Sarabi sat on top of Pride Rock, looking over the moon. Ever since Scar took over, he had kept the pride tightly under his control and hardly allowed anyone to separate from the group. So when the former queen asked for a minute alone, she was surprised when she got permission. Perhaps it was Scar's pity towards her or he simply didn't care.

Life is so different now...

Stars shone brightly and the kingdom slept peacefully under it. Or sort of. Hyenas had surrounded the place and it caused that, several animals abandoned their home. Sarabi understood why they did it - food was harder to find and the grass was dryer than before. But honestly, the real reason for their leaving was Scar. He wasn't as loved and respected as Mufasa, thanks to his cold behavior.

And despite our warnings, he made new uncomfortable rules and brought hyenas here. No wonder everyone chose to go.

Sarabi didn't think about leaving. Where would she go anyway? Her family was dead and the pride depended on her. They needed someone to guide them through these dark times.

Mufasa, Simba...I miss you so much. Why did you have to go...?

Scar didn't allow the pride to see their beloved king and prince. Sure no one knew that he didn't want his plan to blow up but to Sarabi and everyone else this was confusing and unfair. It was already hard to cope with grieving and longing and now this...

"Sarabi?"

Looking over her shoulder, Sarabi saw Sarafina who appeared from the shadows.

"Oh, Sarafina! I didn't hear you."

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you. But Scar told me you were here and I thought..."

"It's fine, I could actually use some company. But what about Nala?"

"She's with other lionesses. I trust they will look after her for a moment."

"I'm glad you haven't lost hope. I'm starting to lose mine..."

Sarafina wasn't sure what to say. Sure losing their king and prince was hard but Sarabi was the one suffering the most. After all, she lost everything. Her husband and son, two most important lions to her.

"I'm very sorry, Sarabi. I'm not sure how I could ease your pain, but..."

"Don't worry about it. Life goes on, even though certain parts of me will never heal. But if I fall into misery, it's not right either."

"Have you thought about leaving...?"

"Leaving? No, where would I go? I'm not the queen anymore, but this is my home, no matter what."

"I fear for Nala's safety...how can I protect her? Scar has already taken interest in us."

"Really? In what way?"

"You know, wanting some...favors."

"That bastard...", Sarabi said angrily, but then apologized "I'm sorry, I..."

"It's fine. I understand your feelings. Speaking of grieving...have you noticed anything strange in it?", Sarafina asked.

"Like what?"

"His attitude I mean. It's so cold towards Mufasa and Simba...like they never existed. He refuses to speak about them."

"Maybe avoiding the topic is his way to cope with loss. They were his brother and nephew after all..."

"Maybe you're right...oh how are our lives gonna continue from here? Hyenas everywhere, hardly food, tight rules...", Sarafina looked at the sky. Her beautiful eyes competed with its blueness.

"I know you are worried about your daughter. But I promise to do everything that she's safe. I need someone to protect to and that's you two", Sarabi smiled.

"Thank you. Just remember to look after yourself as well."

"Sure. But our lives will never be the same I'm afraid. So much uncertainty and...and..."

"Yes, the future will be very unsure. At least we have each other."

The former queen and her best friend smiled at each other and turned to see the kingdom again. How strong it was to handle Scar's tyranny? Sarabi, as well as Sarafina, knew how everyone felt about these new rules and called them sadistic. But since Scar had a huge hyena army by his side, it was better to think twice should he be criticized.

"Have you asked to be visited in the gorge...?", Sarafina broke the silence. Shaking her head, Sarabi sighed.

"No, you heard what Scar said. I wouldn't handle it..."

"But why would he do such a thing?! It's unfair towards you!"

"I know, but what can I do? If he has decided something, it's impossible to argue against it. That's how it is."

"Hmm...well, you have a point. Even my words have not worked on him..."

"I advise you to keep a very close eye on Nala. During these times you can never know what's going to happen."

"I will. She's very sad about losing Simba. They were close, after all..."

"I know and she's like a daughter to me. And she presents youth, innocence, and faith. That's why we can't give up. Maybe someday our prayers are answered and we can see light on the horizon..."

