Chapter 4

SIMBA'S POV

I was laying down in the cool shade of a tree, just by the watering hole. I watched as my grandchildren ran from Pride Rock for the first time without a babysitter. While receiving a long lecture from Zazu about staying safe on their own, and being reminded not to talk to strangers, the cubs had not even noticed that I had left.

"Hi,Grandpa Simba!" Kai called as she rushed past the watering hole.

"Hello!" Katiti called from just behind her. The little golden cub didn't look the least bit shaken up by the scolding he should have received.

It's my fault. I let my grief control me, and I yelled at him instead.

Speaking of him, Jabari was falling behind. What was he doing? Why was he staying quiet? Why wasn't he acting like his normal, cheeky little self? Was he just watching everyone, thinking of the right time to attack?

Nonsense, I told myself. He's hardly more than a cub.

But the feeling nagged my as he got closer. He had a sad look on his face, mixed with confusion. His head jerked up as he noticed me. He let out a shrill squeak before dashing ahead to catch up with his siblings.

The little pipsqueak, I thought to myself. He thinks he's so special.

No. I told myself. That's Scar. Jabari is Nothing like Scar. Or Kopa. If anything, he's more like Mufasa.

END OF SIMBA'S POV

Jabari stopped to catch his breath. "Guys! Wait up!" he cried, breaking into a run.

"Come on, you slowpoke! Last one to that ledge over there is an Outlander!" Kai called, and dashed away towards a ledge that, little did she know, was just near the Outlands border, by the river where her mother and father first met.

"Hey, no fair!" Katiti whined, sprinting after his sister.

"Stop, you're heading towards the Outlands!" Jabari informed them, but I siblings either didn't hear him, or didn't care, as they continued to run ahead.

"Kai! Katiti! STOP!" Jabari ran as fast as he could to stop his siblings, but he was too late.

"I win!" the creamy golden cub squeaked happily. That's when it all unfolded; Katiti couldn't stop himself in time, as he'd picked up so much speed.

"EEK!" Kai screamed as she was pushed into the water.

"Kai!" Jabari and Katiti yelled at the same time. Jabari sighed as he got to the ledge and peeked over the edge.

"I landed on a log! I'm alright!" Kai squeaked. But the log began to move.

"Um, Kai, I don't think that't a log," Katiti fretted, and boy was he right. The 'log' turned out to be a ferocious beast.

"Crocodile!" Jabari screeched. He reached into the water, but he was too late. Kai was being thrown into the freezing cold water.

Now, many crocs were surfacing, licking their lips hungrily. It was as if a juicy piece of prey had fallen into a trap, and they began to circle the helpless cub.

"Grab my paw!" Jabari calld, and Kai tried to reach his extended paw.

"I can't!" she cried, jumping away from a crocodile's snapping jaws.

"Try again!" she did so, but failed.

Jabari looked at his brother, who stood, frozen in fear. "Help me!" Jabari snapped, but he was still paralyzed. The current was making Kai drift farther downriver. Her little legs wouldn't keep her above the surface much longer, so if Jabari didn't get her out soon, she'd either drown, or be killed by the crocodiles.

"LEAVE HER ALONE!" came a screech from the other side of the river, and a massive adult lion jumped into the river, and knocked a crocodile out of the way with a massive paw. This sent the huge reptiles fleeing upriver. The lion heaved the sopping wet cub out of the river, and placed her on the bank. Kai looked up at him admiringly.

"You saved my life," she whispered.

"Anything for a princess." The lion said. Jabari was now able to see him clearly. He was a huge reddish brown lion with a flowing black mane, long white claws, and blue eyes.

"Who are you?" Katiti asked wearily, snapped out of his paralysis.

"I am Radi. Will you take me to see King Simba?"

To be continued. . .