I own only Jahina (Swahili for 'bold'), Abu (Swahili for 'father') and Churo (Swahili for 'unlucky').
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"Hang on," Nala said, about half-way to the rest of the Pride, "hang on a moment."
"What's that," Simba asked.
"What about those plains," Nala asked, "the one by the jungle?"
"What about them," Simba asked.
"Couldn't some of the lionesses go there," Nala asked, "at least, for now?"
"What for," Simba asked.
"So they don't have to eat hyena," Nala said, in a tone that suggested that Simba was either joking around with her, or he was unusually dense, and she didn't particularly like it either way.
"What planes," Sarabi asked, "what are you two talking about?"
"There's planes out beyond the desert," Nala replied, "and now, I didn't really spend much tome there, but I think they looked quite lush."
"They are quite lush," Mufasa replied, "I'm not sure whether they could support the whole pride, but if I wasn't bound here, I think I'd be willing to give it a try."
"Hang on though," Simba said, "you lived on the plain?"
"For several years," Mufasa replied, "why where were you?"
"I, I was in the jungle," Simba replied, "I was in the jungle, and you were on the plain, and we never realised..."
"Hold it for a moment," Sarabi said, interrupting, then, when she was sure she had their attention, "run that past me again will you, I must have missed something."
"Dad and I were living so close to each other, and we didn't realise it," Simba explained, barely managing to keep his excitement in check, "he was living out on the plains beyond the desert, and I was living in the jungle right next-door, but we never saw each other."
"Right," Sarabi said, still not really understanding, "so what's this about living somewhere else?"
"On the other side of the desert is a plain," Nala replied, "a lush one, probably big enough for most of the pride." She paused a moment, before continuing, "I think it would be a good place to go, just for a while, just till the Pridelands can support us again."
"Across the desert," Sarabi asked, "how far across."
"Quite a way," Nala replied, "but I think we'll all make it."
Sarabi seemed to think for a few moments, then asked, "so when can we start out?"
"Pretty soon I expect," Nala replied, glancing at Simba and Mufasa.
"Hang on a moment," Mufasa said, "we can't all go."
"Why not," Sarabi asked.
"What about the lionesses who have cubs," Mufasa replied, "or those who are pregnant."
"None of the lionesses are pregnant," Sarabi replied, "but Zira and Churo have cubs."
"So they're out," Mufasa said, "and so am I, I'm afraid."
"What, why," Sarabi asked.
"As much as I would love to go," Mufasa replied, "someone has to be here to make sure the hyenas stay out, and to regulate the herds, and that'll have to start as soon as the first grass begins to grow."
"And what about you Simba," Nala asked, "are you coming with us?"
Simba looked at Nala, then at Mufasa, then back at his prospective mate, then replied, no, I don't think so."
"Really," Nala asked, "why not?"
"This is my home, should have been my home," Simba replied, not looking quite at Nala now, "but I've spent so much time away, and, oh, I don't know..."
"Why not come with us, then," Nala asked.
"I, I can't," Simba said, then continued quickly, as he saw Nala's face falling, "look it's not that I don't love you, I do, it's just, I guess I need the time to work things over, on my own, okay?"
"Okay," Nala replied, but it was clearly not, as Simba saw her eyes beginning to tear.
Simba looked pensive for a moment, then embraced her, and muttered, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said it like that, it's just, it's just been me and Timon and Pumbaa for so long, and now I'm back here, and, well, I've got to get used to it, and I've never really been out on the plains, and I'm really not sure how to act around them anymore, and, and..."
"I understand," Nala whispered back, "and, yeah, I guess it was kind of selfish of me to want you to do all that, especially after everything you've already gone through, leaving the jungle, confronting Scar, blaming yourself for your father's death...oh, I'm sorry you had to go through it all."
"That's, alright," Simba said, "you just watch yourself out there, okay, get back safely."
"Oh, don't worry," Nala replied, "I will, I'll get back safe and sound." They finally broke off the embrace, then realised Sarabi and Mufasa were still there, and turned away, embarrassed.
Sarabi smiled. She wasn't sure what Simba and Nala had just been discussing, but it had obviously been important, and embarrassing, and so, to save them further embarrassment, said, "why don't we go and tell the others about the trip then?"
"A good idea," Simba muttered, and they began to walk again.
When they reached the rest of the pride, Sarabi cleared her throat, then said, "Excuse me." By degrees, the pride looked to her, and when she was sure she had their attention, she said, "for those of you who don't want to eat hyena, there is another option..." The pride began murmuring, so she waited a few moments for it to calm down, then went on, "out beyond the desert is a fertile plain, which should do us until the Pridelands are good again."
"Who's coming," one lioness called out, and another asked, "when are we going?"
"Simba and Mufasa are staying," Sarabi replied, "as for the sake of their cubs we'd advise Zira and Churo to do."
"Well if mother's not going I'm not going," Churo called out from the back.
Moving around the pride, Mufasa approached Abu, and asked, "And what about you Abu, you going with them?"
"Well, you know how it is," Abu replied, "I mean, sure, hyena's edible, but it sure isn't appetising, so I think I'll go with them."
"Fair enough," Mufasa replied.
From the rest of the Pride, Sarabi called out, "are we ready then?"
"Yes," Was the resounding reply from the lionesses.
"Then let's go," Sarabi said, and slowly the lionesses, collecting Abu in their wake, began to follow Nala and Sarabi away from Pride Rock.
The two lions and three lionesses watched the rest of the Pride leave in silence, until a Nuka who had now joined them, asked, "mum, where's the pride going?"
"There isn't much food left Nuka," Zira replied, "so they're going away so we'll have more to eat."
"Why aren't we going with them," Nuka asked.
"The journey isn't going to be easy," Simba replied, before Zira could, "and you have a young sister now, don't you?"
"Oh," Nuka said, suddenly, then hung his head, "right."
"Mm," Simba said, then turned to Mufasa, "now what?"
"Now," Mufasa replied, then thought about it, "I think the first thing to do is find out how much meat we actually have left."
"Okay," Simba said, "I'll head out there now."
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