Zira, Nala, Tau and Kula entered the Pridelands. They quickly looked around to make sure no one had saw them come from the Outlands. Then the four cubs roamed around acting like they belonged there.
They were exploring for a few when they spotted four other cubs heading their way.
"Come on guys," Nala whispered. "I bet two of those cubs are the princes. Let's go check it out."
"Hold on Nala," Tau said. "If we go right up to them it'll be too obvious..."
But the creamy gold cub's words had no impact because Nala ran off in the direction of the other cubs leaving Zira, Tau and Kula behind.
"Should we go after her?" Tau whispered looking over at his other friends.
"Nah," Zira said waving her paw. "If we go then they'll really get suspisious. I say we stay put."
"But we're supposed to make sure nothing happens," Tau protested.
"If you want to go then fine," Kula declared. "But I think this whole thing is stupid. What's so special about these princes anyways?"
"I don't know," Tau said with a shrug.
Zira nodded in agreement with the brownish lioness cub. "They must be important otherwise why would my parents send me and Nala here to be friends with them."
"Beats me," Kula said.
After a moment, Zira let out a sigh. "Come on we may as well join her."
Zira, Kula and Tau let out a slight laugh as they went to join their friend and sister.
...
While Zira, Kula and Tau were having their discussion Nala was hiding in the bush deciding on how she should approach the four cubs.
However the decision was taken out of her paws when one of the cubs tripped over Nala causing both cubs to topple over.
"Malka!" a golden cub shouted running over to the dark gold cub that had fallen. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine Simba," Malka replied standing up and brushing himself off. Then the dark gold cub turned on Nala who was still laying on the ground. "What's your problem!" he shouted angerily. "I could have broken my neck you idiot!"
"Hey, don't yell at her Malka!" a tan cub shouted as she helped Nala to her paws.
"Yeah," the golden cub chimed in. "It's not her fault you can't watch where you're going."
Then he turned towards Nala, "Are you alright?" he asked his bright orange eyes filled with concern.
"I'm fine," Nala replied. "Thanks for asking." Then she turned towards Malka, "Sorry I made you fall."
"It's okay," Malka replied felling bad for yelling at her. "I'm clumsy anyways."
"Well I'd better be going," Nala said acting like she was going to walk away.
"Hey wait don't go," a light beige cub with dark brown rimmed ears and bright orange eyes like the gold cub, said.
A small smile appeared on Nala's face. This is what she had hoped would happen.
"You can stay and play with us if you want to." Prince Selam said hoping she would stay.
"Yeah stay please," the tan lioness cub piped up, her light brown eyes hopeful.
"Well..." Nala said pretending to think about it. "Okay I'll stay."
"Great!" the gold cub said smiling at Nala. "By the way I'm Simba and this is my brother Selam and our friends, Malka and Zahra."
"Simba? Selam?" Nala said her green eyes lighting up. "As in Prince Simba and Prince Selam?"
"That's right," Simba said with a grin. "But just because we're princes dosen't mean you have to treat us any different than any other cub."
Selam nodded in agreement as Malka said "Yeah they're nothin' special," Selam and Simba shot their friend a glare. "Jeeze I was kidding guys. Sheesh."
"Hey are we gonna play or what?" Zahra asked impatiently.
"Yeah let's play," Simba said. Then he turned towards Nala, "By the way what's your name? You never said."
"Oh my name's Nala," Nala said quickly.
Malka stopped and gave Nala a funny look. He knew he'd heard that name before. He just couldn't remember where. The dark gold cub decided to ignore it for now and enjoy the day.
Not long after the five cubs were enjoying a game of tag when out of some bushes Zira, Tau and Kula appeared.
"Hey Nala why'd you run away from us?" Zira asked coming up to her sister. "And who are these guys?" the dark tan lioness cub flicked her green eyes over to the princes and their friends when she said this.
