Chapter 2
Kovu smirks down at the termite he has apprehended, letting it run its long, delicate wings over his rough paw pads. The bug sits there, buzzing faintly, before it take flight above the lion cub's head. Vitani has to admit being happy for her brother able to catch a threat. It shows he is growing stronger, and perhaps he deserve the throne more than she does.
"Kovu! Stop releasing your enemies!"
The young, brown-furred cub gaps as his mother snatches the bug out of the air and slaps it on the ground. "Mother, he wasn't hurting anybody."
"What's the matter with you?" She rolls her eyes out of annoyance before motioning over to Vitani. "Vitani, show your brother."
Vitani stares at him for a moment. She agrees with her brother but she couldn't help but follow orders. She gives her a brother a solemn stare before leaping onto the bug and devouring it as if she is biting into a prey.
Kovu closes his eyes at the gruesome scene. "Mother, why did you want to hurt him? He didn't deserve to die."
"Maybe he didn't..." Vitani expresses her doubt though she knows there is no changing his mother's mind.
"What?" Zira snorts and rolls her eyes. This weakness is not something that always would be tolerated. "My children… Do you want to live here forever, or do you want to live in the Pride Lands?"
"The... Pride Lands...?" Vitani responds, her eyes widen with shock. "But do we have to kill them all, mom?"
Zira sits down and pulls both of her cubs close, their cheeks pressing into her light-furred, boney-ribbed side. "Vitani, as his only bloodline, you were chosen by Scar to follow his paw prints and become the Queen of the Pride Lands."
With a claw, she moves both of their chin up and smiles at them.
"Yes, yes. You - Vitani - are Scar's heir- he approved of you- and when I look into your beautiful blue eyes, I can see a destiny full of undocumented power."
Vitani breaks away from her mother's powerful red-eyed stare for a moment before looking up again. "Great things?"
"Yes, my dear. You will be our hero. And that's why we must fulfill Scar's wish and train you to become the next ruler of the Pride Lands, to take back your throne from that snake who rules the Pride Lands. Don't feel anything for these dirty little termites. They're fools. What matters is that you avenge Scar's murder." She let both of them go and storms away. Her sweet smile transforms into a toothy grimace and her lilting voice became a snarl.
"When you seize the Pride Lands, we will no longer be forced to live in these dry, barren, despicable, pitiful, termite-infested Outlands!"
Zira backhands one of the many termite mounds that litters the territory of cracked earth and shriveled, brittle plant life. Dirt collapses to the ground. Wingless termites scatters to climb off their backs.
Both Kovu and Vitani stares down at their paws before the former leaves. His mother always spoke of the greatness she saw in Vitani, and always told the Princess how Scar wanted her to take back his rightful throne, but but Vitani is growing sick and tired of being compared to Scar. She doesn't even want the throne - she rather just lead the lionesses of the Pride.
'Scar didn't even want me at first. I bet I was the desperate last resort. He probably have up on having a healthy son especially with the failure of Nuka.'
"Nuka! Come here immediately!"
Vitani wonders what mother has planned this time. It always seems like she has something to do concerning her children, and Vitani has a feeling that it concerns her.
The lion bounds to his mother, his head tilted downwards while he is moving frantically. "Yes, mother?!" A sudden sting on his back cause him to grimace.
"Nuka, you are to watch Vitani and train without me. I want to train the other cubs along with Kovu. We need mighty hunters, not just like a perfect Queen."
Soon enough, Vitani finds herself suffering a living boredom. Nuka is sun-bathing himself on a rock, and told Vitani to lie down in a nearby cave. Although they could stay there peacefully, Vitani feels a nagging awareness in the back of his mind to not be idle, and soon enough the sun become unbearable on its own.
"Ugh, how do males survive in such environments?" Vitani's voice is hoarse from degradation, and her stomach is empty. "I want to go see Kovu. Can I leave?"
"No, stay there. I'm not prepared to go back yet."
"Nuka, this is stupid."
Vitani growls, about to pounce from her current position if she cannot leave this crappy training session.
"You won't think it's stupid when you have to hunt Simba when the day comes to kill him.
Vitani feels an urge to pin her older brother. "Nuka, there's nothing that is helping me here. We are not even hunting animals. I am just watching you have fun in the sun."
Nuka grits his teeth together. "Smartass, how about I take you back and you can train with Mother? Huh?"
Vitani grunts. Everytime she trains with mother, her bones are tested to the limit. The young lioness is certain that one day she would die due to those terrible conditions, but her mother always find ways to lecture her.
"You have to develop your strength, Vitani! You're feeble now, but you'll thank me later!"
"One more sparring threat!"
"Stop looking so depressed and exhausted! Simba isn't going to just be a valuable position and allow you to take your throne!"
Nuka cracks an eyelid, seeing the expression across Vitani's face. "That's what I thought, sis. Now sit there and pretend that you are hunting."
Vitani roll her eyes, but crouches back down with her paws.
'No wonder Mother doesn't like you, Nuka. You can't even do anything halfway good!'
