KawaiiCutie12: How do you think Tama's gonna react to Vitani's apology? Well, we're about to find out now! Poor Tojo, though😢

Chapter 4:

The moment the sun came up, both princes and their friends were playing in the cool, upper den. Vitani tried to have fun, but she couldn't help but think about Tama. Earlier at breakfast, she noticed the new cub raced off after eating, only to be escorted by Malka's mom, Queen Alena, back into the den. She also noticed Queen Alena, spent an awful long time in there with her. Vitani was no brainiac, but she knew something wasn't right.

Hmm...it's been a while; maybe now would be a good time to find her.

"Hey guys, I'll be back," she told her friends.

Racing out the den, she went in search for Tama. Running around, she found Tama in the guest den, but was surprised by what she saw.

Tama was lying on her stomach, not even bothering to look up when she walked in. Her head was in her paws, and she looked a complete mess.

"Tama."

She looked up to see Vitani staring at her, and Vitani noticed she looked horrible; her face was somewhat pale, her eyes were red and puffy, and even her tuft was disheveled.

Tama, however, immediately pulled her face into a weak scowl. "What do you want? I'm not in the mood."

"Are you okay?" Vitani asked with genuine concern.

"Are you deaf or something? I literally just said I'm not in the mood," she growled.

It's a shame I don't give up easily, Vitani thought.

She moved closer. "I'm sorry about what I said. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings; that's just how we joke."

"That's funny, I don't remember asking," Tama irritably responded.

"I'm serious!" Vitani insisted, sitting down in front of her. "Why would I purposely hurt you?"

Rolling her eyes, Tama huffed and turned away. Can she not take a hint? Why on earth is Nala friends with an idiot like her?

Vitani sighed and placed a paw on her shoulder. "Tama-"

Not even a second later, she turned and slapped Vitani's paw away. "I don't wanna talk you, okay?" she demanded. "Just leave me alone!"

Realizing Tama wholeheartedly meant her statement, she sighed and slowly walked out of the den.

An hour or so later, the Pride Lands cubs and Prince Malka were sitting under a large acacia tree after eating lunch. They'd been talking and updating each other on pride drama for quite some time, and Vitani was surprised to see Nala talking to her like nothing. They joked with each other, and all was good.

"Hey, Nala!" Tama called out, padding over.

Nala turned and her eyes lit up. "Hi, Tama."

"Now that we're together, you wanna hang out?" Tama asked.

Nala smiled and nodded. Simba's animosity towards the snide lioness cub was rising ten-fold. Nala's friendliness towards her only increased his bad feelings, but he kept his composure as to not make an ass of himself.

"You mind if I come too?" Simba wondered as Nala got up from her position and joined Tama.

Tama made a face. "I'm sorry but, we just need some girl time."

Kula shot up. "OH! Can 'Tani and I join you guys!"

Tama looked back at the other lioness cubs and her face scrunched at the idea.

Ugh...I can't bring her along, Tama thought. She's way too peppy, and Vitani needs to back off.

"You see, the thing is...Nala and I didn't invite you guys," she bluntly clarified. She then turned back to Nala, trotting away with her.

Completely crushed, Kula's gaze fell to the ground as a frown made itself home on her muzzle. Vitani rolled her eyes while Simba, Tojo, and Chumvi shot daggers at the two retreating cubs. A conflicted Malka stared at the ground.

"Why is she so mean to me?" Kula demanded, "I didn't do anything to her!"

Hearing her voice crack, Vitani moved closer to her and nuzzled her head. "You're right, you didn't do anything wrong. Tama's just not right in the head."

Kula, still sniffling, returned the nuzzle and hugged her.

"T-Thanks, 'Tani," she whispered. "You're the best."

"Always, Kula," she softly said.

Simba let out an exasperated sigh. He knew Nala was a fairly nice cub, but was she that naïve?

"Don't let Tama get to you, Kula," Simba told her.

"Yeah, she's missing out on an awesome friend," Chumvi added.

Kula wiped her eyes and smiled. "Aww, thanks you guys!"

Putting the incident behind them, they stayed under the large tree, continuing to talk and tell jokes.

"So what did you want to do?" Nala asked Tama.

The two were sitting in a decent-sized cave that Nala herself found during a previous hot day in the Pride Lands. Its coolness, along with it being hidden within the waterhole rocks, made it the perfect hideout for the cub. Even better, no one knew about it.

Not even Simba.

"We can talk about...our homes, or hunt training, or embarrassing stories, or girl stuff, anything really," Tama suggested.

Sitting there, the two talked, and the mood was light. The only other female cub in the Mountain Lands was Kiara, and as much as Tama loved Kiara, it was nice to have someone her own age to talk to.

"So, have you started learning how to hunt, yet?" Tama wondered.

Nala nodded. "Yeah, it's actually really fun."

Tama smirked. "That's because you're like, the greatest pouncer and wrestler!"

The girls laughed at the comment, and Nala bashfully rubbed her head. "Well, we all start out small. You'll get there soon though."

Tama nodded her head. "Thanks."

She rolled onto her back. "So...any boys?"

"Huh? B-Boys?" Nala feigned bafflement.

Tama rolled her eyes and rolled over onto her stomach. "Come on, it's only us here."

"I don't have my eyes on anyone," Nala lied, this time a bit firmer.

