AN: I dedicate this chapter to my sweet baby kitty Buster who I sadly had to put down when he suffered a stroke and sudden hip and balance problems.

Love you baby boy.


Chapter 14


The sun shone down upon the great kopje that was Pride Rock. It was the midst of the dry season with the rains long gone not to return for some coming months. In the Pride Lands the animals were beginning to go through their agreements with King Simba who had laid down the law that no animal was to drink too much or too long at the waterholes that littered the land.

There was enough to feed those who remained and didn't migrate with the rains but Simba knew it was better to be on the safe side of things.

He did not want too many herds leaving his lands. Too many gone and it would be difficult when it came to feeding his pride.

The first month of the dry season wasn't so bad. It wasn't like this was his first dry season since his returned. He went through one when Kopa had only been a few months old. But there could always be many things that could go astray and that wasn't really what he needed. What more, his young daughter had finally come to the age he had promised her that she would be allowed out on her own.

Up until now he had managed to keep her under his watchful gaze or the watchful gaze of one of the lionesses or Gina. But each and everyday she was becoming more persistent to the point that his Mother had laughed and told him he wouldn't be able to keep himself from going against his promise for too long.

How right she'd been.

In the shadows of the den, mischievous blue eyes stared out into the sunny opening. Body low to the ground, her shoulders rolling in anticipation. The little Pridelander Princess knew this could be her last chance to get away without being caught. For weeks since she turned six months old she been waiting the day she could go out and play on her own.

But it seemed her Father was ever in his over protectiveness.

Behind her a much larger shadowy form, made its way to her side. Kodi, being a few months older then she was, was much taller but that didn't make a difference for their friendship.

The young male cheetah eyed the opening of the cave nervously. "You sure this is wise Kiara…if we get caught we could both get in trouble…trouble with my mother is one thing but being in trouble with the King is another thing entirely." He muttered under his breath.

He had come by that morning when his mother had gone off to hunt on her own only to be pulled aside by Kiara. Before he could protest the Princess had her paw over his mouth muffling his voice. It had been then that the Princess had whispered to him about her plan on sneaking away from Pride Rock when the rest of the pride had been distracted. Kodi had thought she was insane, and had tried to tell her that it wouldn't work but Kiara wasn't going to listen. And when he saw that he knew it was better to just go along and make sure nothing happened to her.

He really didn't want to end up on the King's bad side.

Kiara was smiling from ear to ear. Today was the day. She could just feel it. Letting her eyes search outside the den she could see the lionesses were lounging apart on some rocks in the shade not too far from the opening of the den. She watched the gentle rise and fall of their chests that told her that they were all sleeping away the heat of the day.

Good. She thought. This might just work.

It was reaching mid-day and she knew if she didn't do this now she faced having to see her father when he returned to check on her like he always did. She looked toward Kodi with a wide grin. "Ready?"

The cheetah looked at her with a questionable look. "Does it look like I'm ready to have your Father skin me alive?"

A giggle erupted from the female cub. "Oh you take things too seriously."

Kodi mumbled shaking his head. "I take things seriously enough…but fine, yes I'm ready for this crazy plan to unfold mighty Princess Kiara." He smirked sarcastically at the small glare she gave him for his cheekiness.

"Don't be a smart-aleck." She hissed between her teeth at him. Trying to remain as quiet as she could without alert the sleeping lionesses nearby.

"What can I say? You bring out the worst in me…and I do mean that." Kodi wagged his eyebrows at her only to jump aside when she swatted at him. "What…only a fool would try and help the royal heir to Pride Rock sneak away from her pride."

"Yeah well…you're helping so there is no point in arguing about it." Kiara stuck her tongue out. Then lowering herself to the ground she slithered along it like a snake with Kodi falling in line behind her. Not bothering to look back at him when she heard a mumbled; "Why yes your moody Highness."

Her eyes looked toward the beginning of the slope that would take her the first way down the kopje. It was a good run from the den with her small legs but if she was fast enough they could get down it before any of the lionesses heard them and caught them.

This is it…

Tail twitching in the air behind her, she squared her shoulders. No backing down now. One…two…three…

Without a word she darted on out of the cave with the scraping of paws against the ground being hers and Kodi's only sound as they both made a bee-line for the slope.

Almost there! Kiara shouted in her head. Almost there!

They'd just reached the slope when a pair of dark brownish-gold legs appeared in front of Kiara's eyes.

Oh no!

Unable to stop herself the Princess crashed into her Father's front legs. Behind her Kodi just managed to catch himself stopping just short of crashing into the princess.

Simba stared downwards in surprise at his daughter. He returned early from his morning patrol and figured he'd surprise Kiara on his early return before he would receive Zazu's afternoon report. What he hadn't been expecting was said cub to come barrelling into his legs.

"Well…not the greeting I had expected but I would settle for this one nonetheless." Simba grinned; he lifted his gaze toward the lionesses that were now watching them from where they were lounging in the shade. Among them were his Mother, Sarafina and Nala.

All had smiles on their faces.

Looking back down at the two cubs, Simba's eyebrow shot up in question. "So why were you in such a hurry?" His other eyebrow joined the first when he watched both cubs suddenly look very nervous. Kodi though seemed more so then Kiara who seemed like she didn't like to have been caught. It then dawned on him what she'd been trying to attempt.

His mate would be chastising him if she were still around. Saying that she was too much like him.

Simba didn't know whether to be proud or worried about that. Perhaps both were a suitable answer.

Sighing, the King reached down grabbing his daughter by the back of the neck he carried her further up and then set her back on the ground. He couldn't help the smile that came to his face and his eyes lighting up at the soft sound of his daughter's giggling. But it was short lived when she tried to get away from him and continue on her mission.

Reaching out, he hooked her with his paw and brought her back toward her. "Daddy!" she whined rather loudly. "Let go!" The pout on her face was enough to make him want to laugh but he knew now wasn't the time for that.

"Now Kiara. What have I told you about running off…especially when you haven't told anyone." Simba eyed his daughter closely. He then gave Kodi a quick look to see the cheetah cub was shamefully looking at the ground and he knew that the male cub wasn't behind any of this. This little scheme had his daughter's name written all over it.

Grumbling, Kiara turned to face her Father with a disgruntled look. She didn't like that her plan had been foiled. She'd been so close!

"Not to go off alone…but Daddy you promised!" Kiara glared up at her Father.

Rubbing his face with his paw, the King sighed. "Yes…I know what I promised Kiara. There really is no point in always reminding me. But it's dangerous out there…accidents can happen when you least expect it." His eyes softened as he stared down into her blue eyes.

His mate's eyes.

"Anything could happen to you…and I don't think I can handle that…I already lost your Mother and your siblings…I can't loose you too." Reaching out he wrapped his paw around her and nuzzled his nose against the top of hers while licking the top of her head causing her to giggle. This made him happy.

Kiara groaned inwardly. She knew her Father was scared to loose her. She heard it so often since she heard what happened to her mother and the others. But she didn't like that he treated her like she would die if she got a hang nail or something.

Shoulders slumping, Kiara glared at the ground. "I'm sorry Daddy…but…you promised and a promise is a promise that's what grandma always says!" she turned her attention back up to her Father. "I know the rules…never stray far from Pride Rock…if I meet a stranger I'm not to talk to them…I know okay. And it's not like I'm going alone. I got Kodi with me. So can we just go?"

A soft chuckle caught their attentions and they turned to see Nala making her way over to them. She looked down at Kiara with a playful glint in her eyes. "Now Kiara, you really should mind your Father."

Pouting, Kiara turned to the older lioness. "But Nala!" She started. "He promised. He's no fun and he doesn't want me to have any either." She looked back at her Father and immediately regretted her words when she saw the hurt look in his eyes. She hung her head. "I'm sorry Daddy."

With a sigh, and a look from Nala who told him to do something. Simba reached out to lay his paw gently on his daughters head. Grinning down at her when she peaked up at him from beneath his large paw. "It's not that I don't want you to have fun Kiara. You really need to look out for yourself and for Kodi." He nodded his head toward his daughter's cheetah friend.

He had no doubt that Kodi wouldn't look out for Kiara. But he knew from experience how his daughter was starting to become a handful with how head-strong she was.

It didn't help that he smelt some of the Outlanders near the borders again; the scent was old by a day or two. But it didn't make him feel any less uneasy about one of them coming across Kiara. She was too small to defend herself. Even Kodi was still too young and small to defend him and her from a grown lioness. Much less one like Zira.

"But you are right…I did promise you." Simba removed his paw from her and set it back down in front of him. Fighting the grin that wanted to show itself when Kiara looked up at him with a look of wonder that he was actually going to keep his promise to her. But instead kept his face serious.

"However…" he watched her slouch at the fact that he was going to say more instead of letting her go off and play. "Kiara take this seriously…now…you know the rules…and I expect you to follow them. I have patrol to continue and I will check in on you from time to time. I won't keep you from your fun but that is my job as your Father to come and check up on you."

Kiara wasn't sure how she felt about that. Still felt like he was babying her and giving her a babysitter in the form of himself if he was going to check on her. She gave Kodi a look when he gave her shoulder a small shove and she saw her friend was telling her to agree with the conditions just by the look he was giving her.

Letting out a huff of breath, she looked up at her Father and nodded her head. "Yes Daddy. Okay, okay, so can we go now…please?" Her large toothy smile appeared.

Simba smirked. Oh yes, she definitely got that from him. Zuri would be laughing at him to know he could fall prey to the same smile he often used to try and get his way as a cub.

"Hm, very funny. Now run along…but stay away from the Outlands." Simba's face clouded over with a stern look.

Kiara raised her eyebrow at her Father. This wasn't the first time she heard about having to stay away from the Outlands. She was beginning to wonder why. So she decided to ask just that; "Why?" She watched her Father open his mouth to say something when Zazu came swooping in with a large beat of his wings.

He landed on the King's shoulders and stared down at the little Princess. "Because those who live there are nothing more then backstabbing murdering outsiders."

Kiara cocked her head to the side as she considered his words. Where they really? She thought. Her attention went back to her Father who grunted and nodded his head. "Zazu's right Kiara. They are unpredictable and dangerous. They won't hesitate to kill a cub like you. So you got to be careful." King turned his head briefly to stare off into the direction of the Outlands. His eyes hardening over and his anger reflected in his voice. "You can never turn your back on them."

Kiara wasn't sure what to think of her father's anger. She rarely saw it from him. Simba was only ever kind and soft around her. Not that she'd never seen him angry and disappointed if she did something to disobey him. But this side of him confused her. She only heard of the Outlanders a few times, never good things but no one would ever answer her questions about why. "Really…how come…"

"You'll understand when you are older."

Ah, there it was.

The old, you'll understand when you are older, speech. She heard that so many times it was becoming a habit.

"But Dad!"

Simba shook his head and waved his paw. "You can either sit here and question me all day or you could go off and have fun with Kodi." He grinned when he saw her face light up.

Question thrown out the window, Kiara started toward her Father and rubbed her head against his leg. "Thank you Daddy!" Without another word she turned and started too bound down Pride Rock calling for Kodi to keep up with her.

"And stay on the paths I parked for you!" Simba called on after them.

It was Kodi who shouted back over his shoulder. "Don't worry sire I'll keep a close watch on her!"

Grinning and shaking his head, Simba sat there watching both cubs run off into the distance. A small bit of worry lingering in his eyes. Nala from where she sat beside him had watched the entire exchange with a smirk and shook her head. "Oh Simba…she's so much like you it makes me worry about all the trouble she can get herself into."

Grunting the King could only nod his head. "Zuri would smack me around for having our cubs inherit that from me. Kopa was the same…although he did seem to listen to his Mother more often then not…Kiara's got more spark in her…without Zuri to calm the flames…" his voice trailed off and he took a deep breathe at the remembrance of the family he had lost.

Nala laid her paw on his shoulder. "You know she's looking out from Kiara. After all, the only thing Kiara could talk about for weeks was the dream her Mother sent her. And I have no doubt it was really her who spoke to the little Princess. Trust her to know she's out there watching and making sure nothing happens to your daughter." She gave him a critical look while she turned smacking him in the head with her tail to prove her point that she thought he was being too much of a worrywart.

Yes, it was true that she too worried about the Princess.

She loved that little cub like a niece. And didn't want to have anything happen to her. She had promised her friend she would watch over her daughter for her and that promise was being kept. But even she knew there came a time when cubs needed to learn to be on their own without adults constantly around.

Watching her rejoin the other lionesses, Simba then turned to Zazu who remained sitting on his shoulder. "Alright banana beak lets hear that report." He fought back his laughter at the angry look the hornbill gave him at his old nickname but could not contain it any longer when Zazu poked him in the pose with his wing while saying.

"That's still MISTER Banana Beak to you fuzzy!"

Roaring with laughter, the King descended Pride Rock to continue his patrol while his majordomo began to talk his ear off with his latest report.


It worked.

She couldn't believe it had worked.

Laughing, Kiara bounded through the grasslands completely high on the freedom that she got from playing without adult supervision. Turning her back she darted back toward Kodi who was following her at a much slower pace since he could easily outrun her any day.

The cheetah cub watched the young Princess prance around him kicking up each of her paws. A large smile on her face. "See I told you it would work!"

