A/N- Yes I know this chapter's cliche, deal with it ;)

Secrets for You

There are secrets I have told you,

that you have not even known.

Truths from my heart, as yet unheard

by any ears but yours alone.

Things you did not hear as secrets,

only stories told in the night.

Secrets guarded by an uncertain heart,

now placed fearlessly in your hands.

"When's it going to start?" Nalas' impatient whine carried easily through the still night air and her mother gave her a nudge to keep silent; though the gentle prod carried understanding with it. The entire pride was gathered on the promontory of Pride Rock, abandoning their usual sleeping spots in the cave for a night under the stars.

"It's already begun," Sarafina scolded good-naturedly, giving her daughter a caring lick on the head.

"Where?" the little lioness implored, wriggling around in her mothers paws and searching the starry sky.

"Look right at the edge there," the mother lion murmured, pointing to the full moon with a tan paw. "The edge is just beginning to disappear. See it?"

"No," the young girl pouted, blue eyes fixed on the glowing orb in intense concentration. She sighed heavily with impatience, "How long's this Eelipse thing going to take?"

"E-Clipse," Sarafina corrected gently. "And Rafiki said that it would a few hours before it disappears entirely."

"That's so long!" Nala groaned in exasperation. "Mom, can Simba and I go see if it looks better from up on top? Please?"

"Well if Sarabi says it's okay…" her mother relented, her daughter leaping up eagerly to go find her friend. "But no horseplay up there! We don't want either of you falling off!" the lioness called after her cub.

"I dunno, it really doesn't look any different from up here," Simba declared when they finally reached the top. "Maybe upside down?" he offered rolling onto his back and scowling at the slowly eclipsing moon. "Nope, not really."

"You're so weird!" Nala laughed, copying him by lying down on her back.

"And yet you still hang out with me," the golden cub pointed out, smirking arrogantly. Nala opened her mouth to make a smart-aleck reply but the words caught in her throat.

"Not tomorrow," the little lioness finally managed to choke out, the words so quiet that they were almost lost on the slight wind.

"Huh? Why not?" Simba questioned, twisting slightly so he could see her face.

"My mom's taking me out with the hunting party for my first lesson," she responded quietly, keeping blue eyes fixed on the stars less her threatening tears spill from them.

"But that's great!" Simba exclaimed, rolling onto his stomach and smiling down at her. "I'll be you'll be the hunt leader when you're old enough!"

"But what if I'm no good? And I trip and scare off all the prey? Or…or...I don't want to grow up!" Nala broke down, the floodgate of tears bursting open and spilling down her cheeks. Frustrated at losing control the little lioness rolled away from her friend, trying to hide the wetness in her eyes.

"Nala…" the prince whispered in concern. He wavered for a moment as her sides shook with suppressed sobs, salty tears staining her light colored cheeks. Silently the young lion scooted closer to his favorite playmate, pressing his warm side against hers for comfort. The duo sat in silence while the shadow of the earth slowly ate away at the bright moon.

"I'm sorry," Nala finally breathed, once more in control of her emotions.

"Hey, there's nothing to be sorry about," Simba purred, knocking her playfully with his head. "Honestly, I'm scared about growing up to." The little lioness spun her face around to see the prince embarrassedly rubbing his paw against the smooth stone. "My dad has a lot of confidence in me to be the next king, but sometimes…" Simba signed heavily as him amber eyes roved the savannah. Nala felt a rush of pity for the pressure her young friend was experiencing, but at the same time she felt a sense of relief that she wasn't the only one feeling that they were leaving cubhood behind too fast.

"You won't tell anyone will you?" the future king asked suddenly.

"If you won't tell anyone that I'm scared to hunt," she offered eagerly.

"Deal," Simba promised, sticking out a paw to shake on it. Nala quickly did the same, and the two friends sealed their promise, framed by the eclipsing moon.