Author's Note: I apologize for being so late with this chapter. I got into an accident last Thursday and it set me back a while. I'm doing fine now, so chapters should resume on a regular schedule - unless school interferes.

Life went on as usual. Her mother went back to the communal den to nap before today's hunt. Too excited to sleep, Nala only dozed for an hour or so when Ruka and her sister Bombu woke her for Binti's hunting lesson.

Before Simba passed away, Nala, Simba, Ruka, and Roho were known and feared by cub sitters everywhere as the perfect storm of Trouble: Nala the Clever, Simba the Prankster, Ruka the Daredevil, and Roho the Trustworthy. Roho made them successful. The moment Nala came up with a plan, Roho had already figured out ten ways it could go wrong. He wasn't the strongest, the smartest, or the bravest (certainly not the bravest), but as a lookout he was as thorough as he was paranoid and his wide, innocent eyes could disarm the most suspicious adults, and Simba always stood up for him when Ruka started picking on him. Until he died Nala never realized how much he did to keep the group together. With Simba gone Roho had no one to defend him from Ruka's teasing. Nala tried to take over Simba's role, but this pitted her against Ruka and the group's delicate balance was lost.

Now that Roho had his hunting lessons with Chibi, hunting lessons with Binti were just like old times for Ruka and Nala. On this day she was surprised to see Ruka in such a good mood. "How do you feel about the news? I know you were hoping to be queen."

Everyone expected Scar and Sarabi to name Ruka as their heir. Nyonda's cubs were next in line for the throne after Scar and out of all of them Ruka suited the throne best, being the oldest of her litter, the top of her hunting class, with a fiery soul and a courageous reputation rivaled only by Mufasa, and best of all, the daughter of Scar's cousin and Sarabi's adopted sister. Although she lacked wisdom and reservation the other lionesses felt confident Sarabi could smooth out her sharp edges in time. She even looked the part of a queen. Her sienna coat and dark eye-rims mimicked her mother, who also resembled Scar, and her crimson tail tuft flew boldly like Mufasa's mane. Her dark brow-spots and brown eyes made her unique amongst the Pridelanders.

"Pish, no skin off my nose. Being queen is too much responsibility anyway. I'd have to be Miss Goody Four Paws every day!" Despite her grandstanding, Nala detected bitterness in Ruka's voice. Nala made a mental note to ask Sarabi about her decision the next time she saw her. As they walked to the grassy field where Binti held class, Nala told her friends about her mother's special invitation and tomorrow's visit with Sarabi.

"I can't believe how lucky you are, Nala! I wish I was going to see the baby," Bombu whined.

"Is that all you can talk about?" Ruka sighed at her little sister, who had been gushing about Kivuli all morning. "Don't you get it? This 'baby' is going to be the next king."

"I know! That makes her even more lucky! Can I come too, Nala? Pleeeease?"

Nala smiled at her bouncing friend. Bombu always managed to get a smile out of her, though she sometimes wondered whether her enthusiasm was genuine or a plea for attention. "Mom and Sarabi are just going to talk about politics and stuff. You probably wouldn't like it, but I'm sure Nyonda would take you if you asked."

"I did but mom only said 'maybe' and you know what that means," Bombu groaned.

"You'll still get to see him at the ceremony," she said. Suddenly her ears pricked and tilted toward the tall grass. Someone or something was rustling in the brush. She slowed and tried to see if Ruka noticed it too when a young lion leapt from the grass.

"I know, but it's so – ah!" Bombu screamed as the lion attacked her. Nala and Ruka jumped back just in time to avoid being caught in the scuffle as Bombu and her laughing attacker rolled through the grass. Recognizing the attacker, Ruka jumped in the air and laughed, "Yeah! Get her, Chumvi! Bite her ear!"

"Ow ow ow ow! No fair! I give up!" Chumvi climbed off of her with a victorious grin. As she got to her feet Bombu swatted sand at him. "That was mean, Chumvi! I wasn't ready!"

Ignoring her Chumvi trotted up to Ruka and the two friends swatted playfully at one another. Nala couldn't help but giggle. At one time she felt jealous of Chumvi for taking her place as Ruka's best friend, but now she was just happy they were all still together. "Come on you guys, we're going to be late."

