Chapter 2

Amber eyes watched the darkening skies, it had been days since the young King had sent his major-domo on his errand and was the beginning to think that maybe the hornbill had lost his way. As the Great Circle began to set on another day, the Pride began to retire to the caves, leaving their King to watch the skies with wary eyes. "Sit there any longer and you might become nothing but stone." Simba jumped when he heard someone speak behind him and turned his head as Nala approached him coming to a stop at his side and sat down.

"Still watching for Zazu?" she asked.

Simba scoffed, nodding head, "Yes…I thought I gave him clear directions to take him to the Rasheda's, I'm beginning to think he might have lost his way out there. I can only hope the Great Kings would help guide him there and back like they did for me!" he turned his head to gaze at his cub hood friend who gave him a smile, "Shouldn't you be settling down with the others?"

"What, and miss out on a quiet starry night?" Nala laughed titling her head back to stare up at the stars. "Sitting under the stars, counting them as they appeared, just like we did when we were young."

"Yeah…too bad we can't go back to those times."

Nala lowered her head, "If we did and nothing bad had ever happened, you may not have ever met Zuri or had your son now," she stated turning her head to gaze at the cave where she could see the outline of every lioness gathered inside all preparing to settle down for the night.

"I guess you're right…but it would have been better if my Father was still around!" Simba finally tore his eyes away from the sky. "I wish he could be here to meet his grandson…"

Nala's laughter caught him off guard "Zuri told me all about how your father had been the one to convince you to return to Pride Rock. I'm sure he's up there looking down on you and him, on all of us. But it is too bad, I mean he could handle Kopa for you guys," Nala chortled, "For I have a feeling he'll have your adventurous spirit in him…and I don't think Zazu in his ripe old age is up to the challenge of looking after the clone of his last charge!" she laughed softly shaking her head.

"Hey! I wasn't that difficult to handle!" Simba narrowed his eyes into a glare, which only caused Nala to laugh louder jabbing the King in the chest with her paw.

"Oh Simba, who are you trying to kid? You ran circles around poor Zazu…"

"And you didn't?"

Nala paused for a moment rethinking her words then gave a simple shrug of the shoulders, "You were the one who came up with half our schemes more then I ever did, so I do believe you are responsible for poor Zazu's sanity when it came to watching us and fearing for his life whenever he had to report to your Father that he had lost us both…again!" chuckling she looked out over the horizon as the moon finally began to rise to join the stars that twinkled across the blackened sky.

"And of course Zuri and Jaali told me of all the crazy stuff you did out in the Jungle!" she added.

"Did they also care to mention to you they were out there right along side me causing trouble?" Simba scoffed, muttering under his breath while he turned back toward the cave with Nala walking along side him. "Yes they did tell me that, though Zuri tells me you got in more trouble then she ever did that and played too many pranks on her." Nala smiled and pushed him in the shoulder "So relax why don't you, Kopa having your adventurous side won't be all that bad…we just got to keep a close eye on him!" she cast a look over her shoulder in the direction of Zira's cave.

Chuckling, Simba nodded "Well we have a few months until he will be running around on his own. I have a theory Zuri will keep a close watch on him!" Telling Nala goodnight, he turned and began making his way into the den he strolled on past his pride he nodded his head to them and murmuring soft goodnights which were returned by the lionesses while strolling toward his mate.

Nala watched him from the entrance of the cave and shook her head while making her way over to her mother settling down on the ground beside her. Sarafina turned her head to her daughter and asked "What's on your mind?"

Nala stared ahead of her to both her friends and their cub "I worry for him, the same way I worried for Mheetu."

Sarafina's eyes saddened at the mention of her son who died far too shortly into his life though a scowl lined her face at the thought of who had caused her sons untimely death. "Zira isn't going to kill this cub…she would be foolish to ever try and attempt something like that again…

Nala snorted, "I know…but I still think we should keep our eyes open on the matter!" Laying her head down on her paws she closed her eyes and blocked out her mothers voice as she tempted herself to fall asleep. Sarafina watched her daughter for a moment, then laid her head across Nala's neck and let her eyes slid shut "I hope your not right about this my dear, it would be heart breaking for history to repeat itself…"

Two sets of amber eyes stared back at one another, one pair filled with mild interest while the other filled with innocent curiosity. Another pair of shocking blue eyes watched in boredom from the sidelines as the staring contest commenced until finally a sneeze broke out ending it.

