A/N: KawaiiCutie12: That is very true. Despite the fact, there was some bad, there was still some good within. Even if the damage was done.
Anyways, here is Chapter 21 for you all! As always, go to Chapter 1 for disclaimers. Without further or do, here is Chapter 21.
Chapter 21: Worry and Adventure
Three months passed and Kali was worried. Today was the day that her daughter, Nadra including her niece and nephews are allowed to venture on their own. Although Kali was still worried because her daughter was known to be stubborn at times. Just then her daughter bounded out of the cave along with her cousins Nafasi, Asante, and Keesha with Kopa and Chaka right behind them. "Mom, is it time that I can go out alone now?" Nadra asked bounding to her mother.
"Not yet darling," Kali said, licking the top of her daughter's head. "You still need an escort to go with you."
"Mom, why do I need an escort?" Nadra asked in annoyance. "Me and my cousins are just going on a walk."
"Now Nadra," Kali said sternly. "There's danger out there. And the Pride Lands is a very big place. And I also don't want you and your cousins to go to places that are forbidden."
"Oh what could be those forbidden places?" Nadra asked with annoyance again.
"Nadra," Kali said slowly, trying not to lose her temper. "Do not talk to me like that. I am your mother and you will talk nicely to me."
"Yeah yeah I get it," Nadra muttered rolling her light blue eyes. "But seriously what are these forbidden places we aren't allowed to go to?"
"You guys are to not go to the Outlands and the Elephant Graveyard," Kopa said, causing the cubs to look at him and Chaka.
"Why what is out there dad?" Asante asked.
"The outlands is a threat to us son," Kopa said. "And for the Elephant Graveyard, there could possibly be danger there."
"Well if that's the case then we'll stay away from those places at all costs," Nafasi said.
"Yeah," Keesha said. "I mean if they're a threat to us then we must stay away from them."
"Can we go now?" Nadra asked impatiently. "I don't want to wait any longer."
"Well have fun darling," Kali said giving her daughter a nuzzle. "I love you."
"I love you to mom," Nadra said returning the nuzzle.
"Have fun son," Kopa said giving his son a nuzzle. "I love you."
"I love you too dad," Asante said returning the nuzzle.
"Have fun darling," Chaka said giving his daughter a nuzzle. "I love you and stay out of trouble."
"I will daddy," Keesha said returning the nuzzle. "I love you too."
"Have fun sweetheart," Aisha said as she and Penda came onto the scene and nuzzled her son. "I love you Nafasi."
"I love you to mom," Nafasi said returning the nuzzle. Then he turned to Penda and said, "And I love you too Uncle Penda."
"I love you too Nafasi," Penda said with a smile. Without another word, Penda watched Nafasi and his cousins' race down the side of Pride Rock. As Kali watched them leave she felt sadness. The reason for her to feel sadness is that her daughter reminds her so much of Mwoga. Nadra has her father's attitude. Kali hasn't fully moved on from Mwoga and has still been thinking of him. She even felt lonely at times but never said a word that she felt lonely. Just then she heard a voice say, "Kali are you okay?" Kali looked back and saw Kopa, Aisha, Penda, and Chaka standing there concerned looks on their faces.
"Yeah I'm fine Chaka," Kali said trying to sound reassuring.
"You don't look ok to me," Kopa said his voice filled with worry. "Has something been bothering you lately?"
"No," Kali lied, shaking her head. "I'm fine. Just feel a bit dead inside. I want to spend some time alone by myself. So if mom and dad ask where I am tell them I need to be alone." With that Kali walked down the side of Pride Rock, leaving her siblings including Penda worried.
"Something is most definitely bothering Kali," Penda said.
"I agree," Kopa said with a nod. "She probably just doesn't want to say what's bothering her."
"It worries me," Aisha said the concern clear in her voice. "She's been acting like this for two months now. I just hope at least she's okay."
"Well I hope that we haven't said anything to her that made her this way," Chaka said the worry clear in his voice. "I'd hate if she is because of us."
"I don't think it's us," Kopa said. "I think it must do something about Mwoga. And if you don't know what I mean Mwoga was a rogue Kali spent time with after her argument with Simba. Kali told me that he loved her but after two months he came back and denied his cub and just made her go pretty mad. I got mad too and wanted to rip him to pieces but my mother wouldn't let me. If we were the ones to do it then she'd be pretty pissed off at us right now."
"I agree," Aisha said with a nod. "But man was that the reason she didn't return that night after the heated argument with dad."
"Speaking of which," Kopa said. "Chaka bro we really do need to catch up. We haven't spent a lot of time together after you got your memories back."
"I agree," Chaka said with a nod. Then he turned to Aisha and Penda and said, "If mom and dad come looking for us tell them that me and Kopa are catching up." Simba earlier that day went off to do his rounds while Nala went off with the other lionesses on their morning hunt.
