Thanks for the reviews, guys! And thanks for the favs and messages. It really motivates me. You have no idea. I appreciate all the support. As you can see, I changed the names of the chapters. I hope it doesn't confuse anyone. I'm pretty sure no one reads the name of them anyway XD, but to those who do, my fault.

Heads up, this chapter may get a little boring. I had writer's block for a while.

~4~

"Any sign of those creatures?" Kovu asked his auburn-maned in-law.

"No sign of them…" Simba responded. "But the hunting party reported that they saw some carcasses that were hit with the stone of death."

"The herd?"

"Yes…"

"It's the herd today." the brown lion spoke. "But tomorrow, it could be one of us. We have to get them out of here."

"It's too dangerous!" Zazu cried. "You wouldn't stand a chance."

"Are you questioning my strength?" a slightly intimidated Kovu asked.

"No Sire!" the majordomo responded in a hurry. "But those hunters are no laughing matter. They're capable of anything! Suppose they hurt you? Or worse…"

"Well that's a chance I have to take." the king said with a sigh. "Besides, I don't get rid of them, who will?"

Simba couldn't help but crack a smile. He was going to make a fine king.

"The Pridelands seem okay for now," he said. "We should head back."

Simba and Zazu headed back to the Pridelands. The dark lion took one last look at the waterhole before speeding towards his companions.

Meanwhile, not too far from the Pridelands, the queen and her new acquaintance were just beginning their walk.

KIARA'S POV

Zula was great company. She was lively, sweet, and an overall angel. She'd make a great addition to the Pridelands. She sprinted to catch up to me. Her wing was still in very bad shape, and it would take a while before she could use it again.

"What about that story of yours?" I reminded her.

"Right!" the hornbill exclaimed with a smile. "I do warn you, it's quite a long story. It might bore you."

"Go on." I said with a smile.

It was then that I realized that Zula had come from the same jungles that my father grew up in. Her childhood was very generic. Although she did mention her father's blatant favoritism towards her younger sister, Zuri.

"She had the prettiest, bluest eyes I've ever seen," she spoke. "Her feathers were a bright shade of green. Many of the other hornbills said she took a lot after my mother. Father always preferred her to me. He didn't hate me. It's just that he loved her more."

"Well, what happened?" I asked her.

ZULA'S POV

"I ran off." I spoke. "No one knew of my plans and no one grew suspicious. It was the perfect plan. I loved them all, even Father. I really do…but, I couldn't let him ruin my life."

"I can't do it, Father!" I said in a whisper. "I don't want to marry him."

"Don't you see Zula?" he exclaimed. "He can make us rich!"

"Marriage isn't for riches!" The retort made my father jump. "It's for love!"

"Oh…" Father said under his breath as he turned about face. "That's what you want."

I backed away. Father was unpredictable when he was angered. I didn't want to get in his way.

"You want us to starve!" he roared at me. "Riff-Raff! That's what you are! You're as worthless as an elephant's dung. You care about nobody but yourself."

"That's not true!" I snapped at him. "You're using me for wealth? What kind of father are you?"

"Before I could even regain my composure, he ran his massive wing against my face, sending me to the ground."

"Don't you ever address your father like that." he snarled as he grew red with anger. "Are you out of your mind!"

It was then that I noticed my sister flying into the den.

"Daddy! No!" she screamed in horror.

"Zuri! Help me!" I cried at the top of my lungs. Tears were streaming down my face.

"Let her go!"

She managed to get me away from him and calm Father down.

"Think of it, Zula." Zuri spoke in an attempt to persuade me. "If you do this, we'd never go hungry again."

"Then why don't you marry him?" I snapped back in a soft yet sarcastic tone.

Zuri didn't respond and Father glared at me, getting ready to attack again. She raised her wing, barricading Father and I. I strayed away from Father's angry glare, looking down in shame.

"For the next three days, my father's abuse continued." I continued. "As the days went by, his words got crueler. Soon after, I was plagued with depression and self-consciousness. He made me feel worthless. I felt like 1,000 blades had just stabbed right through me. Those words…"

"I'm sorry, Zula." the maize colored queen said sympathetically. "It wasn't your fault."

"I took off at the dead of night…" I resumed. "I took one last look at my parents and sisters. They were sleeping peacefully, unaware of my departure."

"Goodbye…" I spoke as I stroked my father's head softly.

I cautiously walked towards the exit, trying not to make too much noise. I looked back at Father. The fact that I was finally getting away from him.

"And good riddance."

A tear let loose as I lifted from the wooden cavern and headed north. The moon was at its zenith, little pieces of it penetrating through the olive green canopies that veiled the moist forest floor.

