Everything you see exists together in a delicate balance.

As king, you need to understand that balance

and respect all the creatures,

from the crawling ant to the leaping antelope. – Mufasa, The Lion King

PART II

TEETH AND AMBITIONS

Four months of relative tranquility followed the Royal Presentation of Kivuli. Water returned to the land with gusto, the herds multiplied, and the Serengeti blossomed with green. Meanwhile at Pride Rock, some members of the pride were finally coming to terms with their new neighbors and tension was easing. Although food remained scarce, hope was slowly returning to the Pridelands. Nala was now fourteen months old and growing every day, looking more and more like her mother. Roho was growing up too, in his own way. Although he gained only a few inches at the shoulder he grew long and lanky like a snake and his long neck, made worse by his sparse mane, which mainly took the form of a giant cow-lick, earned him a new nickname: Giraffe; an ironic name for the red-headed runt.

Chumvi, now the largest young male in the Pridelands, had firmly established himself as the toughest lion at Pride Rock. He liked to brag that he could take on King Scar if he wanted to, but only when the hyenas weren't looking. No longer so clumsy, Amiri had taken his place as Chumvi's second in command. Ruka spent most of her days with the two boys and it was now common to see Chumvi and Amiri trying to impress her in hot-headed competition. Poor Amiri; Nala knew Ruka only kept him around for the entertainment value. Her real favorite had always been Chumvi. Some of the girls – Nala included – liked to tease her that she would run off with Chumvi when he left the Pridelands on his trial. She denied everything with a callous laugh.

Nala pitied Amiri more because of his obliviousness to lionesses besides Ruka. If he stopped to look around he might realize he had no shortage of fans. Personally, Nala thought it all very foolish. But it made for good entertainment. This phase would pass, she felt sure of it. When the rest of her friends were behaving like love birds in spring, she still had Wezi, Kula (who was more interested in food than boys), and Roho, of course. Only Roho shared her cynicism. Not that he laughed at the love birds as she did. The abrupt change in his peers made him want to, as he said, 'stick my head in the ground.'

There were more exciting events going on at Pride Rock than the boys getting their manes. Recently a new group of rogue lionesses had been accepted into the pride. Only their leader's name, Shetani, was known to Nala. There were six of them in total: one elder, two teenagers – about Nala's age, and three cubs. Everyone called their group the Outsiders because they kept to themselves. Nala had not had a chance to meet them yet and with their reputation she was in no rush, but she enjoyed having something to talk about other than which of the three boys at Pride Rock had the best mane.

With the resurgence of the herds and the lionesses coming of age, Scar had proudly announced his intention of forming a third hunting party to accompany Sarabi and Sarafina's teams. Nala and Ruka were the favorites to lead this new hunting party. Sarabi naturally kept her opinions to herself. She might say she had no favorites, but the look in her eyes told Nala different. Wezi and Kula were also in the running. The contest to decide the leader would take place in a few weeks. Usually Nala would have been out training, but her mother insisted she take some time off to relax with family. She happily obliged, especially because spending time with both Sarabi and Sarafina together was so rare these days.

On this day Roho and Nala were sunning themselves on a rock next to Sarafina and Sarabi. Since all his sisters wanted to do was tease Chumvi and Amiri, and because he hated spending time alone with his mother, Roho spent almost all of his time in her company like a brother. There were rumors of course – cruel, untrue rumors. While they were sometimes enough to force Roho to storm off to spend the day alone Nala simply ignored them and went on with her life.

"Have you seen Shaba or Zito lately?" Sarafina asked Sarabi. By this time they had exhausted many pleasant subjects of conversation. Sarabi did not welcome this subject but answered out of obligation.

"No. Captain Shenzi hasn't reported anything unusual at the boarder but I've asked her to keep an eye out for her, just in case. I hope they're alright."

"Shaba and Zito are fine huntresses. If anything happened to them we would have found their bodies by now…" Sarafina sighed. "I always knew this day was coming. If I ever see them again I'll give them a good smack across the face."

"I hoped we were past this," Sarabi murmured sadly. After a pause, she added, "At least the worst is over. Maybe Shaba and Zito will be happier elsewhere."

Sarafina said nothing. Shaba and Zito had gone missing a week ago, around the same time the Outsiders joined the pride. Naturally, some lions were suspicious. Nala, however, was of the opinion that Shaba and Zito disappeared because they finally went through with the plan she overheard them talking about so many months ago. She hoped Sarabi was right about them.

