sunset.”

“As you wish Sire,” Nala replied bowing while shooting an apologetic look at Kula who just groaned.

Grinning from ear to ear Zola scampered over to her friends to explain the plan, all three very happy with their guard. Masika and Zola both looked up to Nala and the other teenage lionesses. Soon the group were racing happily through the grass, the sounds of their laughter carrying through the herds. Zebra, antelope and others lifted their heads as the group walked among them, curios to see their princess. In the distance cheetahs hunted while vultures pecked at offerings on the banks of the waterhole. Out of the grass a long cobra slithered across their path, flicking its forked tongue and winding its body around Zola. Nala gazed at the scene is horror as a cobra could kill instantly.

“Hey prinsssess nisssess day for walk,” hissed the snake.

“Hurt me you die,” Zola snarled.

“Relasss thatsss the least of my intessssions.”

“Then what do you want?”

“Jussstt too meet you princesss, itsss hard to sssee on formal occasions.”

“Touch her snake and Scar will kill you,” Nala snarled.

“Relasss cub sssitter I have more ssenssse,” the snake replied slithering off.

“Don’t mention that to your father,” Nala said turning to Zola.

“I don’t intend to,” Zola replied haughtily.

Passing the water hole the group were silent, all slightly shaken after their encounter with the snake. As they neared their destination Yejida spoke up.

“My Mum told me you went to the Elephants Graveyard as a cub, is it true?”

“It is true, I went with Sim……..with Togo.”

“My Mum never mentioned Togo.”

“Shenzi never really saw him much as a cub,” Nala replied hurriedly. “She probably doesn’t remember it was Togo who was with me. We got into a lot of trouble.”

“Why?” Masika asked curiously.

“Back the lions were not allowed there and hyenas were not allowed into the Pride Lands.”

Hearing this, the cubs looked at each other in surprise. They had been told little of Mufasa’s reign and nothing at all about Simba or the circumstances in which Scar came to power. In fact it was forbidden to talk about such things in front of the cubs, those who did were punished severally.

Arriving in the Elephant’s Graveyard the cubs instantly ran up to the large skull, running inside it and up the tusks. Jumping over the tusks the cubs slid down a large the ribcage landing in a pile at the bottom. In a moment they were on their paws playfully chasing each other through the bones. As she followed behind Nala’s thoughts turned to the last time she had been here.

“Oh Simba what happened to you that day in the gorge? What were you doing down there anyway? I miss you Simba, you should be here with us today. If only you knew how much I miss you. You would Zola, she is like her parents yet she is like you as well.”

In her mind Nala saw a fantasy of what could have been.

Simba ran through the piles of bones, his mane streaming behind him, a wide grin on his handsome face. Suddenly from the top of skull Zola pounced, sending them both tumbling into a pile of bones. Laughing the pair looked at each other, all eight of their feet in the air. Seconds later Nala and Masika arrived, laughing at the sight.

A sudden cry brought Nala back to reality. They had arrived at the fire pits and the cubs had been surprised by Banzi who had jumped out from a rock scaring them silly.

“Well now a trio of trouble causers” Banzi said circling them. “So how did you mange to get this trip approved?”

“I am a princess so I can go where I want,” Zola replied arrogantly.

“Sure but where is your escort? You never know what unsavoury characters you could meet,” Banzi replied snapping at them.

In a flash the cubs took to the paws as Banzi chased them through the fire pits and bones. Fire burst around them in eerie green and yellow while smoked drifted around the above. Splitting up Zola, Masika and Yejida dodged him, double back in an attempt to catch him out. Jumping down between some bones Zola saw Masika staring at her from behind a rock, below them stood Banzi and Yejida. With the loudest roars they could manage the pair pounced, catching him totally off guard. Tumbling to the floor Banzi’s eyes went completely out of focus his head making contact with the floor meters away from a lava pit.

“Got you now Uncle Banzi,” Yejida howled standing on him.

“You win, oh let me up,” Banzi groaned, his blurred vision making it appear that four of his niece stood above him.

“Banzi what were you doing? How am I supposed to?” Nala snarled arriving on the scene.

