Well here we are, chapter five. The rivalry and betrayal will start soon. If you have any questions, feel free to ask. Thank you.

A month has passed and things have been returning to slightly normal for most of the pride. Sarabi still was determined to find out why Eshe called Askari, Akan. She had lost a lot of sleep during the past month, thinking on possibilities of why her mother-in-law acted such a way. Plus whatever is going on, have put a rift between her and Mufasa. They haven't had a decent conversation since the day Nyonda was born.

The dark beige lioness sighed heavily before following two small cubs run out of the cave. It was a bit past dawn, the bright sun was over Mount Kilimanjaro, most of the pride was up and tending to their daily routines. Mufasa was already gone leaving her in charge of the boys. With a yawn and a stretch the dark beige lioness stood and followed her sons. Just as she exited the cave she saw Askari run into Eshe's leg.

The gold-tan lioness snarled. "Akan. You little monster."

Askari looked at his grandmother with wide confused bright green eyes. Sarabi frowned before walking over with narrowed orange eyes. "Eshe. Enough. You just called my son a monster."

Eshe growled. "He's a spawn of Djimon! He'll bring nothing but ruin to our lives!"

Sarabi gasped as she pulled the dark cream cub close to her. "How can you say that? He's your grandson! More importantly your prince!"

Eshe growled at the younger lioness. "All you need to know is that you need to get rid of that abomination before he destroys any lives!"

Sarabi watched as her mother-in-law stormed down the rocky slope. If she was confused before than what is she now? Abomination? Akan? Spawn? What has happened that makes her think so harshly of Askari and who's Djimon?

The dark cream cub nudge against his mother's leg causing the queen to look down at her youngest son.

"Mom, why does grandma hate me?"

Sarabi bend down and nuzzled her son. "She doesn't hate you." before Askari could ask something else Sarabi pushed him over to his brother. "Go play with your brother and friends. Have fun."

Simba and Askari rubbed against their mother's leg before bonding off. Sarabi looked after them for a while longer before heading towards the hunting fields. Maybe a hunt would do her some good, to throw off some steam.

-The Watering Hole-

"Try and catch us slow poke!" a goldish cub with a dark brown tuff on her head that leads to a dark brown stripe going down the back of her neck, playfully taunted.

A light cream cub with messy creamy fur on his head playfully growled as he gave chase. "You are going to eat those words, Nyonda!"

The group of cub squealed in playful fright before running off into different directions while shouting, 'Theluji's it!' Simba and Askari had arrived just as Theluji pounced on Nyonda only for the younger cub to come out on top.

"Hey! No fair, the sun was in my eyes!"

Nyonda rolled her pale blue eyes before stepping back before high pawing a tawny cub that sat next to her. "What do you think, Nala?"

The tawny cub smiled at her goldish friend before moving her teal eyes to the the light cream cub. "You males and your excuses."

Theluji stood and glared at the younger cubs before he caught sight of the princes. He frowned when he saw the second prince apporch along with his brother. "What's the useless wonder doing here?"

A few cubs laughed while Nala frowned and swiped at the light cream cub. "Hey! You don't have to be mean!"

Chumvi walked over with a grin. "Why not? He's pathetic!"

Askari looked down with his ears pinned before running off. Nala flattened her ears as a small whimper left her muzzle. She turned to Simba and glared at the golden prince. "Isn't that your brother? Why didn't you say anything?"

Simba looked away from the tawny cub. He had no idea what to say, Nala growled before running after the fleeting prince.

-TLKTLKTLKTLK-

Sarabi was low in the tall grasses, her orange eyes locked on a injured impala. She was tired and the impala gave less of a fight and a chase than the zebra or gazelle. She was hidden well in the grass, apporching slowly as to not step on anything. She was about to give chase when the farmilar voices of Eshe and her friends' mothers, Nina and Aniela.

Sarabi glance at the injured stag before looking towards the tall golden grasses, sighing deeply she headed for the tall golden grasses. Sarabi poked her head through and seen Eshe, Aniela and Nina talking in a clearing under a large tree.

"Eshe, you can't keep this up much longer." Nina said looking at her friend.

Aniela nodded, agreeing with the creamy lioness. "This serect is taring Mufasa and Sarabi apart. You need to tell them."

Eshe lowered her head as tears fell from her dark red eyes. "I can't. It's too much to go through again. Masego left when he found out. No telling what Mufasa would do now if he found out."

Aniela and Nina shared a look before sighing. Sarabi backup, sighing as well. Eshe wasn't going to tell what was wrong any time soon. She started to think about what she could do to get her mother-in-law to spill when a thought hit her. Mufasa. They weren't on the same level but she knew how to change that and get him to help with this serect.

With a pleased smile she ran off towards where Mufasa would normally be around this time of the day.

-Eastern Borders of the Pridelands-

Mufasa stood on a ledge that over looked his kingdom. He sighed, things were not going as well as he thought it would go. He thought being married would be a joy and now he wasn't sure what to think. His mate and mother wasn't getting along and he really didn't know what to do.

"Mufasa..."

The golden lion shook his head before looking over his shoulder to see Sarabi with her head down. He turned to face her. "Sarabi...what are you doing out here?"

Sarabi lifted her head before giving a seductive smile. "I understand we haven't been on the same terms. So I came to do what I was meant to do." the dark beige lioness walked closer and breathed in the king's ear. "To please you."

Mufasa gulped before giving a smile of his own. Maybe this is what he needed, the lionesses hunt to be rid of their stress and he had his mate and queen to rid him of his stress. He nuzzled the side of Sarabi's neck before circling, eyeing her as she laid down. With a bite to the neck the mating process began.