Chapter 14
Nala's point of view
As I cautiously navigated through the outlands hoping to find something before someone noticed my presence, a hint of a scent in air brought disturbing news to me, I was being followed and I knew very well who it was and seen shadows moving from the corner of my eye confirmed my suspicion "I know you're there" I said turning around "Show yourself!"
"Is that how you greet an old acquaintance?" her blood red eyes lingered in the dark for a while before emerged from the shadows and with twisted smirk on her face she approached me
"What do you want Zira?" I asked unfazed by her menacing appearance
"Just to see the former queen in all her glory, why Nala you look even worse than me!" she laughed loudly; I knew my frame was much thinner and my fur was soiled and matted by the hardships I've endured but unlike her at least I have my dignity "the real world is thought isn't it? I'm surprise you made it this long out there without your king and your loyal subjects" she asked pushing my buttons
"I can survive on my own!" I answered through gritted teeth
"Oh but I think you'll need them now" she chuckled darkly as she circled around me; I unsheathed my claws and prepared to fight her off despite my exhaustion I knew I could take her "Spotty, Dotty!" She called and her minions appeared the scale had tipped, for she had two lionesses around my age to back her up I fought them off for as long as I could but soon I decided to retreat "Get her!" Zira ordered as I ran as fast as I could not, my first instinct as a mother is to get my cub and run but if I lead them to Kion they will kill him without hesitation, my only option is to run to the only I know she won't follow me to, the Pridelands. I climbed up the rocky wall that divided the lands and halted abruptly nearly falling off the cliff, behind me Zira and her minion's approached fast and without another visible exit I jumped off the cliff.
Kiara's point of view
"Mom!" Kion screamed seeing his mother falling down the very steep cliff before hitting the ground of the canyon unconscious, Kion left my side and run down tripping over rocks and sliding down the path to get to her
"Kion wait!" I called after him but he ignored me, I knew getting closer while Zira and the other outlanders were around was dangerous but I also understood that he was worried about his mom, when I caught up with him he was standing in front of her with tearful eyes
"i-is she…dead?" he asked with his voice cracking placing his front paw on hers, I approached carefully and inspected her
"No…she's breathing" I told him and the outlanders growled from above "Don't worry Kion, my dad will here soon" I said hopping that would scare them off but it didn't, they started searching for a path that would bring them down here. "Oh no…"
"Kiara… is your dad really coming?" Kion whispered, looking at the desperation in his eyes I couldn't bring myself to lie to him
"I-I don't know…" I admitted and he closed his eyes letting tears slide down his face "we have to run" I said and he shook his head stubbornly
"I'm not leaving my mom!" he said lying down next to her
"Kion, I know those lionesses they won't hesitate to kill us" I insisted but he refused to move
"Then go! I'm staying with her" he cried, I can't leave him here to get killed he saved my life earlier and the least I could do was stick with him through this, despite what my better judgment told me.
Simba's point of view
"Simba!" Tama's voice rang in my ears
"We need to talk..." Kula added at a less menacing volume
"Sure" I said "what is it?"
"You need to appoint a new leader for the hunting party" Tama said dryly
"Why?" I asked "I thought you two said you were going to alternate the lead"
"Yeah… that's not working out well" Kula said turning to her friend "Tama is too bossy"
"And nobody listens to Kula" Tama rolled her eyes "she's too much of a softie"
"Well I'm sorry okay? I'm not the queen!" Kula remarked narrowing her purple eyes at Tama before she turned back to me and sighed "Anyways, the thing is Simba; we both have cubs to take care of and neither of us was trained to lead the hunting party"
"Your mother trained Nala and was the only one who knew how to do it the proper way" her friend added
"well Bandia mentioned she's led some hunts in her former pride" I mused
"Ugh you can't be serious" Tama rolled her eyes
"What?" I asked confused
"I don't think that would work Simba…" Kula said
"I mean really Simba; you want her to lead the hunts?" The amber eyed lioness scoffed
"What's wrong with that Tama?" I asked her
"Oh I'll tell you what's wrong with that -" Tama began but her friend cut her off
"Tama don't, you know it's none of your business" Kula warned her
"No Kula" I said narrowing my eyes at Tama "let her speak I'm dying to hear what she thinks"
"Simba we might not be friends or even get along but I do care about what's going on with you and Bandia, she hasn't been here for that long and that we don't even where she came from or how she got here but you've already giving her your full trust" she said and I rolled my eyes, she was right about some things but Tama also has a tendency to be paranoid "I mean she's teaching Kiara how to hunt… you trusted her with your daughter and now you want her to lead the hunts? Why don't you go ahead and marry her already?!"
"I might do just that!" I snapped and their jaws dropped
"Look Simba, I don't want to tell you how to live your life or rule this kingdom but-" she sighed
"Then don't Tama, You have a mate to help you with the responsibilities of raising a cub but I can't afford to refuse Bandia's help" I growled "and now I have to do what I think is right for the pride and most importantly my daughter"
"S-Simba I-" Kula said softly
"I'm sorry Kula," I said trying to regain my composure "if neither of you are willing to take over the responsibilities of leading the hunts then you have a new leader" the two lionesses remained quiet "this conversation is over"
"Sire!" Zazu quaked loudly
"What is it Zazu?" I sighed rubbing my temples
"There are outlanders in the Pridelands, the princess is out there!" he said flying ahead and leading the way
"Tama, Kula come with me" I said and the three of us followed Zazu, I jumped in front of Zira and clawed her across the face "get out my lands!" I growled, she seemed looked around for her minion's support but when she realized Kula and Tama already had them on the run she decided to do the same
"Daddy, Daddy! You have to help her!" Kiara cried nudging me urgently
"Kiara…" my voice caught on my throat when I turned around and saw her running towards a cream colored lioness that was lying on the ground unconscious, I couldn't see her face but something told me it could be her and I wasn't the only one who thought so
"Is that…?" Kula gasped
"No, it can't be…" Tama shook her head, we were shocked to not only confirm my suspicions but also to see cub with rich yellow fur and tuff bright red hair on his head, snuggled next to her crying he gasped when he saw us, I had a million questions running through my head and the only one that could answer them was unconscious and in the dire need of help.
"We're here to help…" I said to him and he nodded his head slowly "Tama, tell Rafiki to meet us at pride rock" I ordered her before I turned back to the cub "I'm going to pick her up now, okay?" he glanced at Kiara and then nodded his head slowly, I carried her in my back and laid her down on the platform, she was covered in cuts and bruises, her once shiny fur was matted and stained with blood and she seemed dangerously thin but she was still the most beautiful lioness in the world to me and it broke my heart to see her like this, I could hear the two cubs crying by my side and it took all of me not to break down and cry along with them, when Rafiki got here Tama and Kula sat next to me as the cubs watched how Rafiki treated her wounds "is she going to okay?" the cub asked and Rafiki nodded his head "Oh yes, she should wake up soon and when she does you need to make sure she stays off her sprained ankle" he instructed and the young cub nodded his head
"See? She's going to be alright" Kiara smiled reassuringly at the cub as Rafiki walked towards us
"Might be a little late, but congratulations" the old baboon chuckled patting my shoulder, I turned my head to the side and gave him a questioning look and he nodded towards the cub.