Nirmala led the two brothers across the tree of Life's lush grasslands. Not far ahead, a series of caves rested, etched into the side of the mountainous circumference of the land. She took a glance back to find the two once adverse siblings now bonding, chuckling as they strolled side by side through the field of green, lush grass as the sunset across the horizon.

"We're not far from your lairs." She called out, halting at a junction in the grass. Two paths lay ahead, one to a nearby cave and another up higher in the mountains, where a familiar figure overlooked the land. As Kopa and Nguvu approached the lioness, they looked up to find another lioness, lightly creamed in fur, staring down at them with slight shock.

"Karimu!" The Uasian king smiled up at his bewildered mate before following her eyesight to his brother beside him. "Oh, it's okay, he's not as bad as we thought he was!" At this, Karimu smiled softly laying down at the edge of the overlook as Nguvu nudged Kopa, causing both of them to chuckle softly. Nirmala, rolling her eyes gently, approached them, swaying her feminine, strong form slightly to the side, towards the lair at the bottom of the mountain.

"Your lair awaits, Nguvu." The lioness bowed slightly before the similarly aged lion as he stepped forward. The pair slowly strolled off to the lair as Kopa looked back up as Karimu did nothing but smirk down at him. Flicking his eyesight down the dirt path, he noticed the route up. Without delay, he started to gallop up, rushing through the gradually snow-coated incline. As he arrived at Karimu's overhang, the snow was at least a paw's thickness.

He couldn't help but smile as he saw his queen standing before him. Her face smirking with a loving, admiring gaze. Slowly approaching her, the pair began to nuzzle, letting the soft snowfall glisten across their fur as they embraced.

After a few minutes, Karimu raised her face out of Kopa's mane, looking up at her king with her lovely, beautiful hazel eyes. "How did it go?" A glimmer of concern sparkled across her eyeballs as Kopa glanced down at her. The snow sticking into his mane as he began to lick her cheek.

"Well, we both had...visions, of a sort." The Uasian king began to explain all that he had seen, the voice so familiar to him that would summon him back in a few days. Karimu licked Kopa's cheek back before looking down at the occupied lair beneath them.

"Do you trust him now?" She watched as a shuffling around came from within. The incandescent fungal light flickered as the older adult male lion huddled in for the night. Nirmala stepped out of the lair, before strolling off back down the dirt path, disappearing into the thick overgrowth.

Kopa stood beside his queen, staring out at the grasslands beyond. As the moon slowly began to creep above the eastern mountain range, he noticed another young adolescent lioness, sitting on a hill in the distance. He could sense the trepidation, the uncertainty within her as she seemed to watch, looking up at the slowly dulling night sky.

"His visions changed him." Kopa's eyes focused on the lioness on the horizon, only halted as he blinked. He felt Karimu's soft, comforting fur brush against him, forcing his attention to turn back to her.

"He knows our father didn't mean to abandon him." The lioness nodded slightly in understanding. Her eyes scanned the horizon, to where Kopa had been looking mere moments earlier. She noticed Rani, looking gloomfully on the hillside.

"What's Rani doing over there?" The Uasian Queen's curiosity planted its roots deep within her brain. Both Karimu and Kopa followed the young lioness' eyesight slightly upwards, into the night sky above. There, above them, they noted a series of four stars arranged in the diamond constellation, gleaming brighter than all the other stars combined. Kopa's heartbeat with the closest ball of interstellar plasma, his eyes focussing as he noticed a slight flicker on its surface as if it were reaching out to him.

Karimu turned back to Rani, shaking her head softly before giving off a large, tiresome yawn. Her large, flesh-tearing teeth. Her near roaring yawn reverberated through the air as her mouth slowly started to close. Blinking her eyes gently, she turned to enter the cave nearby, shaking the fine layer of snow that had coated her sweet, creamy fur.

"I think we should call it a night." She slowly began to enter the lair, but not before turning to Kopa. The Uasian king continued to stare out at the horizon, watching as Rani's gaze never faltered from the star, as if lost in its sheer beauty. He couldn't blame her, he had done so many times throughout his life, wishing for the one next to him right now.

