Before Nala went looking for her mother she had some business to attend to with the Outlanders. After everything she went through she would curse herself until the end of her days if she did not see Tumbusi's dare through to the end, and if that little brat reneged on his promise to be Kivuli's best friend she would smack him clear to Mount Kilimanjaro.

The Outsiders rarely came to Pride Rock. She heard that Shetani occasionally toured Pride Rock with her eldest daughter, Sarabi, and Scar, but Nala had never seen them before. Most of what she knew about Shetani came from Sarabi: she was an older lion, about Uru's age with a creamy coat turning white in places, a broken tail, crooked whiskers, and a ridge going from the top of her head down her back. Many of the Pridelanders disliked Shetani but Sarabi, who probably knew her best, seemed only to pity her. She tried to help Shetani integrate her daughters into the pride. Having also been saved from the perils of the Roguelands by a king, brought into this land as a stranger, Sarabi probably sympathized with Shetani just as she had with Sarafina when King Zimwi sent her to the Pridelands, but unlike the two of them Shetani had entered the Pridelands as an old huntress set in her ways and was not adjusting well.

Shetani's family spent most of their days at a place called Turtle Rock. It was a nice, quiet place to sun yourself or relax in the shade, although not as favored as the Western Ridge due to its distance from Pride Rock and lack of acacia trees. The only shade to be found was beneath Turtle Rock, which opened like a turtle shell at the front, providing enough space for two or three lionesses to cool off. Some said it's adjacency to the watering hole made up for the scant shade, at least during the wet season when the watering hole was full. Another reason for Turtle Rock's meager popularity was that it sat utterly exposed to the world. While standing on top of it provided a good view of the surrounding plains there were few places to take cover, making it less than ideal for lionesses with cubs, not that this seemed to bother the Outsiders. When they arrived in the Pridelands the lionesses relinquished Turtle Rock to them without a whisper of protest.

From a distance Nala spotted one of the Outsiders pacing on top of Turtle Rock. When they were roughly one hundred yards away the Outsider suddenly stopped and let out a ferocious roar, waking two others who were resting under the shade. Nala and Ripuka stopped in the same instant. The Outsider lioness stared them down.

"What's her problem?" Nala quipped after setting the bone on the ground.

"Maybe you should go talk to her," Roho suggested.

Nala glanced at Ripuka and Kivuli. Ripuka did not seem like a proper diplomat and even though Kivuli knew one of the Outsider's cubs it didn't seem like the lioness on Turtle Rock realized. She sighed, rolling her eyes. "Do I even have a choice?"

The Outsider lioness thrashed the air with her tail. Nala had never seen a lioness behave so aggressively before and despite her best efforts to appear friendly the Outsider only grew more agitated. Half-way to Turtle Rock, the lioness leapt from her perch and charged her with a snarl. Nala jumped back as the lioness stopped in a wave of dust. A ridge of dark fur ran down her back and her left ear was torn. Her dark eye shadows made her look as though she had mud on her face. As the lanky lioness circled her Nala followed her movements, keeping her back protected, and growled warningly. She could hear Roho and Ripuka coming toward her. The Outsider must have noticed them to, because she suddenly stopped pacing. She looked Nala in the eyes. "Who are you? What do you want?" she snapped.

"Nala. I'm not here to fight you." But she wanted to make it perfectly clear that she would defend herself if necessary. The Outsider glanced at Roho and Ripuka and scoffed. Knowing that she would think twice about jumping her when she was outnumbered, Nala relaxed her muscles and said, "I'm Kivuli's friend." The Outsider raised an eyebrow. "The prince? We brought him to play with Tumbusi."

The Outsider pursed her lips. Suddenly, she looked over her shoulder and shouted in a shrill tone, "Tumbusi!"

A scruffy looking cub with an umber coat came running up to them. His eyes were a startling shade of cyan. Like the other lioness, his eye shadows were dark, dirty brown. "Yes Zira?" he panted.

"Do you know these Pridelanders?"

Tumbusi looked at the three of them perplexedly. When he spotted Kivuli standing between Ripuka's legs his eyes lit up and he smiled slyly. "Oh, hey Kivuli. What're you doing here?"