With a roll of his eyes the male cub responded; "Yeah. But not the way you wanted it to work. You still got caught." He smirked as she stopped in front of him and glared up at him with her ears pulled back.

"Does it really matter?" she asked. "We still got out here without any adults. Even if my Dad knows we're out here now."

Smirking, Kodi leaned his head down till it was level with Kiara. "Yeah but it still didn't make the mighty princess's plan go in the correct order. You're terrible with missions." He laughed as he side-stepped the smaller cub and started on down one of the familiar paths that were littered with deep footed paw prints that Simba had spent so much on creating.

And would redo them after several days to weeks.

"Hey!" Kiara shouted on after him. Running she caught up with Kodi in seconds and fell in line beside him. "My missions work out just fine…" she paused at the side ways glance he gave her. "Oh fine! MOST of the time they work just fine. Happy?"

Chuckling, Kodi brushed his head against hers and bit at her ear causing her to giggle. "Sure am Princess."

Smiling, Kiara looked around them as they spoke, they weren't far from Pride Rock and she wanted to go further. She knew her father's paths went as far as the largest waterhole before looping back toward Pride Rock. She didn't think it was really fair that they had to stick to the beaten trail. She wanted to see so much more of the Pride Lands.

It was her home after all.

Jumping along side her friend she turned her head which way and that with each jump. Getting a good look over the tall grass around them. That was when an idea struck her mind, grinning she turned to Kodi. "Why not a game of hide and seek?" she asked her tail waving behind her.

For a second or two Kodi seemed unsure that they should break away from each other while out alone. But when she gave him her best sad eyes and pleading smile he sighed. He was too soft, he thought to himself. Grumbling he glared at her mockingly. "Fine but game rules are that you can't run off anywhere too far." He knew that might have crossed her mind just by the look that flashed in her eyes.

"Fine." Kiara groaned before smirking. "But you're hit first!" she slapped her paw against arm and took off running. "Count to ten!" She called back to him.

Ducking into the tall grass she began to move through it as quietly as she could. Behind her she could hear Kodi counting rather loudly to ten. Whipping her head around her, she tried to think of a good place to hide. Then lifting her head she eyed a small tree standing near a rock and pond.

Perfect!

Running towards it, she quickly climbed up onto the rock and with a leap she grabbed onto the tree with her claws. Then carefully climbed her way into the branches. Smiling, she lowered herself down onto the branch to keep herself as concealed as possible as she finally heard Kodi reach the end of his countdown.

She kept her mouth tight lipped to keep from laughing while she watched him from her perch while he searched for her. It was then something out of the corner caught her eye.

Lifting her head she stared off in the direction and stared at the sight of what was beheld in the distance. She seen it before but never really gave it any thought.

The land that stretched beyond the Pride Lands in that direction was nothing but barren land and sharp rocks. She couldn't even see very many trees and the ones she could see didn't have a single leaf on them. They just looked so dead. There wasn't even any grass.

It was like nothing lived across the river.

That was when she remembered that a pride of lions lived there.

But how…it was so…dead….

Even the sky seemed gloomier and harsher over there all at the same time.

But still…

"Cool…" she whispered. She never been outside the Pride Land's before and it looked like a great place to explore…as long as she wasn't caught that is.

Now she just needed a way to get there…

"AHA! There you are!" Kodi's voice from below the tree startled her out of her thoughts. Forgetting she was actually in a tree to begin with, she jumped but not able to grab onto the branch with her claws in time she fell straight down into the small pond below with a high pitched shriek.

From where he stood on the rock, Kodi watched his friend fall with wide eyes. "Kiara!" Hurrying to the edge of the rock he peered down watching then letting out a sign of relief when Kiara came splashing up waving her paws but obviously safe thanks to how shallow the water truly was.

Kodi jumped from the rock to land in front of Kiara as she climbed her way out of the water. "Are you alright?"

Shaking her head to try and get some of the water out of her ears and shook access water off her coat she sighed and sat down with a huff. "Going to take me forever to dry off." She mumbled.

Looking up she saw that Kodi was staring at her with both eyebrows raised. "What?"

Shaking his head Kodi said; "Nothing. Typical girl and worrying about your fur." He tried to mutter the last part so she didn't hear but judging by the paw that hit his shoulder. She had. "Watch your back Kodi. Never know when you might be the next to get soaked and see how you like it." She smiled afterwards and began cleaning her fur.

Kodi then remembered. "Oh I almost forgot. Caught you so you are it this time around." He grinned jumping onto all four paws. He was beginning to like having a friend. Being an only cub was lonely but growing up at Pride Rock with Kiara and the pride he wondered why Cheetah's didn't live in close groups. Well almost…he'd seen males close together but they were always brothers.

Oh well.

He liked to brag that he had the Princess as his best friend.

Kiara's head snapped up when she suddenly remembered they had been playing hide and seek. For seconds she was staring off at the Outlands that she had forgotten about the game entirely. No wonder Kodi had managed to sneak up on her the way he had.

But why had she been so fascinated with the Outlands?

She had seen them before. But this was the first time she had ever been this close to that border. And she didn't know what it was…maybe it was just some place she hadn't explored yet and really wanted too…to do it and see if she could get away with it without getting caught and get in trouble with her father and the pride…or maybe it was that she felt some sort of tug in that direction.

As if there was something out there for her to find.

But why would that be? She pondered to herself.

For a second or two she wondered what she should do to scratch this itch of hers. When it came to her. It was after all her turn to count…

She knew Kodi wouldn't allow her to go to the Outlands so her best chance was to sneak off. Grinning she bounced on the spot. "Okay my turn. You go and hide! I'll count to ten!" She wasn't sure if her over enthusiasm made him suspicious or not. Given she hated being it she much preferred to be the one who hid. Even if her Grandma told her that playing like this could help her future hunting skills.

Play was better then lessons. That's what she always thought anyways.

Kodi eyed the she-cub closely. She was almost too excited to be it. But in the end he just shrugged off the bad feeling he was getting. While on the rock he had seen how close they had come to the Outlands and he needed to use this opportunity to lead her further away from it when he went to hide.

Kodi didn't know the complete truth of what had happened with the new Outlander pride and the Pridelanders. He just knew it happened around the time of the royal's deaths. Whenever he and Kiara would ask about it, they were always told they would understand someday and so he just accepted that answer.

Not Kiara though.

Oh no.

She was determined.

That much was for sure.

Now he could really understand why the pride was worried about her head-strong personality. Even he was too.

But hey, she was his friend. He was SUPPOSED to look out for her.

With a nod, he began backing up keeping his eyes on her. "Fine but I doubt you'll be able to find me. I'm super fast." He didn't like to brag that much about his speed. But he did it anyways because he knows it riled her up and sure thing he saw her narrow her eyes at him and hiss. "Just hurry up and hide so I can count!" Without another word but a laugh he turned and bounded off into the grass for his chance to hide unaware of the Princess's true plans.

Kiara watched him go. Remaining silent for a moment then started to count loudly at the top of her lungs…

"….One!"

"….Two!"

Slowly she began making her way in the opposite direction that Kodi had gone. But kept her eyes on it just in case.

"…Three!"

"….Four!"

"…Five!"

Her ears twitched along with her nose. One trying to hear the sounds around them and the other to make sure Kodi's scent began to leave the area as well as to make sure she didn't catch onto her Father's scent.

"….Six!"

"….Seven!"

"…Eight!"

She smiled when she caught no such scent. She was home free. She would finally do the exploring that she really wanted to do. She would find out why she felt the need to really go to the Outlands. Then…then she would be back before her Father even knew she was missing.

Just a quick trip…

"…Nine!"

Here it was. Her chance. Her eyes darted around and she couldn't hear Kodi or smell him anywhere. In fact she was completely alone. She couldn't hear or smell anyone too close to her.

"TEN!"

She called out loudly to make sure her voice echoed so that Kodi believed she was done counting. But rather run off in the direction she had seen him go off in; she turned abruptly and with every bit of confidence and courage she had, Kiara leaving the last of her Father's marked trails bolted on toward the Outlands.

Her pace slowed when she reached the border. Her eyes looked out into the horizon. Now that she was close she could see just how dead it really was across the ravine and river.

"Wow…" she breathed. Her eyes wide with curiosity and excitement. "What what's out there?" her mind went to the pride that lived out there again. She wondered what made them live out there? She couldn't see any animals though. The Pride Lands were filled with animals. But this place didn't have any. So how did a pride survive?

For the first time since she thought of this new…mission of hers. She was nervous. She shifted her paws and cast a look over her shoulder.

Maybe this wasn't such a good idea. She thought for a second of how much trouble she could get in. Not that she didn't often care but she also didn't like being grounded. It was so boring.

Oh well…too late to back out now…

Keeping her eyes on the grasslands she allowed herself to wonder if Kodi had discovered that she hadn't followed him yet as she then quickly began making her way to find a way across the ravine. Setting her eyes on the fallen log a good yard away from her.

All the while unaware of her frantic friend who was at the moment running through the grasslands calling for her.

Kodi had found a small old abandoned den from a wild dog that by the scent hadn't been used in some time. Thinking it be the perfect place to hide; he had slipped on inside and waited for Kiara to come and find him. He had heard her call out 'ten' to tell him she was finished counting.

Now all he had to do was wait to see if she'd actually find him. She wasn't all that great of a tracker or huntress. Rather clumsy he would joke. But his Mother would often reprimand him whenever he did; saying that she was only a cub and had plenty of time to learn how to be a great huntress like the Queen before her.

But when thirteen minutes started to pass by and he had yet to hear her. He began feeling like something was wrong.

Growing out of his hiding hole he looked around. Standing as tall on his legs as they would allow him too. But he couldn't see or hear her. Did something happen? Did she go another way then he did? Did she get lost?

So many questions ran through his mind and he couldn't completely be sure of which was the right one.

"Kiara?" He called out. Deciding to give up on the game to find the Princess. Picking up his paws he began to leave the area first heading back the way he had come from to the spot he had last seen her. But she wasn't anywhere in sight.

"Kiara!?" Kodi called out again only this time much louder.

But like before there was no answer. He began trying to find her scent and the way it went. It took him a minute to find it and when he did he froze.

No.

She couldn't have.

Running back for the rock that was nearby he jumped up onto it and stared into the distance at the direction of the Outlands. "Kiara?" he called out. But he could not see her or hear her again.

For a moment or two he was stuck on what he should do. Should he run after her and drag her back himself? Or should he run and find the closest available help that could find King Simba in time?

He paled beneath his fur. Swallowing a large lump in his throat. He shook a bit in fear of having to face the King and tell him that he had last his daughter.

Groaning he hung his head. "That girl will be the death of me." He mumbled before making up his mind. Turning his body he ran in the opposite direction of the Outlands faster then he'd ever run in his young life determined to find the King before something happened to the Princess.


Sun. Sun and more sun.

That was all there ever seemed to be.

Very little cloud cover in the Outlands wasn't unusual but the amount of sun that seemed to beat down upon the barren wasteland seemed to have become more unbearable the passing two months.

The dry season they called it.

That had made her laugh. It always seemed like the dry season here. The only time she'd ever seen rain was when it seemed to fall upon the lands near them but hardly never upon the Outlands.

There were times when she watched the rain from a distance that she had a feeling that she felt that on her body once. But that would have been impossible. She'd been born in the Outlands and that's where she'd been raised the last six months of her life. There'd be so way she knew what it felt like to be pelted by rain or the smell of the water in the air.

Maybe she hit her head when she had been attacked and received the scars and her blind eye the day a vulture attacked her.

Yeah that had to be it.

Shifting her body from where she had it laying in the shade of a large boulder, Zawadi could not keep herself from wincing in pain. All her muscles were sore and strained. And she was pretty sure she was covered with bruises beneath her fur.

Training as always was rough.

But ever since that night and the nights afterwards of her Mother and Aunts teaching her how to properly manoeuvre her body in a fight, and track without her handicap holding her back it had gotten better then it had in the beginning.

However that didn't stop her from getting slapped around now and again as she and the others wrestled. They had stopped their training session just after mid-day when the sun was the highest and the heat had soon become unbearable to train in. At first they had been convinced that Zira would keep them going. But her Mother had approached and stated it was a good time to hunt.

That was where the adults were at the moment.

Hunting.

And the cubs…they were lounging about trying to keep out of the sun as much as possible. And though it would be cooler inside the termite mounds, Zawadi didn't feel like napping on inside them that day. So instead she settled for napping in the shade of the largest boulder she could find.

Her head rested on her front paws but her ears were alert for any noise that might be around her.

It wasn't uncommon for Kovu to jump her in the middle of a nap. The reddish brown cub found it humorous to pounce and scare her whenever he got the chance.

But luckily for her, she could hear him and Vitani arguing about something not far from where she laid so she knew she wasn't to be interrupted anytime soon or so she thought.

A larger and darker shadow cast itself over her. Not bothering to open her eyes for she knew who it already was. Instead she waited until he nudged her with his paw to acknowledge him. Opening her eyes, she turned her head enough on her paws to stare up at him with her good eye. She grinned at him. "Be hunting there Nuka?"

The older male grunted. The answer was obvious for there were several large field mice hanging from his mouth. He held them while he stared down at her with his reddish hue eyes before placing the mice on the ground between them. Sitting back, he rubbed the back of his neck and gave her a sheepish but cheeky smile. "Thought I'd bring you a snack. No telling when the hunting party will return."