Jumping back, Nuka rubbed his nose with his paw growling low. "Ew!" lowering his paw he glared in the direction of his sister who had fallen to the ground in a fit of laughter the moment Kopa had sneezed in Nuka's direction marking him as the unknowing winner of the contest. "Shut up Vitani! It's not funny!"

Rolling onto her stomach, Vitani eyed her older brother with myth dancing in her blue eyes "Oh come off your high Zebra Nuka, he's only two weeks old he doesn't know any better, so stop over reacting!" climbing to her paws she padded her way over to where Nuka and Kopa were. Sitting down, she scooted closer to Nuka pushing him aside to peer down at Kopa who stared up at the two older cubs with confusion and interest.

"Hn! Whatever!" Wiping his nose completely clean; Nuka scoffed "He doesn't look much like a prince. Looks rather small and scrawny."

"And you're not?" Vitani asked.

"For the last time, I am not scrawny!"

"No you're right, you're just shaggy!"

Huffing, Nuka slapped his paw on the ground "I'm telling mom!"

Vitani giggled and grinned "Yeah that's right you go tell mom, you big Momma's boy!"

"Now Vitani, that isn't anyway to speak to him!" a voice reprimanded her. Both cubs looked up to see Zuri approaching them. The young Queen looked down at Kopa who lay where she had left him just moments ago on his stomach staring up at her, mewing once he saw the lioness above him was indeed his mother.

Vitani's ears flattened against her head from being scolded, while Nuka grinned triumphantly from ear to ear. "Sorry Queen Zuri…" she apologized while shooting a glare at Nuka when Zuri's attention was focused on Kopa.

Zuri chuckled and smiled, 'It's not me you should be apologizing too" she reminded the cub tearing her gaze from the cub at her paws to the two oldest cubs before her. When Vitani looked confused, the Queen nudged her head in Nuka's direction causing the she-cub to pout but it vanished when Zuri gave her a stern look. "Sorry…" she mumbled to her brother whose grin only grew wider.

Zuri shook her head at the two of them, but she chuckled at how cute a sight they were when they scuffled with one another. Then bending her head down, the queen picked Kopa up by his scruff and began carrying him toward the shade where a group of lionesses were all laying lounging about to escape the heat of the day with Vitani and Nuka falling in line behind her.

Sarabi lifted her head the moment she heard them approaching and smiled gently "Afternoon Zuri" she greeted lowering her head to smile softly at her grand cub. "Why hello little Kopa!" she cooed licking the cub on the nose the cub wrinkled his nose as his face scrunched up and a sneeze escaped him.

"Hello Sarabi," the Queen returned the greeting placing Kopa down at her paws in the shade and licked the top of his head where more of his brownish tuft was coming in, slowly but surely. Lifting her head, she smiled at her mother-in-law "How are you this afternoon, enjoying the weather I hope?"

Smiling, Sarabi nodded her head then raised it to gaze at the cloudless sky and the beaming sun through the leaves of the tree that shaded them. "I almost forgot just how hot the sun could be," she lowered her head just in time to see Nuka and Vitani poke their head's out from behind Zuri.

"Oh, we have guests!" Sarabi acknowledged and while held nothing against Zira's cubs, she was at times weary.

"Yes, they came to see Kopa," Zuri turned her head as the two cubs stepped out from behind her and stood nervously under Sarabi and the other lionesses stares.

Sarafina who was among the lionesses eyed the two cubs; she was one of many of the pride that felt uneasy with the young cubs around their Prince. Sure cubs couldn't do any damage, but the mother of said cubs could but they kept their opinions to themselves and settled for just keeping a watchful eye since both Sarabi and Zuri had no problem with Zira's cubs. Zuri more so then Sarabi.

Nuka shuffled his paws under Sarafina's watchful gaze, he didn't understand why he allowed his sister to drag him along…it would just end with their mother lecturing them again about never trusting the 'traitors' and 'outsider.' Even though he and Vitani really didn't any problem with the Queen, they both thought she was really nice, and she treated them just the same.

