Update time!

[Edit] Yeah... *facepalm* I totally forgot something pretty important. Scroll down to Natin's convo with Kiara and Chaka if you're interested. Otherwise I'll have the characters further address it in the next chapter. Also fixed an error or two in the last section. :)

"Kiara?"

"Yes, Suki? What is it?" The Queen of the Pride Lands turned her head to the lean, dark-furred lioness' gentle voice. Kiara and Suki, the mother of Isabis and Neo, were at the watering hole. The younger lioness had invited her queen to go on a walk with her, and they'd paused for a drink. It was just after high-sun.

"How are you? I mean..." Suki's honey-brown eyes darted around her as she searched for the right words.

"It's okay, Suki. I don't mind if you're up front with me, remember?"

"Oh, right," the other lioness replied, returning Kiara's grin with an awkward half-smile. "Yes, because we're going to be family one day."

"And to answer your question, I'm doing just fine. There is no need to worry about me. It's all a part of the great Circle of Life."

"Right..." Suki's voice was wistful as she added, "I was just thinking about when my mother died. I miss her every day, but I know that she is also with me every day in my heart. Your mother was a great lioness."

Kiara nodded. "Yes, she was."

"I don't remember my mother much. She... you know... Before the prides merged. I try to imagine how she would have raised me if she had lived longer, and I do that by being a good mother to Isabis and Neo. The other lionesses in my pride were rough and I've never been like that."

"I see a lot of you in Neo," Kiara told her. "He's a sweet boy."

Suki's ears lowered slightly as she smiled, her gaze falling to the ground. "Thank you, Kiara," she said. Her face then became troubled as a crinkle formed on the bridge of her nose. "But that's why I'm only worried. 'Sweet' gets you into trouble. My son shows no interest in learning combat and he shrinks away when he's faced with an argument. He's ... sensitive about those things. I'm... worried about him. He could be on his own one day if he chooses to leave the pride. I want the best for him, really..."

Kiara led Suki away from the watering hole. She offered Suki an earnest smiled as she said, "Is this why you've asked me to go on a walk with you, Suki?"

If it would've shown through Suki's dark fur, Kiara would have seen that she was hot-faced. "Yes, Kiara, it is," she replied after a moment. "What do you think I should do?"

Kiara's thoughts went to her own son as she considered what Suki might want to hear, which was hard when she herself was troubled by the lion Asuma had become. Ever since Kovu had left, she had noticed a visible change in him, and it hadn't taken her long to realize that hearing that his father was a murderer had damaged part of him. He wasn't innocent anymore, though she had tried her best to preserve some of the sweetness he had been born with. She saw that Asuma was determined to not be a disappointment, not only to the pride, but to himself, and she feared that he was doing so in a way that was pulling him further away from reality. Chaka's harsh, eager criticisms didn't help, either.

"Neo's a smart boy," Kiara finally replied. "Have you spoken to him about this?"

Suki shrugged half-heartedly as they walked. "A little, but I don't want to go about it the wrong way. He's eager to please, but he won't do what he doesn't want to do, and he's not violent by nature. He's stubborn."

So briefly that Suki wouldn't have noticed, Kiara cringed. Some part of her knew that she had no right to give Suki advice, but she also knew that Suki, who was one of the most soft-spoken lionesses in the pride, had purposefully sought her council. How can I be truthful when I know a truth that I don't like myself? she thought.

"Neo is fond of Tanga, isn't he?" Kiara asked. She already knew the answer, and she also knew that Tanga and Asuma often went to great lengths to evade the attention of both Isabis and Neo, but she felt it would do Tanga good to spend more time with Neo, especially if Natin never returned as Vitani had promised her long ago. "Maybe he'll be encouraged to do as you wish if my daughter were to help you?"

Suki smiled. "Oh, I would be grateful, Kiara, if she would help with Neo! She's becoming such a lovely lioness, and Neo really does adore her."