"Erm, you go ahead." Kopa stuttered gently, slowly stepping away from the cave towards the lightly sprinkled snowy path leading down the mountain's edge. "I'm just gonna take a walk, clear my mind." He smiled back at his queen gently, watching as she slowly smiled back, swaying her head as she softly nodded in approval.

"Okay, but be back soon!" Karimu called out, before turning back into the lair. Giving off a pleasant simile, Kopa turned back around, slowly making his way down the snowy path, deep into the thick grasslands below. Feeling the stars gleam down at him, she couldn't help but follow a chilling, heart-frozen chill, rushing north, towards the elevating hills.

Arriving at their base, Kopa looked up to find the feline, feminine figure still looking out towards the night sky. A soft sigh escaped the young adolescent lioness' lips as Kopa slowly approached; he kept his movements slow and steady so as not to disturb the grooming, lost lioness.

"Looking at stars Rani?" The Uasian king sat beside the lioness, gently glancing as she jumped out of her fur. With a jolt of surprise, she quickly shot her attention to Kopa, breathing heavily as her heart pounded in her chest.

"Oh, Kopa!" She started to calm slowly, her tail flopping back to the ground as her heartbeat slowed. Her flickering, unfocused brown eyes darted between the sky, land and Kopa, slowly trying to regain some level of control. "Wha-what are you doing here?"

"I was walking by and sensed something was wrong." The proud male flicked his head to the side, letting his mane fringe flick before returning to normal. Rani sighed softly. Looking back up at the star that her mind obsessed over.

"I'm okay..." She let her tail remain still, her breathing slowed even more as her eyes twinkled in the moonlight, streaming down her cheek as a river of salty water rushed from the corner of her eye. "You should get some rest. You've been through a lot today."

"You don't look okay." Kopa replied, approaching closer as his voice trembled with a concerned, friendly texture. "Are you sure?"

"I'm just..." The lioness thought for a moment, how could he ever comprehend her feelings. He already had a mate, a love. How could he ever comprehend her loneliness? "I'm just lonely." A small strain of salty ooze swept through his eyelid fur. "The only males in our pride are family. I've felt strange for days now!"

A sea of silence washed between the two. Nothing but the croaking of critters and the shallow hum of the chilly nocturnal breeze orchestrated the two felines as they both stared up at the star. Kopa's body warmed as he stared upwards, his eyes igniting as the star's pulsating resonance synchronised with his heartbeat. Lowering his eyesight, he started to talk softly.

"I know how you feel, Rani." The young lioness continued to stare up, her ear twitching gently as Kopa spoke. He looked back up at the star, his mind flashing back through his years of experience. "I used to stare up at that star every night when I was your age."

"You...You did?" Rani gasped softly as she turned away from the night sky, focussing on Kopa for the first time. She noticed the thoughtful, deep look in his eyes as he stared toward, the wave of wisdom, a heavyweight in his eyes, crushing them as his voice croaked.

"I'd look up when I was lonely." The Uasian king's breathing shallowed as he reflected on his adolescence. "Everyone was against me back then, not a single member of the pride cared, except the king."

"What about Karimu?" Rani queried, her eyebrow rising as her mind tried to piece together the lion's story. Kopa chuckled softly at this, keeping his eyesight firmly locked at the star.

"Even she hated me, saw me as just a puppet of her father." He shot his eyesight down at the young lioness beside him, watching as her eyesight flickered away as if pondering his words carefully. Turning his eyesight back at the star, he continued.

"But when I looked up at that star, I could feel loved, I could see the perfect lioness for me." A smile spread across his muzzle as he spoke. His words were sliced with the rhythm of his heart just as his eyes sparkled in the shallow moonlight. "Beautiful, caring, just... perfect!"

He lowered his head, turning to Rani as the lioness glanced at him. Her eyes shot down slightly as Kopa stepped closer, grinning calmly as he bowed his head slightly. Within a blink of her eyes, she felt his muzzle rest under her chin, pushing it upwards to the night sky. As she started back up Kopa stepped away, sitting beside her as he continued to grin.

