VITANI

We stalked the herd. Our prey knew they were being watched. they were very alert and jumpy. I needed to be careful and diligent in calling my next move. I hate to admit it but taking down this water buffalo will be a lot harder without my mom defending the flank. Damn, I shouldn't have been so hotheaded and at least waited to confront her when we were done hunting.

"No, YOU watch it. "ugh, I shook the thought from my head "You've got until tomorrow to give me the truth."Dammit why was this so hard, the last thing I need to be is thinking about how I hurt my mother feelings."If you can't convince me he's no threat he's done. If I feel you're working with him. you'll be done too. You will not have a second chance." kings...

"Bye-bye, see you along later, tell Kijivu when you see him I said hi!" What the hell was that suppose to mean-

"Vitani look out!" huh? I was snapped back to reality as a heard a screaming voice shout my name. When reality came back to me, I was faced with a charging Buffalo herd plowing my way. I was looking at death in the face and ...and I couldn't move.

"Shit!"

"Get down!" I felt myself being knocked to the ground. The wind was taken right out of my lungs as I went rolling on the ground. We stayed down until the rampaging herd passed. "A-are you okay my queen?" kings, how many times will I have to repay this lioness back...she's always saving my ass.

"S...Shanti..." I could barely breathe my heart was still racing.

"Are you alright, are you hurt?"

"No..i'm fine...thank you." we both got up, to shake ourselves off. I saw the rest of the pride making their way towards us.

"Is everything okay Vitani?" asked Mwenya.

"I... I just got distracted I'm sorry." I felt too out of it, to even try to fake being strong.

"No, we're alright, we're just making sure you two are." fuck it this hunt is over. I can't even think straight

" Listen everyone." voiced Shanti " we can still make the hunt, all we have to do is double back and-"

"Nooo." I voiced tiredly, I could barely even hear my own words

"No what?"

"No...no hunt."

"No it's alright my Queen. I'll take over for you, you need to rest and-"

"I said no, I'm calling it off."

"...Alright, that's fine." I knew we would all be fine, this morning hunt was enough to keep us comfortable until tomorrow. And it's not like Kijivu there is eat his share anyway... I looked around at everyone slowly. Everyone's eyes were on me, to see what the hell was going on. Especially Nala she knew, I was one more bad moment away from a mental break down...damn I need to learn how to manage my stress better. "Is everything alright?"

"No, in fact, I have something I need to tell you are." I paused for a moment, how was I going to explain this? " I'm going to send out a search party to look for Kijivu." the look of confusion was a uniformed expression on everyone's face.

"w...what? what do you mean?" asked Mwenya.

"From what I was told he went for a walk this morning, that was why he didn't join us before. It's been more than a few hours now and he still hasn't returned."

"Do...do you think something happened to him?!" yes, I do, but I can't tell them that. I have to keep everything together and clam as much as I can. And by some far off chance my mother was right and Nuka...is innocent, I can't go causing suspicion. "Everyone was here?"

"Who would want to do anything to our king? He has no enemies," Limpo asked.

"As long as you're a king you always have enemies." Voiced Mwenya. That was the first time, I've ever heard something that wasn't loved and comfort come from her voice.

"Worst-case scenarios he went for a walk and got hurt. He might be on his way back this very moment but I don't know that. I'd rather be safe and search for him understood."

"...who told you this?"

"My son did," I informed. " Look, there's no need to panic. I promise and I'm probably just overreacting. But like I said I'd rather be safe than sorry."

"Of course my queen, what do you want us to do?"

I ordered one group of three to search the northern sides of the territory, I asked the second group of three to search the Southern territory. Nala, Shanti, and I will search anything in between.

"You give me a call is you see anything, okay?" I made Limpo go back home, to be there, just in case he came back.

"Yes ma'am." She bowed before she took off back home. I then turned to look back at Nala and Shanti

"Right, let's get moving."

We'd been searching for almost three hours now and nothing. I mean absolutely nothing is sticking out to me. It was getting dark. I felt like we were getting nowhere. I hadn't heard a single call of anyone yet, which means they're still looking too. I told them before it got too late to head back home, and we'd continue tomorrow. but... I can't wait till tomorrow I need to find him now! I was going to look under each and every rock and cave in this damn place until I found my mate. Even if I have to do it alone.

