healing. He had then come back to wake up his mother, when he found her (to his surprise) already awake and with a frown upon her graceful features, eyes downcast and refusing to meet his. 

The regal Queen had let out a sigh, stating with a very quiet and tired voice, “I will not lie and say that I expected any better from you, my sweet prince, but I am disappointed.” And that had been all she had said to him. Thinking back about all that had transpired, Elewisa realized with a stinging pain that her refusal to speak to him had caused him more pain than any of his father’s screeching or threats. 

After her refusal to speak another word to him, Elewisa had found himself beckoned into his father’s meeting place beneath the kajobe where the pride landers made their dens. It was there in that cave that he had received the expected scolding. 

***

Elewisa cautiously stepped foot into the rocky cavern, unsure of what to expect. There would be yelling, of course. There was always yelling whenever he was called down into this place. This felt...different. When he was in full view of his father, the King bounded up to Elewisa and snarled, smacking his son across the face, though he kept his claws sheathed. El felt the stinging nonetheless. It wouldn’t leave a mark, but it hurt. 

“Be lucky I do not brand you for your foolishness!” His father hissed, glaring down at his son with a fiery green gaze. Elewisa kept his head down, but a sneer had crept its way onto his face, out of the sight of his father. 

“I have heard of your little tryst out near the borders. You nearly got Areesa killed! What would I tell Mtoto if something had happened to her?” 

Elewisa didn’t answer. Answering only made things worse. His father would continue berating him, and turn any comment of defense against him. He had walked this path many times before, and even though his chest now burned with the rage of a thousand suns and his tongue prepared rebukes, he kept his jaws clamped shut. 

His eyes began to water as he received another smack on his head for his silence. 

“Heed my warning, Elewisa. Stay out of trouble, stay within the borders, and whatever folly you choose to pursue, leave Areesa out of it. Understand?”

Elewisa gave a curt nod, his eyes narrowed and vision now blurry. He had folded in on himself ever so slightly, and all of a sudden it became difficult to breathe. “Good. Now get out of my sight.” His father used a giant paw to shove him off in the direction of the cavern exit, and Elewisa didn’t resist the push. He clambored his way out of the underground cave gasping for breath. 

***

It had been hours since his father’s reprimands now, and the sun was at its peak in the sky. Today had become quite the uncomfortably hot day. 

The heat, however, was not what was fueling the raging storm within Elewisa. No, those feelings of hot hatred were the work of his father, and not even the sun could compete with the heat of his heart. 

Pettiness, ever had it been Elewisa’s greatest flaw. 

He was now swiftly and deliberately making his way to a far off parcel of land. He had been warned to stay within the borders, and he would, but he would stir up as much trouble along the way as he could muster. Stopping near what appeared to be a den of rabbits, Elewisa let out his most intimidating growl and scuffed at the ground, a tiny tinge of satisfaction blossoming in his chest as he heard the whimpers within. Happy with his work, the lion cub continued on, pausing to paw and scare any animals that crossed his path. By the time the sun finally began its descent into the sky, Elewisa had travelled much farther than he had originally intended. He was now near to the western bank, nearing the end of his father’s borders. 

Elewisa began to contemplate turning back, until a thought struck him and a wicked smirk spread across his face. This was the same place that Tiifu had spoken of weeks ago. Somewhere on this bank there stood a tree with a great treasure, and Elewisa wanted nothing more than to find it and pillage it. 

A small voice in the back of his head whispered urgently that he ought to just turn back around, that this could be dangerous, and oh what if he was stung? The whispering didn’t even faze Elewisa. How delighted Areesa would be to lick honey off his fur, and on such an occasion not even Tiffu would be upset at having to bathe him. 

This was a very bad idea. His father would hate it. Knowing the reaction his father would give, Elewisa settled on his decision. He would find that honey if it was the last thing he did. 

