Hey! Welcome back.

L0RD3N: Thank you for that, it's much appreciated! What I write doesn't always appeal to everyone, so it's nice to know that there are some people who find it as enjoyable as you say. :)

MysteryWriter175: A fool Zira definitely is. A very dangerous fool if left unchecked.

SnowyMarble: Yeah. Couldn't just leave everything on a high note, have to cause some chaos somewhere. :)

superstarampharos: Let me just say that this review is one of the highest praises I've ever gotten on my writing. So I think it goes without saying that I appreciate the heck out of you for writing that to me, made my week like 20x better. And that scene is also one of my favorites I've written!

Shel21: Some crazy people probably find individual reviews for each chapter annoying... Not me! I find it incredibly inspiring waking up to 10+ reviews from the same person writing about each chapter. Thank you so much! Even if too you, writing those two or three words seems irrelevant, I promise, it isn't!

(love you amazing lurkers as well, keep being awesome and reading thank you!)

Alright, enjoy the next one friends!

Chapter 12

"The Pride of a Princess"

The lions here were so friendly. Once we had made our way to the carcass with the rest of the pride, I had been approached by many lions and lionesses, asking (very politely I might add) if they could inspect me. Because I was in human form right now, and most had never seen, let alone felt one's skin. Each one treated me like their own, nuzzling and purring as they rubbed against me. A few lionesses even attempted to bathe me before Mkali shooed them off, thankfully.

Some asked to meet me in my lion form, and of course I had to go through the annoying conversation of explaining I had no idea why I had it, or even how to switch at will. Kiara and Mjanja were getting a kick out of it, as they watched me slowly realize first hand that celebrities have it rough. "Prince Daniel?" The lioness I was currently talking to said worriedly.

"H-Huh? Oh… yeah sorry." I said. It was an older lioness who had asked me if I minded somebody feeling my skin for the hundredth time. I was over it. Her mate must have noticed I wasn't too thrilled as he flashed me a sympathetic look. I looked over at my sister and Mkali's family, they were all eating and hanging out. I hadn't gotten the chance to eat, and I was beginning to feel quite alienated.

I had been rather explicit with every lioness or lion up to this point, not to rub against my left arm. Because that was the one that had been mauled, and it still hurt like hell when someone bumped it. But I had not expressed these things to my current visitor. And that quickly came to my mind… right as she nuzzled it quite roughly. I jerked my whole body away and released a yelp of pain. The lionesses reaction was almost funny if I hadn't been in pain. Have you ever seen those videos of cats jumping like fifteen feet in the air when they get startled? That was her.

As soon as she realized she hurt me, her and her mate rushed over to me, as well as Mkali from behind. "I'm so sorry my prince!" The lioness began to panic.

Mkali jumped in front of me and growled at the duo, "What did you do?!"

The poor lioness looked like she was already in tears, and she tried to hiccup out an answer as I patted Mkali's side. "It was my fault Mkali, she didn't do it on purpose." Mkali nodded respectfully and backed away.

"How's it y-your fault?" She stuttered

"Are you alright little one?" Her mate asked.

I walked over and sighed, then I rubbed the top of her head. "That's my arm that got mauled, the one you nuzzled. I forgot to tell you not to do that, so it was my fault."

She pulled her paws away and looked down at my arm, then back up at my face which was only a smile. Then she nodded, "I should've known that to begin with. My apologies, my prince." She said with a bow as her tears subsided.

I groaned, "Please stop calling me things like 'my prince' too. It's just Daniel or Ajabu, I am not above you guys, we're all family."

"Agreed!" Her mate chimed.

She smiled shyly, "Can I nuzzle your face?"

I shrugged, and she did so. The feeling briefly reminded me of my mother who might be in trouble, but I shook the thought out. The lioness pulled back, "You're so sweet. We're honored to have you as a prince." She said happily. I blushed and nodded with a bow.

"Hey, furball." Mkali started from right behind me as the duo walked off, "You gonna eat or what?"

"I looked down at my body, then back up at her. "Furball?""

She rolled her eyes and laughed, "I'll take that as a yes." I shrugged and followed her over, and felt myself grow weary. Shadows were dancing on the edge of my vision, just out of sight.

Nala looked distraught, and nearly bolted off in the direction of pride rock. She watched as the outlanders disappeared with their backs turned, she had an urge to bolt after them and rip them to shreds, but she couldn't move. She was stuck in her own fear. A couple of lionesses almost seemed to do what she wished, until eventually Simba took hold of the situation. He roared around him, "Get Sarabi to pride rock now! You two, rush off to get Rafiki. The rest of you…" he paused, in contemplation, fear was dancing on the edge of his eyes, "Guard pride rock with me."

