"I'm saying it can't be this way!" Leo complained, shaking his head. "No, no and no"

"Leo, we're following Ujinga. She is the one who has been there" Mufasa reminded his father-in-law.

"Pppfff. I am the one with the best sense of direction; that's you asked me to come along" he said, proudly.

"I didn't ask you, Sarabi wanted to take revenge on me" said Mufasa with a boring expression.

"… Auch, my pride has been hurt" said Leo, dejected.

Scar shook his head and went to drink some water in the nearest puddle. They had been going in circles for hours by then; Leo hadn't stopped complaining, saying he knew best and that he had an excellent sixth sense to know exactly where they had to go. Ujinga, more for fear than respect, didn't say a thing, but it was clear that she was dying with the need to make him shut up, wanting to focus.

Suddenly, he heard a sound. Stopping his drinking, Scar decided to lift his sight slowly. Two rubies were looking at him, making him paralyze for a moment where his breath was trapped in his throat. Fortunately, he always knew how to suppress his emotions, and so, the mysterious arrival couldn't see him doubting in what he had to do. Maybe if the tried to alert the others, the beast would notice and it would be useless or maybe if he tried to run it would leap on him and kill him, easily and fast. So, Scar decided to do what he had been doing all his life: defend himself alone. Breathing in and out, the dark lion put himself in position and took out his claws, burying them in the ground; his muscles were tensed up, and his heart was beating faster and faster.

Just when he was about to jump, the animal turned around rapidly and went away. Then, Scar waited a few minutes, thinking this would be some kind of trick. But it wasn't. Whoever that was had gone away, not giving him the chance to fight. Maybe it was an act of cowardice, but, for some reason, Scar doubted that alternative. He could swear he had seen those eyes before…

"Scar!" his brother called. "Come, Ujinga says she feels something!" he said.

"Yes, it's the smell of her lies…" commented Leo.

"I know where I am going!" screamed the jackal, unable to keep hearing the complaints of the old lion.

Scar was surprised to see her take out her temper, but again: who could blame her? Scar himself wanted so badly to scream at him to shut up, and he was sure Mufasa wanted too. They couldn't because of Sarabi and the ties that united Leo and Mufasa, but Ujinga was a different story… Thankfully for both of them… With a final and quick look to the bushes, Scar went back to where the rest of the group was waiting.

Simba was getting more bored and bored as the minutes went by. Being punished was really a pain. Especially when the days were so sunny. He could've been playing with his friends, but no, they had to stay inside the den, always under some adult's vigilance. Now, it was Zinguela's turn to watch on them, and she didn't stop complaining under her breath. She was the only lioness in the whole pride who hadn't had cubs. Nobody paid attention to it because all knew how much she hated the idea of being a mother. Zinguela was a free spirit, and she hated to feel chained to any place. Sometimes, Simba understood her.

It wasn't like he hated to being a prince, he liked it, of course… But sometimes his curiosity was bigger than his sense of obligation. Simba was known was the most naughty cub in the whole pride. Not a thing that annoyed him; in fact, he loved to be called that, because that only showed how he wasn't going to tolerate to anyone to boss him around. He liked to order things, but it was a different things to receive orders. His best friend, Nala, knew best. The young lioness was a bit older than him, but that wasn't a thing that disturb him. For him, Nala was like the sister he didn't have, the companion he could always count on. Nala was the best lioness in the whole pride, right after his mother. With a stubbornness dinged of being admired, Nala had a golden heart that reminded him of his father, and that only made her greater. Nala was a good lion, as well as her mother. And Simba didn't want to know what would've been of him without her as a friend.

Then, there were Tama and Tojo. While Tojo shared his same age, Tama was the younger of the group, a thing she hated to be reminded of. With the fury of a volcano, Tama was a rebel without cause. In that sense, Simba admitted she was just like him, what could be a good things… when they agree on something. But when they didn't, oh, the peace of the whole kingdom could be finished with their screams and fights. Thank the Kings Nala was always there to calm both of her best friends down. Tojo, on his behalf, was a lot quieter, always the shy of the group, and he had spent most of his cubhood ill. As Rafiki predicted, time made it better, and now he barely was sick. A thing Simba was glad to see.

Thinking about Rafiki made him remember his father and uncle, who had gone to look for him that morning. He looked out, hoping his father would come some time, but he didn't come in all the times the cub look, and that made Simba a little sad and anxious. He knew his father was strong, and that his uncle was clever enough to survive, but he couldn't help but feel worried about both royal brothers. He didn't know what he would do if something bad happened to them. He loved both of them deeply.

