If I Don't Have You

Chapter Eleven

There was a smile on her muzzle as she walked back to Pride Rock after breaking away from the hunting party. Nine full days had already passed since her first meeting with the King's brother, Scar, and the fool proof plan that they had come up with was to be put into action in a matter of hours. But first, she would have to get her away from her little friends and Simba in order to trick her into going to the elephant graveyard. Perhaps she would use Simba wanting to meet her there as an excuse. She was bound to actually go if he were apparently involved. She seemed to jump at every chance to spend time with him every chance she got since they announced their relationship to everyone.

"Finally I'll get rid of that mangy lioness," Ashante laughed to herself. "She's so far gone in the head when it comes to Simba that she would do anything anyone told her if they said that it had something to do with him. What a fool."

She shook her head, choosing to lay down on one of the large stones that lay at the base of Pride Rock. She allowed her head to rest on her paws, her eyes sliding shut as she allowed herself to drift off into a peaceful sleep. She would need her rest since they would be getting this show on the road in a matter of hours. She couldn't wait to see how the creamy lioness reacted when she realized that she had been led into a trap and that her life was very close to coming to an end.

And once she was finally out of the way, and Simba got over his initial heartache, she would be there for him and capture his heart the way she had originally intended to. Things were going to be wonderful, especially once she knew that she was able to remove the one obstacle that was standing in her way of becoming the next Queen of the Pride Lands.

Everything is going according to plan, the beige lioness thought to herself before she drifted off into a peaceful sleep.

…

Nala stretched out before she rolled over on her side, her head tucked comfortably into Simba's side as they lounged about. They had managed to break away from their friends to spend some quality alone time with one another. It wasn't often that they were able to do so what with them always being around their friends or Simba leaving off with his father or the Lion Guard whenever the King tasked him with leading them to solve any problems that arose in the Pride Lands. Or her daily lessons with Sarabi on what she should expect daily once she took over the role as Queen. Not to mention being one of the lead hunters in the hunting party or watching after the cubs when no one else would.

"It's nice just being able to spend time like this together," Simba voiced suddenly, scarlet eyes gazing up at the rolling clouds that filled the skies. "We haven't really been able to do so these last few days. We've both been very busy. You with hunting, watching after the cubs, or learning the ropes of being Queen from my mother. And me leading the Guard every now and again as well as my daily lessons with my Dad about becoming King. We need to find time to do this more often."

Nala laughed, nodding her head lightly, "I agree. We're always so busy that we don't get to see one another often. And if we do, we're with our friends. Maybe trying to fit time in to just go on a walk together or something would be great, don't you think?"

"I think that would be great," Simba said as he rolled over, sitting up in the process. Nala was quick to follow his lead. "Maybe we can find time to do so tomorrow. But for now, come with me. There's something that I want to show you."

"What is it," Nala asked as she got to her paws, quickly following after her intended.

"You'll see what it is when we get there," Simba chuckled to himself as he led her back to Pride Rock and up to the peak. They took a seat beside each other, the memories of the night they confessed their feelings for one another to each other coming back to Nala; a small smile gracing her muzzle.

"Everything that the light touches, will be our kingdom," Simba said; her attention diverting from her memories to him. "My dad showed me this when I was just a cub, only a few months old. I come up here every now and again just to look at the land I would one-day rule. And seeing as how you're going to be at my side as the Queen, I figured I would share this with you."

"It's even more beautiful than I imagined," Nala whispered to herself, her blue eyes roaming over the land. She had been part of this pride for almost a year, but still had yet to explore every corner of what made the Pride Lands. Her eye was caught, however, by a patch of land with a shadow cast over it. Nodding her head towards it, she asked. "What's that shadowy place over there though?"

"That's the Elephant graveyard," Simba said, his tone turning from the soft, tender one he had been speaking with to one of grave seriousness. "You must never go there. It's the place that the hyenas call home. And believe me, you don't want to get caught there. Those hyenas are relentless and they will not hesitate to try and kill you if you step into their land. I know from experience."

"Another of your forbidden adventures that you went on," Nala asked; her brow irked. "Mufasa must not have been very pleased."

"We were just overly curious children," Simba admitted with a laugh. "My Uncle Scar had been the one that told me about it. So Malka, Chumvi, Tama, Kula, Tojo, Aisha and I all decided that we would take a trip there. Little had we known at the time, my Uncle was attempting to set us up to be killed."

"I believe you told me about your Uncle Scar trying to kill yourself and your father," Nala said shaking her head. "It baffles me how family can turn on one another in these kinds of cases. Being King isn't worth trying to kill your brother and your nephew."

"Ha, tell him that," Simba laughed, placing a fond lick to her cheek. "He always thought himself to make a better King that my father would. And because I had been born, his chance at becoming King had slipped away from him, seeing as how my father and mother had an heir."

"It's still not right," Nala said. "He's your Uncle and Mufasa's brother. No matter what the title is he held, he should have been content with that and supported not only his brother, but you as well."

"I completely agree with you," Simba said nodding for her to follow him. "But back on the topic we were on beforehand, I want you to promise me that you'll never go there. It's extremely dangerous and I would hate for anything to happen to you."

"No problem," Nala said smiling as they walked down the steep slope of Pride Rock. "I don't plan on going anywhere near that place. It makes my fur stand on end just thinking about it."

