Three Seasons After Simba's Return
Kiongozi had run all the way to the lake behind Priderock and had plopped down in the shade, exhausted and muttering angrily to himself when he heard grass rustle behind him. His head shot up and he scanned the grasses twice before he noticed the bright blues eyes trained on him.
"Oh, it's just you, Zuri." Kiongozi's head went right back down and he waited for Zuri to leave the grasses, and when she didn't he sighed and sat up, facing her. "Come on, Zuri. I know you're there. Just come out." This time Zuri did leave the grasses, and as she did, Kiongozi realized it wasn't her. Instead, a golden tan lioness, nearly as big as him, with a tuft of fur hanging over her eyes was padding towards him.
"Who are you?" Kiongozi's claws unsheathed and he started to stand. To his surprise, the lioness, even though she had stopped walking, seemed undeterred and rolled her eyes.
"Name's Vitani, kid." She sat down, just a few paces away from him. "I've lived behind Priderock for" she stopped and closed her eyes, mulling over something for a while before she reopened them. "Lived there for over a year now, I think. There's no way you've never seen me."
Kiongozi stared at her for a moment before he sat, still tense in case she decided to attack. "I think I might have, a few times anyways."
"Relax, kid. Even if you could beat me in a fight, I'd never attack the Prince." Kiongozi sprang up and growled, his golden neck fur standing on edge.
"What do you mean 'even if I could beat you'!? You're smaller than me!" He stalked over to Vitani, growling. As if to annoy him more, she just rolled her eyes and stood, staring him straight in the eye.
"I meant exactly what I said, kid." As soon as the words passed her lips, Kiongozi crashed into her, slamming her to the ground. For a moment, she lay there, dazed, before her hind legs kicked the golden lion's stomach and he stumbled back. She rolled to her paws and sprang forward, throwing Kiongozi onto his back with a force that surprised him and landing on top of him with a triumphant grin on her face. "I bet you thought I was bluffing, didn't you, kid?"
Kiongozi gaped at her, surprised. Not one of the other cubs could beat him in a fight, and here was a lioness that beat him faster then he normally beat the others. "How did you...Where did you learn to fight like that?" Vitani's grin grew wider and she looked to be on the verge of laughing.
"From my mother, Zira." She leapt away from him and flicked her tail absentmindedly. "I don't know why you're so impressed by that! That's just some of the basic moves Mother's taught my brothers and I."
Kiongozi rolled onto his back and stared at the ground for a while before he looked at Vitani again. "Do you think she'd be willing to teach me..." Kiongozi's voice trailed off at the sound of Vitani's laughter.
"I doubt it, kid." She laughed before suddenly becoming solemn and turning away from Kiongozi. "She doesn't exactly...appreciate your father's...exploits."
"Oh." Was all Kiongozi could say. "Well, then could you teach me?"
"Why should I?" Kiongozi balked.
"Because..." An idea popped into his head. "I'm still the Prince, aren't I?"
Vitani searched his face and shrugged. "I guess that's as good a point as any, kid."
"Stop calling me 'kid'! My name's Kiongozi."
"I'll call you whatever I want, kid." With a growl, Kiongozi lunged for Vitani, only for her to smile, sidestep him and then leap onto his back, pinning him with her weight and digging into his shoulders with her claws. "The first thing we're going to have to work on is that temper of yours." Kiongozi groaned.
Sorry about missing the deadline! I hope you all like this chapter!