A/N: Hey! Updating took longer than predicted... but that's what happens when I have school and wrote three big chapters back to back and got burned out when it came down to polishing the content. :B Anyway, enjoy!

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A faceless wall of panicked animals rose up from the dark water towards Tanga as she stood along the edge of the bank. The ground shuddered violently beneath her paws. The huffing animals pushed and shoved past her, blinded by the water in their eyes, the dark of the night, and the chaos of the moment. It surprised her that their stupid recklessness hadn't knocked her back into the water, but she couldn't afford to run and hide. In a moment of panic, she'd lost her father and cousin and brother. She had to know where they were. The instinct to run continued to harass her as she vainly called out their names into the din.

Tanga then heard a faint, but distinct, sound that made bile bubble in her throat. The hairs along her spine rose up.

Natin had burst from the churning surface of the river, emitting a loud, gasping scream. She could hardly see where he might be, but she knew he must only be a few lengths away from her. There was no telling how long he would last, so long as the stupid animals continued to roll over top of him as if he were just a log or a rock.

"Na-tin!" Tanga steeled herself and leaped from where she stood. Roaring, she saw the water surge towards her. Seeing, or at least hearing her, the animals yelped and began bumping into each other to get out of her path. Holding her breath, she went under briefly. She was about elbow-deep into the water when she resurfaced. Natin was about the length of her body to the side of her, and she wasn't sure if he even knew she was there. He just crouched there in the water, shaking and blank-eyed.

"Natin! This way!' she shrieked. When he didn't respond to her voice, she growled. Stretching her neck, she reached up and took hold of his ear with her teeth. He tried to disengage her grasp by tossing his head. Her body whipped around in the water, but she clung to him for dear life, panting and expelling her warm breath onto his cheek while she continued to pull him awkwardly towards the bank. She thought he heard him try to utter her name, but his garbled voice was carried away by the thunderous stampede. With her help, he eventually began to cooperate the best he could. A little burst of hope filled Tanga.

With jarred and jerky coordination, Natin hauled himself out of the water and halfway up the bank before his legs buckled and he collapsed into the mud, sliding back down into the shallows. Fearing what could be hidden in the dark waters of the river, even with the distraction of the herd as it crossed in relentless waves, Tanga urged him on. Natin was shuddering in agony while she stood at his side and shoved her muzzle under his belly, hoping she wouldn't hit anything that he'd injured.

"Get up, Natin!"

Her urgent shouting was muffled by the mud that instantly filled her mouth, the thunder from the still-crossing herd, and the terrible effort it was taking to raise Natin up by even a fraction. He was about as helpful as a recently dead kill. Her hind paws found no purchase in the mud; no sooner would she find her footing, her legs would come right out from under her. Mud caked her belly. He was so much bigger than her.

She cried, "You're not safe here!"

Natin gave a powerful flinch that rattled through her own body to the end of her tail. His roar was laced with pain, and to hear it made her stomach hitch.

Suddenly, Tanga became aware of Asuma's presence. He scrambled down the bank and slid to Natin's other side. With his jaws, he took hold of Natin's mane at the back of his head. Like a big cub, Tanga watched Asuma do his best to drag the much bigger, whimpering Natin up the incline of the bank. Asuma's neck was shaking rigidly from Natin's weight.

With her jaws, too, Tanga found a hunk of Natin's mane to grab a hold on. Several times, Natin would jerk, sending a twinge of pain through her neck and down her spine. Whiplash. She was thankful the bank didn't rise too far above the riverbed, but with the almost vertical incline, she found the work almost as exhausting as swimming across the actual river. The herd was no longer crossing around them, and had begun to thin. It continued to cross a few lengths away from Asuma, who had his back to them. He seemed to be blocking it all out.

"Natin! Natin!" Tanga gasped, winded. "You... you've gotta tell us what hap... happened!"

But Natin was restless and incoherent as he laid stretched out on the ground. He groaned loudly, his stained teeth gritted. He tried to roll to his paws and stand, but working together Tanga and her brother were able to overpower him.

Then she noticed all the blood on Natin's face and back. With the mud, darkness, water, and the color of his fur, it was difficult to tell at a glance, but she was sure of it.

