A/N: Haha! Two in one day, can't get any better than that! Unless I do three in one day, but anyway, read please!

Chapter Seventeen: Hey, Where's the Title??

''Kiara? Kiara!''

Kiara opened her eyes to see Kovu's concerned face above hers. She looked around at her surroundings. It was early morning. The sky was a golden color as the sun rose above the horizon. She was still lying under the same tree as the night before. Everything was the same. It was only a nightmare, a long, horrible nightmare.

''Are you okay? You were yelling in your sleep,'' Kovu asked.

''Your mother-she-I couldn't-my home-'' Kiara stammered, struggling to speak straightly, while sitting up.

''Whoa, slow down, it's okay. It was just a nightmare,'' Kovu said in a somewhat comforting tone.

''It was just so horrible-it-it was in flames and…'' Kiara tried to explain, but her voice slightly cracked and trailed off. She buried her face in Kovu's mane without even realizing. She sniffed as a single tear rolled down her muzzle.

Shocked by her sudden motivation, Kovu almost pulled away, but stopped himself. He sort of felt sorry for her; he had no idea his mother had actually frightened her enough to give her nightmares.

''Er-um-hey, it's okay. Everything's fine now. It was just a bad dream…'' he said, trying hard to console her. He wasn't much of an expert when it came to comforting others when they were depressed. He never really had to. Besides saying 'it's going to be alright' or 'everything's fine now', he had no idea of what else he should do. Gently pulling away, he said, ''We, um, should get going now. If we walk without stopping, we should be there really soon.''

Kiara nodding, sniffing a last time. She followed behind Kovu as he began to limp ahead.

It was nearly nightfall, and the two still walked silently. They had only stopped once at a waterhole where Kiara successfully caught them an impala on her first try. They ate a plentiful meal, then went on their way. Since then they haven't stopped, but now Kiara watched as Kovu halted in his tracks and sat down, sighing. Kiara rushed to his side to see him breathing heavily, a look of exhaustion in his eyes.

''Are you alright?'' she asked, observing him as he tried to hold his head up.

''I'm fine, don't worry about me,'' replied Kovu. Kiara eyed his wound, knowing that it was the cause of his weariness.

''I know someone who can treat that. I'll ask him when we get home…if he's still around,'' Kiara said, a little unsure if Kovu would even be allowed in her territory.

''No, that's okay,'' Kovu declined.

''Are you sure because-''

''Ssshh!'' he cut her off before she could finish. His ears twitched just before he turned his head around. He scanned the grasslands with his eyes for a moment, then turned back to Kiara and asked, ''Do you hear that?''

''Hear what?''

''That noise-it sounded like-''

Kovu was suddenly interrupted when he heard a faint rustling sound behind them. He turned around again cautiously, his eyes searching the vast plains.

''What is it?'' Kiara asked in apprehension. Please no more predators, she thought. Kovu was in no condition to fight, and she couldn't defend him and herself alone. Kovu sniffed the air for an instant, then quickly turned to Kiara, wearing an alarmed expression.

''It's my mother! I can smell her-she's nearby! Run and hide somewhere!'' he said in a harsh whisper so as not to be heard.

''What? What about you?'' asked Kiara.

''Forget about me, just go! If I'm not around by the time it's dark, then keep on going without me!'' Kovu ordered.

''But-'' Kiara began, but couldn't finish.

''Go!'' Kovu hissed between clenched jaws.

Kiara took one last look at him before dashing off ahead, hoping she'd make it and hoping Kovu would make it by nightfall.

A/N: DUN DUN DUN!! Will Kovu hand over Kiara? Will Kiara make it home EVER? Or will they BOTH be in trouble? Find out on the next chapter!

I love doing that, making it sound like a dramatic soap opera commercial. LOL, please review!