Plans

Kijanjwie hurried to the tent. The sun wouldn't rise for three hours. Slipping inside she found the younger two of the trio asleep. Simba looked up but looked back down. Kiji dipped her head. Looking back up to him she asked, "What's your name?"

The lion was silent for a moment. Almost refusing to answer. "Simba," he said, and added with a chuckle, "Not too original huh?" His smile faded and he stared blankly at the ground. He looked up once more raising his head, "What are you doing here?"

"I thought I'd get to know you be..." she began.

"No," he chuckled interrupting her, "What are doing with these men?" he asked seriously.

Kiji sat down, "I don't have any place else." she said sadly.

"Why is that?" he asked.

She sighed, "I don't have a family anymore. The wars all over Africa swept through my home and took my family with it. My friend and I were the only ones that escaped almost completely unscathed."

"Almost?" he asked concerned by the way her face twitched in pain.

"I don't like to talk about it." she said, "it was a very bad experience."

Simba was silent. He sense the discomfort and he knew what bad memories could do to someone. He kept quiet about it and moved on to another question. "What do you do here?"

"I help my…Lidia and Charles with chores and cleaning." she sighed.

A smile touched his lips, "Sounds like my day." he said.

"Really?" she laughed, "You have chores?"

"More like babysitting. Not to mention the endless walking around the territory and listening to countless complaints and suggestions." he laughed.

"Complaints? Who complains? About what?" she giggled.

"The cheetahs always getting to a kill last. Which is quite the oxymoron." he explained with a grin, "Buffaloes have got a bout about this seasons grass. Warthogs have been thwarted in attempts to save their gas. Flamingos in their pink are trace secretary birds. Saffron in this season's color seen in all the herds. Moving down the line and down to near the bottom rung, far too many peoples are quite frankly in the dung." he laughed as he recited one of Zazu's morning reports.

"Is he really so bored that he rhymes it?!" she covered her bursts of laughter.

"Yeah," Simba sighed, "He is really odd."

"He was a little annoying wasn't he?" A female voice asked.

"Was? He still is!" A male voice laughed.

Kiji looked over and saw that Simba's daughter and grandson were awake.

"Zazu is very loyal. You have to give him that." Kiara said.

"I'll respect him but that doesn't mean that I have to like him," Nuku laughed.

"What are your names?" Kiji asked when the break allowed for her to ask.

"My name is Kiara," the lioness nodded her head, "This is my son, Nuku."

"Can I ask you something?" Nuku asked the girl. When she nodded he began, "I've been having these dreams that this would happen. I saw you. Did you have anything like that?"

Kiji shrugged shaking her head, "I'm sorry."

"Oh," Nuku sighed, "What is going to happen to us?" he asked softly.

Kiji's shoulder sagged. She hadn't been thinking about that. "I won't let them hurt you."

"How are you going to that?" Simba couldn't catch himself in time and he regretted saying it.

Kiji grinned, "We'll wait till tonight and I'll help you escape. I have almost every key to this place." she said, "I promise you. Just wait till tonight."

Nuku nodded ready to follow and act. The adults then nodded ready for anything. But they weren't ready for what was ahead.

***

Cira paced frantically. They'd been gone for a full day. Kovu and Kazak went out to search the Pridelands for the missing. But so far no luck had turned up. She looked up and smiled excitedly and ran toward her father and brother. They met half way and Kazak shook his head.

Cira began, "I traced their scent as far as I could. They went North," she said a hint of concern, "Rafiki came by yesterday while you were gone. He said to come to his tree as soon as you got back."

Kazak nodded but Kovu broke into a run for the big baboa tree. Exchanging a sigh the siblings ran after their father. Two different feelings pulsated through him as he ran. Anger and anticipation. He was angry at the disappearance of his family and excited of the information Rafiki would give. When he arrived the dark lion jumped up into the tree. It was surprisingly sturdy the branch he landed on. Getting to the painting wall he sighed. The first time he'd seen the paintings he thought they were just silly drawings. But they were wonderful sentiments of the past. Well the good parts at least.

Just then the shaman jumped down to the lion. "Good to see you, dear friend." he said giving the king a firm hug.

Kovu put a paw around him and sighed. Pulling away, Rafiki ran off to look down at the two siblings, "Come up here you two!" he yelled with a laugh. Kovu let himself smile but then it fell from his face.

When Kazak and Cira joined him, he asked the mandrill, "What happened?"

The colorful face was dull and sad for one of the very few times in all the years the lions had known the monkey. "I have told you of humans before, Kovu?"

His brow furrowed and he nodded, "I thought they were just a story. I- I know they're real but they're not here, are they?"

Rafiki nodded, "They are very much real. The reason we don't travel north. There are some people that are very kind and curious about us. They want to protect our peace. And there are others that work on the other extreme. Hunters and poachers. They only care for greed and their own appetites."

"And the good news is?" Kazak asked skeptically.

"There is a human that is willing to help them escape," Rafiki said, "The bad news is she is surrounded by the opposion side."

"What?" Kovu gapped, "Are they hurt?" he asked.

"No," Rafiki said, "That's all I know."

"Wait," Cira said, "How do we help? Where are they?"

"If you can find them, you can help, but I don't know where they are." he shrugged, "They won't tell me where. Just that they are well. And they have a friend to help them."

Kovu sighed, "I just wish I didn't feel so useless. The moment you find out anything, let us know."

The mandrill nodded his head, "You know I will."

Each of the lions jumped down and started walking home. "Dad what are we going to do?" Cira asked.

"We will continue to track down their scents. Kazak, I want you to get as much information on humans as you can. I'll help you."

"So everyone but us knows about humans?" Cira felt offended.

"Just Simba, your mother and I." Kovu nodded, "It was a need to know thing. And now you need to know." he added when she began to protest.

"We will get them back," Kazak said, "Right Dad?"

"You're starting to sound like a cub again," he joked, "Yes we will."

AN: read and review!!!