“Relax cub sitter I was just playing with my favourite niece and her friends,” Banzi sneered.

“Chasing them isn’t.”

“Please lionesses you worry too much,” Banzi said rolling his eyes. “Scar happens to trust me. I was never gonna hurt them. Besides rules don’t apply with me right girls? I am just the fun uncle.”

“That’s right Uncle Banzi no rules,” Yejida replied grinning.

“Banzi is cool,” Zola said while Masika nodded in agreement.

“See lioness no danger from me. Well girls Uncle Banzi has to go, time for patrol.”

“By Uncle Banzi,” Yejida called.

“Come on it is getting late, we had better go home,” Nala said watching Banzi leave.

“Nala a few more minuets, please?” Masika asked flicking her tail.

“No we have to go now.”

“But it’s still light, please Nala,” Zola pleaded.

“NO if you are late back I will get into trouble with your father, come on.”

Turning her back Nala led the cubs out of the Grave Yard in silence, angry at Banzi’s blasé attitude and how easily Zola and Masika played with him. Arriving home they group found Scar, Aina and Shenzi waiting for them.

“Did you have fun?” Scar asked licking his daughter.

“It was great Daddy we saw everything.”

“No trouble I trust?”

“No, Masika and I even caught Banzi off guard.”

“Oh did you, so what has my brother been doing this time?” Shenzi asked rolling her eyes.

“He played tag with us through the bones,” Yejida replied happily. “Zola and Masika hid and pounced on him.”

“It was so fun, Banzi is cool.”

“Time for bed, I have trouble imagining Banzi playing with you,” Scar chuckled walking into the cave.

Laying down Masika curled up to Aina while Zola nestled on Scar’s mane with an already sleeping Zira lying next to Scar. Exchanging a glance Scar and Aina smiled at each other, both glad their cubs had enjoyed their day.

One bright sunny morning a few weeks after her adventure in the Elephant’s Graveyard, Zola stood on the ground underneath Pride Rock. From her spot she watched as Zazu landed on a rock directly in front of her, his eyes looking at the path which led onto the lions' cave. Smiling evilly Zola let out the loudest roar she could manage. Zazu’s reaction was priceless, letting out a squawk he took to the air in utter fright.

“Morning Zazu.”

“ZOLA! You nearly gave me heart failure,” Zazu gasped landing on a rock, one wing clutching his chest.

“I just wanted to see how loud I could roar.”

“Cubs! Little balls of mischief, well I am certainly awake now,” Zazu replied as Scar walked down towards them.

“Good morning Sire, here to check in with the morning report.”

“Excellent, I am taking a tour of the kingdom, come and you can fill me in as I go.”

“Of course Sire, several issues require your attention.”

“Well then I can deal with them,” Scar replied beginning to walk away.

“Daddy can I come?” Zola asked running after him.

“Of course my Dark Flower.”

Together the trio made their way through the savannah, flying low Zazu gave his report; another incident with the hyenas, a domestic dispute between two jackal sisters, news on the migrations, disputes between vultures over meals, fight between two eagles over a female and an argument between two brother hyenas. “Well that is a fine mess to deal with,” Scar muttered.

“Will you be able to fix the problems Daddy?” Zola asked curiously.

“Certainly. Never use brute force to solve problems, manipulation and brains are far more successful.”

“I’ll remember Daddy,” Zola replied as they arrived at the river.

On the banks vultures gathered in smalls flocks or alone, their eyes fixed on the water as if waiting for something. Grazing animals gathered to drink, birds fluttered in trees while flamingos stood in the cool water. Gazing down Zola saw her reflection and that of Scar staring back at her. Looking she smiled proudly at the family resemblance.

Looking at Scar, Zola saw he was in deep discussion with Zazu and a large male vulture. Then a large shape fell from the sky, a magnificent African Fish Eagle plucked a flamingo from the water, seconds later a younger eagle landed in front of her. Bravely it tapped her on the nose before taking to the air, letting a cry when she didn’t follow him. Fixing her eyes on the eagle Zola took off after the eagle, running through the water across the water as fast as she could. Birds scattered in her wake while water

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