Hello again readers...I'm sorry for the wait. I've just started my second semester of college, and I kinda need to get in the groove of that again before i can continue writing. I'm about halfway done with chapter 8 by now, so it should be up within a week, maybe two.

Once again, i MUST ask you NOT to ask me when i'm going to update. I'm sure you would rather wait a little longer and get a great chapter than get one crappy chapter per day. Please be patient. I have no intention of dropping this story anytime soon.

The initial title for this chapter was "The Big Cat's Out of the Bag", but I figured that would be just a little cheesy...lol.

I would like to take a moment to say thank you to my readers, ESPECIALLY MysticGohan88, TonyBoy, and BookRose, all of whom have faithfully read and reviewed EVERY chapter I've written in both this story and the last. Thanks a bunch guys! At least somebody reviews! *wink wink hint hint*

...please readers? Do I have to get on my knees and beg just to get you to take 30 seconds from your lives to click that little button at the bottom of the chapter and write what you thought of it? Please?

Here's chapter 7!

Chapter 7 – Instinctive Hatred

----Simba----

When we arrived back at Pride Rock, I ascended the slope to see if Ayden and Kamau were on their way yet. To my surprise, they were still talking about a mile out to the northwest. I watched them both for a while. With my keen vision, I could still see them despite the distance.

At one point, Ayden turned to look back at Pride Rock. I could have sworn he saw me because as soon as he did, he turned back to Kamau and started moving and gesturing in a hurried and jerky way.

So he was trying to hide something. Why else would he have wanted to speak to a rogue lion privately? But what he was trying to hide, I hadn't the slightest clue.

I'd never seen this lion before, and to the best of my knowledge, neither had Ayden. And yet for some strange reason, when I first saw him, I felt a connection. His eyes were so trusting and good that it was hard to remember that he was a stranger in our lands. Somehow, I felt a connection to him as if I did know him. Was this some lion that we knew of? I didn't recognize him from any stories or tales.

Within a minute, Ayden had turned around and started making his way to Pride Rock, closely followed by Kamau. I watched them for a moment, turned around, and went back down so I could greet Kamau again.

…and ask Ayden what he was keeping from me.

Several minutes later, Ayden and Kamau ascended the slope. I smiled at them both, but kept my eyes on Ayden.

"Welcome back guys!" I said warmly. They both smiled at me. Ayden walked over to me while Kamau wandered off on his own along the promontory.

"So…"I said slowly, "do you mind telling me what that was all about?"

"Well," he said quickly, "Do you remember some of the lionesses who were here during your cubhood?"

"Sure I do," I said, slightly confused. "Why?"

"Do you remember Yetunde?"

I thought back for a moment until my memory rested on a kind face with shimmering eyes and a wise smile.

"Yeah, didn't you say she ran away when Scar was in power?" I asked, trying to remember what he had said happened to her.

"She did, yeah." Ayden replied. "And I don't think I ever told you that she had another with her."

I contracted my brow and stared at him. "Who?"

"She took a cub with her. Whether or not it was hers, I'm not sure." He said quickly. "During that time, Scar would have killed any and all cubs that he had not fathered, so Yetunde decided that since she was running away, she would save the cub's life. I remember what the cub had looked like, and Kamau looks exactly like that cub did."

My eyes widened as he told me this. Now it started to make some sense.

"So what did you ask him?" I asked curiously.

"I asked him if he knew of a lioness by the name of Yetunde."

"And?" I urged.

"He said yes. He says that she raised him."

I sighed. "So he is one of us then? A Pride member?"

"Yes."

"Did he say what happened to Yetunde?" I asked as the thought came to me.

"He said that she died about a year-and-a-half ago."

"Then may she rest in peace with the Kings of the Past," I said, bowing my head.

"I thought that if this was the cub that Yetunde had taken, and since she was not with him," Ayden explained, "That if he was asked, it might be a touchy subject for him; one that does not require an audience."

Now I understood. Ayden's explanation cleared up everything. Only one thing still seemed to trouble me.

Ayden, while he sounded sincere in his explanation, seemed strange and somewhat distant. It was as if he wasn't telling me the entire truth.

I glanced over at Kamau who sat alone near the entrance of the cave. I looked back at Ayden.

"Mind if I spend some time with him alone?" I asked. "I would like to get to know him, and maybe see if he knows about his Pride here."