"I came to play." He glanced at Zira uncertainly. "If that's okay…"

"Did you bring it?" Tumbusi whispered. Kivuli nodded, causing him to grin. "It's okay Zira, Kivuli's my friend. Can I go play with him?"

"Alright, but take your sisters with you." She sounded eager to be rid of them. Nala's eyes widened slightly. Sisters?

Tumbusi and Kivuli headed for Turtle Rock. As they took off Ripuka turned to Roho and grunted, nodding in the direction of the elephant bone. Roho stared at her blankly. She snarled at him and he jumped up to fetch the elephant phone. "Okay, okay! Geeze!" Ripuka narrowed her eyes at him and followed the two cubs, leaving Nala alone with Zira. In spite of Zira's judgmental stare she tried to put on a friendly face. I need to get back to mom, but as long as I'm here…

"So… you have younger sisters?"

"No. Do you?"

Nala was taken back. "Excuse me?"

"Mother is too old for cubs. The cubs belong to my sister, Fusa. Not that it's any of your business…" She tilted her head and smiled like a crocodile. "Oh, you're the princess aren't you? I should have guessed. You have such a pretty face," she said acidly.

Nala glared at her and turned to go. As much as she wanted to meet Fusa's cubs it wasn't worth her pride. "I need to get back to my mother."

"Aww, a mama's girl. That's so sweet."

Nala stopped in her tracks and turned, tail bristled. "I am not a mama's girl."

"Then why the rush? We're just getting to know each other." Zira crowded her and moved to stand in her path, holding her in her beady red eyes. Nala felt like she was being sized up for a meal.

"I'm sorry, I really need to get going." She tried to weave around Zira but the smirking lioness leapt in front of her before she had taken two steps. She scowled and tried to sprint in the other direction, but Zira cut her off again. She flashed her teeth. "What's your problem!?"

"Didn't your sweet mommy teach you any manners, princess? It's rude to walk away in the middle of a conversation. You're not going anywhere until I'm finished with you."

Nala growled. "What do you want?"

"Walk with me."

Internally Nala cursed herself. Why couldn't I just go home? I know finding mom is more important than what's going on between me and Kivuli, but I let it distract me anyway. Maybe if I go along with her I can get out of here quickly.

As Zira led her away she glanced over her shoulder at the shrinking profile of Turtle Rock with worry. Although she still didn't trust Ripuka she found herself longing for the support of Kivuli's hulking bodyguard. Suddenly Zira turned to face her. "Fight me."

Nala blinked. "What?"

"You've got a pretty face but your head is an empty shell. I'm challenging you for the right to rule this pride. Now, fight me!"

Her cheeks blazed with inner fire. Zimwi's deal with Ahadi made Zira's challenge pointless - Scar would not allow her to be dethroned prematurely - but when the opportunity to settle differences with her claws arose Nala refused to roll over under the Outsider's insults. A deep growl filled her throat and grew to a roar as she leapt at Zira with claws unsheathed. Zira reared up and grappled her and Nala felt teeth digging into her shoulder. She swiped at Zira's side, clawing and shoving her away. The Outsider backpedaled with a roar. Nala followed right on her paws. They boxed. Her head whipped to the side as Zira smacked her bluntly across the cheek. Sore but still wide awake, she ducked a swipe from Zira's left paw and walloped her hard with her right. While Zira reeled she tackled her to the ground and pinned her on her back. Her thrashing finally ceased when Nala pinned her claws to her throat. She stood over Zira for a moment, the two of them gasping for breath. There was no fear in the Outsider's eyes, only malice. Nala could see that she was beaten. "The next time I see you, I want your respect!"

She got off of Zira and walked away in an angry huff. The Outsider did not try to follow.

In spite of her victory the encounter with the Outsider left her in a rotten mood. For the first time in her life someone had treated her differently because of her status. She always thought she would dislike shouldering the burdens of a leader, yet Zira only acknowledged her role for the chance to challenge it. How was it she could feel disdain at the thought of ever becoming queen and at the same time be so defensive of her title? She told herself that it wasn't her title she was defending, merely her honor. Nobody called Nala stupid and got away with it.

Without realizing it Nala had arrived at Pride Rock. Her mother was waiting for her. "Nala, what happened? Where are Roho and Kivuli?"

