The pride rejoiced at the joining of Kiara and Kovu. They were to become future King and Queen of Pride Rock. As the animals began to leave after the ceremony, Simba and Nala led everyone back inside. It was then when Simba laid down the rules to the newcomers.

“I, Simba, King of Pride Rock and the Pride Lands, welcome you. You do indeed belong here. However, I must lay down the law for those of you who don’t know it. The hunts are led by Nala and Vitani is second in command.”

Vitani gasped. She didn’t think Simba would recognise her talents. She bowed her head towards Simba, thanking him.

“The huntresses will also form part of the battle squad with Kovu and I leading. You are not allowed out of the Pride Lands because you are no longer under my protection when out of bounds. The last rule is: if you see any rouge lions or lionesses please bring them straight to me. Don’t worry, I’ll only use violence if they use violence towards you.”

The lionesses bowed their heads acknowledging the rules. However, there was one lioness, by the name of Ngoma, who didn’t.

“Simba.” She began.

“Yes Ngoma.” He replied

“Simba, I understand all the rules but I just want to ask, are we allowed out of Pride Rock even when we’re not on a hunt?”

“Ngoma, it is alright, as long as you tell either me, Nala, Kovu or Kiara where it is you are going.” Simba answered.

Ngoma then bowed her head. Simba then turned to everyone else.

“Let us celebrate this occasion and have it carved into our minds.

 

Later in that week, Vitani went out walking alone. She had so much to think about. Leading the hunting party with Nala was one thought, but there were also thoughts about her mother. There was no way she could’ve survived that fall but Vitani wanted proof, to see her one last time to know the truth. Vitani reached the gorge. The river had receeded so she was free to scour it for signs of her mother. It was a desolate place. Bits of broken tree and lots of rocks had been deposited there by the water. Vitani searched for many hours until she finally saw Zira. She was lying by the side of the gorge and appeared unharmed. Vitani bowed her head and started crying. Then out of the corner of her eye she spotted a lion just sitting and watching her.

“Go away!” she shouted.

“Why?” the lion asked.

“I want to be alone.” Vitani sobbed.

“Why would I want to leave the girl you gave me so much joy when I was a cub?” the lion said.

Vitani raised her head and took a good, long look at the lion. He remined her of someone.

“Kopa?” she asked.

Kopa nodded.

“Is it really you?”

“I have returned for the danger had passed and I was missing a part of my life.” He explained.

“What… How… Why… How did you know the danger had passed?” Vitani asked.

“I felt it,” he said, “in here.”

Kopa pointed towards his heart and Vitani ran over and licked his cheek.

“Let’s go home.” She said.  

 

Whilst Vitani was away, Nala went to the waterhole. She found it more peaceful on her own. On a normal day, she would’ve just sat by the waterside, staring at her reflection, however, this day was different. Nala watched the water. It was being disturbed by something. Something that was also mewing for help.

“Cubs!” Nala cried.

Lions usually hate water but after that episode in the jungle, Simba had taught her to swim. She summond up the courage needed than jumped in. She swum until she found two cubs struggling in the water. Nala scooped them up in her mouth and carried them to safety. The first cub was a greyish, brown colour with a light coloured muzzle. The other cub was white. Completely white except for the tuft of fur on its tail which was greyish brown. Nala looked up and began searching around with her eyes for any sign of their parents. There was no one to be seen. She then scooped the cubs up in her jaws once again and carried them home.

 

There was chaos at Pride Rock when Nala returned. She almost dropped the cubs when she saw what was causing it.

“Hello mother.” Said Kopa.

Another lioness took the cubs from Nala’s mouth so she could talk.

“Kopa. It isn’t possible. You’re dead.”

Kopa smiled.

“I am not dead mother. I was close to being dead when father found saw me and ran home to tell you.”

Nala started to move closer to her son. Everyone was silent by now.

“Are you real?” Have you come back from the dead?”

“Hush mother.” Kopa whispered. “I am alive. A rouge female called Afya saved me. She licked my wounds clean and looked after me when I was recovering. I would like to welcome her into the pride. She is in our lands now.”