Kiara couldn't help but laugh softly at the bright-eyed lioness, every bit of anxiety gone from her pretty face. "I'll have a word with Tanga later today about helping you."

"Will she be okay? Working with Neo, I mean?"

"Don't worry, Suki," Kiara assured her friend. "Tanga understands what's expected of her."

"Right, I knew that," Suki apologized. As they were walking, she looked up and over to the side, her ears perked. "Speaking of your children," the lioness said, "is that them?"

Kiara followed Suki's gaze, and sure enough, she could see that there were two lions, who were still some distance away from them.

"Kiara!"

Suki caught the young queen off guard when she stepped into her by mistake, causing both lionesses to stumble. The dark-furred lioness' nostrils were flaring.

"Suki, what is it?"

"There' s a stranger with them... but he smells familiar to me. I can't tell who it is exactly. What do you think?"

Kiara raised her nose to the breeze. Her children and the stranger were upwind from them. I'm not sure either... Kiara thought as a feeling of unease caused her claws to unsheath and her tail to lash behind her.

"You don't think it's... him... do you?"

"Kovu?" Kiara didn't think it was him, but so much time had passed that she didn't dare trust her nose. It frightened her to think that it could be Kovu. After all, neither of her children knew that Kovu was still alive, and the entire pride had been tiptoeing around Tanga to avoid giving her the knowledge of what Kovu had done.

If the stranger truly is Kovu...

"What should we do, Kiara? Should we run back and tell Chaka?"

"No," Kiara replied instantly. She gave Suki an apologetic look when she saw that the lioness had flinched at her sharp tone. "No, we don't need Chaka yet," she continued. "We'll go speak to his stranger ourselves first. You know he would only make things worse."

"Right. Of course."

"Tell me something, you."

Asuma growled softly when Natin leaned into his ear. He resisted the urge to swat Natin away.

"They haven't told her, have they."

"About what?"

"You best of all know what I'm talkin' about. You're suspicious enough to guess at least."

Asuma's jaw tensed. "Yes... I do. So why did you think that they haven't told her?"

"I know Tanga-"

"No you don't."

"She hasn't changed much," Natin replied bluntly. "I was tipped off when she was much too happy to see me. That's why. Have they really not told her about-"

Softly, Asuma cleared his throat as a tall blade of green grass hit his muzzle. "What is there to tell?" he replied coolly.

Natin snorted rudely as he shook his head slightly. He then whispered quickly, "Well? Does she know? I need boundaries."

"No, she does not. Don't even breathe his name," Asuma said sharply. He then gave Natin a hard look, to which his cousin narrowed his blue eyes and raised a brow as if reluctant to believe that the pride had been able to keep the truth of what Kovu had done before his eventual murder a secret for so long.

If you can keep your mouth shut, it'll stay that way...

"Hey!"

Tanga's voice caused Asuma to stiffen like a guilty cub caught sneaking away from the babysitter. To his relief, when he turned his attention to her, she was well ahead of them. His sister gave a laugh as she leaped towards the two figures that, when Asuma squinted, he could see were their mother and the skittish Suki. He sighed in relief. Thank the Great Kings it's them. They'll help soften the blow with Chaka when he finds out that Natin has returned... and what that means for him.

Both Natin and Asuma had to run to keep up with Tanga, who had already delivered the news to the two lionesses, putting them at ease that the stranger was indeed Natin. Asuma studied their faces, noting that an easily readable Suki still had traces of worry left over that should've disappeared with the realization that Natin was no threat to them, if she, of course, had been any other lioness in the pride. How happy are you going to be that he's returned? Asuma thought to himself. Neo was second in line after Natin if he had never returned to us... from wherever he was all this time.

The young lion watched as Kiara and her nephew exchanged nods in greeting. "I knew Vitani was going to do her best to make sure you came back." Kiara was smiling brightly, her eyes squinted in delight. "You've grown up so much, Natin!"

