OMG I haven't updated in SOOOOO long! I'm so sorry I took so long everybody! School is a drag, and its like they want to kill all the little sophomores. I know it means "wise fool" but geez give me a break! Anyway, I'm very sorry this took so long, and I'll try and update a little more often!

VIII

Unfurling the Secret

Zira unsheathed her claws and struck Kovu hard in the face.

"Where have you been!?" she roared angrily.

Kovu shook his head violently to rid himself of the dizziness, and looked Zira in the eye. He glared threateningly and took a deep breath to keep himself from reacting. Unsheathing his claws and standing straighter, Kovu snorted.

"In the Pride Lands."

Zira growled. "The Pride Lands? Doing what?"

"I was looking for some game. I found Simba walking by himself and I followed him. He walked to the gorge and I was about to do the deed, when another lion suddenly went up to him. Another male."

Zira cocked her brow. "Another male? Whom?"

Kovu took a deep breath. He was betraying Kamau. The very lion who had delivered him out of his depression and loneliness. But he had to do his job. It was what he was trained to do.

"He called himself Kamau," Kovu replied as he sat on his haunches. A rogue who said something very interesting. I think you might like to hear."

Zira smirked. "I'm listening."

Kovu grinned. "Kamau is the son of Scar. His secret son."

Zira was silent for a moment. She shook her head in disbelief as Kovu's words registered in her mind. Suddenly it hit her. Sarabi! She had long since forgotten her pregnancy after her beloved's death and her exile. She had been so strained on training Kovu, that Scar's true son passed through her mind over time.

Zira smiled and slinked towards Kovu, circling him several times. "So, Sarabi's son lives. He was a rogue you say? So Sarabi got rid of him before anyone found out? What a clever old bat she is. Perhaps we should bring dear Kamau up to speed and join him with his father's allies."

Kovu frowned. "Unfortunately, Kamau wants nothing to do with Scar."

Zira was taken aback by this. "What!? So, he has already been informed of Scar's 'forbidden legacy!'" She roared angrily. "DAMN YOU SIMBA!"

Kovu waited for her to calm herself and she soon did so. She bared her teeth and clawed the ground a bit before looking back up at Kovu. Kovu smirked.

"So I take it you want us to begin our plan a tad earlier than expected?" Kovu said sarcastically.

Zira snorted. She looked up at Kovu and nodded. "Yes. Begin phase one of the plan tonight. Gather up your brother and sister."

Kovu nodded and bowed his head curtly to her. He turned to leave.

"And Kovu," Zira called.

Kovu turned his head.

"Bring Kamau to me. Alive."

The pride sat in silence as Simba finished his address. Eyes of disbelief were widened and fixated on the King as he now sat in silence, contemplating to himself if he had used the correct words to speak to them. After a long stare at Simba, heads whirled to see Kamau, sitting uneasily at the King's side. He pinned his ears as he noticed the stares and murmurs of the pride, and swallowed hard. He began to wonder if it might be better should he depart.

Noticing the uneasiness of the silence, Simba broke it abruptly.

"I understand the concern that you have," Simba said. "Your lives were greatly shaken under Scar's rule. He was everything evil had to offer. But I assure you, Kamau is nothing like Scar. Scar died shortly after he was born, so there is no way any of Scar's influence could have befallen him. I say we give him a chance."

Yejide snorted and glared at the lion. She looked from him to Simba and replied, "Regardless of his life thus far, he is still Taka's son and 'heir!' He knows too much! He must be plotting with the outlanders! He means to kill us! Slaughter us all!"

The pride nodded approvingly.

"No Yejide! That is not what he intends!" Simba insisted.

Yejide ignored him as she rose to her feet and began to circle the bewildered lion. "He will find us while we sleep, and slit our throats while we dream! He'll bathe in our blood and frame the murders on us! We'll split against each other, the pride falling into chaos before he orders the outlanders to attack and kill us all under Scar's name!"

Everyone cheered Yejide on as she spoke.

Simba roared for order and beckoned the pride silent. He glared at Yejide and motioned her to seat herself amongst the rest of the pride.

"Enough of this!" Simba yelled. "Why don't you let Kamau speak for himself instead of judging him?"

Yejide chuckled. "Yeah, why not? Let the lion speak! Go ahead boy, tell us your side of it!"

Everyone stared at Kamau and waited for him to speak. He looked at everyone nervously, then up at his older half brother. Simba nodded, giving Kamau the go ahead. He sighed and got to his paws.

"I know what you think of me," Kamau said. "I know how you feel about me. But until today, I did not know who my father was. I did not know even what he looked like. All I knew was my mother's name: Sarabi. With that simple fact I constructed my own past. I thought I knew all about myself. But I was wrong. Tonight, I do not ask for your blessing, or your change of heart. I'm not asking you to renounce my father's name and treat me as royal blood. All I ask, is for your respect. Treat me as anyone else, regardless of the color of my mane and my pelt. Regardless of my father's name."

Everyone pondered Kamau's statement as he sat himself once again. From the crowd, Sarabi made her way up to them. Kamau pinned his ears nervously as she approached. She stopped in front of both of her sons, and they respectfully stood before her. She smiled at them, both standing regally before her, smiling kindly back at her. With a new sense of pride, Sarabi embraced both her sons, and licked each of them on the cheek. Then she stepped back, and loyally bowed to Simba as her King. Simba bowed back, as did Kamau. Then Sarabi turned back to the crowd.

"Everyone," she said. "The hardest thing I ever could have done was send Kamau away from here. I did so because I loved him, and because Scar would have surely killed him. Let us put behind us what has passed, and give Kamau the same opportunity for life in the Pride Lands that we have all been blessed with."

Simba smiled at her, as did Kamau. The rest of the pride looked at each other curiously before coming to a decision. Yejide spoke first.

"I suppose, under your...unique circumstances Kamau...exceptions can be made. However, we reserve judgment until you prove to us where you stand. Until then, I'd suggest you stay out of my way."

With that, she brushed roughly past him and headed for the cave. Everyone else waited for Simba. With a nod of his head, he adjourned the meeting, and everyone went their separate ways. The only ones to remain where Simba, Kamau, Tanabi, Kiara, Nala, and Sarabi. Tanabi snickered.

"I guess that went well," Tanabi said with a chuckle.

Simba glared, then sighed. He was too tired to argue.

"Well done Simba," Sarabi said gently as she nuzzled him.

He smiled at her as he nuzzled her back. "Well, I owe this courage to you."

She then turned to look at Kamau. He smiled at her and nuzzled her warmly.

"I apologize for how I reacted today," Sarabi said with a sigh. "I suppose I was not expecting such a wonderful surprise today."

He smiled at her and nodded his head. "I can't really blame you. But I'm glad you're happy to see me back."

Suddenly a growl erupted from below the Rock. Everyone whirled their heads following the noise. Simba bounded to the foot of Pride Rock, only to be thrown on his back by a powerful young male. Kamau and Tanabi roared angrily and shot to Simba's aide, tossing the male off him. He hit the ground hard and looked up at them, baring his teeth. He unsheathed his claws and roared a challenge. As Kamau prepared to fight, he suddenly recognized him.

"Kovu?" Kamau asked in disbelief.

Kovu pressed his eyelids shut, trying desperately to shun his conscience and emotions away. Regardless of what Kamau did for him, he could not betray his pride. He could not stand the fact of living in the Outlands forever, and if this was how he needed to earn a decent meal and some respect, then he would do it.

"Kovu...?" Kamau said again. "Is that you?"

Shaking his head violently to clear his feelings, Kovu roared loudly and charged.