Chapter 8: leave it be

Jabari blinked sleep from his eyes, the only thing that woke him was the scent. He breathed it in almost feeling like he was back in his homeland. Was his nose playing tricks on him? He continued to blink the fuzziness from his eyes to meet the deep amber eyes of Zira.

He jumped to his paws, the cloud of sleepiness disappearing instantly. "Zira!" he said jogging over to her and rubbing his muzzle with hers.

"My son." She nodded; Jabari smiled it felt good to hear those words when it came from real family.

"Are we leaving?" he asked tugging at the vines that had encased him numerous times.

Zira shook her skinny head her eyes hard, "Not yet, your father has plans just they might take time."

Jabari tilted his head, "What are they?"

"I`ve come to tell you to stay down when the fighting begins I will find you and bring you to your father." She reassured.

"When is it?" He asked not caring that she ignored his first question. Zira smiled, "Soon, very soon- you`ll know when it's happening just stay down."

"But." He said.

"No, you`ve already gotten into enough trouble." She said looking around the room. Jabari make a lopsided grin, "Oops."

Zira snapped her head back to him, "Oops? Your father is risking his life just to get you back and you say oops!" she growled. Jabari glared at her, "I didn't ask him to do anything for me, I could leave if I wanted!"

Zira narrowed her cold eyes at him, "So, you want to stay here! That it isn't it! You`ve fallen for their tricks!" she roared, "I thought we taught you and Kovu better than that!"

"I`m not the traitor, Kovu`s the one getting comfy with the princess!" Jabari snapped, he lifted his head high, "And make sure you know who you're talking to, you may have taken care of me but I don't have a problem with putting you in your place!" Zira cowered back.

"Oh of course future king," Zira said with a slight hissing sound, "whatever you wish." She said her anger clear. "Good bye." She said turning away and heading threw the same whole Kovu had made. Jabari was about to call her back but didn't, it seemed all her did was argue with others now. Jabari laid hishead back down and slept for the night.

"Alea, Go hunt with the other lionesses for now I want to talk to Jabari." Next to him Alea nodded and walked off looking behind her once more before disappearing from sight. Jabari sighed in relief and narrowed his eyes at Kiara. "Why'd you do that?" he asked.

The lioness shrugged her shoulders as she trotted over to him, "Figured you needed a break from being watched." She stated.

"Um, thanks." he breathed. Kiara started to walk and turned her head to him, "come one lets explore." She grinned, Jabari shrugged, he had nothing better to do and if anyone caught him on his own he would be killed instantly.

He followed Kiara threw the tall grass once or twice losing trace other, they never had much grass like this in the savage land, what could grow off of the elephant bones were mostly moss or tiny insects that he and Kovu would use to play pranks on Nuka.

"Where are we going?" he asked Kiara who started to race up the hill.

"Anywhere!" she laughed and Jabari raised and eye brow. Suddenly Kiara stopped and as he raced pass poked him in the shoulder, "Tag your it!" she yelled.

"What?" he said looking back at her still running, suddenly his paws fumbled over a large rock making him fall and land on his face. Jabari lifted his head and spat out the grass licking his lips to get the taste out. "Are you ok?" Kiara said trying to hold her laughter in.

Jabari got to his paws and looked at her curiously. "Tag ,your it!" he said smiling before racing down the hill making sure to watch his paws. Kiara started to chase him into the hay like grass, making it harder to spot her.

"Got you!" she said jumping out at him and pinning him to the ground. Jabari pushed her off gently catching his breath. He barely noticed Kiara was looking around her eyes pulled back and her face serious. "What?"

"Where are we?" she asked.

Jabari looked around all he could see was the hay standing tall and swaying in the wind, "Were probably out of the pride lands, it's pretty big so we probably just passed the border."

Kiara nodded, "Lets go back." She said.

"Why, are you scared?" he teased.

"No! it`s just I don't feel safe here." She said shyly looking around again. Jabari was about to laugh again but a scent drifted over him. The fur along his spin began to stand up and he pushed Kiara to her paws, "Your right lets go." He said glaring at the hay around him.

"Why?" she asked sensing his urgency.

"Just go I'll tell you later!" he snapped. Nudging her into the hay again.

"Leaving so soon?" said a growl behind them Jabari shoved his way in front of Kiara his claws sliding out. Green eyes stared back at him.

XXX

Alea growled as she searched the den for Jabari. Great, lost him! She headed up the path way. She hadn't seen Kiara at all before she was with Jabari.

"Alea, have you seen Kiara?"

Alea turned to see Nala looking around for her daughter. Alea sighed, she should tell her. It was her fault. "She said for me to go hunting with the others and she would watch Jabari."

Nala`s eyes grew wide and she run up the steep stony path that lead to the den. Nala raced inside and Alea trotted over to Kovu figuring her could help find the two also.

"Kovu, wake up!" she said shaking his shoulder with one paw.

Kovu`s weary eyes opened slightly, "What?" he asked.

"Kiara and Jabari are missing!" she hissed she didn't wait for the lion`s reaction she only met u with the others outside of the den.

"They couldn't have gone far move out and search the border!" Simba roared, every lion raced out to find the missing lions.

A/N: who is this thing that Jabari and Kiara have seen? No need to fear the next chapter is here! Sorry couldn't resist saying that, I might update again today on tomorrow, just know the next chapter will be here quickly-Please review!