NALA

"Thank you all for the help, you didn't need to." Shanti was the head lioness of our hunting party. She was Vitani's second, a strong well-built lioness. she was a true mountain land lioness through and through. a grey lioness, with dusk color eyes and a bold darker grey line, ran down her back. she was so regal. If I hadn't known Vitani was the queen here, I think Shanti could take that spot easily. For some reason, Vitani couldn't make it today to lead the hunt today, in fact, she has been missing on the hunts lately.

I couldn't say why... she has a kingdom to run for one-not to mention a little cub now. So I could understand if she has to manger her time in other ways. I just... I haven't gotten a chance to speak with her yet. Hunting is the only time we are all together. It's still odd...with the whole merging of the prides things. the mountain pride has been very welcoming to us. but... you can't help but feel that you're invading in on their space.

I know I get that feeling every time I'm forced to say good morning with a smile on my face. I don't want to be here, and I know they don't want some stranger here either. it all seems so fake...forced even. We're all just forced to do our part for our kings...

"No, we're apart of this family now. We have to do our part." that was my mother talking. she and Shanti have been hitting it off really well. I think she's found a new best friend. that's good, she needed something or someone to distract her...take things off her mind. I'm happy for her.

"Thank you Sara."

Returning from the hunt I realized that for the first time in a long time. I wasn't exhausted. To be honest, I don't even think I broke a sweat. The hunt today was so easy, in fact, they all have. Here they had prey for days. We don't have to travel miles on end, the sun isn't bearing down on us because they still have shade and covering here. the prey is different. not the normal herd animals we're used to from the pride lands. like the zebra or wildebeest but still... there's plenty of buffalo.

They are twice as scary I must say, but with our numbers, we have now nothing has been able to stop us so far. "Here we go" Shanti had stopped the group. " We can drop it off here. I'll go get the King and queen everyone rests up and good job."

I watched Shanti leave. As I looked around I noticed how lighthearted the area felt around me. my pride sisters were laughing, relaxing, some even getting a quick nap in before everyone came and gathered for the food. It was nice to see. I was so distracted by the simple sight that I saw that I didn't notice my mother was standing right in front of me.

"Nala."

"huh? sorry, I didn't see you."

"Can we talk." I don't think she asking me, she was more telling me we were going to. By the way, she talked off I knew I was supposed to follow her. I wonder what she was going to tell me. I've been keeping tension between us low. I've kept my space, I haven't said any remark back. I know to the outside world everything here looks fine. so what do we need to talk about?

"Yea?" I asked when I thought we had stepped away enough from everyone else to speak.

"Come, sit next to me." Kings... I know she knows I rolled my eyes at her request, but I followed along anyway. I went and sat next to her. it felt weird. I haven't sat or been this close to anyone. the only lion I am close to body wise is Nuka.

"Okay, I'm sitting. why do you look like that?"

"like what?"

"like nothing... I don't know I can't explain it. You just look like you're thinking of nothing."

"Honestly since we've been here I haven't."

"hmp, that must be nice."

"Actually it is. You never know what not thinking about something could really do for you. back at the pridelands everything was so hostile, so stressful. Everywhere you turned theres seemed to be nothing, but death, famine, and destruction."

"ha.. but that's good old home, isn't it."

"Was, good old home." she calmly corrected. " We lost so much there. Some of us lost everything..." I slowly felt my heart sink and my stomach tighten, I knew where this was going.

" Mom if you thin-"

"Listen to what I have to say first before you say anything Nala." oh well...excuse me. I'm just going to shut up. " since we've been here I've been thinking. I'm not getting any younger, and I'm tired. I was tired of the fighting between us and the hyenas, between myself and you, tired of the hunger, tried of the uncertainly of what the next day could bring. but since we've been here I don't have that feeling."

"..w...why don't you have the feeling?" I asked I couldn't hide my nervousness. Was she about to tell me she was sick...and dying. Was she about to leave me too? she hasn't faced me this whole time while we've been talking. and normally my mother big on eye contact when speaking... is she trying to hide something from me?

"Easy, I felt tired of being that way. I knew why I was like that, all of us at times felt that way. But why stay that way?"

"i... I don't understand."

"Why stay that way? living in fear and terror when we don't have to anymore." because we have to...i I have to. " Just think, we are in a new land, this is a whole new beginning for everyone. No matter the struggles they bring."

"that's a little easier said than done, don't you think." I didn't mean to rain on her mother's moment. but what she's saying is foolish! some cubs dream of a fairytale whenever you pack up and leave. Everything can just start over. "our struggles don't just slide off our shoulders when we want them."

"No, they don't, especially if you don't make them." finally she turned to face eye. I scanned every feature on her face. She looked normal... healthy. But why does she have this look on her face? " Nala, I know I've tried to talk to you in the past, to get you to open up to me. I'm not going to do that anymore. I know you have demons and-"

"You don't know my demons mom," I warned, I knew she was going to try to do this. to get me to trust her, to believe in her...

"I do, I believe them, from every unspoken word you haven't told me." I could feel my body start to shake from the inside out. " I don't want that to be you. I don't want you to not be able to start fresh like everyone else. I want my daughter to be able to live again." I saw tears hit the ground before me. I was crying...why was I crying?

"It's...it's just not fair." and I couldn't even explain what wasn't fair. everything just seemed so fucked up that nothing made sense! I hate it here! I hate this place and how on the opposite side of the savannah other lions were here living in paradise while just miles away I was living in hell! Call me being a victim I don t care, it's just not fair. I look around this place and I can't help but see how beautiful it is here!

after all Vitani thought marrying Kijivu was a hell on earth idea. and that she'rather die than be someone mate. But look. she's a queen, a mother, her lionesses love her. How can life just twist like that? what she thought was a cruse was her biggest blessing... and a place I called my home, became a living nightmare.

"I know it isn't"

"No! you don't understand. Everyone can start over here! You can start over here- I can't! you really think I don't want you?" I felt my mother embrace me. not since Sarabi's death have we been this close. I didn't know how much I needed this...her. " I can't escape him."

"You have to!"

"How?!"

"Just get away from him. Nala looks around. There are no hyena going his dirty will. We are free to go as we please here. If you stay with me I can protect you."

"Don't say that."

" Yes, I can."

"No, you can't say that, because you weren't there when I needed you most and you're right I HATE you for that! I hate you, I hate you, I hate you!" I felt an overwhelming release of pressure as I collapsed into my mother's side. I felt her large paws rub up and down the length of my back. I heard her soft whispers in my ears. 'w...why why are you doing this... I said I hate you."

"I know you did sweetie I know." tears running down her face matched mine as I faced her. claiming myself finally.

"w...we look a mess." I voiced.

"It's fine dear." fine...fine? I did feel...fine. "It'll be okay."

"Thank you mom."

"Come on, lets get back."

Tell me what you guys think of the everyday posting. Would you like small POV chapters a day or longer chapters every couple of days?

Wolf heart 22- thank you for the review!

RyanSquad- yes, thanks for the review.

KawaiiCutie12- Yea Zira having that one mom moment wheres she officially realizes the damage shes caused to her son. I wonder what she'll do now...