VITANI

I was standing outside of my den. I was walking around, trying to gather myself before I spoke with everyone. My stomach is sinking and twisting just at the thought. What the hell am I going to say to them, will I even be strong enough to say it? Thinking about Kijivu turns me into a heaping mess. "Is everyone here?"

"Yes." Nala was just coming from inside the den " For the most part. Sorry, it took me so long."

"It's fine, really. I've been trying to calm my nerves about this since you left."

"Im sure whatever you say will be fine. it'll be the truth and that's what they need." Thinking about it now this is something I wanted them to need, and know. Hell, maybe not knowing what happened would be better? I've been so quick with my decision making, I haven't had the chance to actually sit down and think of the next outcome. My hopes are they will, believe me, join me, and help get rid of my brother. but knowing what weasel my twin can be...

"Yea...""hey did you happen to see my mom Nala?"

"No, at least not when I was at your prides den. Im sorry I didnt think to look for her." to be honest, I hadn't thought of her until this moment. Still, why haven't I heard from her? Was this really her answer to me? to take Nukas side and leave me. I thought she wanted to start out relationship over, for me and for my son. I don't believe she could just...leave me like this. But then again... I should have expected this from her.

'Right."

"im sure she'll come around any time now."

"You think? it's been what two days? and nothing..."

"She might need more time?" please, I was over the convincing. I was over it the moment I actually needed her for something and she wasn't there.

"When I need my answers now? I knew this would happen-Dammit! Why did I let myself believe her! I feel like an idiot now..." I turned sharply around and walked away. I couldn't do this, I feel too overwhelmed too much like some dumb fool who didn't learn her lesson the first time.

"Whoa, don't say that you'll work yourself up-" I heard Nala run after me.

"Too late for that. You were right I should have listened to you Nala, shit. I honestly thought she wanted to change. I stupidly believed her- and now when I need her most she nowhere to be found because she chose my brother over me!" I frantically shook my face, throwing my tears to the ground.

"Vitani wait-"

"Why, so you can say I told you so."

"Of course not. I wanted you to work your relationship out with your mother too. I knew how much that meant to you. I'm pissed just as you are."

"Well... at least I'm the only one getting hurt." thinking of my sweet innocent boy. I'll never be like my mother was to me. I'll always be by his side at every moment, no matter what."... I guess I should do in." stop being pathetic Vitani, you have everyone waiting for you. Then I thought" Hey where's was Shanti?" I don't remember seeing her walk-in before.

"That's what I wanted to tell you...she seemed really weird when I tried to talk to her. Mewnya had said she's been gone most of the morning after hearing the news about Kijivu and when she returned she just seemed off."

"Off like how?"

"I don't know, distant, and I hate to even say it but cold. she looked like she hated me."

"No that can't be." something about Shanti being cold didn't seem right with me. she was never cold, even towards me when I first got here. In fact, she was one of my first friends. She always said anyone a friend of Kijivu was a friend of hers. I think she might have had more feelings for Kijivu then she let on- in fact I know it. But she never approached me in any disrespectful way about anything and had always respected me so I never brought it up. " she's just upset." I said.

"I know that but this seemed like a different kind of upset, Vitani I'm telling you it seemed more personal, and then when I mention your name she..."

"She what?"

"I felt like she didn't care. I told her what was happening, but she just ignored me. So I left after that."

" That is...weird of her but you can't know how others will handle situations like this."

"I guess you're right."

"Anyway, I need to go, everyone's waiting."

"I'll come in with you."

"Thanks, Nala."Facing my pride was hard, having to face them and tell them what had happened to their king, my mate was...brutal. As soon as the words came out of my mouth that I think it was foul play, everyone was hysteric. "Look, I know this is something you don't want to hear right now. and it hurting my heart to tell you this...but this is true."

"...who...who would kill our king?!"

"Why would anyone do this-"

"Someone has to pay for this!" one after the other came the questions, more tears, cursing. The only thing that kept my calm and leveled headed was my son. who sit idly in the midst of the lionesses

"Listen!" I roared over the crowd " The last thing I am going to ask of you is to calm down. What I am asking for is that is that you listen to me. You can be furious all you want, vengeful all you want, I'm not stopping you-"

"So it really is true, your brother killed Kijivu?" I looked down to the ground, I didn't need to see Mwenya face to hear her pain. I could hear the disbelief in her voice. I've ruined this prides life... I cleared my throat and spoke.

"I have a strong feeling he had something to do with this. Kijivu has lived here all his life, not once has this ever happened to him, or anyone that has lived in this pride. He knew his land forwards and backward."

" Why would your brother do this, after all, we've done for him!"

