself to relax in his presence for the first time, sitting herself down on the ground placing her best smile on her face. "I suppose."

"You suppose?" Maji put on his best pout. This didn't last long at the giggle it got from Adimu. Shoulders rolling in a nonchalant shrug, Maji sighed dramatically then flashed her one of his cocky grins that for some odd reason reminded Adimu of her Uncle Simba. "Well I could live with that answer. Better than a no." Maji leaned toward her once more, taking note of the height difference between the two of them. That of course stemmed from the fact that Maji took after his Father in height and muscle wise. But height of course didn't really matter, his father had been taller than his mother. So it wouldn't matter if he was taller then those he wished to charm.

Adimu whilst giving him a smile and nodding along with what he said, deep down was still wary. But she could not help that. Even if he was not a threat her mother installed in her from a young age to keep your wits about you when it came to anyone you did not know. Sakina was always paranoid when it came to her cubs and their safety. But Adimu and her siblings knew it all came down to one factor in the whole matter that they didn't care about it as much as that their Mother didn't want to loose them like she lost their father.

Ultimately having the courage to ask him. "Why have you come to the Pride Lands?" Adimu watched him.

"Our father wanted us to stop just outside your lands for a while. We have been travelling for some time. My sisters like the idea of finding a place to settle down in so that we won't have to travel so much but I think my father is using it as some excuse keeping his mind off our mother who died a while back." Explained Maji with a small sigh. After a second though he regretted telling her that his mother had died. It wasn't something he did since her death. It really wasn't other peoples business he thought for them to know. That and it just led to pity half the time.

Standing there he watched the sympathy he was expecting but what he wasn't was the softness that came over Adimu's face followed by a look of understanding. "I know how you feel." He heard her say softly. "I lost my father before I was even born. He died in an accident in the gorge over there." Lifting her paw, Adimu raised it in the direction of the gorge where she'd been told a dam used to be that had been the cause of her Father's accident. Her mother and Aunt Vitani hadn't told them all the details but enough to know what happened.

"Ever since then my mother hasn't been the same or says everyone who has known her for years. For my siblings and me all we known are her sadness and happiness. But we can tell half the time she's smiling because she wants to be happy for us." Adimu sighed at that. She didn't want her mother to feel that she had to be happy just for them. She wanted her mother to be happy for the sake of feeling happy. She and the others were beginning to wonder if that would be even possible but they weren't going to give up on seeing their mother unhappy for the rest of her life.

If there was anyone Adimu thought deserved to be happy it was her mother.

Putting his best grin back on, Maji leaned toward her so close that Adimu could just feel his breath on her face. A faint shiver went down her back but she concealed it well. "Perhaps parents feel the need to be happy so that their offspring is happy." His words were smooth.

"Perhaps." Adimu agreed. "But one should not be happy for the sake of others they should be happy for themselves."

"And are you happy Adimu?"

The young lioness looked at him like he had just asked her to swim through a river full of crocodiles. Wondering why he would ask such a question. "Yes of course I am. Why wouldn't I be?"

A smirk slowly overcame Maji's grin and he raised his eyebrows up slowly and sat back on his haunches. "You seem like a girl who could use adventure in her life."

That only caused Adimu to look at him with a bit more confusion. Adventure? Her? She had to resist the urge to snicker. Enzi, Basi and Annan and perhaps even Ajjali she was confident would laugh so hard they might just choke when it came too hard to breathe if they had heard Maji just then. Seeing the mirth on her face, Maji became intrigued enough to ask what she found so amusing about what he had said.

Shrugging her shoulders, Adimu looked to the side for a moment off at Pride Rock in the distance then back at him. "I was reflecting on that my siblings would have found what you said very amusing. In fact they would have laughed their tails off."

"Why?"

"I'm miss…prim and proper as they would say." Adimu huffed puffing out her cheeks in a way that made her look even cuter in Maji's eyes. "My sister Enzi is more the adventurous one than I am. As my mother would say she takes after our Aunt Vitani. I take more after my mother in some way." Reaching up Adimu fixed the fur around her head and her ears.

Freezing when she felt his nose nudge her shoulder. Adimu turned her head to look back at him. The large grin across his face made her heart flutter something it had never done before and a feeling twist in the pit of her stomach. What was this feeling? She asked herself. More important WHY was this feeling this? Much less for a lion she didn't know. Maybe it was just because he wasn't a lion that she'd known all her life as family. He was a complete stranger. And yet something about him…

Realizing he had said something that she didn't hear thanks to her musings she asked him to repeat it. With a chuckle that made her heart give off that fluttery feeling again, Maji did just that. "I said…perhaps you just haven't had any reason to be adventurous…to take a walk on the wild side for once."

Adimu whispered unable to bring her voice any higher then how soft she had it. "What reason would that be?"

Grinning and pulling back Maji ran his paw over his mane. "How about running away with a handsome lion? I can show you parts of Africa that you haven't seen before. Beauty and that outstretches past these lands and goes on for miles beyond even the horizon that never seems to end the more you walk together it." Maji walked behind her enough to wave his paw before them. "I can take you wherever you would like to go. Just say the word and I'll take you away on a great adventure."

The fluttering of her heart turned into a hard thump in her chest that she was surprised that he hadn't heard it. Go away from the Pride Lands? With a complete stranger? Adimu was no fool she heard tales of lionesses who would leave their prides when they met a rogue that they fell for. But for her to do that…

Part of Adimu was intrigued at leaving not with just because of Maji, but because of the idea of seeing what laid outside the Pride Lands. She thought back to what she had thought of earlier on the matter. And like she thought earlier she didn't think she had it in her to leave the Pride Lands even with such a handsome stranger such as Maji.

