little arrogant, brave, always looking for adventure and could tell good stories. We all had fun playing with him,” Tama replied wistfully.

“He lived in a small pride near a small mountain. He, Simba, Togo and Chumvi got into such mischief,” Kula laughed thinking back.

“Malka became a good liar as he got older which meant he could talk his way out of trouble. I remember one time he managed to out fox a fox,” Tama mused.

“I can’t believe he turned out as he did after Scar cast him, Togo and Chumvi out. All you have said is nothing like the cub we knew,” Kula said sadly.

“Hearing you tell me about him I find it hard to believe as well. Dad said he travelled with his friends. He never said why they parted.”

“We all hoped they had formed a pride together, Scar truly destroyed them,” Tama said forlornly.

    The lioness lapsed into silence then Tama began telling Kamaria more stories about her father’s adventures. To the surprise of the younger lioness Malka, Togo and Chumvi had been close to Zola and Masika. Sitting on the edge Vitani listened as the talk turned to the fun and adventures had with Zola. Catching Vitani’s eyes Nala and Aina saw the anguish in her eyes.

“Vitani are you alright?” Aina asked with concern.

“Can we go somewhere to talk, Nala would you come too?”

“Of course we can?” Aina replied kindly.

“I will come of course, I know just the place,” Nala replied gently.

      Setting off through the savannah Nala led them to a small jungle area that Kiara had walked through. A nice area it was known as the spot where animals could go if they wanted a private conversation. Stopping under a tree Nala and Aina looked at Vitani with anxiety. They had both noticed how quite she had become since Zola’s existence had come to light.

“Nala Aina could you tell me about Zola?”

“I was wondering when you would ask me about her. What do you wish to know?” Aina replied.

“What she was like and what happened that night she left.”

“Zola was intelligent, manipulative, she could spot a liar, she had a ruthless streak in truth she was the perfect mixture of both her parents,” Aina began.

“At the same time she was loving, helped her friends, had clear views of right and wrong, she hated being deceived. She had a dark beauty about her,” Nala replied thinking back.

“Zola was a complex lioness to understand. Scar and Zira adored her, the entire pride loved her regardless of what they thought of her parents. It was later everything changed…” Aine said, regret in her eyes.

“Zola never told Scar and Zira’s that I had left to find help. In return I helped her to escape. Zola never hurt the pride. I wanted her to have the chance to live free from hate,” Nala said.

“Are we alike at all?”

“Yes. You have the same dark beauty mixed with kindness. Vitani your mother loved you for you,” Aina replied nuzzling her.

“It may be confusing for a while as only Zola can answer your questions,” Nala said gently.

“I was there the night you were born. Zira was delighted she loved you,” Aine said looking directly at Vitani.

“I wish Mother had told me,” Vitani replied, her eyes shining with pain.

         Leaving the pair Vitani headed further into the jungle utterly lost in thought. The information had raised more questions than answers. She felt confused about her place in world and doubted everything Zira had told her. For the first time in her life she felt utterly alone and cut off from everything she had known. Sitting on the raised roots of tree she looked down into the stream that snaked through the undergrowth. Consumed by her thoughts Vitani failed to notice that Nassor was laid above her in the branches of the same tree. Seeing her pain, Nassor felt sad and wondered what had happened to her.

“So what brings you out here all alone,” Nassor asked after a while, causing Vitani to jump.

“NASSOR! You scared me half to death,” Vitani replied gasping for breath. “I needed a place to think nearly.”

“News of your half-sister raising questions that no one can answer and you feel utterly confused?” Nassor asked raising an eyebrow.

“How do you know that?” Vitani replied in amazement.

“I have one myself. See Dad had a mate before my mum and they had two daughter, Aketch who you’ve met and an older daughter called Majani. Dad’s first mate died when Aketch was a young cub and Majani walked out on the family.”

“When did you find out?”

“I’ve known since being a cub.”

“How do you deal with all the questions?”