"Weren't you afraid?" Kiara asked as we continued our stroll.

"Of course!" I responded. "The jungles were dangerous at nights. In the mornings, there'd only be birds, bugs, and a couple monkeys. But at night, the leopards would roam the forests in search of prey."

I saw large, black figures leaping from tree to tree. I tried to erase the image and continue with my journey. My eyes lowered to the ground and I picked up speed as the snarls coming from them filled my ears. As I looked up, I noticed one of them attempting to swipe at my tail feathers. I swiftly dodged the attack and rapidly sped away from them. The commotion caught the attention of his companion, which was bad news for me. One of the pack members leapt in front of me, its slick, black paw only inches away from my feet.

"You lost, Birdy?" he snarled as he gave a toothy smile.

His pitch-black coat blended in perfectly with the nighttime sky. I could only see his evil grin and his soulless eyes, which glowed a fierce electric green.

"Do you know what we do to little birdies that lost their way?"

I quivered with fear as he came closer towards me.

"My first instinct would've been to fly away. But leopards are excelled in tree climbing. So escaping and finding refuge in a tree would've been futile. Yet, I couldn't just sit there and let them kill me."

"So what did you do?"

"I took a chance…"

It was so sudden. But my fear made it feel like it lasted a lifetime. I swiftly escaped the leopards and tried to hide. However, their wit made it much more complicated. I finally spotted an unoccupied tree hollow. My heart kept racing, even after I found a safe haven.

"Just as I let out a sigh of relief…"

A loud crack could be heard as one of the leopards forced his arms through the cavity. He tried to get me, but he didn't have much control. I pushed my body towards the end of the hollow space, trying hard not to faint. He peered into the hole, snarling at me before he left. I saw the shadows of the other leopard trailing behind him. I finally plopped down, assured that I was safe. Morning was only hours away and I wasn't finished with my journey yet. I fell asleep, prepared for what fate had in store for me.

"I roamed from place to place for the next few weeks. Up until I heard two cranes discussing the marriage of you and Kovu. That's when I heard about the Pridelands…"

"You've never heard of the Pridelands?" one of them asked as her head tilted in confusion. "Have you been living under a rock?"

"She might not be from here, Pili." her companion responded under her breath. She looked towards me and smiled. "The Pridelands are not too far away. In fact, my sister, Pili and I live there!"

"Really?" I asked. "Then why are you here?"

"Spring's the best season for berries and bugs." Pili said with a smile as she revealed a bundle of berries that were nestled into a big green leaf. "I gather the berries and Oni gathers the bugs."

"Aside from that…" Oni continued as she pushed Pili away with her rump. "What brings you here?" She stuck her long neck towards the top of my head.

"I really don't wanna talk about it." I said softly as I kicked my feet.

"It's alright, hon." Pili said giddily. "Oni and I don't have the right to interfere with your—*ahem* 'personal issues'."

"We'll take you to the Pridelands!" Oni exclaimed, wrapping me in her wing. "You'll love it…"

"Zula." I chucked warmly.

"Well Zula. We'll share our home with you."

"For me?" I said with a smile.

"Of course!" Oni responded in an instant. "Our nest is your nest!"

My heart felt like it would burst of joy. Not only had I made it to the Pridelands, but I had made my very first friends.

"Are you enjoying the dinner?" Pili asked me.

"It's delicious." I responded as I ate another berry.

Pili had prepared a mixture of insects and berries that she and Oni collected from that afternoon. She was right. The berries were firm and juicy. I wasn't a big fan of insects but these were an exception. Now I know why cranes love them so much.

Slowly but surely, evening arrived. I saw a herd of antelope pass by.

"I've never seen them up close before…" I said in awe.

Living in a jungle, my life was mostly spent in the trees. My family usually kept to themselves. It was a rule established by Father, who started to grow concerned once the males would start to go after Zuri and I. The moon towered over the now silent Pridelands. The canopies in the forests obscured the ivory colored orb of light. I never knew it was so beautiful.

Pili and Oni were adjusting their nest, making room for me. Though I didn't take up much space, the sisters wanted the best for me. I rested my head against the rim.

"Good night." I spoke.

"Good night." the siblings said in perfect unison.

"For the next six months, Pili and Oni treated me like one of their own. It was then I learned that Pili and Oni had been together ever since they left the nest. They didn't have much of a relationship with their other siblings. But they would visit once in a blue moon."

"Zula! Wake up!" Pili said.

"What's wrong?" I groaned wearily. My eyes fluttered open. "It's so early…"

I collapsed into the nest, ready to return to my slumber. But Pili pulled me up. She began to shake her vigorously.

