IIX
ANOTHER BROKEN PROMISE
There was life all about the Pridelands. A giraffe was nosing the crisp leaves of a tree in the savannah. There was a herd of zebras off to the north, and near the southern borders, the crockadiles thrived, sharing a great water hole of a pod of grunting hippos, who angrily splashed anything near. An ostiche lowered her long neck to gaze at her new hatchling somewhere else in the grasslands, and an okapi was frolicking over the horizon. Life was everywhere, and Simba studied it, a wary expression, and crawling saddened eyes. The King sat by the base of the jutting peak of Pride Rock, by the great rock which sat near the left of the enterence of the royal cave (the one Kovu had to sleep at before Simba trusted him enough to let him into the cave).
Inside, the lionesses were sound asleep. Kopa was as well, his back against his mother's side, hind paws twitching. He soon awoke as the soothing blanket of sunlight bathed him and part of the den floor, reaching in from the enternce, first peeking out of one eye, then yawning.
Then he suddenly gasped. "Oh no!" he cried, jumping up.
"Shh!" someone hissed from the other side of the cave.
Nala opened her eyes, only to ask tiredly, "What is it, Kopa?"
"Mom," the prince whined as he turned to face her. "The sun's already rising, but Dad said he'd take me t' the top of Pride Rock this morning! I-I think it's too late now."
Sitting up, the Queen replied gently, "I'm sure there's nothing wrong with being a little late." and she winked at him.
"Oh," he mused. "OK."
His eyes suddenly brightened as he turned to run to the cave's exit. "I'll go see if Dad's up there now!" but he lightly crashed into Nala's blocking paw.
"No. You just rest. I'll go find him."
"Um, O-oK." and he sat, watching his mother pad out, suddenly growing very fond of her right then.
"Simba?" the Queen asked as she walked out of the cave. Her right ear twitched as there was the sound of a light shuffle, and she turned to stalk around the rock, smiling as she saw her mate. "Simba, weren't you going to take Kopa up Pride Rock?"
His eyes were still feasting on the north, though, as he replied, a tone of shame thickly layering his voice, "I...can't."
Nala blinked in surprise, then came closer. "What? Why not?"
"Zira," he mumbled.
"Huh?"
Simba turned to her, and she could see the hurt in his eyes. "It's Zira. I think she's up to something."
Rolling her eyes, she replied, "What do you think lastnight's meeting was for?"
"No," and he shook his head as he said that. "Nala, trust me on this one." He paused to ponder, wondering if he should say it, but finally, his hesitant voice continued. "I've had a warning," He glanced upwards.
Nala followed his gaze, but sternly looked back at her mate. "Simba, you promised."
"Yeah but, I said I'd take him today...I didn't say this morning."
"He thinks so," she snapped.
"I'm doing this for the pride and, have you seen Zazu? He's been gone forever. I think he's in trouble."
Simba got up and padded passed her, heading to the main pathway, past the rock as well, and the base of the peak, over to the southeastern part of the Kingdom. But Nala was doubtfull, and so followed.
"Look, Kopa can play with Timon and Pumbaa today." he said as he briefly stopped.
"Simba," she growled. "You said you'd take him."
"I have responsibilties, Nala," The voice of the King was smooth, and not at all risen, nor harsh, yet it was full of frusteration and a yearning to convince.
With those words, he began to stalk down the pathway.
"Yeah, your son!" he heard her call.
"I'll take him up there tonight!" he called over his shoulder, yet added to himself, "I hope..."
Simba could not take the pain any longer, and so took off in a run, before rushing through the grass, and turning.
"Dad! Hey, Dad!" Kopa called as he pounced out of the cave. He blinked and cocked his head as he saw Simba run off to the north. "Where's Dad goin', Mom?" his sweet, innocent voice questioned.
Nala sighed, sitting down as she, too, watched her mate dissappear over the horizon. Her eyes still distant as they stayed in the same spot, her gentle voice replied, "Go play with Timon and Pumbaa."