Ruka and Chumvi looked at Nala and then at each other. "Bet I'll get there before you!" Chumvi dared and took off. Ruka raced after him, laughing and calling him a cheater.

Bombu groaned, "Ugh, those two are so obnoxious... Hey, wait!"

As Nala raced after Ruka and Chumvi she glanced her shoulder and called, "Come on, Bombu! You don't want to be last!"

…

They arrived on a flat, grassy plain overlooked by a dead tree that had fallen on its side during the last rain. Chumvi arrived first of course, having cheated to gain the lead, while Nala and Ruka came in a close second with Bombu not far behind. Standing on the trunk, Binti greeted them with a smile. Neema, the youngest member of their class, arrived next, her ungroomed fur sticking out in all directions. Binti scolded her for showing up dirty to practice again and sent the sulking youngster back to her mother for a bath. A brief look of guilt flashed across Binti's face as Neema sank into the distance. She hated being the bad guy, but Nala felt glad she finally put her foot down.

While they waited on Neema and Wezi, Nala, Ruka, Bombu and Chumvi warmed up for their lesson. Nala tried to appear aloof, going through the motions as usual, but the longer she waited the more composure slipped from her grasp. None of her friends knew what she and her mother were up to this morning. Bragging no longer appealed to her; she found private victories far more satisfying, so she happily kept her secret. Shortly after Binti's first roar signaling the start of the lesson Wezi came sprinting onto the field and stumbled up to the log, gasping for breath.

Wezi's mother Eupe joined the Pridelands with Nala's mother and her cousin Buibui, so when Eupe and Sarafina became pregnant around the same time they naturally decided to raise their daughters together. Although Wezi seemed like an older sister, Nala usually spent more time with Simba and his cousins Ruka, Roho, and their siblings, although she still felt very close to her. Wezi was sweet but unadventurous, as pure as her pale cream fur, a friend who loved long, interesting conversations over competition and rough-housing. Eupe once called her daughter an 'old soul.' Even though Nala didn't know what she meant the description stuck in her mind. Wezi felt more like an adult than anyone else her age, but unlike real adults Wezi happily listened to her ideas and treated her as an equal.

Not that she suffered for lack of competitive spirit. During their hunting games she was level headed and calculating. She might not be the quickest sprinter, but when opportunity came she rarely missed her mark.

"I'm… I'm sorry… for being tardy… Miss Binti," Wezi panted. She must have run the whole way, Nala thought unexpectedly. Wezi never showed up late before.

"That's alright, just have a seat and catch your breath. We're still waiting for someone."

"Th… thank you, Miss… Binti…"

Nala waited until Wezi caught her breath and asked, "Are you alright?"

"Mm-hm!" Wezi nodded vigorously. Nala frowned but didn't want to pry.

A few minutes later Binti roared for last call. While the air still rumbled they heard Neema shout from far away, "Wait for meeee!" Neema skidded into the field, clean but dizzy from being out of breath. She apologized over and over for being late and begged to stay for the lesson between gasps.

"Alright Neema, but to make up for being late and showing up without a bath you have to play the part of our first prey animal."

"Awwwwww!" Neema bowed her head. Ruka and Chumvi giggled.

Today they would learn how to hunt in a basic formation. No hunt could succeed unless all the huntresses memorized their formations and knew their individual responsibilities by heart. There would be no one to help them if they forgot their role in the middle of a hunt, when communication needed to be kept to a minimum to keep the herd unawares. Nala fidgeted.

For their first lesson they would learn a simple two-lion formation good for hunting small prey. Binti separated class into groups of two: Bombu and Chumvi, Nala and Wezi, and finally Ruka and Neema. The first lion in each group would play the part of 'runner,' the second the part of 'pouncer,' and the pouncer from the last group would play the prey animal for the next group. Each round they would change roles and partners until they used every combination.

