Author's Note: Sorry if I begin to get slow on adding the chapters, I usually write half a chapter a day after school, and on really nice days I sometimes write an entire one and add the chapter to the story. Lately my teachers have been hammering me with homework to do though, but I'm trying. This season's sports are all ending within a month, so after that I'll probably be writing a lot more. As for as reviews though, thanks a lot! I'm glad that there are people interested in this story. I appreciate them a lot. Thanks again! -Alexa

Chapter VIII: Lisani's Acceptance

'Who in the world is this cub?' Nala thought. It seemed sort of weird for them to be accepting new members- a cub especially- after such a loss. He seemed shy and looked out of place. He sort of looked lonely and lost, to Nala anyway. Was he an orphan? Nala decided that she would find out, now that Sarabi and Sarafina had left the two cubs alone to talk and whatever else cubs tend to do.

"So, where do you come from?" Nala questioned, curiously.

"My mother and I used to be apart of another pride... But hopes weren't all that high there," he explained quietly.

"Oh... So why are you here? Did something happen to your mom? You pride?"

"My mom thought that I would do better off here. So she came here and left me with those two lionesses... I... don't really know their names yet."

"Sarafina... my mom... and Sarabi," Nala told him.

"Yeah... Well anyway, here I am." He seemed relieved that Nala was talking to him, or at least speaking to him. He did not want to be an outcast.

"Oh, I see," Nala said. So, this cub, Lisani, was going to be in the Pride Lands for a while.

"For some reason nobody looks too happy around here, either," Lisani observed. "And... I've never really heard of hyenas sharing lands with lions, either."

"Oh, heh, yeah," Nala said softly, here gaze then attached to the ground. "Well, yesterday... our King... and his son... well, died." she tried not to let her sadness which seemed to be growing show. "And our new king is a little strange."

"Oh, I'm so sorry," Lisani said immediately. His blue-purple eyes felt badly for her and the pride, and he wished he hadn't said anything.

"No... It's okay, you didn't know." she looked back up at him and smiled slightly.

Lisani half-smiled back and then asked hesitantly, "Were you and the prince friends?"

"Best friends," Nala replied.

"Oh," Lisani said. He wouldn't ask anymore questions, but he was very curious about what this other cub was like. There was a small silence before a voice from behind them intruded.

"Nala, Nala, Nala..." a voice that still sent chills up Nala's back said. It was Shenzi. "Didn't you mother ever tell you not to talk to strangers?" she smiled as she said this. "You don't know wh- "

"He isn't a stranger," Nala growled. "He's part of the pride." She glared at Shenzi. She would never forget the day that she and Simba almost became dinner for the hyena that was just telling her what she shouldn't be doing.

"Oh? Is that so?" Shenzi inquired suspiciously. She studied the cub carefully, who stared at her with a little bit of fright in his eyes. "What's your name, kid?"

"L... Lisani," he stuttered quietly.

"Lisani, hmmm?" Shenzi eyed him mischievously. "Well, just wait until Scar hears about this."

"Until I hear about what?" came an even scarier voice.

Nala pinned her ears as Shenzi opened up her large mouth. "The lionesses let a new cub join!" she blurted.

Nala looked up at Scar who joined next to Shenzi, and looked at the cub with a bit of disgust. "Is that so?" he asked, frowning. Lisani avoided eye contact with Scar. Then, Scar smiled one of his fake smiles that he was really scowling behind. "Welcome to Pride Lands." Then he turned his head and as soon as his back was turned and he was walking back, he glowered at the females allowing a male cub in.

Nala glared at the smirk Shenzi had on her maw as walked away, following Scar.

"They're sort of scary," Lisani whispered.

"You'll get used to them after a while... Then they're just crazy," she growled, and rolled her eyes at the thought of them. "Just don't go for any of their tricks."

"What kind of tricks?" Lisani asked curiously.

"Bad tricks. One time, they told someone that if they jumped out of the highest tree, they'd fly." Her eyes got big and wide. "Let's just say that they never got wings."

Lisani's eyes were huge and he nearly gaped. But then he foolishly smiled once Nala started to laugh.

"Only joking," she said. "But they are sort of conniving."

"Got it," Lisani responded. Nala smiled. Little did she know, was that the nearly fatal incident and the death of the king and the prince were actually tricks.

That night, Nala stayed awake a little longer. She had managed a day without Simba. She also realized that no matter how hard she could wish, she couldn't bring him or Mufasa back. This was reality.

But Lisani- who was he, anyway? Apparently, he belonged to an unsuccessful pride and his mother allowed him to join Pride Rock in hopes that he would be better off. He was sort of shy, but he did prove to be a bit of a talker earlier. He did, however, seem easily intimidated.

Maybe Simba had sent him for her, or maybe he was just a normal everyday lion that wanted a brighter future. She smiled at the thought of having a new friend.

Maybe she wouldn't be so lonely after all.

Outside of Pride Rock

"You two let a male cub join the pride?" Scar snarled at the two lionesses who kept sincere faces.

"He needed a home, he would have died at his old pride," Sarafina explained.

Scar continued to growl of anger at them.

"And," Sarabi continued, "Pride Rock has always been known to take in helpless, abandoned or orphaned others."

"Did it cross your mind that I am not the same king as the others?" Scar questioned icily. "I am a better king than them."

Sarafina and Sarabi did not comment. But Sarabi did proceed on talking about the cub. "Oh, and the cub never really did have a family or a friend other then his mother."

"Yes," Sarafina said. "You could teach him how to be as great as you are."

Scar smirked. "You do have a point there. That kid... he could be like a future Scar." he evilly grinned at the thought. "Well, that's enough for now. Good night, ladies," Scar bid farewell before he disappeared into the cave, soon followed by the other two lionesses who exchanged looks of relief.

Little did Scar or Nala know it, they had great plans for the future of now-little Lisani.