Given the story is getting long and I have long since decided to turn this into a series. I will be ending the story shortly and continue it in Part 3 when I am done this portion of Part 2. Make it easier so that there aren't as many chapters to have to go through. And easier on my part.

Also I been toying with some lion king bases, coloring them, and shaping them to give a face to my OC's especially Zuri given she's my favourite OC of mine by far. If any interested in checking them out the link on my profile

Chapter 21

"Gather to the others…tonight is the night…."

There really was no word that Dotty herself could think of, to describe the mixture of emotions that coursed through her mind the moment Zira's words sunk in. For a moment, she silent hoped that she hadn't heard the former Queen right, wishing that she had heard her wrong. But with the way the other lioness was watching her with a hard but steely stern expression that Dotty knew she had indeed heard her correctly.

Dread…sadness…even anger. Yes, those were the emotions she felt at that very moment. Dread that the day, though she knew it would come eventually, had actually arrived. Sadness that she was going to be one of the causes as to why innocent cubs would never be able to grow up and that a mother would have to suffer watching her cubs die at the paws of another lioness. And finally anger…anger that Zira was actually going to go through with such a cruel thing and anger for herself that she was going through with it.

But as she thought these thoughts, she then silently reminded herself as to what she owed Zira. And as much as she wanted to say something against it, that silent thought that she owed this lioness her life, the life of her sister and the others, made her hold her tongue and say "Yes, Zira"

She watched Zira move on past her and head on further into the cave. Taking a moment to close her eyes and take a few deep breathes she opened them to see three cubs looking at her wondering what was wrong. They hadn't heard their mother, but they did catch the shock that had appeared on Dotty's face the moment whatever their mother had said reached her. She gave them a small smile and walked toward them, nuzzling them all suddenly feeling those three mixed emotions again when she hugged the three cubs to her.

She remembered just earlier that very moment the cubs had come to her and she asked why they seemed so down. She was actually shocked that Vitani had crawled into her paws and cried that she missed playing with Kopa and Zuri and didn't think it was fair that the other Pridelanders weren't letting the cubs into the den to see them. She cried how she missed them and really wanted to see Zuri's new cubs. She had felt guilty, she wanted to say and tell the cubs exactly where the Prince and Queen were with the new cubs but she held her tongue and just simply comforted the cubs.

Not she felt it again, the guilt rise up and blend with the dread, sadness and anger coursing through her. She could sense the cubs were wondering if something was wrong just by the looks they were giving her when she hugged them and licked the top of their heads.

"Aunty Dotty is something wrong?" asked Vitani, wondering what was going on with the older lioness.

Pulling back from them, Dotty looked at each of them in the face and gave a small grin and shook her head. "No, cubs, nothing's wrong…uh…how about you play a game. See which one of you can run around Pride Rock the fastest, do this ten times…" she figured that would keep the cubs out of the den when the meeting was held. She watched the cubs consider it so she added "Do this and I'll promise you tomorrow for dinner we'll bring you Zebra…"

That seemed to do it. Large grins spread across the three cubs face, and they jumped up onto all four paws and bolted on past Dotty heading for the nearest corner to make their start at their new game. She could hear each one of them laughing and shouting at each other each calling out that they were the fastest, baiting each other.

None the wiser to what was about to happen that very night.

With that sickening thought, Dotty turned on the spot and began tracking down her sister and the others from where they had gone out that day, Baya and Hawa was on watch duty of the den while she wasn't sure where the others had gotten themselves too. It was Hawa and Baya she approached first and told them what was happening and to head to the cave. She watched Baya's face become an impassive mask while Hawa's eyes widened in horror and her paws scuffed the rocks beneath her nervously. The younger lioness chewed on her lip looking greatly disturbed but didn't say a think as she and Baya climbed to their paws and made their way toward the cave just as they watched the cubs come around the other side of pride rock laughing as they went about their game.

When she asked if they knew were her sister and the others were Hawa squeaked out "They're at the watering hole…"

Dotty watched Hawa worriedly, she knew the lioness wanted nothing to do with what was about to happen, of course none of them really wanted to be responsible for the death of cubs. What lioness really wanted to be the cause of a cub's death? But out of them all it seemed Hawa was the one who showed any real care for Queen Zuri, it was no secret to anyone but Zira, that the younger lioness thought that Zuri was a better Queen than Zira.

If Zira hadn't changed, they knew Hawa wouldn't be thinking that, but unfortunately that wasn't the case and never will be. Fate had dealt Zira a hard hand and Zira had chosen to allow her heart to be corrupted with anger turning her into a hardened lioness whose only morals involved getting revenge for the lion she loved.

She remained there until the cubs came running on past her, and Hawa and Baya disappeared from sight. It was the sound of the cub's laughter that brought her back and made her turn and start her way toward the watering hole to collect the rest of their little Pride.

Though she knew she should have been hurrying up, Dotty was slow in making her way toward the watering hole. Something deep inside told her she should in all sense of the word stops and smells the roses. To annoy the look of the greenery around her. The vibrant life of the herds she could both smell and see all around enjoying their peaceful life in the Pridelands. Though the Pride hunted them, they still stayed knowing that was the fact of life.

