A/N:Teddi 8347-The rule was to stay away from the outland and prideland border. So that means the tunnels and it was after.

CSIMentalistTLK lover-Those cubs were very lucky. He may later, though.

Disgraceful Prince

A butterfly drifted enticingly overhead, flapping its bright wings and swirling easily on the breeze. Mheetu followed it with his eyes, too lazy to reach a paw up to bat at it. He huffed softly, shifting his paws and flicking his tongue over his muzzle. He lay in the waving grass on his back, nearby to the cave. Around him, the rest of the cubs were also lazing about, napping or just watching clouds. Shinda was perched on a stone, in sight of the nine young lions. A few days had passed since their adventure into the tunnels-their punishment was not leaving sight of any of the adults and keeping near cave, and it was another stiflingly hot day. Mheetu watched as the butterfly floated out of reach, soaring towards the distant forest. He closed his eyes and sighed heavily. Sleep pressed on his limbs, but he didn't want to succumb. He wanted to do something other than lie around. He turned his head, looking into the bored expression of Nzuri. She lay on her side, tracing a pattern in the dust with one of her claws. Her eyes flicked to Mheetu.

"Whatcha wanna do?" She asked slowly.

"Dunno..." He sighed. His eyelids fluttered, fighting to close.

"Let's play Huntress and Prey!" Kito shouted, jolting the cubs out of their sleepy trances.

She had sprung to her paws, looking around with an excited spark in her eyes. Mheetu slowly sat up, yawning.

"Okay." He agreed.

It was at least something to do. Nzuri rolled over and got to her paws, as did Kishindo and Skye. Jeshi followed suit after a moment's hesitation along with Tanabi, Khairi and Kopa. Mheetu padded over to Kito, eager to begin before he fell asleep.

"I'm the huntress." Kito announced arrogantly, eyeing the rest of the cubs.

Nzuri curled her lip and Skye looked rather put out, but neither complained.

"We'll take turns." Jeshi said, glancing between the female cubs.

Skye blinked gratefully at her brother. Kito seemed not to care.

"Let's begin!" She growled, bending down and waggling her haunches. "Go over there and be wildebeest!" She waved a paw a few paces away.

"We were wildebeest last time!" Kishindo whined, padding over after Skye and the others. "Can't we be zebra?"

"It's just prey! Does it matter?" Nzuri replied with a small smirk.

Kishindo rolled his eyes."Fine..."

That caused Tanabi, Kopa and Khairi to snicker.

"I think he actually wants to be a zebra!" Skye giggled into Mheetu's ear.

He grinned at her. The five stood in the thick grass, awaiting Kito's hunt. She had disappeared into the scrub, and they drifted around, acting as best they could as wildebeests. Mheetu mouthed some grass, but gave up after the first bite. He had done it a few times before when they played, but always had thoughts that he might like it later. Apparently not yet.

"Rooooarrrr!" Kito charged out of the grass, making all of the cubs jump and start to flee, giggling and laughing as she chased them.

Mheetu swerved away, following Skye. He glanced back, just in time to see Kito launch herself on Kishindo and knock him down. Mheetu skidded to a halt, as did Hatari, Nzuri, Kopa, Tanabi, Khairi and Jeshi.

"You always choose me!" Kishindo grumbled as he lay under Kito's triumphant stance. She was purely smirking, appearing quite satisfied with herself.

"That's her way of showing him she likes him." Nzuri whispered, giggling quietly.

Skye mrroowed in laughter.

"You should have chosen Mheetu, he's fatter." Kishindo was arguing.

Mheetu's grin slid off his face as he looked over to his brother."What?" He asked, eyes dark.

Kishindo glanced up, looking angry. Mheetu wondered what had got him in such a foul mood.

"It's true, you know. I look nothing like you." He snorted, looking Mheetu up and down. He struggled for a moment, and Kito stepped away from him, looking slightly confused at his rage. Nzuri and Skye had neared, both appearing concerned. Tanabi, Kopa and Khairi looked on with confused looks.

"So? Is that bad?" Mheetu growled, feeling the fur lift on his neck and shoulders.

Did Kishindo really have something against his appearance? Maybe there was something else going on...he really did look different from Kishindo, Malka and Nabii...

"I didn't say that, but it sure doesn't match the rest of us!" Kishindo hissed, rolling to his feet.

Mheetu felt himself begin to get angrier."So you dislike my differences?" Mheetu spat, unsheathing his claws.

"Yeah, maybe I do!"

"Well I don't like YOU being the same!"

Mheetu immediately regretted his words as he heard the sharp intake of breath from Nzuri, and the dismayed expression of Skye. Even Jeshi looked slightly disturbed. Tanabi, Kopa and Khairi wasn't sure what to do.

"No...I didn't mean..." He stumbled over his apology.

"You think being part of a pride, and looking similar is bad?" Nzuri questioned, her voice unusually grave, and tinged with hurt.

"Wait...no!" Mheetu stammered. "I don't!"

"You just said you did." She responded, narrowing her eyes.

"How do you know you don't have a pride, where everyone looks similar to you?" Jeshi asked.

He seemed not to care about entering their argument.

"I don't..." Mheetu began, but trailed away under their angry faces. "Now you all seem to have a problem with me!" He snarled, recovering quickly.

"Yeah, I do!" Kishindo bared his teeth. "You think you're all high-and-mighty being special...what would you say if I looked different instead of you?"

"You'd rather be "fat", or whatever you called me?"

"No, I just said if I looked different...I wouldn't want to be like you. True Mountainlanders are slim and strong. Unlike you."

"You're calling me a rogue?"

"Yeah. Pudgy warthog, that's what you are." Kishindo taunted angrily.

"Well go revel in your stupid skinny shape, then!"

"You're not my brother anymore!"

"I never was!"

Kishindo flattened his ears. "Maybe you don't belong here." He snarled.

Mheetu's eyes widened. He hadn't expected such a cold response. Not all of them had turned on him, though.

"Why does it matter?" Skye spoke up quietly.

Tanabi, Kopa and Khairi nodded in agreement. Kito didn't say anything at all. She didn't seem to want to take a side. Mheetu thought that she might back him up, since she looked different too.

"You're too young to understand." Jeshi swung his head to face his little sister.

She stepped back, looking hurt.

"We're going over there to play." Kishindo announced. "Not with you." He added angrily to Mheetu.

He strode off, and after a moment, Nzuri and Jeshi followed him. Kito hesitated, looking puzzled and frustrated, then she padded away too. Tanabi, Kopa and Khairi looked at their friend with pity before going their own way, thinking it was best to leave the their friend alone. Mheetu sat down and sunk his claws into the soft, dusty soil. Had Kishindo always had a problem with him being different? Malka and Nabii never once mentioned anything to suggest he was not a part of the Mountainlanders... He blinked away tears of anger, and lay down with his head on his paws.

"That was mean of them."

Skye hadn't followed the others. She lay next to him, pressing her pelt comfortingly against his. He looked to her, still to angry to feel grateful.

"You look fine just the way you are, and that shouldn't change." She continued, her eyes gazing clearly at Mheetu's. He began to relax.

"Thanks, Skye." He gave her a warm nuzzle. "I just don't know what's got into Kishindo. He was so angry today."

"Just ignore it." Skye said softly. "He'll get over it."

Mheetu was glad for her kind words, but he wasn't as confident. He looked over at her again. "You're a good friend." He murmured, as she brushed her muzzle against his cheek.

The two cubs sat together as the pride frolicked and napped.