Bombu and Chumvi went first while Nala, Wezi, and Ruka watched from the log. While Bombu and Chumvi planned their attack Binti brought Neema out into the middle of the field and made her stand with her eyes on the ground like a grazing animal. She could listen for the hunters but could not look for them unless they made a sound. If Neema spotted them before Bombu started her run or if Chumvi's ambush failed Neema would win the round. Once she finished explaining the rules Neema suddenly looked cheerful again. Nala wasn't surprised. Being the prey sounded kind of fun.

The game was the same as Nala's first hunt with her mother. Bombu would startle the prey – Neema – and chase it toward Chumvi, who would hide and wait for the right moment to pounce. Bombu's hunt did not go well. Her paws kept crushing the grass and the noise seemed to get louder the harder she tried to be silent. Neema looked over her shoulder, looked Bombu right in the eyes laughed. Chumvi started to complain about being stuck with Bombu. "Chumvi, don't be rude," Binti scolded. "Bombu tried her best. You'll both get another turn soon. Nala and Wezi, it's your turn to hunt. Now Chumvi is the prey."

While Binti helped Chumvi into position and reminded him of the rules Nala ducked down and told Wezi her plan. Wezi didn't seem to be listening and kept glancing at her paws. Whatever was bothering her Nala hoped she could pull herself together. No way would she lose to Chumvi.

"Got it, Wezi?" she whispered. Wezi nodded distractedly. As she crept off toward the hiding place Nala picked out for her she began to worry. Once Wezi was in position Nala began sneaking through the grass. She turned her paws on their sides as she neared her target, just like her mother showed her. And… now!

"Woah!" Chumvi leapt into the air when she snapped at his back legs and took off with a mad dash.

From the log, Ruka cheered, "Run, Chumvi, run!"

Chumvi sprinted past Wezi's hiding place at full speed. After he was gone Wezi sat up, looking completely bewildered, and Ruka whooped for joy and cheered some more. Nala slowed to a jog and unconsciously bared her teeth as she caught her breath. "Wezi! What happened?"

"I'm sorry. He was just too fast for me," Wezi murmured with her ears down.

When Wezi's turn to be the prey came she barely even tried to outrun Ruka, who caught her before she reached Neema, which made Neema upset because she didn't get to do anything. She said little during class, which was not unusual, but Nala felt concerned by the glassy look in her eyes and her sudden lack of focus. Wezi seemed like another lion. After their lesson Nala caught up to her as she was leaving. Bombu joined them, also concerned by Wezi's strange behavior. Nala spoke first. "What's wrong, Wezi?"

Wezi looked away. She always seemed so calm and composed that to seeing her on the verge of tears filled her with fear and worry.

"Wezi…"

"Come on," Bombu coaxed. "We're your friends, you can tell us anything. We want to help."

Wezi closed her eyes and her face tensed up. Unable to go any further, she stopped and gave a shuddering sigh. "I don't know how to say this… This morning I heard mom talking to Buibui. She… she said that we might have to leave the Pridelands. She said she's tired of living here and she doesn't want Scar's son to be king because he'll just keep the hyenas around or worse. It's not fair! I don't like Scar either, but I this is my home!"

Bombu looked stuck. "What!? No way! I'm sure your mom didn't mean it! She's probably just upset because we were all hoping Ruka would be the next heir. My mom was upset too when she found out, but now she says it's probably for the best. You know, Scar's not the worst king. My mom says he's actually really smart. Eupe just needs to give him a chance."

Unlike Bombu, Nala never found herself swept up in the emotions of others. She kept her head even though she felt like shaking. Wezi was the only friend she had who made her feel like an adult. She couldn't lose her. She sat down close to Wezi and tried to console her, "Bombu's right. A lot of lionesses said they would leave but we're all still here. Even Huzuni never left the Pridelands."

"That's because they don't have anywhere else to go," Wezi said, trying not to choke on her own tears. "Mom said we would go back to the Marshlands. I've never been there before... I don't know anyone and – and…" Her voice shook with fright. Bombu looked like she might also cry.