"Hey, Simba, Simba!" Nala called with a frown.

"Hum?" asked the prince, a bit absent-minded.

"I've called five times!" complained the cub. "It's your turn already"

"Oh… Let's Tojo play it, then…" he commented shrugging.

"But I was the last one" said the cub with a cocked eyebrow.

"Are you alright, Simba?" asked Nala worried.

"For sure he's bored of playing 'I spy' all the damned day…" commented Tama rolling her eyes. "I am too"

"But what else can we do?" asked Nala.

"Anything is better than playing 'I spy' in a den" said the red-eyed lioness.

"Maybe talking about why Simba can't stop looking at me?" asked Tojo feeling uncomfortable.

The other two cubs looked at the prince, seeing him looking at Tojo's direction with his sight lost. Nala shook a paw in front of his eyes, waking him up from his daydreaming.

"Simba, what's wrong?" asked the blue-eyed lioness.

"Nothing…" he answered, a bit uncomfortable.

"Nothing my butt…" said Tama immediately.

"Language, young lady!" screamed Zinguela from the entrance of the cave, angry. "If I have to watch all of you, at least I don't want to hear obscene words!"

"You can tell us anything, Simba. Maybe we can help" said Nala with a smile while Tama rolled her eyes at the adult's comment.

"It's because of my father and uncle" admitted Simba after a sigh. "I am worried"

"Normal, they're out there and the jungle is a very dangerous place" said Tojo. The two females looked at him severely. "… But they are both strong lions, they'll be fine"

"That's what I try to think, but…" said the prince, anxious.

"Ujinga is helping them, right?" asked Tama.

"Yes"

"I liked her… I don't know, she seemed nice to me at first sight" commented Nala shrugging.

"She is" said the prince.

"How do you know?" asked the three cubs.

"I went to talk to her the other day. We've been talking and our kind has been treating her and her family badly" he explained.

"What do you mean by that?" asked Nala frowning confused.

"I'm not sure… Maybe they did the same things our parents did to her"

"Oh, yes, I was so angry. So was my mum" said Nala.

"Yes, me too" said Tama suddenly. "I mean… She was only asking for help and she seemed humble" she said.

"And she is" said Simba with a frown. "If they just judge her by her actions and not because is she this or that…" he muttered angry.

"Well, I can understand them" said Tojo suddenly. "I mean, imagine a stranger comes in all of a sudden. How can I know I can trust her?" he asked.

"Knowing her and giving her a chance" answered Simba rapidly.

"I cant' believe I'm going to say this… But Simba is right" said Tama.

"Wooo, what a great sentence to be heard coming from you!" said the prince enjoying the annoy in her face.

"Don't get used to hearing me saying it" she said quickly.

"Even though…" said Tojo, with a frown of worry. "She can trick anyone easily. I don't know…"

"C'mon, Tojo. Be in her fur for a minute" said Nala with a tender tone. "My mum always tells me: treat as you'd want to be treated. And also: don't judge without knowing. Each of us has a story" she said feeling proud of her mother's morals.

"Well…" started to say Tojo. "I can give her a chance, but still it's prudent to be cautious" he said, seeing the point.

"What I don't understand…" said Simba suddenly. "…is why my mum and dad agreed on that too"

"Because is the law" was the rapid answer Tojo said. "That's what my mother told me"

"Mine too" said Tama.

"In that case: when I'm King, that would be the first thing to go!" he said proudly.

"Simba, everything seems to be the first thing in your list of 'things to go when I'm King'" commented Nala laughing.

"… … … Whatever, let's keep playing…" said the prince ashamed when the his friends laughed along. "Alright, I spy with my little eye…"

He was pacing from left to right, agitated. That stupid monkey, that damned know-it-all.. He would've killed him already if he didn't need him so badly for his wishes. If his insubordination wasn't enough, that stupid jackal was always crying and seemed to be becoming rebellious as well. All because her stupid sister, who couldn't take care of herself and was left behind. Stupid sentimentality… he thought baring his teeth.

"Master…" said the leader of the pack, the mate of that annoying and crying jackal. "Master, please, I think the shaman needs water already" he said biting his bottom lip.

Then, an unexpected hit in his jaw that made the jackal go rolling on the ground and hit the wall. His mate ran immediately, breathing quickly, worried.

"Batili!" she screamed, with teary eyes.

"I'm alright, I'm alright" he said, trying to be on his feet.

"Water…" repeated the lion with a sarcastic laugh. "Water!" he said once again, now laughing loudly. "Do you really think that useless being deserves a drop of water?" he asked with teeth bared.

