Chapter 7: I Need To Tell You Something
Zuri scouted the savannah fields as she continued her search for Tiffu. She needed to at least tell everything to Tiffu to get things off her chest.
She has been searching for minutes now to find her. "Where in the Pride Lands is this lioness at?", she wondered.
As soon as she wondered that she got an idea popped in her head, she needed to go back to Pride Rock. "Ugh I'm such an idiot! Why didn't I realize that before."
She quickly started running twords the direction of Pride Rick after mentally scolding herself.
Tiffu was the probably the only person she could tell any of her secrets too. The two always had a strong bond of trust throughout their whole friendship.
As Zuri continued to run she couldn't help but ponder in her thoughts once more.
"Even if I do tell her what will she think of me. I mean knowing Tiffu she would probably be shocked and shrug it off, plus she always did that when I told her secrets but...then again this one is out of the ordinary for me at least."
She stopped and shook her head. "No, this is Tiffu were talking about. You've known her forever so you can trust her."
She decided to stop thinking too much on this and decided to continue her search.
Ironically enough when she scouted the area she saw an image of two lioness cubs in the distance walking with eachother while going in a different direction. As she got a closer look one of cubs quickly took the form of Tiffu.
Zuri had a joyful smile on her face as her eyes lit up, but it want away fast as she saw the other figure form together as Kiara.
"Oh no! Kiara is with her!? Shoot now I'm gonna have to wait to talk to Tiffu in private.", Zuri said mentally.
She slowly started to approach them and felt very hesitant to shout their names, but Tiffu was there and she needed to talk to her.
"HEYY GUYS OVER HERRREE!"
Kiara and Tiffu looked in the direction over the to where they heard the voice.
"Hey look its Zuri!", Tiffu said.
"Yeah, it is.", Kiara replied. She looked back over to Tiffu. "Remember we can't tell her about anything about what we found out unless she talks to us about it, so we need to keep our mouths shut. Got it?"
Tiffu responed with a nod an the two ran over to Zuri for a relaxung day at the mud pool.
TLKTLKTLKTLKTLK
Turns out so far this day has been pretty awkward for the group of friends.
Throughout the whole walk to the the mud pools all three lioness cubs were silent and were hesitant to speak to eachother.
Zuri, Kiara, and Tiffu were nervous to speak to eachother, and this was honestly the only time all three of them didn't talk to eachother.
In past walks like these they would all talk or at least two of them would talk to eachother, but now it was just an awkward silence and its all because of one little secret. Kiara and Tiffu couldn't bring up the subject because they were sworn to secrecy and Zuri didn't want to say any of her feelings about Kion because it could potentially ruin her friendship with them both.
The only form of communication throughout the group was quick little glances between Kiara and Tiffu knowing that the things aren't really going "normal" so far.
All three of them wanted to talk to eachother the problem was it was hard to think of what to say.
It wasn't until Kiara broke the silence between them.
"Sooo Zuri how are you doing? I haven't seen you in a while."
Zuri looked next to her and gave a fake smile. "Oh I'm doing fine. I've just been focusing on my looks as usual." But in her head she wanted to say, "No Kiara I'm not doing okay. I'm having conflicted feelings about your brother and I don't know what to do or who I should tell.", but she couldn't say that because it would have been to wierd to admit that out of the blue.
Kiara gave a fake nod knowing well that Zuri was lying. "Zuri, I know your trying to keep it a secret so it wont jeopardize our friendship, but please I wish you were honest with me about this.", she thought.
Tiffu noticed the sadness in both of their eyes and put her head down as she walked. "I wish things could go back to normal. It would be just the three of us relaxing and talking about how we'll help Kiara be an amazing queen.", Tiffu thought.
Tiffu looked back up and shockingly noticed that they were almost at the mud pool.
"Guys look were here!"
The two looked up and noticed the mud pools emmiting steam in the air. Zuri and Kiara both looked at eachother and gave genuine smiles of excitment.
Sitting in the mud pools was probably the most relaxing things to do in the Pride Lands and they couldn't fake that.
TLKTLKTLKTLKTLK
The mud felt warm to the touch as usual and you could feel it softening your fur.
The three cubs were leaning by the edge of the mud pool relaxing with cucumbers over their eyes with big smiles on their faces.