Tama rose her eyebrows. "Oh, really? Because yesterday, I overheard Malka's and Simba's moms say you and Simba are supposed to get married."

Nala's eyes popped out from her head. "WHAT?! I-No, you're lying!"

Tama suppressed the urge to roll her eyes. "I literally heard them with my own ears."

Nala's cheeks flushed at the news. Simba and I married? Why didn't anyone tell me this?!

"That'd be like, so awkward. Marrying someone you don't even love," Tama pointed out.

"W-Well, I mean...we're best friends," Nala tried to reason.

Tama looked at her claws. "That's still so awkward. I mean what if he like, has the hots for another lioness?"

"Well he doesn't!" Nala quickly got defensive.

This caught Tama's attention. Putting her paw down, she turned to Nala.

"You don't seem so happy about that," Tama smirked.

"W-Well, why wouldn't I be?" Nala asked, facing away.

Tama cheekily smiled. "Because the lion cub you like totally has the hots for someone else."

Nala whipped her head around. "Who?"

Tama couldn't take it anymore. She burst into laughter, and Nala couldn't do anything but stare at her.

"Grr, Tama!" She buried her face in her paws.

Tama slowly pulled herself together. "Don't worry, Nala, you can totally trust me."

A weak smile arose on Nala's face, and she nodded. "Thank you."

Tama nodded, and lied back down. "But that doesn't mean I won't tease you every chance I get."

"Tama."

"Yes, Queen Nala?"

"Shut it!"

The two laughed, and moving past the topic, they continued to get to know each other a bit more.

The other cubs made their way into the den. The heat was starting to rise, and they grew tired and wanted nothing more than to lie down in the nice, cool den. Despite doing that, the gang still went about their game.

"Wow, never thought I'd be energized from storytelling," Malka commented.

"Man, Vitani and Simba have a gift for it!" Kula commented.

The cousins grinned at each other. "Well-"

"Hello, cubs."

The two turned to see a cream lion with a light brown mane. His light brown eyes resembled a certain cub, but they held friendliness instead of disdain.

"Have you guys seen Tama?" he asked the group.

Forcing politeness, they shook their heads.

"Haven't seen her all day, Mister," Tojo answered.

The lion nodded, and turned to head out. Before he did so, he turned back to the cubs.

"You guys may call me Waziri; no need for formalities."

He offered a warm smile, to which the cubs genuinely returned. Walking out the den, they all looked to each other.

"That's Tama's father, my parents' royal advisor," Malka explained.

Kula didn't seem to believe that. "Are you sure? He seemed pretty nice."

"Yeah, there's no way they're related," Simba supported her.

The two laughed and high-fived, leaving a conflicted Malka.

If only you knew, the Mountain Lands prince thought.

"That new cub doesn't seem so happy here."

The lionesses were having their own little girl talk. With the lions doing the same elsewhere and the cubs playing in the den, it was the perfect time to talk and catch up.

"Oh, Tama?" Alena responded, "she's just...adjusting."

"If you don't mind sharing, to what exactly?" Sarafina asked.

Alena sighed and rubbed a paw on her head. "Well..."

She explained to them what had happened back in the Mountain Lands. The lionesses were in shock, but also curious.

"Why would Waziri send her out here if she wasn't okay?" Zira wondered.

Alena sighed. "He's acting like everything's fine when really, it's taking a huge toll on her." She shook her head. "She's normally so full of spirit and assertive, but lately...she's been a mess; she couldn't even eat breakfast."

Hearing that, the Pride Lands lionesses felt ill at heart.

"The poor girl," Sarabi commented.

"No wonder she's been so miserable," Sarafina added.

"That's why she spent most of the morning in the den," Zira put two and two together.

Alena nodded. "Not to mention, it's her first time being away from the Mountain Lands, so that's affecting her as well." She sighed. "I can only hope that with your guys's cubs and Malka, she can feel better about being away from home."

Sarafina nodded. "I'm sure of it."

Moving forward, they continued to talk until the sun started to fall.

"That's so embarrassing. I'd like, never show my face again."

Nala and Tama were coming back from the waterhole. The two really enjoyed their time together, and didn't want it to end.

Nala laughed. "Yeah, I don't think I've ever been that ashamed in my whole life."

The girls chuckled and continued walking in silence.

"Hey, thanks for hanging with me today," Tama stated, "I had such a fun time."

"Anything for a friend," Nala grinned.

Continuing to walk towards Pride Rock, silence filled the air; it wasn't an awkward silence, however. More of a peaceful one.

Upon arriving to the den, the two shared a smile before splitting off. Nala saw Vitani and Kula, and made her way over to them. As she neared them, she noticed the two were giggling about something.

"Hey, girls."

Their laughter vanished as they turned to face Nala.

"Oh, uh, hi," Kula quickly responded.

"Well, it's getting late," Vitani commented, "better head home."

Not waiting for a response from either, she sped off in the direction of her parent's den. Nala turned to Kula, bewildered by her behavior.

"What was that all about?" Nala asked.

"Uh-it's secret," Kula answered, before walking away as well.

Still confused, Nala tried to push it aside as she snuggled up to her mother and went to sleep.

KawaiiCutie12: Hmm...wonder what's Vitani and Kula's little secret...Maybe we'll find out, maybe we won't

As always, leave your opinions down below and follow and fave to keep up with the story. I'll see you guys next time!

KawaiiCutie12 signing off! ✌