A/N: CSIMentalistTLK lover- yeah Tanabi remembers but he has to keep quiet.

Teddi 8347- I get ideas like every second so I write them down and update when I see a review. Yes he knows, but he can't say anything. He has to act like he doesn't know.

Disgraceful Prince

Mheetu's nose twitched and his ears flicked up at the faint sound of pawsteps. He raised his head, peering around the area in the misty dawn light. Sniffing, his eyes blinking rapidly, he detected a familiar scent.

"Nzuri?" He whispered, his voice wafting through the clearing. Lying by him was Khairi, Tanabi and Kopa

The peach she-cub poked her head around the bushes. "Get Kishindo, and follow me!" Nzuri mewed, beckoning with her dark red-tipped tail.

She pattered away around the area of the bush without waiting for a response. Mheetu yawned, glancing back at Nabii and Kishindo. He had no idea what she was planning now. He rolled over, walked over to the light orange cub and nudged his brother with a paw.

"Wake up!" He hissed softly, as Kishindo shifted and mumbled.

"What...?" The older cub groaned, his eyes peering blearily at Mheetu.

"Nzuri wants us. Come on." Mheetu replied quietly, sitting up and flicking his tail.

He rose to his paws, yawning again, then slipped away from his mother's side and past the bush with Khairi, Tanabi and Kopa following. His ears pricked at the sight of Nzuri, Kito, and Skye sitting in the middle of the space; Nzuri looking wide awake, Skye appearing somewhat tired and Kito looking as though she was sleeping still, despite being in a sitting position. Mheetu and the other three crept towards them, followed momentarily by a grumpy Kishindo.

"What now?" Mheetu asked to the girls, raising a paw to scratch at his ear.

"Remember the tunnel?" Nzuri grinned, as the others looked curiously at her.

"Tunnel?" asked Kopa looking between the creamy brown prince and the peach cub

"What are you talking about?" Kito asked full of annoyance

Mheetu nodded slowly, knowing where this was heading.

"You promised." Nzuri reminded him, putting on a fake pouting face.

Mheetu shook his head with a soft sigh."I know."

He rolled his eyes, but followed her nonetheless as she trotted away. Skye, Kopa, Tanabi, Khairi, Kito, and Kishindo moved behind them, still muttering and questioning Nzuri and Mheetu's words.

"What tunnel?" Kito snorted, catching up to Mheetu.

He blinked, eyes flicking to Nzuri ahead."It was Nzuri's idea...ask her."

He avoided answering, still a bit nervous about the whole plan. Kito trotted up to the other female as the eight walked through the savannah. The sun was just barely peeking over the trees in the distance, the morning misty and dim. The dew-covered grass brushed the cubs' fur, sprinkling it with cold water. Mheetu flicked his tail as their destination came into view. His tail twitched as Nzuri sped up, her tail a little speck between the stalks. He darted after her, secretly excited about the tunnel, even though he was a bit scared as well. Who know what lay down there? Giant holes, terrible darkness, maybe even monsters...Mheetu shook himself of the bad thoughts. He slowed to a halt behind Nzuri, eyes scanning the innocent-appearing pile of stones. Kito and the other males arrived moments later, staring at the rocks. Skye tumbled in lastly, larger than their last adventure but still quite a bit smaller than the others, her paws skidding on the ground as she slid to a stop beside Mheetu.

"This doesn't look like a tunnel." Kito commented scornfully, flicking a clawed paw at the stones.

Nzuri huffed, padding closer. She heaved against the closest rock, pushing it away from the concealed entrance that she had shown Mheetu those many weeks ago.

"Does it now?" She blinked arrogantly at the fiery red cub, pride in her gaze.

The black hole yawned eerily from the rocks. Kito stared for a moment, then flicked her tail and turned away. Mheetu let out a soft breath; the two hadn't gotten on with each other from the moment Kito had pounced on Nzuri.

