Hello, it's me again, back with chapter 8! I know it's been ages –hangs head in shame- I wrote the first part of this chapter ages ago, but then I lost my inspiration. I hope you enjoy it. Also, I'd like to thank PerryRocks for giving me an idea for this chapter.

You guys should also check out this forum called and it is great because it has lots of threads on all different aspects of fanfiction.

I do not own the Lion King.

Chapter 8

Simba was pacing anxiously on Pride Rock. Zazu sat on a nearby rock, trying to calm Simba down.

"Simba, I'm sure she'll be fine," said Zazu, soothingly.

"But what if she hurts herself? Or gets lost?" asked Simba.

"Well, you did send Timon and Pumbaa to follow her, so they will look after her," said Zazu. At that moment, Timon and Pumbaa ran onto Pride Rock.

"Where's Kiara?" Simba asked immediately.

"Well...she was fine when we saw her," said Timon slowly. Simba raised an eyebrow questionably. "She realised we were following her and ran away." Simba groaned. He glanced out at the Pridelands again, hoping to see some sign of Kiara. Instead he saw a plume of black smoke in the distance. His eyes widened in horror, and then he was sprinting towards the smoke.

~##~

After leaving the cave Vitani hurried after the scent of the other lionesses. However, it was soon drowned out by the smoke. Coughing slightly, Vitani struggled on through the smoke, but it was choking her, her eyes were stinging. Suddenly, through the smoke she saw the other lionesses. She could hear them calling Nuka. They were looking around desperately. She stumbled forwards, and Zira turned to her.

"Mother?" asked Vitani, trying not to swallow the smoke.

"Vitani!" hissed Zira. "this is all your fault!"

"What? But-"

"Nuka's gone because of you!" roared Zira.

"No! It's not my fault!" protested Vitani. Zira raised her paw to strike her, but she leapt back.

"Just get out of my sight," said Zira, her voice filled with ice. Vitani turned and ran.

~##~

Simba ran through the Pridelands, heading towards the smoke. Zazu flew overhead, and Timon and Pumbaa were trying, but failing, to keep up with them. Simba was going out of his mind with worry. He'd always been paranoid that something would happen to Kiara, and now it seemed that his worst nightmare was coming true. He pressed on faster, now he could smell the smoke.

He paused he entered the area that was on fire. Looking around he saw a path through the trees and bushes, clearly created by stampeding animals. He followed the path, dodging falling trees, hoping to find Kiara or someone who knew where she was. Then the path widened out, and he was at the lake. Many animals were taking refuge in it. He looked around, and quickly caught sight of Kiara. He hurried over to her, and after checking she was alright, the two of them headed back towards Pride Rock.

~##~

Vitani sat alone in the Outlands. Zira had exiled her from the pride because she blamed Vitani for Nuka's dea-no, he wasn't necessarily dead, just missing. Vitani wouldn't accept that. Nuka was alive, he had to be alive. Vitani found herself wandering through the Outlands. She was about to turn back when she heard a howl. She caught a whiff of something strange, something she had never smelt before. She turned towards the strange scent, and then she heard a howl. Whatever it was out there, it sounded dangerous.

The strange creature burst out of the undergrowth. Vitani had never seen a wolf before, but she could tell that it was hungry. It looked around, sniffing the air, and then its eyes locked onto her. Vitani stood up, trying to make herself look as big as possible. She hissed at the wolf, baring her impressive teeth. She could take it. But then, two more wolfs bounded out of the shadows, and suddenly Vitani felt a lot less confident.

"Hi," she said, hoping they would leave her alone. The wolves glanced at each other, and seemed to talk amongst themselves, but Vitani couldn't understand them. She started to back away, but the wolves noticed, and snarled at her. Giving up all hope that they would let her go peacefully, Vitani turned and ran.

Luckily, Vitani was faster than the wolves. She ran towards the Pridelands, hoping that they would get distracted by antelope or wildebeest. When she reached the Pridelands she suddenly remembered that the fire had chased a lot of prey away. She darted through the devastated landscape, trying to reach Pride Rock. She wasn't sure what would happen when she got there, but she hoped the Pridelanders would chase the wolves away, while she escaped.

However, as Vitani started to near Pride Rock, she started to slow down. She was extremely tired, as she hadn't had any sleep that night. She ran onwards, knowing she was almost there. She leapt up onto the rocks, and scrabbled up towards the top. She glanced into the cave, but all the Pridelanders were asleep.

"Kiara!" she hissed into the cave, before leaping backwards as the wolves appeared on the rock. She slowly edged backwards, until she reached the edge of Pride Rock. She took a quick look down at the ground. She could try jumping, but if she got injured and was unable to run away... Vitani sighed. She was stuck.

Then she heard footsteps. Glancing up, she saw Kiara walk slowly out of the cave, yawning. Then she spotted the wolves, and froze. All the wolves looked at Kiara, and Vitani took advantage of their momentary distraction to tackle one, knocking it off Pride Rock. Now things were more equal. Vitani leapt at another wolf, and after a moment's hesitation, Kiara jumped at the other one.

Vitani lunged for the wolf's throat, but it knocked her back. Snarling, she jumped at the wolf again, knocking it into the other wolf. Vitani sprang forward for one last time, and knocked both of the wolves off Pride Rock. Panting slightly she turned to Kiara.

"I see you escaped the fire unharmed," she said.

"Yes, I did. What was the fire about anyway?" asked Kiara.

"One of Zira's plans to kill you," said Vitani quietly.

"What!" said Kiara, shocked.

"Keep it down," hissed Vitani. "Listen, it was great to see you but I've got to find somewhere to stay."

"What? What happened?"

"Zira exiled me."

"Are you ok?" asked Kiara. Vitani nodded. Kiara tilted her head to the side, she could hear noises coming from inside the cave.

"I have to go now, before they wake up," said Vitani, and she turned to go.

"I hope I see you soon," said Kiara. Vitani slipped away quietly, and Kiara sat on Pride Rock, watching her run through the grass.