Chapter 25


'Eshe...'

The name was a haunting whisper in the back of her mind. An itch that she could not scratch. Not that it stopped the occasional smack of the paw to her head. It was a name that the young lioness could swear she had heard before. Whispered on the lips of a lioness that lived half a world away from the one she had confronted in the jungle.

'Eshe...'

The question that came to mind was. How could two members of two completely different prides know of that name? Much less have it directed at her?

Zawadi was beginning to believe that it had to be her imagination. One that she was looking too much into. One that meant absolutely nothing that she should be concerning herself with. However tracking on through the desert. One had only time to let one's mind drift endlessly.

It been some time since she and Nuka had fled the jungle back into the endless stretch of desert. Much like before, Zawadi had long since lost track of how many days they were out there. From the looks of it, Nuka had too. Not that the two had cared too much for counting the days. The need to find a way to survive had become more vital than keeping track of the days.

The only thing that Zawadi knew now was that they were getting closer to home. There were some landmarks that were becoming more and more familiar to her. And to that of the others as well.

Turning her head, the lioness looked toward the others that were now situated in a small rock outcrop taking shelter from the beating heat of the day.

There was now far more of them, then there had been.

It was a few days after she and Nuka had made their getaway from the the jungle. When they had stumbled upon a pack of wild dogs. What's more they were surprised to find said pack digging at a hole which a number of high mewing cries were coming from. Nuka remembering the sound of his younger siblings and Zawadi when they were younger recognized the cries of that of a lion cub.

Zawadi at first didn't believe him.

Questioning him on why would a lion cub so young from the sounds of it be alone in the middle of nowhere with a bunch of wild dogs? Where was the mother? Zawadi clearly remembered enough to know her mother always made sure that one of her aunts was watching her when she went out. If not, Zawadi often would accompany her mother and just hide out when she asked her too.

Insisting it was just some other poor creature that the mongrels had cornered. Thinking an easy meal of one's young. Nothing to really concern themselves with. Zawadi wasn't much for eating ones young. Cold hearted as she could be at times. But hunger sometime's outweighed ones rational thinking. And out in the desert where food was scarse. At times one had to look for whatever meal they could get their paws or hooves on.

Nuka without doubt was adamant that it was a lion cub.

Zawadi had not the time to stop him when the lion had gone barreling toward the wild dogs. Determined at helping what he was sure was a cub in need. A roll of her eyes had his lioness companion running along after him.

More so to keep the wild dogs from overwhelming Nuka. Having no desire to have him out of commission while they worked to both do what Zawadi had explained to him what his mother wanted. And two to find his siblings who were wandering somewhere out there in the wide open world.

Turns out there was really no need for giving Nuka backup.

The moment the wild dogs took sight of a large male lion charging there way. The canines tucked tail and ran. Whether they thought Nuka was the father of said cub they were after returning and seeing someone threatening his young or they just had no desire to face down a rogue male and female they saw coming in behind him. So chose the wiser course and had made a run for it.

Zawadi came very close to wiping the smug look off her friends face when it became clear that Nuka had been right when it came to whom or what was making the sounds.

Then came the harder part. Getting the cub out of the hole it had squeezed its way into. It hissed and growled at them swiping its tiny paw in their direction when they had gone to peer into its hiding space. Nuka was the successful one, managing to finally get the cub out of its hiding place and held the cub in his paws while inspecting it.

It had been no older than perhaps two weeks from the looks of it, Nuka had told her. The cub which had calmed down, was now only looking at those who had saved it with the wide eyed curiousity that only a cub could possess. Letting out the occasional giggle whenever Nuka attempted to play with it.

Zawadi insisted they just leave the cub be. Positive that wherever its parents were. They would return later on. Zawadi had no desire to run into a pride or any rogues. Well not yet anyways. Zawadi was insistent that she wanted to survey any they could find to convince them to return home with them.

Undoubtedly the words were not out of her mouth for more than five seconds. When they heard the roar of the cubs returning parents...or parent in this case. A tan lioness with a jagged scar down the side of her face came upon them. Followed closely by a pair of beige ones. From the looks of it, they were younger than the one they followed. And perhaps a couple of months older than Zawadi herself.

After closer inspection, Zawadi determined them to have been born of the same litter. The only way to tell the two apart, was by their ears. One strangely had white spots on her one ear, but not the other and her sister had none at all. That and they similarly looked like the older lioness. Making her suspect that they were the scarred ones older offspring.

Zawadi waited thinking a male would come along. Only one never did.

The only male that was with this group. Was the cub they had just saved. Who upon laying eyes on his returning mother. Had stumbled from Nuka's paws and bounded its way to his mother who was quick to hide the cub behind her legs. Ignoring her sons excited squeaks at her return while she demanded of Zawadi and Nuka who they were and what they had been doing with her cub.

Nuka had been the one to calm the situation. Zawadi he noted was on guard, given what their last confrontation with some lions had turned out like. Explaining they had been traveling on by when they had heard the cub and found that it was under attack from a pack if wild dogs. A look down at the cub and a nod from the boy confirmed that is what had happened.

In short term, that was how they had been introduced to Kalei and her daughters, Veda and Zai, as well as her son, Badru, more formally. Kalei explained to them that they were outcasts from the older lionesses previous pride.

It appeared Kalei had caught that pride's king's eyes, which wasn't uncommon in some pride's for a king to father young with more than his Queen, the Queen of that pride did not like that Kalei got a lot of the King's attention. So when Kalei had become pregnant with her daughters, the Queen and her more loyal followers had driven them out.

Rather than risk her family to those who wanted to hurt them. Kalei just took them out into the world. They had been out there for nearly two years. Badru recently conceived months before by a stray rogue male.

Kalei was thankful for their help with her son. Upon asking if there was anything she could do for them. Going as far as to offer them a way to take them out of the desert, seeing as she had long learned to map out enough that she could tell you whatever direction you wanted to go in and where it would ultimately lead you if you followed her strict instructions.

This of course had given Zawadi the idea to get them to come along with her. Kalei had been someone scorned and cast from her pride. Much like the Outlander's had been from the Pride Lands. Zawadi figured that Kalei would see the similarities between their situations.

The two had talked it out. With Zawadi promising her if they helped them in the future. The lionesses cubs would have a better chance than out in the desert. Kalei was not so convinced at first. These Outlands that were described to her from both Zawadi, and Nuka did not sound appealing and perhaps worst than the desert itself.

It was Zawadi playing at her feelings of abandonment from her own pride that made Kalei consider the idea more. That and the promise of a land that was in an abundance of food and other resources if they helped them reclaim their home from those who had kicked them out. Kalei decided in the end was too good to pass up.

In the end Kalei gave her word that she and her little family would go along with them.

Though she was strict in telling Zawadi that she would not follow this Zira until she was assure that the lioness was worth following. Something that secretly pleased Zawadi. Not that she said it out loud. The young lioness had been giving it more and more thought.

Zawadi did not doubt Zira's words when it came to why they were against the Pride Lander's. Certainly some part of her thought there were holes in the story they were told. Not that it stopped the young lionesses ever growing hatred for those who dared to cast those that were their own into such dreadfulness as the Outlands.

But did she doubt the lionesses ability to rule?

The answer was simple. The answer was yes.

The same went towards how she felt about Kovu.

The lion was strong. That much was obvious. Perhaps he could be a bit stronger as he was older than her, yet he always seemed to be beaten by her.

Kovu however was not...King material.

At least in Zawadi's eyes he wasn't.

There was another she thought ought to be given a second chance. That one was Nuka. Who clearly seemed to have gone beyond expectations of what his mother surely no doubt suspected of her eldest son. Zawadi could not deny that Nuka's change, both in appearance and mind among other things. Did surprise her.