"So are we going or not?" Kishindo asked grumpily, seeming less-than-impressed with the tunnel.

Obviously, he was still half-asleep. Nzuri glanced to him."Of course!" She purred, beckoning with her tail. "Follow me!"

And with that, she ducked into the darkness.A moment of hesitation lay upon the seven cubs. Mheetu exchanged a glance with Skye, glimpsing a reflection of his mixed fear and excitement in her eyes. He then slunk into the , he half-stumbled, half-slid down a steep pebbly slope. Mheetu let out a small mew of surprise, trying to regain balance but without success. He heard a shriek as Skye discovered the incline, and heard her too scrabbling on the stone. Moments later, the land leveled out, and Mheetu tumbled forwards with his momentum until he came to a rest a few paces away.

"There you are!" Nzuri's delighted voice came from somewhere in the darkness.

Mheetu grunted a reply, testing his rather scraped paw-pads on the stony ground.

"I was wondering when you guys would get here." The she-cub gave a small giggle, and Mheetu couldn't help but feel more relaxed at her confidence and ease.

He gave a gasp as something soft rammed into his back, making him fall face-first on the rocky ground. He caught a whiff of Kito's scent, and heard the reddish cub mutter an apology, "Oh. Sorry."

He heard her wander away, and then a loud yowl announced the arrival of Kishindo, who had landed with a thump next to Mheetu. Same with Khairi, Kopa and Tanabi.

"All here?" Nzuri asked, and without waiting for a reply, Mheetu heard the sound of her pawsteps heading further into the tunnel.

Quickly, Mheetu rose to his paws and followed her. He felt a pelt press against him, and recognized Skye's fear-scent.

"Mheetu?" The cub whispered.

"Yes, Skye?" Mheetu turned his head instinctively, even though he couldn't see her in the darkness. Mheetu gave her a gentle lick. "Don't worry. You're safe here."

But he wondered if he should have told her that. Could he really promise such a thing? Even so, he would do all he could to protect her if needed. Skye kept to his side as they padded through the dark tunnel.

"Aha!" Nzuri's voice echoed through the tunnel ahead, and Mheetu could now see a chink of light coming down from the ceiling.

Skye's pelt vanished from his side, and he saw her silhouette bounding over to Nzuri's outline, gazing up at the source of the light. Mheetu followed, heading up the slight incline to the others. Kopa, Tanabi, Khairi, Kito and Kishindo came a moment later, all letting out exclamations of relief at the light painted a dim picture of the tunnel around the cubs. It was about the height of a full grown lion, and wide enough for the eight to stand in line facing forwards or backwards. The tunnel was littered with rocks and dust, making it look like an ancient cave. To Mheetu's pleasure, there were shafts of light all the way ahead, as far as he could see. He glanced to Nzuri, who was also gazing ahead, and she sprang forwards.

"Keep up!" She called back as she ran, her eyes glowing in the dim light.

Mheetu flicked his tail, meeting Skye's gaze, and darted after her. With the faint light, it made it much easier to maneuver around the stones and other obstructions. Mheetu found himself actually enjoying it, the sense of adventure bright in his mind. They traveled on, chatting and joking. Kito and Kishindo stuck together, muttering, while Tanabi Khairi and Kopa and Nzuri, Mheetu, and Skye conversed throughout the walk. Time passed, and Mheetu guessed that the MountainLanders had noticed the eight cubs' disappearance. He felt a calm sense of delight, mixed with excitement. He felt as if nothing could destroy their fun. That was, until he slammed into Nzuri, and noticed her powerful fear-scent. Stumbling back from her, he felt a wave of terror. What had spooked her into stopping? Skye and Kito arrived moments later, both skidding to a halt in confusion and fear. Kishindo, Kopa, Tanabi and Khairi came sliding in lastly, asking, "What's going on?"

"Shh!" Nzuri hissed, whacking his mouth with the tuft of her tail. "I smell...hyenas."

