An incredibly late chapter, I know. But I promise, no more tardy updates. Heads up, this chapter does get pretty stale in a few parts, but things'll get juicier again once this one is finished. Now onto the reviews:

Born to Be Awesome: Okay! :)

Kratos-God-Slayer-101: Glad you like the epicness. Thanks for reviewing!

Guest: Haha, thanks!

TLK Nerd: Well, I always like to assume that birds age faster than lions. #PGMLogic

Can'thinkofasuitableusername: Aww that sucks :(. And yes, she is rather young. xD

FluttershyPuff: Socks in this hot weather? God, my feet would die! XD

Anyway, onto chapter 16, yes?

~16~

SHANI'S POV

"Look at my beautiful little daughter," a male lion cooed as he cradled me into his big, strong arms. "You grow more and more each day."

A warm smile stretched across my face as I rubbed my head underneath his chin.

"Daddy, I love you more than anything," I sung with zeal as I wriggled out of his grip and tried to climb on top of his mountainous body. "You're the best daddy in the whole wide world."

He rolled onto his back and I landed gracefully onto his soft tan underbelly. He slung his long, muscular arm across my little body and purred lovingly as we shared the embrace.

"Let's go, Daddy." I chirped. "Mom and Doli will be home any minute!"

He pushed me onto my fours with the tip of his muzzle. I looked back at him, with a smile on my face and I raced ahead to the stage of Pride Rock while he followed me after—or so I thought. It didn't take me long to realize he wasn't behind me. I swiftly turned back and saw him, passed out in the den. Within that second I turned away to meet my mother and sister, he'd mysteriously acquired dozens of cuts and bruises all over his body. He was surrounded in a puddle of his own blood.

"Noo!" I screamed as I leapt back towards him, begging him to get up. "Daddy, please?!"

He faded gradually from reality. Within a few moments, my paws fell slipped through his slowly diminishing body.

"Daddy, no! Please get up!"

I was roused of my nightmare suddenly when I felt something collide into me. I swiftly opened my eyes and I recognized the familiar blue-green colored eyes that inadvertently looked into mine.

"Now look what you did!" Iman scowled. "Work on your aim, Diallo. It really sucks."

He turned to me with a cheesy smile.

"Hey, sorry." he said before he turned away. "I didn't mean to wake ya'."

"Umm…it's alright," I replied cheerfully.

He turned away in a nonchalant matter, resuming the horseplay he and Diallo were previously engaged in. If only he'd know how much I'd cared for him. Every time I looked into those beautiful jade shaded eyes of his, I was in pure ecstasy. He was mighty, but still sported an adorable, boyish charm that made me melt. However, he was so reserved. He didn't seem to be as daring as Ashanti, or as headstrong as Diallo, not that it was a bad thing. My focus geared towards that odd dream I had before I was abruptly snapped back into reality. I'd never seen my father face to face. But I'd always assumed he was strong and handsome, and had baby blue eyes, just like me. He'd be a fighter like Doli, and he'd probably be more playful than Mom. That way, they'd cancel themselves out. I hungered to learn more about him, but Mom nor Doli wouldn't budge. They'd always tell me 'when you get older', before they noogied me and went on their way. Why did they think I was so young? I knew all about the birds and the bees, and I knew mostly all the facts of life. I hated it when grown-ups underestimated me, and being the youngest cub in the pride, it was something I had to get used to.

"Hey!" uttered Doli suddenly as she scooped me into her arms and tussled my tuft. "Don't forget: hunting lessons this afternoon. Come in a few hours and bring Ashanti too."

The hunting lessons were like our unofficial first hunt. The older lionesses would often bring the younger ones along with them to train for their official first hunt once they were a few years older. It was good practice, and a lot of fun.

"Alright, alright," I groaned, pushing her away with all my strength. "You're squeezing the life outta me."

"I can't help it," she said with a sardonic grin. "I just love my wittle baby sister."

I fought out of her grip and went to find the others. Diallo and Iman were just about to head out when I stopped them.

"Wait for me!" I yelped, standing side by side with the tan-furred, green-eyed cub.

