A/N:I'm glad you like you like them, CSIMentalistTLK lover.

Disgraceful Prince

Mheetu's ears flicked as the patter of paws sounded, approaching quickly. The slightly small cub glanced up, peering over the swaying grass to see who was moving about on such a hot day. He strained his eyes in the sun's glare, sniffing softly and perking his ears. Following the path of rustling stalks with his eyes, he rose to his paws and took a slow step closer.

"Hiya, Mheetu!" A familiar meow erupted from the grass, and two peach ears appeared over the sea of green and yellow.

Mheetu's mouth curled into a rusty smile, his muzzle slightly stiff from being in a consistent frown. He raised his tail as Nzuri bounded into view, followed moments later by Kishindo, Jeshi...and Skye. The smallest cub's stormy-blue gaze was bright with innocent excitement, her stubby legs pulling along her unsteady body with childish glee. Mheetu tilted his head at Nzuri, confused. Shouldn't Skye be back with her mother? She hadn't been allowed out of the cave yet.

"Nzuri, what is-?" Mheetu was cut off by his friend before he could complete his question; she guessed what he was asking.

"Luna let her go for her first time, as long as we protected her." The she-cub replied smartly, blinking her brilliant green-grey eyes.

Mheetu nodded slowly. Jeshi halted a few paces from him, curling his tail gently around his little sister while she mewled with delight. Kishindo loped over as well, his thick black tuft bouncing with his trotting gait. He slid to a halt next to Nzuri.

"So, where are we going today?" He asked, his expression unimpressed and rather bored-looking; albeit in a handsome way.

"Exploring!" Nzuri chirped, her tail flicking straight up with her exuberant meow. She looked mischievously from one cub to the next, her typical c'mon-we-won't-get-in-trouble expression painted all over her face. Jeshi exchanged a look with Kishindo; both males rolling their eyes at their excitable friend.

"And where, exactly?" The older lion muttered dryly.

"To the forest!" Nzuri beamed at them all, oblivious to their hesitation and doubt.

She could be a bit nearsighted, Mheetu thought, but he loved her all the same. He let out a soft sigh, his gaze leaving the group and locking on a smudge of trees further away, marking the western boundary of the Mountain Pride. Obviously, Nzuri had picked a place were they really weren't supposed to be. And now, they had Skye to look after.

"Nzuri, we can't go there." Jeshi huffed, demonstrating his more adult-like outlook.

He was a young teenager, but rather mature for his age. Nzuri frowned slightly, though the spark never left her eyes.

"Please? You can look after us, right?" she pleaded, smile returning, "I mean, you can always stop danger if we're in trouble, can't you?"

Oooh, tricky she was. Mheetu nearly smiled as he realized her ploy; she wanted to push Jeshi's confidence into letting them go. The older male certainly wouldn't want to be called weak. It worked, and Jeshi nodded slowly, appearing to be fumbling between annoyance and not-so-hidden excitement. Nzuri smirked faintly, then abruptly turned and darted away. Kishindo blinked, then followed, with Mheetu close behind. Jeshi took up the rear, keeping a slower pace for his small sibling. In a few minutes, during which there was little talking as they had been running at quite a good speed, the five cubs at last reached the edge of the wood. Nzuri, still in the lead, shot her friends a grin before heading confidently past the first stunted tree. Mheetu scooted past Kishindo to walk beside his best friend, his eyes focusing on every sight they saw. An unintentional silence descended upon the children. They were occupied with studying their new surroundings; thick tree trunks and masses of ferns and tangling vines. It ensued for a bit, but with Nzuri it couldn't last.

"That's a weird plant." The peach cub said softly, poking a paw toward a crooked pair of ferns.

"Yeah." Mheetu agreed, his attention already on something else.

The silence returned for a few seconds until Jeshi spoke. "Hey...do you scent that?" The maned cub questioned, his tone hinting slight concern.

The little patrol stopped, raising their noses to sniff the air. Mheetu curled his lip, the stench of wet mud and sour sickness reaching his nose.

"Ewww!" Nzuri spat, she too apparently catching the same whiff. Kishindo gave a loud snort, and Skye squeaked and cringed against Jeshi.

"Hey...I smell lion too!" Kishindo spoke, giving a hearty inhale.

Mheetu scented, and underneath the disgusting smell was the faint scent of lion. He flattened his ears, only now realizing that they could be in serious danger.

"Yeah, me too." Nzuri nodded, looking a bit nervous for once. She brightened quickly. "Let's go say hi!"

Without waiting for an answer, she sped away into the undergrowth. Jeshi let out a growl and Mheetu just stared after her, shocked by her recklessness.

"No, Nzuri, come back!" Jeshi sprang after the she-cub, leaving a frightened Skye who Mheetu took under his care to comfort.

He pressed against the small lioness, his tail tip twitching. He didn't want to follow Jeshi, but hoped the older cub would fetch Nzuri. Kishindo, too, stayed put, but his claws sheathed and unsheathed repeatedly.

"Aaeeeerrrrrr!"

