Mtifu wailed and fell to the ground. Nala bent to comfort her as Tanabi and Sava appeared from the maze looking petrified. Whilst the cubs snuggled up to their sobbing mothers, I did the only thing that made sense – I went after Usiku, and followed the path she had taken.

I did not have too far to go. Staring at a puddle of water at her own reflection, just as I had done not so long ago, was the downtrodden figure of Usiku, head bowed in sorrow. I think she knew I'd followed, though she didn't budge. I went up and sat beside her, silently. I knew from experience that when you were in this mood you talked when you wanted, and no one would force it from you.

"I told you from the start you wouldn't want me," she said, finally, "that I'd bring a curse on your pride."

"No…" I began.

"I also said that I'd never get your Pride in trouble, that I'd leave if there was any sign that I might put others in danger."

"And I said that we'd…"

"Shh," she said, "and let me finish."

"Well, I got reckless," she continued, "I let my emotions get in the way of my instincts. I knew there'd be trouble eventually. But I liked what I had, it was new and exciting, I didn't want it to end. And I didn't keep a good look out."

"But there wasn't any warning, it happened by chanc…"

"No," she said sharply, "this was not by chance. This was planned and staged somehow. That Jimbala, that tyrant, he knew what would hurt me, and your pride. He must have been watching somehow. He knew that he could wreck my chances with you and myself altogether by killing a cub. The pride would hate me, and I would hate myself for letting it happen."

"Was it Jimbala who killed El…"

"No of course not! Why would he take the risk when he could send one of his precious loyal lionesses?"

Her tone was returning to the nasty way in which she had always addressed me on the border.

"He got me, when I had my guard down! Don't you see? He beat me! Again! My life is ruled by this – this animal!"

She swiped at the water with her paw in anger and turned to face me.

"I'm sorry Simba. But I said at the time that I'd walk away if I got your pride in danger. Well, I've done worse than that already, and I'm sorry for it. For now, I'll just leave."

She turned to walk around me. I moved to stop her and stood in her way. She looked at me strangely. "What are you doing?" she asked.

"You're not facing up to the problem," I said, "and I should know. I've been in your situation, I know how this feels, but running from the problem will never make it better."

"Running from it seems a good option to me."

"Well, I won't let you."

She snarled, "then you're as dominating and untruthful as Jimbala himself!"

I stayed stock still.

"I said that the pride offered you protection from any enemies, and I hold by that."

"I don't want it."

"You have no choice."

"The pride won't want me when they find out what's happened."

"What makes you so sure? They forgave me for wrongdoings, and as I pointed out, they like you. They'll want to help."

"They haven't all forgiven you. Some of them don't even live with your pride anymore."

I hesitated. There was a short silence.

"See? You're all better off without me."

I shook my head. "If I let you go, what do you plan to do?"

"Dunno. Find some place far away from here. Live alone, start life afresh."

"Really?"

She raised her head from looking at the ground and stared into my eyes.

"No, I guess, probably no… Hey, how did you know I didn't mean it?"

I said nothing.

"Am I that see-through?" she asked.

"I don't think so," I replied.

"Then how did you know?"

"I didn't. But I've learned about you recently, and I know that's not your style."

"Oh no?! Then exactly what is my style?!" she bared her teeth angrily, slipping into her old mannerisms again.

I backed off, giving her space, "I imagine you're thinking about how to avenge Ella's death. About going back to the River Pride."

She thought for a moment. "Well, perhaps you're right," she conceded, "but I still don't see how I can possibly stay here. I promise for your sake I will not visit the Riverlands, but Simba," she pleaded, "you MUST let me go. I cannot stay here."

"I won't let you go," I repeated tolerantly.

She sighed, and then something behind my back must have caught her eye. She stared over my shoulder. I turned round, expecting to see Nala. What I saw was certainly just about the worst sight I could have wished for in the circumstances. For their, approaching was none other than Shuku herself. She was putting on a grim face, but one which I could tell barely concealed her pleasure. The way she walked and her facial expression reminded me of a hyena.

"Oh dear, Simba. What have we here?!" she slinked up and looked into my eyes gleefully, "it can't be another death caused by the rogue can it? Dear, oh dear, she seems to just attract trouble doesn't she?!"

I narrowed my eyes at her, "What's it to you, anyhow? You left my pride."

"Oh, not officially," she said, waving her paw absently, as if to wipe away such a statement, "I still hold the pride's best interests close to my heart."

