One month later

A shirtless DJ panted as he pushed himself back up from the ground. Shooting to his feet, he threw his hands up before he brought them back down and slammed them down into his gut. He then dropped down back into a pushup position to repeat the process.

Meanwhile up on the peak of Priderock was Vitani and her friends were soaking up the sun. Well Vitani was enjoying the sun, her friends were all too busy watching DJ workout.

"You guys do know he has a mate right? And two cubs? And now three grandcubs?" Vitani asked as her friends just shook their heads.

"So?" They all asked at the same time as Vitani shook her head and laid it back down. It had now been a month since DJ was attacked by an unknown beast.

Nala had given birth to another male cub. This one however looked just like Simba with a red mane and golden fur. Nala had named him Kion and everyone was joyful at the newest arrival.

DJ's arm had healed up nicely but his newest scar had now began to attracted the wrong kind of attention. And at the worst time of the month for most of the pride's lionesses. Including Vitani and her friends, although Vitani had a little more self control than her friends.

Kinda.

DJ panted as he stood up and cracked his back, grabbing his shirt as he did from a nearby tree before he looked up at the peak and seen his admirers. He smiled and shook his head before he wiped his sweat covered face with his shirt and began walking to the creek to wash himself.

The teenagers watched him go before they sensed another presence with them. They all turned around and seen the hunting party had returned, including Sarafina. All of Vitani's friends immediately shrunk back as Sarafina and the others laughed.

"Oh don't worry. You aren't the first lionesses to drool all over my mate" she said turning to the hunting party. Several of them, young and old, immediately looked elsewhere and walked away to find something else to do.

"But I understand and hey, at least it's not to the point where you're tracking him down and tackling him" she said going down to the eating area.

"That was one time. And you do it too" a lioness yelled as the hunting party followed.

Down at the creek

DJ dunked his head into the cool water taking long drinks while he did. He finally raised his head out of the water before he looked over the grasslands before him. He sighed before going into thought about one thing and one thing only. Kopa.

It had been a month since the attack so DJ knew that he wasn't fully healed yet. However Rafiki gave him the all clear to at least walk around the cave and yet he refuses to do just that.

'I'm giving him until he's fully healed. If he still hasn't began walking then we'll do it my way' DJ thought to himself. Vitani had told him earlier that she would be having a chat with him today so he'd at least wait until she was done with that until he began thinking of an idea.

He looked down at the newest scar and traced his fingers over it.

He had racked his brain the entire month trying to figure out just what attacked him, but nothing made sense. The only thing that would come close to matching the description of his attacker would be a huge Timber Wolf.

But they weren't native to Africa and besides, lone wolves rarely survive in America so one in Africa probably wouldn't survive the night.

But one thing was certain, he would find the beast that attacked him and Kopa and he would kill it.

A noise to his side caused him to turn his head to the side. Ever since the attack he had been reacting a lot more to sounds and gut feelings.

However this time all he seen was his mate walking away from the feeding area. She shot a look at the human before she continued walking away from the pride, lifting her tail up as she did though.

'Eh, I'll find the beast eventually' DJ thought to himself before throwing his shirt away and followed his mate with a smile on his face.

Inside Priderock

Vitani, with a mouthful of zebra meat, walked into Priderock. Normally one would have to look around the cave to find someone.

However for Vitani and everyone else, they all knew where to look for one lion.

Kopa laid on the ledge that his family slept on, in the very same spot that DJ had laid him down a month ago when he was unconscious and bleeding.

He laid down with his head on his paws, facing the back of the cave.

His wounds were slowly healing and most of the small ones had healed completely with most of them not scarring.

However Rafiki confirmed DJ's suspicion about the three scratches on his face, saying that they will scar over the most.

His leg still wasn't fully healed between the huge gash and the broken bone, but it was getting there.

Vitani walked beside Kopa and set the meat down in front of him. She stayed by his side a lot during the month but they didn't really talk about that night.

"I brought you some lunch" she said. Kopa remained quiet for a few seconds before he nodded.

"Thanks" he simply said still not looking in her direction. Vitani sighed before she too laid her head down on her paws next to him.

"You know you don't have to stay in here with me right? I'm sure you have more important things to do" he said. Forming a plan in her head, she smirked and got up from her laying position, out of Kopa's sight.

"D-Do you not want me in here?" she said in a fake sad voice but she kept the smile. Kopa immediately turned to take back what he said but he seen the smile and frowned.

"Not funny" he said getting back to his earlier position. Vitani laughed and laid back down next to him.

"It kinda is. But maybe I should've ran out as well. Then maybe you would've made an effort to walk at least" she said.

"I was attacked 'Tani" Kopa said. Vitani frowned before she got in front of him and showed off her own wounds. Though most of them had healed as well, they were still visible for now.

"So was I, and yet I'm walking around" she said before looking him in the eyes.