Simba walked up to Kopa and put his head on top of Kopa’s.

“Don’t worry son. I will send Vitani and the other lionesses to go and find her.”

“Wait!” interrupted Nala. “Before you go, does anyone know whose these cubs are?”

Nala pointed towards the small bundles of fur.

A lioness gasped.

“Chuki! Shaha!”

It was Ngoma.

“Oh my darlings, my poor little darlings. Don’t worry, mother’s here, I will protect you.” She sobbed.

The other lionesses from Zira’s pride looked shocked.

“But Ngoma, we weren’t allowed to have cubs!” said one.

“Did you break our law? Did Zira know?” said another.

“Wait!” shouted Simba. “Let her explain.”

“It was a secret.” Ngoma began. “I met this truly wonderful lion and we fell in love. I used to meet him every few days. Then I fell pregnant and I saw him less and less. I left our pride for a few days whilst I had my cubs. During this time my love visited me. I told him that he should look after our cubs because I was unable to. He suggested we should run away together. I agreed with him. I was stupid, I know, but love can make people do the most stupidest things. We ran away, me with Chuki and my love with Shaha. Zira caught us. She attacked me and I let go of Chuki. She fell to the ground. I thought she was dead but my love ran up and scooped her up with Shaha already in his mouth. He escaped but I was left. I’ve never seen him since.”

Ngoma was crying so hard when she finished that Chuki and Shaha’s heads were damp with tears.

The pride was a t a loss as to what to make of it. Finally, Kiara spoke.

“We are all truly sorry for your loss. We will let you know if we find a rouge lion around, just as the laws say.”

Ngoma raised her head wearily and nodded.

“Thank you Kiara.” She said. “And can I ask you Nala, where did you find them.?”

“I found them drowning in the waterhole. I had just arrived and it looked like the cubs hadn’t been in the water very long. It is almost as if your love had known I was going to be there; like he wanted to give the cubs to you.” Nala answered.

“Mheetu was always a smart lions.” Ngoma sighed.

“Mheetu!” Cried Nala. “My brother. He’s in the Pride Lands. Why didn’t you say sooner?”

“I’m sorry my queen.” Said Ngoma, “I had no idea…”

“Quick!” interrupted Nala. “We must find him. We need to find Mheetu – oh, and Kopa’s Afya!”

With that order the search party went off. There were two parties – one looking for Mheetu and the other looking for Afya.

 

Nala led the search party for Mheetu. She was overcome with emotion. Her brother was alive and in the Pride Lands! Questions buzzed around her mind. What happened to him? How did he survive on his own? Why did he never come back? She had to push these away and focus on the search.

 

Vitani and Kopa led the search party for Afya. Vitani wasn’t sure if she actually wanted to find her. She could picture a happy Afya and a happy Kopa living happily in Pride Rock. No Vitani to be seen. Kopa was leading the party in such a heroic way it made Vitani sick with love. She didn’t know how long she could kope without fainting.

 

Ngoma stayed in Pride Rock with Simba, Kovu and the older lionesses. She was tenderly licking her cubs’ heads when the search parties arrived. Only one of them was successful. Ngoma’s heart fell when Kopa introduced Afya. She was a pretty lioness and a sense of power hung around her. She was also oddly coloured. Her belly was the same colour as her over pelt. Only Ngoma thought she was odd. She didn’t know whether she was upset because of Mheetu or because she had recognised her. Vitani also thought she had seen her before, hanging around the outlands with a cub in her mouth.

Simba stepped forward.

“Afya. I can’t thank you enough for healing Kopa.”

“It was nothing.” Afya replied quickly. She was starting to shake with nerves in front of Simba.

“I wish for you to join my Pride.” Simba said.

Afya swayed on the spot. She most definitely was nervous.

“I must ask you for your name, age, parents, siblings, mate and pride.”

“My age, my parents and my siblings are unknown. I do not have a pride.” Afya replied. “I do not have a mate.”

Afya felt ashamed telling everyone about her life, the fact she doesn’t really know who she was.

“Afya.” Simba said. “Can you give a rough estimate

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