"We'll tell them once they get back," Aisha promised. "Besides Kiara is still here anyway so at least me and Penda have some company in the cave." Kiara was still in the royal cave sleeping.
"Well then," Chaka began, looking at his brother. "Let's get goin'. But where do we go?"
"Let's head over to the watering hole," Kopa said. "Were much closer to here if we're there."
"Very well," Chaka said. "The watering hole it is. Let's get goin' bro." With that Chaka and Kopa went down the side of Pride Rock to head to the watering hole.
"Well then," Aisha said, once Chaka and Kopa were gone. "Let's head inside the cave shall we?"
"Yes," Penda said, causing Aisha to blush and look away from Penda. "Let's head inside and enjoy some time alone." With that Aisha and Penda went inside the royal cave to spend time alone despite Kiara being in the cave still sleeping.
Meanwhile, Asante and Keesha were exploring along with Nafasi and Nadra. Nafasi and Nadra looked around in amazement. "Wow," Keesha breathed her emerald eyes wide. "Everything here looks so cool."
"Yes, I agree," Nafasi said. "Although I wished my mother was going to be future queen though. That way that when I'm king this will all be mine."
"Well I'm sorry Nafasi but Auntie Aisha isn't crown princess," Asante said.
"Was I talking to you, Asante?" Nafasi said glaring at his cousin.
"Well you weren't," Asante said, ignoring his cousin's glare. "But Auntie Aisha is not crown princess. So don't say that this is all going to be yours when you know well that Auntie Kiara is crown princess."
"Ahem," Nadra said with annoyance. "Sorry to interrupt your little argument boys but we girls would like to do some exploring. Your arguments are starting to get annoying."
"Ah who asked for your opinion you little twerp," Nafasi growled, glaring at his cousin.
"Well excuse me if I'm acting this way," Nadra growled back, glaring back at Nafasi. "My mother taught me to be this way when someone is trying to talk to me this way. So don't go huffy with me young sir."
"Um, guys," Asante began. However, he was ignored.
"Yeah right," Nafasi scoffed, rolling his sea-green eyes. "I doubt that your mother did teach you to be this way."
"She did," Nadra growled, her light blue eyes burning into Nafasi sea-green ones. "So don't you dare say that my mother didn't teach me to be this way when someone is doing something I don't like."
"Oh and just what did she say?" Nafasi asked with a sneer.
"Guys..." Keesha began. However, she was also ignored.
"Why should that be your business Nafasi?" Nadra growled, her teeth clenched.
"It is my business Nadra," Nafasi growled back, glaring at his cousin. "I want to know what your mother said."
"Well, you're not getting the damn answer!" Nadra shouted furiously.
"You are going to answer me right now Nadra!" Nafasi shouted furiously.
"You're not my parent Nafasi!" Nadra shouted. "So I don't have to answer to you!"
"GUYS!" both Keesha and Asante shouted, finally grabbing Nafasi and Nadra's attentions.
"WHAT?!" both Nafasi and Nadra shouted back.
"Sorry to interrupt your little argument but do you guys not realize where we are at right now?" Asante asked. Nafasi and Nadra looked around and realized where they were.
"Oh no," Nadra gasped. "I think we're at the Outlands."
"Well that's exactly where we are right now," Nafasi said his sea-green eyes wide. "I didn't even realize that we were walking this far."
"Yeah me neither," Keesha said. "Come guys let's head back to the Pride Lands." With that, the four cubs began to walk back but before they could they heard some evil laughs. Gasping the group saw Zira and her lionesses coming towards them.
"Well well well," Zira said with an evil grin. "Look here, ladies. Looks like food is served."
"Yeah," one of Zira's followers said, who also happened to be Chaka's older half-sister, Shaka said. "And man am I starving."
"Well, what are we waiting for?" Zira said. "Let's eat ladies." With that Zira's lionesses advanced on the cubs. The cubs backed away in fear hoping to get away from Zira and her followers. But to their dismay they found themselves backed into a corner with nowhere to go. Looking at each other the cubs realized they were trapped. They took a deep breath and closed their eyes and waited for the pain to come as Zira and her followers closed in for the kill.
A/N: Well. What a chapter this was. Nadra really does take a lot of her father's attitude and some from her mother. And it seems like Kali feels rather lonely at times... and feels... depressed. I feel really bad for her. She doesn't have anyone to talk to besides her siblings and parents. She wants to have someone she could talk to as a friend and a possible mate to help her raise Nadra. But on the other hand, it's the first time in AGES that you guys have seen Zira. I bet you guys missed her cause I do not here. She and her followers are about to kill the cubs... or will they?
Anyways, you guys will have to find out in the next chapter whether or not the cubs will survive because this is the end of Chapter 21. See you all later in Chapter 22!