It was shocking to see so many herds, for as long as she remembered since their arrival was the dwindling of the herds until there was none left within the Pridelands as the grass and leaves dried and the water started to shrink till it was all but gone. But now, it was always like she had only imagined the Pridelands to have been such a shadowy place. All around was vibrant with life.

She seemed lost in her thoughts that she hadn't realized she had even reached the watering hole till she heard her sister's voice calling her. Turning she spotted Spotty, Kumai and Asma lounging about on the rocks by the water just soaking up the warmth of the sun. Spotty had climbed to her paws the moment she had seen her sister coming their way, Kumai and Asma remained silent and still. Asma had long since slipped off to sleep as she enjoyed the warmth of the sun, Kumai herself had her eyes close but was still awake just enjoying a relaxing day wanting to catch as much sun as she could before the storm they saw in the distance reached the Pridelands.

Making her way over to them, Dotty stopped as Spotty jumped down from the rocks and smiled at her greeting her sister with a head rub and a lick but she pulled back when she felt that something was wrong. "What is it?" she asked reaching out she placed a paw upon her sisters watching her waiting for her answer. She couldn't remember the last time she seen such a look on her sisters face, at least not since the time their pride had been killed and they had wondered around till they had come across the Pridelands.

"Zira wants all of us back at the cave…she said tonight's the night…" Dotty managed to get out watching as Spotty stepped back from her with a look of shock, Kumai who been listening opened her eyes and Asma who had woken when she heard them talking was watching Dotty with a wary look.

Climbing to her paws, Kumai eyed Dotty then looked off toward the east. She sighed, knowing this day would come. And as much as she had braced herself…she knew she wasn't ready for it. But had no choice in the matter. Each and every one of them had agreed to stand by Zira no matter what. That's what you did, when you owed someone your life she thought. She jumped down from the rocks followed shortly by Asma. "Then I suggest we get on back, tonight is not a night you want to anger Zira…" nodding their heads in agreement they fell in line along side one another making their way back toward Pride Rock. This time travelling faster then Dotty had to reach the watering hole.

Arriving it was to the laughter of cubs as the three were still in the middle of their racing game. Only this time they seemed to be slowing as their legs seemed to ache but each were still trying to beat the other. "What lap are you on?" Dotty called over to them wanting to see if she had to give them a new came to play so they didn't come into the den and find out what their mother was planning.

"Third!" Kovu called back to her.

"These two tripped and I got ahead of them and Hawa said it would only be fair if we started again…not fair I was winning!" Vitani stomped her paw on the ground but the cubs continues on running passing the lionesses as they each tried to pass the other.

When the others glanced toward her, Dotty explained "I needed a way to keep them out of the cave…I didn't wish for them to over hear what their mother plans on doing…" the other three didn't need much more of an explanation and nodded their heads in agreement, agreeing on the fact that the cubs didn't need to know that their mother planned on killing their friend.

Picking up the pace, the four of them arrived at the den just as the cubs rounded the corner ahead of them to continue their laps around Pride Rock. But the lionesses were sure the cubs would tire themselves out before they reached ten full laps especially since they started over. Hopefully, however, if or when they decided to rest they did so outside the cave.

"There you are!"

Lifting their heads they watched as Zira addressed them, bowing their heads daring not to say a word they moved to stand with Baya and Hawa, Kumai moving to sit along side her sister. Nudging her paw slightly with hers when she saw the sadness that seemed to be lingering in her younger sister's eyes. She knew how much Hawa respected Zuri, though she wouldn't openly admit it, especially not in front of Zira. But to Kumai, Hawa had entrusted her sister with the knowledge that she didn't hold anything against the new Queen. That she respected her for Zuri seemed to respect them despite how they treated her. And who was Kumai to tell her sister otherwise.

"…you were saying Zira…that you planned on going through with the plans…tonight?" Baya decided to speak up, to have Zira continue what she been…in all sense of the word, ranting, about to her and Hawa as the others had arrived. Hearing this the other lionesses sat at attention their eyes watching their apposed Queen as she began to pace back and forth between the back of the den and themselves. The lionesses created a semi-circle blocking off the front of the cave from the back. "Is it not too early?"

Stopping, Zira turned her face toward them, though having gotten use to the looks Zira's eyes held over the months, the pride-sisters had to resist the urge to shudder at the look of madness that was in said lioness' eyes. "This is the perfect time to strike! I overheard that outsider and that Nala, speaking about telling Simba," the way Zira spoke his name was as though the lion's very name was poison in her mouth. "About how they perceive me as the threat they been hiding their little Queen from…I heard they plan on turning my cubs against me!"