"What are you doing?" Oni moaned.

"Haven't you heard?" Pili exclaimed. "The princess gave birth last night! I heard it was triplets."

"That's terrific." I said with delight.

"Not for me…" Oni groaned. "I hate morning presentations."

"Presentation?" I questioned.

"Yeah. It's held for every litter of cubs born to the royal family."

"We have to get there early so we won't be behind the crowd." Pili said as she fixed the blond-colored tuft of feathers on her head. "Let's go, girls!"

"It was then that I saw Pride Rock for the very first time. I was in utter shock. I never knew rocks could be so big. I saw the triplets, and then I saw you and the king. It was a beautiful ceremony and I hope I'll be here for others to come."

"Thank you, Zula." said Kiara.

"But several days later, Pili and Oni were welcomed with a surprise visit from one of their brothers."

"Pili! Oni!" he squawked. "You must come now!"

"What's wrong, Nuru?" Pili asked in concern.

"It's Mother…she's gravely ill."

"Oh no." muttered Oni. "Mom!"

"I'm sorry, Zula!" Pili cried. "We have to go now."

"Do you think you can manage?" Oni said as she sped up towards her two siblings.

I nodded. The sisters shared their good-byes and followed their brother.

"I hope your mother gets well soon." I called out to them.

I saw the trio take off and head towards the borders. They were out of eyeshot within minutes. I could tell they cared a great deal for their mother. I decided this would be a perfect time to venture off.

After a good hour of wandering aimlessly around the Pridelands, I noticed the lair. Overwhelmed with curiosity, I stepped towards the site.

"Now that I look back at it, it was a really stupid thing to do. But I wasn't thinking about the consequences."

I took shelter in a nearby tree, hoping to get a glimpse at more of these odd looking creatures.

"They looked very strange. Surely, there weren't a lot of them there. But my curiosity got the best of me and I ended up living near the lair. Up until they inured my wing. That's when Zazu took me here and well…here I am."

"That's quite a story." said Kiara.

3rd Person Narrative

"The waterhole's just around the corner." the queen added, pointing the tip of her nose towards the occupied pool of crystal-clear water.

"I don't come here often." said Zula, who disliked the commotion that took place during this time. "But what could go wrong?"

Just as she finished, Kiara noticed something was amiss. She flinched as a foreign scent slithered in her nose.

"Are you alright?" asked a concerned Zula.

"I'm fine…" responded Kiara in a quiet voice.

She followed the scent to its source, snarled as she saw the bushes tremble with activity.

"It's those creatures." she thought. "What are they doing here? They're just planning to wreak more havoc!"

She glared at the bushes, positive that the creatures were in there, preparing for an ambush. She parted the leaves but saw nothing.

"What?" she mouthed.

The scent still lingered in the air. Or so she thought. Everyone else seemed to be fine.

"Perhaps the paranoia is messing up my senses…" she insisted.

Meanwhile, at Pride Rock, Kovu, Simba and Zazu just arrived from their patrol. The majordomo immediately excused himself, looking for Zula. He almost panicked when he didn't see her.

"She's with Queen Kiara." said Doli, much to the hornbill's relief. "Why are you so worried about it anyway?"

She was playing with Vitani while she babysat the royal triplets. Efia, who finished grooming her restless daughter, lay next to Vitani.

"That's none of your concern, Young Lady!" responded Zazu.

"Do you like Zula?" Doli teased.

Doli's words made the bird's heart skip a beat. Vitani and several other lionesses gawked at the hornbill, who was about to turn red.

"Of course I like her. She's a very good friend of mine." responded the majordomo.

"Noooooooo." Doli laughed. "I mean likelikelike her."

"Cut it out, Doli." Efia said pulling the cub away from the humiliated hornbill. Vitani was trying to hold a laugh.

"Alright Mommy." she sighed as she rolled onto her side. The tawny cub turned on her stomach and looked at Zazu.

"Don't worry, I won't tell anyone." she grinned devilishly as she poked his beak.

"Doli!"

The cub turned away, back to Vitani and Efia.

"You know, she does have a point…" whispered Efia. "That bird's been acting really weird lately."

"He makes it so obvious." hushed Vitani. "He's in love."

"I'm happy for him. He looks like someone who could use a girl."

"Maybe he wouldn't be so angry."

The two lionesses exchanged laughs, looking back at Zazu. He knew they were talking about him. But he didn't want to test them. After all, the Outlanders were still very hostile lions and were very unpredictable.

"Aunt Tani, can I go outside?" begged Doli as she galloped around the idle lioness.

"She's very busy, Doli." Efia scolded. "You'll go out later."