"Oh 'Zi, Tau and Kula these are Simba, Selam, Zahra and Malka," Nala explained. "We were just playing together. Want to join us?"
"Sure," Tau said. "You in 'Zi and 'Kul?" He looked over at the dark tan cub and the brownish cub who shrugged as they walked over to the group and sat down.
Malka gave Kula a look of disgust. "Yuck," he said wrinkling his black nose. "Dosen't your mother ever bathe you?"
"What's that supposed to mean?" Kula snapped her green eyes flashing with anger.
"It means you stink," Malka replied waving his pale colored paw in front of his nose. "And you're awful scruffy looking."
"Look who's talking," Kula snapped. "Listen here if you don't want me to rip your face off I'd suggest you shut your trap."
"Malka don't be mean to her," Selam said walking over to his friend and giving him a glare. "Say you're sorry."
"No way," Malka protessed glaring at Kula. "I bet they're not even from the Pridelands. Just look at them. They seem more like Outlander cubs than Pridelander cubs."
"How would you know Malka?" Zahra asked annoyed by Malka's attitude. "This is your first time out of the cave. You wouldn't know an Outlander cub if it bit you in the butt."
"My mother told me all about the Outlanders," Malka declared. "She said they are all scuffy looking and smell bad and are really scrawny looking."
"Malka if you're going to have that attitude then you can just leave," Simba said still glaring at the dark gold cub.
"Yeah," Selam and Zahra chimed in.
"Unless you want to say your sorry." the light beige prince added.
"Yeah right," Malka said rolling his brown eyes. "I'm outta of here." with that the dark gold cub left heading back to Priderock mumbling to himself to whole time.
"I think I'm going to leave as well," Kula huffed out still angry at Malka.
"You don't have to go," Simba said. "I'm sorry about what Malka said. He can be a real pain sometimes."
"It's not your fault," Kula said smiling at the golden prince. "But my mood has offically been runied. I wouldn't be much fun to be around anyways."
"If you're sure," Simba said.
"I'm sure," Kula said. Then she turned towards Zira, Tau and Nala, "You won't be mad if I leave will you?"
"Nah," Nala said waving her colorless paw. "I know how you are when you're in one of your moods. Go on home."
With a nod the brownish cub was on her way back to the Outlands.
"Speaking of home," Zahra piped up. "Where exactly is your home anyways?"
"Well um it's uh it's.." Nala stuttered trying to come up with a convincing lie.
"We just moved here from a far off land," Zira piped up.
Nala gave her sister a greatful smile. She was sure glad that Zira was a quick thinker.
"A whole pride of you?" Zira asked. "That's strange."
"Ah who really cares," Simba and Selam said getting bored with the whole conversation. "Come on let's play before Zazu finds us and makes us go home."
With that the six cubs once again started a festive game of tag.
...X...
After palying tag for a few hours Zira, Tau and Zahra grew tired and decided to head for home. But Simba, Selam and Nala decided to stay knowing they wouldn't have to be back until sunset.
Although Nala was tired she decided to stay behind knowing this would be the perfect opportunity to get the princes to trust her. So after her sister, Tau and Zahra had left Nala, Selam and Simba decided to do some exploring on their own.
Soon the three cubs found themselves near the gorge.
The golden cub, the light beige cub and the tawny cub sat on the edge of the gorge deciding on rather or not they should go to the bottom.
However the decision was taken out of their paws when Zazu came on the scene.
"Master Simba and Master Selam there you are," the hornbill said landing on a nearby rock. "Your father sent me to find you two and take you home at once."
"Ah man," the brothers grumbled. "Alright. We'll see you tomarrow okay Nala?"
"Sure thing," Nala said with a smile. "See ya."
With a final goodbye the cubs were on their way.
Simba and Selam heading towards Priderock and Nala heading back to the Outlands, the three cubs eagar to tell their parents about their day.
AN: Chapter three is complete. Please tell me what you think in a review.