"Listen, I'm not saying that I got it worse than you, but we were both attacked on the same night and I'm walking around. Look if you're scared about getting attacked again-" Vitani was interrupted when Kopa shifted to look away from her.

"I'm not scared to get attacked again, I'd like to see them try it again. Grandpa and dad would never let them close enough" he said as tears began to leak from his eyes and his voice began to crack.

"I-I... I'm worried about you" he said confusing the lioness.

"My leg isn't going to go back to normal. Ever. I'll never be like I was... and I'm just worried that you'll look for a stronger male. And maybe you should. I won't be able to defend you or give you any strong cubs" he said. Vitani immediately put her head under his own as she too was crying.

"Kopa... I'd never leave you. I don't care if you end up with no legs and I have to bring you food and water ever day. After what you said that night... I love you Kopa. Plus I'll fill in all the strongness in our cubs" she said joking a little as Kopa was now fully crying.

"I love you too, Vitani" he said as the two sat in silence until after a few minutes had passed and Vitani got to her feet.

"Uh, listen. I uh, I got to go. Me and the girls were going to the watering hole. But tomorrow, we're going to start getting you walking. Trust me if you don't want to wake up miles away from Priderock with your grandfather telling you he's not carrying you back, then we'll start tomorrow" she said walking out and leaving no room for debate.

Kopa chuckled as he laid his head back down. But in the back of his mind, he knew she was right. Maybe he had been taking a little too long to recover. Not for his leg obviously, but he could hop out onto the peak and maybe down the steps.

But their conversation had taken a lot off of his mind. He figured that since he wasn't just crippled but also no long heir to the throne that she would leave him.

He looked down his body until he seen his crippled leg. It was still bent at a crouching angle and it was wrapped in leaves and bandages.

He sighed before he slowly and shakily got to his feet, keeping his broken leg off the ground and being careful not to stretch it out.

He stood right up as his legs wobbled and threatened to give out from underneath him, but he wouldn't let them. He was Kopa, son of Simba and Nala, grandson of Mufasa Sarabi. And he was trained by DJ who had saved the Pridelands with his father and uncles.

He could do this.

Finally his legs stopped shaking after a few minutes. He took a deep breath before he put his front legs forwards and quickly brought his back leg up as well resulting in a small hop. Okay this was good.

Kopa suddenly heard a chuckle from the entrance of the cave. He turned his head and seen his grandfather standing there with a smile on his face.

"I knew all it would take is a order from your woman" DJ taunted coming forwards and rubbed his grandcub's head. He would've swiped at his hand but he knew that he'd probably fall.

Suddenly Kopa sniffed the air in confusion. But he soon smiled knowing what the smell was.

"Why do you smell like sweat and grandma?" He asked. DJ's smile left his face but he soon smirked and rubbed his head again.

"Just wait, pretty soon you'll be tasked with the burden of keeping Vitani happy every month. Just be sure you do it constantly. You don't need to get tackled in the middle of a patrol" DJ said sitting down on the floor. Kopa laughed while he also hopped over and laid himself down, keeping his bad leg up, and placing his head down on DJ's leg. DJ smiled and petted his head.

"I don't think you've laid down like this with me since you were Kiara's age" DJ said. Kopa chuckled.

"Her and Kovu are getting pretty close. Maybe dad should also be training him to be king as well as Kiara to be Queen" Kopa said. DJ chuckled.

"Yeah, how are you doing with that?" DJ asked. Kopa scrunched up his face in confusion.

"What do you mean?" He asked.

"You know, no jealousy or anger towards Kiara. Having your title as heir taken away?" DJ said. Kopa shook his head.

"Oh, Scar" Kopa said. DJ nodded.

"Yeah, sorry it's just-" "No, I understand. If I had gone through what you and dad did, I'd probably be the same way. And no I don't hold anything towards Kiara. Plus after the stories you've told me about your time as king, I think I dodged a hit" he said as DJ just laughed. The area drifted into silence until Kopa spoke up again.

"Grandpa, have you ever been scared?" DJ asked. DJ nodded.

"Yep, tons of times. Most recently when I was tracking your blood trail" he said.

"How do you deal with it? The fear" he asked as DJ sighed.

"Well, to be honest, you can't ever get rid of it. Fear will always be a part of you, it's just how nature intended. But facing it does get easier and soon you'll be able to defend against a hyena attack and wonder what's for dinner at the same time" DJ answered as Kopa laughed.

"But in all seriousness, first you need courage. You need to be able to stand up and face down whatever is scaring you. Whether that's a hyena pack or worried your mate'll leave you. And you showed a good amount of courage earlier" DJ said rubbing his head once more.

"Thanks grandpa" Kopa said before he yawned and closed his eyes. He had forgotten how comfortable this was. DJ chuckled.

"No problem kiddo" DJ said leaning his head back as he knew he wasn't going anywhere now for a little while.

"Not a problem"

Sorry about the short chapter guys but the next one will pick up. Trust me, but it'll also have a bit of a timeskip.