"Natin, is it your head?" She crouched down, breathing in a sickly-sweet, coppery smell that confirmed the presence of the blood on Natin's face.

"My head!" Natin shouted.

"What're we going to do about this?"

Tanga's eyes snapped up to Asuma, who was pacing rapidly on Natin's other side.

"He's dying!" he shouted bitterly.

"No! No, he's not!" Tanga's face flushed with anger as a chill of foreboding tumbled through her body. Dizziness set in. Then the bile rose into her mouth and she had to jump to her paws. She turned and vomited.

"Damnit! Get up!"

Fuzzy-headed, Tanga whirled around at the boom of her father's rumbling shout. With one look at his twisted, furious face, she gasped.

"He's injured!" Asuma snarled. The wet and dirty hairs along his back were standing on end, looking a lot like spikes on a thorny bush. "He's been trampled!"

There was a ringing in Tanga's ears.

The anger instantly drained from Kovu's face, his jaw slackening and his eyes widening.

Time blurred and Tanga could hear her heart drumming too loudly in her ears. She was sure only a few seconds had passed before Asuma started to shout their father's name, trying to get his attention. Kovu was standing over Natin, staring at him. His gaze had grown distant.

"Hey!" Asuma shouted, his voice falling faintly on her ears. She could have been miles away from him, it wouldn't have made a difference. Tanga watched him take a step towards their father.

"What do we do now? Tell us what to do! Take charge for once in your life!"

Kovu seemed to snap out of his trance. Slowly, he looked from Asuma, to Tanga, to Natin. He muttered something.

"Huh? What do you mean you can't do this anymore?"

Kovu was shaking his head.

Tanga's eyes widened when she watched Kovu spin around and dash away. She gasped.

Asuma roared. "Get back here!"

"No, don't!" Tanga's body tensed in horror.

Asuma bolted off after Kovu, chunks of loose earth splattering out behind both of them. Calling her brother's name, she leaped forward and began to pursue; but when she remembered Natin's agonized screams, she tore her eyes away from the horrific sight of her brother chasing down their father and spun right back around.

She crouched beside Natin. "I'm here! Don't worry," she cried, tentatively placing a paw on his shoulder. She lifted her paw a few times before she thought she wasn't going to hurt him. Over and over she called his name, but he was hardly responsive to her voice, let alone a comforting touch.

One of his eyes was firmly closed and clearly causing him pain. It looked... misshapen. He was panting hard, his eyes weeping. It was obvious he was holding in more cries. He had his gaze locked on her, and there was naked terror in his blue eye, but at the same time he was looking right through her.

Her eyesight blurred and fat tears rolled down her jaw.

This... it can't happen... He can't die like this at all...

She scooted closer to him, as close as she dared to get. The words burst from her throat. "Natin, I'm sorry! I'm sorry for what I said to you! I had no right to criticize... I'm so sorry!"

Suddenly, his gaze refocused. How coherent he then was struck a nerve inside her.

"Don't apologize," Natin replied, his voice stretched thin with tension. All he could do for several moments was pant. "It's my mess."

Tanga tried to keep her lower lip from shaking. "Why'd you wanna burden yourself with all this? You could've stayed in the Pride Lands!"

He closed his good eye for a moment. "I had somethin' to prove... just like everybody else. It went too far." He opened his eye again. "I'm sorry, Lewa."

She tried to get a better grip on his shoulder. "I'll find you help, Natin-"

"Where?" he growled before grunting in pain.

We're as helpless as cubs again..

There were fresh tears in his eyes. "Where? Please, don't try. Don't leave me alone..."

Tanga's mind went blank when she registered the pitiful shrillness of his voice. She lifted her head, looked around, and saw that the stampede was over. It was only her with him now. All there was to hear was the thunder of her heart and Natin's panting.

"Listen to me! Please don't leave-"

"I won't!" She put her chin in the dirt next to his face. Her whole body hurt from seeing Natin in such distress. After a moment, she bit her lip. "Do you think... Asuma...?"

"Huh?"

She realized he probably hadn't noticed that Kovu and Asuma had even been there. And after a moment, she didn't need Natin to give her the answer... or at least she knew to never underestimate her brother again.

He's dangerous... my brother is dangerous...

"Asuma needs help to get better..." Tanga muttered, mostly to herself. She realized that Natin probably understood her brother better than she did. "Doesn't he?"

