"Seriously, I didn't get a scare like that from a cub in years" Zazu said while he was accompanying the smiling Dan, "Did you think it was funny?"

"A little" laughed Dan, still happy at the mischief made.

"Well, you wouldn't like it if you had been almost eaten a couple of times"

"Has it happened to you before sir? Who tried to eat you? "

"Not many really" Zazu said sarcastically, "Just a few hyenas, a crocodile, some exiles, and a couple more predators"

"Wow, I'm sorry…"

"Do not apologize. Let's say ... I'm the children's favorite toy"

Dan laughed at Zazu's sense of humor. Then, remembering something they had discussed earlier, he asked him:

"Mr. Zazu, what did he mean by 'many cubs tend to get into trouble because of their antics'? "

"Although you see Simba as a noble and just king, the truth is that it was not always like this: once he got into trouble when he was a cub" said the bird, "He disobeyed and went to the elephant's graveyard, where hyenas lived, and that was not all, he convinced Nala to go too"

"Woah, what happened?"

"Because I enlisted King Mufasa's help in time, they were saved. Otherwise, I don't want to know what would have happened. That is why, you must obey and never go to areas that are prohibited"

"Don't worry sir, I don't think I'm that brave or crazy enough to go somewhere like this"

"Zazu!" shouted two voices.

Dan turned to see who had spoken. For a moment, he wanted to laugh: a brown boar was carrying a meerkat on its back.

"You two" Zazu reproached them, "The ceremony has already ended hours ago, where have you been? Simba didn't see you anywhere"

"I'm sorry, I think it was ..." the boar began.

"The alarm!" the meerkat said quickly.

"Did we have an alarm clock Timon?" said the boar.

"Of course, Pumba!" Timon said, although it seemed only an excuse, "Just that you fell asleep on it and you messed it up"

"Wow, sorry," said Pumbaa.

"In any case, where is our new little friend?" Timon said, "We knew he was a boy"

"Well, I'm sorry, but I have to take him back to the Pride Rock" said Zazu, "Come on Dan"

Timon and Pumba saw Dan.

"He's not as small as I thought him ..." Pumba said.

"Hey, come on, so we won't have to wait until he's old enough" said Timon, "It's more fun, and we can have more parties of bug treats to eat ...!"

Hearing about eating bugs, Dan was disgusted and pushed Zazu to give him the message that he wanted to return to the Pride Rock. The macaw seemed to understand quickly. Fortunately, either Timon and Pumba were dumb or just distracted, not noticing the escape of the cub or the macaw.

"Timon and Pumba: they are a couple of crazy ones, but with a good heart" explained Zazú back on the road, "Since their adoptive nephew Bunga left, they are looking for someone to replace his place"

"Where did that 'Bunga' go?" Dan asked out of curiosity.

"He was part of the previous lion's guard, he was the bravest" explained the bird, "When the previous leader, Kion, decided to stay as king of the tree of life, the members of our guard became those from there, including Bunga. Then, Vitani and her lionesses became the new guard"

"And how long have you not seen them?"

"They left a year ago. Sometimes they come to visit or we go there. But the problem is that the tree of life are miles from here, so there would rarely be visits"

"I understand…"

"We are here"

They had reached the Pride Rock. However, Zazu guided him to the back of it. In it, there were quite a few lionesses with their respective cubs, some were playing, while others were receiving a 'bath'.

"Have fun Dan, make friends" said Zazu and flew away.

'Have friends' was what Dan had never achieved. But now everything was different, including himself, so he had to try. With that mentality in mind, Dan climbed up to the part of the rock where everyone was. However, before reaching where a group of cubs was talking, a familiar face met him: she was Nala, she was lying on one side of the rocks, looking at the other females.

"Good morning, Mrs. Nala" Dan said, trying to be as polite as possible.

"Good morning Dan" she said, "Where have you been?"

"Playing with Zazu" he said laughing.

"Haha. And I suppose you did well scaring old Zazú"

Dan looked back at the group of cubs that was talking in the corner. He still wondered how he would make friends ...

"You need to gain a little confidence" Nala told him as if she were reading his mind, "You can make friends if you go and introduce yourself."

"Will they accept me?" he asked quite shyly.

"Well of course. Although…" Nala said as she checked all his body, "I think it would be better if you were a little cleaner"

And it was true: the ambush he gave Zazu had left a couple of leaves of grass and some dirt on his furry body.

"Come here" Nala said. Before Dan said anything, she grabbed him with her mouth and deposited it between his front paws. Then, she started licking him like Kiara did that morning.

"Is it really necessary?" Dan said: he was already feeling a bit stressed from the cat bathing.

"Well, it's better so that the other cubs can like you" Nala replied.

After a few minutes, Dan finally freed himself from the bath and got ready to go over to the group of cubs he had seen earlier. However, these were gone, surely to play elsewhere. A little disappointed that he had been late, he sat under the shade of a miniature tree that was nearby.

"I only want a friend…" he thought.

Just then, something or someone suddenly fell on him, apart from a few leaves. Thanks to that, he had gotten dirty again.

"Oh sorry," said a voice. It was undoubtedly from another cub. However, Dan was upset by the blow.

"Hey, be more careful with ..." he started, but then stopped when he saw who he was: a cub about his age and with blue-green eyes, "... that"

"Oh, I'm really sorry" she said, "I didn't mean to, I was just testing balance when… the branch gave way and then… I'm really sorry. By the way, my name is Shany "

"Uh… Don't worry, my name is Dan" he replied, "Nice to meet you, Shany"

"Dan? That name sounds familiar to me…" she said thoughtfully, "Hey! You are the cub that was introduced this morning, aren't you?"

"Uh… Yes"

"Wow, I can't believe I'm looking at you so closely" Shany said, "Are you Kiara's son?"

"I… I think there is a misunderstanding: I am not Kiara's son. I mean… I'm family now, but… exactly royal blood, I'm not…"

"Aaaa ... what a pity, my mother Zuri is one of Kiara's best friends"

"I'm sorry, but I'm just getting familiar with this ... I don't know much about those who live here ..."

"Well, if you want, I can give you a scouting tour, would you like it?"

"Well ..." Dan said as she looked at him. He needed to make friends, so he thought it was a good way to start, "Yes, thank you"

"But first ..." said a voice, and Nala appreciated listening to the pair of new friends, seeing Dan with leaves and dirt again, "You will need another bath, Dan"

Dan only thought about his luck as he said to himself:

"This is going to be a long day ..."