VITANI

With a sharp jolt, I felt my body and mind get thrown back to life. Everything happened fast, I ran into the lioness standing next to me. Stumbling back down to the floor of the cave.

"Vitani!" Mwenya, startled, along with everyone else tried to catch my fall. "My queen are you alright?!"

"..my son... I have to get my son." I let my mind go on autopilot. My body felt dead, that kick from Nuka took out more of me than I realized. I purposely ignored the string of pain running down my back as I forced myself to get back up. I can't believe I let this happen, he tricked me, that's bastard! Using my own lioness- my most trusted lioness against me. Kings, I should have known better... now my baby's going to pay for my failure...

"Vitani you need to sit down, you're not well." Not well? I could be bleeding internally right now, and I'm still going to go after my Roho. "Vitani please-"

"Get...get out of my way!" I was slurring my words... I know I must have looked like I sounded, a bumbling idiot. " M-mmOve."

"Nala and the others are going after him-" Tishala. at least I think it was Tishala speaking. My brain couldn't connect the voice to the lionesses when they spoke. They all looked like standing blurs to me. I really hit my head harder than I thought.

"...w...why didn't didn't you all go after him...do you want him to die?!" I cursed half slurred words at them. Why the hell would they stay here...do they not know how dangerous my brother is, Nala and the others won't be able to stop them! They're probably as good as dead now...fuck.

"She told us to stay here with you." the panic that I started within the moment I heard my son's scream never went away...it only boiling in the back of my mind. Even when I was half-consciousness. I couldn't stop thinking of my son... I probably would still be laying on the floor, if I hadn't forced myself to get back up...and by some miracle I did.

"g-get out..." my paws started to move without me thinking.

"No." she and the others cut me off. "I can't let you leave now." this was...unbelievable. Kings, it would be more believable if I could keep my fucking head straight. everything and everyone was moving in a circle, even when I knew I wasn't...at least I think im not moving. Hell now, I can't be so sure. I was wobbly. weak... the content inside of my stomach rocked back and forth. my gut and sides cramping. having the taste of blood in my mouth didn't help either. "Vitani No!"

I forced my way passed Mwenya and the others. I got a good five feet away from my den before I felt vomit rush it's way up my throat. I threw myself against the nearest boulder for support." ...Mwenya, we need to get her back inside-"... Tishala

"NOO! i...i need to get my son.." my eyes started to tear up. I struggled to keep any remaining vomit that was in my stomach, to stay in my stomach.

"Don't be stupid, Vitani you know you can't do that."

"Tishala?!" Mwenya...

"No, she'll get herself killed at this rate. Look at her, she can barely stand she needs to see the shaman." I watched half focused as Tishala came over to grab me. I pulled back, almost falling again. Luckily I had another wall to lean against. Kings, all I want to do is save my son...w...why won't they let me do that! "Vitani please!"

"N-no you..you can't stop me-"

"Yes I can, and I WILL if I must."

"Tishala, back down you'll only rile her up..."

"No let her..e...t-Tishala..always h... had it out for me..." and just how it was before, I got in her face. and just like the last time, I wanted her to hit me... I wanted her to hit me so bad "...g...go h ahead! i..i...deserve it...t..this is all my fault, anyway r..right." the unsettling feeling of vomit I had in my stomach, was replaced with desperate impatience. the impatience of me receiving just punishment for my utter failure was queen. Even half out of my mind. I could see Tishala pondering the idea. "..g..go on! do it-HIT ME"

"Tishala don't, you know she's not in her right mind right now. We are all stressed."

"Sta.y..out of it!" I don't even know why I was mad at Mwenya, she's never done anything wrong. and yet, right now I hated her guts, and I wanted her to hate me just the same. hate me as much as I hated myself right now. I pushed at her and she pushed back.

"Vitani you-"

"I'm back!" huh? whos back...my blurry eyes looked to see Limpo bounding around the corner.

"I've got help too."

"Limpo, what are you doing back here, you're supposed to be helping the others!" Tishala

"I-"

"Nala sent for us." Sarafina...and the rest of the lionesses from the pride lands came into view. "Nuka's has brought him hyenas, I head them only a few miles away. We all need to stand together in order to beat them."

"H..hyeans? are you kicking me!" Tishala.

"I wish I wasn't." Sarafina voiced. she slowly walked over to Tishala and I. I could see her eyeing my swaying body. "Limpo told me what happened." Sarafina, now talking to Tishala...right in front of my face like I'm not even fucking here!

"She's done crazy."

"No." suddenly before I knew it Sarafina was eyes were inches away from mine. her fast movement made me fall back. "It's a concussion and a bad one at that. We need to get her inside and still."

"Good luck with that, Nuka has Roho and Shanti betrayed us."

"What..."

"T-they won't let me get my son Sarafina!" tears of frustration ran down my face in streams. "..i..have to get him back..." what exchange happened between Sarafina and Tishala...i have no idea. Once my visions cleared I realized we were alone. I guess...everyone else went back into the den...or left and went on their own way...hell I didn't know. I didn't care. All I did know what that I was wasting time and every second away from Roho could be his last..."...i..i messed up...so bad."

"Shh. you didn't do anything wrong Vitani, you did only that you thought was right." I didn't know that leaning into the shoulders of a lioness-I should consider a stranger- so comforting. "Nala will get Roho back, you know she will. he will be safe as long as she's alive I can promise you that." i... I didn't know what to say. I was completely lost. "Vitani...I and everyone else here needs you to get together, we're all depending on you. Do you understand?"

"I can't-"

"You can do it. I believe fully hearty that you can do this Vitani." kings, I had never been testing like this before. I heard what Sarafina was saying...trouble was coming our way...they needed me, but my sons need me too. how am I supposed to choose?! I know that duty I have on both sides...

"..w...why do you believe in me...can't you see I'm a failure!..E...everyone knows it! I couldn't protect my mate...now my son...soon this whole pride. Im NOT some great queen."

"But you can become one, RIGHT NOW. At this very moment. But you need to listen to me and now, we don't have a lot of time." I don't know what it was that Sarafina said...or the way she looked at me and made me feel...worthy. Even in this pathetic state, I was in. She made me feel and believe I could...trust her and everything would be okay. That was the mother in her...becasue I'd be the same exact way with my son. I wiped the tears from my face and steady my wobbly legs. I had to prepare for the battle for my life now, and not only for my sake but for everyone else here. I had to trust in my best friend.

"...Okay... I'm ready."

*wow, im finally posting a chapter what has it been two weeks? life update, the week before last was my birthday week! so I took a needed day off. NOW starting last week I officially work nights. I'm figuring out a new schedule to be able to write and post between my morning a night job, but I'll figure something out. I hope you enjoyed this chapter, I was half slap happy when I wrote it and had a running headache...

RyanSquad, man if I am still writing the second part of this fanfic five years later...yikes

KawaiiCutie12 , Lol I catch myself doing that sometimes too! and yea, it was definitely a roller coaster now. It'll go up and down from here.

Guest, Yea he always finds a way to make you hate him more doesn't he.