The lionesses' eyes widened at this. Though they would not admit, they had expected the Queen to tell her mate sooner or later of the threat. Many of them had secretly prayed she would, for it only seemed that Zuri had a problem with Zira and only Zira. She did not seem to think the rest of them as a threat, and by that should she have told her mate then it could mean they could be spared, compared to being punished together should they succeed in killing the Queen and royal cubs. Some of them wanted to run to the King himself and say what was going on…

But loyalty got in the way of them acting…

Hawa shifted nervously, biting her lip, she was not like the others. Her loyalty to Zira died the days the apposed Queen struck at her. It was the loyalty to her sister and pride-sisters of her former pride that made her bite her tongue and not do a thing.

"What do you mean they plan on turning the cubs against you…?" asked Hawa, she did not believe Queen Zuri would ever do such a thing. It was common fact that the Queen cared deeply for the cubs and one of the reasons why she hadn't said anything about Zira was for the fact that she didn't want to hurt Nuka, Vitani and Kovu in the process.

Growling, Zira turned toward them "I heard them say they would tell them around me, make me out to be a murderer in their eyes! And have them choose against me or staying here! I knew from the beginning that outsider was trying to brainwash my cubs! Well no more! Tonight, she and her brood dies!" the others flinched at the malice that dripped from the lioness' mouth.

"What is the plan?" though she did not want to speak of it, she knew it was better to get it out, and so Spotty had asked.

Grinning from ear to ear, Zira looked out of the cave and into the distance where she could see the storm forming. "This storm will give us the perfect opportunity. The thunder will wash out their cries, and our scents in the area will be washed away when we leave them there to be found later on…but I must lure the Queen from the caves…I want her to worry…to suffer….like I had when my Scar was taken from me!" slapping her paw against the ground she caused a rock to fly up and hit the wall on the opposite side of the cave.

"And we shall use the cubs to do that…"

The others narrowed their eyes slightly, they knew Zira had already originally planned on involving the cubs but it didn't mean they didn't like the idea. Bad enough they had to kill the cub's friend, but to involve them in order to lure their friend out into the open…that was just too low for even Zira, they thought. But they held their tongues.

"I shall…" they were drawn from their thoughts as they heard Zira continue on to explain how her plan would go down that evening just before the storm was to hit the Pridelands giving them hopefully enough time if the storm didn't keep Simba from heading to see his mate and cubs.

"Mommy, where are we going?"

Vitani watched as her mother didn't even bother to look back at her nor at her two brothers who trekked along side her as they trailed along after their mother. When they had finished their game when they grew too tired to continue they had made their way back to their den, hoping their mother or the other lionesses had food for them. But when ever got back they found they were unable to enter the den. When they demanded to know why they couldn't go in the cave too, it was Hawa who smiled at them and told them it was grown up business and not for the ears of cubs.

They had tried eavesdropping, but that hadn't worked as well as they had hoped for they been caught and quickly escorted by one of the lionesses and from then on one of them would watch the entrance of the cave to make sure neither cub could get close enough to hear what was going on inside.

It was shortly after that, which Zira had come out of the cave and called for her cubs to come to her. When they had run over, it was only for Zira to turn and walk away from them but giving an order of "Follow me" and without a second word all three cubs bounded after their mother. All curious as to where they were going. Though soon enough they noticed they were heading toward the Eastern borders, a part of the Pridelands that they hadn't been too yet because it was too far from Pride Rock and away from the watchful eyes of the Pride.

Zira walked briskly, she was keeping a casual pace so that her cubs could keep up with her. Never bothering to look back at neither of them as they kept on asking where she was taking them and why, as she trekked her way cross the savannah to anyone who would see them, it looked nothing more then a lioness escorting her cubs on a walk. Nothing unusual. At least that's what it was suppose to look like.

The plan was to lead the cubs out too the eastern borders, leave them near the cave system entrance. From there Zira would pretend to go hunt while she told the cubs to play in the surrounding area where she could keep a close eye on them. The goal was to lead the young Prince out, hopefully by hearing his friends it would be enough to lure the cub out of his cave. Zira knew from the times she's watched them, whenever the Queen would eat, she then feed the cubs and take a nap. That would be enough to make Kopa leave the cave without being stopped…and once the Queen would wake to find her cub missing…

Yes, the plan would work perfectly, Zira told herself.

Stopping, she scanned the area, she could catch Nala's scent in the air but it was already heading back toward Pride Rock. That made this all the more while. The King would not be back till sunset from his patrols; everything was going just fine…she then continued to lead the cubs still they were near the cave system. Stopping she looked back as her cubs had to quickly catch themselves before they crashed into their mother "You're to stay here…"

"Why?' asked Nuka, shrinking under his mothers gaze when it turned vicious for a brief moment but he looked up curious when her gaze softened and she bent to nuzzle him. "I just want you three too stay here, and play while I go hunt, but to keep yourselves within my eyesight" though he was wondering why his mother was so loving in that moment, Nuka took the affection nonetheless with a large grin.

"Couldn't we go with you Mama?" Vitani made her way over to her mother looking up at her. "I love watching the lionesses hunt because one day I'm gonna be a great huntress too!" pride dripped from her voice.

Zira felt pride for her only daughter but it was on brief as she shook her head, no, all three cubs had to be present. She knew from eavesdropping that the prince missed ALL his friends. "No, you are to stay here with your brothers. That is an order" she turned away from her cubs while Vitani's ears flattened against her head. She missed Zuri being around, the Queen always let them watch during the hunts whenever they could be around to watch it.