"Yeah, sure!" he said happily. Maybe a bit too happily, I noticed. "I've got a few things to take care of anyways. Zazu says the new herd of elephants are bathing in the watering hole, so I'm gonna have to clear that matter up."

"Have fun with that!" I chuckled, turning to go to Kamau.

I noticed that he looked weary and saddened for some reason.

"Hey, you ok?" I asked. "You seem awfully quiet."

He jerked his head up as I addressed him. "Oh, I'm fine your Majesty. I'm just a little tired from my travels."

I chuckled again. "Really, there's no need to call me 'your Majesty' or anything like that. I've never really gotten used to it. Just Simba is fine."

He smiled. "That's what Ayden told me too."

I laughed. "I guess you could say we're somewhat of an informal monarchy."

It was so strange! I felt as if I had known Kamau all my life, and yet I knew for a fact that I had never even seen him before. There was such a familiarity about him but I just couldn't place it.

"Take a walk with me?" I asked.

He smiled and nodded. I turned and walked towards the pathway that leads to the peak of Pride Rock. It was such a peaceful and wonderful place. My father had taken me there on occasion, usually to teach me how to rule the lands. There were many fond memories on that peak.

We reached the top and I turned back to Kamau.

"After you," I said happily. He walked past me and sat on the very edge of the peak, staring out in awe at the Pride Lands, marveling at their size and beauty.

As I sat next to him and stared out as well, my father's words resurfaced in my memory…the memory of my first day of teachings with my father.

"Everything the light touches…" I said aloud, just as Kamau did the exact same.

I stared at him incredulously, bewildered at the coincidence.

"How did you know that?" I asked curiously.

Kamau shifted uneasily. "Erm…someone told it to me. I just never really believed it until now."

He was so familiar! Why couldn't I place it? He had more of a stride rather than a walk, and an ease about him that not many lions possessed. His eyes were kind and open, and yet they seemed to harbor some sort of secret.

"Can you tell me about yourself Kamau?" I asked. Maybe if he told me a bit about himself then I would be able to place where I knew him from. "If you don't want to tell me something, I respect your right to keep it private."

"There's not much to hide," he said, tearing his eyes from the landscape to look at me. "I was adopted by a kind and wise lioness who took me on her travels with her as I was growing up. She told me everything there was to know about the gift of life and everything in it. I truly respected her. But as my mane began to grow, she was killed by hyenas, and I became a lone rogue. I stumbled upon many lands until now, when I arrived here."

I longed to ask him if this lioness was Yetunde, even though I knew it was. However, I had told him that I would respect his right to his privacy, and he had not revealed her name on his own, so I thought of another way to word the question.

"Do you know who your parents were? You say you were adopted."

Kamau looked away from me at the ground. It was yet another touchy subject with him, for he did not answer right away.

"I never knew my parents," He replied.

I listened intently for any wavering in his voice, but there was none. Perhaps he was telling the truth. Or he could just be a good liar. Either way, his parentage would remain a secret from me for the time being.

Having nothing else to say, I simply replied, "Oh."

Kamau looked back up at me and changed the subject. "How long have these lands been in your family?"

I smiled and recited our family history. "They go back about five generations. It started with my great-great grandfather King Maphunde. It was his son, King Mohatu that became the legendary King of our time and the first star of the Great Kings. He passed on the throne to King Ahadi, who in turn passed it on to my father, King Mufasa. During King Mufasa's time, a human came to us in desperate need."

"Ayden," Kamau replied.

"Exactly," I said, smiling. "He came, injured, starving, and very close to death. My parents took him in as a son and he became one of us; one of the Pride. That was almost seven years ago. When the time came for me to take the throne, I decided that Ayden would be an equal King alongside myself."

Kamau frowned for a moment. "Wasn't there another before the two of you?"

At his words, the smile on my face vanished and I became very stern.

"Scar will never be recognized as a King. He murdered my father, the rightful King and attempted to kill me so he could have the throne. During his rule, he tortured and killed many members of the Pride. Ayden was one of the lucky ones to survive his two-and-a-half year tyranny."

I yawned and suddenly I realized how sleepy I was, despite it being midday.

"I'm beat," I said, "I think I'm gonna go take a nap. You're more than welcome to join us in the den when you need to sleep."

"Thank you Simba," Kamau said warmly.

I nodded in response and turned to descend. I looked back and saw that he was still standing at the edge, looking out to the Pride Lands.

