safe and sound." the lion said.

"You always worry Malka." Nuru grinned.

Malka. Malka. That name sounded so familiar. Safari racked his brains to find where he had heard that name. Then, he suddenly remembered. Hadn't Simba mentioned Malka when he was telling Safari about one of his adventures when he and Nala were cubs? 

It was him. Now Safari devised a plan to talk to Nuru. He waited till Nuru and Malka were alone and then walked out of the bushes.

"Who are you?" Nuru growled at him.

"I'm sure you don't remember who I am." Safari said.

"Have you met?" Malka asked.

"No, we haven't." Nuru said, not taking her eyes off Safari.

"I'm Safari." Safari said. "I'm a friend of Simba."

"Simba?" Malka asked. "I know him. We met when we were cubs."

"So, you're not a threat?" The anger in Nuru's eyes was ebbing away.

"No." Safari shook his head.

"So, what are you doing on my territory?" Malka asked.

"I came to see Nuru." Safari replied.

Nuru stared at him, the look of anger replaced with a look of confusion.

"Nuru." Safari said. "You're not Malka's sister."

"I knew it." Nuru said. "But why did you come all this way to tell me that?"

"I didn't." Safari said. "I need you to come back with me."

"Why?" she raised her eyebrow at him.

"Well, its a long story." Safari began.

"I'm not going anywhere." Nuru said.

"Okay." Safari said. "The thing is, you're MY sister."

"Your sister?" Nuru studied him.

"Yes, we were separated a few days after our birth." Safari said.

"I don't understand." she said.

"Sit down." Safari invited her to sit. "And I'll tell you the rest of the story."

She cast a glance at Malka. He sat down and so did she. Safari then started the story.

"Well, it began when our dad stumbled across the Elephant Graveyard......"

Safri told her the entire story, of how their parents met, how they had cubs, and how the three were separated. When he came to the part where Rafiki told him he had to find his siblings, Nuru interupted him.

"So, you had to come and find us." she finished.

Safari nodded. He looked at her and his heart nearly burst with hope.

"You're coming to find our brother, aren't you?"he asked.

He relaxed as her face was filled with happiness.

"Of course I'm coming, you stupid furball." she laughed.

He smiled. Malka got up and so did he.

"So, it looks like this is good-bye then." Malka said to Nuru.

"I'll come visit you whenever I can." she said, nuzzling him.

Safari let the two share their final farewell. Then, he looked at Nuru.

"Its time to go." he said.

Nuru nodded and followed him. Once the two were out of the territory, Nuru stopped.

"What's the matter?" Safari asked.

"Do we have any idea where our brother is?" she asked.

"Rafiki told me he passed your territory and went North." Safari said.

"Then it looks like we're on the right track." Nuru said.

Safari nodded and made his way across. He stopped and let Nuru catch up. By nightfall, they were almost near the snowy mountains.

"We'll start searching for Sergei tomorrow." Safari said.

"How do you know his name?" Nuru asked him.

"Rafiki raised him and gave him that name." Safari said.

"Oh." Nuru said.

"Get some rest." Safari said.

He knew Nuru was worn out. She needed her strength.

"I'll catch you something." he offeredn

When she gave a tiny nod, he got up and begn searching for prey. He saw a hare eating nearby. That would be enough for Nuru to regain her strength. He crouched and began to stalk up to it. When he close he made a dash and quickly killed it. He brought it back to Nuru. She stared wide-eyed at the hare in his mouth.

"That's hardly enough for the two of us." she said.

"Its not for me." he replied. "Its for you. I'll catch myself something later."

"You're an amazing brother." she said and began tearing into the hare.

Safari's throat choked with emotion. He couldn't believe he had just met his sister today, and they were already closer. He caught a hare for himself and sat down beside Nuru and quickly finished his meal. She put her head on her paws and went to sleep. He protectively put his head on her neck and went to sleep, feeling a strange feeling that he had felt when he was just a newborn. He felt protective of her, he felt like he could rip the throat out of any lion who ever hurt her.

As the sun rays shone on the edge of the river, Safari got up and stretched. He looked around. He padded out of the tiny den they were camping in. He quickly caught a runaway zebra. He dragged it into the den and lay it down near the enterance. He walked in and prodded Nuru in her flank, keeping his claws sheated. She opened one eye and looked drowsily at him.

"Whassup?" she asked sleepily.

"Breakfast is over there." Safari said. "We need our strength if we're going to find Sergei today."

"Alright, I'm up." she shook her body and then went over to the zebra.

She raised her eyebrow at Safari. He went over to her and began digging in. She shook her head and began to eat. In a few minutes, all that was left of the zebra was a pile of bones. 

"That was good." Nuru said.

"Yeah." Safari agreed. "I'll go bury the bones while you stay here."

"Why should I stay here?" Nuru suddenly asked angrily.

"Because......" Safari began to say but Nuru stopped him by flicking her tail.

"I stayed here last night and today morning. I'm not fragile as you think I am." 

"But....." Safari got cut off again.

"I can take care of myself, Safari. Just trust me. I'll go bury the bones." Nuru looked at him.

Safari opened his mouth to protest but closed it. He knew he was being too over-protective. He nodded. She took the bones and went outside and quickly buried them. Safari went for a drink by the river. Soon, the two set out to search for their brother. 

They soon came upon an unknown territory. Safari had the feeling that someone was watching them.

"Stay close." he whispered to Nuru.

Nuru silently nodded and followed him closely. Safari managed to keep her in view the whole time. Suddenly, a white lion with a red mane jumped out and attacked them. Safari attacked back. Soon, the lion was panting angrily. He had blue eyes just like Safari and Nuru.

"Sergei?" Nuru asked.

"How do you know my name?" the lion snarled.

"Its hard to explain." Safari said.

"I'll tell him this time." Nuru looked at Safari.

"If you two have finished talking, can you tell me what are you doing here?" Sergei growled.

Nuru told him all Safari had told her. Safari picked up when she got to the part about being separated from the rest at birth. Sergei's eyes began to lose their hostility as Safari and Nuru told him their story.

"So, you're my siblings." he said.

"Yes we are." Nuru said.

"And you want me to come back with you." Sergei said, fixing both of them with a soft look.

"You are coming, aren't you?" Safari found himself asking Sergei the same question he had asked Nuru.

"No." Safari's heart sank. "I'm fine with my life here. But I will come and visit you."

"You have no choice." Nuru nuzzled him.

"Yeah, I'll be looking forward." Safari smiled at his brother, understanding his decision.

Sergei looked gratefully at him.

"C'mon Nuru." Safari said to his sister. "Let's go home."

Safari's mission was complete. He had found his siblings and was bringing his sister back home with him. Life was looking pretty good for the orange lion.

***

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