The lionesses all released growls of agreement as they sent off to do as they were told. A group of four lionesses including Sarafina began to lift Sarabi onto their backs as quickly as possible. A few lionesses huddled around their queen, rubbing against her worriedly. "Nala?" Simba asked as he approached.

She didn't so much as budge, and Simba grabbed hold of her muzzle with his paws, "Nala!" He said loudly. This time she made eye contact.

"Simba… Simba they're going to take my cubs, or worse! And there's nothing we can do about it!" She breathed quickly. "What if they're already gone?!"

He nuzzled and consoled her, "Okay, breathe, breathe. None of that is going to happen I promise. Come on, let's go home."

She shook her head, turning her petrified silence and fear into more. Protectiveness and rage filled her, "They won't have him." She said with an edge. She wanted to bolt ahead and rejoin her cubs, but was distracted as she looked at the group carrying Sarabi, as did Simba.

"Go!" Sarafina shouted from under them, "Protect them." They nodded as they saw that a few lionesses stayed back to guard the group. And without any hesitation Nala and Simba shot towards pride rock.

As they ran Nala couldn't help her thoughts from consuming her, "Simba…" she started, "Do you really think she was telling the truth?"

He wanted to say no, to console his mate and to give her what would undoubtedly be false hope, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. "Yes, I do. But I think she's underestimating our cubs, they wouldn't be taken so easily. They're smart Nala."

She looked forward with determination, "I know."

Not long after, I was enjoying a quick meal as the night got colder and colder. I had made a small fire away from the rest of the pride, thankfully I had kept a lighter in my pack and the grass around here was dry as could be. Whilst eating I smelled something awful, that wasn't my food. It took me less than a few seconds to realize that it was me, and I practically wretched at my own smell. My clothes were tattered and ripped all over due to the hyenas, caked in blood on parts, and completely muddy. My body itself wasn't as dirty, due to mom's tongue baths. But… I'd completely forgotten about my own personal hygiene. I guess this was a pretty crazy week… I really wished I knew how to make clothes, or had some clue on how to get more.

After cooking it to my preferred amount, I lifted the slab of cooked meat to my mouth, nearly drooling and digging in before realizing I should be careful of how hot it was. The taste was almost heavenly for being out in the middle of the savannah. Crunchy on the outside and juicy on the inside, and not hard to chew. Eating in lion form was nasty, not that it tasted bad, but being covered in blood and guts while eating raw meat felt off. Couldn't blame myself for the feeling either, I was raised with good manners. Deep in thought I heard two sets of paw steps behind me, and turned to see Kiara and Mjanja, they sat to the left with large pieces of meat dropping from their muzzles.

"Hey stranger," Kiara said absentmindedly as she dug in.

I smiled, "The fire doesn't scare you two?"

They shook their heads, and Mjanja scoffed, "I hang out with Timon and Pumbaa too much, and those two put together the most dangerous fires. You seem to know what you're doing."

Kiara and I laughed, and she nodded, "Yeah there's a reason they're banned from making fires in the grasslands, specifically."

I returned to my eating, with a warm feeling through my body. There was only one thing missing from this, and I sighed, "Do you think…" I began, stopping myself. Kiara looked at me curiously, "…Mom and Dad, so you think they're okay?"

Mjanja nudged her, and whispered loudly, "Big sister time," he said with a laugh.

Kiara rolled her eyes at him and smiled sympathetically at me, "This happens quite a bit between our two prides. They're just extra on edge because of the threats towards you. Mom and Dad are completely fine."

So it was because of me, as usual. I shook the thought out of my head, "Why. Why does Zira hate me so much, and who are they?"

"Outlanders," Mjanja began, "Exiled lionesses from our pride who've banded together."

"No male lions?" I was confused.

He shook his head, taking another bite and swallowing before continuing, "They used to have a king, named scar. He wouldn't have allowed any competition anyway. She banned all males from the pride after he died. Now the only time they have cubs is when they hook up with random outcasts from other prides, which of course, the old hag treats them horribly."

Kiara hummed in agreement, "We've taken in a few of those cubs that they've had, that Zira puts at death's edge. Only a couple have lived…"

We sat in silence for a while, as I released an enlightened "Huh," and I paused, "That's awful."

"You can say that again," Mjanja agreed.

