Chapter Four

Sarabi's POV

I was devestated when Scar told the pride of the stampede, my mate and my son, both dead in the same day, I was in complete disbelief.

But my friend Sarafina was there for me, "Is there anything I can do Sarabi?" she asked, hoping that there was something that she could do to cheer me up.

I quickly regained my composure, I didn't want to show her how distraught I really was, "I'll be fine, you go tend to Nala, she's probably a wreck over this." I said

She nodded, "She hasn't spoken since Scar gave us the news." she said, a worried look on her face

That wasn't like little Nala at all, she usually had something to say about everything, "She'll be ok, this has been rather traumatic for all of us." I said, not knowing if it would end up being true or not.

"Are you sure you'll be alright Sarabi?"

I sighed as tears began flowing unchecked down my cheeks, "Yes, I'll be fine." I insisted, although my tears clearly said otherwise.

She seemed unhappy with my answer, "I'm here for you, and I'm deeply sorry for your loss." she said as she turned to walk away

I now stood alone with my thoughts.

"Hello my queen, how are you doing this most dreadful evening?" came Scar's voice from somewhere behind me

I turned to face my brother in law, "I'll live Scar, what do you want?" I asked, now wanting to grieve alone.

He seemed genuinely concerned for me, "I merely came to offer my condolences, Mufasa and I may not have always gotten along, but I would'nt wish this on even my worst enemy, and poor Simba, he was so full of life; sometimes I feel as though destiny itself is out to get me." he said

I managed a weak smile as more tears streaked down my face, "Thank you for your kind words brother." I said

He nodded as he began to leave, "Think nothing of it, it is the least I could do." he said

As I watched Scar leave I became genuinely perplexed by his unusual behavior. he let the hyenas integrate into the pride, something that Mufasa would never have approved of, then he walks up to me and gives me his condolences for his and Simba's deaths?

Simba, he had been too young to die, especially in a manner so terrible. I thought of how scared he must've been in the fleeting hours of his life...

...And it made my emotional state even worse.

Nala's POV

I eventually came to terms with the fact that Simba was dead, I didn't like to dwell on it for too long though.

"Nala! Why are you not out hunting with the rest of the lionesses?" Scar yelled at me

I looked up at him, "Scar, I'm a cub, I can't hunt yet." I said

He shook his head and frowned, "If the other lionesses are hunting, it is only fair that you at least join them." he said

"But Scar..." I started, in an attempt to talk my way out of going

"You will address me as 'MY LORD' are we clear?" he asked, looking pretty mad at me for not using the title.

I nodded and looked down toward the ground, "Yes, my lord. I'm sorry." I said, not really meaning the apology at the end.

He nodded, then went back to berating me, "Honestly Nala, I don't care what you do while you are out there, just next time, go with them. Catch a field mouse or something. Get some sort of education out of it."

I sighed heavily as he walked away, I hated Scar, he was a terrible king, and he'd only been doing the job for a little while. He had the lionesses hunting for the hyenas and him constantly, leaving the scraps after they'd eaten their fill.

Later on I would find out he had the hyenas kill off all of the pride's male cubs.

I wanted Simba to be there with me, to tell me it was alright. I missed the sound of his voice, a little dense sounding, but always confident and calm.

Simba's POV

I didn't talk much for the first couple of days after Timon and Pumbaa let me stay with them, sure I was greatful for the food and shelter, but I still had a lot on my mind.

"Hey, Timon?" I asked the meerkat

He jumped at the sound of my voice and dropped the leaf full of bugs that he was carrying, "Geez kid, warn me before you go and do that." he said, breathing heavily and holding his chest.

I smiled a little at his reaction, I hadn't intended on scaring him.

"Timon, I wanted to know what I'm not aloud to do around here, y'know, the rules."

Timon began laughing his annoying hysterical laugh, "Kid, there are no rules around here."

Pumbaa grunted as he walked over to where Timon and I stood

"Oh, I mean... the rules are quite simple, you listen to Pumbaa and me, you don't do anything that will hurt you, and you go to sleep when we tell you to, other than that...have fun kid."

I rolled my eyes and smiled, "Alright, so... what do you guys want to do?" I asked, changing the subject.

Timon held up a hand, "Could you give me and Pumbaa a second alone to talk there Simba?" he asked

I sat down, "Sure." I said, eager to actually do something other than lay around all day feeling sorry for myself, I considered this as my first step to putting my past behind me.

Timon's POV

I turned to Pumbaa and whispered, "Pumbaa, did you hear that? What kind of kid asks what the rules are?"

Pumbaa thought about it for a couple of seconds, "One that was raised right?" he asked back to me

Oi, I lived with Mr. technical, "Pumbaa my point was, he's a kid, he should be getting into a lot of trouble."

"But I thought we wanted raising him to go as smooth as possible?" Pumbaa asked, still not getting it

I was getting a bad headache at this point, "We do, we do. But I'm just saying, did you ask what the rules were when you were young?" I asked, trying a different angle.

Pumbaa shook his head, "Only because they were told to me, I didn't have to ask."

I slapped my forehead in frustration

Changing the subject completely I turned to Simba and asked, "So Simba, what say you me and Pumbaa here go see what all the buzz is about over at the hot spring?"

Simba considered it, "Sure, there we can think about something to do." he said

Pumbaa turned to me as Simba started walking away, "You have no idea what we're gonna do, do you?"

I hurried him along with a wave of my arm, "Of course I do, you just wait." I said, lying through my teeth.

I had no idea of what interested Simba, as far as I was concerned at that point, he still might see us as food one day.

Pumbaa's POV

Timon and I had given Simba his space for the past few days, it really was sad to see, all he did was lay around with a sad look on his face, and I could've swore I heard crying at one point.

Now it was like someone hit a switch somewhere, Simba was smiling and wanting to hang out with us. Timon was still worried that he might try something, but I saw that there wasn't a violent bone in the tiny lion's body.

"So... what do you guys want to do?" he asked

Just as I was about to propose we go anthill bowling, Timon pulled me over to the side, "Pumbaa, did you hear that? What kind of kid asks what the rules are?" he whispered

I didn't quite get what he was trying to say, "One that was raised right?" I asked back, hopeful that he'd clarify.

Timon seemed to get frustrated, "Pumbaa my point was, he's a kid, he should be getting into a lot of trouble." he said

I still didn't quite get at what he was trying to say, "But I thought we wanted raising him to go as smooth as possible?" I asked, still trying to get him to clarify.

Timon sure was freaking out over such a small thing, I made it a point to know the rules when I was young, then again my parents never did let me forget them.

As if asking about what I'd just thought Timon said, "We do, we do, but I'm just saying, did you ask what the rules were when you were young?"

I shook my head, "Only because they were told to me. I didn't have to ask." I said

Timon slapped his forehead and turned around to Simba, "So Simba, what say you, me, and Pumbaa here go see what all the buzz is about over at the hot spring."

Simba nodded, "Sure, there we can think about something to do." he said as he started for the spring

I stayed back with Timon, and with a huff to tell him that I was on to him I asked, "You have no idea what we're gonna do, do you?"

He fumbled for his words and managed to say, "Of course I do, just you wait."

I could see he honestly was trying to think up something, and as I turned to follow Simba I watched him pound his forehad with both fists.

While I also had no idea as to what interested Simba, I figured I be the honest warthog and tell him straight up when we got to the hot spring.

A/N: Might have to put in some parts from LK 1 and a half here soon folks, I'm drawing a blank on what the guys in the jungle do for fun.

Also, Scar is starting to show his true colors to the pride

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