It was wrong to her that Zira so blindly overlooked her first born for Kovu.

Who she still thought did not have the heart for what it would take to do what he had to in order to make the plan a success.

Silently she had to wonder the same for Nuka. But Zawadi had a feeling if he had too. He would do anything to be able to better prove his place among the pride.

So whether Kalei and her small family showed any loyalty to Zira or not. Would be no problem with Zawadi. If she ever wished to overthrow Zira in the future. Zawadi knew she needed as much on her side as possible. And someone like Kalei who had done everything to survive on her own for so long in the open wild with cubs to care for. Would make an excellent addition to that number.

Badru had seemingly taken a liking to Nuka.

He was of course the only male that the young cub had laid eyes on yet. So the older males large black spiky mane fascinated the cub. Much to Nuka's chagrin whenever the cub would tug on his mane whenever they settled to rest or whenever the lionesses went off to hunt and Nuka agreed to watch the cub for them.

"Going to end up going bald." Was his only open complaint about it.

It was Kalei with some minor help from Zawadi and Nuka on details that gave them a course that would take them back in the direction of the Outlands. During which they were keeping a close eye out for any of the others.

It was Vitani they came upon first. Obviously on her way back home just the same as the others. Like Zawadi and Nuka. The tufted lioness was not alone. Only she had only one other companion with her. A pale lioness whose coat could almost be described as white was accompanying Vitani.

This ones name was Bennu.

The two crossed paths when Vitani found Bennu stuck in what the pale lioness had described was a 'man' trap. After some time, Vitani had helped the other lioness free. And the two had traveled together in the time it took Bennu's leg to heal enough that she no longer had to walk with a limp and could fend and hunt for herself.

By that time the two had become close enough that they decided to stick together some more. Long enough for Vitani to convince Bennu to come back home with her.

They now had four more lionesses to add to the pride, and one male, sure in the form of a cub, but all the same.

Now all they had to do was wait for Kovu to show up and show them what he had found.

Perhaps Zawadi should not have expected much from the other male. For when they finally found him the young lion was as alone as he had been when they had all separated months prior. That did not sit so well with Zawadi. Nuka had tried to calm her about the situation and for the first time in a long time actually stood up for his brother.

Nevertheless that did nothing to calm Zawadi.

The argument that had ensured from there out had caused the young lion to storm off. In Zawadi's case it only confirmed more to her that Kovu was not quite the mature one in the matter of what it would take to be a King. Vitani and Nuka at first had been annoyed at her but Zawadi just gave them a look and like she had done with Kovu. Reminded them what the importance of finding others to help them with was for.

Badru was bad enough. But one cub was better than forcing the others to have their own in a place that had little food. Adults could go longer without food than cubs. One was better now than several.


That had been days ago. Again Zawadi had long since lost track and count of the days. Not that it truly mattered to her. What was days when you lived out in the wilds? Focusing on survival was much more important in these trying times than anything else.

Taking note of the claw marks in a nearby rock. Zawadi remembered having made them when she and the others had ventured enough from the Outlands all those months ago. Wanting some mark to tell her that they would be going in the right direction when it came time to return home.

And it appeared Kalei had done a decent job at the details they had given her on where the land could be. And finding these markings confirmed that they were indeed close to home.

Not that they were in too much of a hurry to get back.

Zawadi of course wanted to see her mother. Worried about what could have happened to her during her absence. As well as what could have happened to any one else in the pride. But being out here...there was more peace than she knew in the longest time during her youth in the Outlands.

If it were not for her need for revenge, wanting to avenge her mother's sister, as well as get a home that had more abundance in food among other things. Zawadi was convinced she should return alone in the middle of the night and have the others sneak out to where they were currently camped and then make it away from the Outlands as fast as they could long before Zira could wake to find them missing.

And put enough distance between them that the lioness would have a harder time in tracking them down.

There was a nagging feeling in the back of her mind. That revenge was not necessary. A waste of time. That their survival was all that mattered and it did not matter how they achieved that. Just that they did.

That nagging feeling was right there along side the name that echoed in her mind. Having heard it from Nala and now that stranger back in the jungle.

It was like there was a side of her, deep down, that she only ever became aware of now and again that made her rethink things. And then that darker side of her. The one who wanted those to pay for the injustice they had dealt on her pride and family.

"You doing all right over here?"

Zawadi gave a snort. Not all that surprised that Nuka would come over to her even when she asked to be alone. Over the time since they had first met up with one another, and from the time they had left the jungle. The two of them had surprisingly become closer than they had once been.

How close that was yet to be determined.

But all the same, they were closer than they previously been in the past.

"I thought I said I wanted to be alone...what Vitani being mean to you again?" Zawadi flashed him a cheeky grin at Nuka who gave her a disgruntled look.

Though in the back of his mind. Nuka could have sworn he seen that cheeky grin somewhere else. On two other individuals. But that would not be possible. So his mind he figured played tricks and made him just think sadly of the past and what had been.

"You would think she would grow tired of it already." Nuka shook his head. Causing some of his mane to fall into his face. It appeared his change in appearance was an ongoing joke for his little sister.

"It's 'Tani...she probably won't grow tired of it for some time." Zawadi chuckled at the groan that the older male let slip from his mouth.

"Oh relax..." With a paw she reached out and gave his shoulder a small nudge with her paw. "It's a good change. Vitani is only taking it in stride the only way that she knows how."

Flashing her a grin of his own. Nuka leaned in to where his face was close to hers. Peering into her eyes. "Since when did you become so wise?" He laughed at the dark look she sent his way. Jumping back just barely missing the paw she smacked his way.

Sitting back on his haunches, holding his paws up in defense. "All right. All right...well at least your temper never changes. Though you could grow a sense of humour." He joked with her.

Lowering his paws, Nuka stepped on back closer to his friend. Taking note at how much she had grown. From the small squeaking cub he had first laid eyes on when Kumai had introduced her to the pride for the very first time. To the young cub he had seen grow under his mother's training. And harden under her training just the same.

And now to the young lioness who sat before him. Giving him a hard look. That he knew held no hard feelings behind. Zawadi was tough, and had a bad girl attitude. That one was no lie and could never be sugar coated. Not that he ever would. Nor would Zawadi herself do the same.

There was a madness inside her...one that his mother had put there...but Nuka could not deny the madness inside himself either. So why should hers deter his feelings for her?

Yes he had feelings.

Given the time they spent apart, and now together away from all the others. Nuka could no longer deny the feelings that had been growing inside him for her for some time now. In the past he had thought nothing of it. Zawadi was much more younger than he was. It would have been wrong for him to have feelings with her being so young.

But now she was a young lioness. One who had grown into herself and had blossomed into an even stronger version of the girl he always respected and called a friend and who had been by his side since she was a cub befriending him and smiling at him and joking with him.

It was hard now to deny it all.

Now the hardest part was telling her about them or if he even should.

Nuka would admit, only to himself of course, that he was nervous. What would she say? Would she feel the same? Why would she? He thought sadly to himself. It wasn't like he ever amounted to much.

Despite all he did in the wild to survive was think of her and how getting stronger would benefit him and the pride and he could help keep Zawadi safe. Yes she could defend herself but oft times she could gte reckless and he wanted to be able to be strong enough to find along side her.

Be her equal.

"One does not need a sense of humour, when your jokes are weak."

Nuka slapped a paw over his heart. Feigning a hurt look.

Shake of the head and roll of the eyes. Zawadi turned her attention back to the horizon. Beside her Nuka watched her with an almost intent look. Trying to understand what she was thinking. Ever since they had left the Jungle, Nuka noticed there were things that had been bothering her.