"That is the Star of Love, Rani." His wise, deep voice seemed to resonate across the land. "It only shines for those who are lonely, those who are lost in the world and need a helping paw." A small, nearly unnoticeable tear rolled down her cheek as she noticed the resonance, the flicker in the star. Her heart burnt as she stared deeper than ever before, taking in the light it gave as Kopa's voice soothed her mind. "Look deep in it, tell me what you see."

The lioness remained quiet for just a second. Her eyes darted left to right as if reading the stars above. Her sight had become blinded by a bright light, flickers of golden fur brushed past her eyes, mixed with a flash of red. "I...I think I see a male, an adolescent..." Her vision cleared just a little bit more. He was indeed a male lion. His tuft of red mane was so cute, at least to her anyway. Strangely, his facial features were still blurred, unfocused. She could see his reasonably sized body. The strong, fierce muscles deep within. He was near perfect. Unbeknownst to her, Kopa was smirking softly, he knew exactly who she was talking about Perhaps it was destiny, a destiny to be fulfilled in time. As her vision faded, Rani flopped to the ground, breathing quickly until she relaxed.

"There is a male out there for you, a future king, maybe." Rani shot her eyes up at Kopa, rather amazed by his insight into the topic. He looked down at her, a warm look of respect in his visual orbs. "You will be the future queen after all, right?" she nodded her head softly. Smiling back up at him as she arose.

"You're a lot wiser than you look." Rani couldn't help but chuckle softly, resting a paw slightly forward as she smiled up at the Uasian king. She couldn't help but give him a gentle, friendly nuzzle, letting her muzzle brush against his dark, masculine mane. "Karimu is lucky to have you."

"And the Night Pride is lucky to have you too." Kopa smiled, stepping backwards as Rani let go, sitting before him as she wiped her tears away.

"Thank you...Kopa..." She bowed her head slightly. Kopa replied with a bow of his own, letting his crystallised forehead gleam in the moonlight as Rani came out of her bow. The two smiled at each other as Kopa stepped backwards, preparing to leave the lioness to her thoughts.

"You'd better get back to your lair." She chuckled softly, looking out over the horizon. She noticed the three feline figures approaching from the east. One female, two male lions. Kopa saw them two. It was the rest of the Night Pride, at least the younger members. Turning back to the future queen. He smirked.

"Take care Rani." And with that, the Uasian King started the reasonable stroll back to his lair, just as Nirmala, Baliyo and Surak strolled out of the overgrowth. They looked up at their fierce leader. A sense of relief rushing over their faces.

"Thank the gods we found you sis!" Baliyo shouted, relieving the stress in his bowed legs, letting his crazy mane wobble slightly up and down.

"We were worried we wouldn't find you." Nirmala's soft, if slightly worried voice. Rani leapt down from the hill, landing before them as her eyes darted to the overgrowth, watching it shiver as the wise, kind lion-headed to his home away from home. She couldn't help but think of her vision. Perhaps there was hope after all.

"Rani!" Surak's deep voice shook the young lines out of her thoughts. with a flash, she glanced over at her uncle, slightly shocked as he patted her shoulder. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I am." She regained her posture quickly as her uncle let go of her, she turned back to her team, her pride. They all smiled at her as she took the lead, standing tall, proud and fierce before them. "Come on, we've got a patrol to do." With this, she led them in a trot down the dirt path. All four lions started to seep into a formation. Rani at the front, Nirmala and Baliyo in the middle and Surak at the rear.

It would be a quiet patrol, Rani just knew. But at least she'd have time to think about what Kopa had to say. She quickly glanced at the star once more, feeling its warm glow seep across her fur.

"One day...One day..."

...

Back in the Uasilands, night had fallen once again. Most of the prides had settled into the night, slowly strolling into the gleaming Uasian Tower as the moon and stars cascaded a light show upon the sacred, perpetually balanced land.

The last of the Pridelanders were slowly making their way in, guided by the crooked, wise form of Rafiki. The old mandrill, hunched with his signature staff, slowly guided the lions and lionesses into the ancient monument with a sway of his hand.

