This fanfiction is dedicated to the sadly cut-out character of our beloved film, Mheetu (Or Mee-too – whichever. ) I found his concept art to be adorable, and the idea of Nala not being an only cub was fascinating. Mheetu didn't go a long with the storyline, however, so it's understood why he was deleted.

Still, he was pretty cute.

Mheetu is copyrighted to the Disney family. As well as any other TLK character you may see linger about in here.

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Night had fallen on to the Pridelands, signifying another gloomy day come to an end. The crescent moon shone eerily upon the Serengeti, hiding the devastating conditions they were succumbing to. Already a year had been reached since the Prince and King's death, and the reign of a Tyrant began. Several cackles from Scar's canine henchmen filled the air, while in the darkness a Pride of hopes dwindled waited for their next batch of prey to come about ... if there were any.

Claws tickled the rough terrain, as the adolescent lioness sat quietly and sighed; tail flickering in irritation. It was just another night of practice for her ... hunting for a hunger that never ceased. She had rather just spend her days and nights in the cave sulking over her life lost, but her mother wouldn't allow it. Instead, she was dragged along unsuccessful hunts and had to watch the King and his council lash out on her pride mates and herself.

Releasing a defeated sigh, she just tilted her head upwards to gaze upon the moon that so oddly captivated her.

"Simba ..."

The memories of tackling, and ostrich riding, and water-skidding ... all raced back to her brain. How could he be so selfishly taken away from her? This was the cub whom she was to marry, no matter how revolting at the time it may had seem ... this was the cub, no – this was the future king who saved her life the day they deliberately wandered into the Elephant Graveyard; her best friend, with more bravery than she could ever contain. The last look she had of Simba ... the night his father had supposedly scolded him, reduced her to tears.

"I should have gone back. Stupid Zazu ..."

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Nala had forgotten she was around others, and it was Sarafina who had heard her daughter's words. Unexpectedly, she came from behind Nala and nuzzled her cheek softly. Unstirred, Nala closed her eyes and sighed once more. What was the use of living if I were meant to be this miserable, she thought.

"Nala, do not put a burden on yourself..." Pausing herself, she turned to see her childhood companion, Sarabi, shuffling through the grass with several other pride mates ... she knew she was taking the blow harder than anyone else, even after all the time that had passed; and that was something Sarafina admired the most about her. Sarabi still had a certain stride that kept everyone else going.

"Mom, it wasn't fair, and you know it." The young lioness darted her gaze back towards her mother and squinted her eyes painfully. Sarafina just stared into her daughter's identical aquamarine eyes in silence, letting her thoughts collect. She remembered Nala's face the night Scar had given them news of the tragedy. Never again would she want to bare witness to her daughter's pain like that. So many tears she could not stop from falling ...

"It wasn't. No deaths of good souls are. But let us not dwell on the past ... come, we have to hurry – Scar is waiting."

Scar ... Ever since cubhood, Nala had been frightened of him. There was something about his eyes that caused an uneasiness in her stomach. And although in the first few weeks of the tragedy, he had been almost a consoling father figure, being in his presence then and now still sent a shiver down the adolescent's spine. She tried to stay as far away from the King as she could ... his eye-contact was always a bit more seductive these days.

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A paw was then suddenly wrapped around the shoulder-blade of Nala at that moment, which had startled her and nearly caused the lioness to jump out of her fur. A chuckle followed pursuit.

"Relax, Nala. It's only me. Sarabi's calling off the hunt due to lack of participation from our counterparts; dinner."

Nala sighed in relief once she noticed who it was.

"Kula, don't do that!" She smirked, and rose on all fours again to get ready to head back to Priderock. Chuckling, Sarafina left the two to be alone, finding herself beside Sarabi in a few moments leading the defeated Pride members back with hungry stomachs and weary hearts.

"Sorry, Nal'. I just saw you over here in some sort of daze, so I figured I'd come and snap you back to reality."

"Yeah, sure ... snap me back to this. This wasteland of a home ..."

The two sighed in unison, Kula completely agreeing that the Pridelands were on a steady path to depression ... if not already there. There was an awkward silence between the best friends, before Nala spoke again.

"So there's no food anywhere?"

Kula shook her head and quickly looked behind her. "Nope, there wasn't a creature stirring out there tonight. I wouldn't want to stay here either, to tell you the truth ..."

"Yeah, I know what you mean. All I wish is to run away ... end this nightmare, you know?"

The dark-toned lioness nodded her head in agreement, before Nala went on.

"And I know how you and your appetite are." Nala let out a snicker before nudging into Kula's shoulder.

"Aw jeez, don't even remind me on how hungry I can get." At that moment, the growling of a starved belly swallowed up in their ears and both let out wholehearted laughs. "Thanks, Nala."

She couldn't contain herself. Nala was in stitches ... the only time she ever truly smiled around here was when Kula was around. She was always doing something foolish to make the lioness feel an ounce of happiness again.

Then a thought struck Nala ... a need to ask a question she'd refrain from doing so in the past.

"No word about Chumvi?"

Kula sighed and shook her head softly. It'd been a few months since Chumvi's banishment. Scar wouldn't take any males under Mufasa's reign in his Pride ... he wanted his own host of little Scars. For he was the King ... and he wanted no challenge from any lion; be it Rogue or Pridelander. If not for Kula, Chumvi'd be just another corpse to be feasted on by the Hyenas that Scar threatened him with had he not left the lands. He was always so arrogant.

"I'm sure he's fine, Kula."

"Yeah ... he is, I hope. Maybe he found a great Pride, you know?"

"M'hm ..."

Both didn't want to face the horrible reality that he may have not survived out there alone, especially in the conditions the Pridelands were in now.

As they neared the base of Priderock, Kula perked up and turned to Nala.

"Your mother, she's expecting right? I mean, duh, she is – but how soon is she ... you know, having it?"

Teenagers could never get their words out right.

Nala gleamed and smiled softly; thinking about the cub Sarafina was carrying. Sarafina refused to tell Nala who the father was, but none the less she was excited for the cub that was to be.

"No idea, but it should be any day now! I'm so excited, Kula ... a little brother or sister."

Kula smiled softly as the two climbed up their way towards the cave. They could already hear Scar blaring at the other lionesses about how they were not looking hard enough for food. Exchanging looks, the two decided to camp-out for the night and sleep a top the promontory of their home. They figured it was too much of a ruckus inside to do anything opposite.

Nala closed in snuggly against her best friend, the warmth of their two bodies together giving her peace at mind that they wouldn't freeze at night while they slept. Kula gently rubbed Nala's cheek as they prepared to sleep beneath the stars.

"Don't worry, Nal'. It's all just a bad dream."

"I know ... I really miss Simba, Kula."

Kula nodded. "And I really miss Chumvi. We've both suffered losses, but you know what? We still got each other. I mean, sheesh – you're the closest thing I've ever had to a sister."

Nala smiled in agreement. Kula was always there for her, especially after Simba's death.

Kula continued. "And now with a new brother or sister on the way, there's no telling what things we can order the little runt to do!" The lioness cackled quietly, so not to awaken any Hyenas around.

"Quiet, Kula. My sibling is not going to be bossed around ... not at first, at least." She too snickered at her comment. "Enough of that ... lets get some shuteye."

The two then rested their heads a top their forepaws before drifting off to sleep ... before Kula awoke one more time.

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"Hey, Nala?"

"What?"

"Are you sure you never had a thing for Ni when we were cubs?"