Gallus couldn't believe what he had seen on those walls. He couldn't even look at Mheetu, Leta, Bakura, Mheto, Kion, or Paka.

The family didn't know what was wrong with their friend and Leta was the most worried for her mate. Paka had tried many times to get the poor lion to open up, but it seemed even her motherly aura couldn't make him open up, and Bakura couldn't get his best friend to open up either. Not even young Mheto. Mheetu failed as well. That left Kion to try and somehow, he had a feeling he could make the young lion to speak his mind.

"Word has it that you have a lot on your mind."

Gallus was lounging by the watering hole, looking at his reflection when he heard Kion's voice and saw him appear out of the corner of his eye.

"That's one way of putting it." the younger lion mumbled.

Kion sat down next to him. "Tell me what's wrong. I won't tell anyone, just between us males."

Gallus sighed heavily. "Mheetu showed me the paintings in that small cave of Pride Rock."

Kion paled as he realized what paintings. "Oh? A - And?"

Gallus gazed down at the water. "I didn't think father was on there."

"What? Your father was on the wall?" Kion asked, arching an eyebrow.

Gallus nodded slowly. "Hatari."

Kion's jaw dropped. "Hatari is your father?"

"I dunno." Gallus shrugged in truth. "I mean, he's the only one I knew to be my father growing up. But I don't know my mother, I don't even look like my father!"

Kion was at a lost. On the one paw, Hatari could be Gallus' father, but on the other, he could've just simply taken in the poor cub. But there was no way of proving his thoughts at the moment, the only one who knew the truth was Hatari himself.

"I see."

Gallus sniffed as he stood up. "I'm going back to the Outlands."

Kion jumped to his paws, despite the ache in his back. "What about Leta?"

"... maybe it's best that we don't love each other. We'll only hurt each other with the history of our family..."

DOTNO: TBC

"Get the brat away!" Hatari growled.

Zanta sighed heavily as she took Kamaria away from their step - brother and placed her by Chuma's side as she snuggled into the warmth before glancing back at Hatari who unleashed his claws before padding around in a circle.

The lioness narrowed her eyes. "Hatari, must you be so hateful towards her?"

Hatari glared heavily at the lioness before baring his teeth. "Watch your tongue, Zanta."

Chuma scoffed. "What are you doing to do?" he challenged and Hatari growled darkly. "You can't do anything to us."

Hatari smirked. "Not to you, but to the cub."

The two gasped as they looked down at Kamaria and felt sick. Kovu and Kiara had told them to watch her while they went to speak with Vitani and Nuka, but if they came back to see their daughter dead, they would lose their minds and wouldn't think twice before attacking Hatari. But in the end, it would be their own fault.

"You wouldn't dare." Chuma gulped.

Hatari smirked darkly as his tail flicked as he eyed the cub. "Challenge me again, and you'll see."

"You can't attack her!" Zanta pleaded as she stood in front of him. "What would your mother say?"

"I'd kill her too." Hatari shrugged. "She wasn't loyal to father. I bet father is rolling in his grave at the betrayal. He'd be happy to know I took out the cheater. The disloyal."

Chuma frowned. "We'll do anything to make sure Kamaria isn't harmed." he mumbled in defeat.

Hatari flicked his tail in wonder as he thought about it.

"Please." Zanta pleaded.

"You have nothing to offer me." Hatari spat out, flicking his tail.

"We're back!" Kovu said as he and Kiara appeared, only to stop when they saw Hatari with his claws out and the places that Chuma and Zanta were in, protecting the young cub.

Kiara paled. "Hatari..."

Hatari growled as he pushed past them, glaring over his shoulder. "Thin ice..." he reminded them as he vanished out of sight.

DOTNO: TBC

Gallus sighed heavily as he padded into the dirt lands filled with bones and broken paths before he saw his pride coming into view, and winced. What he really wanted was to go back to the Pridelands, but he just didn't feel like he was welcomed.

Not since finding out what his father was once.

"Why isn't it my son, who has finally come home after abandoning us!" Hatari growled as he saw his son coming towards them, and the rest of the pride stopped to watch.

"Should I even call you father?" Gallus growled right back.

Hatari's eyes widened as he frowned heavily. "Why have you come back?"

Gallus rolled his eyes. "Because I can."

"And what of the Pridelands?"

"Not my Pride." Gallus winced. "I belong here."

The leader didn't say anything as Kiara came out of the den with Kamaria hanging from Kovu's jaw and Gallus' eyes widened when he saw the small auburn cub.

"Gallus, you're back!" Kiara purred but Gallus backed away. "Gallus?"

The younger lion eyed the cub. "Who is that?"

"My daughter." Kiara explained. "Mine and Kovu's daughter, Kamaria. Your great - aunt."

Gallus frowned heavily as he narrowed his eyes. "Don't you mean adoptive great - half - aunt?"

Kiara's eyes widened at the word 'adoptive' and gulped nervously as Kovu placed down the small cub who was looking around in confusion. Gallus snarled before padding away and laid down on the ground, placing his head on his paws.

Kovu padded up to the lion. "Hey, can we talk?"

Gallus looked away as he clenched his eyes tightly before opening them. "You're not my family are you? The only ones who can speak to me is my father, Hatari. The only lion who's right."

Hatari grinned widely as he chuckled. "Spoken like a true king."

"I want to continue my training." Gallus sighed heavily. "But more intense."

"We start at dawn, my boy. We go till dusk."

DOTNO: TBC

Leta watched as her grandfather returned to Pride Rock with his head low. "Grandpa?"

Kion sighed heavily as he sat down, allowing Mheto to crawl into his embrace as his family gathered around to hear the news. He didn't know what to tell them. Gallus had left on his own accord, but how would Leta handle the news?

She'd be heartbroken.

"What's the news with Gallus?" Mheetu smiled.

Kion took a deep breath. "He left for the Outlands."

DOTNO: TBC

Gallus felt his entire world breaking down as he watched the Pridelands. He didn't want to go, but he had too. He couldn't handle knowing Hatari was the brother of King Mheetu, the uncle of the twins and Mheto. But he left to keep Leta safe, if he could go through with Hatari's training, then maybe he could convince his father to keep away from the Pridelands.

"Gallus, please, rethink this."

"I've made up my mind, grandmother." Gallus replied coldly.

"He's turning into Kopa more and more each day! Don't be like him!" Kiara pleaded as she tried to get through her grandson's head.

"I know what I'm doing!" snapped Gallus.

Kiara shook her head as she gaze him a nuzzle, despite his warning growl. "No, you don't. You don't know him like I do. You don't know what Kopa had placed in his head. What trick Mheetu played did to him!"

Gallus roared. "Oh, I know everything! I saw the paintings! I saw the family painting of you, Kion, Kopa, father, Mheetu, and Alika! What's funny to me is how you and your kings look alike."

"Gallus..."

"Just... go away, I know what I'm doing." Gallus sighed heavily. "I'm doing this to protect Leta and her family."

"Leta? Who's...?" Kiara began asking, but Gallus snarled.

"Go baby your newborn!"

Kiara winced. Even her own grandson sounded angry at the fact she had a cub with Kovu. "Alright, Gallus. Just, please, don't end up like Hatari."

Gallus sighed as she walked away. "I already am." he whispered to himself.

"Gallus, come!" Hatari grinned as he padded up to his son. "Let us see your Kingdom one last time before dusk!"

With a blank expression, Gallus followed his father.