Nala felt a lump in her throat. No matter how many stories their parents told, the Marshlands would never feel as much like home as the foot of Pride Rock. Of course they speculated about going there someday, only for a visit, and Wezi always added she would never want to stay permanently. She disliked change and her premature maturity meant few cubs could relate to her as well as Nala. Nala felt afraid too: afraid of losing another friend, the only friend her age she could always rely upon when she needed to talk, but she felt even more afraid of letting Wezi and Bombu see her cracks. She would rather the whole world fall apart than let a single lion see her cry again. There had to be something she could do.

"Maybe my mom can help. She doesn't like Scar either, but she's staying for Sarabi and everyone else. Even if Scar is a lousy king Sarabi will always be here to protect us. I know she'll raise Kivuli to be a great king, just like Mufasa."

With Bombu leaning against her, Wezi tried to wipe the tears from her eyes. "But what if my mother won't listen?"

"My mom's a princess. That means she has to listen to her, right?"

Her two friends looked at each other in silence. "Yeah, Nala's right. She has to listen. Everything's gonna be okay, you'll see," said Bombu, nosing Wezi's cheek reassuringly.

"You think so?"

Nala looked Wezi in the eyes. There was nothing she could have done to save Simba's life. This time her circumstances were different. She would not lose another friend. "I promise mom will set Eupe straight. Let's go talk to her right now."

Wezi struggled to compose herself. She bit her lip and nodded slowly in silent thanks.

…

Nyonda stretched out under an acacia tree. Draped limply over her mother's shoulders, Bombu's little sister, Mea, slept deeply with one leg hanging off Nyonda's side, almost touching the ground. Mea would soon be too old for lying on top of her mother like a cub, though Nyonda looked too placid to do anything about it.

During the wet season Simba, Roho, Ruka and Nala spent many lazy afternoons here on the western rise of Pride Rock, playing in the shade and climbing the acacias while their parents napped in the cool shadows. Once Nala and Wezi had climbed high into one of these trees with Kula and Moto and formed a secret club so they could make their jealous friends do ridiculous things when they wanted to join. Now the acacias were baking in the heat of the dry season, their branches brittle, and an acrid breeze swept the barren ground. A small group of hyenas gathered under one of the nearby trees. Bombu and Wezi eyed them warily, but Nala quickly forgot them. She needed to find her mother.

Nyonda blinked blearily. "Hmm… I saw her headed toward the hyena dens with Buibui and Pamba less than an hour ago."

Nala's tail drooped. "So she's hunting…"

Beside her, Wezi wrinkled her brow and Bombu gave her a worried look. If Sarafina was hunting Wezi might not be able to speak to her until tomorrow.

Nyonda yawned and flexed her toes. "Not exactly. She wants to convince Mama Kishenzi to form her own hunting party. If she had Sarabi she might have a better chance, but there's nothing to be done about that. She needs her rest."

Mama Kishenzi, the one-eyed queen of the hyenas. Despite her fears, Nala felt a spark of hope knowing her mother had not yet reached the savannah. "Do you know when she'll be back?"

"Mm, she didn't say. Would you like to wait with me until then?"

Nala had never seen Wezi this anxious before. If her mother could just say a few comforting words she knew she would feel better, but every conversation her mother had with the hyenas ended the same way, with hunting. Waiting with Nyonda would accomplish nothing if her mother planned to meet her hunting party after seeing the hyena queen. There was only one way. She drew herself up. "In that case, I'll go make sure she knows we're here."

Nyonda's eyes finally opened all the way. "Now Nala…"

She must have heard that tone a million times before. Stay away from the hyena dens, Nala. It's just as bad as the Elephant Graveyard, Nala. As if she didn't know any better. "I promise I'll keep a safe distance and wait until mom and the others leave. If I don't catch them they won't be coming back until after dinner. Please Miss Nyonda, this is really important."

Nyonda drew a tense breath. Nala held her's. "Well… alright…"

Before she could finish Nala sprinted down the slope. As she ran she heard Nyonda call, "But be careful!"

"I will - thank you!"

Scar's hyenas lived in the rock tunnels on the western side of Pride Rock, near the royal chamber where the King held counsel in a cave beneath the peak of Pride Rock. Before the hyenas came Nala went exploring the rock tunnels with Simba on a dare from Chumvi. The tunnels were old and unstable, an easy place for a cub to get lost or trapped or in deep trouble with their parents – the perfect proving ground. Now only Scar walked freely on the hyena's ground but never in the tunnels, too cramped for an adult lion.