"Huh? No, I don't need help... no need help..."

She furrowed her brow and gave her attention back to her cousin. "Na'...? I'm staying right here, Natin. I told-"

Natin's gaze became unfocused again. "He killed my mother," she thought he muttered. "Dead 'cause of him."

Tanga shook him from his shoulder. "Natin? Natin, stay with me!"

He continued to rant. "Asuma is his shadow."

Tanga's eyes widened in horror. She looked around again for help, knowing that it was useless.

"Tanga!" Natin cried softly. "Don't leave me..."

"Never," she firmly told him. Her jaw ached and her body was blazing. "You... you have t'be brave right now..."

Natin's scrunched his eyes closed. She barely caught what he said when he muttered, "I have a headache. My back... it hurts."

With shaking motions, Tanga began to run her tongue over Natin's tense face. His blood-caked fur tasted revoltingly foul, but she desperately wanted to comfort him. While she cleaned his face, he slowly calmed down, though he continued to mutter unintelligibly. What she managed to catch- the words "killer", "revenge", and her brother's name- made little shivers run right through her.

Tanga sniffed, unsure if he could hear her. "It's gonna be okay..." Her voice cracked. "You'll see."

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Running into the dark had been an unbelievably stupid idea. Just idiotic!

He'd yelled for Kovu to come back, but the coward hadn't looked back once! It hadn't taken long for the rogue to outrun him. He'd been determined to run through the pain of his injured paws, but he knew without a doubt they'd slowed him down- same as the fear of getting lost that had held him back from dashing too far into the night. Now Kovu had escaped with his life intact. He'd won that right all too easily.

The son of that rogue stood alone, glaring into the dark. He had to catch his breath. He realized his eyes were weeping and the tears were running down his face. They were tears of anger... or betrayal. He wasn't quite sure. If anything, he was disappointed.

In a burst of energy, he yelled at the top of his lungs into the night: "You abandoned us! Youmonster, you abandoned us again, and got away with it! Coward!"

Shuddering, Asuma dipped his head between his forelegs and leaned forward with his muzzle inches from the ground, his knees slightly bent. He shuddered several times. The quicker he composed himself again, the better. He knew that much.

Having that monster run away in the most despicable display of cowardice he'd ever seen- also leaving Asuma behind like he'd done- wrapped the entirety of his cubhood into one cruel, solid blow.

Next time I see him... I won't hesitate to sink my claws into his sorry hide...

It took him time to be able to stand up straight again. His breath was shaky as he took several long moments to stare into the endless darkness, his gaze sweeping over the savannah. Nobody could be bothered to answer his cries, to come and see what was the matter and claim responsibility.

Worst part, he can probably see me. He's too afraid to face me... And after all that he promised us. He's incapable of doing good.

Letting out another shaky and embittered sigh, he turned. He winced at his first step.

Time to limp back and figure out how bad this whole mess is.

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Kiara rolled onto her belly at first light and pushed herself to her paws. Her hip felt sore from where she had fallen on it the previous night when Chaka had swiped at her, but she felt rested as she looked out the mouth of the den and saw that sunrise was fast approaching. She was still alone in the den.

Cautiously, Kiara poked her head outside. No one was to be seen, and she wondered where they'd all slept that night. The morning was cool, and peaceful. She could hear birdsong.

It was as if a storm had passed overnight. But, inwardly, she felt something nagging at her that more was soon to come. She swallowed nervously.

The specific arrival time for Tojo's messenger had been all too vague. Kiara gave a long, deep stretch and headed down the side of Pride Rock into the grass below. Glancing around, she walked to the watering hole and drank until her stomach felt full. The water rippled and lightly touched the tips of her toes. She remained alert, twisting her ears to catch every sound.

Satisfied, she ran her tongue over her damp whiskers, muzzle, and chest before turning back to Pride Rock. She was still alone when she sat down at the presentation point, waiting for Tojo's messenger.

"...If you think you're gonna go around me now, you're wrong..."

Coupled with the look of dismay that'd been on Chaka's face following the near-blow to her head, Kiara doubted if she was up to handling Chaka anymore. She just knew she had to; nobody else would. There was no telling what she had agreed to when Tojo had sent his bird after her. She hoped Tojo would decide to come to the Pride Lands himself. It was highly unlikely that the old lion would do such a thing, but it was their next best bet. Chaka would only continue to spiral out of control until the part of him that did show a little bit of restraint left him.