Relaxing here and letting the mud run throughout thier faces and body's was their favorite pass time in all of the Pride Lands.
Everything felt so perfect and normal as usual. Kiara then decided to spark a conversation.
"Y'know I always wonder why this mud does wonders for the fur."
"I know right but after were done our fur will be silky smooth, plus we can sharpen our claws to make them look shiney and fierce.", Zuri replied.
"True that", Kiara said.
Tiffu just sighed in happiness in response to the conversation. Coming here always hits the right spot for just about everything.
They have been sitting in the mud for about fifteen minutes and it was about time they got out.
"Hey guys our time is up! Don't wanna stay in here too long now do we?", Tiffu reminded them.
Zuri soon got an idea in her head. "Hold on, now is the perfect time to talk to Tiffu in private. While Kiara is drying off I can sneak Tiffu somewhere and we can talk in private. Yes! That's perfect, Kiara will never kn-".
But an image of Kiara entered Zuri's head. Kiara did look troubled on the way here.
Zuri realized that something like this can't keep going on. She can't keep secrets from her closest friends even if its abnormal. If she continued to do this than it could be the wedge that breaks their friendship rather than finding out about her crush on Kion.
Kiara was her best firend and best friends can always trust eachother just like how Kion does with his friends. That's probably what makes them a good team.
"I can't keep this from her, it feels wrong to do that.", Zuri thought. She felt scared about what the reaction would be, but this was the perfect time to do it. She needs to be honest with them.
No one was around and it was just the three of them here.
"Kiara. Tiffu. There is something I need to tell you guys.", Zuri said.
They both turned around to look at Zuri. "What is it?", Tiffu asked.
"Guys I've been acting wierd lately and I think its because of one thing, but first I need to tell you the beginning."
Zuri explained everything totthem. About how she nuzzled Kion after saving her, how she dreamt of him and began thinking about him, and about their little accidental pounce this morning. Zuri felt a little ashamed telling them this but she needed to get this out there.
Kiara and Tiffu's reaction to this wasn't shocking, but relief.
"So, there you have it. Kiara I just want to say that I a-"
"Its okay Zuri I'm glad you told us and to be honest I already knew.", Kiara said.
Zuri was suprised in more ways than one. She was shocked that Kiara knew but she was suprised that she was not mad.
"Wait hold on! How did you know before, and why aren't you mad?", Zuri asked. Kiara grew a smile, "Well I found out about the nuzzling by Kion during dinner and second was my mom saw you "admiring" my brother while he was sleeping. But the pouncing situation I didn't know about. Also, why do you think I would be mad?"
Zuri was embarrassd to find out she had been spotted by the queen of all lions.
She looked down at the gound. "I thought you would think I'm wierd for thinking about Kion like that and that you wouldn't want to be friends with me anymore."
Kiara chuckled to Zuri's suprise.
"Zuri I'm not mad. I'll admit it was a little wierd finding out but I could never stop being friends with you. I love being your friend no matter what and I don't want to lose that."
Zuri smiled at Kiara's kindness. She felt so lucky to have a friend like her, and it wasn't because she was gonna be queen one day, but it was the fact that she was a good friend.
"Umm...Tiffu what do you think about all this?", Zuri asked.
"Well I was a little shocked and mad. I was shocked because I didn't think that this could happen. And I was mad because you neglected to tell me. I mean, I understant wanting to keep some secrets but I just thought you had trust in me to keep this one. Were friends Zuri and I don't want things to be hidden all the time.", Tiffu reponded.
Zuri felt disappointed in herself. But she was glad she could tell them now.
"I'm sorry you guys I just felt so confused that my mind wasn't in the right. So, can you please forgive me and let things be less awkward?"
Kiara and Tiffu looked at eachother and smiled. They turned back to Zuri and they both said, "Apology accepted!"
Zuri smiled and went over for a group hug. The three friends no longer had to keep anything hidden.
As the three seperated Tiffu asked a question.
"So what are you gonna do about Kion?"
Zuri shrugged in loss, because at this point she gelt like she didn't have the guts to confront him.
"C'mon guys how about we just not think about that right now. We should be relaxing right?", Kiara said.
Zuri and Tiffu smiled at eachother.
"That's right Kiara. Plus we still need to sharpen our claws.", Zuri said with her usual smile.
End of Chapter 7