"To answer your other question," Kiara began, "She hates almost everything. But you being different is what she hates, she doesn't understand you at all. I mean, you are pretty special, little bro." She said with a giggle.

I groaned, choosing not to chastise the use of little based on size, "So she hates me because I'm human, which is understandable, I hate humans for the most part too. Since they took everything from me." My two companions looked at me with pity.

I shook my head and smiled, "But that doesn't mean I hate being a human right now. Human's have the potential for kindness, sympathy, and all those other things that make people great to be with. But unfortunately you guys have never been given the chance to meet one."

"Not true," a new voice sounded from behind, I turned to see Mkali, Hekima, Sanaa, and Kimya bring their own dinners over. Mkali had been the one to speak. "We met you, Dan. That's enough to convince us that humans aren't all we've been told." All four other lions nodded in agreement.

They all sat around the fire, staring into the flames as they ate voraciously. I finished my own meal finally, "But humans are still dangerous. Just because I'm not, doesn't mean others won't be. Since you guys are well… animals… and me now too! But since we're animals, poachers will always be out for us. And it's too dangerous to wonder if any vehicle we see may be a safari, or hunters trying to sell our pelts. And for what, money? Sport? Best to run, rather than give them business instead."

They all stopped eating to stare at me as I ranted. I rubbed the back of my head sheepishly, "Sorry, maybe that got a bit darker than I thought it would." They all laughed a bit, returning to their food.

Mkali nuzzled me, "No, you're just speaking from the heart."

Sanaa smirked, "You're pretty smart for the King and Queen's youngest."

Kimya giggled, "Sanaa, he's literally older than Kiara."

Sanaa rolled her eyes humorously and bumped shoulders with Kimya, "I'm going off his lion form of course. I think that's a better indication of their maturity."

I crossed my arms, and smirked, "If I had a choice, I wouldn't be so tiny as a lion either."

"Your size does not permit your greatness, your heart does." Hekima added.

Mkali laughed heartily, "If you had a choice, we wouldn't have ever seen you as a lion cub. The great kings are funny in that way."

I looked up and marveled at the stars for a few moments. It was gorgeous out here at night. All I could think of is that my father must've been up there watching me. "Yeah, they are." I said slowly.

All was silent for a while again, and most of not all of us had finished eating. Kiara eventually found herself resting her head on my lap as I sat with my legs crossed. And Mjanja on my right, laying with his head facing behind us. Our three guards conversed quietly. At one point after staring into the fire long enough, I felt a familiar feeling engross me. Recognizably, it was my feeling of wishing to dance with the fire. Regrettably I had no way of actually doing so that wasn't recklessly dangerous, so I sighed and rested my eyes with a yawn. "I think the cubs are ready for sleep," I vaguely heard Mkali say as they looked over.

Slowly I felt the tingling odd sensation wash over my body, and dump me unceremoniously into the dirt below as a cub. Kiara fell a bit from my lap with a thump, which caused her to wake up, and Mjanja jerked back to consciousness as well. Afterwards, I looked sheepishly at the two as I was lying on my back, "Sorry…"

Hekima and Mjanja stared at me in a bit of wonder, as the others snickered. Mjanja nudged me up onto my paws, "Okay Kiara wasn't kidding, you are absolutely the younger brother."

I glared at him playfully, "I refuse to take that title."

He smiled, "Alright you can be the… little-big brother. How does that sound?"

Kiara after shaking off her stupor yawned and licked the top of my head, "Nope, tiny cub. My tiny little brother." I huffed in anger, swiping my paws upwards to try and get a playful hit on her, but all she did was hold a paw over my head and yawn again as my swiped met the air. She laughed to my dismay, and so did Mjanja.

Suddenly Kiara's eyes dilated into slits, and her claws came out as she swiftly grabbed me by the scruff. I mewled in protest, as my eyes met the same thing she was looking at. The adults hadn't yet reacted as they saw her at the same time as me. A small, lanky white lioness, with a glint in her eye due to the fire burning just a few feet away. She looked amused, and also ecstatic at the same time. There was a hint of uncontrollable-ness in her, she gave me an eerie feeling at first. For some reason, I decided to be the first to speak, "Hello. What's your name?" My sister and Mjanja almost looked at me in stunned horror.

Our three guards and Hekima shot to their feet and formed a line in front of us cubs. Growling dangerously and wearily as Mkali stepped forward. "What are you doing here? Lost or something? Might want to make it that way." She threatened.

She just smiled and stepped a few feet forward and stared at the flames, then back up into my eyes. "Wow! They weren't lying, hehe! You are here!" She said with excitement, seemingly unable to process the threat.