"Good, now let's go take that walk," Simba said as they stepped off the side of Pride Rock and continued through the plains of grass that surrounded it.

…

Simba had been called away by Mufasa via message from Zazu, promising Nala that he would catch up with her later on. With all her friends off tending to their own personal matters, Nala decided that a nap beneath the acedia trees would be a great idea. Making herself comfortable, the lioness lay upon the soft grass; her head resting on her paws.

She didn't know how long she had been sleeping before she was being shaken awake by someone from the pride. Sleepy blue eyes opened to look up at the last lioness she expected to see standing there, waiting for her to fully wake up. Yawning, the lioness stood before irking a brow at the beige female. It wasn't often that the other lioness decided to interact with any of them.

And something about her was off putting now. Ever since the incident with the antelope, and Tama's accusations, Nala had felt a bit uneasy around Ashante. What if Tama had been right about her? What if she had been deliberately trying to get her killed? She couldn't really trust the other female but it looked as if she had something to say so Nala would allow her to speak her peace.

"Yes Ashante, was there something that you needed," Nala asked warily.

"Not necessarily, I just came to deliver a message from Simba," Ashante answered; a smile on her muzzle. When Nala nodded for her to continue, she spoke again. "He asks that you meet him at the elephant graveyard. He's got a surprise there for you."

Something told Nala that she shouldn't believe anything that Ashante told her. But at the same time, if Simba were there waiting for her, she didn't want to keep him waiting. So without giving it a second thought, Nala turned to leave. "Thanks for letting me know Ashante."

And then she was gone. If she had stayed just a few seconds longer, she would have seen the sinister grin that split Ashante's features.

"What a stupid lioness," Ashante laughed to herself as she turned to head back to Pride Rock. "How foolish of her to actually go. Everyone knows that the elephant grave yard is the one place in the Pride Lands that you want to avoid at all costs. But I knew telling her that Simba was there waiting for her would get her to go, no questions asked. And now, she'll finally be out of my way."

She laughed out loud again, turning to make her way back to Pride Rock. They were sure to being looking for her when they realized that she was nowhere to be found. And if anyone asked, she would claim to have not seen her since the hunt that morning. After all, she didn't really associate with that group so they would have no reason not to believe her.

…

Simba greeted his friends some time later, plopping down in the grass with them after completing the task his father had assigned him. "Hey guys, what's up?"

"We could be asking you the same thing," Malka retorted with a smile. His brow furrowed when he realized that Nala was missing. "Hey, where's Nala? She's usually attached at the hip with you no matter where you go."

"I'm not sure," Simba said, everyone could see the worry on his face as he glanced around. "I hadn't seen her since this afternoon before I was called away by my dad on our walk. You guys haven't seen her?"

"Not since the hunt this morning," Kula answered. "We figured she had still been with you until you popped up here alone. I'm sure she's fine wherever she is though."

"I don't think that's going to pacify him, Kula," Tama said nodding to the Prince. "Maybe her mom knows where she is? Have you checked with Sarafina and Sarabi?"

"Good idea," Simba said getting up again and making his way to Pride Rock, his friends quickly following. They entered the den where the two mothers were sitting down having a casual conversation. And Nala was nowhere to be found. Clearing his throat, the golden Prince gained his mother and future mother-in-law's attention. "I'm sorry to interrupt you, but have you guys seen Nala? I haven't seen her since earlier this afternoon before I was called away and these guys haven't seen her since the hunt this morning."

"I'm sorry Simba, we haven't seen her," Sarabi answered. "She wasn't at the tanning rocks?"

"No, I checked there before I found them," Simba replied. He was really beginning to panic. The last thing he wanted was for Nala to be somewhere hurt and no one knew of her whereabouts. It was a bit disconcerting that even his mother and her own didn't know where she was either. "And if you guys haven't seen her, there's no telling where she could be."

"Mufasa," Sarabi said looking over at her mate who was quietly speaking with Zazu. "Mufasa we need to organize a search party for Nala. She's missing and no one has seen her."

"It would be faster if I perhaps did a sweep of the land to see if I can spot her," Zazu offered.

"Go then, I will inform the Lion Guard to group and start their own search," Mufasa said as both he and Zazu left the den; leaving the children and two mothers to themselves.

Sarafina could see the worry in Simba's eyes for her daughter. She was glad that such a sweet young lion had taken to her and asked her to be his mate. She wanted nothing more than for her daughter to be happy with a mate that would love her more than life itself.

Placing a gentle paw on his, she forced a smile on her muzzle to cover her own worry. "We'll find her, don't worry."

"I know," Simba said smiling slightly. "I can't help worrying though. I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if anything happened to Nala."

"I'm sure that she appreciates that," Sarafina said removing her paw. It made her heart warm to see how much he truly cared for her daughter. "Thank you for caring for her so. We'll be sure to find her and deliver her safe and sound to your arms once more."

"Thank you Sarafina," Simba said bowing his head to this future mate's mother.

"No, thank you for loving her as much as you do," Sarafina said before she moved to leave the cave, preparing to go on her own search for her daughter.

Little did Simba know, Nala was in grave danger. And every minute that they weren't able to locate her, was a minute that could possibly result in her death.

Another chapter done. Chapter twelve will cometh soon. Let me know how much you enjoyed it!