and promised Kabili that they would share whatever she caught. That thought got her through.

She got plenty of encouragement from everyone at Pride Rock and Kiara told her not to panic because it wouldn’t be as bad as her first hunt. Then it was time to go.

She padded over the familiar hunting territory until she found a group of gazelle. She remembered to be careful around gazelle because of what happened to Ajali’s mother. Very soon, she had caught a young gazelle and had started taking it back home. Everything had gone smoothly, just like the Pride had said.

However, she spoke too soon. Suddenly, she was surrounded by a hyena clan. They had gone when Simba had banished them after the death of Scar, but they had obviously returned. She put down her gazelle.

“Why are you here? You were banished by none other than King Simba himself.”

The hyenas stared at her, amazed by her bravery. Then one stepped forward, obviously the leader.

“We were told by a prophet that a cub would be born that would destroy the lions of Pride Rock. We have come to see that cub.”

Wema was astonished. A cub that would destroy Pride Rock! Was that one of her cubs? Or one of her friends? An enemy?

“Leave now! No one will destroy the lions of Pride Rock!” She roared.

“We’re not leaving without something in return. Come with us and we can train you to kill, or bring one of your friends.”

“Never!”

That was when the hyenas attacked. Wema was never a strong fighter, she was more of a hunter, but she fought back. The struggle lasted a long time and when it ended Wema was covered in scratches and bites, dripping blood. The hyenas backed off. Wema felt her consciousness leaving her.

“No one will destroy Pride Rock!” she yelled before collapsing.

 

Chapter 3 - Love

Up on Pride Rock, Kovu had heard the roars of his daughter and called Kiara to come and look for her. They found her not far from Pride Rock, lying on the floor with nasty bites and scratches on her. They gently picked her up and carried her to Pride Rock where Kiara went about licking her wounds. Soon, her eyes began to open and she began to stand up.

“Wema, what happened?” Asked Kovu.

She told them about the hyena attack, (she gathered the hyenas had run off with the gazelle), but didn’t tell them about the prophecy. It scared her too much and wished it wouldn’t come true.

Kovu relayed the information to Simba who then went about searching for these hyenas, but they had left without a trace.

The next day, Wema felt strong enough to walk down to Kabili’s cave. She felt her muscles begin to work properly again, however she had developed a limp. She hated her limp as it stopped her from hunting which she loved to do. She apologised to Kabili for not bringing food and told him about the hyena attack. She didn’t even tell him about the prophecy. When her story was done, she held Kabili’s paw and whispered comforting words into his ear as he had another seizure. They were becoming more common now, as was the constant running of his nose and eyes, breathlessness, dribbling, vomiting and diarrhoea, but Wema cleaned him up in the river and washed the cave clean. She began to admire all the wonderful drawings he made. She noticed Mufasa with Simba looking at the stars, Mohatu at the waterhole, Kopa finding Vitani and Scar with the hyenas. However, there was a new drawing she noticed, right at the back of the cave. It showed a light cream lion with a brown mane and blue eyes with a dark brown lioness with green eyes and in her paws was a light brown cub with crystal blue eyes and a dark golden cub with blue eyes as well. Seeing that drawing made her cry and turn to see Kabili lying there, gazing at her.

He was almost an adult now, with a thin mane covering his neck and his eyes. He was handsome.

“Like it?” He whispered. They were the first words he’d uttered in about a month and Wema’s heart leapt. He was getting better! But then, he started shaking again and she ran to comfort him through one of the biggest seizures he’d had yet.

Meanwhile, up at Pride Rock, Ajali was preparing to ask Dafina formally to be his mate. He had planned a romantic stargazing session in their favourite spot. She was going to meet him just after sunset, so he had set out early to get ready.

However, when he got there he noticed a white lioness crying. He ran over to her and asked her whether she was okay. She shook her head.

“What’s your name?” Ajali asked.

“I’m Nabii.” Sobbed the lioness.

“Why are you crying?”

“Because I thought my life was going to work out brilliantly with a loving mate and a beautiful family, but it hasn’t. I don’t have anyone to love.”

That sparked something up in Ajali’s mind. Perhaps, if he took Nabii back to Pride Rock she will fall in love with Chimalsi, for that was what was wrong with him. He was heartsick!

