Chapter Six - Meeting

Sadiki's limbs ached. She'd been running for what seemed like hours. Traces of the dried blood of Simba were caked on to the short fur of her muzzle. The salty taste lingered on her tongue. She was not angry or sad. She was determined. She'd reached the border of the Pridelands and slowed to a walk, finding a place to stay. There was no need to return to her home. She had no respect for Kovu, Kiara, Nala, or (of course) Simba.

Sadiki became tired as she walked along the outskirts of her home. She was striding through sand rather than savannah now. After about twenty minutes she spotted rocks and caves far ahead. She put on a burst of energy and sprinted forward, eager to find shelter and maybe food.

The tired lioness arrived shortly. She spotted a nice, big cave and approached it, longing for sleep.

Zira gasped. A lioness was walking towards her cave! She turned the corner of the cave's opening and growled, leapt forward, and pinned the lioness down. She bared her teeth, chest heaving in anger. "Who are you!?" she shrieked, noticing that the lioness's nose was in the shape of a Pridelander's nose. Sadiki was terrified. "I am Sadiki! Daughter of Kovu and Kiara, rulers of the Pridelands!"

Now, Zira was even more furious. She gave a frighteningly loud roar and opened her mouth wide, slowly bending down to clamp her jaws around the scared, shivering lioness's neck. Just then, Sadiki noticed the stripe down Zira's back. Vitani had told her months before that Zira had a stripe just like Sadiki's. "Zira?" Sadiki asked in awe.

Zira's tight, angered facial expression loosened. She noticed Sadiki's head stripe, and the dry blood on her face. "How do you know who I am?" Zira growled. Sadiki smiled. "I've always wanted to meet you..." Zira was quite confused. Sadiki continued. "I can't believe you're alive! I'm trying to avenge you..."

"Wait. The daughter of that traitor Kovu is trying to avenge me?" Zira growled. It seemed impossible. "Yes," Sadiki said. "I just..." she paused...it was hard to admit. "I just...killed my...my grandfather..."
"Simba!?" Zira roared, "He's dead!? My..." she thought a moment, "my...granddaughter...killed Simba?" Zira cackled, a huge smile stretching across her face. Surely this was what her dreams were about! Sadiki nodded, "Yes, I killed him." Zira was happy. Sadiki felt accomplished.

"Msafiri!" Zira called, "Come meet my granddaughter!" Sadiki smiled. Msafiri came galloping out of the cave in confusion. Sadiki got up off the ground and looked at him. He frowned at her, obviously still confused. "Sadiki," Zira said, almost giggling, "This is my friend Msafiri. Msafiri, Sadiki has just killed Simba!"

Msafiri nuzzled Sadiki. Sadiki blushed. "Thank you for murdering the lion who ruined the life of such a wonderful lioness as Zira," Msafiri said in his deep voice. Zira smiled and looked at Sadiki. "Come, Sadiki, you may stay with us." Zira and Msafiri walked into the cave. Sadiki followed, yawning. She curled up in the cave's warm sand and quickly fell asleep.

Zira lay down in the warm sand in front of the cave, a grin still spread wide across her face. Msafiri seated himself in front of her. "How do we know she isn't lying!?" he whispered urgently. Zira's grin faded and a low growl rumbled deep in her chest. "Well," she began slowly, "I know my dreams meant something. Never before have I had dreams so vivid..."

"But how do you know they were good dreams?" Msafiri demanded desperately. "I know they were," came Zira's prompt reply. Msafiri frowned. "Besides," Zira continued, lifting herself up from the sand, "What could a little lioness do to harm us? Kovu and Kiara don't know I'm alive. They wouldn't send someone to finish me off."

Zira turned and stepped into the cave, flicking her tail. Msafiri nodded slowly in agreement. He sighed, then followed Zira inside.

Tears streamed down a sobbing Nala's face as she lay with the lifeless body of Simba. She nuzzled the mane and neck, accidently rubbing against the wound and further staining her pelt with blood, just as she had been doing all morning.

"Careful, Nala...you're getting the blood on you again..." Kovu replied, his voice quiet, low, and full of anguish. Nala ignored him, and continued to cry and bury herself in the fur of her lifeless mate, and lifelong best friend.

Kiara stood by her side, sobbing as well. Rafiki sat by Kovu, his head buried in his hand as he considered all that had happened. The pride had just awoken, and all were in mourning.

"It is time I announce what the Great Kings have told me in regards to the murder," Rafiki said slowly. Nala's sobbing ceased and she looked towards him with wide eyes. Kovu and Kiara glanced over curiously. The rest of the lionesses in the pride blinked up, staring at the mandrill.

"You may have noticed Princess Sadiki is not present here." A few pride members gasped. In all the confusion, they hadn't noticed her abscence. Rafiki continued after a moment of hesitation. "The Great Kings warned me of trouble, and last night they informed me it would have to do with the Princess. I came here, and found Simba dead. Murdered. Sadiki was nowhere to be seen, and look." He pointed to the trail of bloody pawprints.

There was a collective gasp. Jaws dropped, lionesses blinked at each other in confusion and shook their heads. Kiara stuttered, shaking her head rapidly. "No!" she finally shouted. She leapt up, staring desperately at Rafiki. "No!" she repeated, "Sadiki would never dream of harming Simba! Never!" Kovu growled, baring his fangs, and gave a few unhurried, clear, approving nods.

Rafiki looked down sadly at the surface of Pride Rock and shook his head. "There is too much evidence." He looked up and stared into Kiara's eyes, an expression of determination on his face. "But we will find out why she did it. We will."

"Sadiki!" Zira hollered. Sadiki blinked, slowly lifted her head, and yawned. "Hmm?" She smacked her lips, slowly stood, and shook out her short fur.

"Good morning," Zira smiled. "Planning begins today." Sadiki blinked. "Planning for what?" she asked. Zira chuckled. "You are going to help Msafiri and I take over the Pridelands."
Sadiki smiled. "You deserve these lands, Zira. I will do whatever I can to help you," she said confidently. Finally, she would be helping Zira, a brave and noble lioness she respected highly, get just what she deserved!

Zira smiled even wider. "Excellent," she smirked. "Msafiri will begin to train you to fight, starting today. I want this to happen as quick as it can. And with you here, it will be easy to attack the Pridelands."