"Goodnight, fellow Pridelander!" His ecstatic, crazed calls rumbled through the pride, causing a sea of smiles and giggles as the lions passed. His apprentice, Makini, stood a little ways ahead, guiding the pride up the crystallised slopes, coercing them higher and higher up the spiritually driven monument.

The final small pride was that of the royal family, or at least Simba and Nala, who softly bowed as they met their wise. As for Kiara, she had excused herself outside, wishing for one last breath of fresh air before calling it a night.

Upon the path leading up to the ancient mountainous structure, Kion and the lion guard strolled. It had been a long day patrolling the land, assisting the Mlinzi's in halting any of Scar's attacks. The young adolescent lion stepped upon the dirt path leading to the monument's arched entryway, turning slowly to face the rest of his team.

"Well, good night guys." He gave them all a faint smile, of which each of them returned gladly.

"Night Kion." Bunga Leapt off of Beshte's back, landing before his feline friend with all the elegance of a flamingo. He jumped you, giving Kion a quick rub on his small strand of mane, spurting out of his forehead. The navy-blue honey badger's claws sleekly shifting through the lion's reddish fringe with ease.

"Don't rest too much now!" Fuli the cheetah called out. Her sharp, feline green eyes seemed to sparkle in the moonlight. "I've still got to beat you tomorrow! She leaned her aerodynamic, sleek cheetah body into an athletic, stretched stance, arching her back slightly as she stretched out. A snug, confident smirk spread across her muzzle as she relaxed.

"Night Kion." Beshte and Ono, who rested on the hippo's back. The young lion prince smiled at his team once more before they all went their separate ways. Fuli headed to a small cave, not far from the Uasian Tower. Beshte trod in a south-west direction, towards the lush, nourishing Lishe Lake. Ono remained on his back as they disappeared over the horizon.

Bunga strolled off to the west, leaping and sprinting as he called out, giggling and laughing all the way. Kion rolled his eyes at his friend's burst of energy, before making his way towards the Uasian Tower, to his home away from home.

As he approached the base of the tower, he noticed a figure, sitting at the edge of the recently carved overhang, looking out at the land beyond. His curiosity could not be silenced. As his ears flickered back and forth, he found his paws softly trotting up the shallow ramp up to the outlook, his claws digging into the crystallised path, screeching slightly as he launched himself up.

As he approached the crystallised overlook, he noticed the young lioness. His curiosity peaked, just as an inquisitive smile spread across his muzzle. She hadn't recognised him, not even his scent. Trotting up slowly, he couldn't help but grin.

Perhaps she wasn't a great huntress after all.

It was Kiara. The young Prideland's princess stared out at the land beneath her. Her sweet, brown eyes glistened in the moonlight as she glanced up at the night sky, sighing softly as she became lost in her thoughts. She didn't even notice Kion, slowly approaching.

"Hey, sis!" The young adolescent male lion sat beside his sister, his tail swayed to the side, away from her as he sat. Smiling softly, he could sense the worry within her, only seeping into his mind. "What are you doing?"

"Oh, Kion..." The young lioness jolted as her brother's voice pierced her ears. Her eyes darted around as her mind tried to come up with a little white lie. Kion's concerned, if slightly smug smirk. Letting off a slight, shallow breath, she lowered her head in defeat. "I've just been... thinking..." Her sparkling brown eyes shot back to the night sky, piercing at a series of four stars high in the sky.

"Thinking?" Kion softly lay his head to the side, as if contemplating his sister's words. "His brown orbs glanced over at her, soaked in concern. "Thinking of what?"

A silence fell between the two siblings. Kiara's lungs intensified their workload as she tried to fight back against the truths embedded in her brain. She couldn't hide her feelings any longer, no matter what she did.

"There was... This... guy..."

"A guy?" Kion's inquiry sent a shudder through his sisters' fur. He moved slightly closer, watching as she continued to stare outward, slightly lowering her sight as she began to seep deep into her thoughts. With a deep, focussed breath. Kiara turned to her brother.

"Yeah... His name is Kovu, an Outsider..." her face shrunk as she said his name. Kion couldn't help but smirk as he nodded his head, turning away from his sister as she continued. "I've only met him a few times but he's just so..." her heartbeat with all the love in the world, a fire burnt within its cage.