"You wanna stay up here for a while?" I asked.

"If you don't mind," he replied kindly.

I smiled and left.

A lot was going through my mind on the descent down.

Kamau was hiding some things from me, mainly his parentage. Whether or not he actually knew about them, I was unsure. But I would not press the matter. Kamau seemed to be a very kind and gentle lion, and if he had something to hide, then it was probably for good reason.

I reached the base and entered the cave. I turned the corner and suddenly found myself face to face with my mom.

"Whoa!" I said, startled. "Hey, what are you doing here?"

"Nothing," She said tentatively. "I was just about to go take a walk."

She pushed past me quickly and before I could open my mouth, she had rounded the corner, and gone out of sight. Instinctively, I turned and followed her. When I got to the edge of the cave, I looked all around. I just barely caught a glimpse of her tail as she ascended the slope that I had just descended.

I narrowed my eyes and quietly began to ascend the slope after her. She had run from Kamau earlier and now she was going to see him…while trying to avoid me.

Something was up.

The top plateau came into view, but I stopped short of it, making sure I was out of sight. I was able to hear my mother's and Kamau's words.

"You do love me. You really do love me," Kamau said, and I realized that he was sobbing. "I thought you didn't. I thought you didn't want me."

"I adore you Kamau," she replied. "I love you more than you'll ever know. I loved you the whole time you were growing up. I loved you even when I wasn't there. I'm so sorry Kamau. I only did what I thought was best."

This made no sense at all. Why on earth was my mother telling Kamau that she loved him? How did she even know him?

"I think it's time we had a talk," Mother said to him quietly.

"I think so too," Kamau replied.

I heard several shuffling sounds that meant the two of them had lain down. When they were comfortable, Mother spoke first.

"Kamau, you have come alone. Where is Yetunde? I would very much like to speak with her."

"Yetunde passed some time ago in a valley we roamed on our travels," he replied solemnly.

I already knew that, but I became even more confused. He did not reveal this information to me, but he revealed it to my mother? Why?

"Then may the gods rest her soul," Mom sighed. "I am truly indebted to her."

"Can you tell me anything about yourself, Mother?" Kamau asked. "About my family?"

What?!

There was no way that it could be possible. It was some sort of trick. It had to be. Surely I had heard wrong, because Kamau had not just called Sarabi "mother".

I waited for mom to say something to put aside my worries…

She sighed and spoke. "I'm what you call the life of this pride. I suppose you could say they look to me for guidance and understanding. I was born many years ago in this valley, the only child to my family. I loved my life. I loved the cubs I grew up with and the lions we came to be. Life seemed perfect for me. But then everything went down and all whom I loved I lost. The tyrannical ruler Scar was bloodthirsty and merciless, and I suffered above everyone else. When things went from bad to worse, I knew you could not stay with me if you were to even reach cubhood. That's why I gave you to Yetunde, in the hopes that you would find a better life. And by the looks of things, you did ok."

How is this even possible! Kamau CAN'T be mom's son! He just CAN'T be! Why would she even have another son? Who could have possibly fathered him?

These troubling thoughts and more bounced wildly back and forth within my skull. My head started to spin slightly from the information, and I sat down to let it stop.

"I suppose Kamau…" Mom said with a sigh, "that it would be impossible to hide from you what family you have. Growing up, I was betrothed to a wonderful lion, and that lion was destined to become King of the Pride Lands. I loved him deeply, and our love for each other produced a healthy cub, our future King. All was lost when his brother Scar killed him and banished our cub. But our cub returned and, with the help of my adoptive son Ayden, regained the throne in the name of his father: his father Mufasa."

"Y-you mean…Simba…Simba's my brother!?" Kamau stammered as the exact same thought ran though my head.

Kamau is my brother?!

"Your half-brother at least."

Suddenly, it all made sense. Mother's behavior, Kamau's secrets, and even Ayden knew about this. Everybody was behaving in strange ways today, and it became clear why; why Ayden had hung behind with Kamau to talk to him, why Mother had run off when she had seen him, and why Kamau was so secretive. It was all to keep this big secret from me.

I stood up, unable to sit there hiding in silence any longer. I walked up and came to a halt on the top of the plateau. Kamau and Mom were sitting on the edge of the peak. Neither one had noticed my sudden appearance.

"Simba doesn't know about me then…does he?"

