Here's chapter twelve and please review.
I'd like to thank CSIMentalistTLK lover, Teddi 8347, BlackLouie, and the three guest reviewers for reviewing my last chapter. I really appreciate it.
Sarafina and Sarabi were lounging in the den talking about their plans.
"Everyone wants it to be Tanabi." Sarafina was saying. "He is Lena's future mate so if we can save him, it'll also be good for Lena. And if our plans succeed, Lena won't have to live with a monster for a mate either."
"Very well then," Sarabi nodded. "Now we have to find a way to get Tanabi to spend time with us."
"Without Scar and Kana knowing?" Sarafina asked. "It'll be tricky."
"I know," Sarabi said. "But the best thing to do is to get either Kiara or Kopa to warm him up to the other cubs. Kiara and Kopa are the only cubs of Scar that play with our cubs and therefore that's the best way to get him near us without the others getting suspicious."
"But what about Nala's friends?" Sarafina asked. "They might tell Nala."
"I'll talk with them." Sarabi said. "And I'm sure that Kiona, Sarina Kudeka, Afiya and the others can talk some sense into their daughters heads as not to tell Nala."
"Very well then," Sarafina sighed. "But let's get going now. Our hunting shift is coming up."
Sarabi nodded and the two of them began their long night of hunting.
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A few days later Kiara was in the den quite bored. Kopa seemed to be in a bad mood and their mother was doing her best to cheer him up. Kopa had decided to spend more time practicing by himself so he would be better at the others in training. Akila was getting some rest along with Nuka and she had no idea where her sisters were.
She decided to go find Jasiri and Kovu to play with them. They had just come back to Priderock last night and when they had tried to play, their mothers had insisted on them waiting until the next day.
Just as she was about to leave her den, Tanabi trotted in.
"Hey Kiara," Tanabi said.
"I thought you were resting." Kiara said. "Don't you have training in the afternoon?"
"Yeah," Tanabi said. "I do, but I wanna play now."
"Wrestle with me!" Kiara growled playfully, crouching into a pouncing position. Tanabi growled playfully and he was just about to pounce on her when they heard a voice.
"Can I play with you guys too?" It was Hofu.
"Yeah, come play Hofu!" Kiara insisted, happy that he was here. She was under her mother's strict orders that she wasn't allowed to look for Hofu when she wanted to play. Kopa knew why, but he wouldn't tell her and Nala wouldn't give her a proper answer why either.
She had only said "Kiara, someday you will understand why I did this. Whatever I do, is for the best of you and your brother. It is my job to protect you and make sure you grow up safely and happily. But from now on, you will not look for Hofu if you're bored. You are welcome to play with him if he comes to you, but nothing else."
Hofu growled playfully at her and pounced on them. Kiara fell down with a giggle but Tanabi managed to dodge him.
Hofu looked at Tanabi, impressed. "You're not bad. I guess that training does pay off."
"Thanks," Tanabi said, puffing his chest out proudly.
"You wanna go into the big den? It's warmer and nicer there." Hofu urged.
Tanabi exchanged a look with Kiara. He rarely went into that den. His father didn't mind him going, but his mother had told him that it was safer if he didn't.
"Let's go!" Kiara said, and bounded into the den with Hofu behind her. After another second of hesitation, Tanabi followed them.
Kiara and Hofu had gone to where Jasiri was playing with Lena and had joined them. Tanabi approached them.
Jasiri stopped playing and then stared at Tanabi. "Why are you here?" Tanabi barely came into the rebel Pride den and had never played with them before.
"Jasiri!" Came a voice. The cubs turned to see Jasiri's father, Chumvi.
"Jasiri," Chumvi said, narrowing his eyes. "That isn't nice to say."
"Sorry," Jasiri sighed, folding her ears down.
"Who should you be apologizing to?" Chumvi asked.
Jasiri turned to Tanabi. "Sorry Tanabi."
"It's alright," Tanabi shrugged. Once Chumvi resumed his place with Amri, watching Haru and Kovu play, the cubs turned their attention back to playing.
Tanabi found himself liking playing with Lena, Kiara, and Hofu. Jasiri seemed to be nice on you got to know her and she warmed up easily to him. Both of them had loved wrestling with each other just as Tanabi had enjoyed himself playing with the others. Kovu and Haru had joined them and Tanabi like them as well. He wondered why he hadn't tried playing with them all this time.
"Tanabi," Kiara asked, after a long while. "Don't you have training?"
Tanabi sighed. "Yeah I do. I'll see you guys later." He trotted out of the den, disappointed.
No cubs were aware of Sarabi and Penda watching them closely.
"It's working." Penda said. "He enjoys playing them. Tomorrow we just have to go and talk with them while they're playing."
"Very well then," Sarabi said. "We will do that tomorrow."
"Do you know what Nala's friends say of this plan?" Penda asked.
Sarabi nodded, "They agreed to keep their mouths shut as long as we don't touch Kopa."
"Good then," Penda said. "Our plan is set."
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A couple minutes after, Kiara excused herself to go find her mother. Nala had been busy with Kopa for the past few days and Kiara missed spending time with her.
