A/N:CSIMentalistTLK lover-Damn Zira is right. Zira never quits till she dies!

Enjoy this chapter!

Disgraceful Prince

"-and he needs to be cleaned up too, there's dried blood all over his shoulder and face."

Mheetu's eyes squinted open, his ears flicking up at the sound of a worried voice. As his vision came into focus, he could make out Nabii, Shinda and Eve standing a few paces away, talking urgently. As more of his feeling came back, he recognized his surroundings as inside of the cave. He also realized he was lying against fur, and tilted back his head until he gazed up into the fretful expression of Malka.

"You're awake!" The pale orange lion exclaimed, his eyes brightening with a bit of relief.

The three lionesses all glanced over, each with a mixture of worry and delight on their faces.

"Ow...I hurt all over." Mheetu mewed, shifting slightly but feeling extremely stiff and achy.

His shoulder, right cheek, back leg, and stomach all stung.

Eve trotted over. "Yes, you've got a slash on your cheek, a wound on your shoulder, an injury on your left hind leg, and-"

Nabii put her paw over the smaller lioness's mouth."Don't scare him!" She sighed, drawing her paw back. "Come on, I'll get the water dish." She shook her tail and then padded off,

Eve giving Malka a apologetic glance before following. Shinda too trotted after them.

"Father, why did that lioness attack me?" Mheetu glanced back at his father.

Malka let out a soft, long sigh. "We aren't sure. I feel as if I faintly recognize that lioness, but I'm not sure why." He replied. "I'm just glad we got there before she could seriously injure you."

"So I'm not badly hurt, then?" Mheetu looked at his red-tinted pelt.

"No, you'll be fine."Mheetu thought he detected a hint of worry in his father's tone.

"How are you feeling?" Skye asked him, her eyes wide.

She was sitting in front of him, eyeing him with worry. Mheetu was all washed up now-Nabii had returned with a curved piece of bark with water in it, and scrubbed away all the dried blood. He felt a bit sore still, but Eve had covered him in weird leafy mixtures that were supposed to heal him, and he felt stronger.

"I'm alright." Mheetu replied, suppressing a yawn. "Tired, though."

It was already evening.

Skye smiled. "Yeah. I'm happy you're okay." She said, curling her tail around paws. "That attack was completely unprovoked."

Mheetu glanced down. "I don't know why she did it. I wasn't doing anything!" His voice rose in indignation. "Oh, hi Nzuri!"

Nzuri was padding happily over, dark red tail waving as she walked. "Hello, you two!" She purred. "Feeling better, Mheetu?"

Mheetu smiled faintly up at her. "Definitely." He responded, tail tip twitching. "I'm just so bored here." He added with a sigh.

"Oh right...didn't they confine you to the cave until you're better?" Nzuri said, glancing back at the rest of the pride, lazing around the area.

"Yup." Mheetu answered grumpily. "There's nothing to do!"

"Well, I will stay here with you." Skye put in, her eyes now solemn.

Nzuri gave her a strange look, something between amusement and annoyance.

"Thanks, Skye." Mheetu blinked warmly at the she-cub.

"Nzuri! We're leaving now!" A commanding call came from the cave entrance.

Nabii poked her head around, gazing down at the three cubs. "How are you, Mheetu?"

"Good." He replied simply. "Where are you going?"

Usually this was the time of hunting, so he wondered why Nabii wanted Nzuri somewhere.

"Hunting lessons." The very light cream-pelted lioness replied, glancing to Nzuri. "So come along, now."

She turned and padded out of sight. Nzuri flicked her tail, eyes bright."See you!" She meowed happily as she trotted off.

"Have fun, Nzuri." Skye said. "I can't wait for my first lesson."

"It'll come soon enough." Mheetu told her, as they watched Nzuri disappear from view. "I only get a few hunting lessons anyway, cause that's a female's job" He added, shrugging.

The matter didn't affect him much. He didn't really look forward to his few hunting lessons, hunting didn't seem that interesting to him.

"Yeah...I heard Kishindo talking with Queen Nabii earlier today. He seemed excited to hunt. I think he was going with them today." Hatari mewed, ears flicked up and head tilted as she thought.

"He was excited?" Mheetu suppressed a laugh.

Kishindo was always the last to like something feminine, it was surprising for him to be enthusiastic about hunting.

"Doesn't he like battle-training better, though?"

"I thought so too, but I wonder if it's actually hunting that interests him, or the fact that Kito's going too." Skye smirked faintly.

Mheetu snickered softly. "He definitely likes her. Does she know that, though?" He snorted, trying to imagine Kito softening for anyone.

"I think it's mutual." Skye grinned.

Mheetu returned the smile, quite glad he had a friend to converse with. He really appreciated Skye's loyalty to him."Don't tell her that." He advised playfully.

Skye laughed softly, tucking her paws close.

"Mheetu?"

The two cubs pricked their ears, looking up. Malka was standing at the entrance to the cave, brown eyes bright in the dim light.

"Oh, hi Father." Mheetu mewed, shifting slightly.

Skye pressed back her ears for a moment and sidled away from Mheetu.

"Eve needs to put on fresh leaf mixtures now. Skye, will you leave us please, dear?" Malka slid into the shelter, followed by the slim figure of Eve, who was carrying bunches of leaves in her jaws.

"Yes, of course!" Skye squeaked, jumping up and scampering out of the den.

Mheetu watched her go, but was distracted by something wet on his shoulder."Euuh!" He growled, twisting around to spot the soaking mixture of plants on the broken skin of his shoulder. "Ow!"

"Hush, it won't be long." Eve soothed, continuing doing whatever she was doing with the damp strong-scented leaves. Mheetu huffed out a breath and let her do her work, wincing whenever it hurt.

"Father, when will I get to leave?" He asked as Eve finished up.

Malka glanced at the lioness."In a few days." Eve answered for him, not looking up from gathering the collection of plants she had brought. Mheetu grumbled quietly.

"Now get some rest, son." Malka gave him a lick, then followed Eve out of the den.

Mheetu sighed, curling his tail around him. The wet mixtures felt weird on his skin, but he pushed that thought away and let sleep take him.

~O~

"Clear!" Eve announced, scraping the last bits of poultice off of his skin.

The wounds were nearly healed, fresh skin gleaming over scabs and the claw marks almost gone. Mheetu grinned, and beside him, Skye leaped to her paws with a delighted yowl.

"Come on!" She mewed, dashing out of the bushes. Mheetu rose to his paws, and staggered out behind her.

"Now, don't play rough for a while!" Eve called after them, but Mheetu barely heard.

He was free! He felt stiff and a bit sore, but he wasn't stuck in the cave any longer. He gave a joyful leap into the air.

"Mheetu!" Kishindo came galloping over, followed by Nzuri and Kito.

"I'm free now!" The creamy brown cub answered, grinning wildly. "Let's go do something!"

"We got the whole gang back, now!" Nzuri giggled, bouncing away. "Look out, Mountain Pride!"