a while they stopped on a section of cliff. They sat in silence trying to make sense of what they had been told. The silence was defending while the tension was almost unbearable. 

“Dad sounds in a bad way……” Nassor said, his voice cracking.

“He is an old lion. When we left we both knew things would change back there……”Vitani said hesitantly.

“I promised. I always promised to go back. We’ve never talked about what we might do once we’d met Majani and Zola.”

“We couldn’t. We didn’t know for sure how they would treat us.”

“I like this kingdom, being here with you is fantastic. I need to talk to Majani,” Nassor rambled.

“You want to go back and take Majani with you,” Vitani replied in a detached tone.

“Yeh if she’ll go. Vitani all I want is to be with you. You’re happy here,” Nassor replied looking away.

“I’m not sure…..I’ve not though about the future. I’m going to ask Zola how she’d feel about going back with me,” Vitani stammered.

“You sure that is a good idea?”

“No. Maybe. It might just finally put the past to rest. Think about it. For years Nala has wondered what happened to Zola. Simba has questions and fears about what she might do. If they met……..

“That sounds so crazy that it might just work,” Nassor replied.

        Together they returned to the pride who were waiting nervously at the caves. The pride had had time to think. Seeing their family the pair asked for a private word. Zola accepted yet Majani refused outright.

“Just say what you want,” Majani snapped angrily.

“I’d like you to go back to the Pridelands with me,” Nassor said calmly.

“I knew it! Well the answer is no.”

“Why? Father misses you. Aketch has unresolved issues. I’m not expecting you to stay, just to make your peace with them,” Nassor replied coolly.

“I chose my fate years ago,” Majani replied.

“Majani don’t be so dismissive of the idea,” Chumvi said jumping in. “By all accounts you left under a cloud. Don’t play innocent, whenever there has been news from the Pridelands you’ve asked about your family.”

“We all have our lives. Going to them won’t do any good,” Majani said harshly.

“You’re wrong. The pain from your actions has never left them. Seeing them would clear the air and allow them both to move on. All Dad wants is to see you again and know you’re happy. At the very least you owe Aketch an explanation for abandoning her,” Nassor replied forcefully.

“Oh very smart Nassor emotional blackmail. I will think about what you have said but no promises.”

       Majani left the pride for her stint on border duty without a backward glance. Delmar and Chumvi exchanged worried glances. Majani could very unpredictable when she was upset. She doesn’t do emotion and in her own eyes had put the past behind her. At the same time Chumvi and Masika slipped away leaving their cubs confused. Moments later Zola and Vitani walked away leaving their family worried.

___________________________________________________________________________

        Vitani and Zola walked along the beach for a while lost in thought. Walking into the sea they swam out to the small jungle island. Reaching the island they sat on the sea shore unsure how to deal with the situation that confronted them. In the trees behind them birds sang, the waves crashed on the shore line and the calls of dolphins drifted across the waves.

“The news has raised a lot of questions. You never mentioned your future,” Zola began gently.

“Zola there is no right for me to ask….I’d like you to go back with me. Not to stay….to meet Simba……Nala would love to see you.”

“I had a feeling you would ask that of me.”

“Simba fears you. If you and he could make peace.”

“I know what you are trying to say. I am the true heir who lived during Scar’s reign. I am the unknown. Still a shadow is cast by the past,” Zola replied darkly.

“The past has been almost put behind us. Perhaps you and Simba meeting could finally allow that to happen,” Vitani replied, a trace of hope in her voice. 

“I will think about it. Delmar…… my cubs………whatever I decide effects them,” Zola replied downheartedly.

___________________________________________________________________________

      The following day the entire pride gathered together at their cliff home. The pride was apprehensive, especially Arjana and Penina, terrified at what their parents were going to say. Standing Delmar looked around the pride.

“I won’t explain why we are here. What do those involved in the matter at paw say? The choices made will affect the entire pride,” Delmar said, his aurar radiating power.

“Hasina and I are going back. Hasina has asked to accompany me,” Masika said softly.

“I and Chipo will be staying. Too much has happened for me to face returning to the land. As yet Chipo is too young for the journey without risk to his life,” Chumvi said standing up.

  Next to their parents Hasina and Chipo nodded in agreement with everything that had been said. Hasina had always been curious about the land of her parent’s birth, she especially to meet her grandmother who Masika had told stories about. 

“I’m still thinking about it,” Majani said coolly. “I might go back it all depends on the rest of you.”

“I’d like you to go but I am not gonna force you cause that sure as heck won’t work,” Nassor muttered darkly.

    The eyes of the pride flittered to Zola and Vitani. The pair seemed oblivious to the looks they were getting. Taking a deep breath Zola stood up.

“I have decided to return to the Pridelands. The shadows of the past will not be banished until Simba and I meet.”

“What will happen to us Mother?” asked Arjana, a look of confusion on his face.

“That is for you to decide along with your sister. Arjana you are an adult capable of choosing for yourself. If you wish then you are welcome to go with me. Penina as princess you need to remain here least something befalls Arjana. I cannot take the risk of taking both heirs. Do you understand why you have to stay?” Zola said gently.

“I understand. Mummy will you be coming back?” asked Penina, her eyes full of fear.

“Without a doubt. This kingdom is my home, nothing will stop me coming home even it if takes me a thousand years.”

      All most instantly a babble of chatter broke out, the tension melting away like snow in summer. Yet despite all that had been said they all knew there would be changes. Under the sun they began to plan the return trip to the Pridelands. Nassor and Vitani shared the knowledge gained from their journey. The lions combined all their knowledge both gain personally and what they had learned from others over the years.

     Yet in the midst of the planning Majani kept throwing cynical comments. As day turned to evening her jibes became increasingly aimed at Nassor and Zola and increasingly cruel. In reply Nassor argued back point for point. In response Majani aimed her comments to provoke him to react. When she made a comment about Kula being unhappy about her little golden cub being in love with warrior the daughter of Zira, Nassor snapped.

     With a rage filled roar he pounced on Majani, attacking her with his full force. Majani was thrown flying into a large rock pool. Her eyes burning she jumped to her paws retaliating with equal force. The pair fought with ferocity, slashing each other with their claws and biting with their teeth. Without warning Chumvi and Delmar jumped into the fray in a desperate attempt to separate the pair. Using all their strength the males managed to separate the pair, Chumvi pinning Nassor to the floor while Delmar was able to push Majani into a corner between two rocks. Nassor and Majani were gasping for breath, blood dripping from a number of wounds and their eyes filled with rage. Pushing Chumvi off him Nassor stalked away from the pride. Glaring at the Delmar Majani pushed past him Delmar oblivious to the comments. Limping she stalked away up off to her cave. Looking around Delmar, Chumvi, Zola and Masika exchanged a dark look. This what just what they had expected to happen.

“We will have to keep an eye on those two,” Chumvi said in a low voice.

“This was bound to happen at some point. Perhaps if we give both of them some space they will sort it out themselves,” Masika replied, concern evident in her voice.

“We can hope. Maj doesn’t like to talk about her emotions or the past,” Zola said, shaking her head.

“We all need to try to take a step away from the emotion of the fight,” Delmar said. “Our laws have to stand.”

“The laws have to be adapted in this case. For Majani to come to terms and for Nassor to accept…….” Zola sighed.

___________________________________________________________________________

        That same evening Zola, Delmar and their cubs walked through the gorges, playing on the beaches, along the paths, swimming in the water and

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