Sarabi however smiled at the cubs making them relax a bit more in the presence of the Pride. "Ah well Kopa is still too far young to play though I'm sure when he is older he will be a good friend for you two and Kovu of course," she spoke reassuringly lowering her eyes down to her young grand-cub that had flopped onto his back after his failed attempt to climb on his paws.

"Have you seen Simba, Sarabi?" Zuri asked while she helped her cub back onto his stomach.

"I'm afraid he's out handling a problem at the Waterhole. With Zazu gone it's much more difficult to spot problems in the Kingdom," Sarabi explained while lowering her head back down on her paws a loud yawn escaping her mouth. They hadn't gone hunting that day, but it was just a lazy day and she was rather enjoying the weather and the sun. She didn't realize just how much she missed it all these years.

Zuri opened her mouth to speak when Vitani jumped to her paws and asked, "Sarabi why did the hyenas run away when King Simba arrived?" she was only beginning to grow out of her spots when Simba had returned to the Pride but she knew there had been hyenas she had seen them often in the main cave.

The lionesses gathered glowered at the mention of hyenas, and spotting the look on their faces Vitani shrunk back behind her brother who stood fully on his paws protectively in front of her. "The hyenas…" Sarabi sneered but smiled calmly after she saw the cub's reaction, "They never belonged here dear."

"They were nothing but mangy scavenging mutts who stole the kills for themselves!" a lioness scowled from behind Sarabi.

"If it wasn't for that damn fool Scar they would never have come here!" Sarafina growled padding her way over to sit along side Sarabi her eyes on the cubs that had lowered their heads, their ears pressing against their heads.

Zuri watched them with sympathy; though Scar had been a tyrant and had brought ruin to the Pridelands during his reign she didn't think it was right to speak so cruelly of him in front of Nuka and Vitani. He was their father after all. Though where the Pride went out of their way to avoid mentioning anything against Zira in front of the two, Scar it seemed was another matter and it didn't matter who was in nearby when it was brought up.

"You two should run along back to your Mother or else she might worry," Zuri instructed nudging the two cubs with her paw.

"Can we come back and play later with Kopa?" Vitani asked with a hopeful tone.

"We shall see, but for now run along!" Zuri smiled while watching the two cubs scamper off to their own cave.

"Don't see why they insist on playing with Kopa!" Zuri turned her attention to a cream coloured lioness who lounged about in the tree above, "I mean they have each other and of course Kovu they should be fine with just that. It's not safe for Kopa to be running around with them especially given who their mother is."

"That may be so Ajia," Zuri started, reaching forward to scoop Kopa up with her paw as the small cub was attempting to crawl away again. "But just because their mother is…" she wasn't exactly sure what world she would use to describe Zira, the lioness hardly spoke a word to her since the day she arrived at Pride Rock, but that didn't stop the stares that often still sent shudders running throughout her body.

"No matter how difficult Zira can be, we shouldn't suspect her cubs are the same. Young Vitani seems very full of life and Nuka…" she thought back to the little grey cub, when she first arrived the cub looked stick thin and in poor health due to the conditions he was born and raised in but over the coming months he had grown into a handsome cub though curious and at times innocent Nuka shied away from most the Pride and followed his Mother's every word. "Nuka is a bundle of surprises!" was all she could think of saying about the cub whose moods surprised her at how well they could switch so quickly.

"I see no reason they shouldn't be able to play with Kopa. After all he'll need some friends and they are the only cubs around his age." she added. She wasn't about to let her son be friendless, she knew she would have been rather lonely if she hadn't had Jaali and Simba out in the Jungle. Sure she often wished there was other female cubs but she wouldn't trade Jaali and Simba for anyone at the time. They were and still are her best friends; well one of them was now the love of her life.

Ajia just scoffed from where she laid perched among the branches of the tree, her back paws dangling off while her head rested on her folded forepaws "As his Mother is it only right you have a say in which he plays with, but I can just feel it, those cubs will one day be trouble. I can just feel it!" she gazed in the direction of Zira's cave.

"Nala, what's the rush?" Sarafina's voice made the lionesses turn their head in the direction she was gazing in to Nala who was approaching them fast. She came to a stop once she reaches them and took a moment to catch her breath then turned her attention to Zuri "Zazu approaches…" she chuckled at the confusion that spread across the young Queen's face. Obviously she had taken Nala's haste that something may have been terribly wrong and it appeared she wasn't the only one as the lionesses all around breathed sighs of relief.