He had a feeling it had to do with that lion they had met.

In truth there was something about him that struck a cord with Nuka as well. Not that he could really place a paw on it. Only difference was, Nuka did not appear to be obsessing about it as much as Zawadi was.

"Going to enlighten me with what's on your mind?" The older male sat himself down along side his friend.

From beside him, Zawadi gave him a quick sideways glance. Contemplating on whether or not to tell him. He and the others were her friends. Vitani was close to her yes, but Nuka had always been for some reason the one she had always been the closest too. But while they were close. There were things that Zawadi kept to herself.

On the other hand this was bugging her too much to just keep to herself. Figuring she could hold it in long enough to get home and talk to her mom about it. Then again it was beginning to nag at her so much that Zawadi gave a sigh. "I think I heard that name before..." She turned her head to look at the lion beside her.

Nuka flashed her a confused look. "Name...what name?"

Resisting the urge to give him a look to show her minor annoyance. "Eshe...the name Eshe...I've heard it before." Zawadi looked him in the eyes. "Remember I told you that little run in I and Vitani had with that little princess?" At Nuka's nod, she continued. "And how Nala showed up...I'm telling you I heard her say that name...and now that lion called me the same..."

Nuka had to think back for a moment. Remembering when the lion had attacked him in such a rage. He spoke a name. Telling him to get away from someone called...Eshe...

Pausing Nuka actually allowed himself to think on that name. He had heard that name before. He could have sworn he had. A name he heard one of his old friends tell him.

His mind went back to the day, the very last day that he had seen Kopa. When his friend had told them of the birth of the new royal cubs. How there had been a boy and two girls. Nuka had to think long and hard on the names that Kopa had told them.

Kiara, that was the most obvious one to remember, seeing as she was still alive.

It was the last two he was having trouble remembering. It been years since that day he last saw his friend. But now that he remembered the name that Zawadi was meaning when it came to the name she heard said twice by two separate individuals. It was striking some sort of memory deep within Nuka's subconscious.

Eshe.

He heard that name before...or had he?

It was hard to really recall. Even if it struck something in his memories of the past.

Had Kopa said Eshe? Or did he said Ashe...

Nuka rubbed his head when he felt the pain of trying to remember giving him a headache.

"Why would it bother you so much that they would know that name?" Nuka asked his friend. "It could mean nothing Zawadi. I mean they were both from two different prides."

An annoyed grunt issued from the young lioness. "You think I haven't already told myself that?" She gave him a look.

The first thing that went up was his paws. "All right...all right...I get it." He flashed her a cocky smile. His attempt to try and calm her. Clearly remembering how Zawadi had been when they had first fled the jungle. It had taken everything in Nuka's power and persuasion to calm her down long enough not to storm back and take care of the lion who had attacked them.

Nuka did not think he ever meet anyone whose anger was worst than his mother's.

Zawadi on the other hand when she wanted to be. She could be.

Lowering his paws and taking a step close to her. Nuka looked back into her eyes. "Zawadi...calm down." He spoke softly. Watching as she looked at him. Smiling a little when she saw that she actually relaxed. Not a lot. But some was enough for him.

"It doesn't matter." Nuka placed his paw on hers. Causing Zawadi to glance down at their paws then back at his face. "So what? They called you a name..."

"But what does it mean!?" Zawadi demanded.

"It means nothing!" Nuka shot back at her. Zawadi was a bit taken back from him. It was a rare occasion when one saw Nuka raise his voice to anyone. Much less to her. It made her go quiet.

Long enough for Nuka to continue without interruptions. "It means nothing..." He said more calmly. "You want to know why?" He didn't wait for her to answer. "Because you already know who you are. They don't know you. I do." Nuka didn't know much else what to say. It confused him as much as it did Zawadi.

Confused him but did not worry him. "And I know for a fact that you would not allow something like this to distract you the way that is has been? Now where is my badass friend?"

"Badass friend?" The two turned when they heard another approaching. Vitani smirked at the two of them. "If I did not know brother, I would think you were trying to butter her up?"

"Like anyone ever could?" Zawadi laughed shaking her head. Then rolled her eyes at the feigned look of hurt that came over Nuka's face. But a shove to the shoulder from her brought his grin back to his face.

"Why you over here Vitani?" Nuka turned his attention back to his sister. "Coming to continue your ramblings about my appearance?"

"As shocking as it is. I am saving my comments for when we get home. And see how the rest of the pride reacts to this change in you." Vitani smirked at her brother. "I am certain all your efforts to try and impress mother will finally pay out." Her smirk widening at the glower that her elder brother sent her way.

"Now have any of you seen any sign of Kovu yet?" Since the younger male had stormed off. There had been no sign of him. What paw prints there had been left behind by him had been long since destroyed by the latest sand storm that had come upon them. Whether Kovu had been stuck in the same one was hard to tell. There appeared to be too many sand storms for the desert for one to truly keep track of.

It wasn't like they were really searching for him.

Well Zawadi wasn't in the very least.

The young lions two siblings on the other hand were another story. Which confused Zawadi a bit. Vitani she expected it from. Nuka...not so much.

Then again Nuka seemed to have...changed...or maybe it was...grown. During his time away from the Outlands. And perhaps in more ways than one. Not that Zawadi thought he got rid of that old jealousy for his younger brother entirely.

It was there in his eyes. Briefly yes, but there all the same.

The look he always got when someone brought up the times he had tried to impress his mother. For he always felt that she gave Kovu more attention. And while Nuka was obviously at an age where that should not bother him. Where it technically should not matter whether one's more bestowed attention like that upon their young.

He could still remember deep down that feel of growing up where he felt like he was never a good enough son for his mother. Much less his father as well when Scar was still alive.

Shaking her head. Zawadi looked off in each direction around them. "There had been no sign of him."

"You shouldn't have gotten angry at him in the way that you did Zawadi."

Nuka ended up taking a step back when Zawadi swung around to lock her gaze upon him. A stare that almost felt like it was piercing right through him. "Face it Zawadi...you can be a bit...rough on him?"

"Me rough on him?" Sarcasm dripped off her every word. "That's like calling the kettle black isn't it Nuka? Last I checked you always been just as rough on him. And the same could be said for Vitani now and again." The brown lioness gave her other friend a look.

Vitani only shrugged her shoulders at those words. They held truth to them so she couldn't really deny it.

"Not to mention," Zawadi continued. "He deserved every word I said to him. He needs to stop slacking. If he can't even bother to find at least ONE person to help. Then how can he be expected to go through with the plan in the future? He didn't even try!" She growled. "If he had at least tried, and then told us that those he found refused his advice and ask for help than I would not have been so harsh on him." There were some truth to her words.

Whether Kovu annoyed her or not or that from time to time she thought he was too weak for the job ahead. Not psyhically, but mentally. He was still a friend of hers. And if he had at least tried then she would not have gone off on him the way that she had.

What had upset her the most was the fact that she did not think for one second the price of not finding others to bring home with them may play out for the others back home.

Her head looked toward where the others with them were all resting. "It is bad enough we have one cub from them to worry about. But Badru will be only one cub to worry about. We do not know if Zira made the others have cubs with strange rogues...how they may handle the pregnancies." She gave the two of them a look.

Vitani sighed hanging her head. Nodding all the same. "Lionesses who carry cubs do need a lot of food." She agreed knowing what Zawadi was pointing at. "Without food they would obviously loose the cubs or give birth prematurely and then not have enough milk to sustain them." She grunted. It was a cursed thing to think about.

Nodding, Zawadi looked between the two siblings. "Which is why...no...I was as rough on him as I needed to be. As HE needed someone to be with him. My mother...and our aunts after everything do not deserve to go through that. When we finally have the Pride Lands back then they could make that decision for themselves. NOT when someone ELSE had made it for them."

