"Why did you stay there in the first place? Why didn't you come back home?" Kiara was asking him.

"Because of Kira. She told me something that I thought was true, though now I know that it isn't." Themba replied.

"And what did she tell you?" Kovu persisted.

"She said that they once lived here and you guys drove them out." He admitted.

"And you believed that?" His mother had a look of disbelief on her face.

"I was a cub! Cubs are stupid enough to believe anything." He shot back at her.

"Not all of them." His father put in.

"Even so," Themba continued,"She was very convincing at the time."

Kovu glanced at him. "She was very convincing to me as well, when I was young." He admitted. "I don't blame you for that. But still, why did you come back?"

"Because I found out that Zira lied to me. She'd been since I met her." Themba forced himself not to growl. "It was all a big lie."

"Glad you've learned your lesson." The king told him. "You can go now."

He let out a small growl as he padded through the cave exit and down to the grasses of the Pride Lands. He walked through them, having nothing to do. He lay down underneath a large, shady tree, letting out a lazy yawn.

Then Themba spotted one of the lionesses hunting. Her name was Sibusiso, he recalled. He watched her swift, graceful movements as she leapt onto the back of a gazelle. He watched her sink her teeth into its neck and topple over with it. She popped back to her paws and started dragging it back towards Pride Rock. Awed, he decided that he'd go and help her.

With tingling paws, the dark furred prince dashed to her side. "Need help with that?" He offered.

"Sure!" She replied. "Thanks."

"Anytime." He responded kindly.

"It's Kimba, right?" Sibusiso asked, as he lifted part of the dead animal.

"Yeah." Themba replied. Never going by the name of Themba again.

*X*

Kimba and Sibusiso had just reached the base of Pride Rock. They easily carried it between them as they walked up the rock, side by side.

"Nice catch, by the way." He praised her, admiringly.

"Thanks." She let out a purr. "So," She added as the reached the cave entrance,"Want to go hunting with me tomorrow?"

"Of course." He replied politely. "Where should we meet up? The base of the rock sound good to you?"

"Yeah, sounds great." Sibusiso agreed.

They entered the cave and dropped the gazelle before Kovu and Kiara, backing up a bit to talk.

"See you tomorrow." Kimba told her.

"You too." She replied as she padded out of the cave.

"So, you got a lioness already?" Kiara asked, making his face go red under his fur.

"Uh, no, actually." He said, embarrassed and unsure of the answer himself. "We're just going hunting tomorrow."

"Sibusiso is a great lioness, you know." His mother continued, to his dismay. "She'd be great for you."

"I know." He flicked his tail, wishing they weren't talking about this.

"Yeah." Kovu joined in. "Better hurry up before all of the good ones are gone."

"I will." He responded, maroon eyes darkening with determination.