“Nabii.” He whispered. “I know someone you’ll like. His name is Chimalsi and he is Prince of the Pridelands. I think he was planning on finding love too, but hasn’t and now it’s destroying him. Please come with me.”

The white lioness nodded and followed Ajali up to Pride Rock.

“Who’s this?” Dafina asked Ajali as they reached Pride Rock.

“Don’t worry my jealous furball, she is for Chimalsi, not me. I only have eyes for you.”

Dafina stepped out of defensive mode and greeted Nabii properly.

“He’s something special – you’ll like him!” She told her.

“Wait for me out here please Dafina.”

Then Ajali entered Pride Rock and walked quietly up to Chimalsi as to not disturb anyone else.

“Chimalsi, wake up please.”

Chimalsi awoke with a start and swiped at Ajali, who ducked.

“Wait! I have someone I think you’ll want to meet.”

The two male lions walked out of Pride Rock and met with Nabii. Chimalsi couldn’t believe his eyes – Nabii was stunning. He loved her snow white fur and her fluffy ear tufts, not to mention her eyes which were the colour of icy water.

“Hi, I’m Chimalsi.”

“Pleased to meet you, I’m Nabii.”

Chimalsi smiled. He liked her name.

“Would you like to join me at the top of Pride Rock? The stars are beautiful from up there.” He asked her.

Nabii nodded and Chimalsi led her away from Ajali, turning back to wink at him in a silent word of thanks.

“That was really kind of you Ajali.”

Ajali spun around to face Simba. He was standing in the entrance of Pride Rock staring up at his grandson and the white lioness.

“He needed a mate, I realised, and that was exactly what Nabii needed too.” Ajali said.

Simba looked Ajali straight in the eyes and nodded.

“I think you’re right. Talking of mates, wasn’t there something you were meant to do tonight?”

Ajali gasped and ran to Dafina to apologise. They went and stargazed and Dafina agreed to be his mate.

When they returned to following day, Nala informed them that there would be a double joining ceremony as Nabii was to be joined with Chimalsi.

 

Chapter 4 – Tears and Rejoicing

The ceremony was held a month later. The couples were greeted by the animals and roared in happiness. The scene was very joyous, apart from Wema would stayed in the background, crying silently. She was happy for her brother and her friends and the fact her limp was gone, but she wanted Kabili.

Wema ran down the side of Pride Rock and into Vitani.

“Where are you headed Wema? To see my son?”

Wema nodded and more tears fell from her face.

“Come here, my dear.”

Wema went back up to Vitani and into a big, supportive hug.

“Do you know what I see when I see you?” Vitani asked. “I see myself, a brilliant hunter and also someone who needs their mate. I was pining for Kopa on the day of your parent’s joining ceremony and he came back to me. Perhaps Kabili will come back to you.”

And with that, Vitani got up and left. Wema felt more hopeful with Vitani’s story and ran all the way to Kabili’s cave.

He was asleep when she entered, but she went and lay down next to him, taking in his scent. Then he woke up, only to have another seizure. Wema was glad she was with him to lick his fur and stroke his mane, but then he made a motion as if he was going to speak to her. Wema put her ear next to his mouth and she heard him say that he would rather die than endure this torture.

Wema cried out loud and fled from the cave, running back up to Pride Rock where she lay in a dark corner and cried in mourning as if Kabili had actually died. Kiara came in a comforted her with words of love, stroking her fur and licking her tears away as if Wema was a little cub again. She remained in her mother’s arms all night.

A few days later, Wema plucked up the courage to go and see Kabili again. She brought a flower like the one she had found all those months ago when Kabili first fell ill.

When she reached the cave she saw Kabili painting on the wall. It was a beautiful picture of flowers and stones in the shape of a heart. Wema entered the cave and walked over to Kabili and stuck the flower in his mane.

“I love you Kabili and I’m sorry for deserting you the other day.”

Kabili smelt the flower in his mane.

“I understand Wema. I scared you and that was no way for a mate to behave.”

“Mate?”

“Yes. You’re my mate aren’t you?”

Wema nodded, choking back on tears. Kabili smiled a dazzling smiled

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