"Limpo's right! we've sacrificed a lot for his pride to come here into our land, and they dare kill our king?!" Shit...

"This was not the act of the entire prideland lionesses, they had nothing to do with this, I repeat they had NOTHING. This was my brother acting alone in greed!" I'd be damned if I start a fucking pride war in the middle of my den. I could see fear rising in Nala as she sat in the back of the den, observing everything. " Nuka is the problem, they are NOT. and YOU will not harm them either!"

"You're only saying that because they are you REAL pride!" Tishala never had it out for me. She stood among everyone else who was sitting. like the others, she has lived here all her life. Newcomers were never welcomed in her book, they always brought there outside problems, which now... I can understand why she was so distant from me. " We were all living fine until they came until you came here-"

"You will NOT speak to me like that!" stepping down and getting into her face. I was done with the nice queen bullshit, if they wanted to test me, by all means, I had time! but as soon as I got close to her, she looked away someone was coming inside. "Please Tishala, give me a reason!" this Vitani hadn't come out for a while now. Especially not here, I kept feeling like I had to put on some nice facade as queen, because I was supposed to give a shit. for the most part, I did, now, not so fucking much.

"She won't Vitani, I promise. Will you Tishala?" the lioness before me said nothing as Mwenya spoke for her. "We all are worked up... and upset."

"I completely understand that Mwenya. we are all hurting right now, the last thing we need to do is turn on each other. You are all my family, you need to know that. Regardless of my relationship to my brother. I serve you all first." the tension was starting to ease. I could hear the shallow noise of lionesses actually breathing again. It had been tense, too tense." he didn't just attack my mate, he attacked me, and you all too, and I will not let him get away with this..."

"Well, nice for you to show up Shanti." Tishala voiced looking away from me. Was she going to at like she didn't just challenge me? that was fine, Tishala had a change of heart and sat back down with the others. I didn't take my eyes off of her for a while. I know she'd test me again. "Come sit with us why don't you, you're missing the party."

Nala was right, as soon as Shanti came into he den I felt this coldness about her. i tried to meet eyes with her, but she ignored me. I looked over to Nala to see if this was the attitude she was talking about, and yes it was. everyone else in the den must have felt it too, as she sat right next to my son. He even gave her an odd look

"Shanti." I voiced " I have something to tell you."

"You can save it, I know the truth." I blinked at her, the hell was she talking about. And what the hell was with her attitude towards me?

"Truth?" I asked, fully confused.

"Yes, that Kijivu killed himself, our king killed himself because of you!"...i...i...i could only stare at her.

"Excuse me?!"...what the fuck! As soon as the accusation left her lips, the den was in a uproar again! but it was out of my control because I had not seen this coming. What the hell was I supposed to say? why would she...how did she..." Shanti, what the hell are you talking about?"

"Oh hey sis!" I should have known. I turned to see Nuka waking into my den with that stupid fucking smile on his face. " I hope I'm not interrupting anything, I know you have this big meeting going on and all... something told me it was going to be about me."

"Nuka..." I gritted my fangs together." what did you do."

"Me, nothing-"

"Bullshit! What lie did you tell her!?"

"If there's, one thing you should know about me little sis, is that I'm no liar. After all, I was there with him when he spoke his last words." that was a personal blow a low blow, and if I wasn't filled with rage right now. It would have killed me. " He told me the truth, and believe me, I was more shocked then you look right now. I thought mom raised us better."

"Kijivu had killed himself because he found out the truth about Vitani, that Roho isn't his son..." I looked to Shanti, who had nothing but venom in her eyes for me. how did she find out, no that's impossible...did Kijivu know this whole time?

"..n...no." I felt my emotions start to take over as my break began to break. I stood frozen in disbelief as the pride, went form looking at me, to Shanti, to Nuka. not knowing what the hell to do... "he...he didn't know..." was that all I could say...yes, that was all I wanted to believe.

"After the death of his father, it became too much for him." Shanti kept talking..." To think his beloved QUEEN would step out on him and with someone from the same pride. Now he's dead because of you!"

"... Vitani..." I could hear Nala warning words, at least I think it was her. "Don't." too late, I had lost it. I didn't bare my teeth, give a warning, nothing. I just tackled my brother to the ground.

* I rewrote this chapter 5 times...and I'm still not satisfied, also everyone wants the smoke from Vitani! Nuka is the master of spinning words.

RyanSquad , yee, and having writing sessions with your friends also help get the ball rolling too.

KawaiiCutie12, He will hehe, and hmmm that's a good question, will she?

Guest , Cheers to that, and a good question. I think you'll get your answer from Simba soon enough.