Kiara shivered when that though surfaced in her mind.

Tojo is our only 'best' bet, I think... unless Natin's mission has been a success.

She recalled the first time she'd heard Chaka's name. An elder lionesses had been babysitting her, and they'd just returned to the cave where they'd found her parents arguing in hushed voices. At first, she'd curiously assumed her parents had been discussing the lioness Zira's son, Kovu, believing she'd misheard his name. It'd only been a few days since that fateful moment when they'd met as cubs.

"Taking Chaka away from us won't be enough. Our own daughter- she was only feet away from her! She won't rest until she's destroyed us all... or I've destroyed her. It's what Father would've done."

Her mother had said something in response, but she hadn't been able to hear it. Whatever it had been, though, it had made her father angry. The elder lioness had sensed the danger and had ushered the princess away to safety. She'd also failed to answer Kiara's questions, but when she was used to hearing excuses, she'd quickly given up. There were several other slip-ups, but it was the one she would always remember most distinctly... Her father had only been that furious when she'd confronted him at Kovu's exile.

Someone cleared his throat.

Blinking and steeling herself, Kiara slowly turned her attention to her left. "Morning, Chaka," she greeted her brother neutrally.

He nodded, keeping a few lengths between them, she noticed. "Good morning. Messenger come yet?"

"No, no word. Where is everybody?"

"They found a nearby cave to sleep in, so that's where they should still be. I slept outdoors."

Chaka then sat down. He glanced at his paws briefly before meeting her eye. "My apologies are worthless at this point," he said. "Aren't they?"

She tried hard not to make a face. "You never know."

Chaka sighed heavily. "Well... I'm so sorry. I'm an idiot... but I can't help- I'm really sorry."

Closing her eyes a moment, she took in his words, biting her tongue. Guilt nibbled at the edges of her conscious. She knew it was the way she had snuck off that had set Chaka's temper off- would it have killed her to tell him? But she wouldn't bring herself to condone his behavior because of it. It would be wrong, and she knew that. He had been the problem all along. He probably knew it, too... she hoped.

"Tswane visited while you were missing. He urged me to welcome you back with open paws. When I saw you sneaking back into the den, I'd forgotten everything he'd said. Just... gone- all of it. So then I tried to strike you..."

She opened her mouth.

"No, really, I am sorry." His face then screwed up in disgust. "Actually... I think I hate that word... 'sorry'... It doesn't mean anything to me anymore because all I do is abuse it. It's an empty word…

I haven't got a clue what to do with myself- much less a clue on what I've got to do with those lionesses!" he continued. There was a pause when his lip curled slightly. "And Kovu... I'm only trained to face danger with violence. Nothing more. That's what I was raised in. What worse is that it's second-hand training."

When Kiara looked at him again, she could plainly tell he was bearing his soul to her. "Mother said you were raised in a warrior pride."

Chaka nodded regretfully. He looked away in shame and stared out over the Pride Lands. The muscles in his jaw and shoulders jumped. "I can only blame myself for my actions. Just wanted you to know why I'm not equipped to take on this role I've given myself. I don't really wanna think about my past anymore. Even if one of those lions turned up and ordered me to hurt you, and then I did, it would be all my fault." He paused. "That's why I hate Kovu. He was blamin' others, not himself."

The wind went out of Kiara. Chaka's tone of voice felt more sincere than ever- not that she thought he hadn't meant what he'd said other times, especially when he'd asked how she made decisions. It was more like he was accepting himself for who he was instead of trying to fight it and everyone else.

The silence was broken by the flapping of wings. Kiara refocused her gaze and saw the blue bird. It was panting when it landed on the rock.

"You're Tojo's messenger?" Chaka asked, taking a step towards the winded bird.

The bird nodded. "You bet," it managed to say.

"We can wait for you to speak," Kiara said, eyeing the bird sympathetically as her body began to tingle with anticipation. "Catch your breath first."

In the moments it took the bird to calm down, Chaka started to pace, which made Kiara more nervous. When the bird finally nodded, announcing that it could speak again, it fluffed its wings and tucked them into its sides.

