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Beta position still open, I need help!

Chapter 3 – The New Regime

When she came to, Nala found herself sprawled in the grass by the watering hole. The grass felt as if it were on fire. She stood and bent to drink. Just as her head reached the water she was slammed from behind and fell headfirst into the water hole. Coughing and gasping for breath, she surfaced to the jeering and whoops of a pack of hyenas.

"What was that for?" she demanded angrily. Nala shook herself and stepped out of the water, but received a kick under the chin and was knocked backward again with a splash. The hyenas dissolved in mad cackling. More winded this time, she swam to the opposite bank. Heaving herself out, she collapsed in the dirt. Several hyenas had run around the water hole after her. They kicked up dirt clods and dust in her face, lightly coating her to match the earth.

"Stop it! Leave me alone!" she cried, jumping up. "Why are you all picking on me anyway?"

"Just because we can," said one, and the pack howled again, racing off on the horizon.

Nala wandered back to the tree from last night, but no one was there. A slight breeze rustled the grass as she looked around. From above she could hear quiet chanting, and glanced up.

The old monkey sat on a low-hanging branch, watching her. Nala waited until he finished the slow, haunting song and they looked at each other.

"Where are they?" Nala asked him. "Did they leave?"

"The pride has all gone out hunting," he replied. "Scar ordered them off before the dawn; your mother is very worried about you."

Nala thought for a moment, then asked bitterly, "Why can't we all just leave? Then there wouldn't be anyone for him to rule over."

Rafiki sighed. "The new regime has begun, little one. We have nowhere else to go. Anywhere in this vicinity is either hyena territory or desert."

Nala was silent for a minute. Her voice quavered slightly as she asked, "Is Simba really… gone?"

"I am afraid so, young one," he said, gazing out to the horizon, his eyes full of unshed tears.

Nala felt an urge to sink into utter despair at his words, but his strength affected her more.

She sobbed quietly but allowed no tears to fall.

Rafiki landed silently on the ground beside her.

"How did you come to be this way, child?" he asked. "After last night's cleansing rain?"

"A bunch of bully hyenas chased me, and they kicked dirt all over me when I woke up."

Nala shook herself without thinking. Rafiki screeched and jumped back into the tree to avoid the dirt and water. She looked at him apologetically, then her eyes hardened.

"I don't believe he's dead," she said quietly.

Rafiki shook his head. "He may be, he may not," he said slowly.

Nala walked away. "One day I'm going to find him."

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A/N: I hope you guys get the hint of beta position, I seriously need help keeping everything together. If anyone has time, let me know. I've got 3 stories going at once right now, it's a little hectic with school and work and everything.

Phantomfreak07