I will not lie, it took me 10 minutes to figure out how to post that last chapter. Yikes, tell me you've been away for too long without telling me you've been away for too long. Anywho.

Chapter 135

VITANI

From the time I met Lakia and Kleo, my mind has been racing a mile a minute. This plan has to be foolproof- no beyond it for everything to go right. For hours I've thought of backup plan after backup plan for anything that might be thrown our way.

"It'll work Vitani." I looked up from my train of thought to see Lakia, the eldest of the sisters approach me. " If what you say is true about her, then this will work." I smiled at her words, filled with such encouragement. But in the end, I held my tongue. Only the great kins know the outcome of this or everything.

"Right," I said, as a knot found itself stuck deep inside my throat. Here goes nothing. I limped over to the entrance of the den, my left hind paw awkwardly sliding against the den's stone floor. Despite my best wishes, my body is taking longer than I would have liked to heal. Thankfully, the bruises have healed, but the pain remains as a constant reminder hidden deep inside my bones.

At this rate if a battle were to happen…I doubt I would be able to defend myself. Those damn hyenas.

"Hey hey! Where do you think you're going?" as on cue the two hyenas Nuka assigned to watch over us arrive from either side of the den. If I'm right- and these are the new guards at exchanged overnight. My plan is already in motion. "Get back in Vitani." He stated, I couldn't help but notice the bits of rotten food in between his yellowing teeth.

" Or else." Added his companion who honestly looked no different. I swear if I never see another hyena again.

"I have to speak with Nuka."

"Get back inside."

"It's important." Each time I made my voice louder than the last. My orbs desperately scanned the surrounding area. No sign yet

"Tough shit!"

"Believe me- it could be a matter of life and death for our beloved king." But the two dogs wouldn't budge. Dammit. And the venom I had from my brother was starting to seep back into my voice, despite my best efforts. I tried to push past, but I was immediately met with an onslaught of aggressive growls and sharp teeth. I was pressing my one last warning. After that, I would be begging for another attack.

By this time Lakia and Kleo had also made their way to the cave entrance. I could feel their worried stares. But I told them no matter what- unless I am about to die, to not intervene. But how much of fate was I really going to tempt? The only reason they did not kill me was because of Nuka…now I highly doubt he would even care.

"You've got 3 seconds. . Thr-"

"What's going on?" it took everything within me to not collapse. Thanks the kings she was right on cue. Shanti appeared from around the corner, likely drawn to the commotion I had caused from her usual route to see Nuka. The mountain pride lioness came forward, signs of her surprised pregnancy weren't yet visible to the naked eye. But I didn't need them- after having a cub myself I could feel the essence change around her officially. It took me everything to look my once closest pride sister in the face. After her betrayal, I don't think I can look at anyone the same way again. " I said what's going on?"

"Oh nothing Queen Shanti- Vitani was just going back into her den-"

"You're up walking?" Shanti asked perplexity in her voice. Because how could I be up walking after being attacked by Nuka's loyal dogs. I didn't say much- I couldn't. "Why are you causing trouble on such a good day?"

"I'm not causing any trouble… my queen."

"Why do I doubt that?"

"Why I'm only calling concern for the safety of our king."

"Please, Nuka is fine- better than ever."

"Is that what he'd have you believe? And here I thought you were ahead of the situation-"

"What the hell is that supposed to mean? You know nothing." I released a heavy breath, shrugging both shoulders. I began to turn away when " Hey you two hyenas, leave us."

"No- Nuka would kill us for letting anything happen to his queen and hire."

"No need to worry about that, Vitani would never be that stupid. If she valued her own life." Kings-It took everything within me to hold my tongue. Despite their warning, the two hyenas began to walk away. But she was right I wasn't about to waste my time laying a paw on her. " So who would dare threaten my mate."

" Well Shanti, we all know the answer to that," I said the silence was deafening to her.

"Excuse me? " Triggered Shanti leaned forward " I would never betray Nuka. What the hell are to trying to gain Vitani? You are dead to him and so is that fucking precious Nala of his. He only cares about his legacy and we are building it together!"

" You will betray my brother because you'll have to. His paranoia is only going to make him a ticking time bomb. And don't say you don't see it-"

"If you think you will drive a wedge between us you are dead wrong."

"Shanti he will drive a wedge between you because all he cares about is Nuka…and you know this and it actually pains me that you can't see it-"

"He loves me." She protested, her head held high and her voice was cocky as ever.

"Love?" I could laugh " Love won't protect you from him." I stated forcing myself to look directly at her " Just ask my mother." And immediately I could feel a wave of emotion hit me. Dammit Vitani, don't break now- not now. " She loved that lion more than he ever loved himself…and where she is now…dead…like anyone who he thinks will oppose him. Listen to me! You're living on borrowed time and if you're any kind of the good mother- like you think you are-" Shanti's paw collided with the side of the jaw, sending me hard against the ground. Blood left my lips as I struggled to replace my lungs with new air.

"Vitani!" before I could get myself back to standing Kleo and Lakia were at my side. I could hear the voices of the two hyenas from beyond the bush as they were making their way back. My time with Shanti was nearly over.

"Like I said…if you don't do it for you…then think about your cub." By the time I was helped to my paws by the two other lionesses, our guards were back at their post. The two dogs were on high alert feeling the tension masking the air.

