5 seasons had passed since Shiva was stolen from the Pridelands. Kiburi was still running the pride, without a queen to rule beside him. Everything was going downhill with Shiva and Kifo though.
"Rats!" Kifo hollered, "You're not trying hard enough!" The large brown lion unsheathed his claws, whacking at the young lioness.
Shiva hollered in pain, her light golden fur trickling with blood. She looked down to the ground, then back to the lion. The lioness sprang towards the dark lion with unsheathed claws, running them across the male's face. She then landed on her paws on the opposite side of the lion, licking her paw clean of the blood she shed from him.
Kifo gave a menacing smile, his tail flickering. The large lion got to his paws, moving towards the lioness. He sat down, giving her face a good lick, "Are you ready?" He glared.
"For what?" Shiva pulled away from the dark lion, sitting on the opposite side of him.
Kifo shook his head, pulling himself up, "Obviously not…" The dark lion breathed heavily, and turned away.
Shiva watched him leave, then exited the cave. The lioness hung her head low, then looking to the smoky skies. "The Great Kings of the Past are up there…" She repeated lowly, "…Kovu? Kovu, where are you?" The lioness's ears pinned back, and she sat down. She was beginning to lose all hope. "Kovu, I need you…" Shiva began to cry as she did every night, "Why won't you help me? Why aren't you here for me? You said you would be…" She got up, padding to where she slept every night. The lioness lay down, and began to cry herself to sleep.
The next morning, Kiburi was pacing on top of Pride Rock. The king sighed, and sat down, watching the Pride Lands. Kumo emerged from the den, and lay down next to the king, "Why so down?" The young lion raised a brow to Kiburi who didn't answer. "I see." Kumo shrugged, getting up and padding down the slope of Pride Rock. He gazed around, looking for something interesting to do. Kumo sighed, and just began to walk around the Pridelands. There wasn't a better thing to do anyways. What Kumo didn't know was that Tamu was following him. He continued on, and sat down as he saw a puddle. Kumo began to play with some of the flowers he was laying in. The dark lion heard a yowl, and turned his head to the location.
"What are you doing?" A young, lightly-golden lioness hissed to him, and shooed him away from the flowers. "These are important! You cannot just go around and lay in any flower you want." She slapped him gently on the paw, glaring.
Another voice sounded from behind as Kumo was staring at the light lioness confusedly, "Oh, come on now, Shiba." A dark-coated, old lioness emerged from the high savannah grass, "There are more around here." She chuckled lightly.
"Melastome is important though, Maua!" The young lioness exclaimed, and turned to the male she'd just scolded, "Well? What have you got to say for yourself?"
"Shiba? That name seems so familiar. Too familiar…" The dark lion gazed at the lioness, squinting.
"Is that seriously all you have to say for yourself?" She stomped her paw, and rolled her eyes, "Come on, Maua. All this lion is doing is wasting our time." Shiba began to walk away.
"Now, wait just one moment!" The old lioness, obviously known as 'Maua' called to Shiba, "This young lion over here surely has got something to say to you." She gestured to Kumo, who was still dumbfounded.
Shiba hissed, and turned back around, slumping towards Kumo. The lioness sat down, gazing at Kumo, "What?"
"Shiba!" Kumo exclaimed, "It's me, Kumo. Don't you remember me? We used to play together. I-" The dark lion stopped himself. He wasn't going to go that far. Not yet.