"But—."

"No buts!"

Doli gave up, looking away from her mother. Efia was a no nonsense lion at times but she didn't want her relationship between her daughters to crumble. The sight of her usually lively daughter now on the brink of crying made her drown in guilt.

"Fine." she smiled.

"Really?" the cub asked as her ears perked.

"Zazu will take you."

"Or not…" Vitani commented, noticing Kiara and Zula returning. Efia smothered a laugh as she looked back at Vitani.

"Tani, can you take Doli to the water hole?" asked Efia.

Vitani wasn't the type to babysit cubs, especially cubs like Doli. She wasn't around a lot of cubs during her childhood, with the exception of her brothers, and later on, Efia. That took a toll on her social skills. But Efia was one of her best friends, and Doli looked up to her.

"What could possibly go wrong?" she thought.

She stretched as she got up. Doli galloped behind her, grinning from ear-to-ear. Efia's attention turned from Doli, to Shani, who was starting to fuss. Efia ran her tongue through her daughter's scruffy pelt, which made the cub a little less tense.

"Zula's coming, Zazu." teased Efia. "Don't screw up."

Zazu ignored Efia's sarcastic advice and instead greeted Zula.

"Zula, we need to talk." he said.

"About what?" feigned the pink bird.

"It's a very private matter." responded Zazu as he noticed the whole pride staring in suspense. "Do you mi—?"

"I understand." smiled Zula as she and Zazu walked towards the den's exit.

ZAZU'S POV

We took refuge in an umbrella tree. I was assured that the thick forest green leaves would veil us from any possible eavesdroppers. I looked deeply into her red irises. Her beauty was intoxicating.

"You look ravishing today." I sighed, getting a hold of her wing.

"Do you really think so?" she questioned. "I've always looked so…bland compared to other birds."

"Anyone who would call you bland is obviously blind." I complemented. "You're beautiful."

"Really?" she asked, her smile growing.

"Yes—I mean no." I replied.

I noticed her grow suspicious.

"So you don't think I'm pretty?"

"No—I mean yes. I mean…" I stammered.

"Zazu, are you okay?" Zula asked, forcing a laugh. "I can go if you want..."

"No!" I interjected.

What are you doing?

All these emotions buzzed around in my head. I tried to fight those three words. They were on the tip of my beak but I couldn't say it. I sighed in frustration.

"I have to go." I excused. I left hurriedly. I would've slapped myself for that. She must think I'm a nut.

"Zazu!" Zula cried.

I felt awful leaving her there alone. But my anxiety got the best of me. Maybe next time—if there is a next time...

3RD PERSON NARRATIVE

"We're gonna have so much fun, Aunt Tani." Doli said as she leapt excitedly. "Can you teach me how to hunt?"

With that, she crouched playfully in attack mode. Her tail flicked back and forth in excitement. Her muscles tensed temporarily when she felt Vitani's paw press against the center of her back. She lowered herself into the stalks of grass, and fastened her eyes onto a small bird that was a couple of feet away.

"Don't make a sound…" whispered Vitani, now releasing pressure from the cub's body.

The cub held her stance for 3 seconds before she lunged at her prey. Her landing was messy but between her paws, the plump bird fought to escape.

"I did it." exclaimed the cub as she let the bird free. "Aunt Tani, I did it!"

"Not bad…" complemented Vitani as Doli. "But you need to work on your landing."

Doli shoved Vitani's paw off the surface playfully, and squeezed herself through the crevices between her arms and body.

"I wanna be just like you when I grow up." she whispered as she rubbed her head against her stomach.

Vitani smiled down at the tawny feline but flinched when she saw a strange figure several yards from her. The creature looked back, amazed but frightened. The locks that draped beyond her shoulder blades blew gently in sync with the timid winds.

"Aunt Tani…" murmured Doli. "What's the matter?"

"Go home." Vitani ordered.

"But—."

"Go!" the lioness hissed as Doli galloped back to Pride Rock.

As Vitani neared the alien, she noticed it try to escape, but stumble. She ran towards the creature, halting just inches away from her. Her maw transformed into a vicious snarl. She pressed a paw against her target's neck.

"Game over." she laughed as she pressed a claw against her victim's gullet.

Kiara's dangerously OOC. I'm going to work on that. Hopefully, I'll be able to get the canons into character as the story progresses. I added a cliffhanger so you wouldn't die of boredom. I was supposed to update around Halloween. But I'm a month off (as you can see). I've been really busy lately.

Anyway, I'll probably go back to the normal schedule. If not. Hope you had a Happy Thanksgiving. Happy Hanukkah by the way. =)