A/N A special thank you to my ever loyal reviewers Keep Calm and Join Team Loki, thingsareweird, and ThatTexasKid for reviewing my last chapter. I love those great reviews. Keep 'em coming. Here's ch 18 for ya and see ch 1 for disclaimer.
Ch 18 Conflicting Feelings
Six months past and all was not well in the Pridelands. Uru and Selena had both passed away under strange circumstances. Scar had claimed rouges had done it but Kali suspected something more devious. He thought it was because of the fact that his grandmothers had become close with him over the months and were pushing Scar to allow Kali to be King. Not only that but Scar was doing a terrible job as King and it was enraging Kali. The silver lion hated seeing the damage his uncle was doing. Not only to the Pridelands but to his children as well. By now Mheetu was eight months old and had grown nicely and had the beginnings of a jet black mane growing in. The light brown young lion cub was having daily lessons from Scar about what was expected of him when he became King. These lessons were in spite of Sarafina's objections. The creamy lioness was against Scar's teachings because they were the exact opposite of Mufasa's. Mufasa had always taught Simba to respect the creatures of the Pridelands. Scar on the other hand was teaching his son not to let anyone get in his way and that lions were far superior to all the other animals and as King it was Mheetu's job to see that they knew that. But there was little Kali or Sarafina could do about it. Scar was the King and what he said was law. Sarafina also hated the fact that Scar was spending all of his time with their son and none with Nala. By now Nala was a year old and was about to venture out on her first hunt. Instead of encouraging his daughter Scar merely said to her, "Either you come back with a kill or you don't come back at all."
"Yes Father," Nala said with a sigh. Kali approached his cousin and gave her a comforting nuzzle. "Don't worry," he said with a smile. "You'll do just fine. I have faith in you Nal'."
"Thanks Kal'," Nala said with a small smile.
"Yeah don't worry about it." Zira said to her friend. "I managed to catch something when I went on my first hunt and you're a much better hunter than I am.
"Yeah," Sasha piped up. "You're a much better hunter than both of us and we managed to take down a kill."
"It doesn't' take much to be better than you Sash'," Leon said. with a grin Sasha growled at her golden brown brother, who burst out laughing.
"Real mature Leon," the creamy golden lioness said rolling her blue eyes and giving her brother a smack upside his head.
"Geeze Sasha it was just a joke," Leon said rolling his reddish brown eyes and rubbing his head. "Lighten up will ya?"
"Leo' you know that she always has a stick up her butt," Zira said with a smile. Sasha glared at her adoptive sister who muttered a quick "sorry."
"Ah leave her alone guys," Tojo said approaching the group. Sasha gave her boyfriend a grateful smile. Even though Vera had taken Tojo in and raised him as her own Sasha and he couldn't deny their feelings for each other and since their was no blood relation the two had recently begun dating. No one thought anything about though since everyone knew Tojo and Zira were adopted. Everyone even expected Zira to become involved with Leon but that wasn't the case. Zira wasn't attracted to Leon in the slightest. In fact Zira had been spending a lot of time with Scar recently and she was strangely attracted to the much older lion. Scar knew this and despite Zira not even being two yet or the fact that Scar already had a mate the two had begun a secret affair. Scar had been looking for a younger lioness to mate with because although he had two healthy children he wanted to have a back up plan in case something were to happen to them and since Sarafina was well beyond cub baring years he needed to look else where.
"Ahem," Kali said loudly. "Not to break up the party here but Nala you'd better get going if you plan on being back before dark."
"Right," Nala said letting out her breath. Giving Kali another nuzzle the creamy lioness went on her way.
'Well," Kali said after a minute. "I'd better find Jasiri. I'll see you guys later." With that the silver lion took his leave.
TLKTLKTLK
Kali was heading for the watering hole in search of his mate. He and Jasiri had been declared mates a couple of months ago. But it wasn't Jasiri Kali found. Instead he found Usafi, who was coming back from a walk. "Hey there Kal'," the pink lioness said with a smile.
"Hey there 'Saf," Kali replied with a smile of his own. "Have you by chance seen Jasiri?"
"No I haven't," Usafi said with a sigh. "But why don't you and I spend some time together? It's been forever."
"I agree," Kali said. "And I'd love to spend some time with you." With that the silver lion and his pink coated friend took a walk together. Soon they found themselves in the Grasslands. "We should probably turn back," Kali declared.
"Why?' Usafi asked. "What's the rush?"
"I just don't want Jasiri to worry about me," Kali replied.
"Kali," Usafi said with a groan. "You get to spend tons of time with Jasiri. You never hang out with me."
"Well Jasiri is my mate," Kali said giving Usafi a strange look.
"I know," Usafi groaned rolling her violet eyes. "Boy do I know." Usafi was silent for a few minutes then she said, "But you know Kali if things had been different you and I would have been mates."
"What do you mean?' Kali asked.
"I mean," Usafi began slowly. "If we hadn't been apart all those months we still would have been close. And maybe you would have fallen in love with me instead of Jasiri."
"Well maybe," Kali said with shrug. "But we'll never know will we? I mean you can't change the past."
"Well that may be true," Usafi said standing in front of Kali. "But we can change the present." With that Usafi put her muzzle to Kali's muzzle then nuzzled into his white mane.
"Usafi stop," Kali said pulling away form her. "Jasiri is my mate and I love her. I would never betray her like that."
"Kali I'm no going to beat around the bush here," Usafi declared. "I love you. I always have. And I know you feel something for me. I can see it in your eyes. Don't deny it."
"Usafi I..." Kali began. But Usafi didn't give him a chance to finish. Instead she nuzzled him again, put her paws on his chest, and gently brought him to the ground so she was on top of him.
"Don't fight it Kali," she whispered giving Kali a lick. "We've been friends forever. I think it's high time we were more than that." Before Kali could protest Usafi stood up and ran her tail under his chin. Even though he knew it was wrong Kali also couldn't fight his feelings anymore and before he knew it the mating process had begun.
TLKTLKTLK
A couple of hours later Kali returned to Priderock guilt ridden about what just happened. But he didn't have long to feel this guilt. Jasiri came running up to him panic in her chocolate brown eyes. "Oh Kali thank the Kings you're back!" the rusty brown lioness cried.
"What's' wrong 'Siri?" Kali asked alarmed at his mate's appearance.
"It's Nala!" Jasiri cried out. "She never came back form her hunt. They think she might be dead!"
"What?!" Kali cried out in shock. The before Jasiri could stop him Kali went racing towards Priderock. When he got there he saw Sarafina sobbing into Scar's mane. "What happened?!" Kali cried out.
"A terrible tragedy," Scar said shaking his head sadly. "I'm afraid my dear sweet daughter, Nala is dead."
"No!" Kali cried out tears coming to his eyes. Then the world began to spin and Kali felt very dizzy. He faintly head Jasiri call his name before his world became complete darkness.
A/n well there you go ch 18 done. Hope you all liked it and the cliffie hehe as always review please.