"You should see one of his combat tricks, Mother," Tanga piped. She looked up at Natin, who smiled back. "He's very good. Asuma was convinced that we was attacking me when he was teaching it to me."

"How was I supposed to know you weren't in danger," Asuma retorted.

Tanga shrugged and then smirked at her brother. "But you were convinced, weren't you?"

"Did... you learn these tricks from your mother?" Suki broke in as she massaged the ground with her claws. Asuma wasn't surprised to see that she also was standing the furthest away from Natin.

Natin nodded slowly. "Yes, rest Vitani's soul. It helps to learn these things when you're a rogue. It's hostile out there. She taught me everything that she knew."

"Oh, I'm sorry for your loss," Suki replied quickly. The dark-furred lioness sheathed her claws. "I know it's a hard life, too," she added.

"Yes, I can't say how much it saddens me to hear that we've lost her, Natin," Kiara spoke up, her body sagging a bit. She sighed. "Did they tell you...?"

Natin nodded. "Yes, I've already heard. I wish I could've returned sooner to see Nala one last time. It wasn't easy finding the way home," he admitted.

"You must be tired, Natin," Kiara said. She then turned and pointed herself in the direction of Pride Rock. "We'll send out a hunting party while you rest."

"That would be wonderful. It's been so long since I've had a descent meal."

"What about Chaka, Mother?" Asuma spoke up. He knew by the look on his mother's face that she was just as concerned as him, if not more.

He could tell she was forcing an uncomfortable smile as she replied, "We'll cross that river when we come to it," she told him.

Asuma, Natin, and Tanga followed just behind Kiara and Suki as they walked back to Pride Rock. He wasn't certain of what he could expect the rest of the pride to do with the return of Natin, but Asuma could already imagine the kind of mood Chaka was going to be in when he realized that Natin was there to stay.

"How's the rest of the pride these days? What about those little cubs?" Natin asked, breaking into Asuma's thoughts.

His sister shrugged. "Much happier than you left it. Isabis and Neo are big now..." She then dropped the volume of her voice when adding, "Nothing but big annoyances."

Asuma felt himself pull a face. "Having Neo follow you around is not nearly as bad as having Isabis watch your every move... and then copying it and asking why you did what you did."

"Sounds like she'll make a lovely queen for you, Asuma." Natin only smirked more devilishly when Asuma shot him a withering glare.

"If anyone hasn't changed, it's you, Natin," Tanga said with a giggle. Asuma shot Natin a nervous glance, but he was put at ease when his sister added, "As annoying as it is to hear you two bicker... I missed it a lot."

Natin chuckled. "Just don't get back into the habit of it, right?"

Tanga laughed. "Yes, it wasn't missed that much."

There was a silence that descended upon the pride when Natin entered the cave behind his cousins. A few of the other lionesses, who'd been lounging outside of the den, had stared at him as he passed. Those who'd been laying close enough together had been flashing him furtive glances as they whispered their observations to each other. Natin wasn't sure if they recognized him or not, but when he saw Chaka for the first time in years, he was certain the big lion knew exactly that he was no stranger.

I forgot just how big you are, Chaka... bigger than Simba was, that's for sure... After dipping his head in acknowledgement, the disfigurement of Chaka's eye made it harder for Natin to keep his gaze even with Chaka's, but he knew he had to. Natin could tell that Chaka was forcing to keep a friendly smile on his face by the way it had little effect on the muscles around his eyes.

"Finally returned home?" Chaka asked. "We're glad you're here, Natin."

Natin nodded. "Yes, I have come home as my mother promised," he replied. "Before she passed, Vitani taught me everything she thought I needed to learn. But I don't have the means myself, anymore, to learn what else I'll need to be a proper king. She did her best, but we both knew I was lacking. I can't be a proper king without you all."

Chaka nodded in return. When he then jerked his head to beckon Kiara closer, he bent to whisper something in her ear. When she stepped back, she turned her attention to Natin.