Vitani nodded while Nuka rubbed the back of his neck with a frustrated sigh. It was hard to argue with her when she was pointing out facts to them. Nuka himself had to question why he hadn't been harder on Kovu himself? Perhaps he really had grown. Not that he thought Kovu deserved all the attention that he got while they were growing up.

It had more to do than with Kovu being Scar's chosen one. Even if he wasn't the lions actual son. It had to do more with the fact that he thought his brother could be lazy from time to time. To not carry something out to the full. And he supposed this was one of those times.

However with those that they found already to be added to their little pride. Nuka for a moment when Zawadi was going off on his brother for disobeying orders. Had thought they had found enough that it didn't matter if Kovu hadn't. But now that Zawadi pointed out the dilemma they would have been in...or those back home would have been if they hadn't.

He could not fault her.

That said, it didn't stop the two siblings from wondering where their little brother had wandered off too and what he may have gotten himself into. Something he seemed to have a habit for.

"Let us not even worry about him." Climbing to her paws. Zawadi stretched out her body. Giving a small groan when she felt her tired and sore limbs stretch too much. Getting as much of the stiffness out of her body from how long she been sitting there. The lioness stepped around the two and made her way to where the others were currently resting.

Thinking getting a quick nap in before they continued their way home on the road they had picked was in order.

Red eyes watched her every step. Whereas blue eyes were watching the male beside her with an amused smirk. Vitani gave her brother a little nudge with her shoulder. Making the young male look at his little sister confused.

"So..." Vitani started. "When are you going to tell her?" A tiny smirk came over her face when he gave her a puzzled look. "Oh come off it Nuka. Do you think I am blind? I know that you like her."

Nuka felt like rearing back as if he been slapped in the face. Giving off a grunt. The lion looked first at Zawadi who had laid herself down among the others. Then back at his sister who was looking at him with a grin like someone who had caught the canary. "Since when am I that much of an open book?"

"Since forever." Vitani rolled her eyes. To her, her older brother had always been easy to read. Certainly Nuka could put on a good front when he wanted too. Not that it didn't slip now and again and allowed those around him to see past it. This was one of those times.

Vitani always thought she noticed something in the past. But Zawadi was always too young to even think that her brother felt anything. It was upon returning from their time away from home that things had changed in more ways than one. And Vitani could read her brother like an open book when it came to his feelings for Zawadi.

Whether Zawadi could see it, Vitani wasn't so convinced.

Then there was the matter that Vitani could see the way Zawadi looked at her brother. The few short seconds during a day when Zawadi let her guard down, and let her emotions shine through. It wasn't often. But often enough for Vitani to pick up on it.

The difference between the two however. As much as Zawadi was close to her brother. Nuka was still more open than the other lioness was. More than Vitani ever thought Zawadi could be. The lioness was just so closed off at times even to those who knew her most.

Not that Vitani could really fault her of that. Living in the Outlands had changed Vitani enough from whom she used to be. The difference was Vitani just buried that old side of her so that she could survive better in the harshness that was the Outlands. Zawadi was the opposite. Until their little adventure outside of their 'home'.

All that Zawadi had ever known was the Outlands.

Having been born and raised out there.

Where she had learned that the best course of survival was to keep ones emotions in check. And to care about ones self. Not that Zawadi cared for only herself. Else she could not have gotten as angry as she had with Kovu for not finding anyone to bring home to help strengthen the Outlander's numbers.

Nuka gave a soft grunt. Giving his neck a rub with his paw. He glanced over at the lioness who held his affection then moved his attention back to his sister. "How am I to tell her?"

The look Vitani gave him had him rolling his eyes. With a smack to his shoulder, she told him. "Just come out and say it."

"Right." The lion laughed. "That's some good advice there sister."

"Well it is the only way to actually get things done. To just do it." Vitani felt like her brother had been dropped on his head far too many times as a cub. "Look I very much doubt she'll reject you." She smirked at the look that gained her from Nuka.

"Trust me on this Nuka." This time Vitani gave her brother a clap on the back that made him grunt and stumble forward a bit. "And do it before we get home."

A look of confusion came over Nuka's face. Turning her head, Vitani looked off in the obvious direction of home. "Out here we have more freedom to do what we like. While yes you could wait and tell her when we got home. That's your choice. But admit it...would you want to tell her there...where mother's eyes are everywhere...or out here?"

She made a good point, Nuka agreed inwardly to himself.

In the Outlands it felt like they never had any privacy. His mother always seemed to know things. Not that he believed the others spied for her. Well not on each other that is. On the other pride's, that was obvious given Zira demanded to know as much about their enemy as was possible to know.

Despite that fact. It still always felt like his mother had some sort of eyes everywhere. Always watching. It was unnerving at times.

It wasn't like Zira wasn't going to find out if he and Zawadi shared feelings and were together. It wasn't like they would be able to hide something like that. For a while perhaps. But not forever.

Be as it may, Nuka wanted to be tell her where he was certain his mother did not have eyes. So Vitani made a rational point. Question was...would he be able to bring himself to tell her? It wasn't like he hadn't contemplated the question in the past. He had. Many times over. Ever since he came to the conclusion that he did have feelings for her. On whether he should, and how to go through with it.

This was one of those times where one would wish that things were so simple. He thought surviving on his own for so long without anyone would have been the hardest thing he ever had to do with his life. How wrong he had been.

In the past, girls that way had never been on his mind. So the thought of being with someone had never been much of a thought. He was a cub in the Pride Lands. He thought of how to grow strong with his training and hunting. Prove her could be an asset to the pride rather than have to leave when the time came like other males did their pride's.

Growing up in the Outlands. Those thoughts crossed his mind now and again. Not that he ever thought it would ever be. The lionesses that were around him were either family or they were those he considered close enough to be family. Like the other lionesses who were like aunts to him, and had been since he was born and first growing up under his father's reign.

With that in mind, he never figured he find someone. Then there was Zawadi.

"I'll try..." He started when Vitani smirked. Delivering another hard clap to his back that Nuka had to try and stay winded. He wasn't certain at times who hit harder. Zawadi or Vitani. Something he never voiced outwards for he knew the possibility of that starting a competition and without Kovu around at the moment those two would use him as target practice to test that theory out.

"That a boy." Vitani chuckled, side stepping him and began making her way back toward the others. It was almost time to get back on the road. While they had found the markings that would lead them home. They had no clue how much longer they had to travel. Having not truly kept count the time they ventured out.

Giving his head a rub. Messing up his mane in the process. Nuka contemplated how he was going to go through with it. He said he would try. On the other hand, knowing his sister. She would have took that as an he would go through with it. And of course would hold him to it or just might tell Zawadi herself that her brother liked her.

Taking into consideration what his sister said, Nuka looked at the lioness of his affections and thought it over. "I will do it...I have too..." Without another word he went to join the others. To try and get some rest himself before they had to move back out.


Tired eyes watched the horizon like they had done for each day for months on end. Kumai remembered the last time she had gone without a reasonable nights sleep. Shortly just after her sister had died and she had taken Zawadi in as her charge and now adopted daughter.

Zawadi had always been a restless cub. Loud bangs would scare the cub from her sleep. If they managed to hear a storm in the distance than that made it even worst.

Her daughter of course could not recall why the sound of thunder frightened her. Unaware that the night she was found in the river and wounded by Kumai on the night the girls true family had been attacked and birth mother killed. It had been storming that night. It came obvious to Kumai that some residual memory in the back of her daughters mind was tricked by those sounds.

As Zawadi got older, she learned to control it better. But often times it was still there.

