It was almost evening when the searching party returned to Pride Rock. The small group of the best tracker lionesses had been appointed by Kiara to go to the gorge and look for any clue or trace that could lead them to the cubs. While they were gone, Zazu had been sent to fetch Rafiki so he could cure Genka's wounds. Rafiki arrived a short while after, accompanied by his apprentice, a young baboon named Rishde, who was carrying a bowl with different kinds of plants and herbs. While they doctored Genka in one of the smaller caves, the rest of the pride went to rest in the main cave, where they discussed the recent events and tried to decide the course of action they should take.

            "What I say," argued one of the younger lionesses, "is that we're wasting time tarrying here and doing nothing while the kidnapper escapes."

            "And how do you expect to follow him?" answered an old and sly lioness. "We don't know which way he went, he could be anywhere by now."

            "We could follow his scent. We do have noses, don't we? We can trail him and catch up with him before he gets too far."

            "Not if he crossed the river, we can't," replied a voice behind them. The searching party had just climbed into the cave and were settling among their companions.

            "So he escaped that way, then?" said Kiara in a defeated voice.

            "Yes, we followed a few tracks up to the river's edge. We crossed to the other side, hoping to catch again his scent there, but it seems he traveled on the water for a while, to shake us off.

            "Do you mean to say," exclaimed the young lioness, "that he managed to cross the river carrying three cubs? You're mad, he couldn't have done that!"

            "The water isn't very deep," said another lioness from the searching party. "Besides, We don't think he was alone. We found a single smaller print near the river, just where we lost the scent."

            "So now what shall we do?"

            "Why don't we ask His Majesty here?" said the young lioness glancing at Kovu. "As the kidnapper resembles him, maybe he can enlighten us as to what his double might have done!"

            Up till now, the young king had kept quiet, hidden among the shadows in the far corner of the cave, listening to the discussion while pondering on his own thoughts. When addressed to so  abruptly, however, he came back to reality and stood up, facing the lioness.

            "I don't like your tone of voice, Dejani," he growled, "but as you keep hinting that I had something to do with my own son's disappearance, the only thing I can say is—"

            "That you were not involved in any of today's events," said a voice.

            Everybody turned around. Rafiki was standing at the entrance of the cave with Rishde right behind him.

            "I have finished dressing young Genka's wounds," he said, "and I'm glad to say that he will recover in no time. As for the unfortunate kidnapping of Prince Sinta and Vitani's daughters, it is absurd to even think that King Kovu was responsible for it."

            "I don't think it is absurd at all!" said Dejani stubbornly. "He gave them permission to go, didn't he? Besides, it has always been obvious that he's not so keen on the cub."

            "THAT IS NOT TRUE!" roared Kovu, all his fur standing on end. "I love my son and I would do anything to get him back, d'you hear? ANYTHING!"

            Kovu felt so furious he decided to leave the cave, in case he might attack Dejani. But just as he was leaving, the young lioness shouted at him, "You're the worst father I've ever seen!"

            Kovu froze. The whole pride went silent. Even Rafiki did nothing. For a few minutes nobody moved, just gazed at the scene with transfixed eyes, as if waiting for a signal, for someone to talk, to break the tension that could be felt...

            Kovu stirred. For a moment it looked as if he might turn around. Everyone held their breaths, expecting the king to jump on Dejani, but he just shook his head and muttered, "You might have a point."

            And he slowly exited the cave, leaving everyone without words.

            Later that night, Kovu took refuge in a small cavern deep in the entrails of Pride Rock. He needed to be alone to think on what he had done. He knew he should have said something, defend himself from Dejani's accusation, but a small thought deep down his brain had suddenly surfaced and filled his mind with remorse: 'Dejani was right.' He was a bad father. Everything had been his fault. He hadn't been careful. He had given them permission to go. He had sent his son to peril. He had made Kiara cry. Everything I do goes wrong, he thought miserably. Just as I killed my brother, I hurt my family and let my pride down.

            "Kovu?"

            The lion dried the small tears that had appeared in his eyes with his paw and turned around to face his sister.

            "Kovu, I need to talk to you."

            "About what?"

            "About what has happened."

            "What's there to talk about?" said Kovu irritably. "My son and your daughters have been kidnapped by some weird lion who looks like me and we don't know where they are."

            "Well, that's the thing. I... I think I might know who took them and where they are."

            "Really?" Kovu seemed unimpressed by her words. "Well, why don't you go and tell the others, that way they will find them and then they might stop thinking I kidnapped my own cub."

            "I'm serious!" snapped Vitani, and it was the tone of urgency in her voice what finally caught Kovu's attention. "I had completely forgotten about it, but it has just come to me."

            "What—" said Kovu slowly, "are you talking about?"

            "Mother told me once," said Vitani, and for the first time in his life, Kovu was afraid of what she might say. "When we were still cubs. She said you should never know, she was afraid it would hinder your training. Kovu... you have a twin brother."