Chapter 14

"Dad, why do we have to leave? What about my friends…they won't know where to find me to play."

Turning his head to gaze back behind him at his son, Simba sighed for what seemed like the hundredth time since they had departed from Pride Rock in the dead of night. He had returned to Pride Rock that evening with Nala shortly after they had talked, it had taken Nala some time to convince him that getting Zuri and Kopa away from Pride Rock would be for the best. When they arrived they saw that Zuri was waiting for them as Simba has suspected she would.

At first she had appeared nervous, her eyes travelling back from Simba to Nala, but after staring at Nala for some time she seemed to relax somewhat which made Simba suspicious that they were both hiding things from him.

But nonetheless, he had gotten what he wanted; even though he didn't know the source of the danger, though he had his suspicions, he knew that his mate and cubs were in some sort of it and he had to protect them. Although he didn't like the idea of sending them away, he was more relaxed knowing they would still be in the safety of the Pridelands where he could check on them.

Although it did take some convincing to get his mate to comply, she had been against the whole idea of leaving Pride Rock…

"Simba you can't be serious…this is ridiculous! Where else would I be the safest then with the pride?" Zuri stared at her mate like he had fallen off a cliff and hit his head, to her he was speaking complete nonsense.

"Not when threat could be within the pride…" Simba turned toward his mate, his eyebrows raised. He was curious as to the threat and although he had a feeling, he knew his mate and Nala must know the threat but what he couldn't understand was why they were protecting it. But he would wait until his mate would be ready…

He could clearly understood why his mate would protect it…Zuri was always preaching how the pride was one family and unity and must be treated as such or a pride would fall apart.

Zuri didn't know what to say to that, had Nala gone back on her promise? She thought, no, she couldn't have or else Simba would have told her right off the bat that he knew the threat she was worried about was Zira. If she had known Zira would have been such trouble then maybe in the beginning she wouldn't have…

No, that was a lie.

Of course she would have supported Zira and her followers to stay in the Pride. When she had first seen those three cubs she knew that she could never cast out helpless younglings. Not when she, herself, had been expecting at the time.

"Simba…please…I'm so close to giving birth…"

"All the more reason to protect you!" climbing to his paws, the King made his way toward his Queen and leaned his head down upon hers staring her in the eyes. "You will have the cub away from Pride Rock…I will come and see you…the others will…and I will always have a lioness on duty nearby to make sure you're safe and no one but a member of the pride comes within distance of you and our cubs…please Zuri…for me?"

Looking her mate in the eyes, Zuri bit down on her lip, was leaving pride rock surely the safest way? Some part of her was saying yes, but it wasn't to the caves in the eastern borders that she wanted to flee too…she wanted the safety of her old pride…but that was never going to happen.

Even if she could return, she wouldn't make it there before having to give birth and a newborn cub out in the desert was out of the question.

And then, there was the other side of her, which was screaming that it was a bad idea. The pride was where she was safe. Pride Rock. In their den. There was no way Zira could reach her in the den without being caught…out there was another story entirely…

"What about Kopa…and his friends…the cubs training…he'll get lonely Simba…"

"He's a growing cub; he can see his friends when all this trouble has passed…" Zuri gave her mate a look, she knew if anything occurred her son would probably never be allowed to see his friends again. "Plus he's learned all he can, it's not like he'll be doing any major hunting…in the near future till he's least two years of age…" Simba quickly corrected himself when Zuri gave him a look that said not to pull the lionesses do all the hunting speech with her.

And as much as Zuri was hot-headed when she normal, being pregnant made it a lot worse Simba often found. Especially the second time around.

Hesitating, Zuri knew there was no convincing her mate otherwise…she knew once Simba made up his mind, it would take more then an argument to get him to change it. The only thing to do was to grin and bare it and please her mates overprotect side.

"Very well, Simba!" she sighed turning she began to leave the cave then looked over her shoulder and said. "But you get to wake your son and tell him yourself," and before he could argue she had left the cave to search out the other lionesses leaving him to their son… '

Waking his sleeping son hadn't been as easy as he had thought. The cub was just as stubborn as his mother…or as his mother and mate said, as stubborn as he was. But perhaps the cub had gotten both his parents stubbornness and he began to seriously hope that his new cub didn't.

One stubborn, adventurous cub was one thing; to have two would be a nightmare. Now he suddenly felt bad for Zakia having to have raised him and Zuri together. He considered just carrying his sleeping son, till Kopa had finally cracked his eyes open and had tiredly complained about being woken and asked his father why.

His son's reaction was just as he expected.

Stubborn.

The cub didn't want to leave Pride Rock. He said that he hardly saw his father enough as it was and he wanted to stay. And that he had friends as well. But Simba had refused to listen and grabbed his son and carried him to join where Zuri, Sarabi, Sarafina and Nala were all waiting.

The three other lionesses were to accompany them to the caves to assure things went safely and smoothly.