It was once again that same lioness she had come to love like one of her own. That had Kumai up so many times in the night or early mornings just watching the horizon. There'd been many times when the gray lioness wanted to run off into that horizon. Track down her daughter to assure herself that she was safe. That she was all right.

It was the constant reminder of what punishment she could race for running off that stayed her paws. Kept her grounded to the place that had become her home. Not that she and the others called it much of a home. More their living hell than anything else.

"Sitting there won't make her come home sooner or any of them for that matter."

Ah, how many times had those words been said to her these last many months?

Asma made her way to sit along side her long time friend. Said lioness sporting her own set of dark circles under her eyes. Much like Kumai, the others equally worried about the young of their pride who were out there. Some of course lost sleep. None as much as Kumai it would seem to many of the others.

"I have nothing better to do." Kumai reminded her friend. "There is nothing ever to do but watch the horizon or spy on Simba and the Eastern pride. If I had to choose, I would choose sitting here waiting for my child's return."

"And should she not?" Asma looked at Kumai. "Admit it, secretly, part of you wishes that she doesn't. That she found the strength to stay away and be safe out there. Where she might possibly survive...and no longer be a tool for Zira to use in the war to come." It would not surprise any who might have thought what the Outlander's did when it came to where Zawadi stood in Zira's plans to get back at Simba.

Where Zira planned to use Zawadi to bring Simba down and show the King what she had turned his previous daughter into, was the most obvious part of the plan. None knew what Zira might have in store after that.

Some feared that to spite the King and all would be to kill Zawadi in front of her birth father. Telling the girl of the truth at the same time and watch that sink in while the life left the girls eyes. What point would there be of leaving any of Simba's descendants alive after that? When Zira wanted her son and her blood to rule the Pride lands.

The others would no doubt try and defend Zawadi. Kumai would probably end up dead for it. But did they care? They weren't really sure. What point would there be in dying if Zira managed to kill the girl anyways despite their efforts?

No.

It would be better that the girl have found a place away from the Outlands, from Zira and the pride. The same went for all the others. Many hopes they were all together out there right now, deciding to it would be better NOT to return. It was a fools hope. They knew that. Still they could not help but think and wish it.

Kumai shook her head and looked at the lioness beside her. "So what did you and the others find out from your latest...spy work?" The words alone earned a roll of her own eyes.

Asma gave a small chuckle. "Something I am sure you'll be more interested in than Zira."

That caught her attention and Kumai gave her long time friend a look. Trying to read from her what she had to say before she came forth and told her. Why would there be anything from the Pride Lands that would concern her and be of any interest to her more importantly. Seeing as the only thing that could possibly interest her was the well being of her daughter. Whom was possibly in the distance of the horizon she previously been watching.

What was in the Pride Lands was no doubt more important for Zira to take interest in. Not herself. Yes, she had her need for revenge. There was said to be the one there that had killed her sister. As it been Zira who told her as much and the evidence on her sister had been those who had been found on her by the way of scent.

The thought and remembrance of her sisters death still made her seethe deep down. Hawa did not deserve to die. Out of them all, Hawa was always the innocent one. Her sister never had a fighting bone in her entire body. Then again, Hawa spared the punishment of living in the Outlands. Kumai did not know what was worst.

Was death the reprieve from this miserable life?

Shaking her head, Kumai turned her attention back to Asma. "What could possibly interest me over there?"

"The birth of Nala's cub."

If this caught her back surprised. Kumai's face did not show it. Though deep down Kumai was digesting this piece of information quite carefully.

Nala had a cub?

Well there had been some reports of how Nala had been seen with the rogue male that had been said to be staying with the Eastern Pride. Spending more time with him than what would have been obvious between just friends or so that was what some suspected or they heard whispered among the two prides.

This rarely crossed Kumai's mind. So what if the lioness found love...the part made her cringe inside.

Love was something her sister deserved.

Something that Hawa often whispered to her older sister about a lot growing up. How she wanted love. But for the lack of older males in the Pride Lands and the number of them. That was a hard thing to suppose could happen. Something that disheartened young Hawa quite a few times whenever Baya would point it out.

Of course Baya was always just humouring the younger her sarcastically. Hawa though with her big heart, took it seriously. Knowing that while Baya was saying what she said not to be mean. There were truth to her words.

That truth only grew more truer when Simba returned. Those who followed Zira were looked down upon. The only hoped there could have been was if Hawa had the chance of meeting a rogue male.

During the time of Scar, that would have been near, if not completely impossible. For the tyrant King had demanded that any and all rogue males discovered within the Pride Lands to be dealt with. And if those males did not cross the borders by the time the horde of hyenas descended upon them.

Then they were as good as dead.

Simba seemed to have more of an understanding. Though there were still not as many who have perhaps before the new Kings uncle's reign. It was slow going to show that the Pride Lands were no longer a unwelcoming place.

Well...that was until Zira had gone and killed the new Queen of the Pride Lands.

Now it was an unwelcoming place to all and any who pledged loyalty to the Outlander Queen.

But all that aside...Kumai bristled at the notion that her sister would never get what she desired. The love she wanted. The ability to have cubs.

And yet the one that Kumai had been told was responsible for her sweet sisters death...now had all that Hawa had dreamt of for herself.

Asma tilted her head watching her bit of news sink in for her friend. "I figured I best tell you before Zira..."

"Why?" Kumai snapped her head toward the other lioness.

"Because to remind you...there are reasons we should stay...to avenge Hawa at the very least." Asma spoke firmly to her. That did not mean that Asma like all the others thought of abandoning this foolish mission. There was however something deep in them that felt that soreness over the fact that one of their own was dead.

Some would perhaps justify it.

They had helped kill the Queen and most of her cubs.

Something that made Asma cringe daily. Not for the Queen, though the lioness had done nothing against them, and even spoke fairly on their part.

For the cubs...

Infanticide was nothing new among their king.

All the same, Asma thought, to take the life of something so young and innocent. No wonder they had been cursed to such a wretched life as this now.

Giving a grunt, Kumai climbed to her paws. Shaking what dirt that wasn't clumped among her fur off. "And what am I to do?" She turned her attention to the one beside her. "Take her cub as well? Like I did with Simba's?" Watching Asma while not expecting much of an answer in return.

Did this news anger her?

Yes. In many, many ways it did. But what was there for her to do about it? She questioned her revenge many times over. Did she want it? In some ways. Yes she did.

Zawadi held no part in that revenge anymore. At least not in Kumai's mind. Zira's perhaps. But not the lioness who had come to see the girl as her daughter. No, hurting Zawadi would not get her revenge on the lioness who had taken her sisters life. Only did she realize that too late.

Again that fell on whether or not she wanted Zawadi to return or stay away...

The sound of a roar caught the two lionesses attention. Sharing equal looks of confusion. They looked back the way they knew left the Outlands. The way the younger of their pride had left all those months before. Then turned their attention in the direction that the roar had come from.

"Have they returned from another way?" Asma jumped to her paws.

"Only one way to see." Turning, Kumai trotted off to where the sound had come from. It had sounded from where the Pride had made their home. Quickening their pace they made it back in record time as the others who had heard the call. Getting closer, they picked up the familiar scent of Kovu...but none of the others.

Worry now etched across her face. Kumai quickened her pace. Reaching the termite mound that Zira claimed for herself, it was to see a young lion sitting there before his mother who had that cunning look upon her face that the Outlanders had come to know so well.

"And to think I thought you would never be so clever!"

Pausing in her tracks, Kumai shared a look with the others who looked equally confused. That was when a scent reached their noses that they all had come to recognize. The scent of the Pride Lander Princess. But where the source of the scent was coming from was perhaps all that more confusing.

