Chapter Three: Hard times

The days passed and, as suspected, food began to grow scarce in the Pride Lands for Simba's pride, yet Simba would not hear a word against his decision. Though many of the lionesses were concerned about this shortage, especially Kiara, they did not dare discuss their concerns in Simba's presence; for after all, he was the King and his decision must be respected. After the first major shock of learning that his daughter was pregnant, Simba soon needed to call in the help of his old friend, Rafiki.

"Well Simba, Kovu, my friends. It appears that this beautiful queen-to-be is going to give birth to twins," the wise baboon declared.

Both Simba and Kovu looked at each other, stunned, and then Kovu turned to his wife who was grinning broadly at the sight of her husband's shocked expression. "You heard him right love," said Kiara and she let out a mischievous giggle. "Twins."

Kovu laughed loudly and ran over to his love and licked her face, "This is terrific news," laughed Kovu, he nuzzled her face.

"Kiara, you've made me so happy. I…I don't know what to say," he stammered. Kiara smiled at him and licked his nose,

"Just say you'll be by my side always."

"You know I will," Kovu replied, beaming at her.

Simba smiled as he watched Kovu and Kiara expressing their love for each other and, deciding to leave them alone with the good news, turned and headed out of the cave. As he stepped outside he found that all the lionesses were gathered in a group with their heads bowed. "Hey, what's going on?" Simba asked, as he moved towards the group; but when he peered down what he saw made his stomach sink. All of the lionesses were savagely tearing at a small bird which they had killed. Each lioness was tearing at each other to get at whatever piece they could get of the bird and Simba knew, as he watched his pride struggling for small morsels of food, what the situation was. With a plunge of guilt, Simba forced himself to look away from the scene but, as he turned, he walked straight into Nala. She had a stern look on her face, which Simba had seen a long time ago when she had shouted at him when he had refused to return to the Pride Lands.

"Simba..." Nala began.

But she was cut off. "I know what you're going to say Nala and I finally understand", Simba stated sadly. Nala smiled at her husband.

"So what are we going to do now?" she asked as she kissed his cheek, but before Simba could answer Kovu burst out of the cave, his eyes scanned the area and he ran over to Simba the minute his eyes fell upon him. "Simba, I need to speak to you. It's important," he cried anxiously.

"What is it Kovu?" Simba asked, and then he thought he knew what Kovu wanted to speak about. "Is Kiara alright?" he asked, with a look of panic in his eyes.

"Yes, Kiara is fine, it's just that Rafiki just told us that it won't be long now before Kiara gives birth and now there's going to be two cubs to feed, instead of one. It's just that I don't think that there'll be enough food for all the pride and the cubs if we continue to share with the tigers," he claimed, with a slightly guilty tone in his voice. Simba looked at Kovu, who seemed desperate; then at the lionesses that were now licking the bones of the dead bird, and he nodded. "You're right Kovu; there won't be enough to go around if the tigers stay. Zazu!" Simba looked up at the sky as his advisor was flying by, Zazu immediately shot out of the sky and landed at Simba's feet, bowing. "Yes sire?" he asked.

"Zazu, I want you to send a message to the leader of the tigers," declared Simba. The lionesses that were licking at a small bone turned to listen to their King, with looks of hope on their faces. "A message, sire?" Zazu repeated uncertainly.

"Yes, to the leader of the tigers. Tell him that I wish to speak with him."

"Yes of course sire," said Zazu. And with those words he soared off into the distance.

The sun was starting to set and Zazu had spent many hours searching the Pride Lands, in vain, for the location of the tiger clan. "Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear," he muttered, as he dodged a swarm of bees. "I just have to find their whereabouts soon," he looked at the setting sun, "before nightfall. Wait a moment, it's them!" he whispered waspishly. For the hornbill had just spotted two striped figures heading towards what appeared to be a cave. "Wait a second, that's the same cave that that old bear used to live in before he fled during Scar's rule. Well it is big enough to hold a fair amount of tigers." Zazu flew into a tree and watched as a huge tiger of an immense build emerged from the cave.

He must be twice the size of Mufassa…thought Zazu, amazed at the sight of such a powerful figure, which must be the leader. The hornbill watched cautiously as the leader seemed immersed in conversation with the two tigers, which Zazu had followed. He seemed angry and, after he had dismissed the other two tigers, sat motionless. "Well If I'm ever going to get a chance to deliver Simba's message, this is it," he whispered. And with a deep breath shot down to the ground before the leader.

"Ummm…," stuttered Zazu, at a loss as to how to begin. The leader looked up and surveyed him with a slight interest and then he smiled, revealing huge, sharp white fangs. "I know you. Your Mufassa's little stooge," he laughed. Zazu looked horror-struck as the same words came back to haunt him. "I happen to be the King's major-domo and I currently serve King Simba, Mufassa's son," replied Zazu.

The leader smirked at Zazu and continued to survey him; Zazu took advantage of his silence. "Ummm…may I ask your name?" asked Zazu.

"I am known as Khan," replied the leader.

"Well, Khan, I bring a message to you from King Simba; King of Pride Rock and ruler of the Pride Lands."

Khan smirked again.

"What message is this?" he asked.

"That he wishes to meet with you to discuss the current situation," replied Zazu.

Khan considered this for a moment and then turned back to the hornbill.

"Very well, tell your King that I will meet him tomorrow at sunset; at that gorge." Khan pointed his finger behind Zazu. Zazu turned and saw, to his horror, that he was pointing at the same gorge where Mufassa had died and where Simba's life had changed forever.

"Now go," said Khan. With that he turned his back on Zazu and walked into the cave.

Simba, Nala, Kiara, Kovu and the rest of the lionesses were all anxiously awaiting Zazu's return; they refused to go to sleep as Simba had suggested to them many times but finally the blue bird came into sight. Zazu swooped down and landed at Simba's paws, "So how did it go?" asked Kiara.

"Well, I guess, it went perfect," replied Zazu.

"What did he say?" Simba asked.

"He said that he'll meet with you at sunset tomorrow, in the gorge," Zazu added, hesitantly. Simba stared at the hornbill.

"That gorge?" he asked sadly.

Zazu nodded his head sadly.

Nala nuzzled her husband but Simba had a determined look on his face, "If it means that those tigers will be gone for good and everything will be the same as it used to be. Then I'll go, even though when I returned to the Pride Lands I swore to myself that I would never go to that place again." Kovu looked at his king with pity in his eyes. Then Simba released a huge roar that echoed across the lands and Kovu smiled at him, knowing that if anyone could solve their problem it was Simba.