And now here they were, mid-way to the Eastern border. He and Zuri taking the lead, flanking the left and right was Sarabi and Sarafina while Nala took up the rear with Kopa centered in the middle of them.

"You and your mother are leaving for your own safety," Sarabi answered softly from her grandson's left. Giving him a warm smile, although she was confused to it as well, but Nala had reassured them that there was indeed a threat in the Pride and both she and Sarafina didn't need to think twice about who it could be.

And for that, she was all for the safety of her family, she had lost Simba when he was young, sure he had been alive all the time she thought he was dead but she still lost out on watching him grow up all the same and Sarafina had lost poor Mheetu had such a tender age, that the death of any more cubs needed to be avoided. And the thought of loosing her grand-cubs was unspeakable, not if she had anything to say and do about it.

To say the young Prince was confused would be an understatement. They were leaving for their safety? Why? He thought to himself. He looked at his parents and then back at his grandmother who was still smiling at him, "But why grandma?"

Looking ahead, Sarabi caught eyes with Simba who had looked back at them again before answering. "There is someone who may hurt you and your mother and new brother or sister, Kopa," she explained reaching out she laid her paw on the cubs head for a moment before pulling it back. "So you're going to stay in the Eastern border caves for a little while…don't worry everything will be fine and you'll be able to return home!" she reassured the cub, noticing the young prince started to look tired on his paws again, she stepped closer to him and bent her head to pick him up from the neck to carry him as best she could, he was beginning to get too big to be picked up soon but for now she would carrying him so he could sleep.

"Now sleep little one," she said with a muffled voice but Kopa managed to pick up her words and moments later started to drift off to sleep again.

Casting a look back at her sleeping son, Zuri suddenly started feeling guilty. It wasn't right to take her son away from his friends, but she knew that perhaps it was for the best. Looking at Simba who was staring dead ahead, she sighed and closed her eyes as she felt some kicks from within her. It was almost like her cub was telling her that they too thought it was a bad idea.

As they neared the Eastern Borders, Nala made her way up from the rear of the group to stand along side Simba. "The caves are only known to those who know them," she stated nodding to her mother and Sarabi. There were other lionesses that knew of them too but as far she knew those with Zira didn't.

It was the caves her mother had gone too, to give birth to Mheetu. The cub had been fathered by a rogue and many had been worried about Scar's reaction should it been male. Female was one thing, a female could mean no harm and would only grow into another huntress the king could use to gather food for him. A male would be possibly competition for the throne one day…

But that wasn't the case. Scar had allowed to the cub to live…but in the end he never did.

And now she was going to keep another cub from being killed at the paws of Zira.

"Are you sure?" asked Simba.

"Believe me Simba, they will be safe!" Nala reassured him as she quickened her pace to lead the rest of the way toward the caves. The caves lined the borders, still within the Pridelands but far enough away from Pride Rock that the great structure was a mere speck in the distance seen by the light of the moon.

Simba helped his mate climb, before letting Sarabi and Sarafina follow Zuri. Casting a look over his shoulder he sniffed the air. There was no scent he recognized and knew that no one had followed them just as he had hoped for.

The passage into the cave was narrow; Nala went first and turned to help Zuri through with Sarafina helping from behind. Sarabi followed with Kopa next till finally Simba was inside as well.

Zuri let her eyes roam over the cave, it was rather cosy she had to admit, there was some dried grass for bedding if need, the air was warm but not too hot and stuffy inside and she figured it would stay that way when the sun rose as well. Sarabi passed her and walked toward a mound of dry grass and set Kopa down upon it, the cub barely stirred as he curled up still asleep.

Which looked like he would be till morning. Much to his parent's relief.

Simba himself looked around and nodded, "It will do!" he said.

"There is a small basin over there," Nala pointed with her paw, "It collects rain water, and should be pretty full. It will last you for now. We shall bring you food from the day's hunts and make sure no one comes close to these caves to discover you two!" she added looking at Zuri who continued to look and walk around the cave.

It was cosy, she couldn't deny that. But it still wasn't home. Here she wouldn't have her mate all the time. He had to stay at Pride Rock and look after the pride and the Kingdom. She looked toward Simba who seemed to be thinking the same thing, he hated to have to leave her alone with just the cubs but at the moment their safety was more important then his need to see them everyday.

"I will try as often as I can to come and see you," Simba said making his way over; he nuzzled his mate wrapping his paw around her as she buried her face in his mane. "We'll get this threat handled and you and the cubs will be home shortly…I promise you!" he whispered to her.

Zuri could only nod her head, closing her eyes, as she kept her face hidden inside his mane. She was having an inner struggle again. Tell her mate who the threat was and have him get rid of it and have her son's friends driven away from the pride with their mother or keep her mouth shut and hope it all passed in time and she would see her mate again.

Though deep down, she knew she may never see Pride Rock again. Although this she kept trying to keep herself from thinking. She wanted to return, she wanted to be beside her mate to watch their cubs grow.

"We should be heading back before sunrise!" Sarafina's voice sounded behind them.