"Maybe, you should actually try training instead of laying there in the sun. You are so lazy and it's no wonder mother doesn't like you."
"Do you really think I care if she likes me?" Nuka's words seem cold, but his voice betrays a small ring of sadness. "You're her favorite. She chose you instead of me, even if girls aren't allow ruled the Pride."
Vitani sits up and scowls. "Well, sometimes I wish I weren't."
Grunting, Nuka moves from his position on the rock. "I don't even know why you are. You are hardly showing any progress, and would likely die in these conditions."
Vitani narrows her eyes. "You always say stuff like that, Nuka, but I don't even know what you mean."
Nuka always says things like that, acknowledging Scar with hate most of the time- especially when everybody else's faces light up when Mother talks about the former king of the Pride Lands...
"You clearly are jealous that Kovu and I are stronger than you. Why do you hate us so badly?"
"I don't wanna talk about it, ya lil' irritation," Nuka responds.
"Well, why are you so mad that I'm gonna kill Simba? Don't you want to avenge Scar, too, like mother does?"
"I'd rather be back in the Pride Lands, if that's what you mean. Less termites."
Vitani rolls her eyes. "Nuka, I know you hate me for stealing your birthright but Scar was both of our father-"
"I said I don't wanna talk about it!"
In one motion, Nuka rolls off the rock and shoves Vitani off her paws. The cub would have been impressed by his strength, if it weren't for the older brother pushing her down.
Allowing instincts to take over, Vitani scowls and leaps off of the ground, barrelling fully into her brother. Nuka claws at his younger sister, trying to catch her younger frame, when the young lioness leaps onto his back and bites into his shoulder hard, making him roar and struggle to take her off, falling off onto the mud. It never occured to her how easily it would be to kill her older brother.
Before he knows what hit him, Vitani is already running away. Nuka tries to get out of the mud, only tripping in the process more and more, until mid smudges his face.
"Hey; you little termite! I'm suppose to watch ya!"
It is obvious that her brother is trying to get out of the mud but is failing to do so.
Vitani walks to the borders of the Outlands. She doesn't care about consequences because she wants to see the Pride Lands. It was bad under Scar at least to what many animals said, but they have always been given food, but now it must be much worse. Simba is ten times the worse King than Scar ever was. He took her father away from her.
And not for the first time, Vitani finds herself doubting her position. Can she kill a lion who must have more experience than her?
'Why couldn't Scar have just choose Nuka? He was a better choice by far. He is male. I'm female. I don't even want the throne!'
Her thoughts then moves to mother and her dreams for all of them namely with Vitani. She had so much planned for her that all of it made her head spin around in circles. She obviously want her to hate King Simba, Queen Nala, and his entire Pride. They are the enemy, the murderers, the puppeteers. The ones who killed their friends back when they were younger - at least what her mother claimed.
Not like us.
But something about it all make her choke on everything she anticipated her to swallow and take to heart- she is mostly harsh and angry, but not always angry like her mother. She is uncertain if she even hates Simba because she had never felt it whenever Simba's name was mention unlike Nuka, mother, and all of the lionesses.
What's wrong with me? Wouldn't I want them to die? Wouldn't I want to assist the family? I want to, but... I'd rather find someplace else to live. What's so great about the Pride Lands? Does that make me a coward? Mother would probably be disappointed if she discovers my traitorous thoughts...
While she'd been overthinking with her thoughts, she had pondered, guided by her sense of smell, to the river that separates the Outlands from the Pride Lands. One of the other cubs had told her days before that that part of the river has crocodiles that rule there. They claim that it is their home and getting near the water is unwise.
Some home.
She couldn't spot anything beneath the murky surface, but she did find a fallen tree that connected her home to the Pride Lands.
Vitani blink several times and stares around self-consciously. The opportunity is too good to pass up- she hasn't been to the Pride Lands since the exile, and she remembers little to nothing about it. Mother had warned her, Kovu, and other cubs to remain away from the Pride Lands for fear of being killed- but despite this, the adults frequently went there to hunt under the stars.
It can't be that bad. Otherwise, I might have to kill Simba sooner.
She walks over to the tree and leaps high to place her claws on the edge. Moving slowly and thoughtfully, she crosses the river. Below her, threatening rumbles came from the floating, green dark-skinned beasts that hid most of their armored bodies beneath the surface of the dirty water.
Vitani flashes a dark grin at the crocodiles.
She has been warned countless times to never cross these predators especially since she is a cub. An adult lion - like her mother - might be able to stand against a crocodile, but cubs like her are limited.
No matter.
She continues across the log to the other side and leaps onto the solid land where she stops and her mouth goes wide. Immediately, she is struck by how bright the grass is as it sways in the breeze. She can see the lake from the distance, its calm current making her desire to take a swim. And it is different from the rough Outlandish life she has been living.
She didn't remember all of this when she was young. It may have been there, but she would have thought that she would remember something like this. Even now, such an captivating scene would never leave her mind.
