NALA

"Haha I'm going to catch you!" I turned my head when I heard the excitement in Roho's voice. I knew he was getting up to something. Now, I know what his mother must feel like watching him- or my mother for that matter when I was a cub. Kings, he just doesn't sit still. it's exhausting, how does that little body have so much energy?

"Roho, what are you doing?" I asked. He was running in circles around himself playing some sort of game.

"Trying to catch my tail!" Oh, was that it. I couldn't help but raise my brow as I watched him. Boys will be boys I guess. For the first time in a while, I felt myself give a sigh of relief. I could actually take the time to rest here. All the things Kenya and her family has done for us-compete strangers is amazing. I know I will never be able to repay them in the way I should. I have nothing to offer them as help. I can hardly walk, let alone do anything else useful...

"Don't spin around like that, you'll make yourself dizzy." Why did I get the feeling like I was sounding like a mom? whatever, I shook that notion out of my head and all the worrying that came with it. It was great to see him have fun and be a cub again. Carefree and not worrying about what's around the other corner. I want him to stay as innocent as he possibly can...while he can. I know he's already seen so much, been through so much.

"No, I won't Auntie look!" He's going to fall flat on his tail the moment he stops spinning I know it.

"Fine, but you're making me dizzy just watching you." my blue orbs went from looking at him, to the outside. From what I could tell, this place looked amazing. I had no idea we had stumbled upon some paradise. This place was completely different from the pride lands and still different from the mountain pride. Every leaf and brush had bright colors, the ground was soft on our paws. You could even hear running water from the river off in this distance. It is beautiful.

"Look! I almost got it, are you looking Nala? Are you looking!"

"Ha yes, I am-" I heard a heavy humming sound coming into the den. within seconds that voice was matched with a round belly lion. The first thing he did was greet me with a smile. the first thing I did was try to get up, which was hard. I kept forgetting im a three-legged lioness right now.

"Whoa it's okay, I didn't mean to scare ya." I've never seen a lion with a wider smile on his face. "I'm Kye...Kenya's father. I'm sure you've met her already."

"Oh yes...hello. I'm Nala." I nodded my head, giving respect to an elder. "This is god-son Roho." we had both looked over to see the little guy, flat on his back. small head swaying side to side with confusion. See, I told him so.

"It's finally nice to meet you, I heard you gave my daughter and son a scare last night."

"...I'm so sorry about that, truly. I had no idea. We were just passing through and-"

"No need to explain dear. It's all fine. Life happens."

"I promise we won't be in the way, and we'll leave as soon as I'm able." I hated feeling like such a liability, especially to someone I just met. What kind of the first impression is that?

"I'm sure we can talk about it later dear. I came to get ya, breakfast is awaiting us." oh was it that time already, I hadn't even noticed... I didn't even hear Kenya call. I guess I was just too caught up in everything else. "My son was supposed to come and get you, but I can't find him anywhere. So the old lion here has to do that job, I hope you don't mind."

"No, not at all. Thank you." Kye helped me up to my paws. I was still a bit wobbly on my feet. Lions weren't meant to be three-legged creatures that's for sure. My balance was terrible. He had me lean my right side into his body to counterbalance myself. I felt so...helpless. Kenya had bound my shoulder so good I coudlnt feel it anymore. It was either that or I had just lost feeling all together despite my injury. Ugh, this was going to be a long week.

"We'll take it nice a slow okay, that food not going anywhere Ha."

"Yay food!" Roho excitedly ran under both Kye and I legs, vanishing out of the dens entrance.

"Roho wait!" ugh! didn't we just talk about not leaving my sight a few minutes ago? kings, it's like it went in one ear and out the other. this cub is going to give me a heart attack before I know it.

"Don't worry, everyone is just up ahead. He won't be far. " I don't know why, but I listened to Kye. there was something about him that made me feel I could trust him. It must have been his warm smile and rather large belly. I don't know, but he made me feel comfortable around him. " I know what it feels like, whenever the little ones run out of sight. trust me, I had three hyperactive girls."

"Wow that sounds like you had a lot on your paws."

"Oh yes, at the time I did." as Kye and I walked, I listened to his fascinating stories. Granite we weren't moving fast, so he had all the time in the world to talk to me. And talk he did. I could tell he was a lion who had stories on stories saved up in his memory. Being eager to tell them to anyone new or whoever had the ear to listen. then something caught my attention. something was moving opposite us behind the trees. Something red flashed by, must have been a bird.

it had gone so fast, I didn t think much of it. And Kye didn't seem too much alarmed wither. So I figured everything was okay. When Kye noticed i was distracted and looking elsewhere for those few minutes he stopped "Everything okay dear?"

"Yea, I thought I just saw something walk pass us. Must be my imagination."

"Oh, you're a quick eye I see. You probably saw my son-in-law pass by. Looked like he was on a mission somewhere. He was supposed to get you after all. I'll call him over."

"No, you don't have to-" before I could stop him, he called out his name. A Name I wasn't expecting to hear. and hadn't heard for a long time.

"Simba? You there son. Where over here!" What did he just say... I felt my body freeze, almost turn cold with a funny sensation. I shook my head in disbelief, there must clearly be another lion names Simba here. Because there could be no way that this Simba was my-

"Yea, dad I'm here." my mouth immediately dropped open. No way.

"...Simba?" I couldn't believe my eyes...it was really him. He came more into view, out of the clearing of the trees. After all this time, there he was standing right before me. He walked forward towards us and I couldn't take my eyes off of him. Was this really happening?...right now? my stomach felt like it was tying itself in knots. Each step I watched him get closer to us, each time the knots got tighter. then, he was right in front of me. Wow has he gotten taller, have I gotten shorter? He looks just how I remember him.

"Oh have you two met already. That's good." At first, he and I both said nothing. what...what could we say. Kings I'm freaking out here trying to put the pieces together. Kye looked between us, back and forth. waiting for one of us to say something.

"...yea...we have." I'm surprised I managed to even say those three words. The hell is going on with my life right now. Sarabi do you see this right now? It's actually him. I watched Simba nod his head to Kye question.

"Well, that's good to know. Listen, son, you're late, why don't you come and help with this nice lioness. Lend us those young muscles of yours why don't you."

"Oh right, I'm sorry. Here let me help you." Simba quickly stepped between Kye and me. "You ready? I've got you" he asked once I had gotten fully adjusted. I noticed he hadn't once looked at me, really.

"...yea." he and I slowly began to walk together.

"Right, let's go get some breakfast kiddos!"

I don't know why I watched 'can you feel the love tonight' knowing damn well my story wasn't going to be like that lol. Don't worry Simba and Nala will have more time to talk in the coming chapters. I didn't want the first time they saw each other to be this big thing like it was in the movie, because I didn't think it would fit with the tone of my story. But do tell me how you feel.

+KawaiiCutie12, thanks for the review! Vitani still loves her baby sis. I imagine they would have be been close growing up if Vitani had not been sent away. Man, the feeling of regret when you wish you could talk to a loved one is unimaginable.