I’d learned about Mufasa and Simba he went crazy. The look on his face…….it was like he had seen a ghost.”

A couple of weeks after Nala had left, Zola woke up suddenly in the night, to her surprise both her parents were missing from the cave. Silently she slipped out of the cave, part driven by concern part by curiosity. For no particular reason she began to walked to the very top of Pride Rock. To her surprise the voices of her parents drifted into her ears, looking up she saw them standing on the path a couple of meters above her. Crouching down she listened to what they had to say, finding it strange that they would be having a conversation in the middle of the night.

“We know Musfasa is dead, your wilder beast plot saw to that, but I worry about Simba,” Zira said softly.

“Why my love?” Scar asked with concern.

“He was alive what you last saw him. I know the hyenas said they killed him…..yet their reliability is dubious.....Could Simba have survived?”

“Perhaps,” Scar sighed angrily. “. Even if the hyena's did not make the kill…..that cub was less than a year old...........only a miracle would saved him.”

The revelation struck Zola in the heart like a knife, gasping for breath she staggered away from Pride Rock. Scared and alone she ran towards the one creature who she knew could help her. Her parent's words swirled around in her head engraving themselves into her mind. Despite knowing how ruthless her father was she had never believed him capable of murdering an innocent cub. The bonds in a family were seen as near sacred, for one member to kill another was an unspeakable crime.

Arriving at Rafiki’s tree saw the old baboon climbing down from the branches, a his eyes blazing with fire. Catching sight of her his eye brows raised in surprise, yet he did not greet her in his usual warm manner.

“Rafiki my Father murdered Mufasa, he planned the stampede with the hyenas, Simba was meant to die to…..” Zola stammered before Rafiki could speak.

“So then it as I thought. It saddens my heart you had to discover your father's true nature so young.”

“I overheard him talking with my Mother, she believes she was justified in his actions. He killed his own brother and nephew......”

“Simba lives still, the wind has brought token bearing his scent. I go now to find him, the rightful heir must claim the throne,” Rafiki replied proudly.

“I understand Rafiki, my father usurped the throne therefore my claim is born out of bloodshed.

“Simba will have to fight to regain what belongs to him. We known your father will not resign the throne. Come walk with me princess.”

Together they left the shelter of the tree, walking side by side through the broken land. Silence hung heavily between them. Gazing at the beautiful princess Rafiki felt his heart ache, in part regretting the changes his actions and those of Simba could bring. Rafiki truly loved Zola in the same way he did Simba, he truly wished there was for coming events to happen differently.

“Zola you do not have to be defined by your parents or reap the consequences of their crimes,” Rafiki said at last, breaking the heavy silence. “The traits you posses can be used for good just as they were by Aihadi and Ure. The way other treated your parents drove them down paths of darkness yet they retained their ability to love.”

“Rafiki anything I could have been........if Simba returns I face death. I am bound by my parent's actions. I'm young but I know Simba will not allow me to live even if he spares my parent's avoid death. I will always be a threat, he will not trust me, despite what you or Nala may say.”

“That may not be your fate, look down there.”

The pair were standing on a hill overlooking the Outlands, below were a small groups of four lionesses and a male. Suddenly the male looked up and saw the pair, his eyes widening with surprise. The male was a year older than her by a year. Zola was stunned by the groups appearance as rouges were not tolerated, those who did enter the land faced death. Seeing her, the male smiled briefly before turning back to his friends who had failed to notice her.

“Circumstances have forced them from their birth prides. Get to know them Zola you may find something in common.”

“They are risking their lives being here without permission.”

“Which is something you could grant them. Take a chance. Remember that what we influence our fate by the choice we make. Though things are fated remember fate has several paths to choose from.”

“I trust you Rafiki, I will see what they want. Be careful,” Zola whispered hugging the old baboon.

“You as well princess remember you have little time left. Trust in your heart as every prince needs his princess,” Rafiki replied walking away smiling.

“Wait, what did you mean!” Zola called running after him.

“All that is gold does not glitter,

Not all those who wander are lost

The old that is strong does not wither

Deep roots are not reached by the frost

From the ashes a fire shall be awoken

A light from the shadows shall spring

Renewed shall be the line that was broken

The crown-less again shall be king!”3 Rafiki called back.

Watching him leave Zola wondered what he meant by the poem, clearly it must relate to Simba, but why would he say it to her when Simba threatened her safely?

Rouge

The following day Zola walked into the Outland, by the river she saw the male lion from the day before drinking. He had a mane the colour of beach sand, a body various shades of brown, handsome blue eyes with four scars on his left scar and a deep red scar on his left cheek. The scar's shaped hinted that it had been it had been given deliberately. Seeing her reflection in the water the male looked up, suspicion and fear in his eyes

“Who are you stranger, why are you and your friends in my Father’s kingdom?” Zola asked fixing her eyes on him.

“I was called Taka (dirt) by my birth pride because of my brown colouring but that named soon lost its once happy meaning to become one of distaste and neglect. The name I call myself is Wanderer,” the male replied in a powerful voice.

“I called Zola, princess of the Pridelands, my parents king Scar and queen Zira rule.”

“Then I and my friends are in danger as we have not sought permission to hunt,” Wanderer replied in a worried tone.

“I could grant you permission, I will assurances your pride will avoid mine and of their good behaviour,” Zola replied circling him.

“I will arrange that, follow me.”

“NO,” Zola snarled, racking a claws along the floor. “Bring your friends to me.”

“As you wish princess,” Wanderer replied a hint of anger in his voice.

A short time later Wanderer retuned with a small pride consisting of another four females, all skinny and very cautious. They had clearly not eaten well for some time, with a couple bearing several scars, one had a haunted look in her eyes and stood to the back while the lioness leading looked fairly powerful and confident.

“I am Majani,” said the leader stepping forward. “My home was plagued by drought, I joined Wanderer and his friends to escape.”

“It is nice to meet you Majani,” Zola replied, as an eagle landed in front of them

“Greetings Princess I am Tau, guide of Wanderer and his friends. You are as beautiful as Rafiki spoke of.”

“You know Rafiki?”

“He and I have been friends for many years, we are both shaman.”

Sitting together Zola listened to the stories each member of the pride told, each one painful. Their backgrounds were very similar, either they had been unwanted as a cub or had clashed with their parents when they had grown up. Majani’s had the most stable upbringing, her parents had loved her but after her mother’s death through drought she had clashed with her father Ni.

Wanderer’s story differed slightly from most, in many ways he had suffered more than most. An unwanted cub born to a barely adult mother, his rouge father had stayed around at first, but both had been poor parents. A few weeks after Wanderer’s birth three lions had arrived to speak to his father, though Wanderer had been young he clearly remembered their surprise when he had tottered over to his father. After a few days after this visit his father had left and his mother and her family had started to mistreat him. Beaten, given less food he had been taught to fight from an early age, always made to feel that he was inferior. Six months previously his grandfather had forced him out of the pride and he had met Tau that same day. Leaving his past behind he had taken the name Wanderer to mark the start of his new life. Since then he had travelled far, meeting any lions and passing through many kingdoms.

In return Zola told them about her own life and how best to avoid coming to the attention of her pride. All quickly released she was a natural leader and admired her character traits of intelligence and cunning. Sitting together the tension soon vanished as they laughed and talked. Listening to their stories Zola felt her heart go out to them and vowed the help protect them from discovery. As they spoke both Zola felt the eyes of Wanderer watching her suspiciously.

“I am glad to have met all of you, I’ll come back tomorrow with my friend Masika,” Zola said as the sun set.

“It has been good to the meet you