Mother shook her head. "No. He has no idea that I had another child."

Kamau looked up at her and asked, "Why?"

"Yeah Mom, why didn't you tell me?" I asked aloud, restraining the anger in my voice.

Both of them looked up at me, Kamau looking startled and mother…fearful.

She should be, I thought savagely.

There was no point in beating around the bush, so I flat out asked the one question that I wanted the answer to. When I spoke, my voice was cold. Only once had I spoken like that before; when Ayden and I were confronting Scar.

"Mother, who is his father?"

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

----Ayden----

Tension.

That's all I felt the moment I saw Simba walking off with Kamau. For the last ten minutes, I paced around the den, terrified that at any given moment something would happen that would blow the entire secret.

At one point while I was pacing, Sarabi wandered into the den.

"Hey," I said when I saw her, but before I could even walk to her, she was already around the corner. However, she was not out of sight. Her hindquarters were still within view, for she had bumped into some unseen lion around the corner. I jumped as I recognized the lion's voice.

"Whoa! Hey, what are you doing here?" Simba said, startled.

"Nothing," she replied quickly. "I was just going for a walk."

Then she disappeared from sight. I heard Simba turn swiftly and follow her seconds afterward. I bit my lip, debating whether or not to follow. Thinking better of it, I decided to stay put. Sarabi was not about to blow the secret any time soon. I, however, was in a heightened state of tension and I was not entirely in control of my emotions. I feared that if I were put in a position of questioning, that I might accidentally let it slip.

I resumed my pacing, falling back into my deep and troubling thoughts. Only once had I ever felt this kind of tension. That was nearly three-and-a-half years ago when I had finally decided to assassinate Scar and Zira, which I had failed to do so. That exact same fear of the unknown was back again, only now it was not a ruthless tyrant that I feared, but my own brother and best friend.

I knew I needed to clear my head. I could not keep going like this or I would end up in an emotional mess. I decided that maybe a nice walk would do me some good.

I wandered around the corner and out of the den into the sunlight. I stared around at the beautiful landscape, trying to marvel at its beauty. Yet each thought I tried to plant in my head was uprooted by the fear of how Simba would react.

I breathed in deep and turned to descend down into the lands.

"KAMAU! SIMBA DON'T!"

Sarabi's unmistakable scream of terror for her two sons exploded like a cannon from above me. I whipped my head up and felt my stomach plummet.

Kamau was dangling by his front paws from the peak of Pride Rock. Simba stood over him, his face a hateful slab of cold stone.

"NO!" I screamed as I sprinted to the pathway that led up to the peak. "SIMBA! NO! DON'T DO IT!"

I was about halfway around the slope when Tanabi and Kiara came sprinting up. Tanabi slipped between my legs and I found myself on his back. Behind us I heard more footprints, and I looked around to see a good portion of the Pride following.

Within seconds, we reached the top and found Simba standing in the same place he was before, glaring at Sarabi whose face was streamed with tears. She was trying as hard as she could to get around him and help Kamau, who dangled precariously from the edge. However, Simba blocked her every attempt.

I got off Tanabi's back as he spoke to Simba.

"Father…what have you done?" he asked tensely.

Simba whipped his head around and stared at all three of us. He spoke in a loud voice that was directed at the entire pride, though he only said our names. "Tanabi, Kiara, Ayden…I would like to introduce you to Kamau, the son of Scar and Sarabi."

Simba turned his cold eyes on me and I shrank back a bit.

"But you already knew that, didn't you brother?" he hissed at me.

I gulped, but stood firm. "I did what I thought was best. Best for myself, for you, for Kamau, but mostly…for Sarabi."

Tanabi and Kiara stared over at me open mouthed, as did the rest of the Pride. From within the crowd, Nala pushed through and came to my side. All the while, she stared at her mate in a way she had never looked at him. It was a mix of fear and concern.

"Simba," she said calmly, "This is not you. This is not who you are!"

"Do you know who he is?" he snapped back harshly, looking back at Kamau who struggled to hold on for his life.

Nala recoiled slightly from his reaction. Simba turned back to Tanabi and Kiara.

"This also means that he's your uncle."

"But Daddy!" Kiara cried, "He's hanging off the ledge! You have to help him!"

Simba sat up to his full height, and looked at us all coldly. That look was only on his face once; when he and I were battling Scar. It was a look of pure loathing. One that was not familiar with his face.

