NALA

I decided to take Shia back to the den. That way I could catch up and see what the hell is it I'm dealing with. everything she's told me has been so...crazy. but I should have known better since we were dealing with Nuka. I knew Nuka was using Shanti. She was his ticket to get closer to Vitani, and now he's teaming up with her? that I did not see coming... I thought he was just able to manipulate her because of her hurt mental state.

turns out...She's just as sick and crazy as him...kings, Now I regret not making sure she was dead when I slammed her into the rock.

"Nala?"

"Huh?"

" Your shoulder...are you okay?"

I looked over to see Shia eyeing me, I must have zoned out, thinking about everything. " Yea, just a small injury," I explained, besides I may be limbing, but the pain has gone down tremendously. I know im not back to 100 percent, but it sure as hell beats were I was at just a few days ago.

" Oh did you get it when you and Roho escaped?" I nodded my head in my responses.

"Yes."

"I'm sorry I wasn't there to help... I'm sorry for everything Nala, especially for how I treated you before I was so wrong!" I heard the pitch in her voice heighten, and water again started to build back up in her eyes. but she was being strong and refused to let them flow. Still, I was taken aback. I have never been close to Shia. so her being this vulnerable to me was...different.

" Whoa, Shia it's okay-" I began but she cut me off.

"No, it's not! I could have helped you and my sister! hell, I could have done something to stop my brother..." Oh, now I see where this is all coming from, is she feeling guilty? yes, she is... " I mean I could have gotten close to him and-"

"Shia, clam down it's okay." I felt so bad, as I had to watch Shia deal with all the built-up emotions. I've had a feeling Shia been dealing with this emotional stress for a while, and with a family like hers, I don't blame her. She's been put in the worst possible position for any younger sibling.

"How can you say that?" easy. "how can you treat me so...so nice, I don't deserve it. I was an ass to you."...yea she was. "You should hate my guts."

"Shia, I don't hate you."

"How?! because I hate myself right now." I found myself stopping, I knew this would need all of my undivided attention, and I'm sure growing up she never had that given to her. "I...i just feel so useless Nala." I took a breath, a part of me did want to tell her off. to make her feel guilty for the way she treaty me when I was at the lowest possible state in my life. Yet... I know I can't.

"You were young, you still are young. You didn't know better," I explained.

"Yes, I did! I was just jealous because all he wanted to do was spend time with you...now thinking back on it, it just sounds crazy. especially after what I know now."

"he's you're older brother, you're bound to love him."

"He's a monster."

"He is."

"A part of me always knew...i just- never did anything to me so...i figured what he did to you all, you guys deserved. I was so wrong." I looked at Shia's eyes. I could see her replaying the events of her life over in her head. It looked painful, she looked ashamed. I place a paw on hers and looked her in the eyss. Everything would be alright, she just needed to believe that. She needed to have some hope, some fight...which I know she has. Just look at her sister...and Shia coming all this way by herself.

So when she shared more information about her brother. Shook me to my core.

"Frist he had the hyenas attack Vitani, then he hit me."

"He what?!" I felt my blood boil after hearing this. For some reason I felt more furious with him, putting his paws on Shia, compared to whatever he had done to me... it just made something within me tick...She was still a cub. "He'll pay for this Shia, I promise you."

"...That's not all, he...he killed my mother."

"he...did what..."

"He said it was for the best... she had betrayed him. she sided with Vitani." slow rolls of tears ran their way down Shi'a face.

"Shia... I'm, i'm so sorry." what the fuck... I couldn't think of what else to say. I know damn well I couldn't comfort her the way she needed. She lost her mother- her mother was taken or her... she can never be truly comforted from that. Ever.

"...he told us...and then he thought I was supposed devotedly following him and Shanti after that." Nuka has lost it. I look at him in a completely different way now...killing the lions he claimed to be doing all this...destruction for? before his madness seemed to have a purpose. Now I'm positive he doesn't even understand what he's doing anymore now.

"Shia...i'm so sorry." near the verge of tears myself. thinking of my own mother. There would be no way I'd have the strength to keep fighting if something happened to her.

"He says he was doing what nest for the family, and mother betrayed him. And now I have." the gravity in her voice hit me hard. She was scared for her life now.

"Shia, you're safe here."

" You don't know that." Fear was in her eyes as she argued me. "What if they're more hyenas than lions here to help. We're all as good as dead here." she was right...there was always that possibility.

"No one going to die, I promise. Especially if I'm here you and Roho have nothing to worry about, I promised you, sister." a weak smile came onto her face. I knew she wanted to feel better...feel safer. But reality wouldn't allow her to be that innocent cub, who could believe anything and everything was possible anymore. I hated to see that leave her.

"But who can beat him? Nuka won't play fair...he hates losing. If anything he'd kill himself before he surrenders anything."

"We'll find a way." I said.

"Is he going to help, your friend? We could really use it."

"...Yea he is." I tried not thinking much of Simba that much because right now, I couldn't without feeling hurt. After what he told me... I feel he'll be leaving us to the bird once he finishes his personal agenda. Not caring about what will happen to us next.

"...good, with the help of him and Kye's family, we might beat him after all." Kye? was he really going to fight against Nuka? it seems doable since Kye gave his word to kijivu- but when exactly was that? Kye's not he youngest lion with time on his side...that's just the truth. and what about his daughters? are they honored bound to fight against someone they have no idea exist and who has never done a damn thing to them...

Walking the rest of the way back, Shia and I didn't exchange any more words. I think we were both stuck in the deepest most corner of our minds. when we were outside the den, I felt I had to make her feel better. lighten the heavy mood we both felt bogged down by.

"Roho!" I called " come here. I have a surprise for you!" just saying his name, I couldn't be mad. and I knew the anticipation of seeing her nephew would be something Shia needed. Cubs, have that magical power of making you feel better, giving you hope.

"Surprise?" I heard him come bounding out the den. " I love surprises what is it- SHIA!" he immediately went over and tackled his aunt, I watched Shia embrace him in her paws." you found me, you found me! what are you doing out here?!"

" yea I did..." she laughed, this time happy tears flowed down her face.

"Did you miss me?"

"Of course I did!"

"And my mommy, does she miss me!-can I go back home now?"

"she missed you very much..." started Sha, but I knew she didn't have the heart to tell him she had no idea when he'd be able to come home to see his mother- if she'd be there for him to return to. Kings...just thinking of that as a possibility in my head nearly made me vomit.

"You'll get to go back home soon Roho" I interjected, "but not now, okay."

"But I miss her..."

"I know." I bent down and nuzzled the top of his head. "you'll see her real soon, I promise."

"Hey Roho, you have to show your, auntie, around." Shia, added a fun distraction to the cub " you live here now?"

"yea I do! it's really cool, there are rivers! lots of trees-but, not a lot of mountains and grass and-"

"How about you show her?" I saw a little spark in his eye. " But stay close, don't go tot he other lionesses just yet okay?"

"Okay okay!" he bounded off of Shia.

"Just stay with him for a while, when you guys come back we will both speak with Kye okay?"

"Yes, sounds great."

"Shia! Follow me!"

"I'm coming, hold up!" I sighed with some relief as I watched Shia and Roho leave. This would give me enough time to think of something I could do to help prepare them and myself when I have to leave for battle. With each passing seconds, I know this fight will be coming sooner than I thought.

+yikes, tensions are definitely rising, be on the lookout another chapter might be dropping again today...fingers crossed

+KawaiiCutie12, lol! that's fine... I'm going to take some time to flush her out in the coming chapters. let's see if your perspective changes of her then XD and yea that old lion out of sight right now.