Diallo scoffed in annoyance as his amber eyes fell onto me, and I glared back at him.

"Don't flatter yourself, dingbat." I said with an eye roll. "I didn't come here for you."

"Go bother someone else, hippo breath."

I was about to tell him something, but Iman's paw held each of us back and my words were caught in my throat and instead, a mellow sigh escaped.

"Let her tag alone if she wants." he said with an assuring smile.

I looked back cockily at Diallo, who scowled in return. He always acted like a brat whenever he didn't get his way. Whatever, he'll get over it.

"Aren't you guys gonna get Ashanti?" I asked.

"She's out with Mom." Iman answered. "I think she'll be busy the whole morning."

"Good," Diallo frowned. "I don't want her around anyway."

"Geez, did you wake up on the wrong side of the den this morning?" I asked mockingly.

"I hate Ashanti," the brown cub snapped. "She's annoying and stubborn, and she never listens to me."

This wasn't uncommon but the way he said it, with such immense hatred for her told me that he wasn't going to get over it anytime soon.

"Says you…" I joked.

"Just shut up and follow me." Diallo said impatiently as he sped off.

We followed him up until he stopped at this very peculiar place. The lands were parched and thirsty, and it was littered with hundreds of abandoned termite mounds.

"What is this place?" I inquired as I carefully stepped over an uprooted tree.

"The Outlands…" Diallo answered, his voice in awe as he looked around. "Our parents grew up here."

"Really?" Iman scoffed. "It doesn't look like a really nice place to live."

"Well they did! And I heard that hyenas used to live here." the chocolate prince said with a sly grin.

I just knew he wanted to start some trouble. I grew nervous as I saw shadows start to disappear and reappear around us. My senses perked a bit and I could hear faint chuckling in the distance.

"I-uh-I think we better go." I said hesitantly as I scampered away.

Diallo barricaded me, an impatient scowl wide on his face.

"Don't be a punk, Shani!" he scoffed. "Now let's go!"

"Diallo," Iman added in my defense. "I think you better listen to her. I'm starting to hear them too."

"Listen!" Diallo roared impatiently. "If you two babies wanna wuss out, just go home. I don't need you guys anyway!"

"Fine, you jerk!" I shot back at him angrily.

I readied to turn away and leave this loser to die out here, but Iman stopped me.

"We can't leave him here by himself," he said at a hushed volume.

"Why not?" I chided. "He knows everything, right?"

"But what if he gets hurt?"

I stopped talking for a bit and considered what he said.

"Just stick with him until he leaves," he smiled, brushing his paw against mines. "It's a bit scary, but we have each other, right?"

I looked bashfully at the ground as my cheeks grew a fiery red. I agreed and soon we were on our way. We were blanketed in sweltering heat from the morning sun.

"What are you three doing here?" a male voice asked, that startled the three of us.

We turned around to see former king Simba towering over us, with a stern look on his face.

"It wasn't very smart to linger into here," he scolded. "There's a lot of hungry animals in here that'd hunt you down in a heartbeat."

Hunt…HUNT! I almost forgot about the hunt!

"I-I uh gotta go!" I blurted, running back towards the Pridelands. "I forgot about the hunt!"

"The hunt, eh?!" Simba asked me with a cocked eyebrow. "I didn't know it was so early this year."

"Yeah, Mr. Simba-Sir." I said with a smile. "The birds migrated home a lot earlier than we thought they would."

"Well this should be interesting. We'll come with you."

"Aww come on, Grandpa!" Diallo moaned. "Why do we have to watch these sissies take down stupid, stinking birds all day?!"

"Those sissies will be hunting for you once you become king." Simba scolded jokingly. "So you better start treating them with respect, kiddo—or else you'll starve."

"Yeah, Diallo." I scoffed, rooted to Simba's side.

We head towards the grasslands to meet up with the group of lionesses.

"You're late," Mom scolded sharply. "You're not making a very good impression, young lady."

I rolled my eyes and assumed position right between Doli and Ashanti.

"It took you long enough," scowled Doli as she fastened her eyes on her target: a tall black and white ibis that leisurely walked a few yards away without a care.

"Shut up and just crouch," I snided impatiently.