"This is the son of the lion that killed your grandfather. This is the son of the lion that raped your bibi Sarabi. This is the son of the lion that destroyed the Pride Lands, killed your bibi Sarafina, and starved our Pride!"

"But he means us no harm!" Kiara cried.

Simba was unmoved.

"Simba." I said sternly. I knew that I was the only one who would be willing to stop him. "Move. NOW."

He growled at me. "I will do no such thing."

From below the ledge, Kamau cried out, "Somebody help! I'm slipping!"

I withdrew my knife from my pocket and poised my arm to throw it. My target: Simba's foreleg.

"I'm gonna say it one more time Simba. Move, or I will make you."

The entire pride stared at the two of us. Their two kings, not only arguing, but threatening each other. However, to my surprise, nobody made a move to stop me. Even Sarabi stared at me, but made no motion nor sound to stop me.

Simba stared at me in disbelief. He opened his mouth to say something, but he stopped in mid-movement. Then his expression changed. His eyes contracted and he stared at me in a way he never had before, and I knew why.

Simba had given into his instincts now. He now gave into that aggression that he felt towards me.

He lowered himself to the ground, and pounced at me. Instinctively, I ducked and rolled forward as he passed overhead. He landed in front of the Pride, and turned on the spot with a roar. Behind me, I heard Kamau grunt as he continued to hold on for his life. I turned and reached down to try and get a grip on him.

Simba roared again and he leapt at me once more. Again, I rolled away barely avoiding his claws. When I regained my composure again, I turned and waited for Simba to pounce again, but he did not. He was standing in a defensive position near Kamau, staring at me coldly.

"You would hurt me to save him? The son of the monster who caused you so much pain and suffering? You would hurt me, not only your best friend but your brother, to save the son of your sworn enemy?"

He roared at me in defiance, turned around and lunged at Kamau. For one brief moment, I thought Simba was helping him up until I heard Kamau roared in pain. My knife slipped from my hand which was shaking.

Simba had latched onto Kamau's paws and was holding onto him with his own, exactly the way that Scar had done to him on the night we regained the throne.

"Do it now then Ayden!" he screamed savagely. "Make me move now! Send us both over the edge!"

My mouth fell open, and my legs began to shake from absolute terror and shock. I fell to my knees, tears springing to my eyes. I had no idea just how much this aggression that Simba felt towards me, as well as Kamau now, had taken over him. It was too strong for him to control. Nor had I any idea of how far he would go if he succumbed to it. He was willing to go to extremes far beyond I could have imagined.

Simba leaned forward to Kamau and hissed in his ear, "I can end it all here...I can avenge my father right now, and toss you from this cliff. I can take your life as easily as your father took my father's."

"Simba please!" Sarabi cried through sobs, "Don't kill him! Don't kill him, please!"

"Dad…" Tanabi said quietly, taking a step forward. "Dad?"

Simba stared over at his son, locks of his russet mane waving over his hateful and fiery eyes.

"Great Uncle Scar killed my baba Mufasa out of hatred and greed, regardless of the fact that he was his own brother. Will you do that? Will you kill your own brother out of hatred? Please, Dad. Don't be like Scar. Don't do what he did. You're better than that and I know it. I've seen it in you. This isn't the lion I love so much. My father would never do something like this."

Simba's eyes trembled with tears as he stared into he wise eyes of his son.

"But this is Scar's son... this is the son of the lion who destroyed these lands. Who destroyed our Pride."

"But he is not Scar himself," Tanabi said simply, smiling at his father.

Simba closed his eyes, and a single tear escaped down his muzzle.

"Please Simba…"I whispered, more to myself than anyone else. I prayed that he would do the right thing. I prayed he would let go of his hate.

A single silent moment passed. Simba looked down at Kamau. Then he leaned down and grabbed Kamau by the scruff of the neck, and heaved him up and back onto the plateau with all his strength.

Kamau breathed heavily as he lay on the ground, clearly thankful that he was still alive. Sarabi rushed forward and began nuzzling him through tears.

Simba looked at Kamau once, but he could not bear to look at him after that. He tore his gaze away and sighed.

"Forgive me."

And with that, Simba turned and pushed his way through the Pride, down the slope and out of sight. I stood up and watched over the edge as he sprinted down to the very base of Pride Rock, and out to the east, to a large crevice near the horizon.

The gorge.

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