Skye let out a small squeak of fear and Mheetu felt her trembling pelt press against him again. He himself had felt a cold claw of horror pierce his heart. Hyenas! If they were found, they were as good as dead.

"Nzuri, we have to back." He muttered softly but urgently.

She glanced to him. "I know." She seemed to regain her control, shaking her pelt and backing up. "Come on!" She whispered fiercly to the others.

The eight cubs began to step back, each wary and too scared to make a sudden run for it. Mheetu couldn't see any hyenas, but he could smell them-very close.

"Oh look, Nikon, lion cubs!" A sneering voice rose out of the tunnel ahead, and between the light, Mheetu could see the faint outlines of two hyenas.

"Eheheheh...they ain't even Pridelanders or Outlanders!" Another voice replied with a dark chuckle.

"They seem scared of us, don't they?" The first one cackled. Female, by the sound of her voice.

Nikon snorted. "Goody! I always like a chase."

He grinned, and the cubs could see the sharpness of his teeth glinting in the dimness. And then a third voice floated from the darkness.

"Shenzi said to bring back any trespassers we found."

"Aww, Banazi...can't we just eat 'em?" Nikon whined, facing the newcomer, a fierce-looking male.

"Surely these eight can't do no harm." The first voice reasoned, her glowing green eyes darting from Banazi to the cubs.

They were frozen in terror, too scared to even blink.

"Nikon...Nokia...is that all you two think of?" Banazi sighed. "Your mother wouldn't have been pleased." he told the siblings. "You're just like Ed...food food food."

"Well, Shenzi won't give us anything!" Nokia grumbled.

"Yeah...we haven't had a decent meal since forever ago!" Nikon argued, his voice still whiny.

Banazi snorted, closing his yellow eyes for a moment. He seemed to have a change of heart, for a smirk widened on his muzzle. "True...I really can't resist fresh cub." He growled, bending down to gaze eye-to-eye with the cubs.

Mheetu swallowed as he stared straight at the hyena matriarch's brother's shining orbs.

"Hellooo..." Banazi smiled, before lunging with teeth bared.

The cubs fled. Panic descended on them, as they darted in all directions. Mheetu's voice had returned, he let out a terrified caterwaul as he scrambled over a rock after Skye. Every thought deserted him, every thought except for the one that screamed, run, run, run! Nokia was on his tail, her breath warm and heavy.

"Run all you can..." She purred in a cat way.

Mheetu wailed, his legs burning as he ran almost blindly through the tunnel.

"RRWWAAAAOOORRRRGGHHHH!"

Something huge and pale-colored flew over Mheetu's head, and he glanced back to see a lion slam the hyena to the ground, his muzzle screwed in a furious snarl, and his brown eyes dark with anger. It was Malka. A few paces away, a hissing Nabii was swiping at Banazi, and Shinda was tussling with Nikon. Mheetu stumbled back, feeling relief pour through his limbs. Were the others safe, though? He gazed hurriedly around. There, Nzuri was trembling next to a stone. Further away, he could see Kito's fiery-red pelt backed against the tunnel wall as she watched his mother battle away her tormentor. Where were his brother and the others? Mheetu pressed himself against the ground as Malka's tail swished through the air above him. He searched the darkness for the missing cubs. At last! He spotted Kishindo, Kopa, Tanabi and Khairi cowering underneath a stone that was leaning against the tunnel side. And there was Skye, almost invisible in a crevice in the tunnel walls. Mheetu blinked with relief. A pitiful yelping made him glance back up. The three hyenas were fleeing, their outlines fading into the depths of the tunnel. Mheetu scampered over to Skye, who had her head tucked down and was quivering.

"Are you alright?" He panted, nosing her ear.

She flinched and raised her head, baring teeth at him. Then she relaxed as she recognized Mheetu.

"Y-yes..." She mewled, "are they gone?" Her eyes were wide with fear still, as she peered past Mheetu's shoulder.

