A/N: I'm back from another super long hiatus of sorts. This was another hard chapter. Kinda the 'fillers' before the real exciting stuff happens I guess. And I made some changes to my original idea. Two years from the beginning can really make a difference. I've got the bare bones for the next chapter fleshed out, so fingers crossed I get it out within the next month or so.

As always, comments are always welcome and appreciated. Until the next update!

"The truth may hurt for a little while, but a lie hurts forever" - Unknown

Exhaustion weighed on Zira like a second skin, her body aching from the heavy blows earlier. She tried her best to ignore it and the sting of her wounds. That pridelander had gotten her good despite the swift defeat. She could feel the blood trickling through her thin pelt and the strange twinge as her wounds stayed exposed to the elements.

Her party of lionesses shuffled on behind her just as exhausted. Though the victory had lifted their spirits, they each carried a ragged look to them. They were long overdue for a decent rest. They'll just have to hold on, Zira thought. Just until we make it back.

The lush grass of the Pridelands had long since given way to the barren, dry expanse of the Outlands, but their dens were still far away. It would be well past nightfall before they returned.

As they walked, Zira thought about her next step. She had secured her hold on the princess for the time being, but she knew that wouldn't last. The cub wouldn't buy her excuses for much longer. Eventually she would become suspicious. Despite her lineage, she still had some wits about her. And no doubt Simba would attempt to win her back, but there was no guarantee of when. She would need to strike quickly. Again.

Zira slowed her pace, dropping back to walk beside Umija. The russet lioness glanced her way but said nothing.

"Well?"

"Well what?"

"You must have thoughts on what happened with Simba and his pride." Zira snorted, keeping her focus on the terrain ahead.

"Perhaps."

"Enough." Zira growled, flattening her ears as frustration at this little game began to build. "Just tell me what you think."

Umija hesitated for a moment before responding with a sigh.

"I think you were reckless." She started. "And," she continued, cutting off Zira's stutter of protest. "I think it was foolish. Simba isn't someone to take lightly. He's proven that many times over. But, I also think this could work if we do it carefully. You've already done the easy part"

"And what, exactly, do you suppose we do?"

The moonlight filtered through the cracks of the termite mound, littering the floor with splotches of pale, bright light. Kiara shivered and huddled closer to Kovu, reveling in his warmth. Vitani and Nuka slept behind them; Vitani dozed quietly while Nuka lay sprawled on his back, paws churning as he dreamed. Other lionesses of the pride were grouped together on the far side of the cave talking in hushed voices. Occasionally one of them would look her way before going back to the conversation. Kiara wanted to know what they were saying, but had a feeling it wouldn't end well.

Her thoughts drifted as she lay awake. Zira and a majority of the lionesses had left for the Pridelands hours ago. They were hoping to meet with her father and arrange to bring her home. Kiara thought it was strange she wasn't going with, and she had said as much.

"Shouldn't I go with you?"

"Oh, no, princess." Zira had said. "I think it's best if you stay here. With all the excitement the other day, I'm sure you're quite tired. It's better if you stay and rest. Wouldn't you agree?"

"I guess so."

"Exactly." She flashed Kiara a toothy grin. "And tomorrow, you'll be back with your father and beloved pride."

After they had left, she found herself a bit anxious to get home. She missed the familiarity of the Pridelands and the warmth and kindness of her pride. Here, the lions were cold and far removed from her. The only ones who seemed to acknowledge her presence were Zira and her cubs. Vitani was nice, albeit rough around the edges. Nuka was, well, Nuka. And Kovu? Kiara wasn't sure how she felt about him. There was something he was hiding, that much she was certain, but she couldn't figure out what.

She tried to get him alone, but every attempt failed. And whenever she started to bring it up, he was quick to change the subject. The whole ordeal left her frustrated.

And, to add more to her already frazzled mind, she was still plagued with the information about her father. The thoughts continued to barrage her, no matter how hard she tried to ignore them.

A soft thrumming from the mound entrance reached her ears, distracting her from her thoughts. One of the lionesses left to guard the entrance trotted inside, an air of excitement clinging to her pelt.

"They're back!"

The group of lionesses got to their feet just as the Zira and her party entered.

Kiara gasped sharply when she saw them. Each lioness harbored a myriad of wounds, some bleeding profusely and some already beginning to crust. Their fur was ragged and a few of them had bald patches where sharp claws had torn it away.

Kovu and Vitani, having heard the call, woke almost with a renewed sense of energy and bounded to their mother. Zira welcomed them with a graveled purr, nuzzling them as they wove around her legs. Her claws, Kiara noticed, were coated in dried blood.

