Queen Tula lounged on a rock, soaking up the afternoon sun when a familiar roar was heard, the queen perked her ears, the roar was heard again, "Kali..? Back so soon?"

The queen smiled and went to greet her son.

~O~
Kali roared one more time before waiting by the borders of his homepride for either his father or brother.

"Why do you roar?" Almasi asked from her seat on a rock, the afternoon sun shining on her fur.

"So the king knows that there's lions passing through." Rita answered, "One roar means that they're just passing though, two roars mean they request to see the king."

"That's right." Kali nodded, pressing his cheek against Almasi's, a few seconds later Queen Tula was seen, "Mother!" The prince ran to his mother.

"Kali! What are you doing back here?"

Kali pulled away from his mother, "Change of plans, we're going to the Pridelands."

Tula looked confused, "The Pridelands? Why? Haven't you heard? The queen's been blessed with a son almost two months ago."

Kali glanced at Adilah, who gave the ground a death glare, Hakuna nuzzling her shoulders. Almasi stood in front of her sister, a small smile on her face as she licked Uzuri's back.

"Adilah and Hakuna decided that we'll go back sooner than planned," The golden prince lowered his voice, "I don't blame her, hearing that their mother had a cub to the lion that killed their father must be rough."

Tula nodded, a grim smile on her beautiful aged face, "So your returning with them?"

Kali nodded, "Yes, I can't let Almasi go through all this on her own."

"So your abandoning your pride?"

Kali and his mother looked towards the tall grass where his father stood, his green eyes narrowed.

"Father I-"

Manu looked at his eldest son in distaste, "How could you leave just like that?" A smile started to spread across the older lion's muzzle, "Without saying goodbye?"

Kali stared at his father, before a laugh escaped his throat, "You old fool." Kali walked to his father, pulling him into a hug. "You had me there."

Manu laughed loudly as he hugged his son back, before turning to Adilah, her siblings and Hakuna, "I wish the best of luck for your travels. And you, my dear," The old king looked at Almasi with a twinkle in his eyes, "Better take care of this one." Manu looked around the group, frowning when he looked at Hakuna. "Where's that young lion you had with you the other day when he passed through here?"

Hakuna looked around the group, for the first time noticing that Doka wasn't there, "I'm not sure, he was with us yesterday but I don't know."

Maun hummed in thought, before he's eyes went wide, "I saw a brown lion running through here last night, could have been anyone though."

~O~

Adilah couldn't believe her ears, would Doka really turn against them? A small part of her said he wouldn't but the rest was screaming yes, narrowing her eyes she looked at the golden king, a growl rising in her throat, "Was this lion my age? With brown eyes?"

Manu looked confused, "I can't be sure, but he did look like that fella Hakuna passed through here with a few days ago."

Adilah snarled, her tail slicing through the air, "I knew it! That two-faced son of a-"

"Adilah?" Hakuna looked confused as the lioness paced, "What's going on?"

Adilah looked away, a sigh escaped her mouth, "Doka said he loved me and tried to get me to run away with him, I said no and he tried to force me but Kali came." The lioness looked Hakuna in the eye, "I'm so sorry! I understand if you want to leave me-"

Hakuna pulled her into a hug, "I'm going to make him pay for even looking at you." The lion whispered against Adilah's neck.

Adilah pulled back, "You don't understand, we had a thing back at Pride Rock," Adilah studied Hakuna's face, seeing no anger or hurt she continued, "But we didn't have a choice! We were betrothed!"

"But you don't love him now, do you?"

"Of course not!" Adilah shook her head, staring at Hakuna, "I love you."

Hakuna smirked, "I love you too."

~O~

Almasi fought against the urge to roll her eyes at her sister and most likely soon to be mate, as they made up after a short argument involving Dorky.

"Why do they do that?" Uzuri asked from her seat next to her older sister, her head cocked to the side.

Almasi smiled, "Because they're idiots. Promise me you won't ever be like this with your boyfriend."

Uzuri was about to reply when Kopa laughed, "She won't get a boyfriend."

Both sisters stared at their brother, an awkward silence between them. Almasi nudged her sister, "Just because you won't be able to get a boyfriend."

Kopa scoffed, walking right into their trap, "Of course I'll get a boyfrien-" Realizing he was being played he rolled his eyes before turning back to the conversation with his oldest sister, his two brother on-laws and cousin.

"Stay the night?" Adilah frowned, "With all due respect, I was hoping to spend the night in the jungle."

"We could spend the night here and leave at dawn to the jungle, it is a half day journey," Rita suggested, "Then spend tomorrow night there."

Hakuna nodded, "From there it's about fives hours walking to my old den, and that's about 2 hours to the Pridelands."

The old king and queen nodded, "So are you, Hakuna going to kill the king?"

Hakuna nodded, "I will, Kali can take on his brother and Kopa can get Do-"

"No! He's far from ready!" Adilah objected, "We'll just get rid of Vita and give them a chance to run-"

"And risk a future war?" Almasi asked, standing up leaving her brother and younger sister, "Adilah. I know that your trying to keep the way of the Pridelands, but look where that got us before when Simba let Scar live."

Adilah glared at her younger sister, "I know about the war with the Outlanders, but look how that turned out."

"Oh yeah, maybe Doka's son will come and fall in love with your daughter." Almasi rolled her eyes, sarcastically.

"That scum won't even look at my daughter because he won't be alive to see it!" The lioness snarled. Almasi smiled, glad her sister's tough side was showing, "Hakuna will challenge Vita, Kali and Kopa will go with him for backup while me and Rita will go and tell the lionesses what's going on." Adilah smiled sweetly at the end of her speech.

Almasi held up her paw, "And what about me?"

Adilah smiled, "Your be the spy, and while your spying look for somewhere safe for Uzuri."

"A spy?" Almasi smirked, "Look out Vita! I'm coming to spy on you!"

Unknown to the pride someone was spying on them at that very moment.

~O~

"They'll be here in a few days, your highness." Doka bowed low, his brown eyes looking up at the light lion who paced.

"A few days, eh?" Vita smiled, "Well then, Niji, Doka, we have to prepare for our little surprise visit."

Kiara bit her lip as she quietly turned and walked away, a thousand thoughts running through her head.

~O~

So school holidays are in like a week(Yes!) and It's summer so I'll be posting quite a lot when I'm not swimming or hanging out with my mates. Ah, don't you just love the Australian summer?