Chapter 3: The accident
Zinani froze. She bit her lip and then smiled. "Escort? I was just going out for some air," she lied. Amalie laughed.
"You're so funny, I'm not stupid Zinani," she smiled as she stepped off the step she had been sitting on.
Zinani frowned. "I know that," she said in defense.
"Oh my dear friend, you're not known to break the rules, so why break them now?" Amalie asked, continuing to tease her friend.
"I-I don't know, just to see what its like," Zinani said, tipping her ears back.
Amalie smiled and nuzzled her friend. She then laughed. "I'm only kidding you; I know you've wanted to get away. But I would think you'd invite your best friend to go with you." Zinani smiled and nuzzled Amalie back.
Both jumped at the small sound of scratching. Turning they both saw Kioni standing near the entrance of the den. He was frowning and didn't look very happy.
"What're you two doing?" he asked. Zinani beckoned him to be quiet and gestured for him to come and join them by the steps.
Kioni was hesitant, but finally did. "We're going to go play," Zinani announced.
Kioni stared.
"What!? We're not allowed to go without an escort, you know that!" Kioni argued. Zinani rolled her eyes and shook her head.
"Kioni come on, we're not babies anymore, we don't need an escort, Amalie never has one."
"Amalie isn't a future queen or king." Kioni replied.
Amalie shook her head at the two. "Zinani's right Kioni, you're not babies, there's no reason you need an escort, I mean, all the animals know who you are, they're not going to do anything." Kioni only growled.
"You never know,"
"Oh don't be such a spoilsport. Don't you want to have fun without someone watching your every move for once?" Zinani asked. "What about be able to go wherever you want without anyone telling you yes you can or no you can't?"
"Well," Kioni started.
"Exactly! So come on, let's go before they wake up." Zinani said, nudging him. Kioni still hesitated.
"I don't know Zinani; it just doesn't feel right…" He argued once more.
"Of course not, it's something new, something different." Amalie cut in. Zinani nodded.
Kioni tipped his ears back. Zinani and Amalie both rubbed up against him. "Come on Kioni, you know you want to!" Finally Kioni caved.
"Oh alright," he said. Amalie and Zinani were ecstatic but stayed quiet as the three cubs slipped down the steps and off into the savannah.
Light from the rising sun filtered into the den, warming the backs of the sleeping lions and lionesses. Slowly Kitoko began to wake. The warmth from the sun felt good and seemed to only make her more tired. But there was also something about the feeling that made her wary.
Her eyes snapped open. Something wasn't right. A shiver ran down her spine, making her fur stand on end. Slowly she rose and looked around. It was then she realized that Amalie was gone. The cub had been curled up beside her and Raimi earlier. Now she was gone.
Kitoko shook her head. That was not unusual, Amalie left early in the mornings sometimes to go talk with Rafiki. The lioness took in a deep breath, let it out. There was a coldness about the cave that made her uneasy. Fear ran through her body like blood. Carefully she stepped over the other lionesses until she reached Kiara and Kovu. The two were curled up tightly together.
As Kitoko looked around them, it suddenly hit her. Her muscles tightened. Kioni and Zinani were gone. She gulped and then near shouted as panic hit her, "Kovu, Kiara wake up!"
The royal couple bolted awake as did many others around them. Kiara's eyes shifted up to Kitoko. "Wh-what's wrong?" she asked as she yawned.
"They're gone," was all Kitoko was able to get out.
"What?" Kiara asked, eyes widening. She looked down to her empty paws, and gasped. "No, no, no!" she rose. "We have to find them!" Kitoko nodded and took off. Kiara followed her. Kovu stayed to spread the word. Soon search parties had formed and the whole pride was out looking for the cubs.
Amalie cuffed Kioni and then ran a little ways ahead, bending down with her rump in the air, growling. Zinani pounced over her. Kioni gave a small roar. He then tackled Amalie. The two rolled a few feet before deciding to chase after Zinani. Zinani smiled.
"Catch me if you can!" she shouted before taking off. Amalie and Kioni ran after her, keeping pace to one another easily.
"I'm going to catch you!" Amalie said, gaining speed. They raced across the flat terra, stirring up dust as they did so. Zinani looked back and stuck her tongue out at her friend.
"No you won't!" She replied, picking up the pace. She ran faster, stretching her legs out. "I'll beat you all!" she growled.
Amalie looked farther ahead, past Zinani and gasped. With each stride they were getting closer and close to the edge of the gorge.
"Zinani stop!" Amalie yelled. Kioni saw the gorge too and roared.
"Stop running!"
Zinani finally saw it. But it was to late as she attempted to turn, digging her claws deep into the soft dirt.
"Zinani!" Amalie and Kioni yelled together.
The ground crumbled beneath the cub and Zinani fell, screaming, "Kioni! Amalie! Help!" She scraped her shoulder, bumped her leg as she tumbled down the side. As she rolled and somersaulted her vision began to get blurry. Suddenly something connected with her head right above her eyes and Zinani's world went deathly black…