Sorry for any delay on this but I have too much homework and thanks for the reviews.

Chapter 17

Shargra scuffed the ground nervously and turned to the two lionesses.

"What is it? What do you want to say?" Nala asked.

"We have some news about Simba," Shargra said, after a pause in which he exchanged a knowing look with Shanika.

"But he's dead," Nala said, staring at them both. Shargra winced as tears formed at the corners of her eyes.

"We don't think he is," Shanika said, most unhelpfully and with all the tact of a dead lizard, "see, we overheard two hyenas talking, and apparently they saw him running out into the desert after the stampede. One of them seemed pretty convinced that he should have survived it, he headed out right from the gorge and apparently that's the thinnest part of the desert."

"But he…" Nala burst into tears of relief, and Shanika grinned proudly.

"So, he could be alive?" Nala continued hopefully, "If we get him back Scar will be forced to step down! We have to go get him!" Nala said sounding hopeful.

"But we're not allowed to leave the pridelands, we have to wait 'till we see a chance to escape!" Shargra replied.

"No! We have to find Simba, he…" Her eyes filled with a desperate longing.

"Too many hyenas on guard. Tres risky." said Shanika, nodding sagely.

Nala stared at her through eyes brimming with tears, then looked to Shargra.

"Is she…"

"YES, SHE IS!"

Nala seemed to take the hint, and changed the subject rapidly.

"Okay, so the first chance anyone of us sees, we take, agreed?"

"Agreed," both Shargra and Shanika smiled simultaneously.

Nala started to walk down Pride Rock.

"Where are you going?"

"I'll just check to see what's there now," she grinned, a spark of adventure that they hadn't seen since Mufasa died visible in her eyes, and she sped off.

"So that's all we can do for now, we just have to wait and see what happens." Shargra sighed. "I wish there was something we could do."

"Something you could do about what?" came a voice.

They spun round to see Sarabi, who's fur was hanging limply off her thin bones, and whose eyes were now always filled with sadness, coming up behind them with a puzzled and tired expression.

Shanika muttered something about coconuts and disappeared into the nearest bush.

Shaking his head, Shargra turned to face the ex-queen. "Nothing your majesty, we were just discussing Scar's rule."

"Ah yes, my dear brother in law. Such a nice lion," she sighed, and Shargra looked at her, puzzled.

She laughed. "Never mind, Shargra. It's called a sense of humour. If you ever grow up, you may develop one too."

"Oh." Sarabi had a habit of putting things like this, and Shargra never knew what to do when she did.

Sarabi's stomach gave a growl, and she looked embarrassed. "Scar's ordered food rationing."

"But we barely have enough to survive on as it is!" he yelled incredulously, and then he realised who he was talking to. "Your majesty," he added hurriedly.

"Stop being so uptight Shargra, you'll give yourself neck cramps."

Shargra smiled and looked out across the Pride Lands. Somewhere out there, he knew there was the cave where he was born, but what the place was like now, he dreaded to think. It wasn't home any more, he realised with a jolt, and his eyes prickled with unexpected tears.

"Shargra?" asked the lion queen gently.

"I was just thinking about my home…it's not my home…" he croaked.

Sarabi gave him a gentle nuzzle with her nose. "Maybe this isn't either, Shargra. If you have to search for your home, we'll all understand. Wherever you feel is safe is good enough. You have some good friends…especially Shanika. She'll go with you. Talk to her."

He looked up, surprised, but she had walked away.

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