"Vitani?" I heard someone call my name, but I wasn't paying them any attention. I didn't need to be distracted by them, I could miss something important. "Vitani?"

"My queen, it's late, we need to head back."

"You both go ahead without me, I'm going to keep looking."

"We can't leave without Vitani."

"Yes, you can I just told you to." I could tell was making it awkward for them. I was the one that gave the order to head home when it got late, now I'm the one not following my own rules. Whatever, I'm queen, I can override my own rules. " ... just head back. I'll be right after behind you. I just need a little more time."

"What's more time Vitani? it's already dark."

"Nala...don't."

"I want to find Kijivu just as badly as you do, but we can't do it blindly. if anything we'll fall into some ditch or off a cliff-"

"So what are you saying then?" the hostility in my voice couldn't be heled back. Each passing second of not knowing I felt more on edge. it was only a matter of time before I tipped. " HUh? I'm listening?"

"... I'm saying...we'll wait until tomorrow morning and regroup...okay?"

"She's right my queen. We won't be any good stumbling around here blind. Besides, Roho probably up waiting for you. Lets's just head home."

"Dammit..." I couldn't move my feet even though I knew they were both right.

" Shanti, let me talk with her for a second we'll be right behind you."

"Are you sure Nala?"

"Positive."

"I'm losing it I know..." alright knowing I shouldn't have snapped on her when I did.

"No you're not you're just worried, we all are. you just have the more reasons."

"still doesn't negate the fact I fucked up the hunt earlier."

"...no it doesn't but still." she came a sat next to me. "You said you were distracted, you were thinking about your mate it understandable."

"Actually I wasn't thinking about him for the moment. I was thinking about the conversation I had with my mother."

"Oh...how did that go?"

"It could have gone worse let's just say that. You can also say I gave her an ultimatum too."

"What do you mean?"

"I told her she had until tomorrow to come clean, with everything. If not she and Nuka were done. for that fact anyone who followed him, which I doubt he has any."

"He left those stupid hyenas back in the pride lands, I bet they all killed each other from hunger by now."

"Nala...what if...what if we don't find him, then what?" I hated to think the thought... but it was all too a probability. "What am I suppose to do? I have to evidence no nothing, it's like he just vanished into thin air!"

" Don't worry we'll find him." than sad and scary reality hit me.

"I can't do this without him... I won't be able to do anything without him...Nala I need him to come back to me, he needs to come back!" I felt Nala pull me into an embrace as she did her best to comfort me. But pats on the back and unsure promises weren't going to fix this anymore.

"Vitani you can't think like that, you have to have hope." I wiped my tears, I was being pathetic. What would my son think if he saw me like this?

" You know...he tried to talk to me before I left this morning, and I told him to wait. Kings I feel so terrible now."

"You didn't know, hell he didn't know."

"Yea... we didn't know it would be the last time we'd see each other..."

"Vitani..."

"We need to head back." I voiced getting up and starting to leave. I felt Nala's presence close beside me.

"We'll find him, I promise you we'll find him." She was right, we did find him that next morning like she said... his body was found floating at the bottom of a riven.

RyanSquad , I'm glad, I've been busting my butt to get this fanfic finished so I can get onto the sequel.

Guest, I feel you, and I promise I'm working on it. As far as their reunion...it will be stressful, and very upfront when it's all said and done. The way I have it in my head, they don't have time to react- well Simba doesn't. I'm going to develop their relationship more in the sequel for sure. This is something that needs to be fleshed out on both sides.

and no Nuka isn't blaming his father for the way he is. in an odd way, he's more or less okay with it, because he can't change anything. He wanted to be his father-son, and the apple of his eye but he couldn't- he wasn't. He knows he's terrible, he's evil. But what could everyone else suspect( especially his mother) he's a product of his environment. and he fully embraces that and wants everyone else you know he has two.

I feel Vitani herself could have ended up like Nuka, except she wasn't as desperate for his attention like he was. So she never would have done to such extreme lengths like her brother had. She's more level headed, and the compassion wasn't totally beaten out of her.

we know you have the power to change yourself for the better, but he doesn't want to do that. I feel he's trying to outdo this father, and prove to himself that he is in fact better. Almost like an insecurity. Feel free to hate him all you like! Again I wish I wrote that out and expressed it more, still learning to do that lol.