"Kovu, huh..." Kion's smirk only grew with each passing second. He glanced over at his sister. Her head still resting low as he nudged her side. "He's not too bad, last time I checked." He chuckled slightly, joining his sister as they both looked up at the stars.

"Wait, you know him!" Kiara shot over to Kion, an immense sense of astonishment rushed through her fur. She felt her cheeks redden under her tan-gold fur. Kion continued to smirk knowingly at Kiara's brown orbs.

Arising to all fours, Kion stood proud. "Well, I met him… a long time ago." He turned his attention to the land below, watching the grass sway in the shallow moonlight. His tail swayed side to side against the crystallised ground as he continued. "Jasiri asked me to talk to his pride after they took her clan's watering hole."

Kiara thought for a moment before replying. The young lioness' eyes looked down at the side of their field of view, before shooting back up to meet her brother's. "What was he like then?" Her breathing slowed as she felt her ribcage pound rapidly. Her words were coated in an irregular hesitation, synchronising with her uneven breaths. "Did he mention...me?"

"He did, actually." Kion's ears perked up, softly forcing his head to nod acceptingly. He watched as Kiara's muzzle opened slightly, smiling lovingly as a droplet of tears welled from her eyes. She stared back up at the stars before a heavyweight slammed on her chest.

"I hope he's okay..."

"I'm sure he is!" Kion brushed up against his sisters' body, trying his best to comfort her. He couldn't help but respect his sister. To even feel any emotion for a supposed enemy. In their short meeting, Kovu didn't seem too much of a threat. Perhaps he wasn't as bad as the rest of his pride.

But he couldn't be sure.

"Just... Take care sis..." Snuggled up to his sister's fur, Kion blinked his eyes slowly, trying to contain the sense of concern within his heart. "I don't want you to get hurt." Kion's heartfelt worry sent a shiver through Kiara's chest. It had been so long since he had said anything like this.

They may argue and fight from time to time, but they were still brother and sister. Kiara cared for him and he cared about her. With one final nuzzle, the two stepped away from each other, looking out at the stars once more, smiling wildly.

"I hope, one day, me and Kovu can be together." Her warm brown eyes sparkled in the starlight as it seemed to flicker in her sight, calling out to her. Kion glanced beside him to his sister. His heart sank as her dreamy, loving voice continued to fantasise. Kiara sighed softly as reality invaded her dreams. "I just hope dad understands."

I'm sure he will." Kion's voice had dropped to nothing more than a deep, dumbing hum. His heart had frozen, chilled with a hint of loneliness. With a blink of his eyes, he couldn't help but picture every lioness of his age, all now taken by other males. He was alone, possibly forever. After all, who would love him? Someone who risked his life every day, who could die at any time. He would never make a good mate. Everyone deserved better than him.

"At least you have someone to love."

Kiara's eyes flickered over to Kion, who had lowered his head in despair. She inhaled sharply, lowering her ears as she felt the shallow sense of forsakenness humming in his heart. Pleasantly spreading her muzzle slightly, she nuzzled back into his fur, rubbing her head gently past his little tuft of mane.

"You'll find someone Kion..." She whispered. She felt Kion's eyes watering into her fur as she brushed past him. Letting go gently, she stared into his watery eyes. How could he think this? "You'd be perfect for someone. It'll just take time to find them." She stepped up, yawning softly as she began to stretch out. Kion remained frozen. His sister's wise words still rattling in his brain. As she started to walk back to the tower's entrance. "Maybe some rest would help you." She turned her head to face him.

Wiping his eyes, Kion exhaled softly. Arising to his paws once more, he slowly blinked towards his sister. "Yeah, I guess so..." With this, Kiara continued to stroll into the crystallised structure, leaving Kion to follow slowly behind her. The young prince, however, halted, turning around to look up at the star once more. As it glistened in his eye, he felt a presence, so far away, staring back at him. A set of loving, beautiful brown eyes, seeping lovingly into his. His chest warmed, filling with a shallow taser of love.

"One day...One day..."