"I hope so. I better get back before Scars starts suspecting something. You're coming?", Sarafina asked.

"Not yet...you go ahead", Sarabi smiled. After she was left alone, she collapsed to the ground. Tears fell from her amber eyes. Her heart...

Mufasa, honey...are you up there? Please, watch over us and take care of our boy! I miss you and Simba so much...

The meeting with Rafiki eased Sarabi's pain a little. The mandrill knew how to comfort the heartbroken queen even though he expected otherwise.

I promise to carry on...for you. And when my time comes to join you, we meet again. Until then, goodbye my loved ones...

The nightly wind passed Pride Rock and wiped Sarabi's tears gently away at the same time she mourned. Maybe it was a greeting from above or just her imagination, but she was too tired to think. After all, Mufasa and Simba were both gone forever...

*The jungle*

"Come on, Dad!", Simba rushed through the jungle. "We must help Pumbaa!"

"Hold on, hold on!", Mufasa answered back. "Remember my condition!"

"Yeah, but we must still hurry! I know he's in trouble!"

Mufasa sighed. It was good that Simba was determined but he was afraid something nasty happens again. And he didn't want to repeat it.

"Son, we..."

"HEEELLPPPPP!"

"PUMBAA! WHERE ARE YOU?!", Simba yelled.

"HELP! HELP!"

"I can't see him", the cub looked around. "This mist is too thick!"

"Mist?! Oh, no...then we are not yet out of this place!", Mufasa stopped running. "But she said..."

"But fog is usual in the jungle. I guess we can't make any conclusions depending on it", Simba reminded his father.

"Maybe not, still. We have to be careful."

"I know, but..."

*Running*

"Hey, I think someone is coming this way!"

"Oh no...", Mufasa went in front of Simba, getting ready.

What is it?!

"Perhaps it's not...", Simba started...

"RUNNNN!", Pumbaa appeared from the mist, much to the two lion's surprise. They couldn't believe it was him.

"Pumbaa?! What's wrong?", Mufasa asked.

"Don't stop! Just keep running!", the warthog passed the father and son. Simba and Mufasa looked after him and then at each other.

"What was that all about?"

"Hmm...", Mufasa narrowed his gaze. A very bad feeling hit him again...and then he saw it. A huge wave coming straight towards them. At first, he thought that he was hallucinating again, but Simba's horrified expression proved the view right.

"Dad...water! It's water!"

"Oh my god...! RUN!", Mufasa picked Simba up and sprinted after Pumbaa who was already several meters ahead of him. But luckily it didn't take long to catch up with him.

"Pumbaa! Hey, good to see you!", Simba said when Mufasa reached next to him.

"Simba! I'm so happy you're alive!"

"Heh, well if you could call it that...but what happened?! Where's Timon?!"

"I uhh...I tell you later! Now I think we have bigger problems to worry about!"

"Yeah...DAD! LOOK OUT!", Simba screamed before the wave flushed over them. Mufasa lost his grip of Simba and the cub fell under the water.

"Help!", Simba gulped, trying to stay on the surface. "DAD!"

But Mufasa and Pumbaa had disappeared too. This made Simba panic even more.

Did I lose them again?! This is not good...

"No! I can't hold on..." the little lion's strength gave up and he fell to the bottom.

This is it...goodbye...

Just when Simba thought that his life was over, he was pulled back up by someone. Catching breath, he coughed and spat water from his mouth. Then, he turned to see his savior.

"Pumbaa!"

"Hold on!", the warthog pulled himself and his friend onto a trunk that floated on the surface.

"Thanks for saving me! Did you see Dad anywhere?!"

"No, I saw only you. But he must be here somewhere!"

"I hope so...DAD!", Simba screamed.

"Anything yet?!", Pumbaa asked.

"No...where is he?! DAAAAD!"

"MUFASA!"

No matter how the duo yelled, they didn't see any sign of Mufasa. Simba was in a deep panic now.

"This can't happen again...just when we found each other!"

Where are you, Dad?!

"Uhh...Simba!"

"What?"

