Tau POV:

I woke with a start as I felt a strong shove in my flank and I opened my eyes to see my father yelling at me, his dark green eyes wide and fearful "get up Tau! We need to move! Now!" Kovu yelled and I qucikly staggered up, my bones still stiff from sleep "what's the matter?!" I exclaimed "a forest fire! We need to go, it's taking over Pride Rock!" Kovu replied, before turning and waking up the other drowsy lion's.

It was only then I reliased the scorching heat in the air, the rock under my paws burning as the sweltering heat made the air heavy and humid.

I saw my mother and Simba leading the lions out of the entrance with Kovu and Nala close behind and I staggered after them, my fur prickling in the unfamiliar temperature. When I walked outside the entrance, I gaped. All I could see was fire, the fog-like black smoke clouding the sky as it made the air around us nearly burn with the unholy heat.

"This way!" Kiara yelled over the strangled chokes of the lion's and staggered down a stone path, out towards the river and we followed blindly before I suddenly remembered someone; Zuri. "No! Wait! Zuri! We have to save her or she'll be trapped! She'll die!" I shouted, preparing to walk back but a fierce snarl to my side made me stop "don't you dare! I'LL be your only concern! Why do you care about that peice of filth!" Ayo growled at me, her brown eyes flashing and I snarled back at her "becuase she's a million times better then you'll ever be! No matter what she's done!" I snapped, and I was about to go when I saw Kovu blocking my way "no Tau! We can't help her!" Kovu said and shoved me in the other direction "we can't afford to risk death to save a traitor to the pride! Go!"

Zuri POV:

Unnatural heat prickled at my fur as I woke and when the hot smell of ash suddenly clouded my smell I knew what it was immeditly; forest fire, and I had to get out of there quickly.

I stood up and pulled against the vines that bound me to the wall, my muscles aching as I strained against the vines desperately "please! Somebody help me! Please!" I roared, pulling and tugging at the vines.

I clawed at the vines but they were too thick to cut, the rough vines digging into my flesh as I tried to escape "please! Somebody! Help me!" I screamed, coughing and gasping as thick smoke choked me, it's foul taste making me dizzy "please..help..." I gasped as I sank to the floor, my legs shaking as my head spun.

I suddenly saw a female lion looking down on me in my blurred vision, and a familiar scent surrounded me "mum..." I whispered and Zira smiled at me, her fur shining with stars and eliminating a soft white glow "it's okay Zuri" My dead mother smiled at me and with one swipe of her paws she cut through the vines "run my child! Run!" My mother urged me, her figure already fading and I staggered up, nodding my thanks as I ran out of the cave.

Tau POV:

We were at the river bed, at the cliff's where Zira had fallen to her 'death', sheltering from the fire as it couldn't reach us there.

"We should saved her! It's all our fault that she's dead! OUR fault!" I yelled and Kovu looked at me sadly "We couldn't save her Tau, we had to save us and our pride" Kiara said softy and I shook my head blindly, tears prickling my eyes as guilt stabbed me over and over as I knew Zuri was dead, and it was OUR fault.

"We should of saved her" I mumbled, backing away from my parents and the silent pride.

"Tau! Get away from the edge! You'll fall!" Kiara shouted, standing up to pull me away from the edge. I shook my head "we should of saved her!" I roared, and stepped back again.

Big mistake.

The earth beneath me shook as long cracks in the earth appeared in the ground, then I felt nothing beneath my paws as the earth shuddered and disappared, my paws clawing the air as I fell. "Tau!" My family yelled faintly in my earth as I tumbled down the steep slope before I landed with a sickening crack on my shoulder and sudden pain ripped through my shoulder blade.

I snarled quietly as I staggered up, staring up at the worried faces of my family who peered down at me at the top of the cliff. I was standing on a tiny ridge on the cliff side, the river roaring and pounding beneath me wildly, but about a metre away was a bigger ridge that looked much safer "Tau? Are you alright?" Kovu shouted down at me, and I nodded "I'm alright but Ive hurt my shoulder" I winced as another lash of pain whipped through me "-badly'

"We'll come down to help!" Simba told me, but I shook my head "no, I'll come up by myslef" I replied, and leapt up at the cliff, clawing at it as my paws slipped hopelessly on the rocks before I crashed back down on the small ridge "it's no use, I can't get a gri-" I stopped talking as the ridge trembled slightly, clots of earth showering down form the ridge. My eyes widened.

"Quick! The ridge is giving way! Help!" I shouted, jumping in vain as I tried to claw up the cliff fearfully "I'll fall into the river! Please help me!" I yelled and my parents eyes widened "no! Tau! Grab my paw!" Kiara cried, reaching out to me helplessly but her aw was too far out of reach "son!" Kovu shouted, as the ridge started to give way even more, half of it falling off as I struggled to keep balance. My heart thudded in my chest in fear as the river thundered below me, knowing that soon I'll be in that river that meant certain death.

As the ridge gave way completely, I stiffened, closing my eyes as I waited for Death's cold embrace.

Atleast I'll be able to see Zuri.

But as I started to fall, a sudden shove in my side sent me flying and I crashed heavily onto the other bigger ridge, winded by the sudden impact.

I sat up to look for who had saved me when I heard a gasp. My heart missed a beat when I saw someone who I never thought I'll see again.

Zuri.

But my blood turned to ice with what I saw; Zuri was hanging on the ridge, dangling off the edge as her face was full of terror with the river thundering mere metres from her back paws. "Zuri!" I yelled and I raced towards her, but not quickly enough becuase Zuri slipped down the cliff side even more, her claws bleeding from the strain of holding on. "Tau!" Zuri screamed, her back paws scrabbling on the rocks "Zuri, grab hold!" I told her, reaching down to her, but as Zuri released her paw she slipped even more down the cliff, and with a terrified whimper, she clung with both her paws to the rock again as her face contorted in the pain of holding on.

"Zuri, please" I whispered as I looked into her beautiful ruby-red eyes "don't let go...for me"

Zuri smiled faintly as she looked back at me, suddenly calm "I don't regret saving you" She told me, but suddenly looked down "I hope that it is a way for you to forgive me...please say you forgive me" She told me, her voice timid and frightened "I forgive you Zuri, I forgive you" I told her, smiling back at her, my face stiff with the panic inside me.

Zuri grinned "thank you, Tau, thank you" She sighed "I must do this...there is no other way"

My grin immediately dropped.

"What do you mean?!"

"Goodbye Tau"

Zuri let go of the cliff, her paws sheathing her claws as she closed her eyes as she fell...

"ZURI!" I roared, my heart tearing in two as I saw her figure disappear with a crash in the raging river below "ZURI!" I repeated, my eyes searching for any sign of her, but I saw nothing.

Nothing.

Tears slid down my face, uncontrollable sobs wracking my body with heartbreak as I realized Zuri was truly gone this time.

Forever.

AUTHOR NOTE:

Hey, dont kill me for killing off Zuri! *a brick is thrown at my face* I SAID IM SORRY! There is a happy ending, becuase Tau and Ayo will marry and have loads of annoying bratty kids!

Just kidding!

There is truly a happy ending, keep on reviewing and fanning!