"M'king, Tojo; he has one condition."

"What's that then?" Chaka stopped pacing. He gave the bird an uncertain, nervous look, like a naughty cub waiting to see if he'll be punished. "That means he's coming, right?"

The bird ignored the question, instead asking, "How good're y'at followin' orders? Tojo dun like his advice ignored- will y'listen t'him?"

Chaka raised a brow. "Advice?"

"He knows y'temper," the bird explained shortly, saying nothing else. "He's seen it."

"I don't understand this condition, if there is one."

Kiara held her breath when Chaka pursed his mouth. She said his name gently to distract him. When she had his attention, she said, "Even if you don't fully understand what he's offering, take it, Chaka. Tojo will help you."

Chaka frowned frustratedly. "I asked him for fighters, not... not whatever I'm being offered now."

"I think you do know what you're being offered. The timing couldn't be better," Kiara replied firmly. "I also know you want Tojo here, so take it." She sighed. "Please."

His brow was furrowed in confusion when he turned his attention back to the bird.

"M'king's a'slow walker these days," the bird pointed out. "Time's nobody's friend."

Chaka wrinkled his nose and cleared his throat. Looking away, he muttered, "I guess I can't be a stubborn idiot." A little more firmly he added, "I agree... to whatever Tojo demands."

"That's the spirit!" The bird fluffed its wings excitedly. It then ran off the side of the presentation point and started to fly away.

"You can stay and rest if you'd like," Kiara called after it.

"I m'be able t'fly fast, but time's not m'friend, either!" the bird chirped.

"Wait! Wait!" Kiara cried when a sudden thought hit her. "How are Neo and Isabis?"

"They do well. No problems!" the bird answered, its voice growing fainter. "Now, expect Tojo not t'morrow, but th'night after! He walks slow, y'know?"

"Looking forward to it!" Chaka shouted back. His voice and expression were a mixture of so many things that Kiara wasn't sure what he was thinking until he turned to her, his expression lightening up. "Thanks," he said to her, giving her a slight smile.

She couldn't help but smile back. "No problem." Arching a brow, she added, "Now let's go tell the others the good news. They could use it."

"Think I'll let you do all the talking."

The smile faded from her face when she remembered how her pride had shamed her the night before. "Why? Aren't they still angry with me?"

"No, no- I thought you should just... I tend to get in the way and make messes I can't clean up," he stammered. "But I can back you."

She swallowed. She had to hear it from his lips. Her voice was quiet, but clear. It almost sounded like someone else's voice. "Are you giving me back control of the pride?"

"Yes." He'd closed his eyes and scrunched his face, but his response was firm. "I'm no leader... never really have been the type... unlike you."

A slow smile crept onto her muzzle at the guarded compliment. She then felt the urge to admit, "I know what I'm doing just as well as you do. I just yell less."

It seemed to take him a moment before he realized she was just teasing him. He smiled back. "Do you really think that Tojo can fix a big, noisy cub like me?"

I really hope so...

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A haze lifted. He opened his eyes and realized what he had done.

Dazed, Kovu looked around him. Somehow, he had ended up in a densely-packed thicket of bushes and trees. It was dawn, and the light was overly sharp to his eyes. There was a dull pain in his head. His mouth was dry.

Is this place near...?

Furiously, Kovu shook the beginning of the thought from his mind. His back crawled and he gave a nervous cough of guilt.

With a grunt, he pushed his way from the thicket into the open. It felt as if the branches, that dug into his fur like claws, had been ready to reach out and strangle him. For a long moment, he stood there in the open, not looking at anything, only breathing heavily.

What have I done?

He turned his face to the sky. The increasingly deepening blue was spotless. He wished the morning wasn't so quiet- it would leave less room for his thoughts.

"Kovu?"

I can't remember anymore if Simba's voice had startled me, or if I'd been comforted by it. It was the early hours of the morning, and the children had been born just after sunset of the previous day. Kiara was still exhausted. At dawn, Asuma was going to be presented for all the animals in the Pride Lands to see. In an unconventional gesture, Rafiki had also agreed to present Tanga after her brother.

"Kovu? What's wrong?"

It was too late to take those words back, they came out too fast: "I'm scared for those cubs."