Offering him her best smile, she shook her head. "It's a nice offer but…"

"You're a pride lioness." Maji cut her off.

"Yes…I'm sorry."

Maji shrugged. "I never really expected you to run away with me. I just wanted to see if a beautiful lioness like you would ever want to try having some adventure in their life."

Adimu chuckled and stepped away from him and looked off into the horizon. Looking back at Maji she smiled saying. "Right now I feel is not the time for such things…I just gained my rights in the pride as an adult. I have so much family here. And as I said…I'm not the adventurous type. Sooner or later you'd get tired of me. My sister is more your type where I am not." It confused her why it hurt her to say that. Her thumping heart now clenching in her chest.

Confusing her once again. He was just some random male. There would be more in the future she told herself.

Making his way over to her, Maji nudged her shoulder with his. Grinning from ear to ear. "Hey it's cool. Don't worry about…doubt I'll be leaving my family anytime soon anyways…and I doubt we'll be staying here for long. My Dad's pretty set on the idea of heading off somewhere else." For the first time that made Maji more upset than it normally would. Maybe it had something to do with Adimu here and that strange lioness whose name he had no clue was. Which would be silly since he never let himself get too attached to a lioness before much less two.

Adimu tried not to show her disappointment at the thought of his family moving on in their journey. Who was she to stop them? The lion beside her was nothing to her. But perhaps it was just nice meeting someone outside of her pride. "Well…" she looked at him. "There may be a chance that you might one day pass by the Pride Lands in the future. Maybe then I might take you up on your offer or we might just see each other once more."

"I like the sound of that." Maji nodded. Lifting his head he then caught the whiff of another male. One he recognized as one of the young males he saw patrolling the borders. And he wasn't the only one to catch it.

"Oh no." Maji looked at Adimu. "It's my brother Annan. He must have come looking for me if the hunting party had returned. You…you should go."

"Don't want me to meet your brother? Why is he over protective?"

Adimu had to think about that for a second then sighed. "Yes…and in this time I don't think he or any of the males here would be very welcoming to any rogues…like I said we heard of those that could be a threat coming here." That made Maji nod in understanding and sighed. He really didn't want to leave. He still hadn't seen that other lioness he'd been waiting days to see again. And now just meeting Adimu he really didn't want to leave so soon not knowing if there may be a chance at seeing her again. This typically wasn't like him. But he couldn't bring himself to really care about that.

"Can-can I meat you again?" Adimu looked at him shocked to find out that he wanted to see her again. Her skin heating up once more under her skin. Maji grinned at her. "Maybe before my family heads out we can hang again?" And hopefully he thought he could convince his Father to let them stay and help against Hiassen if that vicious lion tried to attack the Pride Lands. Maji resisted the urge to growl at that thought. Okay maybe now something really was wrong with him, but the idea of Hiassen doing something to a lioness like Adimu angered him more than it did in the past. Maybe he should speak with his Father about this thing he was feeling…maybe he was sick or something.

But he would have to do it when his sisters weren't around. He'd never hear the end of it then.

"Well how bout it?"

Thinking it over carefully, Adimu smiled giving him a nod. "I would…love too."

"Great!" Maji grinned but caught the scent getting closer and nudged Adimu with his muzzle. "Meet me at the borders in two days time. The south border." Adimu nodded her head still blushing beneath her fur. She didn't have a chance to say anything else as Maji took off running for the southern border at a quick speed.

Leaving Adimu there just staring after him. Only turning when she heard Annan getting closer and turned meeting him half way. "Annan what are you doing out here?"

"Mom's worried about you. You know you're not supposed to go that far from Pride Rock!" Annan narrowed his eyes. Ones that matched hers. The only two out of their litter to share the same eye colour. "What were you doing out here?"

"I couldn't sleep because you and Enzi were going at each others throats and I was thirsty and felt like a walk. I hate being cooped up there all day." Adimu argued back at him.

She watched him sigh and walk over to her, Adimu tense worried he would smell Maji on her but he didn't seem to be paying attention to that. He just briefly hugged her. "Well you're safe that's all that matters."

"Is something wrong?" She asked detecting the worry in his voice.

Letting his sister go, Annan grunted. "Scents of strange lions were smelt." She tensed when she realized he said strange lions rather than just one strange lion. That meant that there could have been others in the lands and they could have attacked at any time. Seeing how tensed she was, Annan gave another grunt and started walking motioning for her to come with him. "Come on let's get you home before Mom sends out the entire pride to find you."

Adimu carefully took a look back toward the southern borders then with quick steps hurried on after her brother.

Both none the wiser to the pair of eyes watching them from the tall grass downwind. A twisted smile came over the dark lions muzzle his eyes watching the young lioness walking further away from him. He'd been there for some time, long enough to have seen Maji with her and know that Kali and his bastards were somewhere nearby. But that didn't matter, Kali was no threat to their plans to take these lands.

His eyes watched the lioness and the way she walked. Oh yes, he would like this land indeed. He would make sure he got to know her. Taking another look, he turned bolting for the graveyard. It was nearly night the perfect time to attack when they would least is expecting them.

This land would soon be their's.


Sorry again for how long it took to finish. But as I promised on deviant art I said I would get it done this weekend.

So here you go.

Hope you enjoyed it.

Poor Maji will be shocked when he finds out he's flirted with two sisters.

Stay tune for what comes next.