Author's note: In response to the only person who's commented here thus far, no, this fanfic is by no means cancelled. Also, why would I ship Kiara with Simba? That's just gross. She doesn't need a man, especially not her own father. The thing with me and yelling? That's how I write animals, and let's face it, these guys are lions. They RAWR. As for whether she and Kovu get together in the end?...I haven't decided yet, actually, but chances are things will be very different between them. I appreciate you following the story, so far, though!

SNAP!

The crocodile lunged, clamping its jaws around empty air as Kovu quickly leaped out of the way, jumping onto a nearby rock...which wasn't a rock at all.

Another croc reared its head, its yellow eyes glaring up at the cub perched on its forehead.

Kovu let out a frightened, strangled scream of panic, leaping out of the way just as the crocodile snapped its jaws right where he had been a second ago.

"Run!" Kiara yelped, jumping onto a rock in the middle of the swamp. Kovu grit his teeth and followed, arching his back and flexing his claws as the croc swam closer, its own fangs bared in a menacing snarl.

"Rrrr...I'm not scared'a you!" the Outlander cub growled. "Come at me!"

The crocodile's eyes flashed, and as Kovu stood off against it, it reared its head again...

Kiara gasped, snatching Kovu back by his scruff with her paw. "Don't be stupid! C'mon!"

"GAK-" Kovu choked, stumbling and whipping around to glare at Kiara. He didn't have time to react, though...the croc was opening its mouth to snap again, and this time, it wasn't alone. Four more crocs had come up to the surface to grab the cubs.

"Get GOING, Kovu!" Kiara yowled insistently, leaping onto another rock. "This way!"

"Rrrggh." Kovu snarled, indignant to take "orders" from the Pridelander. Another croc snapped, narrowly missing his tail and causing him to let out a yelp of terror, prompting him to follow her lead as the crocodile let out a growl of frustration behind him.

Kiara and Kovu leapt deftly alongside one another across the rocks, dodging crocodile bites left and right. The princess couldn't help but grin - this was more fun than anything she'd ever experienced in the Pridelands, despite the danger she was in. Kovu, too, couldn't help but admire her boldness - he'd always been taught that lions from the Pridelands were soft, overfed wusses, but she was disproving that by literal leaps and bounds.

They finally paused on a large, flat surface next to a dead treebranch sticking out of the pond, panting as they caught their breath. Kovu raised his head slightly, glancing at Kiara with a cocky smirk.

"That was a close one," he panted.

Kiara was still a little shaken up, but adrenaline was coursing through her, making her feel all kinds of incredible. "Y-Yeah," she stammered back, giggling excitedly.

Then, the surface they were under started to rise.

Kovu yelped, and Kiara let out a shrill scream as the "rock" revealed itself to actually be two crocs, who glared up at them as they prepared to snap.

Kiara leapt quickly onto the dead tree, clinging to it as crocodiles swarmed around her.

Kovu had other ideas, though - as a croc snapped under him, he swiftly leapt onto another one, and another, craftily making his way back to shore without her.

"H-Hey! What about me?!" Kiara yelled after him.

"Figure it out!" Kovu snapped back at her, panting as he kept going. His plan didn't work out too well, though - one of the crocs flipped over, knocking him into the water.

"W-Whoa!" the Outsider cub yelped, spluttering and splashing as he tried to keep his head above the surface. The croc who had knocked him off with its tail saw its chance, swimming closer and closer to him.

Kiara tried to swat at the crocs who were climbing up the tree trying to get to her, then saw Kovu in the water, seconds away from being chomped.

Despite him abandoning her, she felt she had to do something.

"Look out!" she screamed shrilly at him.

Kovu didn't feel so tough now. He clung to a nearby tree stump, whimpering as he stared down the croc's throat.

Just before it snapped, though, Kiara landed on top of it, making its mouth clamp shut on empty air.

"Move it!" she screamed.

This time, Kovu didn't hesitate. He scrambled up the tree stump, and Kiara followed him, using a branch to spring out of the croc's reach and onto a ledge to safety.

The two of them lay there panting, hardly daring to believe they were finally out of danger...