All three cubs watched till they saw their mother disappear into the long grass in the distance. Kovu rested his hand on his older sisters head grinning boldly at her "Come on 'Tani, don't be down, look around. We never been this far into the Pridelands before, we can explore and have fun" he looked over at Nuka who had the same look of excitement on his face that was on Kovu's.

The fact that they were somewhere they hadn't explored yet finally seemed to sink into Vitani's mind and her eyes too widened with excitement. Climbing to her paws she looked around and pointed her paw toward the rock formations that lined the border. "Let's go there…" she managed to say before Kovu shouted "Race yah! Last one there is a monkey's Uncle!" he started running ahead to get a head start and with shouts of "Hey!" and "You're cheating!" Nuka and Vitani took off after him. Racing toward the rocks, all equally excited to climb and see if they could look around all the Pridelands from them like they could from Pride Rock.

From deep within the cave, Zuri had already settled down for the afternoon, she had spoken with Nala again before she had left, the other lioness promising to send Simba her way once he returned. Zuri could only hope she was doing the right thing, but gazing at her cubs she knew with a heavy heart that she was. She wanted them to enjoy life in the Pridelands not hiding out inside some cave there was only one want to get rid of the threat now and that was to come forth with the truth. She wasn't sure how Simba was going to handle it, she was sure he might be upset that she and the others hadn't told him from the very beginning. And she was sure he wasn't going to come to terms with why she hadn't.

But she couldn't blame him. He wasn't close to the other cubs like she was. So it was expectant that he would be upset with her and she was alright with that. She just hoped she could get him to agree to allow the three of Zira's cubs to have a choice in the matter, and she was thinking along the lines of sparing Zira's lionesses. They were no threat to her, not like Zira. And she thought, if Zira was out of the way, perhaps then the strife between the Pridelanders and the Zira's followers would fade away and they all could be one pride like they were meant to be.

Smiling, at the thought she looked toward her cubs. Kopa was finishing off his food portions while the triplets were now yawning getting ready for their nap after they finished suckling. Picking Musa up, she placed him between her paws and began to bath him rolling him around in her paws to get every inch of him. As soon as she was done with him she moved onto Kiara and then finally Eshe.

By the time all three cubs were bathed they were already sleeping soundly, nestled against the warmth of the soft fur of her underbelly while she curled her body protectively around them and watched them slip off to sleep with a content look on her face. When she thought of having cubs in the past, she hadn't expected to have so many but she was grateful nonetheless that the ancestors had blessed her with four beautiful cubs. Two wonderful sons and two equally wonderful daughters.

She couldn't have asked for more…other than they all stay alive, she thought with a saddened look washing over her face but it was only for a brief moment and was gone by the time Kopa looked toward her. "Come here my little prince" she motioned for him to come closer so that she could wash the blood from his face from his meal. Wrapping her paw around him once he was close to her and drew him closer and began cleaning his face with her tongue.

"Mom?"

"Yes, son?" Zuri continued her bath while Kopa rested himself down in her paws for once not giving up a fight to allow her to bathe him.

"What were you and Nala talking about, I heard you mention dad…and my friends…" the young prince lifted his head to face his mother once she stopped bathing him once she heard what he wanted to know. Zuri seemed conflicted at what she thought to tell him, she had decided it was best not to tell her son already since she didn't want to give him false hope but she knew she had to tell him something or he would keep questioning about it. "We were talking about how your friends keep asking to play with you, your father keeps telling them they can't and such…but don't worry…I'm sure you'll see them soon."

Kopa felt that his mother was keeping something from him, he could just tell by the look in her eyes. And though he wanted to know, he didn't have to pester his mother, he could also tell that whatever it was was also bothering her and he didn't want to upset her by making her tell him what was going on. So instead he just smiled and said "Alright, mom" licking her cheek he jumped out of her paws and began walking around the cave in his daily game of 'exploring' though he pretty much explored the entire cave already it kept him from going mad from not doing anything else. Without Binti he couldn't go to the Eastern pride to play, he promised his mother he knew the way but she refused saying she couldn't risk him getting lost or hurt.

Zuri watched him closely, she knew how badly he wanted to go out and play but it was something she couldn't let him do. But hopefully…she thought with a smile. Yes, Kopa would soon be able to go out and play and so would her three other cubs once they were able to open their eyes and have the strength to run around.

Looking back at the triplets who were still nestled against her stomach she reached around and ran her tongue along each of their backs watching them squirm slightly but not wake. She smiled giving them a small nudge before she laid her head down near them, her body tucked completely around them to keep them warm and safe. She knew Kopa would keep close while she napped, her eldest son knew from past mistakes of sneaking off to the back of the cave while she napped that it caused his mother panic when she woke to find him missing.