Eyes bored into the young male when Zira stepped out around him with as sinister a smirk as any on her face. "It would appear that my son had found himself venturing into the Southern Lands upon his return home. Where he had the misfortune of running into a little princess." She turned toward Kovu. "Explain!" She barked. "Tell them...why she still lives?" Again her smile twisted more which confused the Outlanders all the more.

Why would she be happy that the Princess still lives when her goal was to see her dead?

Sighing, Kovu got to his paws. They could see he was more filled out than her previously been. The wilderness beyond their home had worked in his favour. Something upon seeing him. Kumai hoped to see the same result when the others returned. More so with her own daughter.

"Some time ago, I got separated from the others..." Kovu deciding to leave out the part that he had stormed away from them on his own accord when he had enough of Zawadi's belittling toward him. Kovu hadn't figured if he should return yet or not.

It had been some time after Kiara had wandered back off with her friends. That he had followed them from a safe distance. Glad that none of them had picked up on his scent much less caught him stalking them. He had followed them for as long as he had dared.

From what he saw he did not think Kiara mentioned a word about him...yet.

Only when he saw he was in range of their patrols did he turn back. Thinking of the plan he had come up with. Kovu hadn't been certain if he'd gone mad or not. What had he been thinking? What if this plan did not work? What if Kiara told her father and he and those in league with him came looking for him?

That had been what had caused for him to make a run back to the Outlands. To be on the safe side of things.

Only he had gotten to rid himself of Kiara's scent.

Something that his mother had quickly picked up on when he arrived to report that he was back.

Resisting the urge to rub the shoulder that was throbbing. From where Zira had knocked him to the ground much to his surprise. While he had not been expecting a warming welcome from his mother. That had not been what he been expecting either. It had only been when she snarled, demanding to know why he smelled of the princess. That he understood why she done what she did.

And he cursed his stupidity. For the entire way back, he had not thought of what to tell his mother on what had just occurred. Thinking he might have to back out of the plan after all. For he could not be certain if Kiara could be trusted. Not that he would ever trust her anyways, was what he had told his mother when he had to blurt out what had happened in the far southern lands.

At first he had thought that his mother would smack him into the ground for thinking up such a plan. For allowing the Princess to escape when he clearly had her within his grasp.

Even with her friends nearby, all he would have had to do was knock her out and deliver her back to his brother if he had not wanted to do the killing himself. Although he would have been certain his mother might have branded him a coward for such an act.

His mother though as he had secretly prayed for...had instead another reaction to his plans.

"Go on tell them!"

Kovu looked at his mother and that twisted look upon her face. The one that differed from the ones she normally had with her own scheming but one that showed her joy in her own way at her sons...brilliance.

Giving a grunt, the young lion went into a full explanation of what had happened since he had separated from the others. The looks on the other lionesses faces did not resemble that of his mothers by the time he was done. There was certainly surprise but also they seemed almost...criticizing him for his choice of plans.

And that was exactly what they were doing. "How can you be certain that this would even work Kovu?" Dotty asked making her way forward with her sister by her side.

"Did you even stop to think of what could have happened? What if she doesn't keep her word?" Spotted narrowed her eyes.

Hanging his head, the young lion shuffled his paws. His mane falling into his face. Shrouding it from view. "I have." He gave a grunt and looked back at the ones he had come to call his aunts in their small little pride. "And I knew she might...it was why I came back here...I hadn't known what to say about the plan...but i had to say something at the time or else she might have called for someone to come help her."

Not the complete truth. The lioness just seemed too happy to see him at the time. More than he could have imagined her to be.

"But...I thought if it worked...it could help with Mothers future plans." He looked over at his mother who was eyeing him from where she now sat. "Either way...we won't know until...she possibly comes to seek me out again."

"And how will that work if you are back here?" Kumai finally spoke up from the back of the group. Her judging stare baring into him. He knew in the back of her mind she was itching to know where her daughter was. Much less how she had been the last time he had seen her. Questions that he did not have much answers for.

The last time he seen Zawadi she appeared well. Healthy. Although he really had not the time to judge her on that before she had tore into him. Another reason for his plan. His mother overlooked the fact that he did not return with any more reinforcements for their pride.

"With mothers permission. I can sneak out to the Southern lands now and again to see if she has come by." Kovu simply shrugged his shoulders. That was how far he had gotten into the whole planning of the idea. Again he could see the criticism that was plain as day on the lionesses faces.

However from the look on his mothers own face. It did not matter what they thought of the idea. Only what she thought of it.

"We will make this plan work." Getting to her paws. Zira made her way to the center of the group. "And lure that spoiled Princess into a false sense of security with Kovu." The planned seemed almost too good to be true. While she wound have enjoyed it more seeing Kovu return with the pitiful dead thing on his back or better yet in his jaws.

This was something she could work with. And as she said. Would see worked out. If they could get that girls trust even more it would be all that more devastating when Kovu turned his back on her and betrayed her in the future. The look on the Princesses face that would be at that time appeared in her mind.

A look Zira wanted nothing more now than to see it for real.

The small pride looked among themselves. They could see some benefit of the idea. But even more so they could see the downside of it. Not saying a look for fear that Zira would strike them for speaking their opinion against her own. So keeping their mouths shut, they watched said lioness make her way back into her termite mound. Muttering things beneath her breath about how they could use this to their big advantage.

Shaking their heads, the group began to break up to go their separate ways to their own sleeping spots to rest from the remaining of the hot dry day. All save for Kumai who continued to sit there eyeing Kovu and stopping the young lion when he tried to pass on by her.

"You and I have lots to talk about young lion." Giving him a look that told him he wasn't getting away from her any time soon until she got answers about her daughter.

Which with a resigned sigh. Kovu let her lead him off to where he could rest but also tell her what she wanted to know.


Nuka felt as if his entire body was just a jumble of nerves.

Walking on behind the rest of the group. Taking the rear like always. While Zawadi and Vitani took the front and led the group the way they were going now that they were recognizing the land more and more.

While he could take the front with them. He was also making sure to keep a look out for any threat that could come at them from behind. And with a cub in their care. Nuka felt great pride that he was no longer that thin weak thing he considered himself to be before he had gone out into the wilds.

Where he might have doubted he would have been much protection in the past. Now he was completely confident about it and was happy to take the rear of the group if it meant looking out for the group.

Another reason was Nuka was considering what he and his sister had discussed. How he should come clean about his feelings for Zawadi.

And do so before they had the chance of reaching home where their mother could get in the way of it all. Where she had the eyes and ears everywhere that no one ever seemed to have any privacy.

That and he wanted to do it where Kumai also could not see. Not knowing how the lioness may react to him announcing his undying love for her daughter. Okay, she may smack him on the head and warn him about what would happen if he broke her daughters heart. That was the worst of what she could do.

But all the same.

He raised his eyes to the setting sun. Now that they were getting closer to the Outlands they had decided it was safe to travel the day. That and they wanted to cross as much ground as they could to get home.

Not that he knew why...part of him wanted to stay away from the Outlands. They tended to find more food out here than they did there. And he did not want to go back to feeling that feeling of starvation. Certainly he went a few days without food in the desert and that.

But never as much as he often went without food in the Outlands.

Ahead of the group. Vitani looked back over her shoulder at her brother. For hours now she had been looking back to see him having a silent arguement with himself. About what, Vitani could only fathom what he was tormenting himself with.

A tiny smirk crept onto her face.

Thinking it was going to be interesting once the two stopped dancing around each other when it came to their feelings. Shaking her head, she felt a pang of jealousy. Only from the mere fact that there had only been one male out there that she might have had a small crush on in the past.

