KawaiiCutie12: Again? Seriously? Disappointed, but not surprised.

+izzymariee: It's okay mamas! And you'd think but nope 😂 Nala genuinely likes the girl; I didn't even realize that lmao

+Yumerio Patissiere Lover: Thanks❤❤I don't get what you mean but glad ya liked it...

+ExGeneration35: Thank youu! I love yours too💘

Chapter 9:

Every bad thought was racing in her mind.

Is she okay? Did her dad say something to her? Did 'Tani, Simba, or Beleco say something to her?

"Okay, she's in there."

Snapping out of it, she looked into the guest den to find Tama balled up in a farback corner of the den.

Walking inside, she stopped when she realized Malka wasn't next to her. "Aren't you coming?"

"Er, about that..." Malka rubbed his tufts. "She only wanted you; it's probably a girl thing."

Nodding, Nala walked in the den while Malka ran off elsewhere.

As she neared Tama, she noticed her body was trembling. She could also hear small gasps for air, and her panic increased.

"Tama?"

She slowly turned, and Nala immediately saw her pale face and her fiery red, tear filled eyes. Her body trembles were even more obvious, and her gasps for air didn't vanish.

"N-Nala?"

"Tama, what's going on?" Nala helped her sit up, but stopped seeing Tama shake her head.

"I feel nauseous," she whimpered.

Nala nodded. Lying down, she put Tama's head in her forelegs. "Tama, you need to breathe. Can you do that for me?"

Despite it feeling like it took an eternity, Tama managed to catch her breath.

"What's going on? Talk to me," Nala gently wondered.

"I feel awful," Tama sobbed. "I wanna go home."

Nala stroked her head; she couldn't empathize with her friend, but she could definitely sympathize with her.

"Aw I'm sorry, Tama. Is there anything I can do to help?" Nala softly asked.

Tama only care to weep, cracking Nala's heart even more. She moved her paw up and down Tama's body, trying to calm her down. Feeling her fur, she noticed she did feel a bit feverish.

Tama's weeps subsided for a moment. "C-Can you help me to the waterhole? I need some water."

Slowly getting her up, she guided Tama to the waterhole, constantly looking back to make sure she was okay.

Upon arriving, Tama took a few laps and her body seemed to go back to normal.

"You ready to head back?" Nala hesitantly asked.

Tama slowly nodded, and walked back with Nala's help. Not even five steps in, she stopped. Her midsection began to twist and turn.

"Tama...?"

Tama's painful weeps started back up, and Nala's worry increased.

"Let's go see Rafiki. I'm sure he'll have something," Nala suggested.

Continuously looking back, she guided Tama to the mandrill's tree. Climbing up, they were more than relieved to see that not only was Rafiki there, they were all alone as well.

"Wat do you two cubs needs?" Rafiki asked, his signature grin on his face.

"Tama's having a bit of a breakdown," Nala explained as calmly as she could. "Do you have anything that'll calm her down?"

"Bring your friend ova here," Rafiki instructed.

Helping the shaking Tama over, she brought her to another section of the tree, where the mandrill kept his medicines. He had brought out a purplish liquid in one of his fruit bowls.

"Here, drink dat," he told Tama.

"I-"

Her throat tightened. Turning away, she brought up the water along with the small amount of breakfast she consumed.

Shakily wiping her mouth, she turned to the mandrill. "S-Sor..."

She could barely get a word out before her vision went black.

"Ready, set, go!"

Vitani and Kula ran as fast as they could, trying to beat one another. As much as they loved Pinned Ya, everyone needs a break from their favorite game.

"Ha, gotcha, 'Tani!" Kula teased.

Vitani's jaw dropped. "What, I-but you-I want a rematch!"

Kula laughed. "Sorry but, no rematches, honey."

The cubs laughed, and played a few more rounds.

"Hey, termites, come get food!" they heard Nuka call out.

Vitani rolled her eyes, but nonetheless they raced for the meal.

"...ama? Can you hear me? Tama?"

Nala watched as Tama blinked her light brown eyes, focusing on the figures above her. She felt herself lying on a cot, and she carefully sat up. Despite her pain toning down a bit, she wasn't gonna risk moving around much. Her emotions on the other hand, were whirling around.

"H-How long was I *sniff* out?" Tama asked.

Rafiki nervously chuckled. "Ova an hour. Tis noon."

Tama's eyes widened. She then turned to Nala. "Did *sniff* you eat?"

Nala looked away, and Tama's eyes went even more wide. "N-Nala! *sniff* G-Go eat something!"

Nala gave her an incredulous look. "And just up and abandon you? No way."

"Den drink de medicine, child," Rafiki instructed her. "dis will relax your body, and take away that feva of yours."

Tama frowned and Rafiki chuckled. "Rafiki knows dese tings. Not to mention, dose cheeks of yours are pretty flushed, eh?"

Not answering, Tama drank the liquid.

"Well?" Rafiki grinned.

"It only calmed my head down," Tama finally stated. "I still feel nauseous and like total trash."

Rafiki's grin faltered, and he surprisingly didn't have anything else to give her.

"I think tis best if you sleep it off," Rafiki admitted. "Something tells me you've been lacking it."

Face now flushing even more, Tama lowered her gaze.

"Come on, we need to get you back to the den," Nala nudged her.

She helped Tama climb down before doing so herself. Rafiki watched them walk away before shaking his head.

De poor girl, he thought. She's an emotional wreck, and it seems like her father doesn't even notice.