"Mom don't worry, they're fine," she said, feigning a smile. She hoped her mother wouldn't ask where they were specifically. While she tried to come up with a convincing lie Sarafina eyed her shoulder in concern. It was hard to concentrate when her mother looked at her so distrustfully.

"You're filthy... and you're bleeding. What happened to your shoulder?"

Nala lowered her ears. "I got into a scrape with an Outsider," she admitted, sighing. "It was no big deal! She kept insulting me and I had to do something. I don't think she'll be bothering me anymore. I pinned her pretty quickly." She winced as her mother cleaned the wound on her shoulder where Zira bit her. She sat down willingly and felt herself start to relax. She might be in trouble but after everything she went through today it felt good to be babied a little (not that she would admit it).

"Nothing but trouble, just like your father." Nala rolled her eyes. How many times have I heard that one? "You're lucky this wound is shallow. I thought you were just giving Kivuli a tour of the Pridelands. How on earth did you get so dirty?"

"Promise me you won't get mad until I'm finished?" She could hear the hard edge to her mother's voice and knew she was in trouble. At least she knew her mother wouldn't prevent her from participating in the hunting competition over this, it was too important for her future. Remembering those horrible grins made her feel suddenly fragile. No matter how painful the memory, Nala wouldn't allow herself to cry. This was too important to get emotional. Turning to face her mother, she drew a deep breath and slowly, calmly told her mother everything. When she told her how she snuck into the Elephant Graveyard with Kivuli and the others Sarafina looked as though she might suddenly explode with anger. Even her blue eyes looked hot. Somehow she managed to keep her promise not to interrupt. By the time she finished all the fury had drained from her mother's creamy face. There weren't any hyenas around to hear them, but her mother's eyes still darted as if she feared being overheard. She leaned in close and whispered, "Are you sure of what you saw?" Nala nodded.

Sarafina lowered her eyes and rapidly flicked her ears. Her mother's expression made her look completely alien. Nala felt a little ill, not just from recounting what she saw but also from the way her mother's silence seemed to suck out all the air from her lungs. She tried to reassure her, adding, "Roho does have a pretty wild imagination, though. He could have been mistaken. I never got a good look at them. I couldn't stand to."

"I understand," her mother said absently as if to forgive her. Nala stared at her uncomfortably, but it was a long time before she said anything. When her mother did speak her voice sounded hollow and dead. She could hardly believe the words that came out of her mother's mouth: "They were probably just rogues. It's best not to worry about them."

Her eyes widened in shock. "But what about the hyena tracks?"

"Don't go poking your nose in this," her mother growled, startling her so badly that her heart nearly stopped. "I mean it. I want you to forget what you saw, never speak of it again. And tell Roho to do the same."

"But mom-"

"Nala, this isn't your responsibility. Shaba and Zito are gone. They abandoned us and there's nothing any of us can do to bring them back. Now I want you to promise me you will never breathe a word of what you saw to anyone. Is that understood?"

She reluctantly lowered her head. This felt wrong, but she was too tired to argue or oppose the fear her mother's words instilled. Part of her wanted to put all of this behind her. "Yes, mom," she murmured.

"Good. Now go up to the den and get some rest. I don't want you coming out again until dinner."

Her punishment seemed lax all things considered. Nala didn't try to fight it. She sulked up the path to the communal den. When she looked inside she saw Scar and his mother Uru sleeping together, Uru's head cushioned by her son's black mane. Nyonda lay near by with her daughters Mea and Bombu snuggled up to her on either side. Ruka was elsewhere, probably goofing off with Chumvi or practicing for the big competition. A sixth lioness with a caramel coat lifted her head and looked at Nala with deep red eyes. It was her friend Kula. She beckoned her with a smile. Glad not to be alone, Nala draped herself over Kula with a sigh.

Nala had known her since cubhood. After Simba passed away Kula hardly ever left her side. They didn't have much in common, Kula being cautious and thinking with her stomach - Nala being adventurous and always using her brain, but Kula was kind and for that Nala would always love her, even though they didn't spend as much time together as they used to.

"Rough day?" Kula whispered, careful not to wake the other lions.

"Yeah."

"That's okay. I'm sure you'll feel better after dinner."

"Actually, I've kind of lost my appetite..."