Everyone glanced at me, then back to her. I raised my brow, "Me? What do you want with me?"

"Of course you, silly!" She looked at our three guards, and for some reason all three tensed up as if she was an actual threat, "Step aside please."

Sanaa glared and got into a pouncing position, "And why on earth would we do that?"

"Get lost, before I change my mind." Mkali added.

The white lionesses ears dropped and she lowered her head, I felt kind of bad for her. "Guys," I started, "Why so rude? She might need help." Nobody listened to me over that.

She sighed, "That's no fun." She said looking up again with a frown, she turned around and walked towards the grass, "I was hoping it'd be easy but… I guess we'll just take him from you!" The lioness grabbed a stick in her maw.

"Cubs run." Mkali commanded as she glanced back at us.

I was still so confused, and Kiara and Mjanja were still hesitating as well. The strange lioness jumped once in her spot. And that's when the sound of an odd flute-like instrument hit my ears. It was loud, coming from off in the distance. And not long after, a bunch of easily distinguishable white lions popped out from all over the savannah surrounding the valley, and presumably pride rock too. Some came from over hills, some came from ditches, others untouched from inside the tall grass. There were many, at least forty lions of varying white colors.

The strange one in front of us giggled a bit, then lowered her maw and stuck the stick into the fire. Bringing out a blazing stick on one edge. "Give us our cub please, pridelanders."

"Cubs, RUN!" Mkali ordered much louder this time.

Kiara didn't ask anymore, Mjanja whipped his tail at Kiara's face as we bolted back into the canyon, presumably to hide. But we were quite far from said canyon. Sanaa and Hekima had chosen to follow us and ward off other pursuers, but they quickly got caught up in individual fights. Mkali and Kimya took after the small lioness with the first stick. She had begun to set the grasslands ablaze, making a wall of fire. That's when everyone began to notice, and screams echoed through the valley, not pained screams yet, but terrified ones. Lions and lionesses with no cubs to protect were quick to engage themselves with the opposing faction. Snarls and growls, sounds of fighting began everywhere.

The crazy one tried to cut us off but Mkali was quick to redirect her away from us. But that didn't stop many white lions from noticing us, and we were clearly the main target, or I was. Always me. What's with that…

A white lion tried to cut us off, getting right in front of us. He bared his teeth and looked menacing. He was the size of Simba, but probably older, he had scars covering his face. "Drop him, pridelander." He said with a sneer, "I don't want to have to kill some cubs tonight,"

Kiara and Mjanja backed up wildly as he stalked closer, tripping over her own feet. Mjanja tried to growl back, "And let you kill him? Nah, I don't think so." He said bravely.

The lion stopped, tilting his head slightly as he raised a brow, "We just want our cub back, nothing more. If you want to die over him, then so be it."

Kiara mumbled out the words as she was still carrying me, "You're only taking my little brother over my dead body!"

He shrugged, "Well, I'll make it quick then, I guess."

But the lion couple from earlier that had hurt my arm shot out of nowhere and lunged at them. They struggled on the ground for a while, eventually pinning him to the ground. "Run!" She told us.

Kiara bolted once again, passed the crazy white lions. We managed to get into the canyon, some lions were frantically ushering all the cubs and mothers into a cave at the bottom of the canyon. Some spotted us and began shouting, "It's the prince and princess! Over here!" Some lioness called. A few other lionesses ran to meet us halfway.

But from atop the canyon, multiple white lions jumped from ledge to ledge and cut off our way down. About six lions and lionesses that growled back downward at the pridelanders who were attempting to help us. The other three growling at us. And then a voice boomed as it got closer and closer, a large white lioness jumped down and stood above all of us. "This can all stop!" She shouted, directing her words to both sides, "We will leave, as long as we get what we came for. Nobody shall be harmed, even the ones we've captured already." They'd already captured a few pridelanders..?

The pride muttered from the bottom of the canyon, "What are you here for?" Some random lion called up.

She smiled, "Why of course, we're here for our dear little white cub over there." She gestured to the three of us. Mjanja and Kiara tensed up and got into a fighting stance. The crowd began shouting.

"He's not yours!"

"The king and queen would never!"

"Go back home! You're insane!"

The older imposing lioness sighed, and looked down at Kiara with a piercing yellow stare, her voice had a calm understanding to it, "Little princess. You wouldn't subject your people to more of this would you? And you can stop it all if you just open your eyes! A future queen always does what's best for her people. Now, give him over."

