Here's chapter 14 and please review.

It was nearly dawn when Simba and his friends stopped for a break. Knowing their usual routine, Simba and Chumvi went down to rest while Nala and Kula went hunting.

After a while, neither of them managed to find any prey, not even any rabbits.

"Kula, lets try splitting up." Nala said, sounding exhausted.

Kula nodded and both lionesses went in the opposite direction. Nala headed more toward where Simba and Chumvi were resting. Suddenly, she smelled something and froze. It was definently something alive. She went in the direction of the smell and it became stronger, yet a little unsettling. Feeling worried Nala stopped, debating on whether she should go back or continue. But knowing she needed food, she went on. She heard a footstep and froze. Suddenly four hyenas jumped out and lunged at Nala.

Roaring, Nala struck one across the face, and she raked her claws against another. They howled in pain. Suddenly she heard an ear splitting roar. Simba and Chumvi jumped out roaring. They hyenas took one look at them and fled, knowing they wouldn't stand a chance against two nearly full grown males.

"Nala, are you hurt?" Simba asked, nuzzling her.

"Did they hurt you?" Chumvi asked, giving her a nudge.

"No, I'm fine." she said, taking in a shaky breath. Simba looked unconcinced.

"Simba, I'm fine," Nala insisted. She was actually no where near okay, but she didn't want to start crying infront of them.

"Don't worry about hunting. Let's just find Kula and rest." Chumvi said gently.

Nodding, Nala followed them back to where they were sleeping. Kula was there waiting for them.

"What happened? Where did you all go? I was worried!" Kula demanded.

Chumvi and Nala exchanged a glance, and Nala told her the whole story.

"Are you okay?" Kula asked, when she was done.

"I'm fine," Nala said, masking the irritation in her voice. How could anyone be okay when they were in the middle of nowhere without a pride to support them? She felt Simba's gaze on her and she knew she really couldn't lie to him. He would ask her more later.

"Let's just go to sleep now. We're all tired." Simba said.

"What about hunting?" Kula asked, and Nala nodded in agreement.

"Kula, we can worry about that when we wake up." Chumvi said, gently pushing her to where he and Kula would sleep. Nodding she lay down.

"Nala, lets go." Simba said, leading Nala off to where they could have some more privacy.

When they found a decent place, both lions lay down. Nala pressed herself close to Simba.

"Nala, I know, you aren't okay." Simba said, licking her muzzle gently.

"How could I be okay, Simba? We're in the middle of no where, and I'm failing to hunt for us!" Nala snapped at him.

"Nala listen to me. When Chumvi was talking to you, I know you were trying hard not to cry. You are not someone who cries easily, especially just because hyenas attacked you. You've fought hyenas before." Simba said, looking at her in they eyes.

Nala said nothing and looked away from him. "Darling, look into my eyes." Simba said, more gently.

Nala looked at his face and tears began streaming down her face. Not once, since her parents and Pride had blamed them for the murder, had she let her emotions show. She had refused to give them the satisfaction of them thinking they're weak. She had never realized it would take so much effort.

Simba pulled her in closer and Nala sobbed into his mane. He pressed his muzzle against her cheek. This didn't help. It all came raining down on her. The grief her parents and Pride had put on them, Runju's cruel comment, the effort it took just to survive everyday, and the nightmares that plagued her everynight. It was all to much. Simba whispered soothing words to her as she cried. It calmed her down a bit. She stopped crying, but she didn't change her position.

"You kept everything in too long. You should have told me how you felt. Why didn't you tell me how you feel?" Simba asked, his voice gentle and loving.

Nala looked up at him. It was amazing how he could be a dangerous fighter, a tough surviver, but yet be so gentle and loving to her.

"You already had too much on your mind. I didn't want to burden you with more." Nala said, shaking her head.

Simba leaned in and pressed his forhead against hers. Nala closed her eyes and inhaled his wonderful smell.

"Sweetie, I love you more than anything. Anything. You will never be a burden to me. I would die for you to be safe. The worst thing you can do is shut me out of your life." Simba said. He licked Nala's nose. Nala smiled and rubbed her muzzle against his.