"We...I think we have a big problem! There's a waterfall!", Pumbaa pointed in front of him.

"A waterfall?!", Simba whipped around. And his stinky pal was right.

"Oh, no...we have to turn around!"

"How?!"

"Well uh...let's jump and swim to the bend!"

"Are you crazy?! We will never make it!"

"Well, something has to be done! Before..."

But it was too late. The trunk drifted into the waterfall, Simba, and Pumbaa with it. They both screamed from the bottom of their lungs throughout the whole fall.

"SPLASH!"

"Oh no not again...", Simba swam to the surface again. Fortunately, the flow was no longer so strong here downstream.

"Finally dry land...", the cub crawled on the sand and collapsed on his stomach. Pumbaa came soon after and collapsed next to him.

"You...okay?"

"I guess so...man, what a fall..."

"Tell me about it", Simba sat up, shaking himself.

"Where are we even?", Pumbaa looked around. "I don't recognize this place."

"Me either. I think we are still in The Land Of Mists..."

"I think so too. That wave came so suddenly."

"Mm-hmm...but I'm more worried about..."

"S-Simba!"

"Huh?!", Simba looked over his shoulder and saw Mufasa climbing up from the river. He looked a catfish with his wet mane.

"Dad, you're okay!", the cub ran happily to his father. "What happened to you?!"

"I got stuck in one of the trees when that cursed wave flushed over us. I did see you and Pumbaa but I was unable to get to you. I'm sorry..."

"It's okay. But did you follow us straight through the waterfall?", the cub looked up. "Wow..."

"I did. But I don't wanna talk about the details...", the exhausted king panted.

"I'm just glad we all survived. I would be gone if it wasn't for Pumbaa", Simba smiled at the warthog.

"Thank you, Pumbaa", Mufasa smiled. "I owe you big time."

"Nah, it was nothing", the pig answered shyly. "But so good to see you both! I was worried about you when you fell into that fog. Can I ask what happened?"

"We met Shanira and she told us something unbelievable", Simba nodded. "You see..."

"We can discuss more of that later, son", Mufasa interrupted him. "Now I must ask that where's Timon? We need to get out of this place."

"Ohh well umm...he's..."

"Yes?"

"Uh...Timon's gone! And I don't know where, so don't bother asking", Pumbaa crossed his forelegs and looked away. Mufasa and Simba looked at each other in confusion.

"Did something happen between you two, Pumbaa? You can tell us", Simba walked next to him and put his paw on his shoulder.

"Very well then...Timon and I had an argument about his behavior. I suggested we go vision by vision so that we could find you more easily. But he kept mocking and yapping until I had enough and left him behind...I'm so sorry!", he started sobbing.

"Hey, it's okay. It's natural you feel like this, Timon can be very...straight sometimes. But I'm sure he doesn't mean it."

"I know...I shouldn't have left. He can be in danger if Mosi and Jengo find him...!"

"We will get him back", Mufasa stood up. "But the only problem is that..."

"THUMP...THUMP...THUMP..."

"W-what is that?!", Simba gulped.

"I-I don't know..."

"I think someone is coming!", Pumbaa said. "I can see dark figures in the woods."

"Great...we better hide", Mufasa pushed Pumbaa and Simba into the bushes and jumped there as well. Then, the trio waited silently.

"What do you think they are...?", Simba whispered.

"I'm not sure...oh look, there they are!", Mufasa whispered back. "A group of gorillas!"

"Wait for a second...I know these guys!", Pumbaa said. "They were in that group of different monkeys that kidnapped us earlier."

"You mean that arena you mentioned earlier?", Mufasa asked.

"Indeed. Perhaps they know where Timon is. Should we follow them?"

"I don't think we have a choice. If they took you earlier, it's more likely that Timon is with them. And maybe they know how to get out of here."

"How do you know that, Dad?", Simba wondered.

"I don't, but I have a strong feeling they know something. I agree, let's follow them", Mufasa stood up. "Follow me and be as quiet as you can."

With that, the lions and Pumbaa sneaked after the gorillas. Did they know something about Timon? Perhaps, perhaps not...

TBC...