In unison, all three of us crouched slowly into the long stalks of faded green grass and focused our eyes on three different targets. A horde of birds that flew home from migration flocked in hordes by the grasslands where we crouched, and where our parents, friends, and rulers watched our every move.

"Now!" commanded Doli, making Ashanti and I leap from our hiding spots and head for our prey. My target caught sight of me when I leapt from the shrubs and he took off. He was about a yard up and I looked up at him in disappointment.

"No, don't let him get away!" my mother cheered. "Shani, you can do this!"

I looked at her unsurely, but she nodded her head in approval and I whipped my focus back onto the ibis which escaped and I schemed quickly before he could get away. I bolted towards the ibis again and once I was a few feet away from him, I leapt about a yard into the air and my paws caught onto his legs and brought him down. He was flapping his wings frantically and his black and white feathers were in disarray as he found himself barreling into the ground, unable to escape my hold. He fell to the ground and I did the rest. I watched my mother and the others do this type of stuff when they were hunting close to me. All of this was practically embedded in my memory by now. Ashanti leapt for her intended target, but made a slight mistake and her plan backfired, sending her tumbling and her prey flying away to safety.

"Time!" Vitani shouted, making the three of us turn around and head back to the pride.

The area was buzzed with cheers and squeals. Mom rushed to Doli and I both as nuzzled each one of us.

"I'm so proud of you two." she cooed. "You'll make wonderful hunters."

"Thank you, Mom." I purred, the bird's carcass still secured in my forepaw.

In the corner of my eye, I noticed Ashanti with both her parents.

"You did great, Sweetheart." Kiara said with a proud smile.

"But I didn't catch anything," Ashanti muttered, her cheeks wet with tears of defeat.

"This is just a silly little hunt," Kovu insisted, bringing the weeping cub into his arms. "I'll tell you what? Every afternoon, we'll practice together, so you can take on some of my hunting genes, cause obviously, your mother's lessons haven't been paying off."

Kiara cocked an eyebrow and approached him playfully while Ashanti trotted alongside them. Ashanti was my best friend, and I loved her like a sister, but I also had an utter repugnance towards her that'd pop up at times like this. Whenever I saw her light up with happiness as her father played with her and tussled her pelt, I'd feel a fiery sensation of envy rush to my head, and I'd just quickly scamper off, so no one could see my tears. I didn't understand how Ashanti could spend time with her father whenever she pleased, but mine had to die before I was born. It was a selfish thing to think of at the time, but without my father's presence in our little family of three, the equilibrium in my life suddenly went awry and everything was odd and out of sync.

"Shani, darling, what's wrong?" my mother asked me with concern. "You've been spacing out for a bit."

I shook my head, ridding myself of all those selfish thoughts that plagued my conscience. But I couldn't help but have that one thought linger in the back of mind as to why my father was gone and why was it so difficult for them to tell me the truth. I ran off towards the waterhole when no one was looking just so I could vent. When I heard rustling in the grass, I assumed it was just Doli or Mom coming to get me or scold me for running away, but my heart skipped a beat once I recognized the familiar baby-faced cub who came to meet me.

"I-Iman?" I stammered. "What are you doing here?"

"I saw you run off, and I decided to follow you," he grinned modestly. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine."

"Were you crying?"

"No!" I retorted defensively.

"Shani, I know something's bothering you. Just tell me."

"Just some family problems…" I scoffed.

"Oh…" he sighed, his paw fidgeting below him. "Is it your Mom?"

"No…"

"Doli's getting on your nerves."

"No…it's my father…"

Iman gulped nervously, regretting that he even badgered me about the subject.

"Well, it really sucks that he's not here with you, but you still have an awesome mom, and a really funny sister, and it's better than nothing—right?"

"I guess so," I smiled bashfully.

"Besides, I'm always here for you too if you need me…"

"I'll keep that in mind…Mangy Mane." I teased playfully before I ran off and Iman trailed right behind me.

This chapter was kinda mehh. Shani doesn't really have that much conflict so early on into the story, so give it some time. xD Ashanti's segment will be a lot more dramatic. Thanks for reading!