But now he was dead.

Her ears drooped a bit at the thought.

Vitani knew she ought not to feel jealous. But some part of her did. But that did not make it right for her to be. It was not her fault that Kopa was dead or that there were no other males out there close by. Okay...there was...but she highly doubted she catch the attention of some Eastern Pride lion.

Not when they knew she was a Outlander.

Love was not worth it. She reminded herself.

At least not for her.

Her mother had loved her father. And it in the end had only led to obsession.

Then why was she encouraging her brother to tell Zawadi his feelings? When she thought that for herself.

Groaning inwardly. Vitani fought the urge to hit her head against the ground. Deciding to banish the thoughts from her mind. Vitani decided instead to give her brother some more help. Looking up at the sky, she then turned her head to look at Zawadi. "I think we should take another rest."

The brown lioness gave her a look. "If we keep going we could be home by tomorrow."

"All the more reason to slow it down." Vitani rolled her eyes. "Really not in the mood to go sleep in a termite mound any faster." She smirked a little at seeing the disgust come over Zawadi's face. "Or hearing Nuka complain that they are biting his ass again."

Zawadi had to fight back on choking on her laughter. "Think they missed him?"

"No doubt." Vitani laughed along with her.

"What is so funny?" A new voice spoke up.

The two turned their heads to see that Kalei had walked up right behind them. Wondering what had distracted the two younger lionesses. Her eyes went back and forth between them.

"Thinking of something before we left home...something real funny." Vitani gave a snort looking back at her brother.

Following her gaze, Kalei shook her head. Not bothering to push any further on the subject. "Badru is getting tired. I understand we can carry him. But I would like to stop so that I could possibly feed him."

Letting out a small grunt. Zawadi nodded her head. "Not a problem. Vitani here wanted to take another break anyways." She looked over at Vitani who nodded in agreement.

Leaving it to Vitani to spread the word that they were going to take another break. Zawadi took the time to make a small round of the area to check if it was clear. That and...

"How many times do you need to be left alone with your thoughts?" Nuka eyed her as he made his way over to her. His head wielding a fresh bump beneath his mane from where Vitani had given him another smack when he hesitated to follow after Zawadi.

"What makes you think I wanted to be alone for that reason, and not just to you know...patrol?" Zawadi turned her attention to him. Eyebrow up in question.

Making his way to her side. Nuka looked down at her. Resisting the urge to tease her about her height. Of course she was younger than him but still obviously smaller than the average lioness her age. Not that it stopped her strength. He would say she was stronger than Vitani.

But that would only turn his sister against him and he did not need that...not right now. Knowing Vitani she would tell Zawadi about his feelings herself just to get revenge on him, and then as she would put it, sit aside and let the shit storm that would follow play out.

"I know you." Nuka snorted, walking in line along side her. Step for step. "Enough to know that when you are bothered by something you get that long look in your eyes that make it look like your mind is miles away from where you really are." He looked at her. "And that look is what you been having for days...what did I tell you about that?"

"Yeah well..." Zawadi stumbled over her words. "Maybe I just can't help it. Ever thought of that?' Her mouth curled into a sneer.

"Of course I did." Nuka ignored her sneer. It didn't bother him because he knew she really was not all that angry at him for pestering her about the same thing he had for days now. "Still doesn't mean I don't have to tell you to stop worrying about it." Reaching out he rubbed the top of her head and grunted when she smacked his hand away from her head.

"Is there a reason you are over here Nuka? Or did you just come to bother me from my thoughts?"Zawadi smoothed the fur he had mussed on her head where he had rubbed his paw. Turning her head she watched the emotions flash across his eyes and watched him both curiously and confused.

He had the same look on his face that he had all day. Yes, Vitani had not been the only one that had seen him arguing with himself lately. Zawadi had just put it off as something else. Maybe him coming up with an excuse as to why he been out of the Outlands on his "journey" far longer than he had been expected to be. Not that she thought Zira would care.

Zawadi never brought herself to tell him that his mother barely acted like he was gone.

Something that still made her hackles rise.

Nuka always did everything to please his mother and she never even seemed to notice nor care that he was gone for so long. He could have been killed for all they knew. Zawadi could be wrong, she knew that. But Zira was not often all that hard to read. From time to time at least.

"You know you really should not care what your mother thinks about you being gone for so long." Zawadi watched as he stumbled a bit and his head snapped toward her to look at her with a surprised look. She assumed she had guessed right until he asked.

"What makes you think I care about that?" It was Zawadi's turn to look confused.

"Then what has been your problem? You been looking like you had some inner struggle lately? More so than I have." Zawadi commented. Thinking of her own self and how lost she had been in her thoughts since they had left the jungle. He had been in his own struggle. Whatever it was, she had thought she been right...apparently it was something else...and she wanted to know exactly what it was that was bothering him.

A deep part of her did not like whenever he kept something from her. They always been able to trust one another. That was what Nuka always told her at very least. Ever since she was a cub.

People were of course entitled to their own secrets. Things that they did not have to tell anyone. Zawadi certainly had things like that. Things she kept deep down in herself. Things she did not want other people knowing about so that they could...torment her with it.

Things like her feelings for Nuka.

Feelings she was never certain if she enjoyed having them. Growing up, she found that feelings...like love could be a weakness. Things Zira used against her like it did with everyone else. Like love for her mother...her friends...for...she shook her head trying to banish those thoughts from her mind.

Love in the Outlands were dangerous.

Dangerous and useless.

It made one weak.

Though there were no denying thought...the times she spent worrying about Nuka while he was gone...how she had felt when he had shown up that day in the desert...how she felt if she thought anything happened to him...

It scared her because they had seen what love had done to Zira.

How it twisted her mind and caused such an obsession with her former mate that carried on years later. Far after his death.

It was a weakness she could not afford herself...was it?

"What is a weakness you cannot afford?"

Startled, having not realized that she had managed to say that aloud. "It's nothing..."

Grunting, Nuka jumped one bound ahead of her. Twisted his body and landed right down in front of her. Blocking her path. "Enough that!" He snapped before he realized what he was doing. Reeling back when he watched her narrow her eyes at him. Telling that he had no right to raise his voice to her. Something part of him regretted the moment she gave him that look.

The other part of him... "No." He looked at her firmly. "That look is not going to make me apologize for snapping. Enough of that tough girl act Zawadi..."

"Act?" Her voice came out in a snarl.

"Yes act." Nuka scowled leaning down close to her. "I know you are tough in general. I know you don't like being all that open. Given how we have lived in the Outlands for so long. And for the longest time that is all you have ever known. And being beaten as a cub in training from the day you could walk." Nuka was working to keep his voice from rising.

Not wanting to draw too much attention to them.

By then the sun had set, and the first stars of the night were twinkling their way into existence in the blackness that crept above them with the setting of the light of day.

His sister likely keeping the others from bothering to look for them. Not that it would matter really. They been on their own that long. And how close they were to their home. There was probably not many threats for them to worry about. At least they supposed that but it was better than just being paranoid about two members of their group who might obviously be able to care for themselves.

But that did not mean he wished for the others to hear them and come investigating.

"But enough of the tough girl act...the one that you hide behind. So again Zawadi...What the hell is a weakness to you?" Nuka eyed her. And was caught by surprise at the answer she snapped at him.

"Love!"

Blinking his eyes slowly. Nuka eyed her wondering if he heard her right. "Excuse me?'

"You heard me." Stepping back from him, Zawadi side stepped in order to make her way around him.

Only to have him step in front of her again to stop her. "Yeah. I heard you. But explain why?" It was now nagging him why she would think that or more importantly be thinking that right before he was supposed to say anything to her that night about his feelings for her.