"They are." He assured her, stepping back so she could squeeze out.

As she did, Mheetu glimpsed something dark and glutinous on her right back leg. He stifled a meow as he realized it was blood.

"You're hurt!" He exclaimed as she crept out, holding her leg up slightly in a faint limp.

Mheetu felt his heart twist with pity as he realized the expression on Skye's face was one of great reached forward to sniff her injury when he felt teeth close around the scruff of his neck. He let out a wail before realizing it was his father. Malka lifted him up, away from Skye.

"She's hurt! Bleeding!" He yelped, struggling.

He felt Asubuhi's grip loosen and Mheetu dropped from his jaws to stand protectively next to the shaking Skye. He turned, gazing up into his father's stern and worried face. Shinda had come over, carrying Nzuri in her jaws. Nabii was sitting a ways off, her paws around Kopa, Tanabi, Khairi, Kito and Kishindo.

"Hatari? Can you move your leg?" Malka bent down to inspect her wound.

He gave it a lick, staining his tongue red with her blood. She trembled and nodded, moving her leg gingerly up and down to prove it.

"We need to get out of here." Nabii murmured, glancing down the tunnel to where the hyenas had disappeared. "We're too close to the Pridelands and Outlands."

Mheetu neither knew nor cared what the Outlands or Pridelands were. He was too scared. He felt guilty and dumb for having come down here. Malka grasped Skye in his jaws and nudged Mheetu forward. Nabii rose to her paws and snatched up Kito, while motioning for Kishindo, Kopa, Tanabi and Khairi to start walking. Shinda strode past them, Nzuri swinging from her mouth, and took the lead as the lions headed took a slightly different route, through a small tunnel that Mheetu hadn't noticed in the dimness until now. He assumed it had a larger exit, since the way the cubs came in was too small for a grown lion to get through. The shafts of light were not in this side tunnel though, the group was plunged into total darkness. Mheetu began to see a glow of light at the end. As they walked closer, he saw it grow into the exit of the tunnel. It opened up onto the meadow, Mheetu could see the tall grass surrounding the territory in the distance. He pattered onward, in no hurry to leave the tunnel and submit to the inevitable punishment. As they left the shadows, Mheetu looked back at the tunnel's other entrance. It was a dark hole in the side of the rocky hills that separated the Mountain Lands from what Mheetu knew was called the Outlands. It was the border of their territory. The tunnels must lead soon reached home where Nile and Luna raced out to meet them. Malka trotted quicker to greet Nile, whose eyes widened as he saw his daughter's condition. After much nuzzling and minor scolding, they were back and settled around. Mheetu crouched beside Kishindo, while Nabii lay curled around them. Malka was giving his report to Nile, who had taken Skye to Eve-both of whom were hidden inside the cave, Jeshi was sitting importantly at his father's side, and Mheetu could see a hint of annoyance on his face, as if he felt left out of their adventure. Shinda and a lioness Sora were lying across the clearing with Nzuri between their paws. The siblings Kate and Kaia were near them, lounging back-to-back. Kito, Tanabi, Kopa and Khairi was sitting beside them, watching. Malka sat down beside Nile, who shook out his ruffled mane and strode towards Nabii.

"Mheetu, Kishindo, I know you've been told this, but do NOT go near those tunnels again." He told them in his deep growl. He hesitated for a moment, glancing between Mheetu and Nabii, who had a stern, knowing look in her purple-blue eyes, and Mheetu wondered if there was some other reason for them forbidden to go there besides the danger. Something to do with Mheetu, the way Malka was acting. He then huffed and strode towards Shinda and Sora. Mheetu glanced up at his mother. She gazed calmly back, eyes narrowed slightly as if to say, don't ask. He looked away, and lay his head on his paws. It was late afternoon, and the heat was making him very sleepy. Satisfied that there was nothing anyone else wanted to scold him about, he drifted into slumber.