Yay! The fourth chapter! Enjoy!

Talib awoke as the first rays of the sun chased away the shadows of the night. A few birds began to sing and he smiled. Today is going to be a great day.

He yawned and nudged Thorn. "Wake up!"

Thorn rolled over and grumbled. "Five more minutes, mom."

Talib rolled his eyes. "Thorn!" He nipped Thorn's sensitive ear.

"Ow!" Thorn yelled angrily. "What was that for?" He rubbed his ear with his paw.

"I had to get you up somehow." Talib grinned. "Besides, we're supposed to meet back with Kohana."

Thorn yawned sleepily and stretched. "Well, we'd better get going if we don't want to get caught by one of the lionesses on patrol."

Talib noticed three lionesses were pacing around Pride Rock. Must be keeping an eye out for Kohana and her family. Talib knew his parents were overreacting, but he also knew they only wanted to protect him.

The two cubs put their stealth to the test as they maneuvered their way around the patrolling lionesses. When they thought it was safe to make a run for it, they ran toward the tall grass where they had first met Kohana.

As they sat down at the edge of the tall grass, Talib was the first to notice something strange. Cheetahs. Three of them. One was pacing around the grass. One was lying in the sun. The last and biggest of the three stood facing the cubs. It was a large female. Unlike the other two who were golden yellow with dark black spots, her fur was a red orange with dark spots.

As she approached the cubs, Talib and Thorn shuddered in fear. Neither one had ever spoken to a cheetah. As the space between the cheetah and the cubs decreased, they were unsure whether to stand there their ground or run.

The cubs didn't run, but stood their ground. "The black cub and the brown cub." The cheetah said to herself. Talib and Thorn looked at each other.

"What does she mean by that?" Thorn asked, barely audible.

Talib shrugged.

The cheetah could see that the two cubs were frightened and she found it amusing. "Don't be afraid, little ones."

"Who are you?" Talib asked finally working up his courage.

"I am Tokala." The cheetah smiled. "Kohana told me about you two."

Talib was confused. "How do you know Kohana?"

"I am her mother, well, I raised her. I found her out on the savanna alone, and I took her in." The cheetah paused as the other two cheetahs joined her.

"Thee must be the cubs Kohana met yesterday." The smaller cheetah eyed the cubs suspiciously.

"Let me introduce you to my children." Tokala said. "This is Takara, my daughter." The smallest cheetah bowed. Talib and Thorn noticed a spot on Takara's forehead that resembled a star.

"This is Tokai, my son. A true fighter this one." Tokai bowed. He had a large scar stretching from the right side of his head to his right shoulder.

Tokai noticed the two cubs were staring at the scar. "Got this scar from a lion a couple years ago. He tried to kill Takara and me. He was a big golden yellow male with a red-orange mane."

Talib paused. Could he be talking about my grandfather Simba? "Sorry to hear about that."

"That's okay, squirt. He didn't leave without a fight. I got a hold on his leg and he went limping home!" Tokai laughed loudly. Takara rolled her eyes.

"Forgive, my brother. He thinks making that lion run made him invincible. I do give him credit for being able to make the lion run."

"Hey, Tokai!" Another voice called.

"Kohana! Look who's here." Takara stepped from in front of Talib and Thorn so Kohana could see them.

"Kohana, you may go play with your friends, but be back before sundown." Tokala said as she licked Kohana's muzzle.

"Ok, mother. Nice to see you again."

"Nice to see you." Talib and Thorn said.

"Let's go play!" Kohana yelled.

The three cubs ran off to play leaving Kohana's family behind. Even though Kohana lived with cheetahs Talib and Thorn didn't mind. They had a new friend and that was all that mattered.

As the cubs stopped by a watering hole to drink, Talib looked at Kohana. "Why were you in such a hurry to leave yesterday?"

"Sorry about that." Kohana said sadly. "I wanted to stay but I had to get back before Tokala got worried. Takara says that ever since that lion tried to kill her and Tokai, Tokala gets worried whenever any of her children are out of her sight too long."

"Oh, that's okay. My mother is like that too." Talib stopped. Was his mother worried about him now? Was she going out of her mind with worry? What about Thorn's mother?

"Talib?" Kohana asked snapping him back to reality.

"Yeah?"

"Do you care that I am being raised by cheetahs instead of other lions?"

"No, I don't see why it matters. As long as they care for you, that should be all that matters."

"What about you, Thorn?" Kohana asked.

"I agree with Talib."

"Alright, what should we do first?" Kohana asked, quickly changing the subject.

"Let's play in the water." Talib said as he jumped into the water splashing it all over Kohana and Thorn. They joined in and the cubs began to splash and dunk each other under the water. The commotion ran most of the animals away, except for the ones whose thirst was too much to take notice of the cubs.

"Take this!" Thorn shouted as he splashed water on Talib. Thorn laughed and began to chase a frog that crossed his path. Talib and Kohana noticed how much fun chasing the frog seemed to be and joined Thorn.