"Alright, back inside- Now!"

Knowing I had pushed my luck, I did better and refused to argue anymore. We were escorted back inside the den and I could only hope my plan was strong enough to work.

NALA

The walk to the passage was beyond silent, even stillness has an energy… a presence. But what lay between Simba and I… I wasn't quite sure. He led our way and I could only watch from behind with concern. And I couldn't shake this feeling of thing…off was about to happen.

After traveling for what had to be several miles by now evening would soon be approaching. I was taken from my train of thought when I heard Simba's voice.

"Look it's right up ahead." I moved my eyes passed the red-maned lion to see a dip in the terrain. The grass under our paws soon began to turn to dry earth and stone.

"And this is the right place?" I asked.

"Yeah." We stopped just short of the entrance. The ground was now starting to slant on an awkward downhill slope. Out of curiosity, Simba kicked the nearest rock, it tumbled down causing an echo to follow after it.

"This reminds me of the gouge back in the pride lands," I added.

"Yeah…I guess it does." There was then another pause between us, no doubt the warning that Rafiki gave us the other day toyed in the back of both our minds. "We should go before it gets too dark, who knows which part of the passage Nkosi and the other herd animals are."

"Are you sure, don't you think we should wait till morning? We'd have better visibility."

"We don't have the time, besides I doubt what Rafiki said is true." I lifted a narrow eyebrow at that comment. "Okay… well mostly not true. Look, I don't see any mystical mist out here. Besides the air and the land is dry. If there were most mist of fog happening it wouldn't be happening with weather this clear."

" I guess," I said, despite my better judgment I followed after Simba. Once inside we were sallowed by the vastness of the surrounding area. There had to be three no four forks in our path. Each direction appeared to go on for endless miles. And what made matters worse, the tops of the gouge was cutting out the light from beyond. So even with the ability to see in the dark it really did us no good, because this place would be absolutely dark in little less than an hour. Our walking only came to a stop when Simba paused just short of me. "What's wrong?" I asked.

"Nothing, just thinking. It definitely did not seem this big on the outside." His words were starting to have me on edge, not by what he said but by how I felt when he said it. There was a new desperate urgency about him. He was running from something. " We should head down-"

" I think we should stop for tonight." I interjected "Look we've already made it here, we've traveled for hours, we did good. We should rest. You should rest." I knew all too well from the sign I heard leaving his lips that he wasn't too thrilled with the idea.

"Come on Nal."

"No I'm serious, we don't want to over-push ourselves. And besides resting will give us more time to think of what we're going to say to Nkosi. The last thing we need is a repeat of the Valley pride." At hear that last part, I could tell it hit an area that was still too sensitive for the both of us, but it was true. We went into there foolishly unprepared. I'm not letting that happen again.

"Whatever fine, let's find a place to sleep."

"Look, I'm not trying to fight with you," I said walking up alongside. " I just feel-"

"No- I get it I get it, we're resting-coming up with a plan like you said." Um, not with that tone of voice.

"Simba will stop for a second and just breathe? Kings you've been uneasy since this morning."

"I know I am ...I'm just surprised you're not."

"Simba if you just talk-"

"There's nothing to say." Before I could protest to get him to talk to me he ducked inside a nearby cave. Kings he is so stubborn… why is he so afraid of being honest with me? Again I reluctantly found myself following after him. By the time I got inside the den, he had already found his place on the ground to rest.

"Great…" seeing that there would be no chance of me getting through to him now. He had closed himself off…again. " Good night," I said, really to myself and no one at all. He didn't reply or make a sound that entire night. And the only thing I could feel between us was our growing distance.

The next morning we were up before the sun, or at least I think we were. We had traveled further into the passage last night than I had realized. The only thing I could see over the cliff top were passing gray clouds and maybe a bird or two. And like the night before, nothing had been said between us. I not fighting with a lion who's not trying to seek help. He'll have to have his breaking point and get tired of carrying everything inside.

After what was an hour we came to nothing fork in your path.

"Which way sound we go?" I asked

"That way, come on." He said, taking a small right. I was for sure by now we had to be lost and he was going off of whatever tracking system he felt was best. From all the evidence I've seen or lack thereof…I've noticed no signs of herds. No hoof print, scent…hell droppings even…absolutely nothing.

I broke from my train of thought to ask him questions. That's when I noticed I was alone. I doubled back to see that I had just made that right turn like he said but when I looked back that turn was nowhere in sight. The path behind me now extended for miles beyond what my eyes could see.

"Simba?" I called " Simba!" there was nothing, but me and the emptiness and the cool touch of mist nipping at my ankles. "Oh no…"

Reviews

ExGeneration35- thank you for the welcome. it feels good to be back. I missed this community.

mrclever - I'm glad to be back and I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter. I am seeing this thru to the very end. We did alot of growing during that break, fueling our creative juices! So glad you decided to come back to the story with me.

spookychibi - Yes, I'm so glad I could make your new year! And that you came back to finish the story with me. This chapter was bittersweet but I know I need to write some chapters showing some upward growth for our two beloved main characters after all the hell I put them through.

TheMistyBlackCloud -It feels good to be back, but it is crazy to see how long this story has taken me and the journey we have all been on. To think I started this right before leaving college is insane to me. But I'm glad you came back to finish this story.