To to who are still reading, enjoy chapter six!
When Simba, Selam, Zahra and Malka returned to Priderock they were met by Mufasa who was returning home from his rounds.
"What are you cubs doing home so early?" the king asked the surprise clear in his voice.
"Mom told Zazu to bring us home," Simba complained with a frown.
"And we were having fun playing with Nala, Zira, Tau and Kula. It's not fair that we had to leave." Selam said frowning also.
"Yeah," Malka put in sitting down with a sigh. "Me and Kula are friends now. Why did Queen Hewa make us leave?"
"What's all the commotion?" Amani asked coming up to the four cubs and Mufasa. She looked at her son, "Malka why do you look so unhappy?"
"Because Queen Hewa said we had to come home," Malka huffed still frowning. "And it's not even sunset yet. It isn't fair Mom."
"Now Malka," Amani said gently. "I'm sure the queen had a good reason for making you come home early."
"Yes and I fully intend to find out what that reason is," Mufasa declared setting off to find his mate.
The gold lion didn't have to look far because Hewa was coming up the base of Priderock and approached her mate.
"Hello Mufasa," Hewa smiled giving Mufasa a nuzzle. She looked over at Simba and Selam who frowned back at their mother. "Boys why do you look unhappy?" the pale beige queen asked.
"They're unhappy because you sent Zazu to bring them and their friends home early," Mufasa said his voice gruff. "And I for one would like to know why?"
"Simple," Hewa said. "I don't want our sons palying with that new cub Nala or those other three. There's something about her I just don't like."
"But mom," Simba cried jumping to his light beige paws. "Nala's really nice."
"Simba don't interrupt," Mufasa said sternly.
Simba muttered a quick sorry and sat back down by his brother.
Mufasa then turned to his mate, "Hewa I don't know why you have this feeling. You met Nala's mother and I for one think that Jadira was a very nice young lioness."
"Mufasa do you honestly think that lioness was Nala's mother?" Hewa asked with narrowed orange eyes.
"You don't?" Mufasa asked surprised by his mate's attitude.
"No I don't," Hewa replied. "I think that Nala's keeping something from us."
"Hewa you're being completely unreasonable," Mufasa said shaking his head. "And may I remind you that I am a pretty good judge of character. I know when someone is lying to me. I'm not a fool Hewa. You need to trust me."
The gold king was referring to the time he let a rogue lion, Myoto stay in the Pridelands until he regained his strength.
A lot of the pride was unsure including Hewa but Mufasa saw through his rough exterior and befriended the greyish-beige, black maned lion.
For Myoto to to later save his sons from a pit they got stuck in.
"You're right Mufasa," Hewa said after thinking about what Mufasa had said. "I know you're not foolish and I do trust you. I'm sorry."
"It's alright my dear," Mufasa said giving his mate a nuzzle.
"So does that mean we can play with Nala and her siblings?" Simba asked his orange eyes lighting up.
"I suppose," Hewa said with a sigh.
Simba and Selam let out a shout of joy and gave their mother a nuzzle. "Thanks Mom," the excited princes said.
"You are welcome my little ones," Hewa said giving her sons a lick. The queen looked around and noticed it was now dark. "Now I think you both had enough excitement for the day. Bed time."
"That goes for you too Malka," Amani said picking her son up by his scruff and carrying him inside.
Just then Apate appeared and told Zahra to come inside.
Zahra nodded before she, Selam and Simba along with Queen Hewa and King Mufasa went inside for the night.
...
The next day Zira, Nala, Tau and Kula ventured inton the Pridelands hoping to run into their friends.
Fortunately for the four, they ran right into them.
"Hey Nala," Simba and Selam cried out excitedly running over to their friend a big smile on their faces.
"Hey Simba! Hey Selam," Nala said returning the smile. "Are you guys allowed to play today?"
"Sure we are," Simba replied. "But um if it's okay I'd like to play with just you."
"Sure it's okay," Nala replied smiling. She turned to her sister and friends, "That's okay with you guys right?"
Tau, Zira and Kula nodded so Simba and Nala were off. This left Zira, Kula and Tau alone with Selam, Malka and Zahra.
Soon Kula and and Malka were off by themselves as were Zahra and Tau and Zira and Selam.