Hesitantly, she padded forward, her eyes widening as she got up close. Zira lifted her head and fixed her blood-red eyes directly on her. There was something in them Kiara couldn't place and her heartbeat quickened.

"What happened?" She ventured, feeling as though she already knew the answer.

A growl grew in Zira's throat; low and frightening before her expression melted into something like sorrow. "Your father happened."

"What? I-I don't understand?"

Zira shooed the cubs away, ignoring her, and padded towards a jutting ledge towards the back of the cave. She flicked her tail, signaling the pride. Kiara had no choice but to follow, coming to stand beneath the ledge as Zira climbed to the top.

"We met Simba on the border," She began, sweeping the pride with her fierce gaze. "Our only plans were to speak with him, let him know we had his daughter. But the king met our words with his claws. Blood was spilled this day."

A few murmurs of disgust filtered around the pride. Kiara opened her mouth to object, to tell them her father would never do such a thing, but the words stuck in her throat, nearly choking her.

"Kiara," Zira looked down at her and Kiara fought hard not to shrink away. "There is something you must understand. Your father doesn't want you back."

The world seemed to spin as Zira's words struck her heart, and she wobbled on her feet. Her father didn't want her? That didn't make any sense.

"He doesn't want me?" She stammered, barely above a whisper. She felt something brush her flank and Kovu's green eyes, clouded with concern, floated to the forefront of her vision. Vitani stood nearby, her own eyes a near match.

"I'm sorry, princess." Zira continued, her voice low and tight with emotion. "We tried to get him to take you home, but he simply wouldn't. He said he didn't want someone tainted by our ways. There was nothing we could do."

"No," She shouted suddenly, her voice thick as tears slipped from her eyes. "You're wrong! You have to be. He wouldn't leave me here." Zira's silence said more than any words could.

With a strangled cry, Kiara pushed away and fled, running out the entrance and into the night.

Tears ran down her cheeks as she sobbed. The night air bit through her fur and chilled her to the bone, but she hardly felt it, her thoughts consumed by the dreadful news. How could Simba do this to her? How could he abandon her like this? She didn't understand. She hadn't even done anything wrong.

Fresh tears rolled down her face as she thought of her mother. How she'd never get to feel her warm embrace or inhale her sweet scent as the lioness lulled her to sleep. Her heart constricted and sent a flutter of pain through her chest. It couldn't be true. It simply couldn't.

But maybe he doesn't want you.

Kiara grimaced at the thought and pressed her paws over her muzzle, burying her face. She wanted nothing more than to hide. To disappear from the world. She wanted to sleep and wake to this entire ordeal having been nothing but a bad dream. But when she lifted her head and was met with miles of termite mounds she knew it was real.

"Kiara?"

Kovu stepped out from the shadows, his pelt bathed in an unearthly glow. Kiara refused to acknowledge him. She didn't want anyone to see her in such a distraught state. Instead she twisted her body to hide her face. She heard him sigh and, as his pawsteps grew closer, felt his fur brush her flank as he sat beside her.

They sat like that for a long time; neither of them saying anything. Kovu looked at the stars and Kiara felt herself calming as she listened to the steady rumble of his breathing.

"I'm sorry." He said after a while.

"For what?"

"For everything really. And for what happened back there." He made a strange face, wrinkling his nose. "My mother isn't always the best at these sorts of things."

Kiara snorted, a half-amused laugh escaping her throat despite everything. "Clearly."

"Don't get me wrong, my mother can be odd at times, but she's not a liar."

"Is that supposed to make me feel better?" She retorted sourily.

"No. I know there isn't anything I can say or do. But I can tell you that I've been where you are before."

"Really?" Somehow she didn't quite believe him.

"Really." He said, staring at his paws. "I've never told anyone this before, but Zira isn't really my mother. I mean, I'm sure the pride knows, but you're the first lion outside of them. Apparently she was some low rank huntress. I'm not even really sure. All I know is that she abandoned me as soon as she could."

"I'm sorry that happened." Kiara placed her paw gently on Kovu's. He flinched, but didn't move away. Her heart went out to him at that moment. Maybe they weren't so different after all.

"It's okay." Kovu said, flashing her a small smile. "I've got Zira now. And the pride. They're a little rough around the edges, but they're my family. And they can be yours too. If you want."

She hesitated. Could she really see herself living with this pride of exiles? They were scary and didn't seem to like her, but Kovu and his siblings were kind. And she really didn't have other options.

"I'd like that." She said, thoughtfully. "I'd like that very much."