"Natin, I know you're tired, but Chaka and I would like to have a word with you away from the pride," Kiara told the young lion, offering him a smile. Natin noticed in the dim light of the cave that she looked much older than he had thought she appeared to be earlier, her eyes dull and tired. She then added, "There is a lot of catch up on."

Following his elders out of the den, leaving the rest of the pride to drain information from his cousins, Natin glanced over his shoulder. It seemed that Tanga was most eager to answer any of the questions that his former pridemates had about him, and he smiled at that.

Chaka led Kiara and Natin down the side of Pride Rock to a flat, secluded area that wasn't too far away. They were well covered from the heat of the day by the shade of a big baobab tree and several tall bushes. Kiara and Chaka sat down opposite of him with their backs to the thick, brown trunk of the huge tree.

"I can't explain to you how happy I am to see that you've come home," Kiara told him once aunt and nephew realized that Chaka wasn't going to be the one to start. "But we have a few questions for you," she went on. "I hope you understand, Natin."

Natin nodded. "I understand your concern."

Kiara then glanced briefly at Chaka, as if to signal for him to start their interrogation.

"You're mother died," Chaka said, clearing his throat, "how long ago?"

Natin replied, "Almost... twelve moons now, I think. It took me some time to find my way back here. You would understand this, Chaka."

"How did Vitani die?"

Natin did not hesitate, even when Kiara gave him a sympathetic look. "We were overwhelmed at a kill by a small group of lionesses who were, unfortunately, less interested in the food than in us. She told me we had to split up, and that we'd find each other again. We'd lay low for a while and hope they gave up the hunt. I waited for her, but when I went back... I found that she'd been murdered. The lionesses had already fled. There was little I could do."

"She told you to return home if anything was gonna happened to her."

"Yes, sir. It wasn't easy, losing her, I mean. It still pains me."

"Did she ever find Kovu?"

Natin shook his head to show his regret. "If she did, nothing became of it. My mother lost his trail a few days into the search. She was unable to pick it back up again. We never found a trace of him."

"And yet she still looked for him instead of returning home?" Doubt filled Chaka's green eyes.

Natin narrowed his gaze, his jaw tightening. "After what happened? She was unwelcome here. She made an unfortunate mistake, but she was willing to keep up the search. Her intentions were nothing but honorable. We never found Kovu," he reported. "I'm sorry."

"You did your best, Natin," Kiara put in. "It wasn't that important. I'm sure it would've been dangerous for anyone to face him alone." Kiara shifted her gaze to the branches of the tree overhead. "It sounded so much easier when she and I talked about what she was going to do."

Natin glanced down at the ground. "Thank you, Kiara, for your kind words. I miss my mother every day. It was a shame what happened to her. Nobody knows how long we've got before we're called to complete the Circle of Life."

"You haven't told Asuma or Tanga about their father, have you?" Chaka asked.

"Don't you think they'd be asking you a whole lot of questions right now if I'd blabbed?" Natin spoke coolly. "I'm much smarter than you must think."

"What do you think they know then?"

"Like me, Asuma knows the truth: that Kovu's a murderer," Natin replied. He then watched Kiara's face as he said, "Asuma told me his sister remains in the dark." Natin felt a smirk creep across his muzzle and he tried his best to soften it. "I'm curious... how did you manage that? How did you explain Chaka's eye to them? And from what I can tell, neither of them realize that Kovu could possibly still be out there. Alive. And Asuma must think that you, Chaka, killed his father."

Kiara said, "They believe that Kovu was killed, you're right."

"Then what'd you tell them? What'd you even tell them about why we left?"

"It was easier to... lie... to my daughter," Kiara confessed, her voice strained. "You and Asuma heard about what Kovu did from Zazu and Rafiki, so there was no helping-"

"What of Rafiki?"

