I can't believe I'm going to Pride Rock... Zephyr thought, rather amazed at the whole situation, I've heard Mum talk about prior visits she had there, after all. She said she'd take me to see it someday. I s'pose she can't anymore... The young cub glanced around the area, rather lengthy grass surrounding him.In the distance, his eyes spotted some antelope, grazing quite a way off. He watched in amazement at all the life that flourished and thrived here. It was like a Heaven. He let himself gasp in awe at it all, absolutely fascinated. Still, he wished it was all a dream, no matter how good it was. No lifestyle could outmatch his parents. He wanted them back...

Tekani smiled slightly, her ears perking at hearing his gasp. Her head turned, looking at him in her growing curiosity, and vaguely started to wonder why he was out here all alone. Why had he immediately accepted her offer, anyway? Shouldn't he consult someone? Didn't he have a home? A look of sympathy crossed her face, noticing he probably didn't have any of this. She swallowed lightly, before she spoke, her voice soft, trying to be as kind, and sympathetic, as she possibly could.

'You like your new home?' she inquired, her head turning back to look in the direction they were headed, 'There's heaps of food and everything... I'm sure you'll be happy here.' She grinned. Well, at least she would have another friend. She waited for his answer, letting the pause draw for as long as possible, until she noticed Zephyr wasn't going to reply. She sighed. 'Zephyr? Do you like your new home?' she asked, louder.

The other cub glanced up at her, startled. He had previously been in a daydream, thinking about past times. It was all going to change now, though it seemed to strange thinking about it all the time. It was as if he wanted sympathy, but couldn't bear to tell anyone. He didn't dare tell Tekani. He was going to tell anyone... It would be his own little secret, all his. It may trouble him for the best of his life, but... but he didn't want to go over the memory again trying to explain, and they might end up bugging him about it, constantly reminding him. This way, only he could remind himself.

'O-oh, sorry' he apologised, solemnly, 'I was just thinking... I wasn't paying attention. Of course, I love it here, Tekani. It's just... thriving with life. It's different from all the other places I've seen. I've heard rumours about it. I never knew that they were this true; I thought they were exaggerated. But... they aren't.'

Tekani grinned at his reaction, before she nodded in agreement. 'I didn't know the Pride Lands had rumours flying around about it!' she stated, rather gleeful at how famous it was, 'The Kings and Queens of the past have done well. My Mum and Dad aren't doing too bad either. They've told me stories that they heard from their parents. Maybe they can teach you them too?'

Zephyr stopped, glancing at the cub, and a sigh exited his mouth, his eyes closing momentarily. Once this was done, he looked straight at her. 'I... I don't need a substitute parent' he stated, boldly, trying as hard as he could to make his voice sound emotionless, 'I'll do fine on my own, as long as I can just... stay here. Parents aren't a must in such a friendly environment... Right?'

Tekani raised an eyebrow at Zephyr's reply, slightly taken aback. She replied airily. 'Be that way then, as I suppose not... Come on. My parents would want to meet you on Pride Rock...'

Zephyr ran over her explanation before he had shot the parent comment at her. Did she say her parents 'weren't doing too bad'? But... would that mean they were the King and Queen, depending on what she was speaking of? Was she the Princess of the Pride Lands? He looked at her in surprise. She didn't exactly act like a Princess, skulking off the borders, as that was how she came across him.

'You're the Princess?' he asked, his voice hinting slight amazement, 'Your parents, the King and Queen of the Pride Lands? That's... that's amazing... The first lion I meet up with here and it's the Princess? What a coincidence.'

'Yes, I'm the Princess' Tekani answered, in a blunt tone. And that was all she said. Bounding onto the lower boulders of Pride Rock, she began to make her way up to the ledge that her parents stood on. Zephyr scrambled up behind her, rather hesitant. What if the reactions of her parents weren't... good? What if he wasn't allowed to stay? What if he had to leave? Where would he go? He wouldn't have anywhere. He'd just be defenceless, all on his own. Suddenly, Zephyr began to feel extremely nervous about their verdict, and he hadn't even met them yet.

Quivering, the cub stepped up onto the ledge, but before he could spot Tekani's parents, he looked out over the view, and another gasp of awe surfaced. He could see the whole Pride Lands from up here! The antelope from before– everything!

'I see you like the view, cub?' a voice said, causing Zephyr to turn around, startled. He was looking into the face of a large brown lion, with a blackened mane. A slight grin was set on his face. 'You're Tekani's new friend, correct?' he went on to ask, 'The one she spotted just off the borders– Where she shouldn't of been.' He glanced at Zephyr's new friend with a frown. She lay down, trying to avoid his eye, nervously.

'Yes.' The male cub found his voice rather quiet, compared to Tekani's father's, 'I'm Zephyr... You'd be her father, then?'

He nodded in reply. 'Yes, I am her father, Kovu... And King of the Pride Lands, but, I don't want to gloat now, do I?' A small chuckle followed. Zephyr felt considerably uncomfortable, his laugh small, meek, but there at least, toward Kovu's comment.

'Can he stay, Daddy?' Tekani piped up in the middle of it all, 'Can he stay here, at Pride Rock?'

There was a moments pause, where everything suddenly grew quiet. Zephyr couldn't hear the wind whistling through the trees, or the sounds of the other lions that lay variously around, and he could scarcely hear his breathing as he waited for the verdict of Kovu, who stood in silence in front of him. It was like it was never going to end. The silence just droned on and on... He just wanted it to stop, whether the answer was negative or not... And finally, he spoke.

'I–...' But, much to Zephyr's dismay, he was interrupted.

'Kovu. We meet at last. I've heard so much about you. Yes, Zira did chat about you quite a bit throughout her years. She was killed by your little Queen here, wasn't she? Tsk tsk, Kovu... King of the Pride Lands, married to a murderer, disgracing your family... it's terrible.'

A look of amazement crossed Kovu's face, as he stared at the figure that was directly behind small Zephyr. The cubs breathing grew rapid, as he made a move to pounce away from whatever danger might be lying behind him, but the King snapped at him before he could do so. 'No! Don't move!' And Zephyr obeyed, his eyes widened. Tekani watched from behind him, a small whimper escaping her mouth.

'Who is that, Daddy? Mummy?'

'An old friend of Zira's, apparently...'

Yay for distorting stuff. Just had to get to another exciting bit. I told you I wanted one hell of a journey before I got somewhere.

And I just read your profile, Troy Wong. I'm eleven too. -Stands up proudly- But you're still older. - -;

Anyway, that's the end of another chapter. I think it got a bit talkative, though I TRIED to keep to just describing. I failed, sorry. So, it gets a bit chatty between Kovu and Zephyr. Sorry about that. Forgive meh?