Our reunion with the Pride couldn't really have gone better. My plans to unite us as one had seemingly worked. I once again believed that all would fight for each other, just as we had when we had beaten off my evil uncle Scar. Now, all that remained was to make peace with the rebels. Except for Shuku. I had some talking to do to her. I reminded myself that the one rebel who had shown any resemblance of respect for me was Terema. I vowed to find her and ask to find Shuku so I could confront her over what had happened just the other day.

I managed so. The rebels had become disillusioned and confused by Shuku's continued absences, and eventually had agreed to come back to the pride as a whole. With their support back in place, I knew there was trouble still brewing under in the East, but I knew I had to do something about it. Terema did, in fact, volunteer to find Shuku and set up a meeting for me, and I was indebted for it. I vowed to remember it for the future.

A few days later, in the afternoon sun, I set out, supposedly alone for a spot to meet with Shuku and ask her questions which needed answering. I noted with interest and alarm that her chosen spot was near to the Eastern border. No coincidence, I thought to myself as I stood alone in a suitable place. I wondered what the day would bring come sunset, and decided that should Shuku refuse to comply with any demands, I would banish her from the Pridelands, to go where she would.

As I reached the designated spot, I sat back and waited, motionless, for Shuku to arrive. I waited for a long while, but I didn't move. I wanted her to know that I was not prepared to run from my problems any longer. By sitting still, I figured it would indicate a show of force towards her, with the slight possibility that it might also be intimidating.

The place I was in was a small rocky alcove, dusty and fairly secluded. Lions didn't generally come here, as there were no herds that ever came for the spot was not ideal for growing things, nor was it anywhere near the waterhole. It was a sort of valley, with rises on each side, which, though it may have been possible to climb down, would be very challenging to climb up. I planned an escape route up them, should the necessity arise. I hoped it wouldn't.

At length, as the sun was slowly descending from high-sun, Shuku padded round the corner and stood in front of me. Her face gave nothing away – she showed neither fear, nor delight, nor even the smugness that had polluted her face so often the last few times I had seen her.

"King Simba," she said, sarcastically.

"Shuku," I replied, deadpan. If she wasn't going to give anything away, then you could be damned sure I wasn't.

"You called?"

"I did. I believe we have a few things to discuss."

"Do we now?"

"Yes," I said, firmly.

"What are these… things?"

"I think you know. Or would you rather I spelled it out for you?"

"Perhaps that would be a good idea."

"Fine. I want you to tell me what involvement you had the other day, when Ella was killed."

"Involvement?" she laughed, "I was merely concerned for the safety of you all when I returned to my sisters and they told me of this dreadful crisis!"

"I don't believe you. You lie," I said, with resolve.

Her smile weakened slightly.

"It would be extremely dishonourable of me to lie! And I, if nothing else, can always be considered honourable, can I not?"

"You tell me. I used to think so."

"You see. You used to trust me, so why not now?" She played the innocent. I could see her game.

"Why not now? Well, how about the fact that you were present at the rock maze when Ella was killed?"

I watched her face intently, searching for the first sign of weakness and panic.

"Present? I came only later."

"That's a lie, Shuku. You were seen there. And I know you weren't with your 'sisters'."

"Seen? How could I have been seen? Usiku was far too preoccupied with…" She stumbled. "That is, I've been told that she was too preoccupied with the River Pride lioness."

"Oh really? Who told you that?"

She avoided the question.

"I don't understand why you try and lay the blame on an innocent anyway," she tried a different tack, "when your dear closest friends – a meerkat and a warthog no less - led you astray to leave Usiku and that poor defenceless cub at the mercy of those Riverland thugs."

Which might have been a fair question. Except…

"But those friends tell me they stole the idea off someone else. Do you know who that someone else was, Shuku?"

"I can't begin to imagine…" she said slowly. I sensed my advantage and pressed ahead.

"I've also been down to the Eastern border since, to do a little bit of eavesdropping. And I heard a couple of interesting things, Shuku. It seems the Riverlanders got a bit of inside help to get in here. Now why's that? Who could it possibly have been?"

I advanced on her, pressing her for an answer, anger burning inside, yet still trying to hide it.

She stood her ground. Then a mock look of realisation came across her. She mimicked a gasp. "I've got it!" she said breathlessly, "all this while that silly bitch Usiku has been playing you for a fool! She's been an insider Simba! So, what you're saying is, I've been right all along? I was right to distrust her, and to go against your supposedly superior judgement? Is that why you brought me here? So you could thank me in private and wouldn't have to feel embarrassed in front of everyone?!"

I was suddenly flabbergasted. Could it have been Usiku? I ran through the evidence in my head. The lionesses on the border – they just said "Our ally" and never mentioned a name. Tanabi hadn't said he'd seen Shuku, just that he'd seen a lion who wasn't a Riverlander.

Though much of what she said was probably ludicrous, suddenly the thought of Usiku being responsible didn't seem so silly after all. She'd been left alone, hadn't she? If this had been her plan all along, then it would have been the perfect time to do it. And why had she wanted to get away so soon after it had happened? To escape from what we might do to her if we ever found out?

"You see? I was right all along!" said Shuku with superiority, "But I will let you off Simba, for your mistakes. She even had me fooled for brief moment!"