On this fine day in the Pride Lands, right after their talk about the evil events from Inuwa, Kion and his mother Nala were taking a little walk together as a pair and drank from a nearby waterhole. They needed all the water they can get, for the rainy season was not for a few more months. At least there were rivers and lakes in the Pride lands, otherwise, it would be as dry and barren as the neighboring Outlands. Still, there was nothing wrong with too much water, as long as every animal int his area was hydrated.

It was a nice, refreshing drink and both lions got as much water as they needed. "Are you feeling better?" Nala asked her son

"I am if you are feeling better, mom." Kion replied with a smile. His mother smiled back to him and they both walked away from the waterhole together. Suddenly, some animal lashed out in front of the two, but didn't hit them. It was someone familiar and they were both lucky not to be bitten by Ushari himself. The menacing cobra who was one of Bunga's Nemeses, along with Harif the nasty honey badger. "Ushari!" both Kion and Nala exclaimed in surprise.

The red cobra scowled and did not look happy at all. "Watch where you're going, stupid kid." he said: "Or you'll be walking on two legs when i'm done with you." Nala scowled and growled at the same time.

If there was one thing she absolutely hated, it was seeing her friends and family get threatened and having their lives in danger. She was baring her teeth, and walked up to him. "Listen, Ushari." she said menacingly.

"Mom, what are you doing?" asked Kion

"Don't worry, sweetie." Nala replied. "I know what i'm doing." Turning her angry face back at the nasty cobra, she continued: "no one talks to my boy like that. Do you hear me, nobody!" Ushari looked scared by how frightening Nala looked when she was mad. "I might not be Bunga, and I might not have a thick hide like he does, but we'll both know who'll win."

Normally, this cobra would bite anyone in self-defense, but Nala was looking pretty scary at him, and he even gulped in fear. "Look, No one-"

"Don't interrupt me!" Nala cut him off. "I am the queen and i have as much power here as Simba does. We both share our power equally, and I better not catch you trying to hurt or harm Kion ever again, or else."

"It's not my fault you lions are big and-"

"Silence!" Nala cut him off again. "Do I make myself clear?"

At last, Ushari looked more scared than ever. He can see that she wouldn't care if she got bitten by him many times by him. A mother's love was stronger than many things in this plain of existence and Ushari said: "Ok, Ok. I'm sorry."

"Don't tell me." Nala said, sounding more calm than before. "Tell him." she obviously pointed at her son. Ushari didn't want to do it, but he didn't want to face the queen's anger either, so what other choice did he have? Apparently nothing else but to give Kion an apology for almost biting on him and insulting him with nasty words.

"I'm sorry I almost bit you are your mother, Kion." Ushari admitted, sounding a little sheepish.

The cub smiled and said: "Thank you. And we're sorry for almost stepping on you."

"Well come on, Kion." Nala said with her smile back. "Let's see what we can hunt out here." then the two lions walked away from the Cobra, who decided to take a midday nap on a large rock under the sun.

For these two lions, it was like mother and son against the world. "Wow mom. You could have gotten bitten by Ushari. I'm glad you didn't get bitten. cobras pack a nasty bite."

"Don't worry. Even if I was bitten, I wouldn't care." Nala explained. "If I have to get bitten a hundred times just to protect you, then so be it. I would give me life for you and your big sister, Kion. Me and your father. These words made Kion fluster and he sounded very happy to hear them. Nala was a perfect and loving mother that every child should have in their lives.

"So, I think we should just try and forget about the brainwashing thing and move on." Kion suggested

"Absolutely! I couldn't agree with you more." Nala said wholeheartedly. "That's always the best thing: move on and not focus on the past too much."

"Yeah! Although I wish that Timon and Pumbaa would still say Hakuna Matata."

Nala chuckled at what her son said and she replied: "I agree with that too. Some things are irreplaceable. But I think we'll be able to find something good to hunt out here. It all requires."

"Oh I know, mom." Kion remembered. "It requires patience."

"Right! I'm so proud of you for becoming a great hunter."

"Well, I still can't catch large prey like you and dad can."

"True, but you'll get there one day. And you still have to be careful when hunting buffalo. They can be a very dangerous animal to hunt. Buffalo do not go down easy. It's best if you take on those animals if they are alone and not in a herd."

"Noted."

Nala gasped at what she saw in a far distance. "Speaking of prey. Look!" the cub did just that, and he saw a lone zebra just grazing out in the fields, minding his own business without any, single care in the world. "Look at that zebra. It's like an apple ripe for the picking." Yes, this lone equine looked like he has juicy meat under his hide and Kion could hardly wait to get some meat off him. And so, they followed the zebra very quietly in the tall grass, and moved very very slowly while ducking and hiding.

The striped equine had no idea who was watching him, but they would always go off by their excellent sense of hearing to know if a predator was hunting him. Kion and Nala were already many yards away from the zebra and incredibly, he still hasn't seen them (yet). A small twig snapped under Nala's left foot and the zebra's ears perked up, looking around to and fro for any danger brewing.

the two lions had to wait silently for a few long minutes until the zebra decided it was nothing and continued eating the green grass. This was a very close call for Kion and Nala, and their dinner could have ran away in great speed, but sheer luck had got a hold of them. Moving slowly and slowly closer to him more, Nala and Kion sprang into action, and the zebra heard the sound of steps racing towards him.

Giving out a whiny of fright, it ran for a few feet, but Nala managed to bite on it's back, and Kion claming his jaws on the throat.

The queen of the Pride Lands was rather impressed at how her own son was doing the throat suffocation technique, and she was more proud of him than ever. Of course, Nala herself had to help Kion make the zebra die quicker by clamping her teeth on the zebra's neck as well. At last, it died a minute later and the two lions can enjoy a meal together.

"Thanks mom."

Nala smiled at Kion. "You are very welcome. Always happy to help my son."

"And... i kinda feel bad for the zebra though. I know we're supposed to eat them, but... they're still animals."

"Oh i know. We all feel a little guilty when eating our prey." Nala admitted. "But remember, this is part of the Circle of Life and we eat meat."

"True.