The young prince himself turned his head to watch his mother and siblings. Despite spending most of her time laying, and feeding the cubs he knew his mother was exhausted more often then not. He knew this because he could still feel her wake with a start that would also wake him and sometimes the triplets whenever she woke from a disturbing nightmare. It was nights like those he would crawl into her paws to comfort her and it seemed to work for she would drift off to sleep again.

And no matter how many times he asked, he could never get his mother to tell him what the dreams were about. She always insisted they were nothing and that he shouldn't worry about them because she didn't let them bother her. But he could tell she was lying whenever she said that. But wanting to be a good son, he never pestered his mother on the topic not when he knew it bothered her. Slumping his shoulders he slapped his paw against the ground, looking around the cave he tried to think of something he could do to entertain himself…at times he would settle for napping with his family to pass the time but at that moment of time he wasn't in the mood to nap.

Lunch time was usually followed by playtime back at Pride Rock. But without anything to do and no one to play with…that wasn't as fun as it would be back home. Where he had his friends and the other lionesses and his father at times to play with. Even his mother would play with him, here in this cave she was unable to do that, and especially not when she had three other cubs to look after.

Grumbling, Kopa moved toward the caves entrance and stared out it into the grasslands of the eastern border. Looking up, his ears twitched when they picked up a new sound coming from outside the cave…it sounded too similar to that of…laughter? Not just any laughter, but the laughter of other cubs.

Jumping to his paws he ventured closer to the entrance but stopped when he heard his mother's body shift but looking back at her he saw she was still asleep. Looking back at the entrance he heard the laughter again, only this time it was getting closer…there was only three other grown cubs in the Pridelands that Kopa knew about and he doubted the Eastern pride was in the Pridelands.

So it could only mean one thing…his friends.

A large grin broke across the young prince's face as he moved closer and poked his head out of the cave and sure enough he could hear the laughter even louder then before and on the wind he caught the scent of Nuka, Kovu and Vitani. He looked back at his mother one more time, he wanted to wake her to tell her, thinking she would let him out to play just this once but then he thought against it.

Perhaps he could be back before she even knew he was gone?

With that thought in mind, the Pridelander prince wiggled his way out of the cave and onto the rocks just outside and peered around trying too pinpoint the exact location of his friends. Following his nose, he climbed with some difficulty up onto the rocks and bounded across them trying not to slip and fall into a crevasse. The closer he got the stronger his friends scents were as was their laughter and he began to hear them talking as well.

Climbing atop of a rock he peered down, and saw them climbing over the lower rocks and within the grass. He wondered why they were so far from pride rock but all that was thrown to the wind as he grinned and crept his way down moving quietly toward Vitani the way his mother caught him to creep. Wiggling his rump in the air he jumped from his hiding place with a small roar and pounced upon the she-cub knocking her off the rock she been perched on and down into the grass below.

Vitani wasn't sure what had hit her. All she knew was there was a suddenly roar, and she was knocked to the ground before she knew what was happening and who or what had hit her. Growling, she twisted her body prepared to swipe at the thing that was pinning her down just like her mother taught her when she found herself looking up into the laughing face of her friend and prince. "K…Kopa!?"

"Should have seen the look on your face Tani" Kopa jumped back to allow Vitani room to get back up onto her paws.

Nuka and Kovu quickly jumped down from the rocks as soon as their shock had worn off, all they remembered was a brownish gold mass collide with their sister and was prepared to defend her the best they could when they realized that brownish gold mass had and was indeed their friend and prince. "What are you doing here?" inquired Nuka.

"Yeah…we were told you were still sick and inside the den…" Kovu looked at the Pridelander prince questioningly.

Sick? In the den? Kopa thought, why would they tell them he was sick?

"I was never sick…" Kopa started watching confusion come over the other three cubs faces. "Mom and I have been hiding out…the others all say mom and I and the other cubs are all in danger…so dad brought us out here to hide…" he explained shifting his paws not knowing how much trouble he would get in but he didn't understand why the pride had lied to his friends. Why didn't they just tell them the truth? He wondered.

Sharing a look, the three siblings looked at Kopa, they too were wondering why the pride had lied to them. Vitani stepped forward, "Why are you in danger…?"

"I don't know…the others won't tell me…they just keep whispering it to themselves whenever I'm near…"

"But who would want to hurt Queen Zuri?" asked Nuka. He couldn't understand why someone would want to hurt Zuri, she was too nice for someone to want to hurt her, he thought. She was always so patience and calm with the cubs, even when they did something that upset her she wouldn't yell but she would express how concern she had been and how she didn't want to see any of them hurt. Not like his mother who always yelled.

Kopa could only shrug his shoulders, 'No one tells me anything" he mumbled slapping his paw against the ground. "It's been so boring out here…but Binti came by and she took me out into the Eastern lands, there I met the pride there…they have LOTS of cubs…Dad said when all this trouble is over, that he'll open the alliance with them once more so that we could all play together" he watched as his friends eyes all widened and excitement came over their face's while Kopa went on to talk about the eastern pride and how many cubs they had. Vitani though looked interested in the fact that they had girl cubs she could play with and with that thought in mind she asked "Did your mom really have the cubs?"

