"What happened? Why are you here?" I asked after Simba and I were done wrestling and reassuring each other this was real. I couldn't imagine why he hadn't come back. Did he get lost? How did he even get this far? Simba looked away and shrugged.
"Things just kind of happened," he said. He seemed like he didn't want to talk about it. Of course. I should have been more sensitive. I was reminding him of the day his father died. In all likelihood, he'd watched it happen.
"We kept looking, but we never found you. Scar told us you were dead," I said. He must have sensed the distaste in my voice when I mentioned Scar, because he flinched.
"Yeah. There was nothing else to think, I guess," he said. He kept stopping, even though I was dying to hear more.
"But what happened next?" I pressed. "How'd you get way out here?"
Simba paused to gather his thoughts. "I had to run along with the stampede until they slowed down. By the time they were done, I didn't even know where I was. I wound up stuck in the desert and I would have died if Timon and Pumbaa hadn't found me," he said, and he swung his head at the warthog and meerkat glaring at me.
"Now you mention us," the meerkat said. "This crazy lioness almost ate Pumbaa and now you're friends?"
"Relax, Timon," Simba said. "She didn't know."
"Sorry," I said, even though I felt ridiculous apologizing to food. Pumbaa snorted at me and turned away. Timon hopped on his back and they started discussing me.
"So what are you doing here?" Simba asked. My thoughts went back to Scar and my euphoria darkened.
"Scar's the king now," I said. Simba looked guilty for the first time.
"Yeah, I guess so. How's he doing?" he asked. I glared at the ground as I spoke.
"Everything is ruined. The Pridelands are a barren waste. There's no food or water. The hyenas are bleeding us dry. We're starving," I said. I left out the personal details. What I'd given Simba was reason enough for me to leave. I was just looking for food. Nothing suspicious there.
"Oh," Simba said. "I'm sorry."
"It's okay now," I said. "You're here, and you're the real king. We can go back and make everything right," I said. I butted my head against Simba's neck. He stiffened.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"Don't you think we should wait a bit? We need a plan. We can't just run off. Scar will fight," Simba said. That didn't sound like him at all. Simba was always ready to charge into trouble. Not so long ago, he laughed at it.
"That won't be a problem," I said, and I wrinkled my nose in confusion. "All the lionesses will fight with us. Scar only has his hyenas." I thought I saw fear in Simba's eyes, but I must have been mistaken.
"Come on, just give it a few days. You must be tired. Rest a while so you'll be strong for the trip back. We have to cross the desert, after all. Just take a few days," Simba said. Whatever else had happened, he was as irresponsible as ever. He saw my hesitation and smiled impishly.
"You deserve it. You came all this way to help everyone else. Take a few days just for you. Let me show you all the great stuff here before we go back home," he said. It had been so long since I'd seen someone so carefree. Despite my pleas, I really didn't want to go back any more than he did. This place was gorgeous, and Scar was a world away. It was tempting to keep it that way forever. He's right, I rationalized. It's a long way back home. I should get ready so I'm in top condition. Besides, I just found my best friend after years thinking he was dead. It's no harm to spend just a few days enjoying his company.
In my heart I knew I shouldn't let Simba tempt me, but I was tired of being good. I was tired of fending off Scar and dealing with his slavering hyenas. I was tired of running myself ragged hunting for a few bony antelope and watching Scar eat nearly everything I brought back. I was tired of living off scraps of meat and sleeping under a gloomy, dark sky. Life would be good here. For just a few days, I wanted life to be good. Responsibility could wait. We'd go back in the end.
"All right," I said. Simba smiled wider and I smiled with him. "But just a few days."
"Great! Come on, I'll show you everything!" Simba said. He tossed his head and spun around. He ran off into the lush greenery until I had only his flaming red mane to follow him by. I felt all ym worries melt away as I ran after him like an excited little cub. It was just like old times. Me and Simba, without a care, making mischief and playing games.
The day wasn't long enough for all we wanted to do. Simba and I ran through clouds of butterflies and watched them spiral up in a rainbow tornado. We scrambled up trees and looked down at the flawless valley. Then he pushed me out and I grabbed him with me, spinning so he didn't crush me flat. We wrestled on the ground and jumped over logs just for the fun of it. He tried to convince me that bugs tasted good, which was weird even for him. I left him to his gross slime and ate a hare instead. It was fat and juicy, and I actually felt full when I was done. We chased after leaves and climbed up in a tree that was bursting with wonderful-smelling purple flowers.
"I haven't had this much fun in years," I said when we finally stopped. It wasn't that we'd seen everything. I was just tuckered out. Simba and I nestled into the roots of an enormous chaos tree and watched the stars peeking in through the canopy.
"Isn't it great? I could live here forever," Simba said.
"Is is lovely," I said. I could see why he felt that way. If we didn't have to help the others, I could give up the savannah forever for this place. I felt a prick of guilt when I thought about the others, but I brushed it aside. I was going to help them. I was just taking a tiny rest. Just a few more days of paradise. Then I'd get back to work.