A/N:Teddi 8347-Ouch is right. But Malka will straighten everything, eventually.

CSIMentalistTLK lover-I feel bad for Mheetu. But it will make him stronger.

Disgraceful Prince

"Vitani!" called a dark brown cub, his darker brown mane tuff blew lightly in the breeze

A light tan cub looked from a bone she had been chewing on to her brother.

"Where's Imani, Akemi and Jabir?"

Vitani shrugged before pushing the bone aside."Why?"

"I have a idea what to do today"

"And what would that be, princey?"

The dark brown cub and Vitani looked and seen a light grey cub standing with two female cubs behind him.

"A adventure"

A light grayish brown cub rolled her amber eyes. "Didn't you learn from your last adventure, Kovu?"

Kovu smiled his bright blue eyes sparking. "It's just over the border. Who's in?"

A light cream cub yawned before standing and smiling at the chosen one. "I'm in"

"You can count me in" Vitani smiled her blue eyes matching her brother's

The light grey cub sighed before standing. "Don't leave me out"

The light grayish brown cub nodded in agreement. They traveled through the savannah, following Kovu's less-than-certain speculations on where they should be heading. Kovu was beginning to fret that he was going the wrong way, doubts kept blossoming into his mind. He knew he had to at least reach the boundary of the Outlands-then they could really begin their adventure.

"There's the borders." Vitani said calmly as they gazed out into the dry, stony lands.

Nothing lived out there, except maybe a rogue or two-and of course more termites.

"We could skirt it by going this way." Jabir the light grey cub suggested, nodding towards the bit of land stretching outside the Outlands, that met in the distance with a strange rocky set of hills.

Akemi the light grayish brown cub nodded with delight, glancing to Imani the light cream cub, who also nodded.

Kovu flicked his tail. "Okay." He said, turning his paws to begin marching in Jabir's direction.

He hoped something was through here. It seemed like it would, as it probably led to far better lands than the Outlands.

"I wonder if there's another pride?" Kovu pondered out loud.

"That would be cool. Maybe we'd meet other cubs!" Vitani said, her tail swishing rapidly through the air.

"I hope we get there soon...I'm starving." Jabir said in a complaining tone. He glanced longingly at a herd of antelope in the distance.

"That's all you think about, isn't it?" Imani commented dryly.

"Look! We're almost to those rocky hills!" Kovu interrupted, giving an excited bounce and trotting ahead of the others.

He almost felt like there was something was just beyond them, waiting to be found...The cubs all rushed forward, excited by the prospect of crossing an important barrier. The grass brushed their pelts as they moved, the wind blowing back their whiskers. Kovu led them on, his tail flying high like a banner of determination for fun. Kovu reached the stones first, and began to clamber up. Vitani launched himself up after him. Jabir sunk his claws into the dirt and pulled himself up, while Akemi and Imani tussled quietly as they climbed, arguing about something. Kovu heaved himself up onto one of the highest stones.

"Wow..." was all he could say as he gazed over the savannah, much greener and lusher than the Outlands and Pridelands. Jabir reached him a moment later, both staring with incredulity. Vitani snorted as she flopped onto the top, before looking up and uttering an exclamation of shock. Akemi tottered up a second later, blinking, and Imani followed her, expression changing from disgruntled to awed.

"Nice savannah." Jabir commented jokingly.

That seemed to break the trance, and the cubs all laughed.

"Hey look!" Imani pointed down the slope, to the waving green grass. "Lion cubs!"

~O~

Mheetu dashed through the savannah, followed by Skye, Nzuri, and Kito. Kishindo, Tanabi, Kopa, Khairi and Jeshi were a few paces behind them.

"Gotcha!" Nzuri squealed as Jeshi poked her with a paw, and darted quickly away.

Mheetu, Skye, and Kito scattered, giggling as Nzuri turned to chase them. Kishindo stepped back to avoid her, Tanabi, Kopa, Khairi and Jeshi sprung further away, taunting her to come after him. Mheetu ran ahead, letting his guard drop as he looked around the savannah. Maybe he could find a place to hide, a tree or behind a bush? They'd never find him! He grinned faintly and scoured the area for a suitable place. His attention was distracted by some unfamiliar shapes on the rocky hills. Skidding to a halt, he stared curiously up at them. He was so intrigued he didn't notice Nzuri approaching until she bowled into him.

"Whaaa!" He yowled, flailing his paws as he tumbled away.

"Oops." Nzuri laughed, poking him with a paw. "I got you, anyway."

Mheetu glared playfully at her. "Look up there. They look like lions!" He nodded up to the slope.

Nzuri turned to follow his gaze. She squinted and her ears pricked. "They do!" She agreed, tilting her head. "I wonder who they are! Hey, Tanabi, Kopa, Khairi, Kito, Skye, Kishindo, Jeshi!" She called to the rest of the cubs. "Come here!"

They obliged, looking curious at her excited tone.

"What is it?" Kishindo asked, avoiding Mheetu's eyes but staring puzzled at Nzuri.

"Look!" She pointed up at the slope. "They look like lion cubs!"

"Woah!" Skye squeaked, blinking.

"Trespassers!" Jeshi and Tanabi growled, flicking their tails from side-to-side.

"No...they're just on the slope." Mheetu told him. "Besides, they're just cubs like us."

"Yeah! Let's go say hello!" Nzuri grinned as she bounced up and down.

"I guess..." Kopa muttered, putting on a wary expression.

As Jeshi, Tanabi and Khairi followed Mheetu thought he was probably hiding his curiosity.

"C'mon then!" Kishindo bounded after Nzuri and the other males, and Kito quickly followed.

Mheetu glanced to Skye, who looked resigned to Nzuri's ideas altogether, and they both trotted after their friends. Mheetu stared up the hills as they walked, his mind whirling.