"Uh, thank you Nala!" Zuri thanked her bending her head to grab Kopa when Sarabi stopped her. "No need dear, I'll watch him!" the old queen offered with a generous smile while lifting up her young grandson with her paw and nestled him in them as he gave a loud mewing yawn and curled into his grandmother's fur. "Thank you Sarabi!" Zuri flashed a grateful smile then followed after Nala who began taking her to where Zazu was planning on landing when a question came to her.

"Nala?"

The said lioness turned to face her friend, "Yes?"

"Why didn't you just find Simba?" Zuri asked, normally it wasn't she herself who took care of Zazu's reports.

"Funny you should ask, actually I was going to report to Simba on the matter when I first spotted Zazu, but he had insisted he speak to you first. I believe he may have word for you from the Rasheda's and by his urgency to deliver it, it seems important!" Nala explained while they rounded the corner.

Believing it to be urgent news from home, Zuri quickened her pace to where Nala had to try and keep up but shortly the two were once again walking side by side to where Zazu had requested privacy. At the first sight of the major-domo, Zuri had seen he hadn't exactly had the nicest of flights between both Prides. His feathers were ruffled and dirtied and coated with sand so she had taken he had been caught in between both a rain and sand storm during his travels.

"Go and find Simba, I'm sure he'll want to report to him afterwards. He's down by the Waterhole!" Zuri padded her way over to Zazu while Nala took off in the opposite direction for the quickest path to the Waterhole.

"You wished to speak to me Zazu?" Zuri questioned the hornbill, sitting down when she reached the bird that was ruffling and cleaning his feathers when she approached. Lifting his head, the major-domo made himself as presentable as he could and stretched out his wings in a steep bow "Yes my Queen, I have news from the Rasheda's!"

A bright smile crept onto the young Pridelander queen's face at the thought that she had news from her homeland and she motioned for him to carry on with the delivered news. "First of all, they all congratulate you and Simba on the birth of the new Pridelands heir Prince Kopa and wish many blessings for the healthy cub!" he started off smoothing out the feathers in his front and rubbed his beak that he bumped during one of the storms he had flown into on his journey back.

"But I also bring news from Queen Leta…" Zazu's face grew serious and Zuri should see what appeared to be grief in his eyes like he didn't want to be the bearer of bad news. "I'm afraid your highness that this news is not good, and I am sorry to bring such bad tiding's along after the young prince's birth but Queen Leta had insisted upon telling you!" he began to explain.

"Well…go on Zazu…" Zuri urged, impatient to know this news however feared what it may be.

Sighing, Zazu nodded clearing his throat "Well your highness…Queen Leta would like to give you the bad news of that your uncle, King Mansa, has fallen gravely ill and would like to pass it on in case there is no chance of him recovering," he fell silent as he watched the emotions flicker across the young Queens face.

Zuri's body seemed to shut down at the mention of her Uncle falling ill; taking a few minutes to calm herself down and taking a few deep breathes she inquired "Do they know how he had fallen ill?"

Zazu nodded, "Yes my Queen, it appears the King has been bitten by a black mamba your highness!" his response was not what she was expecting or hoping for.

A black mamba?

Zuri felt her heart drop in her chest, if only it had been a plant or a less venomous creature she had seen the result of black mamba venom in the apes that roamed the Jungle and in such other creatures. In her Uncle's old age there was no telling if he would survive the bite from one, but the venom was so deadly even the healthiest of lions wouldn't be able to live.

"Your highness, may I be excused now? I must report to King Simba that his news has been successfully delivered!" Zazu stretched his wings and watched his Queen expectantly.

Shaking her head to clear her thoughts of her Uncle's fate, she nodded, "Yes…if Nala hasn't collected him yet check between here and the Waterhole that was where he was last expected to be," she instructed while Zazu gave one more steep bow and took to the sky in search of the Pridelander King, leaving his Queen alone to gather her thoughts on the situation back home.