"Died not long after. Tswane has taken over for him," Chaka answered Natin's question.

"As I was saying," Kiara continued, "we've told Tanga that Chaka was running from the cave when he heard that two rogues were in the Pride Lands and that Kovu needed his help to fight them. They believe that their father was killed before Chaka could get there. Chaka's injury was from one of the rogues, who he killed for killing both Simba and Kovu. The other rogue was put down as well." Kiara paused for a moment. "Kovu is 'buried' in the graveyard next to Simba. They think that Vitani took you with her because she was nervous the rogues would come and attack us while we were weak. We thought they were young enough to believe that. That's what we've told them.

Natin had kept his eyes the entire time on Chaka, who all but glared back at him. He then asked, "Now what does Asuma believe?"

Kiara frowned, a confused look on her face. "He believes that Kovu was killed by the same rogues that killed Simba, and that Chaka avenged both their deaths. Just like Tanga. I just told you."

"Are you so sure?"

Chaka growled. "Of course, what else should Asuma believe?"

"That's not the point." Natin shrugged and then pressed, "What do you think he believes? Now?" When Chaka flashed him an irritated glare, Natin added, "I wouldn't want to be stupid and blab, you know."

"Of course Asuma knows that I was angry with Kovu, and that he killed Simba," Chaka stated. "Kovu was buried before either of them saw a body." Natin watched Kiara deflate and lower her ears as Chaka added, "I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if Asuma thinks I killed his murdering father. He certainly acts like it. I never got a thank you."

"So you also feel that Asuma was okay with this," Natin said, his tone presuming. "He's not idolizing you as a hero, but he's certainly never talked about it from what I'm hearing."

"After what Kovu tried to do to Asuma?" Chaka snorted disgustedly. "I wouldn't be surprised if he hated his father and me both. So long as neither of those cubs think that Kovu could still be alive, forbid, then it doesn't matter what Asuma believes I did, especially if he's not willing to ask for the truth. He knows what Tanga was told."

Natin drank in this information. Kiara hadn't once removed her eyes from her paws while her brother had spoken, perhaps more harshly than he should have. It was easy to tell that Kiara was worried about her boy. But then she began to frown more deeply, and Natin wasn't so sure if it was due to doubt or annoyance on her nephew's part. Natin had pushed them as far as he could.

"If my son believes that something is wrong, he won't talk about it to anyone, and he never asked to hear more than what we told his sister," Kiara reiterated. Worry was etched on her face, and Natin found himself feeling sympathetic to her. Kovu had ruined so many lives, leaving far more scars than he'd originally intended. "Asuma spends a lot of his time alone with his thoughts," she continued. "Tanga tries her best to bring him out of his little world, but nothing seems to work. He used to be such a sweet boy, but now I fear his feelings of inadequacy are consuming him."

"So nobody's been able to reach out to him?"

Kiara nodded. "We've tried to get Tanga to confront him, but he'll dodge her questions."

"Maybe I could try?"

"No." Chaka narrowed his eyes. "That's no matter for you to be concerned with."

Natin frowned. Were Kiara and Chaka in such denial that they were going to allow Asuma to continue spiraling out of control? It's disgusting... he thought. How could they allow for such a terrible thing? He scoffed, "You're not serious?" He couldn't help but chuckle, earning him a glare from both Chaka and Kiara. "Tell me, please, that you two are jok-"

"Silence!" Chaka boomed, lunging at Natin, who cringed away from the big lion lest he be wounded by the outburst of anger. "You've been here for less than a day and you're already a burr under my skin." He was shaking his head.

"So you'll expect everybody, including me, to play along? To let my cousin and a fellow future king suffer?"

"Don't talk so boldly," Chaka spat. "And don't forget that you're not a king just yet."

"He still suffers. Open your one eye for a change and don't be so ignorant about Asuma's condition."

"Enough!"

