Disclaimer: It isn't mine... got it? It's... Disney's.

A/N: Sorry it took so long! I've been suffering a bit of writers block. And forgetfulness. So, here it is. I'll try make the chapters longer and stuff. So... here it is! Bow down! ;

Mufasa let his head lower, a frown crossing his face. A light, yet cold, breeze floated through the air, causing the cub to shiver as it ran through his fur, reaching his already-cold skin, as he was wet through. His ears twitched, his mind debating whether he should get out of the cold water– It would certainly help, after all. A sigh escaped him, as he slowly climbed to his feet, shaking the water off his fur, and he trudged toward the bank.

Once upon the warm dirt, he felt much better. The sun's rays had warmed it, and were now, very, very slowly, drying his fur. He frowned, lying down where he was, relaxing. He wasn't in any hurry to get back to his friends. Especially the one who had just blamed him for all of this. Did it look like he wanted to be wet through, and pushed into the river? Mufasa shook his head. No, he'd be just fine here. Warming up, drying off, in the peace and quiet.

Besides, he didn't need them. He could go make new friends. There had to be some other place, and more cubs to entertain himself. To play with. Right? Why wouldn't there be? It was either that or go befriend Sarabi, and he wasn't that desperate. Not yet. He'd do better on his own than go crying to her. He was almost disgusted he had even thought of it. It would be an utterly stupid idea, and he'd be in exactly the same situation. No, that would be the plan for when all else failed. And he meant when all else failed. He may even consider suicide before that... Ha. Nah, he wasn't ready for that.

'I'm wet through! It was all his fault!' Zei complained, in a whining voice. One that he had developed well for manipulation and it was a good way to get what he wanted– It didn't work on his parents anymore, but it did still work on others. His paws brushed the ground, before he slumped down into a lying position between the roots of a tree, muttering under his breath.

Lacking the heart to argue with the temperamental lion, his friends merely sat down, silently. They guessed Zei was wrong... But, still, they'd rather not be yelled at. Mufasa and Zei could be a deadly combination, and perhaps it would be better this way with only one of them? They were always arguing anyway. At least it would be a little quieter.

'Don't you agree?' The words left Zei's mouth. But it wasn't really a question. It was an opportunity for them to agree with him.

The other two lions glanced at each other, before their heads nodded violently. 'Oh, yeah. You're right. All Mufasa's fault you're soaked and looked like a drowned rat for a moment there.'

Zei ignored the rat comment. 'Right. Good.' He had never liked Mufasa anyway. Always getting in arguments. It would be much better without him. And now he, Zei, was in charge of it all. This was definitely good. Life was sweet. Some good does come when friends betray!

Of course, we all know it wasn't true, but Zei would much rather blame him for it all.

Sarabi had a large grin, plastered on her face as she trotted along, her tail swinging merrily. She was even humming, slightly. Looking around the Pridelands, she pondered what she would do next. Go brag? Or maybe settle down, and relax on a rock, perhaps? Or go laugh a little more? Though, Mufasa was probably in a bad mood. And judging by the way Zei had stormed off, he was in a bad mood as well.

Sarabi shrugged, then frowned. She could guess where they were... But she didn't really want to go near Zei... He was probably with his other friends, and together, they would bite her head off. But she didn't want to go to Mufasa either. It made her seem needy. So, instead, she decided to just sit around at relax.

Climbing onto a boulder, her claws scratched the rough surface, before she sat upon it, and gazed around the land momentarily. She then lay down, her head resting on her paws, the triumphant grin remaining on her face. And for once she wasn't the one wet. For once, she was the one grinning. For once, she had gotten back at that scoundrel. And, boy, did it feel good.

Mufasa let a small smile creep onto his face, as he was much warmer, and his fur was successfully dry. It felt much better than before, when he was sitting in the water, with the wind blowing around him, making him feel cold, and small. But... There had been something else there while he was sitting like a depressed rat. Was it... guilt?

Mufasa shook his head. It couldn't be guilt... could it? He didn't feel guilt. And why would he feel it when he was the victim, anyway? Perhaps he was just hungry? Perhaps he had landed on something sharp? Or perhaps the water just had him feeling so miserable it felt like guilt? All possibilities.

Well, he didn't feel it now so, it wasn't a problem at all. Paws forced him into a standing position, his legs wobbling for a moment, before he was completely stable. He walked forwards. The day seemed much brighter, warmer, more exciting, though he had absolutely nothing to do.

'I'll go... up to Pride Rock...' he suggested to himself, 'Go lie around up there... Talk... until I can find something else, interesting to do... Or I could go to the outlands.' He said the last part in a whisper. He wouldn't be allowed there, and he had never ever thought of going before. But... he could befriend one of those lions, after all. That would always be fortunate... They'd be much more interesting than his other stupid friends.

His path turned toward the shadows. It was a rather... cliche action, but it had to be done sometime or another. A cubs curiosity is a strong instinct in them, and every cub is curious to know what dangers are held there. He eyed the shadows, as they began to draw closer, and closer... Curiosity continued to brim within him, his pace growing slightly faster, wondering what would lie beyond the borders of their safe land.

'What are you doing, Mufasa? And I see you dried well– Though, I was looking forward to you looking like a drowned rat... But, I already saw that, so it isn't the biggest lost, anyway.'

Mufasa turned, a growl rumbling in his throat, to see Sarabi, grinning slightly, though anxious to know where he was going. Her eyes glanced over the dark place, behind him. Her eyes then narrowed, looking at him suspiciously.

'I was...' Mufasa racked through his brain, though couldn't think of a cover up. He fidgeted slightly. He knew what was coming next. But since he didn't actually go out of the borders, he couldn't get in trouble.

'You're going out of the border!' Sarabi said, guessing the scenario immediately, 'Without your friends?'

'They aren't coming. Probably never will– You'll never catch me with them again' Mufasa said, gruffly, 'And what are you doing, trying to stalk me, or something?'

Sarabi frowned, before rolling her eyes. 'I'm not stalking you, idiot!' She gestured to the boulder she had previously been on, 'I was relaxing there, and spotted you wandering. Thought it was strange without your friends. And so you are going out the border?'

Mufasa shook his head. 'Were. Until you came along, big and nosey!'

Sarabi raised an eyebrow. 'I bet I can last longer there than you can... But why are you going, anyways, eh? To get some new friends? Ha. I doubt any of them outsiders would befriend you... or... any of us, for that matter.'

Mufasa raised an eyebrow. He never expected to have this conversation, at all. 'You bet on the wrong side, wimp' he hissed, before standing up straight. 'And you're right... but they'll befriend me... Because... Because...' Well, he was starting to actually doubt that an Outsider would befriend him, but it was worth a try. 'Well... maybe you're right... but I'm still going! I'll still at least try.'

Sarabi began to walk toward the dark, shadowed area, that wasn't too far off. 'Fine then. Be that way.'

This was definitely an interesting situation. She was coming? And not running off to catch him in the act, or something? Perhaps she was just too competitive for her own good? Or proving she was brave, or something? Well, he didn't know, but she had got him once that day, and he was going to beat her with this. Then it would be even. And it would be his turn to laugh. Again.

Hold on... again? He had pushed her in the river a million times... maybe that was why he was guilty? Maybe the same thing had happened to her, as it had happened to him that day? Maybe that was it? With a frown, he quickly followed after her.

'Bet I'll win.'

'I bet you'll lose.'