A large grin came across Kopa's face and he held his head high with a proud look and nodded his head once. "Yup, sure did. A boy and two girls. Mom and dad named the boy Musa and one of the girls Eshe and let me name the other. I named her Kiara" he held his head even higher at that fact that he named one of his sisters.

"Two girls?" Vitani's face lit up at the mention that the Pridelands now had two more female cubs of their own.

"Yeah…but mom says they're too young to play…well at least for now. Their eyes aren't even open yet…it get's boring just playing with them by calling their name to see whether or not they follow…" the young Prince scoffed.

"Can we see them?"

Looking toward Kovu, Kopa seemed to be rolling it around in his mind, he was told no one but those trusted were allowed in the cave. But weren't his friends trustful? His mother trusted them, she liked them, and he knew she did because she expressed it often. He bet she missed them just as much as he had, but he shook his head but at their downhearted looks he quickly added. "Mom's napping with the cubs…she's been having lots of bad dreams and is really tired…but when her naps over, she'll call for me and then I'm sure she'll love to see you" that sounded like a fine plan. Yeah, he was sure his mother would be angry with him for leaving the cave but he was also sure she would understand his reason when she saw the other cubs with him.

"Where you been hiding out?" Nuka looked about.

Kopa turned and pointed his paw in the direction he had come from, "There's a cave somewhere over there…" now that he thought about it, he couldn't exactly tell where it was…they had come to the cave during the night and he wasn't really looking where he was going when he went to find his friends. Chewing on his lip he lowered his paw, he was sure he'd find it again.

Nuka, Kovu and Vitani shared another look; none of them were sure what to really think of the royals hiding out. All were curious as to who would want to hurt Queen Zuri? This both upset them and angered them, none of them wanted the Queen to be hurt or their friend. It was Kovu who finally jumped to his paws grinning from ear to ear. "Hey how bout we go catch some dinner for Zuri…show her we been practicing our hunting skills?"

Vitani and Nuka were soon sporting identical grins and nodded their heads vigorously still Nuka shuffled his paw against the ground. "But remember mom said she was going to hunting…and would be back for us?"

"Yeah, hunting for 'US'…not Zuri. We'll hunt for Zuri; I heard the lionesses saying that mothers need more of the kill so that they can produce lots of milk for the cubs." Vitani shoved her older brother with her paw, "Plus, stop being such a mama's boy"

"I am not a Mama's boy!" Nuka stomped his paw against the ground.

"Sure, you're not Nuka" both Kopa and Kovu grinned widely at the older cub. Turning his head, Nuka glared at them before Vitani stepped forward with a roll of her eyes, "Come on boys, lets go hunt for Zuri before mom gets back" with that she pushed on past them with a shove knocking them all down onto their rumps while they stared after her then grinning the three male cubs jumped to their paws and hurried on after her. Kopa just excited to help hunt for his mother like the pride did to help her as well as play and hunt with his friends.

A pair of dark amber eyes gleaming with malice and satisfaction watched from the tall grass where Zira had been keeping an eye on her cubs all along and she was more then pleased that her plan had worked. Her cubs had coaxed the prince out of hiding. Now all she had to do was wait…the storm would be on them soon…then she would collect her cubs, and take them home and rally with the others were they were all stationed waiting for her signal.

Lifting her head she looked off in the direction she saw the storm brewing in the distance, it was faint but she could hear the thunderous pound of the thunder and the quick flashes of light from the lightning in the distance. How symbolic, she thought with a malice smile, that a storm would mark the day of her revenge, the day she made Simba feel the same pain she felt when she had lost Scar, just as a storm had brewed that very night as well.

Yes, all was going according to her plan…

"HA! Gotcha!" Kopa grinned from ear to ear as his paws connected with a crawshay hare pinning it to the ground as it struggled and going as his mother had taught him grabbed it's neck in his jaws until it laid motionless. Then gathering it in his mouth, he held his head high as he dragged it back to his friends.

The cubs had been hunting and playing for two hours, but had barely made any kills as their pray had on more then one occasion outwitted and outraced the cubs. But that didn't mean they hadn't caught some…

The young prince dropped the hare amongst the pile, or what almost looked like one for it only consisted of a striped weasel, two shrews and finally the hare that Kopa had caught. Lifting his eyes, he watched as Kovu and Vitani returned empty handed again, but Nuka was sitting proudly by the striped weasel he had caught. Obviously happy that he had managed to catch the largest of his siblings catches even if Kopa's was larger then his, he was proud and happy that he bested his brother and sister's catches.

"Hey I was following that hare before" Vitani scowled as she pointed at the hare laying at Kopa's paws. The prince smirked and held his head up high, "Well I guess that I'm a better hunter then you it seems if I caught the hare you couldn't" he laughed as she tried to swipe her paw at him only to have Kopa dodge.

Bending his head down Kovu examined the four kills and then leaned back looking at the others. "You think this would be enough to feed her?"

"Well Nala brought us lunch. The others don't come but every two days with food. I'm sure mom will like all this to have some extra's" Kopa said, he knew his mom tried to give him the larger helpings of food that was brought to them while she ate what she could to give herself strength as well as be able to produce enough milk to feed three cubs.