Prince Selam and Zira were walking along when Zira got an idea,
"Hey Selam! Want to see my hunting skills?"
"You can hunt?" Selam asked his orange eyes wide with surprise. "Let's see."
"Watch this," Zira said crouching low to the ground. The dark tan lioness cub saw a lizard crawling on the ground and when she got close enough she pounced on it but instead of landing on it she crashed into a nearby rock hitting her head.
Selam without a thought ran over to his friend. "Are you alright, Zira?" the light beige prince asked walking up to his friend.
"Yeah I'm fine," Zira replied getting to her paws. "Guess I'm not such a great hunter after all."
"You're better than Simba," Selam said trying to make Zira feel better. "And you're not too bad for being only three months old."
"Thanks Selam," Zira said with a smile. With that the two set off to find some more things to hunt.
...
Meanwhile as Selam and Zira were having their adventure, Simba and Nala were having one of their own.
The two cubs were exploring when suddenly they came across a river.
"Whoa," Simba said his orange eyes huge. "That river looks so cool. Hey do you want to go for a swim Nala?"
"Uh Simba I uh can't swim," Nala said lowering her green eyes in embarassment.
"That's okay," Simba said with a smile. "My dad just taught me and my brother how to swim. I can teach you if you want?"
"Sure," Nala said her eyes lighting up.
Just as the two cubs were about to enter the water Tau came up to the pair with Zahra right behind him.
"What are you guys doing?" the creamy gold cub asked narrowing his bluish eyes at the pair.
"Simba was gonna teach me how to swim," Nala replied.
"Nala I don't think that's such a good idea," Tau said slowly. "Your dad wouldn't like that one bit."
"I thought your dad was dead?" Zahra her light brown eyes filled with confusion.
"He is," Tau replied. Then the creamy gold cub looked at Nala who was glaring him. "Did I say dad?" Tau stammered. "I meant our Mom wouldn't like it. Yeah that's what I meant. Sorry about that." Tau let out a nervous laugh hoping he hadn't messed up.
He looked at Simba and Zahra who looked convinced.
Then Tau looked up at the sky. "Hey it's getting dark," he pointed out. "We'd better go find Zira and Kula and head home. See you guys later."
"See ya," Simba and Zahra said together as Tau and Nala ran off.
Zahra looked at the golden prince, "That was wierd," the tan cub remarked. "I wonder why Malka said Nala's dad wouldn't like her swimming? Aren't they brother and sister?"
"Yeah that was a little strange," Simba admitted. "But we'd better get home before our parents start to worry."
The tan cub nodded before she and the golden cub headed back towards Priderock.
...X...
Back in the Outlands Scar had heard about young Tau's slip of the tounge.
"That was a very foolish thing to say boy," Scar growled his bright green eyes like daggers. "You could have blown the whole plan!"
"I'm sorry sir," Tau whimpered his voice shaking from fear. "It just came out."
"Scar you're being unreasonable," Kavela spoke up. "He's only a three month old cub. He didn't mean to slip up. It was a honest mistake. And really what harm did it do? He covered for himself and Simba belived him. No harm no foul."
"Kavela's right Scar," Sarafina piped up. "There was really no harm done so why shout at the poor boy."
"He needs to learn that actions have consequences," Scar said stubbornly. The reddish-brown lion turned towards the creamy gold cub and said, "Tau, I'm going to let this slide this one time. But if you ever do something like this again I will not be so understanding. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes sir," Tau quickly stammered. "Thank you sir."
"There's a good lad," Scar said with a smirk. "Now you cubs run along and get ready for bed."
With that Tau and the twins were off along with Kavela and Sarafina.
Before the creamy lioness left Scar stopped his mate and asked, "Have you thought about my porposal my dear?"
"Yes Scar I have," Sarafina replied. "And I agree we should have another cub. The sooner the better."
"Glad you agree," Scar said with a smile.
With that the creamy lioness went off to put her daughters to bed.
...
The months past and soon Nala and Zira were six months old.
Scar decided that his daughters was now old enough to enact the full plan.
So he pulled the cubs aside and said, "Today is the day my little dears."
"It is," Zira and Nala replied their green eyes wide.
"But Father, are we ready?" Nala asked with a unsure expression.
"Of course you are my dear and only one of you can do this," Scar said putting his paws around his daughters. "Now who's it gonna be?"