"He hasn't drunk or eaten anything in all these days!" screamed the female, now facing him with angry eyes. "This is an atrocity. You can't do this to him! To anyone!"

The lion wasn't going to tolerate that behaviour. Angry, he stepped closer to her: "Watch your tongue, Nyeti. All I'm doing I'm doing it for you and your damned family. Do you want to go back to the life you had before?!" he screamed with his dark and deep voice.

"We lived better back then…" she said. "Maybe we have to work a lot more to feed ourselves… but then we were all together, we were a team! You just know to separate us, to see us being killed and left behind and you couldn't care less!" she reproached him.

The lion roared, infuriated: "Don't say I didn't warn you!" he said raising his paw.

"Hit me all you want, the truth will always be the truth!" she screamed, preparing for the hit.

"No, Master…!" screamed Batili, seeing the wrath in the lion's eyes.

Nyeti was sick of everything. She missed her sister too much. She didn't mind if she was punished or killed, she and Ujinga had been there for one another till they were born. She couldn't imagine herself without her. Batili tried to help her, but it was useless. Nyeti didn't find enough strength or courage to go on. That was why she screamed it all to that stupid lion's face. She was sick of him and didn't want to see what he was doing to her family. She closed her eyes, waiting for the hit, but it never came. A male's voice – one she hated with all her soul – sounded.

"Master! Master, I have some news for you, Master, I'm sure you're going to like it" said Uhari with an evil smile.

The lion looked at him and then at Nyeti. He lowered his head and whispered in her ear.

"Next time, you won't be so lucky" he said, turning his back on him to pay especial attention to the scarred jackal.

"Goody…" muttered Nyeti rolling her eyes.

"What is it, Uhari?" asked the feline with a serious expression. "For your own good, this has to be good" he warned, angrier at each second.

"Oh, it is…" said the jackal, laughing. "He is here"

At that, the lion's factions changed drastically, showing at first shock and then a very pleased yet evil smile. He started to laugh along with Uhari. Batili, who had already been able to be on his feet, went to his mate's side, and both of them exchanged a glare of worry. Passing them by, the lion went directly where Rafiki had been sitting all those days, refusing to speak to him or even look at him.

"It seems that your friends have come for you at least" he commented, seeing with pleasure how Rafiki now looked at him. "A pity you won't be able to talk to them anymore" he added.

Rafiki didn't have time to move when the lion pinned him to the ground with one of his big paws, burying his claws in his skin. The baboon, surprisingly, was able to not let a scream of pain escape his lips. Nyeti was feeling dizzy by then, and felt impressed by the shaman's attitude. The three jackals watched their master making the baboon look at him directly in the eyes. None of them blinked. It seemed as if the time stopped for them. Slowly, the lion took his claws out of the monkey's skin and then covered his eyes with it. With a dull gasp, the baboon became still and it was then when Nyeti fell to the ground. She didn't know the shaman, but she knew his friends would be devastated when they knew.

"Nyeti, Batili" said the lion suddenly, getting off the unconscious shaman. "Get him out of here, I don't need him anymore" he said, without looking at the couple.

"But… What…?" tried to ask Batili, fearing for his master's reaction.

"OBEY!" roared the lion angry.

"Yes, yes, I'm sorry" said the jackal. "Honey, come on…" he whispered in his mate's ear.

Nyeti finally stood up, but still she couldn't feel anything anymore. This was so wrong. She didn't want this for her family, she didn't want anyone to be hurt or killed. She tried to control the tears.

"And make sure nobody will find him" said the lion without looking at them.

"Yes…" both of them said.

Nyeti let a small sob escape her lips, and then she tried to maintain the composure. At least, till they were out of that monster's sight. When they were gone, the scarred jackal looked at the lion with a cocked eyebrow.

"Master, let me go with them. You know those two…" he started to say frowning with disgust.

"No, Uhari, I need you for another thing" said the feline with a sinister smile. "Bring him here"

"What?" asked the jackal a bit confused.

"Bring the King here" he explained, his smile growing. "I'm pretty sure he would love to return to this special place, which one was only for him…"

Uhari didn't need more than seeing that dangerous shine in his master's eyes to understand him and, pleased with his mission, he ran out the den. He couldn't wait to see what the Master had prepared for the King.

Sorry for the delay and if this chapter is too short, but this part was thought to be this way till the beginning. I haven't had a lot of time with exams and all, but I hope you enjoy it.

Thanks to all the reviews and favorites/followers, and readers of course! It means all a lot! :)