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"Kovu." Kiara turned to look at her mate, her expression somewhere between hurt and angry "How can you say that!" Jia too turned her head in the direction of her father but her sightless eyes didn't focus on his face.

Kala approached her father, her emerald eyes focused on his face

"Who is Rudo and was he banished? Is that why you won't let him return?"

"Kala stay out of this!" Chaka hissed "It's your fault he's even here in the first place!"

Kiara's eyes filled with tears at her mate's words and Jia's expression shifted from concerned to angry in the space of a second. Jia took a few measured steps forward, and stood in front of her father, her sightless grey-green eyes meeting on her father's emerald.

"Would you have abandoned me then? I am weaker than Rudo! I was born blind! Would you have abandoned me so easily because I can never hunt or fight like Kala can?"

Chaka growled at Renu, his claws unsheathing, but Kala quickly stepped between the two males.

"Don't." her tone was calm "Renu is our brother, whether you like that or not, you can't attack him."

(Bump Bump Bump Bump Bump Bump Bump Bump.. Bumpity Bumtie bump)

(So so so so SO sorry I'm late! o_o' )

Kovu smirked his eyes at Renu, his claws came out and he sharpened them on the ground, preparing himself for a possible attack from the young male, he couldn't attack himself, he was the king, and plus he didn't want to start a fight.

"How dare you speak to the king like this... I should banish you from my pride for the rest of your days!" he then snarled at Renu, looking him deep in the eyes and came closer, but suddenly, the king froze his steps, took his claws in and now, his face turned into a more calm look, and then, he began to smile.

"But why would I do that? That would only make me look bad. Go ahead and stay... but I'm keeping my eyes on you" Kovu said to Renu, looking straight at him and smirked his eyes, then he walked back into his den.

Kiara stepped over to Renu, her eyes still brimming with tears, and brushed her head against his shoulder.

"I'm sorry, Renu." her voice was soft "I wish I could convince him to think otherwise but..."

Jia stood still, her sightless eyes went down to her paws and her ears flattened against her skull. Her father had all but answered 'yes' to her question. At that moment all she wanted was one person, her mate, Enzi.

Renu was beyond furious with his step fathers words but his anger soon faded upon seeing his own mother cry. He sighed lightly and gently nuzzled his mother" Its not your fault.." He said softly" It's not your fault your mate can't act like a moral lion.." He said still furious with Kovu but right now his mom needed him" I will bring Rudo back don't worry.." He whispered to his mother.

(Time for Enzi to step in!)

Enzi was coming back from a walk he was having with his mate that was suddenly interrupted by Chaka, who informed Jia she should get back to Pride rock where he said she was needed, to Enzi it seemed only like an excuse to get her away from him, he knew Chaka had never really liked him, nor trusted him, just because his mother mated with his grandfather Simba. But now Enzi didn't feel like botehring his head with those kind of things, he just wanted to get back to Pride rock and get to see his mate again. But, when he got there, and saw Jia, he noticed something weird about her. She had just been crying.

"Jia, darling, are you all right? Why are you crying?" he asked with a worried tone in his voice, and nudged Jia.

Jia didn't say anything to Enzi, she merely buried her head in his red mane. She was glad that she could at least rely on Enzi...even if her father had just proved that he didn't love those he considered 'weak'. She gave a small whimper as new tears began to gather in her eyes.

"It's dad. He...implied some things." Kala said softly to Enzi by the way of an explanation for Jia' mood.

"I'm not worried." Kiara assured Renu "I just...be careful. I've only just got you back and I don't want to lose you again."

Chaka gave a very audible huff of annoyance when Enzi decided to join them, first Renu and now Enzi. This day, it seemed, his patience would be tried to its very limits. The brown lion glared at the red-maned lion and them pushed himself to his laws intending to stalk off to somewhere where he didn't have to at h his youngest sister and her mate or his mother and his half-brother.

Renu smiled a little as he nuzzled her gently" Its okay..mom i'll bring him back and when I do.. Kovu can't say anything" He growled out before nuzzling her again" Where was the last place you saw Rudo.. or do you know any one who has already seen him..?" He asked trying to figure out where his brother was.

Kiara paused in thought for a minute. Her red/brown eyes focused on some point in the distant horizon before she finally turned her head back to look at Renu.

"I haven't seen your brother in a very long time...I wouldn't even know where to begin searching for him." she admitted "Perhaps Chaka could help you, he does most of the border patrolling and would know most of the rogues and prides that live along our borders. Kala, would you go and find your brother and make sure he doesn't do anything stupid. You know how he gets."

Kala gave a nod at her mother's instructions. She gave Enzi a last meaningful look before disappearing down the path to find Chaka.

Jia stilled for a moment when Enzi comforted her, closing her eyes and trying to forget her father's words. He was just angry, she told herself, he didn't mean it...he loved her.

"I know." she said softly a small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.

Renu stared at his mother like she was crazy" Your kidding right..?" He asked looking in the direction Kala had ran in" Um.. In case you didn't notice mom Chaka does not like me.. At all and he absolutely hates the idea of me being his step brother."

He said looking at her before sighing" But its obvious I have no choice in the matter but to ask him." He looked at Asali" You should stay here with my mom." He said before going off in the same direction as Kala had went in.