And while he would not admit it out loud at the moment. It hurt him that she had said it. How was he going to explain his feelings to her now if that was what she thought about love to begin with? "So?" He pushed for the answer. One that he needed to know why she thought such a thing.

"Oh please...me and Vitani both think it...we mentioned it to each other a few times...I mean...look what love did to your mother." Eyebrow cocked, Zawadi looked at him daring him to prove her wrong.

Nuka knew better than anyone. Being Zira and Scar's eldest offspring. One who been alive and lived long enough to see his fathers reign and survive it to see it end. And what of course became of his mother.

Although Nuka often wondered since he found out that Kovu was actually not Scar's son. How his mother could obsess about the dead lion if she had been one to cheat on him to create a second son. Her reasons had been explained of course. That she needed to produce a stronger, healthier son for her mate.

Something that still burned him deep down about.

But of course he could see what she was getting at...somewhat. Grunting he shook his head. "Love is only obsession if you allow it to be." He looked at her. "And only a weakness if you allow it to be."

"And it is something I cannot allow." Zawadi shook her head. "I mean...look at it. Your mother is training us for a war. I just went and convinced a mother with a young cub to come and live with us in the Outlands where that cub has barely a chance to survive like it might away from it. All to help us win a war." She gave a grunt.

"Sounds to me like you are just making excuses." Nuka snorted, ignoring the look she shot at him. "For years now you been going on and on about how we're going to win this damn thing. So stop giving me those excuses...what are you scared of?" He shook his head at her.

"Your mother would give this same lecture to you...as for Vitani. Please Vitani had a crush on an old friend of ours that died...so I can understand why she would think that way. But that is just Vitani being Vitani..."

"And this is me being me." Zawadi started but Nuka cut her off.

"Maybe it is...maybe it isn't...but...I...I can't let you think that about love." Nuka stumbled over his words. Shifting his paws nervously.

Giving Nuka a scrutinizing look, Zawadi wanted to question him why that was...but her words were stuck on the tip of her mouth. The way he looked at her was answer enough to her silent question. "No..." Zawadi felt her heart skip a beat in her chest. Any moment she expected it to either rip itself out of her own chest or for it to simply stop beating.

"No...Nuka...you can't..." Zawadi swallowed nervously as she looked at him. But the look he was giving her didn't dissipate. Instead it seemed to become a bit more desperate by the minute. "Nuka..."

"Enough." Finally getting the courage to speak again, Nuka took a step near to her only to have to step back from him. His ears fell against his head when she did. "Please...Zawadi..." He reached for her only to have her pull away some more. His paw falling back to the ground along with his head in rejection.

Again Zawadi could feel her heart skip a beat...only this time she felt it because her heart broke seeing the way Nuka cringed in rejection. "Why...why would you love someone like me...your royalty..."

Nuka's head snapped up and he looked at her surprised by her words. "Wait...are you rejecting my love...because you are afraid of love and it being a weakness...or because you do not think you are good enough for someone with royal blood?" He looked at her confused.

Everything seemed like a jumble of things at the moment. He couldn't make sense of any of it. She was a ball of confusion bound up in one lioness. None of it was making any sense to him whatsoever.

Grunting, Zawadi lowered her gaze to the ground and stomped her paw on the dirt making it explode around her paw. "Both...love is a weakness...I already worry about mom when it comes to the future war with the Pride Lands and now the Eastern lands since they are involved with their new alliance with King Simba." She snarled at the name.

"I had to think about how to get more reinforcements for the Pride to avoid our aunts loosing cubs if they had some that ended dying in the Outlands or future battle...bad enough one of said reinforcements we convinced to come back has a cub..." Zawadi grumbled under her breath. Thinking she was showing weakness right now. He was right. She always thought they could win and never gave it much thought in the past.

All she cared for was getting revenge for her pride and the unfair treatment that Simba had bestowed upon them and how he had exiled them into a land of death.

But more importantly...she wanted revenge for the aunt she never knew. A death that she knew still affected her mother till that very day. All this time later. Zawadi would admit that was her biggest reason. She avenge her dear aunt hawa who her mother spoke so fondly of. She did not care for Zira's reasons. She thought many of them pointless. But went along because it meant it might be her only chance to get revenge. To help her mother get revenge.

Shaking her head, Zawadi tried to clear it. Nothing she as thinking about was making any sense to her anymore and was clashing with her thoughts of what life would be like without returning home. And without living a life bent solely on revenge. A better life away from the Outlands and the trouble that the surrounding prides caused for their own.

Then there was her thoughts on where she did not think Kovu or even Zira was to be fit for ruling them...whether in the Pride Lands or away from the Pride Lands and Outlands all together...

"I...I don't know...what I think anymore...my head is just a jumble of confuse..." Zawadi growled clawing at the ground.

Watching her, and feeling the need to be closer to her. Nuka stepped on toward her, getting more and more bold when he saw she wasn't stepping back from his advancements this time. Without hesitating he reached out and wrapped his arm around her. And with a pull, had her brought up against him. With her face near his mane, he could not see how her eyes widened.

But he did feel her tense. Refusing to let her go. He held her closer. This wasn't her usual response to the times he had hugged her in the past. But he refused to let her go all the same. Relaxing himself when he felt her start to relax against him.

Bending his head down to her, he rubbed it along her neck and atop of her own head. "Calm down now..." He breathed to her. He tensed a bit expecting her to push him away again. Only to feel her head lean into his neck and mane and feel as well as hear her breath deep taking in his scent.

"You...you never did answer my question"

"What question?"

"Why you a prince would love a common lioness like myself...a flawed one...I'm blind...scarred..." Zawadi was cut short by the laughter that rumbled from Nuka's throat.

"I don't care about any of that." Nuka pulled away enough to look her in the eyes. "I don't have feelings for you just because you are the only other lioness my age around...or that isn't my sister..."he chuckled. "I think you are the most beautiful of the lionesses I've seen." He winked at her grinning when she rolled her eyes. A typical response from the likes of her. One he would take more than say a blush. A blush wasn't Zawadi. A roll of the eyes was.

"I may have been born a prince. But I have certainly never felt like a prince. Mother nor my father ever treated me like one. Barely any one ever did. I may have royal blood. But it doesn't matter to me...I was never treated like one...and even if I was...My mother wasn't royalty when she mated my father...most royalty doesn't mate other royalty." He shrugged his shoulders.

He looked her in the eyes. "Stop trying to make up excuses to excuse my feelings for you. I love you..." He paused watching the emotion that flashed through her one good eye. "And stop denying yours for me" He smirked at the bit of surprise that came over her face. "Oh please. You would not be acting this way now if that wasn't the truth."

Grunting, Zawadi turned her head away. Her cheeks puffed that she been found out in just the way he was able to read her so well. Her mind was still racing with the many things she been debating. How love was a weakness. Of the revenge she wanted. But also how she might not think it was worth it or who she thought would be a better ruler in the future.

Right now just standing there against Nuka.

Zawadi only wanted to think about one thing.

Freedom.

Love may be a weakness...love may at times turn to obsession...

But in that moment when she realized her feelings, and that he now understood them as well...and that he felt the very same for her. Zawadi could feel it. That freedom...

For once in her life she felt a lifting freedom. If only in that moment, with her head laying against his mane. His paw stroking her back as he lowered them both to the ground to nestle to ward from the cold of the night air.

That freedom chased away her jumbled thoughts...of everything...including the name Eshe that been tormenting her for days on end.

At that moment, all there appeared to be was her and Nuka...and the freedom it felt being next to him and living for just that moment.


Hope you enjoyed the chapter.

Sorry took long to upload. Every time I tried. Doc manager would screw up on me for some reason.