"Why?"

Did I really know why... at that time...?

"It'll be okay, don't worry. You have everything going for you now."

Yeah... I thought the same. But now everything's screwed up.

He tried to let the thought die in his head, but the rational part of him knew that the 'everything' was all his fault. He'd talked to Zira...

But she's the devil.

He'd brought Simba to her after he'd lied to his king, the father of his mate...

But did I force them to fight? No.

He'd lied to the entire pride and covered up the murder of the lion he'd hardly lifted a paw to save.

What choice did I have?

He'd taken Asuma out to die...

But you went back for the kid. He lived.

Because of him, Chaka had made it back to the Pride Lands.

He would've made it there eventually. He would have tried to kill you just the same. Rafiki and Zazu still knew.

He'd killed Sauda, left Natin to die, left Tanga behind, and had run away from Asuma...

She was a killer herself, and there was nothing you could do for Natin, the traitor. You still doubt Tanga's intentions, but you know what Asuma wants to do to you, right? He was gonna kill you if he caught you.

Kovu pawed at his head and growled. For every strike against his soul that the rational side of him condemned him for, another part- the darker part- dug up something to perfectly justify his actions and intentions. He realized what he was doing, and it was horrible, but he'd never learned to break the cycle.

It was the cycle his mother had taught him, he knew it. She'd always been clever about saying the right thing to him.

"Why can't I play with Simba's daughter anymore?" She'd told him it was because Simba hated him, and if he was ever caught with Kiara again he'd be killed for sure. Simba was just like that. Anyone who wasn't family was like that.

"Why do we live here instead of in the Pride Lands?" All she'd needed to say was Simba's name.

"How come Nuka gets in trouble so much?" She'd told him it was because his older brother was a useless idiot who had nothing better to do. There was no excuse for letting his baby brother go off alone all the time. He was the babysitter after all. Nuka didn't have very many other duties that should distract him.

"Vitani got in trouble because she was hungry and I gave her some of my food. Why?" She'd told him that his sister was just being greedy. She could hunt some mice if she had really wanted to, but was willing instead to take advantage of her brother's kind nature. Disgusting. Lazy.

"But I don't wanna. He doesn't look sick to me..." She'd told him that the other cub was certainly very sick and going to die soon anyway. Not to mention that the cub's mother needed to be taught a lesson. She was bad and had knowingly broken one of his mother's rules. It was only fair.

Nothing is fair... Kovu thought to himself. Life's certainly not fair. He knew that if he'd been born in the Pride Lands, or even if Simba had taken him home when Zira had offered him up, everything would have turned out so differently. But even that was a lie to himself. He realized then he was just placing the blame elsewhere... again.

As usual.

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"Tanga?"

She stopped cleaning Natin's face. She had stopped a while, but had started up again. Her voice was rough when she said shakily, "Yes? Natin?"

She flinched when a paw grazed her shoulder. It shook her gently.

"Tanga... we should go..."

Squinting, she looked over her shoulder. She blinked. "A... A-Asuma?" Through her blurry eyesight, she saw that her brother was standing next to her. Behind him, she could see the sunrise. The thought occurred to her that hours had passed since the accident.

"Tanga..."

She turned her attention back to Natin. His eyes were closed and he was calm.

She then felt the dampness and greasiness of Asuma's paw. Instinctively, she ducked under his touch and scooted quickly away from him. "Is that...?" First sniffing her shoulder, she then fixed her gaze on his clearly bloody paws. Her ears lowered in dismay. She opened her mouth in a silent gasp.

"No. Mine." He squeezed his eyes shut. She heard the quiet whistle of his breathing. "He got away."

"Oh..." This didn't comfort her either.

"I'm sorry, Tanga. For everything."

She cast her gaze back to Natin's still form. "It's... It's not your fault."

"You're right... It's not my fault." He growled softly. His voice broke when he said, "It's his."

Swallowing, she forced herself to briefly look at her brother's face. "Asuma... why didn't you wanna talk to me? I would've listened. Weren't you alone?"

He moaned in response. He refused to meet her eye. "I had no business burdening you with my thoughts."

Her stomach hitched.

She knew her silence triggered him to look at her carefully, but her focus was again frozen on his bloody, sore paws.