“As best I can. Figured one day I’d leave to go looking for her. I’m young, Dad wants to know where she is,” Nassor replied nonchalantly.

“Do you think that would help me, trying to find Zola?”

“It might. If you can find her. I reckon that could be difficult, she’s made a pretty good effort to hide. It depends of you have the courage to go looking.”

“What about you Nassor?”

“I’m going once Aketch and Kopa are married, you could come with me.”

“You’d be happy with that? I thought you hated Outsiders?” Vitani replied.

“Nah just don’t trust you. You’re not bad for Zira’s daughter,” Nassor smirked.

“Well for a goody four paws Pridelander you are acting the outlaw,” Vitani replied seductively. 

“I could get to like you Vitani.”

“Strangely enough Nassor I was thinking the same thing,” Vitani replied smiling wickedly.

      The following morning Vitani and Nassor arrived back home together to the surprise of both prides. Facing a barge of questions they gave a much abbreviated version of their conversation. Aine breathed a sigh of relief that Vitani had been able to talk to someone about what she was feeling. Kovu was angry Vitani hadn’t come to speak to him about things. Flashing his tail in anger Kovu glared at Nassor. Kula and Aketch expressed concerns about the apparent friendship between Vitani and Nassor, rolling their eyes the pair laughed off all the concerns. Both lioness fearing Vitani would become a bad influence on Nassor.

    Listening to the talk Imoo tried to reassure Kula and Aketch, pointing out the obvious comparisons between Zola and Majani. Leaving the lioness to mull over his words Imoo walked over to Kovu and Vitani who were having a heated discussion.

“Vitani I am noting going to comment on last night. Regardless of what others think you and Nassor are old enough to make your own decisions. I thought we could go for a long walk.”

“That would be great Imoo,” Kovu replied avoiding his sister’s eye.

      Leaving together the trio set off through the savannah taking in the sights, sounds and smells of the mornings. The chatter of the other animals, the sweet smells of the plants, the feel of the earth and grass beneath their paws. Around them the land and sky was already busy as the creatures began their daily business. Many of the other animals looked at them with distrust and suspicion. A pair of wild dogs called Kovu and Vitani names to which Kovu replied with a might roar, brushing the comments of as if they were flies. Vitani’s face was filled with pain as they passed the dogs.

      Turning away they made their way to the Outlands, one of the few places they could talk in utter privacy. Entering his former home Kovu looked around. Standing there silent tears fell from Vitani’s eyes. In a swift bound she took off along the river bank quickly followed by Kovu and Imoo. Rounding a sharp bend Vitani skidded to a halt at a small piece of land that jutted out at a right angel into the river with a large elephant skeleton laid on it. Gracefully she climbed into the skull just as Imoo and Kovu arrived on the scene.

“Mother and I used to come here a lot. She told me stories about a princess who had wonderful adventures. She told me what she hoped had happened to Zola,” Vitani said tears falling freely from her eyes.

   Jumping onto the skull Imoo and Kovu wrapped their legs around her thin frame. Until that moment Kovu hadn’t realized how much his sister was hurting as Vitani was a mistress at hiding her emotions.

“I miss Nuka,”Vitani whispered.

“I’m sorry. He wasn’t meant to……I just wanted him and Mother to see sense,” Kovu said with regret.

“I tried so hard to become the lioness Mother wanted but all the time I was living in in Zola’s shadow. Mother never loved me. All she want was a replacement for Zola,” Vitani said half in anger half in pain.

“That isn’t true Mother loved both of us,” Kovu replied earnestly.

“Don’t you see what she did Kovu? She trained you to replace Imoo in the same way I was raised to replace Zola. Our entire lives have been based on lies!”

“We’re still us!”

“I don’t know I am anymore,” Vitani said in utter despair.

“That’s ridicules you’re the same lioness you have always been and my sister!”

“Besides your sister who am I?”

     Desperation shone from Vitani’s eyes showing how she was truly feeling. In her deepest heart Vitani truly felt

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