Zira quickly stepped back leaving Nala to do the deed.
Nala's green eyes widen. "Me! But I can't!"
Scar waved his paw."Of course you can. Your sister says the princes trusts you the most. So I know you can."
"If you say so father," Nala said trusting that her father knew what he was doing. "What I am supposed to do exactly?"
"Just make sure the sunspots are in the gorge alone at the time when the sun is highest in the sky," Scar ansewered. "I'll take care of the rest."
"Yes father," Nala replied heading off to meet Simba and Selam.
As she was walking the tawny cub felt a knawing feeling in the pit of her stomach. She wasn't sure if she wanted to go along with the plan anymore.
Over the last three months she, Selam and Simba had grown very close and she really liked them.
"I can't let them die," Nala said to herself. "I have to tell Simba and Selam the truth."
Just then Simba and Selam appeared in front of Nala startling her.
"Whoa easy there Nala," Simba said with a laugh. "It's just us. Boy you must be deep in thought or somethin'."
"Yeah sorry about that," Nala said with a slight laugh. Then the tawny cub took a deep breath. "Guys there's something I need to tell you..."
But Nala was interrputed by Zahra and Tau who appeared seemingly out of nowhere.
"Oh hey guys," Tau said acting suprised that the three cubs were there.
Kavela had told him that today was the big day and he was to distract Zahra so Simba and Selam would be alone.
Kula had also been given similar orders by her mother to distract Malka as well which was fine with them because like Simba, Selam and Nala. Kula and Malka had become very close as well as Zahra and Tau.
"Hey Simba, Hey Selam," Tau piped up suddenly. "Zahra and I saw something really cool down in the gorge. I think you two and Nala should go check it out."
"Really?" Simba and Selam asked their orange eyes lighting up. "Cool. Come on Nala let's go."
With that the princes took off heading towards the gorge.
"Guys wait," Nala called but it was too late. Nala shot Tau a glare before she took off after the brothers.
After Nala had gone Zahra gave Tau a confused look, "Why'd you tell Simba and Selam we saw something in the gorge?" the tan cub asked. "That was a lie. We weren't even near the gorge today."
"Well I uh I uh meant that Zira and me saw something near the gorge," Tau stammered nervously. "I just mixed up the names that's all."
"Tau, what's going on?" Zahra asked narrowing her light brown eyes at her friend. "You're acting really wierd."
"Nothing's up," Tau insisted. "Come on let's play."
With that the two cubs headed off although Zahra still had an uneasy feeling.
...
Meanwhile Simba, Selam and Nala were nearing the gorge.
Nala thought about stopping Simba and Selam but she knew she couldn't for fear of what her father would do. Then Nala looked up in the sky and saw that the sun was highest in the sky.
"Hey Guys why don't you head down without me," Nala said.
Simba and Selam gave Nala a confused look so she quickly added, "I uh don't feel very well. I think I ate some bad zebra or something. But there's no reason you two can't still have a good time."
"You sure?" Salem asked concerned for his friend's health.
Nala nodded so Simba and Selam bid their friend goodbye and as she left Simba and Selam decided they may as well explore the gorge since they was here.
So the golden prince and the light beige prince began to climb down the steap canyon to the bottom.
...
Meanwhile Scar was awaiting Nala's signal for the plan to take place. Sarafina was waiting as well.
"Scar why are we here?" the creamy lioness asked. "I thought the plan was to lure Mufasa into the Outlands?"
"It was," Scar replied. "But I realized that would be too obvious. Sarafina if we want to rule the Pridelands then we must make Mufasa and his brats's deaths look like accidents. What better way than to have them die in a stampede?"
"I suppose you're right," Sarafina said with a sigh. "I hope this works."
"It will my dear," Scar said giving his mate a nuzzle. "It'll work out perfectly. For all five of us." Scar rubbed Sarafina's expanded stomach when he said this last part.
Just then Nala approached her parents.
"Is it all set?" Scar asked.
"Yes father," Nala said without emotion.
"Good," Scar said. The reddish-brown lion then went to where his hyena friends were waiting and gave them the signal.
With that signal, the trio charged at the nearby wilderbeasts causing the heard to stampede right into the gorge where an unsuspecting Simba and Selam was exploring.