"Oh?"

"Oh indeed."

I had turned to face her now, silently furious at her presence. This was not what I needed now. Why had I sent Mtifu to see her, and warn her? If I hadn't this wouldn't be a problem! Damn Timon and Pumbaa and their stupid plan which had led to this!

Oblivious to my seething rage which could quite possibly boil over at any minute, Shuku ploughed on.

"Yes, it pains me to see the death of a pride member so young, particularly when someone so trustful was looking after her," her mock sorrowful voice continued, "but the laws clearly state that anyone betraying the pride…"

Usiku roared a full on roar, which must have carried for miles.

In fury, she shouted, "BETRAYAL?! What do you mean?!"

"Temper, temper, dear," said Shuku, unperturbed and unruffled, "you know very well what I mean. You put the life of a younger pride member in danger knowing full well that others were after you! Now that's betrayal I believe."

Usiku's eyes turned to slits.

I interrupted. "On the contrary, I don't agree."

Shuku looked surprised at my interference, "No, and whys that, oh great one?"

"Because I allocated her the task of looking after them."

"Oh-ho-ho," she laughed, "so you admit it? That it's your fault? That you betrayed the pride?!"

I frowned. "No," I replied, "Because I consider betrayal walking out on your pride regardless of the circumstances, not trying to help in any way possible, even if the end result isn't what you want," I finished.

She rolled her eyes and turned her head. I felt she was buying time because she was stumped for what to say, though I wasn't sure. She clicked her tongue.

"Well, your majesty must believe as he pleases," she said, "but rest assured the rest of the pride will find out the true events of the night from me, to prove you are not the King they think you are."

"They'll never believe you," said Usiku, standing up for me, loyally.

"No? And whose word do they have, other than mine? A simple rogue who has, in this very season been responsible for two deaths within the pride? Good luck with your version of the 'truth' dear."

And she disappeared back through the grasses, smiling triumphantly.

I turned my head again. Usiku truly did look defeated. As flat a lion as ever I'd seen, and I included myself after my father's death in that statement. She was surely hated from all sides now, and what hope did she feel she had left? My protection? That was wavering, and she knew it all too well. Her best friend had most likely turned against her, and she was left with nothing and nowhere to go. My expression lingered between sympathy, anxiety and anger at the whole situation.

I don't know how long the two of us remained there, but for the moment it seemed that words could not express what either of us felt like or needed to say. In some ways I hoped that either Nala or Mtifu would come through and see us, but, as time went on, that became less and less likely. Whilst Shuku had come, night had fallen, and by now it was pitch black but for the light of the stars. I was tired. I wondered if Usiku was too. My mouth was dry, but I managed to croak out, "What do you plan to do now?"

It sounded callous even as I said it, unwelcoming even. I immediately wished I hadn't.

She looked hurt, but no worse than she had already.

"Seems as I'm not really wanted here, so… you know, I thought I'd… make my own way…somewhere…"

She turned and trudged away gloomily.

Before she got out of hearing distance I called to her, "Usiku?"

She turned to look at me, but uttered not a sound.

"Things will get better here. When they do, promise you'll come back?"

She turned away again and sighed. "If they do," before carrying on walking into the distance, not answering the question.

So I was left alone. I was a mixture of emotions too. Anger, sorrow, pain and logic all flowed through me. I couldn't think of any way to release it, so I ran in a different direction to Usiku and roared as loud as I could at the heavens. I had no doubt that the lionesses at Pride Rock could have heard it and known it was me, but somehow I didn't care. In this case, I needed them to know the stress I was under, and roared at least two more times before staring at the sky again.

I imagined my father in the clouds just as I had pictured him before. But even when I did see him, no words or questions came to me. What advice had I to ask for? I just stared, and the only help I got was that same old simple word, 'Remember'.

I waited, perhaps even half expecting Nala to come by and offer me redemption by her presence, just as she had in the past, but, as I thought about it, that was unlikely to happen. I had to try and get through this night without her, whilst she looked after our son and consoled her friend Mtifu, before returning to Pride Rock, and presumably learning the story of what had happened as told by Shuku. I wondered if she would buy this false telling of events and what the pride's collective reaction would be. All these thoughts could not shed off my feeling, though, of failure, to Usiku, to Ella, to my mother and father, but most of all, to the pride itself. I sighed and told myself to take faith in the lesson that time was a great healer, before turning and heading back to the ever-present monolith of Pride Rock, heavy hearted.