Natin thought that Chaka would strike him as he ducked his head beneath his paws. He failed to see why they were so persistent about leaving Asuma alone. One reason he thought of made his stomach do flip-flops: they were afraid of Asuma. But fear or not, it'd be best to correct what Asuma was going through. Then there would be no need for fear.

"Natin, you must stop this," Kiara urged. His aunt watched him uncurl himself and stand up again, this time much farther away from Chaka. "Please?" she asked, pleading. "Asuma can figure this out on his own. He's a smart boy."

Natin knew there was a dumbfounded look on his face, but he thought it would be best to stop talking. They were right. He had been there for just less than a day, and it would be stupid of him to get kicked out of the pride so quickly. It was becoming a waste of his breath anyway. They won't listen to reason.

"Fine," he agreed.

"You do not speak to Asuma alone, do you understand?"

"Fine, Chaka."

The big lion nodded curtly. "Then you're excused."

Natin was eager to leave, and glanced over his shoulder when he sensed that Chaka and Kiara weren't following him back the way they'd come from Pride Rock. They were heading off in the opposite direction.

"Like it or not, I am talking to Asuma," he muttered to himself. "He's one of the three keys to all of this coming to an end."

His teeth ripped the skimpy flesh off the leg bone he held crushed beneath his dusty paws, the rancid taste of the meat making his lip curl into a half-snarl. Kovu was certain that it was only his hatred that was fueling him anymore- he wasn't certain if there was much else- but it certainly wasn't scavenged meat that was going to get him to the next sunrise.

"When did you tell Natin to come back?"

Kovu narrowed his eyes at the awfully unpleasant sound of the voice. His lip curled up even more as he swallowed. "How many times do I have to tell you? Natin will return when his mission's completed."

"You say he knows his mission, but-"

"He knows where his loyalties lie, Sauda," Kovu snapped. "If he's not back by the time the moon is full again, we'll relocate ourselves near to the border of the Pride Lands. Anyway, we'll need to be camped there to prepare for the attack."

"Hmmm, well, we've been waiting years for this moment. I wouldn't want some foolish kid to screw this up for us."

Kovu rolled his eyes and growled. Don't you be critical of me... he thought cynically. He felt his muscles jump along his back. "Why not spend your energy hunting for better meat or on training? That's what I'd do." Kovu's tone was cool as he spoke to the small, light-furred, green-eyed lioness who was sitting with him. To his disappointment, she was just out of striking distance as she smirked at him, the absence of one of her front teeth bugging him. "You know what's coming," he continued. "So don't bother yourself with matters that hardly concern you." Kovu glared at Sauda as she merely shrugged insolently.

"Why, am I not a part of your plan now? These matters concern me more than you are willing to admit," the lioness rasped as she pushed herself to her paws. At the sound of Kovu's warning growl, she quickly slunk off, making sure to move away sooner rather than later, and went to lay down next to one of her pridesisters. The two then began to playfully bat at each other.

Kovu groaned inwardly, considering the reasons why he thought the small pride of mangy lionesses were important to his success. It was a steady balance that had to be obeyed by both parties, but he'd been wondering more and more lately just how much longer he could put up them.

If they're not going to appreciate me, then they better know their places...

In exchange for "saving his life", the nomadic lionesses were willing to help him win back the Pride Lands from Kiara. Kovu had promised them a home with him once the battle was over, though for now they had little choice but to live on the modest hunk of land that he, and later with the help of Natin, had obtained for them little by little. The lionesses had lost their only male leader not long before they'd found Kovu, and willingly they'd accepted him, though he refused to mate with any of them. They were allowed to breed outside of their territory, so long as it was made clear that they and any new cubs were unquestioningly loyal to Kovu.

In great distaste, Kovu's appetite waned and he shoved the partially eaten bone away from him before he stood to stretch and clean his face. He was in a foul, brooding mood. There was plenty for him to still do that day, but he thought little of making himself useful, and instead he flopped back down into a cloud of dust. He longed to lie under a tree, but there weren't too many around in that part of his territory.