Is this the place that will be mine one day? It's beautiful…
It had been at least three months since the birth of the princess of the Pride Lands. Her name is Kiara, respectively. Nala was at first concerned for her daughter due a lack of knowledge of how the Lion Queens work, however, Simba assured his mate that Kiara would work as the heir of the throne and that he has been reviewing history with Rafiki and Zazu.
One particular day, the princess get out of the safety of Pride Rock and eagerly stares out towards the Pride Lands. No matter how many times that Kiara would see it from this vantage point, it will never fail to take her breath away.
By now, the Princess has gotten a little bit bigger in height for a three-month-old cub, but not quite in stature yet.
"Wow!" Kiara shouts at the sight of the savannah, and then attempts to jump off of the ledge to start exploring the great lands beyond.
But Kiara is stopped by her father, who gently seizes Kiara by the scruff and places her back on the rock. The young Princess chuckles playfully at the sight of her father.
"Where are you going off in such a hurry?" Simba asks playfully before grabbing Kiara again, but this time with his paw.
"Daddy!" Kiara exclaims while giggling as she is brought to her father's leg. "Let go!"
Simba chuckles. "Now, I just want you to be careful."
However, the Princess isn't paying attention, and she has her eyes on a pretty butterfly that is fluttering around the Princess's head. She proceeds to go after it, trying to pounce on it and growling playfully. But her father get his attention back when he gently places a firm paw on Kiara's tail, causing her to fall onto her stomach.
"Kiara, are you listening?" He asks her. Now, Kiara has a bored expression across her face. She has been treated like this multiple times before and it is beyond irritating for the young cub. "Accidents can happen. You can easily get-"
"Hurt or stepped on or even get lost." Kiara repeats her father's words.
She has also heard this speech multiple times before. Almost every time whenever she want to go out of Pride Rock without an escort. Kiara is someone who always likes to do things by herself instead of having to listen to boring lectures. The Princess is not someone who likes following her father's boring rules especially when they are so limiting.
"Exactly." Simba continues. "And I want you to stay within sight of Pride Rock-"
"At all times." Kiara repeats again. "I know. And if I see any strangers, don't talk to them. Come straight home. Okay, okay. Can I go now? Please?" Kiara asks their father, her signature smile on her face that she inherits from her father.
Simba give Kiara a chuckle, reminiscing when he was in a similar scenario as a cub himself with his own mother. "Very funny."
Just then, her mother, Nala, approaches beside her dad, chuckling softly at the moment between her mate and daughter. "Mind your father, Kiara."
"Yes, Mom." Kiara replies with a sheepish grin.
"And stay away from the Outlands." Simba responds, remembering a incident that he faced back when he was young and not wanting his cub to face a similar terrifying experience.
Just then, Zazu flies by and lands near the cub.
"Nothing there except for backstabbing, murderous Outsiders." The hornbill says with a frown and roll his eyes.
"Zazu's right." Simba retorts, looking back in that direction with a distasteful look. "You can't turn your back on them."
Kiara nods obediently at her father's words, even though she is a little curious by why her father and a family's friend dislike these "Outsiders."
"Really? How come?" She queries.
The lion king sighs. "Never mind." He replies. "Just run along now."
"But Dad," Kiara begins.
"You'll understand someday." Simba says simply. "Go on now."
"Dad." The cub says with a annoyed smile, before nuzzling her parents and then running off.
"And stay on the path I've marked for you!" Simba calls out after his little girl.
Nala chuckles. "Simba, who do she remind you of?" She quips. Her mate is bemused by what she meant, so he asks her, only receiving a smile. "She is just like you were when you were young." She says, nuzzling under his chin.
"Exactly." Simba agrees, remembering their cubhood mischievous and grief that they gave to their parents. "Do you remember the dangers we got ourselves in?"
But then, Nala pins him down on his back with a playful grin. "You mean the dangers you put us in." She says to him pointedly teasingly. The two of them laughs before nuzzling each other. Nala smiles down at her mate. "She'll be fine."
Then, she gets off of him, letting her mate back up, and then goes back inside Pride Rock, but despite how he acted like it, he wasn't quite reassured by his mate's words. He just won't put her fate in danger like that. Kiara has a tendency of getting into trouble and disobeying the rules.
"Timon, Pumbaa." He calls out to his former adoptive parents. "Come here."
The meerkat and warthog, who are on another side of Pride Rock, immediately approach their oldest friend. If anything could keep Kiara safe, they can, especially since they had managed to monitored him back when he was living in the jungle. Sure not always but mostly.
"Good morning, mon capitaine!" Timon cheerfully greets as he and Pumbaa comes up to the lion king.
"I want you two to keep a close watch on Kiara." He says to them, making sure that no one was eavesdropping as he knows Nala would not be happy. "You know she's bound to run off."
"Don't worry, Simba." Timon replies confidently. "We'll be on her like stink on a warthog."
"Hey!" Pumbaa scolds, not liking Timon's comparison.
"It's a hard truth, Pumbaa. Live with it." Timon responds.
"Guys, I'm counting on you." Simba declares, breaking up the inevitable argument. "Danger can be lurking behind every rock." After he says that, the king leaves the ledge and retreats back into Pride Rock.