told them both to lay off and that Nassor’s friendship with Vitani was none of their business. Nassor had a look of uncertainty on his face as the question sank in.

    The training proved a great success. Delmar and Chumvi beat the teenagers though to their credit the teenagers gave a very good fight. Both Delmar and Chumvi walked away from the training bearing several small injuries. Arriving home that evening the males discovered that girls had also been honing their fighting skills. A couple of them were nursing broken bones and Vitani had given out some severe beatings. Zola herself bore sever bruising while Majani had several cuts from Vitani’s claws. Vitani’s skill and ferocity had taken the lionesses by surprise and shown to Zola the life Vitani been forced to lead.

“It is clear Zira trained you well Vitani, all the marks of her regime are evident,” Zola said facing her sister.

“I was trained to kill from birth, that was my only purpose,” Vitani replied coldly.

 “Blinded by hate our Mother…..”

___________________________________________________________________________

       That night as the lions slept Nassor found himself watching Vitani who was laid next to Zola. Vitani looked utterly peaceful and utterly beautiful. The question Arjana had asked him surfaced in his mind “What is it with you and Vitani?” Rolling over Nassor tried to ignore the question but it continued to nag in his mind.

     Climbing to his paws Nassor left the cave in an effort to clear his head. Walking under a star filled sky he thought about Vitani. A couple of hours later Nassor found himself in the mountains. In the passing couple of hours he had run over all the time he had spent with Vitani and the rage he had felt when Chumvi’s son had commented on her beauty. Climbing up a large tree he sat on a branch.

“Why did I let Chipo’s comments affect me? Vitani…….we’ve been friends for a while now...

    Damn why is that stupid comment getting under my fur? It is not as though Vitani and I are together or anything.”

      The words died in his mind. His eyes went wide, his heart began beating wildly. He looked deep inside. In a flash everything became clear.

“Great Kings I’m a fool. Those feelings of being happy with Vitani…….I’ve fallen in love with her. I’m just like my father. Now it all makes sense.

    Nassor stop it! She might not feel the same way. We tried to kill each other in the past, three scars on her shoulder came from our claws. Even if she does then what? We’ve not talked about the future. What if she decides to make this place her home? Will you stay or go back?”

           A few hours later Chumvi found Nassor sitting despondently in the tree. The older lion easily climbed the tree and sat next to Nassor. For a moment they sat side by side in silence.

“So this is where you got to. Want to tell me what is bugging you?” Chumvi asked casually.

“Can we keep it confidential?”

“Confession time is it? Fine provided you’re not confessing murder,” Chumvi said with a wink.

“I’ve not committed murder but what I’m about to say might hurt someone.”

“Out with it Nassor, let’s hear the worst.”

“I’m in love with Vitani. I’m not sure whether or not to tell her.”

“Well that is better than I was expecting. I can see what you mean about causing pain. How long?”

“I’ve only just realized tonight thanks to your son’s jibe earlier on. A while I guess. She’s my friend. Three scars on her shoulder are my doing.”

“Don’t feel guilty about them, things were a lot different when they happened. The past cannot be changed, Vitani understands that.”

“How could there ever be a future for me and her?”

“Masika is younger than me, I looked after her when she was a cub. Falling in love with her…..I never believed it possible. It is possible for love to overcome the past. For your own sake tell her. Even if nothing comes…..the uncertainty will drive you mad.”

“Then I’ll tell her tomorrow. Those caves we went to…….are they private?”

“Most of the time and especially at sunset. In fact I’ll make sure they are,” Chumvi replied.

    The following day was a try one for the pride. Several issues within the kingdom that had been bubbling along for a while boiled over. Between dealing with fights over females, a family of vultures accusing one of their number of betraying them, a female meerkat throwing her pregnant daughter out and several other incidents the pride was kept busy.

      That evening Nassor and Vitani walked side by side along a section of the way well away from the pride. It was the first time they had spent any time alone since they had arrived a couple of months previously. Now full members of the pride both knew the situation had changed dramatically. Nearing the gorges the pair stopped looking at each other with uncertainty. Both had a mass of thoughts itching to burst out yet neither quite knew where to begin.

“Vitani since coming here you seem happier,” Nassor began as they walked into one of the gorges.

“I am happier. Everything I hoped for has happened. Zola has helped me so much. For the first time I feel free to be who I decide to be, rather than what others expect me to be,” Vitani replied, a smile gracing her face.

“That’s great,” Nassor replied, making an effort to smile.

“You seem happier as well,” Vitani replied as they walked along a beach.

“Yeh I am. Majani has been honest from the start about who she is and why she acted as she did all those years ago. I can’t say fairer than that.”

“Zola has been the same, it has helped me a lot, and how open she has been.”

“It sure beats the lies we grew up,” Nassor replied with a hint of resentment in his voice.

       Entering the cave network the pair fell silent. The tide had risen. They raced through the gorges in the light of the setting sun. Nassor was leading then Vitani would lead. They jumped over gaps in the rocks sailing effortlessly over the water. At times they landed on top of each other in a jumble of paws. Each time they tried to beat each other in the distance they could land away from the gap. The sunlight shone brightly on the rocks. Reaching the highest point in the whole area they dived into the warm, clear water. Surfacing they looked at one another as the waves suddenly changed, pushing them into each other so their lips touched. Blushing they looked at each other. Their hearts beating faster.

“Vitani you are the most one amazing lioness I have ever met,” Nassor said softly.

“How can you say that to someone like me after the things I have done?” Vitani asked in disbelief.

“I have seen beneath the warrior to the soul inside. I love you Vitani, never in my life have I felt this way before.”

“Nassor I feel the same way about you. I love you.”

     Smiling with utter joy the pair swam side by side through the gorges. The sunset turned the water a swirling mixture of deep orange and pink. Sholes of fish swam around them in a heart shape. The waves crashed gently around them throwing up patches of rainbow light. In the coastal paradise Nassor and Vitani had found something beyond their wildest dreams.

 

                           Choosing our fate

    The coming together of Vitani and Nassor as a couple marked a change in the dynamic of the pride. It began a time of utter bliss. The third birthdays of the pair past along with those of Arjana and Hasina. They had left their teenage years behind them and emerged as young adults.

            One day while the entire pride was drinking at the river estuary when a flock of birds in front of them. The birds had brought news from the Pridelands. The pride listened intently as the birds told of recent events. Simba had been involved in a sever accident that had resulted in several broken bones. The accident had weakened him and it would take a long time for the injuries to fully heal. In the wake of the accident Kopa had come into ascendance, having more power over what took place in the kingdom. At the same time Aketch was taking ever increasing responsibility from Nala. Imoo and Kamaria were also taking a prevalent role, acting as Kopa and Aketch’s deputies. Sarafina had passed away to the sadness of all. Kovu and Kiara were taking active roles yet there was still hostility towards Kovu. Ni was growing weaker, his leg had been gored by a wildebeest and the years were taking their toll.

 After the birds had finished giving the news the lions looked at one another. Fear ran in the hearts of Nassor, Masika and Majani for their parents. The situation had greatly changed since Nassor and Vitani had left. The news of Simba was a shock and that of Ni was near terrifying.

       Overwhelmed with emotions and questions Nassor and Vitani left the pride. The desire to run was so strong that they just ran without taking heed of direction. After a while they

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