So he figured she would love these, he thought. He smirked nudging the hare with his paw; he couldn't wait to show his mother what he caught. This was the biggest hare he managed to catch since his hunting lessons began and he was hoping she would be proud of him. Well…after she scolded him from leaving the cave…but he was sure she would still be proud of him.

Nuka himself was thinking along the same lines, he really wanted to show his mother that he had caught the largest kill next to Kopa. He looked toward Kovu, and then maybe his mother wouldn't think Kovu was everything. He cast a look at his brother, it wasn't that he didn't love his brother; he just wished that their mother would pay as much attention to and praise him as much as she did with Kovu. Even Vitani seemed to get more praise then him when it came to her hunting skills.

The cubs suddenly jumped when they heard the sound of thunder and turned their heads in union toward the approaching storm that was just reaching the Pridelands. They had noticed it hours ago but it was far enough away that they could get in some play and hunting time before it would hit.

"We should go and bring these to Zuri before the storm hits…" Vitani said as she stepped forward and grabbed the shrew while the others nodded and grabbed their own kills and started off toward the rocks in the east. It was then that they realized that they had run too far from the rock formations when they were playing. Bunch of their prey had run so far they had just ended up following.

And the Vitani, Nuka and Kovu knew they had best get back less their mother had returned from hunting and didn't find them where she left them, and they knew she would be angry if that was the case. But they figured they were okay so far, given Zira hadn't shown up during the time they were running about. They also figured they would have run into their mother but they hadn't, that made them thought that perhaps she was hunting bigger prey elsewhere.

They quickened their pace when they heard the thunder again as it approached but it was the lightning that was starting to light up the sky that made them move even faster. If they looked up they were able to see that the sky was beginning too get darker and darker. "Which way is the cave?" Kovu asked as they soon figured they really didn't know the way to the cave and looked toward Kopa.

The prince though was asking himself the same question, but he just kept moving toward where he thought east was figuring he find where his mother and siblings scents were that would lead him there. He only gave them a look in which that told them to follow and so the three did without a word.

All four were unaware that they were being follow and had been followed the entire time by Zira who had watched the cubs. Not only was she keeping tabs on the prince she was taking time to watch her cubs at their hunting, even though it angered her to know they were hunting for the enemy she did feel an ounce of pride watching her eldest catch the weasel though she would never openly admit it.

Perfect, the cubs had wandered far from the east just like she had hoped and they were heading back. That's where she had to stop them, and turn Kopa into the opposite direction. She looked at the body of the antelope beside her; she had caught it to show her cubs that she hadn't been lying about catching them dinner.

Standing, she grabbed it by its neck and then hoisted it up onto her back and began making her way toward the cubs who were none the wiser that they were being followed. She followed them for a mile before she set the antelope down and roared catching their attention and hurried toward them placing a look of anger on her face. "Did I not leave you there and tell you to stay! I came back and saw you gone, something could have happened to you and I wouldn't know what" she scolded them watching her cubs drop each of their kills and sit lowering their heads as she scolded them.

She stopped in front of the cubs eyeing her three then looking at Kopa and faked a look of surprise "Prince Kopa, I heard you were sick…why are you out here alone? Don't you know it's not safe for cubs to be out on their own all the time?"

Kopa stared at Zira, dropping his hare, he shifted his paws. He was never sure how he felt about the lioness. She was the mother of his friends, the mate of his dead great-uncle. He was always unsure of what to think about her, she was never really nice but she was never really too cruel to him. His mother always defended Zira and the others. Saying there should never be hate between pride sisters and that one should not hate Zira for she was only a lioness who mourned the loss of her beloved. But there was always something in the look she gave him that made him uneasy much like it was doing that very moment as she settled her gaze down upon him.

"Well…"

"Kopa and Queen Zuri are out here hiding out Mama, Kopa says they are in danger…that someone wants to kill them!" Vitani piped up.

Once again, Zira faked a look of shock and surprise "Oh my, that's terrible!"

"Who would want to hurt Zuri? She's so nice…I don't want anyone to hurt her or Kopa he's my friend!" Kovu climbed to his paws, missing the look of disappointment his mother gave him when he mentioned he didn't want anything to happen to Zuri and the royal cubs.

"My sweet cubs, I'm sure they'll be fine" Zira bent her head and nuzzled her cubs before pulling back when thunder echoed and lightning flashed. "Come, we need to get back to Pride rock"

"But mom…we want to see Queen Zuri and the cubs! We even hunted for her see!" Nuka decided to speak nudging his kill for his mom to see. When she looked toward him, he watched her set her eyes down on the weasel at his paws and asked "Did you kill that Nuka?" when he nodded she added "I'm very proud of you well done" she looked away however when his smile broadened and he held himself with pride at being praised even though he was surprised he hadn't be expecting it but he was happy for it nonetheless.

"I am sorry, but we cannot bring these to the Queen, I must get you all back to the storm gets worst" Zira turned and began making her way back toward her kill "Bring yours home with you, you can show the others what you all caught…"

"What about Kopa? We can't leave him alone…what if…" Vitani looked at her friend worriedly.