Of course, her mother was upset about losing two of her best huntresses. Once the leader of the new hunting team was chosen Sarabi would need to redistribute the remaining huntresses to keep the numbers even. Sarafina usually hunted with Buibui, Eupe, Shaba, and Zito, but with the latter gone the adolescent huntresses were picking up the slack. Nala loved the work.

She opened her eyes and lazily shifted to her stomach, spotting Kivuli coming toward them with the giant hyena Ripuka lumbering close behind. She looked so fearsome that the first time Nala saw her she mistook her for a male. Only after Kviuli explained that female hyenas are larger and tougher than males did she realize Ripuka was female. Even Chumvi shrank a little when Ripuka looked his way, so seeing such a young cub walking alongside her as if she was as harmless as a tortoise was always a surreal experience. When Ripuka sat down at the edge of the group Kivuli was the only lion whose fur didn't stand on end.

Sarabi looked concerned. "Oh, Kivuli… I thought your father was showing you the Pridelands today?"

Kivuli sighed. His eyes were down. "No, he's taking another nap. Hi Nala."

"Hi Kivuli."

The Prince flopped down in his mother's arms. For the first month and a half of his life Kivuli was confined to his den by his overprotective father. Until she convinced Scar to let Roho tag along only Nala was allowed to see him. Whenever he left the den Scar hovered over him like a mother crocodile, quick to grab him and drag him back between his front paws if he wandered too far or growl at him if he did something embarrassing. Scar was no longer as controversial as he had been during the first five months of his reign, yet he remained an impersonal, intimidating presence and Kivuli made few friends because of him. It didn't help that all the young Pridelanders were at least nine months older than him, save the mysterious Outsiders cubs, and none of the lionesses were pregnant. The situation only grew worse when Scar finally tired of escorting him everywhere and assigned Ripuka as Kivuli's personal bodyguard. For a while he seemed happy to have hyena friends, but the persistent sadness that clouded his eyes over the past few weeks told Nala all she needed to know.

Sarabi frowned. She once said that Kivuli could never replace Simba, but that never stopped her from loving him. "I'm sorry dear, I'm sure he'll take you out later. You know how he gets."

"Whatever..."

The queen exchanged a meaningful glance with Sarafina and shook her head. Scar always broke his promises. As Sarabi groomed her son his body went limp in her arms and he closed his eyes as if finally discovering peace in this world.

"Don't look so glum, little guy," Roho said kindly as he stretched out his legs. "At least you've got a dad. My father's out in the Roguelands somewhere." Kivuli groaned at his sagely observation.

Nala stood and stretched her spine in a rising arch until her vertebrae popped. Her head felt fuzzy after relaxing in the sun for a couple hours, so she shook herself out to get her blood circulating again. "I could show him the Pridelands, Sarabi."

Sarabi smiled. She loved to see Nala volunteering to spend time with her son. "That's alright with me. What do you think, Sara?"

"Nala doesn't need my permission, as long as I know where she's going."

"The usual places. The river and falls, the plains… You're coming too, right Roho?"

"Huh?" He blinked heavily and wrestled himself off the ground. "Yeah, sure, why not? I was getting tired of…" He leaned back and let out an enormous yawn, smacking his chops. "… sleeping."

Kivuli smiled gratefully. "Ripuka can come, too. She'll keep us safe from everything, right Ripuka?"

The hyena straightened her back and nodded with a deep growl that made Kivuli's eyes light up in joy and affection. Concerned, Sarafina turned to Nala and murmured, "Be careful out there."

Few Pridelanders trusted hyenas more than they tolerated them, but Sarafina distrusted them most of all. Nala would have been lying if she said Ripuka didn't make her nervous. This monstrous hyena could take on a full-grown lioness in one-on-one combat and if her will was as fearsome as her crimson eyes she could win, too. Fortunately, Kivuli understood her feelings. As the four of them headed onto the plains he asked Ripuka to hang back a little to give them space. She fell back obediently but remained on high alert. Everyone knew that Ripuka would do anything Kivuli asked without question. Nala wished the other Pridelanders would give Kivuli a chance. If they got to know him the way she and Roho did they would realize that he was just an ordinary cub and so far had not shown any signs of inheriting his father's temper. She always thought he took after his mother. In fact, there were even times he reminded her of Simba.

