Disclaimer: I do not own any Lion King characters… duh…

Claimer: I own any charries you've never heard of

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Invisiboy: Thanks!

Vitani008: Yay! By the way your story is awesome too! I still need to review it!

Kiara 01: Thanks!

Enjoy the chapter!

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Chapter 1:

Small paws slowly walked across a dreary land, covered with a think fog. The earth was dried out and cracked. The young cub was pure white and she seemed to glow in the darkness. Her crystal blue scanned the land in fear as a low growl echoed across the area. She shivered a little as she slowly tip-toed across the dried and cracked mud. The pure colored cub halted as she saw something. Bright red eyes glowed in front of her and growled deeper and louder as it approached the cub. The ivory cub shivered and lowered her head as a large lion came into view. He was a deep chocolate color with an even darker mane. He snarled at the cub and bared his fangs. They glistened in the darkness as saliva dripped from them. His eyes were a bright red with no pupils.

"Are you prepared for your impending fate pure one?" He growled deeply.

"I am… I always have been. After all this is what I was born to do" She whispered.

The dark male grinned devilishly and grabbed the cub by the scruff, carrying her off and fading into the darkness.

A dark tan lioness' eyes shot open as she awoke from her nightmare. She panted and looked toward her small cream cub, who was curled up by her side. The tan lioness sighed and looked at her king and queen and the two cubs by them. One a dark brown the other a pure white. The tan lioness sighed again and looked at the albino cub. Was Nuria the one in her deadly dream? The tan lioness hoped not.

"Momma, why you sighing so much?" The young cream cub asked.

"I'm fine Tayen" Her mother answered.

A dark grayish colored lioness walked over to them with a small grey stripped cub by her side. She sighed and growled deeply. She was half-asleep and was hungry and wasn't in the mood to hear Tayen's squeaky voice. Vitani looked down at the two.

"You up too Dysis?" Vitani grumbled.

"Yes, it seems little Shukka's up too." Dysis said and smiled at the striped cub.

"I'm not little!" Shukka complained, but he was right, he was the largest cub of the four born.

Dysis chuckled as she stretched slightly. The tan lioness rose to her paws and looked at Kovu and Kiara who were also awaking. Their two cubs also got up and stretched. Shukka smiled and ran over to the young semi-albino.

"Hi Nuria!" Shukka said cheerily.

"Hi Shukky" Nuria answered happily.

"It's Shukka! How many times must I tell you runt?" Shukka growled playfully.

"It's not nice to call Nuria a runt Shukky" Tayen giggled as she walked over to the two.

"Hi Tayen" The dark male cub greeted, he looked much like Kovu did as a cub, except a bit darker in color.

"Hey Luca" Tayen responded.

Kovu smiled softly at the group of cubs and looked on as he rose to his paws. The dark cream colored lioness queen rose along with her mate. Kiara trotted by the cubs and dipped her head, nuzzling her two cubs. She sighed slightly to herself as she raised her head. Neither she nor Kovu knew which of their cubs were going to be chosen to take the throne. Kiara had talked about it a lot with Kovu and her parents. They were leaning more toward the young Luca, as it could be dangerous for Nuria to be queen as she would be easy to pick out of the lion pride. Kiara smiled to herself, it was much too early for such thoughts.

"Mom? Could all us cubs go and explore around the Pride Lands today?" Luca asked kindly.

Kiara blinked and looked at her cub. She turned her head to Kovu and nodded as he nodded, answering, "Yes you may Luca, but Kaelem must go with you."

"Aww, does he have to mom?" Luca mumbled.

"Yes, he must." Kiara answered.

Almost on cue a young adolescent skidded over. His main fur color was a mahogany hued brown. His paws, underbelly, and tail fur was a creamish gold color. A small golden mohawk like ridge of fur ran from his head to the middle of his shoulder blades. He smirked at the cub and walked over to him. Kaelem was a guard in training and was slightly muscular. He knew Luca didn't like him and acted so cocky around the cub. Luca frowned and walked toward the outside of the cave with the other three cubs. Kaelem followed them and smirked to himself.

Once out on the savanna the cubs stayed in a small group walking in a line. Shukka then Nuria, then Luca, then Tayen. Kaelem walked a bit behind them, looking for any others by them. The sun shone over them, the tall grass surrounding them appeared in a golden color. Luca snorted and looked back at the guard-in-training. Tayen giggled and bumped Luca with her shoulder. The brown cub looked at his friend and smiled, but quickly frowned.

"Why does mom have to make Kaelem follow us?" Luca sighed.

"Because your mother doesn't want us to get into any danger." Shukka answered mockingly.

"Shukky's right Luca, but there has to be some way to lose him…" Nuria pondered.

"I have an idea…" Tayen whispered

Tayen began to explain her plan. The others nodded, listening closely. They knew Kaelem's one weakness, a sweet and beautiful lioness. Tayen knew as she had always seen him drool over the young lionesses when they were hunting. He loved watching them hunt and almost never missed a hunt, though he always said it was for 'safety precautions'. Tayen stopped and walked over to Kaelem. She smiled sweetly at him and looked around.

"Kaelem, I heard the lionesses were doing a special hunt with all the adolescent lionesses today. It's supposed to be a secret, but I figured you'd love to assist in it as their safety could be at stake." Tayen said.

"Hm… really? And they didn't tell the great guard Kaelem! What form of blasphemy is this? I must assist, but you cubs must return straight home in a little bit, and you must stay in the Pride Lands." Kaelem responded.

Tayen smiled and nodded. Kaelem turned and ran back toward Pride Rock, looking for any lionesses hunting. The group laughed slightly as Kaelem disappeared from their view. Tayen walked back toward the others and took a play bow as the other three cheered. Tayen laughed and walked off their path toward the unknown. The other three followed.

Soon the group came upon the sight of the Outlands. Shukka smirked and looked at Nuria. She was fasonated with the place since she heard of it. Their parents had told her and Luce that the Outlands were where they had first met. But they also told them it was a dangerous place, and to stay away. Nuria shook this thought off and walked toward a fallen tree and jumped on it and began to walk across. Shukka ran up behind her and followed her. Luca sighed and followed, with Tayen by his side. Tayen was scared of the place and shivered as she walked across the log. Luca sighed and smiled at her as she jumped off the log at the other side.

"It's okay Tayen, I'll protect you." He answered kindly.

"Thanks Luca" Tayen answered shyly.

"Common love birds! There's lots of exploring to do." Shukka mocked, Nuria snickered by his side.

"T-that's not true!" Luca mumbled turning his head away from Tayen.

Tayen giggled and continued on with the other two. Luca sighed and ran up behind them, following them. The ground became dry as they continued. The ground cracked and there was little grass anyway. Water became scarce as did the prey. Luca panted slightly as they came upon the former home of the outsiders. The cubs looked around in awe as they walked around.

Suddenly something caught their eye. A trail of blood dotted across the dry and crack earth. Nuria gasped and ran, following the trail. The other three quickly followed her as they came upon some bushes. Nuria walked toward it and eyed it cautiously. Shukka walked by her side and growled slightly. Tayen stayed back by Luca, keeping close to him in case it was something dangerous. Luca smiled softly at her and looked back to the bushes. The spiny twig-like braches were hiding something…

"Leave me alone!" A voice sneered.

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End-o-chapter! Mweheheh :P

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