Kiara heard her mother's voice and followed it, but she was surprised at the scene in front of her.
"Kopa," Nala was saying. "What is going on with your attitude?"
"I'm just annoyed!" Kopa exclaimed. "You won't leave me alone!"
"Kopa, I'm your mother." Nala said. "You don't have the right to talk to me like that!"
"Why can't I just train by myself while I'm alone?" Kopa asked. "It's not like I'm doing anything bad."
"That's true," Nala said. "But all this practicing and training isn't good for you."
"I am going to be better than the others!" Kopa raged. "I have to!"
"But you're tiring yourself out trying to be the best."
"I don't care!" Kopa said. "Dad told me that being tough and rough is going to make me stronger. I'm going to take his advice."
Kiara saw grief clouding in her mother's eyes as she looked at Kopa.
"Very well then," Nala sighed. "Now go on to training. Your father is going to be angry if you're late." Kopa nodded and hurried away while Nala stared after him silently.
"Mom?" Kiara stepped out of the shadows and approached her mother.
Nala turned around and smiled when she saw Kiara. Kopa was slowly beginning to fall under Scar's influence, but Kiara wasn't. No matter what, no one would ever be able to take the sweetness out of her daughter.
"Hello sweetie." Nala greeted. "What have you been doing all day?" She licked the top of Kiara's head and Kiara nuzzled her nose against her muzzle.
"I was playing with my friends." Kiara replied. "Mommy, why is Kopa so mad?"
"He's just tired." Nala sighed. "He needs a break from all this training but he won't take one and I doubt your father would let him either."
"I miss playing with Kopa." Kiara admitted. "He always annoys me but I still wanna play with him."
"I know you do," Nala said, nuzzling her. "But don't worry, things will get better soon. I'll make sure of that."
"Can you play with me now?" Kiara asked.
"Of course," Nala said, and she ushered Kiara back into the dens to play with her.
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A few days later, Nala went up to the summit of Priderock for some lounging. It was sunny today and in the Pridelands it was very rare. The heat was intense and the sunlight made the lands no better however. As she looked down, she could see the ground red and baked from no water. There were bones of animals lying everywhere and the hyenas were gnawing on the little meat leftover from it.
"Nala?" Scar approached her and settled down next to her.
"Anything wrong?" Nala asked.
"Somewhat." Scar said. "I wanted to talk to you."
"About what?" Nala asked.
Scar stared ahead into the horizon, his cold eyes scanning over his ruined kingdom. "There's a rebellion coming up."
"What?" Nala asked. "Why do you think that?"
"The heat between the two groups is getting worse." Scar said. "The…rebel Pride is angrier than ever. And I think that they have a plan."
"What do you mean?" Nala asked.
"I was talking with Tanabi. He told me that he enjoys playing with the cubs from the rebel Pride and that he enjoys the company of the adults of the rebel Pride as well."
"Tanabi has been with the adults of the rebel Pride?" Nala asked.
"Yes and he likes them. They treat him nicely." Scar said.
"I don't think that's true." Nala murmured. "They barely tolerate Kiara and Kopa in there."
"Nala," Scar said. "It's a plan. Why would they all of a sudden open up to one of my cubs? Surely they are planning something."
"What kind of plan?" Nala asked.
"I don't know." Scar said. "But I'm going to continue letting Tanabi see them. Perhaps I can gain some information through that."
"But what if Tanabi gets hurt?" Nala asked.
"He won't. They know that they penalty will be death." Scar said.
"I have to go talk with Tama and some others." Nala said, and got up and walked into the den. On her way in she went past her father who gave her nothing but a look of disgust and anger.
Nala found her friends in the corner of the den, resting up for a long hunting trip tomorrow.
Shinda noticed Nala first, "Hey."
"Can I talk to you?" Nala asked. "All of you?"
"Sure," Tama said. "What's wrong?"
"Do you know why the older adults are warming up to Tanabi?" Nala asked.
Tama sighed. "Yes I know why. But I can't tell you why either. But I promise you that no harm will come to either of you cubs. I'll make sure of that and I'll tell you if I feel like that will happen. But it won't. We only agreed to keep our mouths shut as long as Kiara and Kopa won't be touched."
"What are the adults doing with Tanabi?" Nala asked.
"Nala," Shari sighed. "I'm sorry but we can't tell you."
"Please," Nala pleaded. "I have to know. I don't think I'll be able to forgive myself if anything happens to Tanabi."
"No cub will be hurt in this." Kula said. "None of Scar's cubs are going to be hurt either."
Nala sighed; she wanted to know the plan so badly but if her friends weren't tell her, nobody would.
"Very well then," Nala sighed, and walked out of the den.
Hope you enjoyed and please review. So Kopa is now jealous and he's been spending all him time training and Nala can't do anything about it. It's turning him darker and darker. The rebel Pride choses Tanabi and he enjoys their company. Scar and Nala found out, but neither of them can figure out what the plan is. What do you think will happen next? Stay tuned to find out.
P.S: Sorry if this chapter has a lot of mistakes but I stayed up typing this!