Chapter 27

In the outlands:

Taja, Imani, and Shanni were all working really well together with the hyenas. Taja had severely injured one of them and they limped away. Imani and one down. She ready to kill it when another jumped on her back. Shanni helped by throwing the animal to the side. Imani let go of the other hyena due to its injuries. The three hyenas ran away scared. After their battle, Taja, Imani and Shanni all continued their journey back to Pride Rock. On their way back, they encountered a rouge lioness. She was watching the three for a while now, and they had just begun to notice.

"Excuse me, can we help you with something." Said Taja when he caught the lioness' gaze.

The lioness smirked and walked towards the lions.

"Stay behind me you two." Said Taja as he guarded Shanni and Imani.

The lioness got closer.

"Well if it isn't little Imani." Said the lioness as she stared the three teens down.

"H-How do you know me?" asked Imani.

"Don't worry about how I know you. Just know that I do." Said the lioness with a sinister smile.

"What do you want?" asked Taja harshly.

"What I want doesn't concern you boy now stay out of this!" snapped the lioness.

Taja didn't flinch. He wasn't scared of this lioness. In fact, he wasn't scared of anything unless it had to do with his friends and family.

"You watch yourself." Said Taja.

"No you watch yourself. No one told you to leave the Pride Lands in search of this brat. She's nothing but trouble." Said the Lioness.

"You're wrong!" snapped Shanni who came from behind Taja.

"Imani is a good girl. You're probably just jealous. I mean, look you. You're ugly and you look like you haven't eaten for days." Said Shanni.

Taja and Imani chuckled at Shanni's insult.

"Wait a minute." Said Taja. "How did you know we left the Pride Lands? No one knew except our friends."

The lioness chuckled a bit.

"All your friends knew? What about Ari or Prince Adin?" asked the lioness.

"Who are you and what do you want?" asked Taja irritated.

"My name is Ella and just know, that we, will be watching you."

After that the lioness disappeared.

"I have a feeling she will be back." Said Shanni.

"ME too." Said Taja.

Then Shanni and Taja both turned to Imani.

"Imani, do you know her?" asked Taja.

"After she said her name, its all coming back to me. Ella was one of the lionesses that kicked my mother out of the pride when I was a cub." said Imani

"What does that have to do with anything?" asked Shanni.

Imani looked at Taja and Shanni.

"There may be a chance that my mother, may still be alive." Said Imani.

"Only one way to find out." Said Shanni. "Let's get you home."

And with that, the three teens continued their way home.

Back at Pride Rock:

Tara and Melody came running in the den. They saw another lioness with Kiara and Vitani.

"Tara, Melody, come here." Said Kiara.

The two teen girls walked over to the queen.

"Tara, Melody, this is Kira. Imani's mother." Said Kiara.

"Hi." Said Tara and Melody at the same time.

"Hello girls." Said Kira. "Now I have heard, that you tow were friends with my daughter."

"Yea, sort of." Said Tara. "What do you mean sort of?" asked Kiara.

Tara and Melody looked at each other.

"Well, she came to the Pride injured. Our King Kovu and Queen Kiara here, let her stay because she said she didn't have a pride of her own." Said Tara.

"And our friend Ari fell head over paw for her." Said Melody.

"Then one day, Ari's sister Shanni, found something very interesting 'bout our little friend Imani." Finished Tara.

"Which was?" asked Kiara.

"Imani.., She wasn't as trustworthy as we all thought." Said Melody.