Laying herself down on the stone ledge, her paws dangled over the edge while she laid her head down on them staring off into the horizon. Her thoughts traveled to her Uncle, whom she was sure wouldn't make it, then to her cousin who wasn't really expecting to take the throne so soon from his father, to finally her Aunt who would have to raise her new cubs on her own once Mansa passed. There was of course the pride to help but with all the lionesses reaching old age there was no telling…and then there was the thought that the last time she had seen her Uncle she hadn't had the chance to say goodbye before she left with Simba…and now she knew she would truly never get that chance…

She didn't know how long she been laying there, lost in her own thoughts of how she should have been back home helping her aunt and cousin in their time of grief that she didn't hear the sound of paws heading her way until they were right beside her. While lifting her tearful gaze to meet Simba's soft understanding eyes, was the first time the young queen had realized she had been crying.

Simba, who once had heard the news of Mansa, had come running back home to find his mate hadn't returned to their cave and no one had seen her since she had gone off with Nala to speak with Zazu. Once he had found out where she had been from his major-domo he headed off to find her, it all but broke his heart at the sight of his mates tearful gaze that met his.

Bending his head down to her level, Simba nuzzled her gently while lowering himself down onto the ground along side her. Zuri turning her body to lay herself down across his paws while he laid his head down atop of hers and closed his eyes "It'll be alright…" he whispered to her though not all that convinced himself though he knew he had to comfort his mate.

During his entire stay with the Rasheda's, Mansa had earned Simba's respect. Not only did he let him live and stay with the pride when he still had doubts of another male outsider cub but he had raised him in the same manor he had raised Jaali like as if Simba was his own son as well. He had filled the father figure in his life when his own had been ripped from him. And he still never really truly got the chance to thank the old King for sending Jaali and part of his pride to help him reclaim Pride Rock. "I'm worried for my aunt and cousins…" he heard his mate whimper tearfully.

"I know…but come on; this is Leta we're talking about. There's nothing that Queen cannot handle, she's far too stubborn to let anything go wrong. And Jaali…Jaali will be fine, he'll have Jamine and Leta to help him along!" Simba tried his best to reassure her and himself while licking her ear.

"You're right…but this still shouldn't have been the way my Uncle dies…he's too proud a lion to deserve a death by the poison of a black mamba!" Zuri cried while closing her eyes turning her head into her mate's mane.

Simba nodded, "There is nothing we can do Zuri, we can only pray that his passing won't be that painful!" looking off into the horizon he watched the sun as it began to set in the distance and as the shadow of night crept across the grasslands. The two of them laid there until night was fully upon them and the Great Circle was gone from the sky and the stars began to twinkle above them than they finally climbed to their paws and began making their way toward the main cave.

When they arrived, the lionesses who were gathered inside climbed to their paws and bowed their heads to their King and Queen in silent respect for their Queen's dying Uncle. Sarabi who stood at the back of the cave with Kopa, approached them when they gotten closer and rubbed heads with Zuri in affection, "Our Pride's prayers go to your Uncle my dear Zuri, for what he had done in keeping Simba alive enough to return to us!" Sarabi spoke for the whole Pride.

"Thank you Sarabi…thank you all" Zuri spoke gratefully for her new pride's respect and prayers on her Uncle's death. Stepping around her mother-in-law she made her way toward Kopa, laying down so she could curl her body around her son who crawled himself closer to his mother where he began to get his evening meal of his mothers milk. Turning her head, Zuri began to bathe him while he fed taking the time to focus on her son to take her mind off the news she had received.

Simba stood watching his mate, "Do you think she'll be alright?"

"Death is apart of life my son, be it be natural causes, illness, poison…anything really…death is death. Some are just harder to accept then others," Sarabi whispered to her son.

"How long did it take you to accept father's death?" Simba asked, he knew it had taken himself a long time to get over his fathers death and too this day it still bothered him from time to time.

"A while…but it was harder since you were gone as well. Without you, it made his passing harder. I've come terms that he will never be coming back, however…" Sarabi turned her head to look her son in the eyes "It's still hard to accept the way he had died but that's only natural! I'm just so happy that you never really died that day," she rubbed her head against his and whispered goodnight while making her way toward Sarafina and Nala to lay with them that night.

Making his way over to Zuri, Simba laid himself down beside his mate and son so that Kopa was nestled safely between the two of them. The King and Queen stared a look and a small smile each while they lay their heads down turning them ever so slightly to watch their nursing cub.

All around them whispers of soft prayers filled the cave.