A/N: where did all da reviews go? Please review and ask any questions and even a comment would be nice-thank you!

Chapter 10: state of mind

"Dad? A-are you awake" Jabari asked tilting his small head at his father who slept soundly in his den. Scar continued to snore. The small cub walked into the dark den walking up to his father and prodding him with his tiny paw.

"What?" Scar hissed a bit irritated.

"I had a night mare." Jabari said, he had been have them frequently, they bothered him constantly even to where his training had been affected. Green eyes glowed in the dark, "Where`s Zira"

"Sleeping with her cubs, you're my father, can't I sleep here?" He took a step closer to his father. Scar shifted so he could see the cub more clearly, "Fine." He said laying his head back down as Jabari snuggled deep in his father`s fur.

"Dad?"

"For goodness sake Jabari go to sleep!" Scar hissed. Jabari stiffened and lowered his head to the floor, "What is it Jabari?" his father finally asked with a sigh.

"Sleep tight." He said, Scar looked at the tiny cub and sighed as he draped an arm over him, "You sleep in your own bed tomorrow."

"Ok." Jabari laughed.

Jabari opened his eyes yawning, his jaws stretched apart. Jabari looked at his shoulder the wound was now clean and was starting to pink over. In a few days it would heal. It was longer than deep witch made for fast recovery. He tugged at the vine on his leg, he was injured and they still took precautions, they might not be as dumb as he thought.

Jabari flexed his paws, he was itching to leave his den, and do something anything. Ale trotted in carrying food and his stomach growled, he still refused to eat out of pure hunger he had eaten one piece of food earlier but so far he had not eaten and didn't know how long he could go without food.

"Eat." Alea hissed hearing his rebellious stomach growl again.

"Not hungry." He said defiantly.

She lend down close to him, "You will eat or I will make you, it's my job to watch over you and-"

"You`d hate to see me leave, that's sweet but no, not hungry." He said pushing it back.

"Don't flatter yourself I just don't want to be the one to haul out your body when it goes rotten."

Jabari rolled his eyes and toyed with the food his stomach telling him to eat and his head telling his stomach to shut up. "I`ll eat when I'm ready!" h growled, that answer seemed to satisfy her for some reason or another because she left and Kiara took her place.

There weren't many wounds on her and the blood had been washed from her fur, she only had a few scratches and bruises.

"I see your healing." He said. Kiara smiled, "Yep, and you needed to eat to get better." She said. Kiara laid down and took a bite of the food and passed it to him, Jabari rolled his eyes and took a small bite out of the meat the smell making his mouth water.

XXX

Kovu crouched low along the plain the elk just a few feet away, he bunched his muscles and dug his claws into the earth. Kovu was about ready to leap but the word 'Jabari' caught his attention.

Kovu abandoned his hunt and looked around his eyes finally locking on Zira and Scar. They didn't look like they should be disturbed so he quietly snuck over to a brush that could hide him. Kovu reverted his ears so he could hear their conversation.

"Jabari has turned into his father; he has grown arrogant and selfish!" Zira growled.

"But has he fully turned on us?" Scar hissed. Zira paused.

"No, but when we get him back I believe that he will question his heritage." Zira growled again.

Scar paused and started to think, "Then we go with our original plan, once Kovu kills Simba, I will kill the brat."

"And the princess?" Zira smiled.

"She can die tomorrow when we strike." Scar stated and then walked away. Kovu dug his claws into the soil in anger; he wasn't going to let anyone die not, Kiara not Simba and not Jabari. He would tell Jabari what he heard.

Kovu had information that Jabari isn't Scars son and he needed to help his family his real family. Kovu was about to race threw the bushes but amber eyes blocked hm.

"Kovu." Simba said without his usual hard tone, "I would like to talk to you."

"I-um-I" Kovu stuttered looking past Simba to Pride rock. Could this wait? "Ok." He said walking with Simba. "Kovu, I want to apologize."

Kovu raised an eye brow at him, "Why?"

Simba laughed lightly, "I haven't even given you a chance and I would like to repay you, would you like to stay in the Pride?"

"Of course, but Simba, you must know-"

"You and Kiara?" Simba guessed a small smile on his face.

"Yes, but it's not i- just Scar-"

"You don't have to follow in his footsteps Kovu he has his own Pride, he should be satisfied."

"No-"

"Kovu!" Said a voice that sent shivers down his spine, "Well done Kovu just as we planed."