A distant cry echoed through the trees, and Kishindo immediately jumped up and leaped away. Mheetu let out a panicked mew, and coaxed Skye into following him through the trees. The two bolted toward the sound, along the trail Nzuri had made. Panting, Mheetu clambered over a small log, reaching for Skye to climb up. His eyes widened as he saw the scene before him, still yards away through the trees. A strange, brown-red lioness cub was standing over Nzuri, and spitting crazily. Jeshi was readying a pounce, and Kishindo was still running toward the group as fast as he could. Rage and fear jolted into Mheetu's throat, and he looked to Skye.

"Stay here!" He whispered furiously, licking her small head.

Then, he leaped off the log and darted after his friends.

Another cry, but this one sounded more like a surprised exclamation than an attack call, like the first. A thump sounded, and scuffling arose. Mheetu heard Jeshi's growls and Nzuri's snarling, and moments later Kishindo's grunting. Mheetu could see them now, fighting furiously with the strange red cub. Without thinking he joined the battle, digging his claws into the splotchy fur of the attacking female. He nearly recoiled, and realized that mud was covering most of her 's what we scented! Before long, the four cubs had overpowered the new cub, who lay under their paws hissing with rage. Jeshi took command, peering down at her while a fleck of blood dripped off his nose. None of the cubs were seriously hurt, but they had a scratch here and there.

"What was that for, muddy?" Jeshi snarled, his orange-amber eyes dirty she-cub spat at him.

"Get your paws off me!"

"Yeah, right!" Nzuri taunted, tail twitching.

She, Mheetu, and Kishindo all backed away, letting Jeshi handle the stranger. Their older friend glanced sternly at Nzuri.

"I'd like you to explain your reason for attacking my friend." He continued his interrogation, paws firm on the she-cub's shoulders. Finally the red cub stopped struggling.

"I took on all four of you. If you hadn't come, I wouldn't have beat that little peach one easily. I'm the best fighter in the forest." She boasted, glaring over at Nzuri, who returned the glare with a pttthh sound.

"Where do you come from?" Jeshi asked her.

"None of your business."

"Don't you have a pride or a family?"

"Na. My friend and I take care of ourselves." The red cub seemed proud of this attribute, and shut her odd golden eyes for a moment.

"What's your name and what friend?" Jeshi asked hesitantly; Mheetu guessed he thought the stranger would refuse that certain piece of information.

"Kito. And he's around?" She grumbled, wiggling again.

"Sure. Won't you and your friend come home with us?" Jeshi meowed, his ear twitching.

Mheetu and Nzuri exchanged a glance. Why would he invite this fierce cub into their pride?

"Really?" Kito stared up at him, surprised. She seemed to loose her confidence and fight. "Don't you hate me for hurting you?"

"No, you were just being a cub."

Kito seemed a bit put off by that, and her grimace returned.

"But you need a pride, don't you? Come on, we won't kill you." Jeshi slowly stepped back, allowing the red-pelted cub to get to her paws.

"Like you could." She snorted softly, shaking her fur. The icky mud clung tight, as if she hadn't bothered to clean it in days. Then she whistled, a muddy dark golden cub walked of some bushes.

Mheetu looked urgently to Jeshi, concerned about his parents' reaction. Especially with Skye with them, the adults would certainly be angry. But he seemed the only one other than Jeshi himself who was worried, Nzuri and Kishindo had sped right over to chat with Kito and the dirty dark golden cub.

"I'm Nzuri, that's Kishindo, Jeshi's over there, and this is Mheetu." The peach cub was introducing her friends as Mheetu came near.

Mheetu flicked his tail, smiling politely to the red female, then turned to follow Jeshi to Skye. Immediately the little cub was afraid, but Jeshi made sure she was comforted. Nzuri glanced at their new companion. "Don't even think of attacking her. This is her first time out of our home..." Nzuri continued to babble, while Mheetu trotted ahead to pad behind Jeshi and his sister.

In that procession, the cubs made their way back to the Mountain took quick time through the trees and finally through the grassy plains of their home territory. Jeshi led them, Skye dangling from his jaws-too tired to walk more.

"Jeshi! Skye! " Luna's urgent call rang from the cave, and she burst out with Nile, Malka and Nabii.

"Where have you been?"

After a lengthy explanation and slight excuses; both King Malka and Queen Nabii accepted Kito and her unnamed friend into the pride. It turns out that Kito's friend was named Kopa and that Kito found him in a river. Every since they had been traveling together. But Kopa don't remember what happened or where he came from. Kito and Kopa would be cleaned up and well-fed, and the whole pride was friendly to them; despite her protective and fierce personality. The cubs were given a meal, and sent straight to their spots for a mild punishment of wandering far. They were all tired, though, and the sun had just set. Mheetu snuggled up against Nabii, hearing his mother's tongue rasping Kishindo's fur. Their adventure had worn him out, and he felt content and sleepy under the swath of stars. He was very glad that Kito and Kopa had joined, Kito seemed a to hold a promise of a great huntress and pride member. He's not sure about Kopa but he too seem like a good pride member. Mheetu sighed happily, too tired to think much more. Sleep quickly took hold.