He longed for the den at Pride Rock.

He longed for the view over all his lands.

He longed for the queen who had disappointed and betrayed him.

He longed for his cubs.

Kovu thought for a moment and tried to imagine if he'd be able to recognize his cubs when he saw them again. Asuma, Kiara had always said, looked the way she remembered Kovu the first time they'd met, but Nala would say that she saw bits of Simba and Chaka in Asuma. Vitani would say that she saw bits of Zira in Tanga, much to even her displeasure for saying such things, but most of the pride would agree that Tanga took after her mother. He suspected that his son would look very handsome and strong, and his daughter would be a very pretty creature.

Dark thoughts then made him snarl under his breath. They've poisoned them against me, my own children, I know it.

Chaka had a way of capturing everyone's attention. He was a trickster, Kovu knew this. His children wouldn't stand a chance. He was certain that Kovu had been painted as the worst murderer to set foot in the Pridelands since Scar had met his demise. That he was a coward with literally half a tail, too. But he wasn't a murderer like Scar. Simba had brought it upon himself, and Zira's death had unquestioningly justified. He wasn't a coward either. If Kiara had allowed Chaka to turn their children against Kovu, he wasn't sure what he'd be forced to do on the battle field.

Kovu inwardly cringed.

"But there has to be justice, doesn't there? He got away with murder, didn't he? Murder is the worst." Just as before, a chill of foreboding stiffened his spine when he recalled the words of Asuma. It would be so easy to use the hatred that Asuma had for Simba's killer against his own father once the killer's identity was revealed to him. Whether Simba had brought it upon himself or not, it would be difficult for Asuma to understand the truth of the accident when Kovu wasn't there to explain it from his point of view. The only point of view that mattered. The point of view that everyone failed to understand. Why had they failed to see it his way? It didn't take too long to taint the truth for someone who didn't have access to the facts, and Kovu had been away from home for years.

This epiphany made him feel more lifeless inside than ever. He was still breathing because he'd tell himself that he'd get his cubs back once he won the war and defeated Kiara and Chaka. Now he had doubt creeping into his mind like a snake into a mouse hole.

It's hard to turn hatred around... just look at happened to Zira, and Scar deserved to die.

He glanced over at the lazy, heathen lionesses, who were dozing. He hardly trusted them, and could plainly hear and see Sauda's streak of deception in her voice and expressions. She was a fool to not hide it, and he wondered why he hadn't killed her yet, as he greatly suspected she had a plan brewing to do to him in the moment he'd declared victory.

Could I just walk away from this all? The thought was appealing to him, but in the next moment it disgusted him. He hated Chaka too much to just give up then and there.

But then he thought again... If Natin gives me a poor report, should I just abandon the mission? Leave him here with these lionesses and walk into the desert, to die like I'd originally planned? Fate can't intervene twice, now can it?

These irritating thoughts left him with a persistent headache, and he tried to push them from his consciousness like he would swat away flies with his tail, had it been long enough to function properly. The thoughts kept nagging at him until he felt sick to his stomach, though he knew the meat wasn't helping him out at all.

Maybe that is what I'll do... he considered. When Natin returns, I'll say good-bye to him before he has a chance to tell me his report, leave him in charge, and walk out to the desert. Maybe this time the buzzards will finish me off... Fate will do its job this time. Too little is keeping me alive...

Yeah... this last chapter kind of came out of know where. But I'm so proud of it! I took a pretty great psychology class this quarter, and it helped me incredibly with this chapter so that I could better develop the main characters and their motives (or unspoken motives). School's out for summer next week. I'm already planning out the next chapter and the rest of this story. I have high hopes that I'll be able to finish it in a fairly decent amount of time. But for now, I'm going to keep up the ON HIATUS condition in the description just in case ;)

If you have any questions or general reviews (which would be appreciated) that would be lovely :)