That didn't mean she had any interest in marrying him. Unfortunately, his popularity problem would make finding him a sweetheart a lot more difficult than she anticipated unless he made some friends. None of the lionesses were pregnant either. This put Kivuli in an awkward position. She wondered if he would feel the same way as she did if he knew about his responsibilities.

As Pride Rock shrank into the distance she noticed Kivuli looking over his shoulder. The silence began to weigh on her, so she tried to lighten the mood. "Hey Kivuli, did Nana Uru ever tell you the story about the hippo who brought the rains?"

"Thanks but I'm not in the mood for a story," Kivuli said. Nala detected nervousness in his voice and looked at him suspiciously. He met her eyes imploringly. "There's actually someplace special I want to visit today. Before you say no, hear me out."

Nala slowed, narrowing her eyes. Something about this felt terribly familiar. It gave her goose bumps. Kivuli took a deep breath.

"There's this Outsider cub named Tumbusi. He's really cool and we're almost the same age. I want to be friends with him, but he won't play with me until I prove I'm just as tough as he is. He's the only boy my age in the entire pride - there isn't anybody else. Please Nala, I need your help. I haven't got any friends my age."

"What does he want?"

Kivuli hesitated. "A leg bone... from the Elephant Graveyard."

Nala froze. She shivered and flicked her ears as they echoed with words from long ago:

So where are we going? It better not be any place dumb.

No, it's really cool!

"No, Kivuli! That place is too dangerous - we can't go there!" she said firmly. Surprisingly, she sounded a bit like Mufasa.

"Yeah, and it's against the law," Roho chimed in, equally distressed.

"I know, I know! But listen, I've got it all figured out. Ripuka helped me. There's a gap in the boarder patrol around the northern river. If we swim we can cross the boarder and get inside without anybody seeing us. Nobody will even know we left, I promise. The hyenas don't live there anymore."

She glanced at Ripuka in shock. "You..." She glared at Kivuli. "You planned this the whole time! I bet Scar isn't even taking a nap! How could you lie to me?"

"I'm sorry! I didn't want to, but Ripuka needs help and everyone knows you're a good swimmer." His eyes welled with fear. "Please don't tell, Nala! You're my best friend. If you help me I promise I'll give you anything you want when I'm king."

"We're sorry, little guy. This is way too dangerous for you, right Nala? Nala...?"

She flicked her tail in silence. Anything you want. Would she really risk her life, Kivuli's life, for a chance at freedom? She glanced at Ripuka, now standing less than ten feet behind them and eying her like a hawk. Her posture showed no hint of hostility. Still, Nala felt herself brace. Ripuka's red eyes gleamed like precious stones. Ever since she first saw Ripuka she thought the hyena was either mute or dumb. When she opened her mouth, her fur prickled and her flesh chilled. Ripuka's voice was like a waterfall, a deep, gentle rumble that left her awed and disarmed: "Please, friend Nala. Kivuli needs you to help Ripuka carry the bone across the water."

Nala flattened her ears uncertainly. As a rule, hyenas were untrustworthy characters; she never treated them as friends and they treated her just the same. Had Ripuka called her 'friend' out of stupidity or was this an extension of the olive branch? Ripuka held her gaze as if waiting for something. Finally, she turned back to Kivuli. His big, orange eyes reminded her of Sarabi. "Alright, but at the first sign of danger I'm taking you straight back to Pride Rock. Understand?"

Kivuli grinned and rubbed up against her foreleg. She resented him for manipulating her so easily, forcing herself not to smile. "Thank you so much, Nala! I'll keep my promise, I swear by the stars!"

"Nala..." Roho gaped at her, fear in his eyes. He looked the same as he did on the night Zazu escorted her back to Pride Rock after her her adventure with Simba in the Elephant Graveyard. If it wasn't for him tattling on Simba, Mufasa might never have found them in time. He had been so afraid for them. "Roho, you don't have to go. This won't take long."

"No!" He leapt to her side, landing off-balance. "I'm n-not letting you go alone this time! Even if it is scary, I won't let you get hurt again."

Her eyes widened. Concern quickly replaced her surprise. She studied Roho carefully: his gangly limbs, his cow-licked mane, his enormous, cub-like eyes. He looked as though he might give himself a heart-attack. She tried to smile reassuringly. "Roho, we'll be fine. You really think anything is gonna mess with Ripuka and me?"

"M-maybe, if you were outnumbered. You don't know what's living there now. At least if I'm there... well... whatever-it-is will think twice before attacking us. Mom always said there's safety in numbers."