He didn't have to say what he really meant. Zawadi knew the hidden meaning behind his words. For there was always a big 'IF' when it came to the hunting parties return about whether or not they actually would catch something that was suitable for them all to eat.

Her eyes went to the mice. Her felt her mouth go dry and her stomach rumble. She hadn't eaten in two days. But Zawadi also knew that Nuka hadn't eaten as well and lifting her head she gave him a curious look. "Why get them for me Nuka? Aren't you hungry as well?" she asked. If these were all he caught he ought to eat them himself she thought. Wouldn't be right for her to take them from him…even if she was hungry.

Nuka nodded his head. Yes, he was hungry. But he'd seen how she had gotten knocked around in training that morning. Hell even if had to go hard on her because she kept yelling at him for going easy. But he knew she was sluggish from the heat to which had caused her to stumble a bit. Not that he really could blame her.

But he did feel guilty.

She was his friend. He hated seeing her hurt. Most of all he hated to have been the one to hurt her. Even if they were training and she told him not to take it easy.

Plus it wasn't like he hadn't shared meals with her before.

He grinned at her. "Well there is enough to share for a small snack. But you need it. You're littler then I am. Heck I think that will always be the case. You're so small." His grin broke his face into a laugh at the "menacing" growl she gave him. Sitting back on his haunches he waved his paws in front of him. "Ooooh, scary."

Growling for a few more seconds, Zawadi could not help but laugh afterwards. She could never stay mad at Nuka. He just always made her laugh. Well…that was a lie…there were times when he annoyed her to the point that she got mad at him. Like that morning and all the other times she yelled at him during training hours to stop going easy on her.

She didn't understand why he did it.

She wanted to become strong. And she wasn't about to become strong if he treated her like she was some breakable thing. She wasn't some blade of grass that would bend when you walked on top of it.

Smiling, she reached out and divided the mice with her paws and pushed three toward him and three toward her. "There that is a good enough snack for both of us and don't try and give me yours." She gave him a stern look to which the older male slapped his hand over his eyes.

"Yes Miss Zawadi, whatever you say Miss Zawadi." Nuka grinned at her before reaching down to dig into his own mice. But made sure to watch her to see if she ate. When he was satisfied that she was, he went back to eating his. "When did you develop such a high strong personality?"

"Living with you and Kovu. One needs to develop one to put up with two annoying males." Was Zawadi's only answer.

She rolled her eyes at the pout he gave her. Well it was true, she thought. Sure Nuka was her best friend. She was somewhat closer to him then she was the other two. She never did like how Nuka put himself down whenever Zira talked down to him. Whenever she would see him upset about something, she would go straight over to him and refuse to leave his side until she saw him relax and smiling with her.

But Nuka and Kovu fought like lions and hyenas. It was something that annoyed both her and Vitani although they pretty much figured out why it was. During an argument, Nuka had come out and said that Kovu had no right to be the chosen one because he wasn't Scar's real son. That had shocked both Vitani and Kovu who had gone to ask Zira about it.

That hadn't ended well for Nuka. He had ended up with a cut up nose and a few scratches on his arms from how angry Zira had been.

That had been just after Zawadi had turned five months, at least a month prior to now, she thought. It didn't matter that she was only five months; she had spent the night with her Mother tending to Nuka's wounds.

But ever since that day, Nuka had been on Kovu's case about everything. The younger brother did seem to try and get along with his now acknowledged half-brother. Not that there wasn't times that Kovu seemed to enjoy taunting his brother and riling him up. But the lionesses said that, that's what brothers did. Because both Kovu and Nuka did that to Vitani from time to time.

She wasn't sure why, but she had a feeling that it was more then the fact that Kovu wasn't the son of Scar or the fact that he had his Mother's attention a lot more then Nuka had or that he was the chosen one. She had a feeling that there was something more…but she just couldn't place her paw on it…

"Hey lets go for a walk!"

Zawadi raised her eyes to look at him. Eyeing his wide smile and his pleading eyes. Rolling her own, she complained; "It's too hot Nuka."

The older male rolled his eyes. Moving he went to stand behind her and gave her rump a nudge and started to scoot her along the ground when she refused to move on her own. "Not a good enough excuse…come on lets go." His voice gave off that he was in a hurry and she looked over her shoulder as she jumped to her paws and started walking. But even when he continued to push her along by his snout.

"Nuka what's the rush?"

Her only answer was a groan as suddenly another voice was heard. "Hey guys wait up!"

Zawadi turned her head to see Kovu making his way over to them. A large grin on his face. She looked behind him to see that Vitani had gone off into the dens. Nuka raised his head to glare at his younger brother and scowled, "What do you want runt?"

Rolling his eyes at Nuka, Kovu grinned at Zawadi. "Where you going?"

"Nuka and I are going for a walk." Zawadi answered. Not adding that she was actually being pushed along rather then walking freely.

"Cool I'll come with you!" Kovu grinned jumping over to walk along side Zawadi. He brushed his side against hers and nuzzled her cheek with his nose causing her to giggle.

Unaware of the glare Nuka was now giving him from behind them. Nuka wasn't sure if his brother was doing this purposely, a rational side of him told him he wasn't, but another side entirely…the jealous side of him said that Kovu was doing all this to rile Nuka up. Whatever the reason was it angered him every time he saw Kovu close to Zawadi and she do nothing to push him away.

Her giggle made him bit back a growl.

Zawadi cast a look over her shoulder at Nuka and slowed her pace to walk along side him, she nuzzled his leg. "Come on Nuka. It won't be so bad for him to join us. And your Mother did say for you to keep an eye on him. If we leave him here you'll get in trouble…and I don't want you to get in trouble again Nuka…" she looked up at him with a worried look in her eyes.

Looking down into her eyes…Nuka sighed and growled. "Fine…" he muttered darkly. He gave his brother a look. "Fine termite you can tag along. But you better listen to me."

Kovu grinned and nodded his head. "Don't you worry big bro I always listen!" His grin widened as Nuka stomped on past him muttering how wrong he truly was.

Zawadi had to resist rolling her eyes at the two brothers and instead started to hurry on after them. "So Zawadi?" The she-cub lifted her eyes to stare at Kovu who was smirking at her. "How did you like being beat by me today?" His smirk began a grin when she narrowed her eyes at him and huffed. Holding her head high she walked on past him smacking him in the nose with her tail.

"One of these days Kovu bragging is going to get you in trouble and when that happens it'll be the last day you ever beat me." She looked over her shoulder at him with a dangerously determined look. "I plan to be the strongest of us all."

Staring at her a bit wide eyed, Kovu shook his head his shoulders shaking with laughter soon after. "Yeah right…you stronger then me and Nuka…ha! You're just a female and you're small for your age." He gave a sudden yelp when Zawadi at the last minute turned and pounced on him. Knocking him into the ground the two started to wrestle for dominance.

Zawadi hated being picked on for her height. But least it made her fight extra harder to try and prove a point that she too would be strong just like the others. Unfortunately Kovu had been training far longer then she had. So when he saw the opportunity he reached under him and kicked her in the stomach to push her somewhat off him.

Seeing that he had temporarily winded her, he flipped them both till he pinned her beneath him. A large grin on his face. "Face it Za' you're just too small. Better leave it to the big guys to protect you. That is a lions job after all. Stick to hunting not fighting." Bending down he licked her nose causing her to squeal and turn her head away from him.

A low sounding growl to their right caught their attention. Turning their heads they both saw Nuka watching them with a hard glare at the both of them…no…not at her, Zawadi corrected, but at Kovu. And she thought that if looks could kill that Kovu would be in his grave.

"Nuka what's wrong?" she asked from where she was still pinned beneath the male cub.

Not giving her an answer, Nuka stormed over to them. With a hard shove he pushed Kovu off of Zawadi. "Get off her!" He snapped his jaws at Kovu who backed away from him; his ears pulled back against his head a look of confusion on his face.

He didn't think he'd been doing anything wrong.

Both he and Zawadi were just having fun. Sure he teased her but that was all in the fun. He'd been teaching her along side Vitani since the moment she could walk how to wrestle with him and now that she could withstand it without being entirely too hurt it made the game more fun.

Staring at his brother he just couldn't understand why Nuka was so…protective AND possessive of the brown she-cub.

Scrambling to her paws Zawadi eyed Nuka with concern. "Nuka, what is wrong?" she asked a second time. She made her way over to him to stand in front of him as he looked down at her with a small grunt he looked off to the side. Sighing, she just rubbed her head against his leg.

Nuka looked down at her then over at Kovu who was watching them. Narrowing his eyes at the cub he scowled. "Why don't you just beat it termite." He didn't want to give his reason. He knew Zawadi considered Kovu a friend and he didn't want her to think otherwise of him for his jealousy. He wanted Zawadi to himself. Although it didn't bother him to share her with Vitani. Maybe it was because she was female?

He wasn't completely sure. But what he was sure of was, he lost a lot to Kovu already. He wouldn't loose Zawadi too. She was his friend. His only friend besides his sister. Kopa wasn't around anymore. He already lost one friend he didn't want to loose Zawadi too.

Looking back and forth between Nuka and Zawadi and grunted. "Fine I guess I'll go off and explore on my own." He grinned and taking a step forward he made to walk around them holding his head high. "Not like I can't take care of myself. I don't need anyone. Plus who wants to hang around a bore like you Nuka." His grin broadened at the growl but jumped when Nuka snapped his jaws at him.

Sticking his tongue out at his older brother, Kovu began making his way toward the direction the Pride Land and Outland border was. He liked going out by those parts. Sure it was a bore to have to think about the land he was born in and was denied going into all because King Simba accused his pride of the Queen's death rather then the truth that his mother and the others had been helping.

Sure he knew his Mother didn't like the Queen. But he and his siblings loved her. Why would his mother attack and kill someone they loved? He didn't think his mother would lie…but she did lie about him being Scar's son when he wasn't…but the others backed his mother's story. The lionesses never let them down before.

Behind him, Zawadi was watching him go off before she looked back at Nuka who was starting to go off into the opposite direction that his brother was going. She stood there torn for a moment; she wanted to go with Nuka since he had obviously asked her to go for a walk with him. It would be rude to turn away from him.

But on the other hand…Nuka had been put in charge of watching them…and now Kovu was heading in the direction of the borders where they'd been told not to play. Especially not since they'd been caught that day for the Princess's coronation. She'd only been a few weeks old at the time but she still remembered how much trouble her friends had gotten into for it.

Zira had even hurt Nuka.

She was suddenly filled with concern. She hated when Zira took her anger out on her eldest. Nuka didn't deserve that. He tried so hard to please his Mother that Zawadi just didn't understand why…she feared Zira…it wasn't that she didn't respect Zira…she did…in a sense. She was a good leader. A good teacher. Zawadi always paid close attention in training.

But the way she treated them all at times…

Must be because the Pridelanders were responsible for the way her mate had died? She thought.

"Zawadi?"

Her head snapped around to see that Nuka had stopped and was watching her. His eyebrow up like he was asking why she wasn't following. She eyed him then looked off in the direction Kovu had gone. "Don't you think we should…?"

"Oh let the little termite go off on his own. Shouldn't have come along anyways. Not like I wanted him here!" Nuka cut her off rolling his eyes. His eyes narrowed though when he noticed she didn't seem to be listening but rather started off after Kovu. "Hey where you going?"

"I'm following him!" Zawadi called back her paws taking her in the direction Kovu went.

Nuka felt a stab of jealousy and rejection shoot through him. She wanted to go after Kovu?

He took a shaky breath his eyes narrowing into a glare. "What do you like his company now?" he snapped at her before he could stop himself. Immediately he saw the anger pass over her face mixed with confusion when she turned back to look at him.

"That's not it at all!" she shouted at him.

"Then what is it?"

Zawadi stared at the older male. She wasn't sure why he was angry. Sure, Nuka didn't like having to find out that Kovu really wasn't the son of Scar but still the Chosen One. She knew he was jealous for that. But it was as it was. Kovu was chosen, he should support his brother. Kovu sure was annoying from time to time but he was still a sweet cub.

Some part of her had a feeling the jealousy was something more. She had a small feeling of what it was but she didn't want him to think in such a way.

"Nuka…" She stepped toward the older male.

Scowling he turned his back to her. "No…if you want to go after that little termite go ahead…not like I care…or you care about me…"

"That's not true!"

"Then answer the question before…what is your reason to go after him?" Nuka asked keeping his eyes ahead. He hated keeping his back to her. But he was hurt she would run after Kovu. She was his friend. Kovu didn't deserve her friendship. He already had so much that he didn't have. Why couldn't he have Zawadi to himself?

"Because if I don't you'll get in trouble! But what does it matter right…" Nuka froze for a second at her answer. But when he finally brought himself out of his stupor and managed to turn himself around to look at her, his shoulders stooped at the sight of her running off in the direction that Kovu had gone.

Placing his scowl back on his back, Nuka turned, with no point in continuing his walk, he began making his way home. Muttering; "Friend stealing termite."


"Kovu wait up!"

The reddish brown cub peered back over his shoulder, a look of confusion appearing on his face. "What are you doing Zawadi?" he asked. Wondering why she followed him rather then following his brother. "Shouldn't you be following after Nuka?"

