"But...but...I'm so different from the other lions."

"But, you also have something they don't have." Simba said. "You love Uzuri like no other. I trust you, Safari."

Safari sighed.

"But, of course, you can also let another lion take after me." Simba said, cutting sharply through Safari's thoughts.

"I can't let the kingdom fall into the wrong paws." he said.

"Exactly why I neeed you to be my heir until I get a child." Simba said.

He walked back into the den. Safari was left staring over the summit of Pride Rock. He knew that he was the only one who could lead well, but was he ready for it? He remembered Simon's words in his head, If you believe in yourself nothing is impossible, Safari. Safari sighed, he missed his adoptive parents. But that life was way behind him now. He was going to be the king when Simba died.

He desperately thought that he could do it. When he opened his eyes, he felt so confident. He felt as if he could tackle a herd of wildebeest right then. He stood up and walked into the den. He lay down in his usual spot, beside Uzuri.

"So, how did it go?" she asked.

"Not bad." Safari answered.

"Something tells me he might have said something else." Uzuri said, narrowing her eyes.

"No," he said. "Nothing else."

"I have a feeling you're hiding something from me, Safari." Uzuri said.

Safari felt as if a whole load was on his back. He couldn't tell Uzuri that Simba had chosen him as his heir. Simba needed to tell her himself. But, he still felt guilty about not telling her. He lay his head down and slid into dreams of his parents getting killed by poachers.

The next morning, he got up and walked out before any of the other lionesses could get up. He walked over to the watering hole to get a quick drink before Uzuri could get up. Just as he drank a few sips, he heard a voice that seemed to make him lose his balance.

"So, guess you're awake."

He looked up to see Uzuri standing up to her paws in the water in front of him.

"How long have you been awake?" she asked.

"I've been meaning to ask you the same question." he said.

"I saw you slip away this morning." she said. 'I followed you here. You haven't told me what you're doing here."

"I thought the question was how long had I been awake." he said.

"But it still stands. Simba told me he chose us as his heirs. Why are you so scared?" she asked.

Safari put his head down and sighed.

"I.....I....I can't tell you." he said.

"Why not?" a wave of sadness washed over Safari as she said these words.

"Its.....just...that....." he tailed off.

"What?" she asked.

He looked up at her. She walked up to him and nuzzled him. She pulled away and looked at him.

"What was it?" she asked.

"I never knew my father." he said. "I don't know who he was or how he was. I don't think anybody'll trust somebody with no parents."

"They will, if you give them a chance." Uzuri said.

She licked him and walked back to Pride Rock. Safari thought about what she had said. He knew she was right, they would trust him, if he gave them a chance. A zebra saw him and waved happily to him. Safari waved back. Then, he turned back and went to Pride Rock.

He saw Nala with a bigger belly than usual. She saw him and rushed to him.

"Safari! Safari!" She yelled. "i'm going to be a mom!"

"Really!?" he asked, as excited as her. "That's so cool."

"Does Simba know?" Uzuri asked.

"He was a lot more excited than Safari was." Nala giggled.

Safari laughed at the thought of Simba more excited than himself. Nala rubbed her shoulders with him and went out. Safari went to a corner and lay down, but not before he let out a long grunt.

"What was that?" Uzuri asked.

"I don't know." he replied.

Both of them chuckled and she lay down beside him. He put his head on his paws and tried to take a nap. She put her head on her paws too. After a while, Uzuri got up and told him that she had to go hunting. He went out with her to see her off. Once she was out of earshot, he went over to a sunny rock and streched out on it.

"How's the warmth?" a voice asked, making Safari jump.

"Simba?" Safari panted.

"Sorry if I scared you." Simba grinned.

"Its fine." Safari let out a puff.

Simba found a rock right beside Safari's and lay down on it. Safari sighed and looked up to the cloudless sky.

"Thinking about your parents?" Simba asked him.

"No." Safari replied dreamily.

"You can tell me." Simba said. "I'm your best friend."

"Okay." Safari said. "I was just wondering what it would be like to be a father."

"Believe me, its tough." Simba said. "My cub's not born yet and I'm a nervous wreck."

Safari laughed along with Simba. Both lions looked at the sky. Then, one after another, both ut their heads on their paws and fell asleep on the warm rocks. As the sun began to set, both got up and went back to Pride Rock.

***