With Nala and Tama:

They walked back surprisingly fast for being a long walk away. Tama immediately lied back down and curled herself up into a ball again, waiting for Nala to return from lunch. Walking back in, Nala's heart broke at the sight of seeing her friend so weak. Slowly lifting her head up, she placed it back into her forelegs.

"I'll stay here until you feel better, okay?" Nala warmly stated, stroking her head.

Tama didn't answer verbally, solely nodding her head. Her sobs died down, though the occasional sniffle was still there.

She's really unhappy about being away from home, Nala thought. I didn't think it'd affect her this bad.

Licking her head, she rested her own head on Tama's, dozing off in a slumber as well.

Eating some leftover wildebeest from the day before, Malka frowned as he chewed his bite.

I know Tama's upset about everything, but that doesn't mean she has to push me away, Malka thought.

"You alright, Malka?" Simba asked.

"Hm? Oh yeah, I'm fine," Malka waved a reddish paw.

"You sure? You can talk to me, you know. We're basically brothers," Simba stated.

Malka sighed, and after finishing his late bites, he motioned Simba to follow him. They sat on a large rock right at the waterhole.

"Promise you won't say anything?" Malka asked him.

Simba linked a golden claw with one of Malka's reddish-brown claws.

"Look, I know you don't really like Tama, but I'm worried about her. She's been a mess ever since coming out to the Pride Lands, and anytime I try to talk to her, she just pushes me away. Sometimes literally." Malka bitterly chuckled.

Simba scowled. She's seriously being mean to Malka for worrying about her? How ungrateful.

"I have a feeling of what you're gonna say, but just think: if it were Nala, what would you do?" Malka asked.

Simba stopped and think. What would he do if Nala pushed him away?

"Well...I'd try and reach out to her, and if she keeps pushing me away, then she's not worth the effort," Simba finally answered.

Malka thought it over, and decided he was right. There was no use in trying to save someone that didn't want saving.

"I guess you're right," Malka agreed. "As much as I care about Tama, getting treated like dirt is pretty tiring.

Simba nodded, happy Malka was finally coming to his senses.

"Yeah, no girl is worth that much trouble," Simba commented.

Malka laughed at the comment. "You got that right."

Talking some more, the two continued their long overdue guy time.

"Hey, are you okay, Nala?"

Tama had woken up and finally felt better. She conversed with Nala a bit, before realizing she seemed off.

"I'm just worried Kula hates me now," Nala confided.

"What's she so upset about?" Tama asked. "It's just hunt training."

"Well, today her and I are partners, but I had to cancel to spend time with you," Nala explained.

"Well I must say that's really nice of you, Nala. Thanks." Tama feebly smiled.

Nala frowned; she didn't feel very nice, especially after seeing the look on Kula's face. But everything would be okay. Kula, along with her other friends, would understand. Nala was sure of if.

"Well, now that you're feeling better, ya wanna just walk and talk?" Nala asked.

Nodding slightly, Tama slowly got up and walked side-by-side with Nala out the den, and all over the Pride Lands.

The sun had set, but Beleco was nowhere near tired. She tried to find Vitani or Kula, but neither of them could be found.

I wonder...I know Nala and I haven't been all that close, but she doesn't seem so bad.

Running off, she went to find Nala, but couldn't find her anywhere. Sighing, she trudged over to the den.

Only to find Nala and Tama cuddled up with each other.

A pang of second-hand anger hit, and she stormed away from the den.

So she treats your friends like crap and you're just gonna strengthen your friendship with her? I thought you were better than that, Nala.

Shaking her head in disappointment, she walked away, and ended up finding Kula, along with Chumvi, Tojo, and both princes, by the waterhole.

His family was asleep, but Nuka couldn't help but stare at the stars. It was times like this where it felt like the world stopped and he could just be in peace.

"Nuka?"

I guess they're not all asleep.

Nuka turned to see his younger sister, staring up at him.

"Hey, termite, ya not tired either huh?" he asked.

Normally, Vitani would tease him back. This time, she just shrugged her shoulders.

"Hey, come here." He patted the spot next to him.

Walking up, Nuka could see she was terribly upset about something. "What's wrong, 'Tani?"

Vitani sighed, and looked up at him, her purple-blue eyes shining with emotion. "Can I ask you something?"

Curious, Nuka tilted his head. "What about, sis?"

Vitani looked up at him. "What would you do if...another lion came, and Dotty was spending all her time with them instead of you? So much to the point where she even broke a promise to you, for him or her."

Nuka didn't answer for a minute. Finally he looked down at her. "Well, I'd talk to Dotty and tell her how I feel," Nuka explained, "if she doesn't listen, then I'd find a new friend."

She didn't look so sure about that. "But what if they mean a lot to you, and you don't want to lose that friend?"

"If they were really your friend, they would try to get you two to get along as well," Nuka explained. "No real friend would put themselves in a position to lose you. Remember that."

"Okay, I understand. Thanks, Nuka." Vitani hugged him.

"Hey, anything for my baby sis."

He tightened the hug. Letting go, he ruffled her tuft. "Now come on, let's go to bed."

Following him back in the den, his words played in her mind as she went to sleep.

"No real friend would put themselves in a position to lose you".

KawaiiCutie12: Mm...I only feel 0.01% of awfulness for Tama. How about you guys?

No but really, let me know what you guys think. Are Nala's (and even Tama's) actions still justified?

As always, follow and fave to keep us with this (and my others) story, and I'll see you guys next time.

KawaiiCutie12 signing off! 😚