Rolling her eyes, Zawadi trotted over to his side. "I would be if I didn't have to keep an eye on the Chosen future King." She whipped his nose with the end of her tail.

"I don't need to be looked after!" Kovu grunted glaring at the she-cub who once again just rolled her eyes at him. "Heck I'm older then you. How will you possibly keep an eye on me?"

Looking back at him, Zawadi snorted and shook her head. "More like you don't want to be looked at after by a girl who's younger then you. Oh don't be such a male." She nudged her head forward, "So why were you heading in this direction to begin with? You know the borders are forbidden especially after the last time you all tried to cross for that Princess's coronation." Her eyes followed him as he came to walk along side her. "Which I don't see why you would have bothered to risk getting in trouble just to see some spoiled little Princess of the lion who banished us from our own home." She scowled.

Zawadi didn't like Simba. Not one bit. She remembered the time she and her Mother crossed the borders just to find food. How she had been told that Simba would have killed them or done even worst. She'd seen how scarred Baya was from the Pridelanders and remembered how Dotty had returned just weeks before from an attempt at catching something without being caught. Her leg was bleeding and she had a limp for weeks after nearly being caught.

She didn't understand why her friends would risk their lives and the lives of the pride just too see some Princess that was their enemy. Foolish. That's what she thought of it. Foolish.

Kovu scoffed glaring at the ground while they walked. "You never knew the Queen. She was kind and always taught us well. That Princess is as much her daughter as she is Simba's. If we were alive…we wouldn't be out here…she wouldn't have allowed King Simba to send us away…I thought he was cool once…like when we watched the hunting party that time he participated. He even saved Nuka from being trampled…" From beside him Zawadi's eyebrow raised when she heard this. She hadn't known that. Perhaps it was because no one liked to mention their old lives in the Pride Lands for fear of Zira's hatred on the subject.

Zawadi didn't know anything about the Pride Lands other than that it flourished where the Outlands did not. That it had been their home before the King had cruelly exiled them. She rolled her eyes; "How do you know she would have stopped him?"

Kovu glared at her. "Because she was kind!"

"Yeah well from what you just said about the King, maybe the Queen wasn't all she made you believe she was." Zawadi pointed out. She ignored the look that Kovu gave her and tuned out his words. She knew he was defending the dead Queen but Zawadi didn't care.

She just sighed inwardly. Oh Kovu, she thought, you naïve cub you.

She thought that was Kovu's weakness. How kind he seemed to be deep down. It was something she thought was both sweet and annoying. Sweet because it meant the harshness of the Outlands didn't get to him all the way and annoying because this was the Chosen Heir. The Prince. The one she followed. He had to be braver and accept that perhaps he'd been deceived like all of them were.

The brown cub lifted her head when she noticed they had reached the borders. She had to title her head up a bit to look at the greenery on the other side of the ravine. This was the exact place they had come too when Nuka and Vitani had snuck into the Pride Lands that day so many months earlier.

"You never did answer my question as to why you'd be heading this way." Zawadi commented taking her eyes off the borders to look at her friend.

Kovu shrugged his shoulders. "Sounded like a fun idea. I mean we never come this far to play and have fun."

"There are reasons for that." Zawadi stated matter-of-factly.

"Oh come on Za' walk on the wild side once in awhile!" Kovu cracked a large smile and when Zawadi wasn't looking he pounced.

Letting out a small roar of surprise, Zawadi went to the ground but twisted her body all the same in order to get her paws under Kovu. But the dark Prince grabbed onto her leg with his teeth. Not hard enough to puncture her skin but hard enough to make it near impossible to wrench her leg out of his mouth without hurting herself in the process. Growling playfully, Zawadi nipped at his face aiming for his ear which she soon grabbed a hold of causing him to yelp just a bit but it was enough to make him release the hold he had on her leg.

Taking the chance she had, she locked all her legs around his body using her might to roll them then finally she slammed her paws down on the male cub's chest. Kovu stared up at her in disbelief while she held a rather smug look on her own face. "What's wrong Kovu?" she purred leaning her face down close to his. She smirked as he gulped at their closeness. "Can't accept that you got beat by a girl?"

Kovu's growl of annoyance only served to make her smirk grow wider. Laughing she bent her head down to rub hers along side his. Purring she licked gently at the ear she had bit before then jumped away and off of him. The moment she backed off him, Kovu rolled to his paws reaching up to rub the ear she had licked like it was some offence.

"Girls." Was all he mumbled but Zawadi caught it.

Laughing, she jumped up onto the rocks nearby and laid herself down on them with one paw dangling over the ledge, the other she had bent up with her head resting on it. "So what's so fun about being out here?" she asked looking around with her eyes then let them land back on him as Kovu peered up at her.

"Well we could spook the croc's that live in the water or we could sneak into the Pride Lands…" The last trailed off with a glare that Zawadi gave him.

Zawadi may not follow the rules now and again and loved to have fun and explore places she hadn't been like the others. But she knew better then to go against the one rule her mother and the others put in place not just for her protection but her friends as well. "Alright then…" Kovu mumbled rubbing the back of his neck then looked around them trying to figure out what could be fun for them both while she heard Zawadi huff and tuck her legs under her while she watched him.

"What?" He asked turning to face her. She laughed softly at his little glare and directed her attention off in the direction of home. Silently wondering where Nuka was and if he was still angry with her. While she was lost in her thoughts she only barely listened to Kovu while he started to rant; "Well if you can't agree to anything I think would be fun what do you think we should do…OAF!"

At hearing Kovu's sudden outburst and the sound of a body…or two…hitting the ground. Zawadi jumped to her paws and stared downward at Kovu who was now sprawled out on the ground shaking his head with a look of confusion. "Kovu are you alright…what happened…" her answer though came in the sound of a groan.

A groan that didn't belong to Kovu or herself.

Someone who didn't sound like anyone she knew.

Both Outlander cubs froze and slowly turned their attentions to the dark tan orangey cub that was now sprawled out on the ground much like Kovu had been. She was rubbing her head and slowly getting to her paws not at all seeming to notice the two cubs that were watching her. She dusted herself off mumbling to herself.

But seemed to catch Kovu's sudden movement for she turned toward them. Letting out a loud gasp she jumped and poised her body in pounce position as if she was expecting them to suddenly attack her.

This cub wasn't like any of them had seen before. And suddenly from the direction Zawadi figured she had obviously come from, it clicked as to what this cub could be. "Pridelander!" she gasped backing away from the edge of the rock keeping her eye on the strange cub.

Pridelander…what was a Pridelander doing in the Outlands?

Whose cub was she?

But that answer didn't take long to figure out. Zawadi knew from stories that there could only be one last cub in the Pridelander pride. The Princess…

This sent a chill down her body that she was so focused on her thoughts she didn't hear Kovu to the last minute confront the cub. "Who are you Pridelander?" A low growl rumbling in his chest as he advanced on the Princess who began backing away from him.

Quickly jumping down, Zawadi ran to Kovu's side and nudged him. "Leave her…Kovu this is the Princess…there could only be one cub there…you told me yourself…we need to go…" she whispered frantically to him. She didn't want to be caught with the Princess. It was bad enough to be around a Pridelander but the Princess…she wasn't looking forward to the trouble it would bring them…

Her eyes widened and she looked toward the border with wide eyes half expecting the King to arrive any minute. Kovu looked at her and the look on his face told her that he already knew who this cub could be but he didn't want to give away that they knew. "Don't be such a scaredy-cat Za'…lets have a little fun no?" His smirk made her look at him like her grew a second head and she rolled her eyes at him.

Leave it to nice calm little Kovu to want to place 'lets scare the Princess'.

And she wasn't sure what it was, but she decided to play along with it. Maybe it would scare her away and they could go home afterwards before the princess told her Kingly Daddy what had happened.

She began walking around Kovu in an arching circle, circling the Princess with a wide smile on her face. While Kovu continued to advance on the Princess who kept dodging while keeping her back from turning to Kovu while also trying to keep herself from being attacked from behind by Zawadi. The she-cub raised her eyebrow, "What on earth are you doing?" she thought it was rather amusing that the Princess was antsy. But the more she looked at the Princess, there was some nagging feeling in the back of her mind that she had seen this cub before. Even though she was pretty sure this was the first time they had ever crossed paths.

She had been born after the exile. She never had been in the Pride Lands so it would be crazy to know this cub. But still…she could not knock off that feeling.

Kiara, who was trying her best to stay calm, snapped her head from looking at the male cub to the female one. She noted the cub's fur was similar to the males but more earthly brown where the male was reddish brown. But both of them had green eyes. Well…she thought the female had ONE green eye…the other was completely gray and it stared at her making her feel uneasy. Throw in the scars that marred the female cub's face it made her even more uneasy.

Why would a cub her age have scars? She looked just about the same age she did. Did this female get in fights? Was that why?

This wasn't like she thought it would be when she crossed the log. She hadn't expected to run into anyone. She had only wanted to cross take a quick look around then run back across the border, find Kodi then go home. Feeling proud that she'd broke one of the rules.

But now as she watched these two cubs circle and advance on her. She felt her stomach drop. She wasn't trained to fight. She had no training experience at all. These two looked like they had. The female especially. Her eyes darted to the female again, who was watching her intently waiting for her to answer the question she had asked.

There it was again…that feeling she felt before that was drawing her toward the Outlands…was she was the reason? She wondered. No couldn't be. This was all stupid; there was no feeling no pull. It was all in her head.

Deciding to show that they didn't scare her, she pushed her body up on all four paws and held her head high. "My Father says to NEVER turn your back on an Outsider!" She tried her best to use her 'authority' voice like her Father used when he knew he had to be a good and brave King.

What she wasn't expecting was the sudden loud laughs that came from the two strange cubs. The male cub smirked, "Do you always do what daddy says?"

"I do not!" That was half a lie and half the truth. She both listened and didn't listen to her Father depending on what rules she didn't like and thought were ridiculous.

"Bet you do! Bet you're daddy's little girl! HA!" Kovu laughed leaning his face in close to the Princess's. A large grin on his face.

Zawadi who was now watching all this thought it would be best to end their fun. She didn't know why but she suddenly felt sorry for the Princess whose ears folded back on her head at Kovu's mocking. Not knowing what had gotten into her and why she would bother defending a spoiled Princess much less one who was the daughter of the lion who would kill them if he found her with them. She made her way over to Kovu and shoved his shoulder with her paw, "That's enough Kovu." She reprimanded making him look at her confused.

"Let's leave her and just go home. I bet our mother's are back by now." She eyed him closely while she stepped around him and made her way over to the Princess who shrank back from her. "Oh relax little Princess. I ain't gonna hurt you." She watched the cub tense up and smiled. "Yes I know who you are. Though we don't know your name we know your title." She moved around the cub giving her a stern look. "I suggest you leave before our pride finds you. The precious daughter of King Simba." She let her words hang out there like a threat.

Kiara shivered and kept her paws firmly on the ground. She didn't want to make them think she was truly afraid of them. She wanted to be brave. Like her Father was. Like she suspected her Mother had been. Listing her eyes she stared into the eyes of the she-cub in front of her. Fighting back the shudder that wanted to run through her at the emptiness of the cub's one eye.

Once again she wondered how it happened. What caused this cub to be as scarred as she was?

The two cubs stood there staring at each other. Eyes never leave the others. And both for some reason could not fight the feeling that they felt looking at one another. A pull of sorts. It was Zawadi who broke their stare, stepping back she turned and made her way over to Kovu. Despite him being bigger then her, she pushed her head against his side to try and get him to move. "Come on Kovu it's time to go."

When he wouldn't budge she grunted; slapping her paw against the ground all the while glaring. "I said move it!"

She didn't want to be around this Pridelander Princess anymore then she needed to be. She didn't want her Father showing up and killing them. She didn't want their Mothers showing up and both of them getting into trouble. For a moment she really wasn't sure which was the worst of the two before settling on the former being ten times worst then the latter. She could handle her Mother's disappointment and anger. Death she didn't want to happen to her so young.

Kovu shook his head. "No. I want to stick around. Perhaps have a bit of fun with the Princess here." He wasn't sure if Zawadi could catch onto the hidden meaning behind his words but the spark in her eyes told her she caught on quicker then he figured.

Huffing, Zawadi brought her head closer to his and lowered her voice so only he could hear her. "You are to naïve for your own good Kovu. She may be the daughter of the lioness who treated you fairly but she is also the daughter of the King who wants our pride dead. You are the heir for Scar. King Simba hates Scar. What makes you think he won't kill you when he has the chance? He's bound to come looking for her and when he see's you with her…You're my Prince, Kovu. I can't just let you run around with Pridelanders and get yourself killed and loose everything we are training for and for our future." Zawadi gave him a look that meant she wanted him to come with her. But the Outlander Prince just shook his head again.

"Well…" he answered, his voice lowered as well. "If I'm your Prince, then you have no say in what I do or ordering me what to do. I want to stay and have fun. This Princess is the sister of my friend Kopa…he was my best friend…and now he's dead…" his eyes flickered to Kiara then back to Zawadi. "She's the only connection I have to him…" It would be years before he discovered the falseness behind his words. "If you want to go then go. You're the one who followed me here. I wanted to have fun. Maybe you should have stayed with Nuka if you didn't want to have fun with me."