"Oh, don't worry, there is no one around but us…oh and Kopa…the caves are that way…and be careful young prince…you shouldn't wander too far from your mother, it's not safe" Zira smirked at the prince then made her way toward the antelope missing the look of confusion that came over the prince's face when he heard her mention the caves but only nodded his head and looked at his friends. Each had a face of sadness that they couldn't see Zuri Kopa just grinned at him.

"Hey, I'll tell mom that you tried hunting for her…I'm sure you'll be able to come and visit now that you know the truth…" he fell silent when Zira called back to her cubs.

"Hurry up, I wish to get back before the rain starts!"

"Coming!" the three called back to their mother then looked at Kopa. Vitani padded over and nuzzled her friend and licked his cheek causing him to still and the skin under his fur heat up. She cast a glare at her two brothers when they made gagging noises but gave her wide toothy grins when she glared in their direction.

"Be safe Kopa" Vitani whispered giving the prince another nuzzle. Nuka and Kovu made their way over and nudged their friend with their paws "Yeah, we'll try and come out here tomorrow to see you…that is if this storm passes…maybe the rainy season's come early" Nuka grinned as the cubs quickly grabbed their kills and hurried after their mother when she called for them again.

Kopa remained where he was, watching his friends hurry on after their mother while she picked up her antelope kill and carried it off with her cubs following along behind her as the sky continued to get darker and darker and the thunder louder. How did she know where the caves were? Kopa pondered but he didn't ponder long about it as he jumped when a loud crack of thunder roared and looking around he soon discovered he was alone.

Looking in the direction that Zira had pointed too, he grabbed the hare again and started off in that direction running as best he could carrying it in his mouth by it's neck. Though unknowns to the young prince, he had been lead off in the wrong direction, far off away from the safety of his mother.

Back at the caves, Zuri stirred slightly when she heard a rumbling outside, she had heard it for some time but she figured it was some sort of storm that was approaching the Pridelands. The first bit of rumbling she heard had woken her but not enough for her to open her eyes, instead she just settled back and tried to slip back off to sleep.

But as the storm drew closer and closer, she found herself less and less able to fall back asleep. Furrowing her brow, she clenched her eyes shut trying to will herself to sleep but as a loud crack of thunder echoed outside the cave and wrung off the inner walls her head snapped up just as she heard the surprise cries of her cubs who were awoken by the thunder.

"There, there my little ones, it's only thunder" she cooed "it cannot hurt you" she twisted her body to look at the three cubs nestled against her but their heads were raised and blindly looking around their cries only got louder as thunder sounded again. "It'll be alright…" Zuri whispered remembering Kopa had pretty much the same reaction the first time he had heard thunder for the first time when he was as small as they.

Bending her head, she nuzzled them, licking their tiny bodies to reassure them that she was there and that everything would be okay. She smiled as Musa made his way over and crawled half way up onto her nose mewing at his mother before she used he paw to settle him down beside his two sisters. "There my boy, you will be fine…Kopa, are you alright, you're awfully quiet" smiling the Pridelander queen gazed up and around the cave but her smile soon disappeared when she noticed her eldest cub was nowhere around her.

"Kopa?!" she jumped to her paws quickly causing her three youngest cubs to mew in protest as their mothers body moved away from them so suddenly.

Zuri looked around, hurrying to the back of the cave where Kopa was known to wander too whenever he was bored and figured he must have explored against her wishes of wandering too far while she napped. But her sons scent in this area was old not fresh and this sent a jolt of panic through her and she began searching the cave system as far she could go praying even though the scent was old he was still in the caves.

Wandering back to the main cave, her heart was pounding in her chest and she felt tears rimming her eyes. Where was her baby? Where was he? She looked at the triplets who were laid upon the floor mewing for their mother when another crack of thunder made her suddenly look at the cave entrance and her heart sank in her chest.

No…he couldn't have possibly…he had never wandered out of the cave the entire time they been there yet…why would he now…but still…she could not push aside this sinking feeling in her chest as more tears brimmed her eyes and she crept slowly toward the cave entrance slipping on outside. The sky was pitch dark, and nothing could be seen for very far save when a chance of lightning flashed across the sky lighting up the area.

Kopa…where was he…sniffing the air she caught his scent. For a moment she felt disappoint that he had gone outside the cave against her wishes but another part of her was in full blown panic…but that panic skyrocketed when the wind brought a new scent to her…the scent of a lioness she hadn't smelt in some time…a lioness who brought a chill to her heart…

"No…" she breathed looking up as thunder roared and the sky seemed to finally open up and the rain came pouring down onto the Pridelands.

"Kopa…" dread filled her, her baby was out there…but so was she…the tears finally spilled from her eyes as panic built up ten fold inside her but they were washed away as her body was soaked in moments from the rain. "Kopa…"

"KOPA!?" her voice was added to the thunderous cries of the raging storm.

Hope you enjoyed the chapter. I'll be sure to update soon. Please remember to review.