Kiara just stared in shock, her legs quivering under her in fear. She mumbled out a few muffled sounds but didn't say a word. Mjanja looked at her in annoyance, "Kiara, you're not going to, right?" She glanced over at Mjanja, her eyes were full of fear, and I could see the glint of the wall of fire that was high in the sky reflecting off of her eyes.

"Kiara?" I asked, slightly scared for her.

She seemed shaken out of her stupor as she let loose a few tears and stood up defiantly, looking at the lioness above us in hatred. "Over. My. Dead. Body!" She said loud enough for her to hear.

The lioness looked slightly upset by that as she turned to the rest of the pridelanders on the other side, "See? Even your own royalty only thinks of themselves. That's why you'll always be filthy pridelanders." "She said hatefully. The pridelanders shook their heads and still showed fear. "Take him." She ordered.

Kiara turned tail and bolted, Mjanja not far behind us. We ran into a cave on the side of the cliff, winding and weaving through multiple small caverns. We could hear the sound of yelling and paw steps not far behind us as we were chased. We went through cave after cave, I didn't know what the plan was, but it was slowly dissolving as they seemed to gain on us. "Kiara! We need a change of plans!" Mjanja said worriedly.

Finally we came into another room, with an exit to the outside. The entrance behind us was something we could close, but it seemed shoddy at best. It was a rock and wood weaved door that you could reasonably slide in front of the doorway. Which Kiara and Mjanja quickly did as they caught their breath. The pounding on the door from behind us told us it wouldn't hold very long. "Huddle up," she told Mjanja.

"The exit's right there!" Mjanja gestured to the outside.

Kiara shook her head, "The whole place is surrounded! That won't work, but I have a plan." Mjanja sighed and nodded for her to continue, "Okay, we'll split up. You go outside and I keep running them through the caves. When they bust through we'll pretend we're passing off Daniel to you Mjanja. It'll make the guards split up hopefully."

As the door got closer and closer to splintering open, Mjanja gave it a second of thought before finally nodding. "Okay… I-I trust you Ki."

Finally the door busted down, and the ones chasing us had to gather themselves as they swiped the dust from their face. They were shocked to see us still in the room, "Go!" Kiara shouted, pretending to hand me off to Mjanja as she turned and ran further into the cave.

The intruders were clearly conflicted, and split into two groups, as we ran further and further down a tunnel like cave. We rounded a couple of corners, some were caves that families live in, others not so much. Kiara threw down some piles of rocks we passed by to slow them down, which worked a bit.

Eventually we made it into a darker cave, with no clear way to continue forward. Kiara squeaked in fear, as I spotted a smaller hole. "Kiara down there," I said pointing at a small cavern-like entrance. She practically dived for it and slipped right through. But this was just an even dark cave, with absolutely nowhere to go. It was perfectly hidden, but not when you were just being chased seconds ago. Kiara breathed heavily as she looked back at the entrance.

We waited anxiously as we heard them searching the room, "Where'd they go?"

"They can't have gone anywhere!"

"They're hiding."

They said to each other. Until a bright yellow eye became apparent at the entrance, "They're in here!" He shouted to the other two.

Kiara began breathing heavily, panicking. As she whipped every direction in worry. The first guard began crawling through, and though it was a tight fit, he was making good progress. Eventually Kiara saw a tiny hole, and froze. She looked back and forth between it and the entrance. She stared at it for what seemed like hours before she bolted towards it, quickly stuffing me into it as I protested, "H-Hey! Kiara?"

The hole went pretty deep back, and there seemed to be another room inside. It was cramped and I could hide. But there was not nearly enough room for her to fit, let alone both of us. I glanced back at her and her face looked peaceful, as if she had already accepted her fate. "Be safe little brother," she said sweetly, licking my cheek.

I stuttered as my eyes began to pour tears, "No! Kiara y-you can't-"

"Shh…" she said nuzzling me, "I'm your big sister right? I've got to protect you, for momma and daddy."

"But what about you!" I pleaded desperately.

She gave me one last ghostly look as she smiled as bright as could be, tears dripping from her eyes. "It's my turn now, I'm so happy I met you." She couldn't hold herself back as she pulled me into a long hug, "I love you Daniel." She retracted herself from the entrance, and promptly stuffed it with a rock just big enough to make it look like part of the wall.

I screamed after her for a moment, "Kiara! Kiara!" I pleaded. "Not again!"

It was no use. The guard surely had squeezed through the hole by now. It was all over. It was all my fault.

And for the second time.

I was completely and utterly…

Alone.