Glaring, Zawadi snarled; side stepping around him she began moving away from the border. "Beginning to think I never should have left his side for you. But fine!" She stomped her paws as she walked to show her anger. "Be that way Kovu. If you end up dead it'll be your own fault!" She glared back over her shoulder at him. "You better take the blame for this one because I refuse to take punishment from your Mother." Her eyes went to Kiara who remained where she'd been the whole time just watching them with wide blue eyes.

Scowling at the thought and wonderment of why she felt some sort of pull toward the Princess. One she'd never met before and one who just happened to be her enemy. One who would one day die at the paws of her Pride when they sought their revenge for the way the Pridelanders treated them. Cocking her head to the side she watched Kiara turn to face her, "Better run along Princess. Don't want Daddy to have to find you with the big bad Outsiders. Do you?" she sweet toned her voice.

A laugh broke from her as she watched a shudder run through Kiara who lowered herself further to the ground. Despite the pull she felt to this cub, she still scared her. There was something about her that she could not put her paw on it but the she-cub still scared her.

She was an Outsider…one like her Father and Zazu warned her about. But swallowing her fear she held herself up on her paws and glared. "I don't need my Father to take care of me. I'm not scared. I'm brave like he and my Mother. You don't scare me!" She refused to lower her glare even when the strange cub laughed and shook her head.

"Whatever you say Princess." Zawadi muttered. She had to get away from her. Whatever it was that Kiara sparked it was beginning to irritate her more then Kovu was at this very moment. Wanting nothing more then to avoid getting into trouble she refused to look back at them as she began making her way toward the place she called home.

It wasn't much of a home living in termite mounds with little food and water but it was something. Least she had her friends and aunts and more importantly her Mother.

When she was out of sight of the two behind her, she picked up pace before running at full speed. She didn't want to admit it but she was panicking for Kovu. Despite the fact that he annoyed her at times, he was her prince and was her friend. He was purposely putting himself in danger by staying behind and she had to do something about it. If he wouldn't listen to her…then he was bound to listen to his Mother.

Zira.

The one lioness she feared. Well not entirely. She feared the Pridelanders even more. But out of her entire family and pride she feared the Queen who ruled over her.

But she was the best chance she had at getting Kovu away from the Princess before he got himself into any more danger then he already was staying behind.

She didn't let him in on her plan that she thought of as she walked away. Maybe a little lesson from Zira would set him straight on the matter of where Pridelanders stood with the rest of them.

Paws slapping across the ground, dirt kicking up behind her. Zawadi quickly made her way back toward the Pride. Nose in the air she could tell the hunting party were close by. Returning from their search for food no less.

Changing directions just a bit she ran toward them. And when they finally got within eyeshot, Zawadi opened her mouth calling; "Mother! Mother!"

She watched as each lioness stopped and turned in her direction. Kumai quickly separated herself from her Pride-sisters at the sound and sight of her daughter. Meeting her half way she reached out to wrap her paw around the brown cub drawing her close. "Zawadi what are you doing out here?" she asked, "You were suppose to stay back at the mounds with the others. You were to be watching each other." Her disappointment for her daughter was clear in her voice.

But Zawadi wasn't going to let it detour her from what she needed to tell them. "I did…but Nuka and I went for a walk…Kovu accompanied us but then he walked away…" she heard the growl that rumbled from Zira who began making her way toward mother and daughter. Zawadi turned her head to look at Zira, trying her best not to appear afraid of the lioness and stood her ground. "I told Nuka…we needed to keep an eye on him…so I followed…we…the Pridelander Princess…" If the growl from Zira before wasn't frightening enough.

Zira's roar certainly was.

"What?!" Bringing her face closer to the cubs, Zira's mouth pulled back in a menacing snarl. "What do you mean of Simba's brat?"

Gulping, Zawadi shuffled her paws, looking up at her Mother who looked shock at the mention of the Princess but nodded her head to encourage Zawadi to continue. Nodding her own head, Zawadi turned back to Zira. "She…she stumbled into the Outlands…I…I tried to get Kovu to leave…but he refused…he laughed and said he could handle himself…I tried Queen Zira…I did…but he would not listen…so I came to find you instead." She finished keeping her head up as she faced the Outlander Queen.

With another snarl, Zira pulled back from Zawadi. Her words running through her mind. So Simba's other little daughter wandered into her lands, did she? And was with her son no less. She wasn't sure if this was perfect or something that would ruin her plans entirely.

Her eyes went to Zawadi. A glower came over her face. If Simba had stumbled upon the cub, her plans could have been ruined. She was quite sure the two sisters did not recognize each other. How could they, having both been still blind as the day they were both the last time they were within reach of each other until this very moment.

Disappointment and anger for her son rose in her mind. How dare he disobey her order to stay away from the Pride Land borders? How dare he put himself in danger? How dare he risk the exposure of Zawadi? So many plans would have come undone should Simba have stumbled upon them. And now her son was still there defying her orders where he could get himself killed.

She lowered her gaze to see the young cub still watching her awaiting her anger and answer to what had been told. It was then that a thought struck her. She knew Zawadi feared her. She knew that she respected the others but never her. Perhaps this was her chance to gain the cub's loyalty to her. Zira needed this cub's loyalty in order to fulfil her plans. This could be that very thing she needed to start it.

Washing all anger from her face, she bent down placing it with fake concern but the cub needed to buy it. "You did well coming to find me Zawadi. The King would have killed you both should he have found you with his daughter. For all you know she could have been a trap that was waiting to be sprung to lure you in. Now…we must get Kovu away before he gets himself hurt…" She tried to hold her anger back at that. She would never forgive Simba if he laid a paw on her son. Zira may not show it, but she loved her cubs, tough love yes, but it was there buried beneath the surface. But there was a upside should the King do anything to her son…it would spark the anger of her Pride and make way for more revenge against him then there was at this very moment of time.

Biting back the vile in her throat, she rubbed her head along Zawadi's, feeling the cub tense up at the affection. Zawadi wasn't sure of what to feel when Zira began to show her kindness and affection. It was not something she was use too. Not from the Outlander Queen anyways.

It sparked a memory in her mind about when Zira had seemed concerned when she had found out they had been near the border the day of the coronation. Worried that her cubs had gotten them in the way of danger. How she'd been too young to even fend for herself.

Despite the fear she always felt for Zira, she felt a spark of delight at having the Queen's attention and affection. Maybe it was a cub thing to have the affection of all of your Pride or just that of the Queen you followed.

She found that she liked it. It wasn't the same as the affection she felt from her mother and aunts. But it was something.

It made her feel like she'd finally did something right to please the lioness that was her Queen.

Kumai on the other hand, watched Zira suspiciously. Her daughter may not be able to see through it, but she certainly did. As did the others. All were tense when Zira had begun to nuzzle the cub, all waiting for when she would strike out with her anger. She looked toward Spotty who was watching Zira closely but shrugged her shoulders at Kumai. None had an answer to this.

"Queen…Queen Zira?" Zawadi finally stuttered. Watching closely as Zira gave her one last nuzzle then pulled back. "Did I do something…right?"

"Of course dear girl," Zawadi didn't know whether to shudder from fear or delight. Fear of the lioness that trained her mercilessly or delight from the fact that she may have done something to finally warrant as being useful in her pride. "But we must find Kovu before Simba does or else he will be killed. You must show me where he is." Zira tried not to show the smirk that wanted to come over her face. She was the look in the cub's eyes that despite her confusion she enjoyed the attention. It made her sick but it was all necessary for her plan.

The cub had to be loyal to both her and her son. She saw that now. And Zawadi would be and that would only strike deeper into the King's heart when Zawadi's true identity was revealed. In due time. But first the cub needed to grow to love the pride, and be loyal to both her and Kovu to get what needed to be done.

Zawadi shuffled her paws. Zira wanted her to show her where Kovu and the Princess was last. She wasn't sure she wanted to go near the Princess again. She did not like being confused about the small pull or connection she felt with King Simba's brat. It felt so crazy almost like they met before but that was not possible just like she told herself before when the thought struck her. And as much as she wanted to talk about it with her Mother she knew it would be an impossible feat because she thought they'd think she was crazy just like she was beginning to think she was.

Maybe she had been out in the sun too long.

Yeah that had to be it.

Too much sun.

Turning her head to look at her Mother, she waited until Kumai sighed and nodded her head. Giving permission to lead Zira to the Outlander Prince. Kumai knew that getting permission from her did not matter because Zira would have demanded it anyways but she was glad her daughter wanted to know it was alright with her first. "Yes…but I shall come with you." She looked at Zira to see the Queen's face didn't show a hint of what she was feeling or thinking at that moment.

Zira did not say a thing, only turning to look at the others and ordered; "Return home. Keep Nuka and Vitani there…we shall return after…and tell my son I have something I'd wish to discuss with him afterwards." Looking back at Zawadi she forced a smile onto her face. "Well now Zawadi…do lead on."

Nodding her head vigorously knowing she shouldn't upset Zira, even if she seemed to show her affection moments before, it wouldn't be wise to anger her in this situation. She could tell she was still angry about Kovu being with the Pridelander Princess and more importantly she was angry that a Pridelander had stepped into their territory.

Both Zira and Kumai fell in step behind Zawadi who had to jog ahead of them because of her short legs they would be able to walk faster then her. Kumai was fighting an inner debate. If they came across the Princess and Simba was there or if he'd show up…he'd be able to see Zawadi…he would know right away who she was…I mean it may have been months since he'd last seen her but there wasn't many she doubted that had the same white markings on her legs like Zawadi had. Perhaps this was her chance to redeem herself for the mistake she made in her own anger and need for revenge by taking Zawadi.

She was leading them to Kovu and this Princess without even knowing that she too was a Pridelander Princess. And said Princess there was her sister. Maybe this was her chance to have her handed back over to Simba and escape the grasp of Zira. She would gladly handle any punishment given to her if that was what it took.

But sadly as if knowing what Kumai was thinking, Zira hissed low under her breath so that Zawadi did not overhear what she was saying. "You do what I think you want to do, I will kill her Kumai. Right in front of you…or better yet perhaps I shall order you to kill her…bet she'd love to know you lied to her all this time and see the Mother she'd come to love kill her right after finding out the truth…you want her alive Kumai you keep your mouth shut! You will not ruin my plans. Zawadi will know the truth…in time…but only when my revenge is complete and Kovu is King!" Zira cast the lioness beside her a hard menacing look that had Kumai nodding her head to agree with her.

It just wasn't worth getting Zawadi killed. She knew that. But oh how she wished she could save her from this life she dragged her into.

It wasn't long before they came upon the last place Zawadi had seen Kovu and Kiara. But unlike before they were now nowhere in sight. Turning on the spot several times she finally looked at the two adults with wide eyes; "They were right here. I swear it!" She felt fear as she set her eyes on Zira whose ever present sneer returned to her face.

The Outlander Queen was looking around but could see no sign of her son or Simba's other daughter. Where could those two have gone to? She did not smell Simba in the area so he couldn't have come already…but where…the sudden sound of water splashing made her turn her head to see that the crocodiles were very restless and for a moment she felt the first twinge of fear she had for years.

At the thought of her son having been eaten.

But it was Kumai who stopped her from voicing it, when she ran toward the log that went over the ravine. "I hear laughter…on the other side…its distance but still there…could they have crossed into the Pride Lands?"

Growling, Zira stormed her way over. "He knows better then to go over there." But it was a possible reason and she could scent her son on the air in the direction of the Pride Lands. This angered her further. Her cubs should know better then to disobey her.

Jumping onto the rock she switched her attention back to Kumai and Zawadi when she got a sudden idea. "Follow." Her eyes went from Kumai to the cub that said she wanted them both to follow. Then without another word she faced forward and made her way across the ravine and borders into the lands that been stolen from her.

Kumai wasn't sure what Zira wanted when she told her to follow and bring her daughter as well. But knowing better then to question her Queen, she picked up Zawadi by the neck and carried her across the borders then deposited her when they reached the other side.

Zawadi looked around in wide eyes. She knew this land was much different from the place they lived in. But she was still very young the last time she ran across the borders to help her Mother from that cheetah that had followed her that time she tried hunting in the Pride Lands so that she did not need to eat any rotten meat that day.

But for some reason this time stepping onto the lands of her prides enemy felt…strange. She could not place the feeling so decided to cast it aside as she followed her Mother who was taking off after Zira who was now tracking Kovu's scent.

It wasn't long before they heard the laughter and soft growling of cubs. That was when Zira stopped and told Kumai to not go any further and keep Zawadi hidden. The Queen bent her head to the cub's level. "We wouldn't want you to get hurt. But I think it is time you saw just how horrible they truly are to us Outlanders." To sweeten her words she gave Zawadi another nuzzles, once again swallowing the vile that threatened to come up from her stomach at doing so.

Looking at Kumai, the grey lioness could tell just by the look in her Queen's eyes what Zira wanted her to do.

Keep Zawadi from being discovered but still let her see what Zira had planned. Gritting her teeth, she nodded her head stiffly. Grabbing her daughter she carried her to where she would have a good view of what was to come but also keep her and her daughter hidden.

Setting Zawadi down, Kumai hunkered down placing her paw on the cubs back to keep her down and hidden. From where they were they could see Kiara and Kovu playing with one another with Zira circling to the far side. But she did not approach the two cubs just yet instead she was watching them.