He made a good point, much to her disliking. She frowned thoughtfully. "How are you at swimming?"

"I can swim," he professed without hesitation. Nala couldn't tell if the look in his eyes was fear or if he was lying. The more time she spent trying to figure him out the more likely they would be caught. She sighed.

"Alright, come on then. Let's get this over with."

They made for the northern river. Along the way they passed three hyena patrols, but each time they came to question them Kivuli easily brushed them off. "Nala and Roho are just showing me around the Pridelands," he said charmingly. They believed him every time.

The section where they needed to cross was dried up the last time Nala saw it. Now nearly thirty feet of moving water stood between them and the shadowy crags beyond. Trees and bushes overgrew the banks, concealing them from patrols in dappled shadows. There was not even a hint of hyena smell here. Nala cautiously dipped her foot into the chilly water and discovered that the bank dropped off suddenly with no way to tell how deep the water went, and the current tugged at her fur. Roho looked nervous. She turned to her companions, her features composed. "I'll cross first. Put Kivuli on my back."

Roho nodded and picked Kivuli up by the scruff of his neck. She winced as his tiny claws dug into her shoulders. "Ready?"

Kivuli nodded, his little heart pounding against her back. Gently Nala stepped over the ledge and let the water lift her up. The young Prince gasped at the cold and clung to her like a thorn. The heavy current tried to pull her down stream, but it was sluggish. She knew that if she tried to fight it she would exhaust herself before she reached the other side. Her webbed toes - a gift from the Marshlands - helped her swim. The journey seemed to take forever, but she never felt as afraid for herself as she did for the cub trembling on her back. She dug her claws into a waterlogged, dead tree half-buried in the mud and wrenched herself onto shore. Panting to catch her breath, she knelt down to let Kivuli off and looked back to the other shore. Kivuli shook the water from his paws and stayed behind her. The current had dragged her at least ten feet downstream. Roho stared back at her from the river bank, his mouth wide open like a hippo. Ripuka watched her intently. Nala gave herself a good shake. "The current's strong, don't try to fight it! Roho, you go first. Ripuka will follow in case you need her."

"Do what she says, Ripuka!" Kivuli echoed. The hyena nodded obediently.

Roho glanced at the hyena uneasily. He dipped his paw in the water and flinched when he discovered the drop off. Come on, Roho. You can do it, Nala thought, biting her lip. The red-headed lion looked around nervously and backed away from the water, disappearing into the overgrown bank. Secretly relieved, Nala dipped her head. At least he'll be...

"WAHHH!" He sprinted down the slope and leapt from the bank into the river with an enormous splash. Nala gasped in horror. Ripuka searched the river frantically for signs of him when all of a sudden he exploded above the surface, desperately slapping the water with his paws and making an enormous racket. Ripuka leapt in after him. Bobbing and sputtering, Roho padded toward the opposite shore. Nala leaned over the bank. The current was carrying him downstream farther and faster than it did her. As soon as he realized this Roho began to panic and fight against it to no avail. The current sapped his strength, pulling him faster. Ripuka couldn't catch up to him in time. Nala ran downstream with Kivuli right behind her, chasing her exhausted friend through the shadows and brush.

"Hold on! You're almost there!" she called.

Less than ten feet from shore Roho's head went underwater. Leaping in after him, Nala clawed at the water and dove down. Through the murky water she could only follow the THUM THUM THUM of Roho's wildly swinging paws. Her nose bumped into his shoulder. She grabbed a mouthful of fur with her teeth and dragged him to the surface, exhaling through her clenched teeth, but she lost her grip as Roho battered her with his forepaws in a panic. She swam behind him and grabbed him by the scruff of his neck before he could sink again and paddled toward shore, where Ripuka and Kivuli were waiting for them. When they reached the shore Roho clambered up first and stumbled a couple of feet before stopping where he was and coughing up water. His red fur hung off his bones, sopping wet as he shivered. Nala caught her breath and went to check on him.

"I'm sorry Nala..." he said, trembling from the cold. "I p-p-panicked..."

She stared at him as her chest heaved heavily. After a long silence she swept his messy mane over his eyes with her paw. "Don't do it again."

Ripuka stepped in front of them. Water had the opposite effect on her; her wet fur clung to and highlighted every muscle in her body, making her look even more intimidating. She snarled at Roho and looked Nala in the eyes. This time there was no gentleness in her voice. "Someone may have heard us. We must keep moving."