Three years after the crowning of Prince Tauzin, he had developed into an energetic young cub. Remembering how her cousin Simba had been before his father died, Ataria began to notice similarities between her son and his nephew. Although they encouraged his behaviour, both parents made two things perfectly clear: He was never to leave the Lush Lands and he was never to go anywhere without letting his parents know where he had gone. He had also developed a friendship with a female cub called Peka, short for Pekaina. Peka had been born to a lioness called Liaza a year before Tauzin was born. Liaza was one of the lionesses that had been assimilated into the pride when a volcano eruption had destroyed Tamu's step-mother's tribe that he had escaped from. Therefore, Peka was effectively Tauzin's step-cousin.

One day, Tauzin decided that he was old enough to explore the oasis outside of the Lush Lands. Of course, he didn't mean to tell his mother and aunt where he was going to be, so he concocted a story. After finding his mother and aunt, he explained that he wanted to visit a waterhole nearby to play crocodile, crocodile. He asked if Peka could come along too. After finishing Peka's bath, his aunt agreed and so did his mother. So, the two cubs set off in the direction of the waterhole, but instead ran towards the oasis. After playing the game, the two were drinking at the waterfall when an unfamiliar image was shown across the water of the lake. Looking up slowly, the two were startled to see an unknown lion cub straight across the oasis from them. This cub was small and had tawny fur with blue eyes and a small mane around his head that had black fur streaked among golden fur. After introducing themselves, they began to play together and gambolled around.

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About three hours after the meeting of the three cubs, Ataria began to get nervous. After talking to Liaza and finding out Peka was not back either, Ataria went to her mate and explained the situation. Setting out towards the water hole, images of Simba's escapades started to flash across her mind. After finding no sign of the cubs near the waterhole, the three lions set their course for the oasis where Zenatae and Ataria had first met. After arriving at the oasis, they saw the three cubs play fighting. The unknown cub had Tauzin pinned underneath him and as he swiped at his face, Zenatae left out a huge roar and jumped across the lake to stand in front of the floored Tauzin. Looking up at the imposing lion and the two lionesses, the cub took one step backwards and fell against the paw of his mother.

Standing face to face with the strange lioness, Zenatae took in every detail. The lioness had blue eyes and tawny fur, with no trace of stripes. As they stared at each other, Ataria stepped in front of her mate and stared with menace into the eyes of the lioness protecting her cub. As the image computed in the brains of both lionesses, a shocked look came over the strange lioness and she bowed down low.

"Ataria, it can't be you!" gasped out the Lioness

Ataria: "Who are you and how dare you trespass in the Lush lands?" spoke kayena regally as she pushed her cub behind her and stared at the Lioness

"Forgive me, but don't you remember me?"asked the lioness pleadingly.

"No," Kayena said with a stern tone. "Take your cub and get out!"

"But you are Ataria, the princess of Pride Rock" announced the strange lioness. "Do you not remember your sister Kaiana?"

Peering at her carefully, she whispered "Kaiana?"

As the name sunk in, Ataria's face softened and she nuzzled the lioness in a friendly way. Liaza stared at the two in confusion, then picked up her cub by the scruff of her neck and began to walk back to the secret valley. However, Zenatae soon recovered from his shock and snapped an order to Ataria to come home and bring the lioness. Then he picked up his son and stalked back to the valley behind Liaza. Talking all the way, Kaiana picked up her cub and walked with Ataria back to the valley.

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As soon as they entered the valley, Ataria was met by Taliza, her face confused as she told Ataria that her mate desired her company in their den. Entering, Ataria was met by her mate, his eyes full of confusion.

"Kayera, what was that lioness talking about?" Zenatae asked as he paced. "Who is Ataria and how does she know you?"

"Zenatae, please don't be mad at me" she begged. "I only did it to protect myself!"

Turning, he repeated her words "What do you mean, protect yourself?"

"Zenatae, I'm not who you think I am" she said with her eyes downcast

"What are you telling me? That your name isn't Kayera, that you lied to me?" As he spoke, his voice began to slowly rise

Nodding her head, she refused to meet his eyes. "Yes. I lied to you. I am not what I told you."

"Then who are you?" he yelled.

She then confessed everything. About who she was, how she came to that oasis and her real name. As she finished, she sat there with her eyes downcast. As her mate computed it all, his face slowly began to change. He no longer looked confused, but looked angry. His face was contorted into a mask of rage as he began to yell at her.

"You lied to me all those years! You made me think you were someone I loved!"

"I'm sorry, Zenatae" begged the lioness. "I did what I did to protect myself"

Whirling, he screamed at her the words "Get out!"

"What?" asked the shocked Lioness

"Get out!" he yelled again in her face. "Leave the land and never return! Take your son and leave."

As he spoke to her, Ataria began to weep. Rushing out of the den, she took her son by the scruff of his neck and ran past the pride, out into the wilderness. As Zenatae watched her go, he padded back into his den and cried himself to sleep, instantly regretting all he said to her.