It wasn't until they noticed both cubs were getting ready to wrestle and Kovu let out a small growl and prepare to pounce when out of the tall grass behind them a large hulking figure appeared standing above the now shocked and slightly worried Princess.

This was the first time that Zawadi had ever laid her eyes on the King that she been warned about her entire life.

The massive male lion was golden-brown in colour with white on his muzzle and underbelly and paws. The mane atop his head was as red as the setting sun. His amber eyes dark with hate. His muzzle pulled back in a threatening snarl.

His mouth opened letting out the loudest most frightening roar that Zawadi had ever heard…


"Whatever you say Princess."

Kiara bit the inside of her cheek to keep herself from retorting. She stood stock still; watching with wide eyes as the brown scarred cub took off into the distance.

Who was she?

She didn't really remember getting a name. All she heard this male…call was…Za'?

What sort of name was that? She thought. Sounded weird and kind of stupid.

She could not contain the snicker that escaped her but jumped back when she heard a faint growl and looked up to see that the reddish brown male was in her face. "Something funny Pridelander?" He asked.

Kiara shook her head. "No…" she squeaked. Not wanting too upset this outsider. She feared what he could do if he found out what she'd just been laughing about. Perhaps she was his sister…but that was when she remembered that the other cub had mentioned 'Mothers' so perhaps they weren't related in any sense. But they sure looked alike…well sort of.

Putting on her brave face, she stood firmly on her paws. "You can't growl at me." She snapped. "I'm a Princess."

That only rewarded her with a laugh from the other cub. Kovu grinned across at Kiara with mirth. "Yeah and I'm a Prince, but that doesn't mean I don't care whether or not what you are. You stepped into my lands and therefore I'm allowed to do whatever I want. Just like I always do." He held his head up with pride a large cocky grin coming over his face. Sure that was a lie…he wasn't allowed to do whatever he wanted all the time…but who was this spoiled Princess to know that.

Half expecting a smart-alecky response, he was caught off guard by the surprise and…what he assumed was awe that came over the other cubs face. "Wow…really?" He blinked at the awe in her voice and his eyebrow went up in question. He watched the Princess lower her eyes to glare at the ground.

"My Father doesn't let me do anything. He's just so…protective…" Her words were nothing but mumbles but Kovu manages to catch most of what she said.

Throwing his head back, Kovu guffawed. Smirking, he circled the young Princess. Eyeing her closely. So she was the sister of Kopa and the daughter of Zuri. She didn't have her mother's fur, but the eyes that shinned with curiosity and determination were the former Pridelander Queen's alright. Her coat was like an orangeier colour then Kopa's was but he could see the King and Queen in her and his old friend.

He knew it was a dangerous thing getting close to a Pridelander. Much less the daughter of the King who exiled them. But at the same time he wanted to see the sister of his dead friend. All of them missed Kopa and Zuri. But none said anything in front of their mother knowing it would only anger her.

Neither of them was talked about as much as they first had been but now and again he could see how his sister would go off to sulk.

Deep down some part of him was thinking something that he knew was outright ridiculous but at the same time he thought it wasn't. Sure he had friends out of his siblings…well more like just Vitani now since Nuka seemed to snap at him whenever he had the chance…and then there was Zawadi…but still there wasn't as many friends as he wished…

Kiara's awe and wonder at the thought of a cub being able to do whatever he wanted was pushed aside when Kovu continued to circle her like a vulture. When she said as much, he just laughed at her again. Finally having enough she stomped her paw; "What am I? Some piece of meat?" She glared at the other cub that had stopped and stepped back from her this time both his eyebrows shooting up in question. "What?" Kiara snapped again.

Shoulders shaking with mirth, Kovu shook his head. She was just like them; he thought sadly but didn't say it out loud. Instead he smirked and began walking away from her, "You are so paranoid." He called over his shoulder heading toward the waters edge, he heard her quickly stomp after her with a small growl.

"I am not! You are just extremely irritating!"

"You keep telling yourself that Princess."

"I have a name you know!"

"Don't care. Princess suits you."

Kovu bent his head taking a quick lap at the water when he felt himself hit from behind and pushed head first into the water. Coming up he spite the water out of his mouth, his paws slapping at the water as he swam grabbing onto the closest thing to him; he lifted himself out of the water. His fur clinging to him as water dripped off.

He lifted his head to glare at the laughing cub on the shore. Kiara who had let her frustration get the better of her had done the first thing she could think of. And that was to push him into the water. If he wanted to be rude and refuse to know her name then it was what he deserved, she thought. When he glared at her, she stuck her tongue out. "Serves you right!"

"Spoiled little Princess…" Kovu scowled shaking his body wanting to get the water out of his fur. Only to groan when he felt it fluff up in places before he attempted to smooth it down. "No wonder you don't get to do things on your own. You're a menace…An outsider like me doesn't need anything…I take care of myself…which I highly doubt you do!" His anger getting the better of him he decided to egg her own. Perhaps draw her close enough to where he could push her in the water next.

Childish sure.

But she started it.

"I can too!" Kiara protested. Looking around she backed up before taking a running start, landing on the closest 'rock' nearest to her. "And I highly doubt you do…I mean that other cub here seemed to be watching over you!"

Kovu felt his fur bristle. "She does not! She's younger and smaller then me! I'm the one who watched over her…" okay that was a lie, Zawadi had followed him to keep an eye on him and keep him out of trouble. But this Princess didn't need to know that. He opened his mouth to say more, when something behind Kiara caught his eye and made any word come out of his mouth sound like small cries.

"What…cat got your tongue?" Kiara smirked. Thinking she had this rude cub. But her smirk slowly fell from her face when she saw the fear come over his. "What…what's wrong…"

"Uh…Uh…" Were the only words he managed to try and say?

That was when Kiara felt the rock she was standing on move. Wait…that wasn't right…rock don't move…

A shadow started to cast itself upon her. Only then did she twist her body, and fear shoot through her at the sight of the large mouth and sharp teeth that were coming at her. Letting out a high pitched scream, she started jump all the while shouting; "RUN!"

Joining Kovu, the two cubs tried to keep their balance as the crocodiles beneath them came to…in all sense of the word…to life. Each twisting their bodies; jaws snapping at the two fleeing cubs. Leaping they managed to grab onto an actual rock but that was short lived as the croc's lifted their bodies in attempts to catch them. Screeching, Kiara made another leap. "Quick this way!" Both managing to get away just as one large croc flung its body up onto the rock they previously been on.

Leaping, the two caught each others eyes. Not knowing what came over them, they both let out a small laugh as they jumped from rock to rock. Finally stopping when they thought they were safe. Chuckling the two felt their nerves getting the best of them, lifting his head Kovu found himself smiling for the first time since she'd crashed into him upon her arrival. "That…that was a close one…never want to do that again…" he panted.

Kiara laughed along with him. Not sure if it was the sudden excitement of the situation, one she'd never been in before that thrilled her…or the fact that she just wanted to laugh away her fears she nodded not really able to find her voice on the matter.

But all excitement soon went out the window to be once again replaced by fear, when the ground beneath them began to move once more. With separate cries of their own, both leapt up, but this time in separate directions. Kiara not knowing where else to go flung herself up onto the nearest small little tree…which felt a long like a big twig to her…that stuck out of the water. Gripping it with her claws she watched as Kovu began bounding away in the other direction. "Hey!" she called after him. Not wanting to believe he would actually leave her behind to die…perhaps her father had been right about outsiders… "What about me?"

Panting hard, Kovu leapt from crocodile to crocodile trying to escape. Missing jaws left and right that snapped at him. Hearing Kiara call after him, he shouted on back over his shoulder. "I'm distracting them…hurry up already and run!" He wasn't sure why he was doing it, why lead them away instead of letting them just eat her while he escaped. But this was the sister of the cub he once called his best friend…he wasn't going to let her die, he thought determinedly.

He wasn't evil. He couldn't do that.

Being rude and poking fun was one thing. Letting someone die because he was a coward was another. Something he didn't want. "Hurry already!" He shouted again but in doing so he let himself get distracted as he jumped onto a croc's tail that flung him up then slapped him back down into the water.

Coming up for air, he gasped and tried to look around. Only to find his worst fear as a croc began coming at him, jaws wide open. He knew he had no chance of swimming away in time. Croc's were much better swimmers then lions. Not knowing what else to do, he tried to paddle his paws, while behind him he heard the cry of. "Watch out!"

Kiara who managed to get herself up higher on her perched. Gripped it tight, trying to bat her paw at whatever croc tried to reach her. It was a useless thing she knew. What croc would be afraid of a little lion cub but she didn't know what else to do. Her head snapped up to the right when she heard a loud cry followed by a splash, but it wasn't until she saw the crocodiles that were trying to get her suddenly leave to chase the cub that was now in the water that she knew what had happened.

She watched with wide terrified eyes as the croc's made their way toward Kovu. Her heart pounded in her chest. Not knowing what to do she settled for crying out to him to watch out. But seeing he wasn't getting out of the water, she braced herself. "Oh…this is a bad idea…" she thought but not wasting a second she flung herself forward landing on the nearest croc's head she slammed its jaws shut.

Happy to see it was the one about to grab Kovu, she looked at him with wide eyes. "Move it! Hurry!"

Eyeing the new long hanging tree that Kovu was gripping onto she ordered him; "Move it now!"

Finally overcoming his shock, Kovu began scrambling up the side of the tree, hearing a soft 'oaf' behind him told him that the Princess was following him. Lifting their heads they saw the edge of the ravine coming into sight. Deciding that was the way to go they both began running toward it. When below a croc grabbed hold and began to shake their perch.

Clinging to it while Kovu had jumped to the edge, Kiara braced herself and with a kick of her back legs she jumped. She landed flat on her stomach, her ears pinned against her head, her eyes wide and mouth open wide while air panted through her lungs. She looked up when she felt a paw on her head and smiled at the cub who asked; "You okay?"

Nodding, she carefully climbed to her paws as Kovu passed on by her heading for the ledge. Peering downward, the cubs watched as the croc's claws and snapped their jaws up at them. From beside him, he heard Kiara whisper… "I did it…" before seconds later she repeated more loudly. "I did it!" It was then he caught sight of her sticking her tongue out down at the crocs.

Laughing, he smirked. "Ha…stupid snapping idiots…" he chuckled turning away from the ledge following in step behind the Princess. It wasn't long before it struck home that he was no longer in the Outlands but in the lands he hadn't been in, in months. The lands of his birth. The Pride Lands.

A wave of nervousness ran through him.

He wasn't supposed to be there. If his Mother found out…he gulped. He didn't even want to think about what would happen if his Mother found out. His eyes darted back the way they had come thinking maybe if he ran now he'd reach the log bridge, and cross it before his mother even found that he'd crossed it or worst…if Simba found him…His eyes went wide and he whipped his head around.

Kiara who wasn't really paying too much attention to Kovu at the moment. Was jumping on the spot, a large smile on her face, and eyes wide with excitement as she thought about what had just happened. Sure it was scary at first but now…now she could just feel the thrill that coursed through her body. She'd never felt such a feeling before. Laughing she turned to face the other cub, "Did you see the size of those teeth!" She exclaimed.

"And they were going like…rawr…rawr…" Kovu jumped back when the Princess threw herself down on her back her paws batting up at him, teeth chopping as she growled. But her growls were soon replaced with giggles of delight as she rolled onto her paws again.

"And he was totally going to eat you right up there…and I jumped on his head…" Giggling and jumping on her paws she ignored the raised eyebrow Kovu sent her way, thinking maybe she had ended up hitting her head during the ordeal. "I bopped him so good!" Smiling she reached out shoving his shoulder with her paw, "We make a pretty cool team huh?" she smirked holding her head high. For her first real adventure, she was kind of sad that Kodi hadn't been involved but at the same time happy that she had had one.

Kovu shrugged his shoulders. He wasn't sure what you would call a team. They were just trying to escape with their lives nothing more nothing less. If she wanted team work she should see how he and the others train, he thought amusingly. Now that was team work…when they weren't arguing that is. He was so lost in his thoughts; he hadn't seen Kiara approach him and felt his body go rigid when suddenly she was rubbing up against him. "Huh?" was all he could stammer.

Pulling away, Kiara smiled. "You…you were so brave out there…" ducking her head she peered up at him through her lashes. Beneath her fur she could feel her skin heat up.

Blinking, Kovu wasn't sure what to say before smirking and giving another shrug. "Yeah…I guess you were pretty brave too…for a Princess I mean." He quickly added not wanting to show that he was slight embarrassed at the display of affection she had shown him. His mother would have his tail if she found out while Vitani, Nuka and Zawadi would probably laugh.

He didn't want to admit it out loud. Knowing it could possibly be false hope. But she seemed like she'd make a pretty good friend. He didn't like his Mom's idea of training for the future. He just wanted friends. He could careless if he became King. It was what he thought when Kopa was still around and they still lived in the Pride Lands. It was this thought that led him to believe whether or not they would have been friends. She reminded him of Kopa…so he was sure they all would have been friends in the end…

Since his Mother wasn't around he decided to throw caution to the wind. Might as well give it a shot he thought. Clearing his throat, he sat up proudly. "I'm Kovu by the way. I know your title but sadly not your name." He grinned awaiting to hear her name but leaned back when Kiara moved herself in close, her nose inches from his.