The royal couple parted and looked toward said lioness. "And we must find a way to cover our scent!" she added.

Nodding, Simba looked at his mate giving her one last nuzzle then nuzzled his son. "Tell him…"

"I will," Zuri breathed staring her mate in her eyes, trying to keep her tears at bay.

"I will stay and keep them company for the night," Sarabi offered stepping up along side Zuri and smiled gently at her. Zuri gave her a look of thanks as Simba seemed to think it over and nodded, "Very well."

Nala who been checking out the cave very quickly returned and looked toward Zuri, the Queen caught her eye and both lionesses seemed to share similar thoughts. Nala wasn't going to break her promise, but she was going to do everything in her power to keep her friend alive.

"Least one lioness will help patrol the area and be bringing you food," Nala said walking over she nuzzled Zuri and whispered in her ear "I'll try and keep Zira away…please be safe…I don't want to have to…take care of them if you're gone…they need their mother!" pulling away Nala went to stand by her mother who was waiting by the entrance and the two of them slipped out into the night.

Simba looked at his mother and mate, then finally to his son. He felt guilty he should be the one staying the night to make sure they would be alright…but he knew he had to look out for the rest of the pride. Walking over, Zuri nuzzled her mate "Go…we'll be fine…and we'll come home soon…you'll see!" she said giving him a smile.

Taking a deep breath, Simba nodded and with a moment of hesitation he turned and left the cave to meet up with Nala and Sarafina where they took another route to get back to Pride Rock and confuse the trails before they hurried on home. The smell in the air told them rain was coming, and even the slightest bit may help shield the scents more than their efforts.

Inside the cave, Zuri turned and made her way toward Kopa, laying herself down beside him she watched him turn into the warm of her fur. She looked up when she heard paw steps and watched as Sarabi laid herself down on the other side of Kopa. "Thank you, Sarabi, for staying with me this night."

"It is nothing dear; I stayed here with Sarafina the first night she was here when we discovered she was with cub. Perhaps it would have been best if she didn't leave here, then Mheetu may still be alive…but she would have been found eventually…"

"Do you think…"

"That Zira will find you here anytime soon? I doubt it. Not if the pride has anything to say about it." Sarabi looked up watching the surprise come over the young lioness' face. "Yes Zuri, I know the truth…it is no surprise…how much she hates you…how much she hates us all for Scar's death…"

"But it wasn't us…"

"Yes, I know that dear but she is too blind. Now I don't know why you suddenly thought she was a threat. But I'm going to keep you and my grand-cubs safe. This Pride won't loose any more cubs if we mean to survive!" Sarabi cast a look down at her sleeping grandson then to Zuri's pregnant stomach. "Why didn't you…?"

Biting her lip, she wasn't sure how she liked it that Sarabi had guessed correctly about the situation, but she knew it couldn't have been more obvious. She sighed, "I wanted to tell Simba, but then I thought…" she looked down at Kopa."About him, and the other three cubs. They're all such the best of friends, I couldn't do that to them. And those cubs are nothing like their mother and don't deserve to be thrown out of the Pride with her. I've spent countless hours with them for months and they show no sign of being like her…in fact I pity them…"

Sarabi nodded her head; she could understand where the young lioness was coming from. She too had been keeping an eye on those cubs to see if they were anything like Scar and Zira but as far as she could tell…that wasn't the case. As for pitying them…she could see that too…especially for young Nuka. The oldest cub and first born he had been a tiny little thing but he was still the first born and heir when Scar was alive…well that was until Kovu had been born and Scar had decided the new healthier looking cub would be a better heir then his first born.

But as tiny as he was, he grew…then became small again and then the herds returned and the cubs became healthy again. And yet Zira…the way Sarabi had seen her treat them…oh she had no doubt Zira loved her cubs it was very hard not to love ones own cubs. But Zira had changed…

She remembered when Nuka was first born. How happy Zira had been. And then came along Vitani, and then lastly, Kovu. There was no doubt Zira loved her cubs. All three of them. No matter how Scar had come to view Nuka as weak as he had become malnourished due to lack of food, Zira still loved him but had become tougher…saying Nuka needed to be tough in order to survive or die.

And then Scar's death changed everything.

Sarabi shook her head; she understood what it was like to loose ones mate but Zira should be happy she still had her cubs for not even Sarabi had that.

Reaching over she placed her paw on Zuri's and smiled softly, "Don't let it bother you dear, everything will work out eventually." Though even as she said this for some strange reason, a chill ran along her spine.

Zuri looked at her mother-in-law and then to her sleeping cub as she tried to take Sarabi's words to heart, to think she and her cubs would be safe and she would be able to live and see them all grow and watch as Kopa himself found a mate, had cubs and became King when Simba and she stepped down.

Looking down again, when she felt Kopa stir but only to fall back asleep, she sighed and bent her head to lick the top of his and nuzzle him for a moment. "I hope so Sarabi…I surely do…"