Just like hunting practice with Binti, Nala reassured herself. As she neared the boulders that protected the rock tunnels she slowed to a trot and crouched low until the grass covered her. From there she could make out the shapes of four lionesses standing in front of a boulder: Pemba, Buibui, and her mother, but who was the forth? Gathered around them, a crowd of about a dozen hyenas glared at the lionesses while above them, perched on the boulder itself, stood two enormous hyenas, one of them Mama Kishenzi. Even from a distance everyone looked tense. She could just barely make out the immense displeasure in Kishenzi's voice. Nala crept closer and strained her ears.

"… no food… suffering… The Sootfoot clan…" What? Is that their name? Curious, she crept even closer.

An enormous, silvery-grey hyena whose black spots seemed to leap off her fur like evil spirits stared down the four lionesses with one yellow, hate-filled eye. Kishenzi looked like a carcass that refused to die. Though not directed at Nala, the hyena queen's gaze turned her insides to ice. Fear prevented her from moving any further, but luckily she could make out more words.

"… for sympathy, but where was your sympathy when… our children? You ask for reason, but where was your reason when Mufasa… stinking graveyard?"

The unidentified lioness spoke and Nala realized with a shock that the voice belonged to Nana Uru. "… paid for the mistakes of the past. Let us work together to mend these wounds."

"It's too late for that!" the second hyena snapped. That was Captain Shenzi! The hyenas yipped in chorus and one of the lionesses shook her head in disgust while the others whipped the air with their tails. Shenzi waited until the hyenas quieted down and shouted, "You lions think you're so damn noble, using all those pretty words. I got some news for you. Words don't bring back the dead!"

The hyena's howling laughter rose higher and stabbed her ears even as she flattened them against her head with a grimace. As the hyenas dispersed Nala felt a sense of relief. What was that all about? And what's Nana doing here?

No time to think about that. Sarafina and the others were already heading toward the savannah. Nala realized that she was right, her mother had sent her hunting party on ahead and now they were going to meet them. She made a run for it. Sarafina stopped and looked behind her. "Nala?"

"Mom, wait!" After catching her breath, she passed on everything Wezi told her while Buibui looked on disapprovingly. Nala fed off of it and glared back. Buibui deserved to feel ashamed for wanting to take Eupe's daughter away from the Pride Lands. She felt so excited and proud of herself that she finished talking before she noticed her mother's stern expression and froze like a startled gazelle. Sarafina asked Pamba and Buibui to go on ahead of her.

"The next time you hear about something like this, don't say a word to anyoneuntil I come home. Do you realize how much trouble you could have caused? What would have happened if one of those hyenas followed us and heard what you said?"

Her mother's harsh question hit her like a ton of rocks. She suddenly found herself remembering the hyenas' unprovoked attack on Laini that cost her most of her right ear. Was it because she wanted to leave, too? "I… I didn't think…"

"You need to be more cautious now. The Pridelands aren't safe anymore. We'll talk more about this later. Go back to Pride Rock and stay with Uru until I return."

Nala's head was spinning. Why would the hyenas care who wanted to leave? Didn't they hate lions? What if those hyenas resting near Nyonda overheard Wezi and Bombu talking? "But what about Wezi?"

"She's your responsibility. I'll talk to Eupe and Buibui, but right now I have more important things to do. Stay with Uru and don't say a word."

"But –!" She started to follow her mother. She had only taken a few steps when Sarafina broke into a run, shrinking into the distance while Nala stood on the bleak plain, jaw slack.

Nala startled and saw Uru's ancient green eyes looking down on her. She turned away, biting her lip. How long have I been standing here? Everything is so messed-up. Oh, Wezi… I'm so stupid.

Together they walked back to the western ridge of Pride Rock. Uru moved with slow, graceful steps, and Nala silently thanked her for the saunter. She had forgotten her curiosity about why Uru went to see the hyenas. All she could think about was Wezi and what might happen to her mother because of her. I only wanted to help…