"I'm Kiara." Purring, Kiara gave him another nuzzle with the side of her nose before stepping back. He was the first male lion beside her father she'd ever met. Both he and that other cub were technically the ONLY lion cubs she'd met. Seeing the sudden uncomfortable look on his face, she figured he didn't like strangers touching him too much. So pulling away she lead him different into the grass, jumping around on her paws.

This was so exciting, she had gone into the Outlands, escaped crocodiles and now here she was back in the Pride Lands with an Outlander who had escaped the crocodiles with her. She wasn't sure what to do before her playfulness got the better of her. Jumping around to face Kovu again. For a brief second she wondered why anyone would name their son that for what it meant. 'Scar'. Then again…her great-uncle had gone by that name she'd been told by stories from her Grandmother.

Deciding that she wanted to make the most of having Kovu in the Pride Lands…without her Father finding out…she decided on a game…that was when the first idea for a game came too her…a game she often had a disadvantage with when it came to playing it with Kodi or one of the adults who were faster then her…

Crouching down low to the ground; her tail whipped in the air behind her. When she caught his attention, she reached out, batting her paw against his leg. "Tag you're it!" She cried excitedly.

Jumping back and forth on the ground and backing up a bit prepared to run she stopped when she saw Kovu was just sitting there staring at her. Darting forward again she slapped his leg much harder this time repeating. "I said tag! So come on! You're it come on!" When he still didn't move, Kiara felt herself become frustrated. "Hello!" She called him, seeing him blink, she knew he was listening. "I said you were it…come on its tag…I touch you…you chase me…get it? I mean come on you've got to have played it before?"

"I have." Kovu answered. Staying where he was. He just wasn't sure if he should play with her. He had caught the scent of his Mother on the wind but it changed so much he couldn't tell where she was. "But it's such a baby's game…"

"Oh…" Kiara's face fell. Ears drooping she thought for a minute on what to think that they could do when an idea came to mind. Grinning, she crouched her body again, and growled playfully. Trying to entice him into a game of wrestle. It wasn't her favourite thing to do but it seemed like a good idea to get him to play with her.

It took a moment to figure out what Kiara wanted this time. But quickly figuring it out. A large grin overcame Kovu's face. Now this was something he could do that he found fun. Smirking, he said; "I'd be careful little Princess. I'm a master at wrestling." Laughing mockingly he bent his body, parting his paws properly like he'd been taught he pulled his jowls back over his teeth in a mock-threatening way.

A low rumbling playful growl sounded from him just before he was about to pounce when suddenly they were no longer along. From the grass a large body appeared. Brownish gold legs slammed down in front of him separating him from Kiara. Shaking, he lifted his head to find himself staring straight up at the one lion he'd never think he'd see face to face again for some time…

His ears flattened while his paws slapped over them as Simba let out a loud long threatening roar. Quaking he lowered himself down to the ground. Now thinking it was a terrible idea to have to stay. Simba was going to kill him…he could see the way the King was now looking at him…behind Simba's legs he could see Kiara peeking out worriedly at him.

Whimpering he scampered body but it wasn't long before he found his own body beneath the roaring body of his Mother's. His head snapped up and he felt relief wash over him at the sight of his body crouched above him, her teeth bared at Simba. But it wasn't long before they found themselves being joined by others.

Flanking Simba's right was who he recognized to be Nala, but behind her was someone he'd never seen before. A slender female cheetah who was growling, behind her was what he suspected to be her cub staying back in fear of a fight. On Simba's other side, Sarabi stood close to her son while Sarafina flanked her other side.

They'd been scouring the Pride Lands for some time when they had found a frantic Kodi who had told them what had happened with Kiara. At first Simba had wanted to be angry with the cheetah cub before realizing this had been his daughters plan to sneak away with the game of hide and seek she had wrangled Kodi into. His anger was not as bad as his fright of what could happen to his daughter.

It had been that, that pushed him to find her. His fear that she would be the next one he lost. He had already lost so much; he would not loose her too. When they had come across a fresh scent, he had run toward it as quick as he could. The sound of her voice carried on the wind drove him even faster. But it was the scent of who was with her that sent him over the edge.

A snarl came over his face as he faced down the lioness that had killed his mate and cubs. He watched a menacing smile come over Zira's face, "Hello Simba. Long time no see."

"Zira…" a low rumbling growl echoed in his chest. "I will only give you this one chance, get out of my Pride Lands."

"Your Pride Lands?" Zira mocked. Standing up straight, she snarled at the lion in front of her. She wanted nothing more then to attack him then take care of the little cub that was behind him. But she could see that she was out numbered. Even with Kumai she was still out numbered. No…this wasn't the time for attack…this was the time for…she snickered inwardly. "These lands belong to Scar…you took them from him…and then you cast us out!"

"I banished you from the Pride Lands for crimes you've committed! Now I repeated…you and your young cub…get out!" Simba snapped his jaws at Zira.

Zira threw her head back and laughed. "Oh Simba…loosing your touch are we…I'm not a lone…." she turned her head in the direction Kumai and Zawadi were. She motioned for only Kumai to reveal herself. In which the grey lioness stood and positioned herself so that Zawadi could not be seen. "I believe you recognize her…don't you Nala?" Zira swung her head around to face the tawny lioness who eyed her suspiciously.

"I have no idea what you are talking about Zira." Nala growled. Her eyes went to Kumai and raised her brow at the look of anger that came over the other lioness's face. Anger that was directed at her.

Zawadi who kept herself hidden, watched the entire thing with wide fearful eyes. Looking at the one they called Nala, she then looked up at her Mother and was taken back by the look of anger on her face. She'd never seen her mother so angry before. Whimpering, she laid her paw on her mother's. "Mommy…" she whispered so only Kumai could hear her. "Why you so angry…"

Bending her head down, Kumai nuzzled her daughter and answered. "That lioness…she is the one who killed your aunt Hawa…" She watched Zawadi's eyes widen. She knew what Zira's plan was she could tell by how she had asked to bring the cub along but that did not mean the anger she felt when she saw Nala was any less. For a moment it brought back memories of why she had Zawadi in the first place…for revenge…

Zawadi didn't know what to say. She knew her Mother had a sister. And she knew she was dead…but…whipping her head around she eyed the lioness standing near the King.

Was it truly she who killed her?

Anger unlike any she ever felt before bubbled inside her. But her Mother quickly hushed her before she could say anything. Telling her to stay quiet and hidden or else she could get hurt. Not wanting to disappoint her Mother she obeyed. She glared at Nala from where she was hidden…first the King sent them away unjustified. Confusing them of crimes they didn't commit…now…now she looks upon the one who killed her aunt…A sister that her mother had once and still does love deeply…she knew how it saddened her mother at any mention of Hawa.

Even when Kumai would tell her stories of her during her youth. Any mention of Hawa would bring tears and pain to her mothers face.

When I'm old enough…I'll revenge you aunt Hawa…I swear it… she vowed silently to herself. She watched Nala question Zira and for some reason that angered her more. Almost like the lioness was trying to play innocent.

Zira who'd looked back quick had caught a small glimpse of Zawadi. Seeing the anger on the cub's face she was sure Kumai had mentioned what they had all been led to believe that Nala had done?

Ah, she thought. Such young minds. So easily corrupted. Just liked she wanted. Yes, let Zawadi's heart fill with hate for those present and her plans would be perfect.

"Oh…I'm sure you do…Nala…" Zira smirked turning her attention back to what was in front of her. "But enough of that…I believe you remember my son…don't you Simba…" Zira stepped back from her son revealing him to all who was present. Walking around him, she stood proudly behind her son but still kept a sneer on her face. "Kovu was hand chosen by Scar! To follow his is footsteps…to become King!" Snarling, she gazed at him before looking at Kiara who hid back behind her fathers legs. "Kovu was born here…before you exiled us to the Outlands…where we have little food…less water!"

Simba closed his eyes. Fighting back to the urge to attack. His protectiveness and need to not want to have Kiara subjected to such violence was what held him back. Opening his eyes again, he only said; "You all know the penalty for returning to the Pride Lands Zira…" his eyes went from Zira, to Kovu, to Kumai and back. He should have done away with them long ago, he regretted.

The feel of his daughter cowering behind him once again kept him from doing anything drastic in fear of her thinking him a monster and her getting hurt in the process.

"But the cub does not!" Zira snarled snapping her jaws at Simba. That was a lie, her cub knew perfectly well. But she also knew how Simba would not hurt a cub. His poor belated mate had a soft spot for cubs. He would not hurt one to forsake her memory. But the brown cub lying in hiding with Kumai did not know that. "However…" she sighed shaking her head dejectedly. "If you need your pound of flesh…here…" she rounded her son.

Pushing him with her nose she scouted him forward. Kovu's whimpers weren't hard to hide as he cowered beneath the lions stare.

Zawadi had tried to jump to her paws again. As much as Kovu annoyed her she didn't want anything to happen to him. What was Zira doing…but a quick look back she saw Zira wasn't really meaning anything…she didn't want Simba to take her son…perhaps this was to show him what would happen if he had gotten caught…if they hadn't come to find him…

Yes that's what she had to be teaching him. No way was Zira that heartless she argued.

Kumai once again pushed her daughter down to keep her hidden, watching with semi wide eyes at what Zira was doing. Was she nuts…her heart pounded in her chest…?

Simba stared at Zira trying not to show his surprise at what she was doing. He could tell by the look in her eyes that she was waiting for him to either act out of ruthlessness or cowardice. Some deep part of him was telling him to strike, get revenge, and make Zira feel the same pain that he did when it came to loosing three of his cubs. But the more rational side could almost hear his mate as if she was still standing beside him. Telling him to turn away, to forget this, and take their daughter home. To not become some monster and take the life of an innocent cub.

And it was that voice that he listened too.

Closing his eyes, he turned away from Zira to Kiara. "Take him and leave Zira. We are done here." Reaching down he picked up Kiara by the back of her neck. Who whimpered as they turned back to face Zira. Kiara curled up in her bundled position as Zira laughed and leaned in close to her. Her eyes bearing into hers. She thought for a moment she felt a chill go right through her very soul.

"Oh no Simba…we have barely begun…" Zira smirked. "Beware young Princess…dangers lurk in all shadows…" with that she turned and grabbed Kovu around his stomach and began heading in the direction of Kumai who stood watching as the Pridelanders all turned and began to leave.

Her eyes following Nala. She felt her claws come out and scrap the ground and she fought back the growl in her throat. Her head turning to look at Zira. "I should be allowed to kill her…" she snarled. "She took my sister…"

Placing Kovu down for a brief second. Zira fought back the smirk and decided to play like she was just tired. "I know…" she whispered giving Kumai her best look of sympathy. This was all part of her plans. Kumai would never know that her worthless sister had died at the hands of herself and not Nala. Let the lioness think Nala did it. "Let us just return home…" her eyes went to Zawadi. "Have you learned anything Zawadi?"

The brown cub lifted her head to look from where she'd been checking on Kovu to the Queen. She gulped and nodded her head. "Would…would he have really killed and eaten Kovu?" She asked.

Zira lowered her head giving her best look of concern. "I do not know dear…he has become rather unstable after the death of his mate…that can happen at times…" she glared at Kumai who quickly looked away. She knew many thought the same of her but she said nothing instead she looked back at Zawadi. "But do you see it is dangerous here…if I had not arrived…what do you think he would have done to poor Kovu…just because he was my son…" she shook her head.

Zawadi looked at Kovu with a glare. "You fool…I told you to follow me!"

Kovu glared back at her and opened his mouth to say something but clamped it shut at the look his Mother gave him. Without another word both mothers picked up their respected cubs and began heading on home with them. Neither cub speaking.

Zawadi was having a hard time on what to think of what she had just seen. In honest truth it confused her. Even though Simba frightened her, she felt something…that strange pull again but this time it wasn't directed at the Princess but the King this time. This frightened her further. What was going on? Shaking her head she decided that wasn't worth her time thinking about but rather she should just think about how much danger Kovu had placed himself in.

Naïve…that's what it was…naïve and oh so very stupid.

She shuddered to think if she had stayed. If she hadn't gone back to get Zira and her mother. She shuddered; whimpering at the thought of what could have happened to them if Simba had found them both with Kiara. They'd be hurt or worst dead.

She'd never see her aunts again.

Never see her Mother again.

Or Vitani

Or…Nuka…

Her mind then drifted to the one named Nala. The one who had killed her aunt. Sure the others were all her aunts in a sense. But Hawa had been blood. She always wondered how Hawa would have loved her and treated her as a niece. And now thanks to Nala…she would never get that chance…

She was shaken from her throats when she heard the sound of Nuka's voice. "Zawadi! There you are!" Lifting her head all thoughts of what could have happened and fear pushed to the back of her mind at the sight of her smiling friend. She wiggled until her Mother placed her down on her paws and ran toward Nuka to meet him half way.

Zawadi rubbed her head along Nuka's legs before nuzzling his muzzle when he bent down to her. "You're not still mad at me…are you?" she asked looking up at the older male who looked away for a moment before sighing and shaking his head. "No…" Nuka whispered looking down at her. "You were right…I should have…"

"You should have been watching him!"