The frog hopped as fast as it could to escape. Talib caught it, but lost his balance in the slick mud and the frog was gone again. Thorn pounced but missed it and landed on Talib. Kohana laughed at the two clumsy cubs. The frog hopped in front of her and in one quick swipe of her paw she tossed it out of the water. She ran to where the frog lay and tossed it back into the water. Talib and Thorn waded out into deeper water to help rid themselves of the mud caked to their fur.

As the three cubs sat in the sun to dry, Talib and Thorn noticed something odd about Kohana. While they had mud all over their legs and face, she only had a little on her paws.

"You two sure are clumsy." Kohana teased. "And dirty."

"I guess so." Talib said as he began to clean himself. Thorn did the same. When Talib and Thorn had fully ridded themselves of the mud on their fur, they looked around for something else to do.

"What do we do now?" Kohana asked.

"Let's see if we can scare that zebra foal over there." Thorn suggested.

"Sounds like fun." Kohana jumped happily. "Let's split up. I'll take the right."

"I'll take the left." Talib said

"I'll go from the front." Thorn said as he slowly made his way around the watering hole.

Talib crept slowly toward the lone zebra. It was a small foal that had strayed away from the nearby herd. Unaware of the cubs, the zebra foal continued grazing on the fresh green grass. Kohana got closer to the right. Thorn was close enough to spring into action.

Thorn leapt in front of the grazing animal startling it. Kohana chased it toward Talib who ran it back toward Thorn. Thorn pounced on the terrorized animal and it called out helplessly.

It's loud cry for help rang throughout the savanna, and a large female zebra ran to the aid of her foal.

"Watch out!" Kohana called as the mother zebra bucked wildly, trying to scare away her child's attackers. Talib and Thorn backed away, but the enraged mother zebra had gotten the attention of others of the herd and they soon joined her.

Now the tables were turned. The zebras came after the cubs. Two were right on Talib's tail. He swerved to avoid being hit by sharp hooves. Kohana was trying her best to outrun the zebra after her. Thorn zigzagged in every direction avoiding the dangerous hooves.

Kohana and Talib's attackers left them alone and went back to join the heard. They collapsed.

"Looks like they gave up." Talib panted.

Kohana took in a deep breath and nodded. She too was panting heavily.

Both cubs heard the most disturbing sound they'd ever heard. A pain filled scream echoed through the air. It was Thorn! He was in trouble!

The two cubs' exhaustion seemed to depart from their bodies as they dashed to the aid of their friend. Two zebras were kicking at an object lying on the ground. As Talib took a better look he realized it was Thorn.

"Leave him alone!" Talib screamed as he sunk his teeth into one of the zebra's legs. It bellowed in pain. Kohana attacked the other zebra. A roar filled the air and one the zebra Talib had a hold of fell to the ground. A shadow fell over Talib and he looked up to see his father.

Kohana still had a hold on the remaining zebra when a flash of red orange tackled the zebra. Tokala had come to the rescue. Tokai and Takara showed up a few moments later.

As the two zebra rose to their feet and ran, Talib rushed to his friend's side.

"Thorn! Say something!" Talib placed a paw gently on Thorn's shoulder. A deep impression had formed on Thorn's forehead in the shape of a zebra's hoof. Tears stung Talib's eyes

"Talib, is he alive?" Kohana asked timidly. Tokala and Kovu stood silently.

"I don't know." Talib began to cry. "Thorn, please say something."

"Talib?" Thorn said weakly. "Where are you?"

"I'm right in front of you." Talib answered as Thorn's eyes fluttered open. Talib noticed right away that something was wrong. Thorn's once beautiful sky blue eyes were glazed over and dull. He was blind.

"Talib, I can't see." A sob shook the cub's body. "I'm blind!"

Kovu stood over the cubs. Kohana backed away and ran to Tokala. Tokai and Takara stood silently by their mother.

"Talib, see what your disobedience has done?" Kovu gently help Thorn to his feet. It seemed that the only thing wrong was Thorn was blind.

Talib hung his head low in dishonor. "Sorry."

Kovu turned to Tokala. "Why did you help them?"

"I am Tokala. I am Kohana's adoptive mother. "

A growl escaped Kovu's throat. "Then make sure your daughter never sees my son or Thorn again! You are hereby exiled from living anywhere near the Pridelands. If you or any of your family are seen close to Pride Rock after tomorrow morning you will be killed."

"Why? Just because your son was foolish enough to wander too close to a herd of zebra?" Tokala retorted.

Kovu roared angrily. "You will be gone." The cheetah said nothing more.

A tear slid down Kohana's face as she followed her family away from the lions. Talib waved a paw to say good bye. He knew he would never see her again.

"Talib, I will have a talk with you after we get home." Kovu picked Thorn up by the scruff of his neck as he headed home. Talib followed closely by his father's side. Not a word passed between them.

So much for today being a great day. Talib began to cry. If only he had listened to his father and not disobeyed him. I wish it were me who was blind, not Thorn! He doesn't deserve this! It's my fault we were even out with Kohana. Talib knew very well that his friend would never be the same again. He knew his father was angry, but he wasn't worried about his father or his mother. It was Acacia he was worried about. Her son was blind and it was all his fault.

Poor Thorn! I'm so mean! lol! Please Review!