"I love you." she whispered as she pulled back.

"I love you more." Simba replied, gazing at her, his eyes full of love.

Nala lay her head in his paws. He rested his head on hers. Neither of them fell asleep yet. For the next while Nala enjoyed herself as Simba licked her face,ran his muzzle and mouth along her neck, pressed his muzzle against her, and whispered things in her ear that only she was meant to ear. After, what seemed like hours, Nala fell asleep in his paws, and didn't have any nightmares.

Nala woke up at evening. She slowly tried to get up without waking Simba. Simba, with his eyes still closed, pulled her back down. She smiled and didn't try to get back up.

"Worry about hunting later." he mumbled. Nala came closer and gently began to groom his fur. Last night's sleep was the best sleep he had in a long time. After her talk with Simba, a lot of pressure and stress had been lifted from her. She had realized how much she needed him. She knew Simba was determined to protect her and willing to die for her safety, but she would never let that happen. She was also determined to protect and die for him, but she wouldn't tell him that. He would only get worried about her.

After a while, Simba began to stir. He slowly opened his eyes, as Nala bent down and licked his muzzle.

'' That's a very good way to be woken up to" he said smiling when Nala pulled back.

"Sleep well?" she asked.

"Very well, thanks to a certain lioness." Simba said, giving her a seductive smile. He leaned in and licked to back of her ear. "You didn't have any nightmares did you?" he asked.

"None." Nala said. "I'm going hunting now. I'll see you soon." She stood up.

"Nala the hyenas who attacked you might still be around. I'm coming with you." Simba said, getting up.

"No, Simba. I don't want to go through this again. I prefer hunting with Kula only. You and Chumvi coming isn't helping." Nala said.

"It's either you let me come, or I follow you and argue with you making lots of noise. Then we'll definently scare away all the prey."

Nala looked at him in exasperation. He was stubborn enough and willing enough to do it. If she still refused, he could definently scare away all the prey.

"Fine, come on and don't make a sound while we're hunting." Nala said. Simba nodded and followed her to where Kula and Chumvi were sleeping. Both of them were already awake.

"Simba are you going hunting with them?" Chumvi asked.

"I'm too worried to let them go alone, after last night." Simba said.

Chumvi nodded and got up. "Then I'm coming too."

Kula made an exasperated sound in throat but didn't say anything.

The four lions went searching for prey, when Nala stopped and pointed with her muzzle. Ahead they saw a zebra, probably one left behind by its herd. Kula, knowing her well went toward the east. Chumvi and Simba went to in another direction. Nala gave them a look and mentioned them to stay as she stalked away. When she was in the right place, she looked at the males and gave them the signal.

Simba and Chumvi stepped forward and roared and began their way toward the zebra. The zebra immediantly began running. Kula stepped out and chased it toward where Nala was waiting. Nala waited for the right moment and jumped out and pounced on the zebra. It collapsed to the ground and Nala killed it by crunching down on its neck.

"Looks like we'll finally have a decent meal." Chumvi said, coming up to them.

Nala looked at the prey and smiled. Finally she thought.

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Back in the Elephant Graveyard, Scar was beginning to lose his patience with his allies.

"Scar, when do we do the next step of your plan?" Shenzi asked.

"You know what he said. We need to be patient and take Mufasa at his weakest state."Gurile snapped at her.

"We really should have killed, Simba, Nala, Kula and Chumvi." Manla said, and Haru nodded in agreement.

"No!" Scar growled. "Then the whole Pride would have been suspicious. We'll find away to make Mufasa realize it wasn't them who murdered those lions. Simba and his companions are probably dead. You and the clan killed them right?" He asked looking at Banzai

"Sure we did." Banzai lied. They hadn't because they were to scared to attack to go track them. But if Scar found out, he would kill them.

"When Mufasa realizes they weren't responsible for the crimes, he will be in his weakest state. That's when we attack!" Scar said, his eyes full of joy.

"How are we going to let him know, without revealing that we did it? And we have to kill Kula, Chumvi, and Nala's families as well." Gurile asked.

"We'll figure that out soon" Scar replied. Gurile nodded and with that she and Scar went back to Priderock.