Both jumped at the sound of Zira's voice. Turning they froze as the Queen made her way toward them Kovu hurrying on after her with Vitani lazily following with her tell tale smirk on her face. "It's not his fault Mother!" Kovu hurried to block her from Nuka. "I went off on my own!"

"And you are lucky that Zawadi had been with you or I would never have known what could have happened…what were you thinking Kovu!?" Zira turned her attention to her son. Now that they were home she was letting her anger about the situation out. Zawadi backed away from them till she was standing directly beside Nuka who wrapped one paw around her drawing her close.

A confused look on his face. It seemed none of the other lionesses had mentioned what might have occurred. Looking up at him, she saw Nuka give her a look that said he wanted her to tell her everything later when they got a chance to speak alone. Nodding, she turned her attention back to Zira.

Kovu lowered himself low to the ground as if that would hide him from his Mother's anger. "What do you think you were doing?"

"N…Nothing…"

"Who made us outsiders?" Zira slowly advanced on her son as he dragged himself backwards across the ground. Ignoring all who had come to see what the entire ruckus was about. Zawadi was now watching Zira with wide eyes but at the same time she wasn't sure if she felt sympathy for Kovu this time as he suffered his Mother's anger. She had told him to follow her and leave the spoiled Princess alone and yet there they were all cuddly and trying to play together.

"Simba…"

"Who killed Scar?"

Kovu and Zira's voice jarred her back to the present.

"Si…Simba…" Kovu whimpered, curling up on the ground he folded his arms in front of his face. Peeking just enough up at his enraged Mother. Not daring to look away from her.

"What have I told you about them? They cast us out. We tried to help their beloved Queen and we got the blame! That is our home they sent us away from. And you…you…" Zira snarled bringing her face down close to her son's.

"I'm sorry Mother!" Kovu squeaked. "I…I…well…I…she didn't seem so bad I thought…I thought that…we…could be…"

"Friends?" Zira snapped. Her eyes narrowing. First her cubs befriended that pathetic Kopa and now her youngest defies her orders and then tries to befriend the very daughter of the one who cast them aside. She already had to stomach him befriending Zawadi but she was part of her plans so it was essential but it made her sick. "Oh my sweet naïve son, did you think you'd get to the daughter and Simba would forget and forgive everything that had happened that he excused us of with open arms? What an idea…" suddenly Zira froze as if a light went off in her head and her eyes widened.

"What an idea!" she laughed out, grabbing her son with her cub she pulled him up so he was sitting. "Oh my brilliant son." She wracked her claws down his back. "What a brilliant idea you have just given me! I'm so proud of you…"

Zawadi shared a look with Nuka and Vitani who both seemed just as equally confused as she was. And giving a quick look at her Mother and aunts she could see that they too were just as confused as to what Zira was talking about. But before the Queen can elaborate she grabbed Kovu by the neck and began carrying him into the dens without another word to any of them.

Nuka's shoulders stooped; eyes narrowing into a glare as he watched his brother being carried away. How was it that he got in trouble, and only got away with being yelled at and no true punishment? If it had been him that had done what Kovu did then he would have been struck by his Mother and punished still she saw fit.

But not Kovu.

Oh no.

Never the "Chosen One." Even the words left a bad taste in his mouth.

Vitani scoffed. "Typical." She muttered shaking her head. "Never gets in trouble for anything."

Zawadi wasn't really paying attention at this point to anyone other then Nuka who was storming away. "Nuka! Nuka, wait up!" She smiled in relief when he slowed his walk to allow her to catch up with him. Not going far, Nuka sat himself down with Zawadi beside him. Her head tilted to look up at him. "What's wrong Nuka?" She watched him jump a little, startled when she laid her paw on his to get his attention.

"He runs off and gets himself in trouble…and doesn't even get punished for it…he could have gotten you killed…" Nuka clenched his eyes shut at the thought of loosing a friend like Zawadi. He had gotten so angry when she had decided to run off to keep an eye on Kovu that he now felt guilty that if something bad had happened and she died it would have been the last thing she remembered of him.

"Yeah but I'm not. Don't worry…we saw King Simba…" She watched him tense up, and quickly added; "But your Mother and my Mother were there and nothing happened…"

"It doesn't matter! He shouldn't have gotten away with this!" Nuka snapped at her and automatically regretted it when she backed away from him. "Za' I'm so sorry…."

Fighting back her fear, Zawadi nodded her head and smiled. "Don't worry Nuka I'm okay…you have every right to be angry…" Walking back over to him she rubbed her head against his neck until Nuka bent down to her level and rubbed his head along hers and down her back and up again. Licking the side of her face he grinned at her. "We should get back…see about getting some food…I hid some of what they caught for you when you got back. I'll go get it now!" Nudging her with his head he managed to cause her to stumble back a bit with a laugh before he jumped over her and ran to where he had hidden his scraps.

Watching him go, Zawadi sat back down on the ground. Sitting there with a thoughtful look on her face as she thought back to all that had happened that day. She too was a bit angry that Kovu hadn't been properly punished, he should have for risking his stupid life like that. Then her mind drifted to the Princess and the King…a shudder of fear ran through her body as she thought of him…he was bigger then she imagined him to be…and feared what would have happened if he had hurt Kovu or hurt her.

Kovu had better be grateful she went and got help! She thought angrily.

But there was something else that was nagging her about the Pridelander King and his daughter. She could not shake off the feeling like she knew them from somewhere but in fact that was the first time she ever laid eyes on them before. It was almost like some connection had been there…but that was stupid…

Closing her eyes she thought back to the King's voice. Almost like she'd hear it before. A faint echo.

But as soon as that thought entered her mind it disappeared again.

Shaking her head to clear it she blinked her eyes.

Maybe it was just her fear playing into her imagination.

Yes that had to be it.

Her mind then went to the thought of what her Mother had told her about the one named Nala and all thoughts of the Princess and King vanished from her mind as anger replaced her confused emotions. Nala had killed her aunt. Now she thought, she had a better reason other then keeping her and her Mother say. She had a reason to train harder.

To avenge her aunt.

Opening her eyes again, she turned her head upwards to watch the sun as it began to set into the distance.

"I swear it Aunt Hawa…I'll avenge you…I swear it…" Jumping up onto the nearest rock, Zawadi laid herself down, folding her paws she rested her head on them as she watched the last bit of morning rays disappear on the horizon.


Dangling from her Father's mouth. Kiara curled her body inward. Her eyes on her Grandmother and the others who were all walking ahead of her and her Father. From time to time, Kodi would look back at them and she didn't know whether or not she was angry with him for telling her Father that she'd gone off on her own. Then another part of her said she would have done the same if she thought Kodi had been in danger.

Unable to move she couldn't look up at her Father. But she swore she could feel his disappointment.

"Whoa!" Her body jostled as Simba came to a sudden halt a mile from Pride Rock. In front of her, both Sarabi and Nala stopped to look back in confusion. "Simba?" Sarabi turned to face her son by Simba stared down his Mother with an unwavering stare.

Clearing his throat, Simba motioned for them to continue on without him. Nala getting a clear understanding first only smiled and nodded her head. Her memories going back to the time when she and Simba had gotten in trouble when they had been caught in the elephant graveyard. Of the 'Talk' that Mufasa had given too Simba.

"It's alright Sarabi…let's leave Kiara to her Father." Looking sideways at the lioness, it didn't take long for Sarabi to finally understand what Simba wished for. Stepping forward, she nuzzled her Granddaughter whispering. "Be a good girl for your Father." Giving her son one last look, and a smile she and Nala turned to follow after the others who had managed to get further ahead of them.

Kiara wanted to call after them. She didn't want to be alone with her Father at this time. Thinking if her Grandmother was with them, Simba wouldn't be as strict with Sarabi present. But she kept her mouth shut instead watching them walk off into the distance leaving her alone with her Father.

Simba waited until they were long out of sight before he turned making his way over to the nearest boulder to which he deposited his daughter down upon. Stepping back he cleared his throat when she first didn't turn around to face him. "Kiara…face me."

Taking a deep breath and plastering her best ingratiating smile on she turned to face her Father. "Yes Daddy…" but the stern glare from her Father had her sighing and looking at the ground before she could say anything more.

Taking a moment to compose himself, Simba spoke; "Kiara…what were you thinking…I told you to stay on the paths that I had assigned to you and not run off on Kodi…you were to stick together…You could have been killed!" He clamped his eyes shut taking a deep breath as the thought of finding his daughter dead filtered through his mind. He had yet to find Kopa and Eshe's bodies. That haunting thought was still there that he hadn't even managed to confirm their deaths. But had to accept it anyways.

"But Daddy…I…I…" Kiara stuttered but another look from her Father had him closing her mouth again.

"Kiara I'm telling you all this because I love you. And how scared I was at the thought that I might have lost you today…"

"I know…"

"No Kiara…I don't think you do…" Simba sighed watching his daughter closely as she turned to face him fully this time. "If something had happened to you…Kiara I already lost your mother and siblings…that pain of their loss still weighs heavy on me…you are all that I have left of your mothers legacy. You are all that is left of the love between her and me…if something had happened…if I had gotten there too late and Zira had…if she had killed you! Kiara you are now my heir…the only heir to the throne now…if something were to ever happen to me…I need you here to take care of the Kingdom in my place…You are apart of the great circle of…"

"Circle of life. I know!" Kiara huffed. Stomping her paws she stared at him sternly. "But what if I don't want to be your heir…what if I don't want to be a Princess…what if I don't ever want to be Queen? It's no fun! All you do is walk around and patrol its no fun at all!"

Sighing, Simba grinned leaning in he nuzzled her feeling the tears now running down her face he did his best to kiss them away. "That my dear Kiara is like saying you don't want to be a lion. Being royal is in your blood. It's who you are. It's apart of you just like me and your mother are…we are all part of each other…" A large grin cracked across his face as Kiara turned away from him in a huff. Leaning forward he gave her a small shove that sent her sliding down the rock into a pile of leaves that littered the bottom of it.

Poking her head out of the leaves, Kiara spat the one that she managed to get in her mouth and pawed at her tongue to get the taste of it off. "Yuck!" Her head whipped around at the sound of her Father's laughter. "That wasn't fair Daddy!"

"All is fair in love and war. It's what your Mother taught me." Stepping around the rock, Simba began making his way home. "Come along Kiara."

Huffing and spitting the last remaining taste of leaf out of her mouth, Kiara managed to climb her way out of the leaf pile. Shaking off the ones that clung to her fur while she trotted on after her Father looking up at him curiously. "Is that it…?" she asked wondering if she was truly getting away with what had happened with just a talking too. But the next laugh from her father told her that she was wrong.

"No actually you're grounded to Pride Rock for two weeks until I see that you are responsible enough to leave and even then I want you under the watchful eyes of the pride at all times until I decide otherwise." Simba cast a look down at his daughter. "And arguing with me on the matter will only make it worst."

Groaning, Kiara hung her head and muttered under her breath while she stomped her paws along the ground as she followed along after him to show her displeasure at the idea of being grounded and babysat. But no former of sulking was going to detour him from the punishments that he had set forth.

He had nearly lost her that day and he was going to make sure she learned what happens when you disobey your Father. It's what his father had done when he had been caught in the elephant graveyard, it was what Zakia did to both him and Zuri after they had been caught crossing the borders in the Jungle, so it was a good enough punishment for his daughter.

Arriving at Pride Rock, he turned his head down to his daughter and sighed at the look on her face. Bending down he wrapped his paw around her drawing her close. "As long as you live here Kiara, everything you are is what you will always be. We are one." Running his tongue along the side of her face. "But Daddy…why do we hate them…Kovu was so nice…" Well sort of she thought, but he was nicer then that other cub.

Shaking his head, Simba grinned. "You'll understand someday…I promise. But until then…you are my daughter…and I won't let anything happen to you." Pulling away from her, Simba began to make the climb up Pride Rock to speak with the rest of the pride who he could hear have returned after they had split up in order to search for Kiara.

Watching her Father go, Kiara sighed and slumped her shoulders. It wasn't fair…she thought.

Jumping up onto the nearest rock, she turned her head to face the sunset in the distance. Her Father just didn't understand, she thought. But she knew deep down he did what he did because he loved her. "I wish you were here Mommy…I could really need you right now…" Raising her paw she used it to brush the tears from her eyes before they could have a chance to fall.

Sniffling she thought back to Kovu. She could have had another friend. She almost did. Maybe she would have had two friends if that other she-cub wanted to be. Her mind became confused as she thought of the strange brown cub with the one grey eye. Who was she? She hadn't even gotten the other cub's name.

As creepy as her grey eye seemed, Kiara thought she was nice deep down even if she was a little rude on the outside. And what was with that strange feeling…that pull she felt toward that cub…it was like the same pull she felt that made her way to go to the Outlands even more that day…

Maybe it meant that they were supposed to be friends?

Even if that was. They would never be now. Her Father would never allow her near the Outland borders again after this. So what would it matter. She thought.

Sighing, she decided that it might be best to push the thoughts to the back of her mind. No need lingering on something she could not have or would never happen.

With one last stifle and whip of her paw over her eyes to catch the last of her tears. The young Princess turned her sky blue eyes to the sky to stare at the reddening sky as the sun began to set on the day. Sitting there she watched the last of it set as the sky began to darken.

Unaware that at that moment her…sister was watching the very same sunset.


There we go.

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