Softly yet firmly, she then said, "I would have gladly shared that burden with you." She finally met his gaze. And held it.

He opened his mouth, but when he must have realized there was nothing he could say, he closed it again. Instead, he moved closer to Natin, inspecting him.

She muttered, "This is a disaster."

"What we need is a new plan."

She thought for a moment. "Is Natin dead?"

His voice was barely audible when he confirmed her fear. "...Or if he isn't already deceased, he will be soon. It's in the paws of the Great Kings now."

She lowered her ears. "He's as good as dead then." She swallowed hard. "I wanna go home."

"We don't know how, Tanga."

"We're gonna try."

He frowned. "We should try to find Kovu."

Tanga shivered and blinked. "There's a slim chance at finding the Pride Lands. How can we find him? I doubt he'll wanna be found so easily, and our family needs to know we're still alive. Don't you miss Mom?"

Asuma didn't answer.

Tanga gritted her teeth. She realized then just how homesick she really was. "Well, I'm gonna go home, and I'm not leaving you alone. I can't."

She was surprised he hadn't run away already. Though, she understood that a little more when she noticed he was blinking heavily and sitting with his head dipping forward slightly. The flesh on his filthy face drooped and he looked gaunt. There was a hunted look in his vacant, blue eyes. She wondered if he was on the verge of collapse while she tried to remember the last time they'd eaten. Walking over to him and bumping her forehead into his jaw, she tried to snap him from his thoughts.

Asuma cleared his throat. He mumbled, "Could you live if you knew he was still out there?"

Tanga closed her eyes. She hated how deep they'd gone into their father's dark world. Nobody was as lost as Asuma, and she feared that the longer the foolish game between her father, brother, and Chaka went on, the chances increased that she would be pulled under, too. Natin already had, and she at that moment feared for her mother as well. "You'll…" she began, her voice catching in her throat. "You'll face him when you're ready… and I think he'll face you when he's ready. Not today. Let's go home. Please?"

Asuma turned his head to look at Natin. A crease formed between his eyes. He looked thoughtful.

Tanga grimaced. "What about Natin?" She paused before adding in a voice just above a whisper, "He doesn't deserve this. Can we bury him? Please?"

Stiffly, Asuma pushed himself to his paws. He wouldn't meet her eye. "Tanga... I'm exhausted. We're exhausted. My paws are killing me. The sun will be well above the horizon before we'll have a big enough hole, and we need to put as much distance between the lionesses and us. I doubt they'll find our trail, and I would hope Kovu and Natin hid theirs, but we'll be better off if we can leave sooner rather than later."

The thought crossed Tanga's mind that Asuma didn't give a damn what happened to Natin's body. Inwardly she cringed. She considered why she just didn't ditch Asuma... but feelings of guilt and responsibility wouldn't let her bring herself just yet to answer that thought.

"We can follow the river and maybe it will lead us home, or to someone who can point the way… like Natin suggested. Do you think he would want us to stay here like this? No."

Tears started to well up behind her eyelids. Lowering her head, her lip started to tremble. She agreed. "No…" She stepped slowly towards Natin. Absently, she lifted a paw to touch his shoulder, but then decided she couldn't bring herself to do so. She didn't wanna discover if he was warm or cold, didn't wanna know what she was leaving behind when she assumed there'd be no help for him anyway. She didn't wanna give even more clarity to the nightmare.

"We should go now."

A lump formed in Tanga's throat as she walked backwards a few steps, away from Natin. Inwardly, she cursed. He looked so frail, and she waited impatiently for him to jump to his paws, ready to follow after her and Asuma and lead them back home.

But he won't… he can't now…

When she turned around, Asuma was looking at her, his gaze intense. His mouth was a thin line, but otherwise expressionless. As the sun grew higher, the puffiness around his eyes became more exaggerated. "C'mon… we have a long way to go, Tanga."

When her brother started off at a slow, limping jog, running along side the river that looked little more than a wide ditch now, Tanga looked back at Natin one last time.

This is the beginning of the end… it has to be… she thought. …But I'm afraid of what that end will be like…

888888

"Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one."

-Einstein

A/N: The next chapter is written but not polished, but I won't guarantee a timely update since that never works, and I want to finish the chapter after that before I post the next one you guys will see from me. XD This is also the last chapter in part three.