The sun was now hiding behind some clouds as Elewisa charged forth towards the bank, not once paying attention to his surroundings. His nose was thrust into the air, the cub sniffing around to catch the scent. 

He had tasted honey only once, way back when he had been a tiny mewling newborn with a wicked cough. The elderly baboon Rafiki had come to visit him in his den and forced him to eat the thick golden sweetness. He had never forgotten the taste, or the way it had relieved his sore throat. Besides domination of the pride, Elewisa’s only other large goal was the gathering of all honey- for himself of course. 

He was so busy thinking about the taste and consistency of the honey that he barely noticed what he was stumbling into until it was too late. 

A snarl erupted forth from the creature. Elewisa screamed in surprise, stumbling back from the black and white pelt. 

This was more than just a bad idea. 

He had been fine with the idea of a few stings, and any who had heard his thoughts would have thought him fearless. Elewisa was not fearless. No, the second prince was more akin to a coward than anything else, and damn his legs for betraying him! They now refused to move as Elewisa’s eyes widened in terror at the animal before him. 

How had it never crossed his mind that others may also be seeking the treasure he wanted to hoard? He certainly wasn’t the only animal in the savannah who had tasted it before. He most certainly was not the only one who enjoyed the taste. 

“Get down!” A voice yelled from somewhere behind Elewisa. This much he could do. The cub dropped down onto his paws and closed his eyes, refusing to open them again until he heard the badger stumbling, confused. Teeth pulled at the scruff of Elewisa’s neck, forcing his legs to move once more. “We have to get up! Can you climb?” Elewisa couldn’t form a sentence, but nodded with blurry eyes as he followed his savior up a tree further inland from the bank. 

The two animals panted as they climbed the large tree, stopping only when they had reached a high enough perch. Elewisa at last took a good look at his savior, and found himself staring at a leopard. 

“Thank you!” He blurted before he could think of a more eloquent response. The leopardess looked at him as if he had just spoken gibberish. She arched an eyebrow and simply responded. “That’s it? I save your life and all I get is a thank you?” 

Elewisa blinked, unsure of what to say. Luckily for him, the leopardess appeared to already have an idea in mind. “If you truly want to thank me, my prince,” She said it in such a condescending tone that Elewisa had to fight back the urge to threaten to have her exiled. She saved your life! he reminded himself. “I want the finest gazelle your hunting parties have brought down this day. You can manage this much, can you not?” 

Elewisa simply nodded. The two cats waited until they felt it was safe to descend, occasionally striking up conversation. The leopardess was called Penda, and after his many rantings she seemed to empathize with his situation. When they were sure of their safety on the ground, Elewisa led Penda back to Pride Rock where he was grateful to find only his mother present to deal with the situation. 

The regal Queen said nothing to her son, but was still grateful to the leopardess cub for having saved the prince. She called to Arien and instructed the lion to help carry the Leopardess’s prize back to her leap, and Elewisa watched as his newest friend proudly padded off with his cousin. 

If his father heard, Elewisa would never see the light outside the Kajobe ever again. 

***

The Queen nudged her sons forward, although Elewisa complained relentlessly. She knew exactly what he was doing. He wanted her to respond to him- say something, anything, but Kiara was not going to give in. She knew if she gave in now that her wily son would never again fall back into line, and she had promised Kovu that she would deal with Elewisa her way. “Move along you two.” She said as she padded into the tall grasses. There was a hidden glade surrounded by the boulders from the kajobe where the Queen Mother made her den. Flowering plants covered the rocks, and the green moss felt heavenly on sore paws, its cool moisture easing the weariness of Kiara. 

The Queen’s face transformed into a wistful smile as she came upon the entrance to the glade, squeezing through the small opening to find her mother sitting near a shaded corner. 

“Grandma!” Her sons both screeched at once, and Kiara couldn’t help giggling as she watched the two smaller lions throwing themselves at Nala, erupting with licks and purrs, each one more anxious than the other to gain the Queen Mother’s attention. 

Nala gave her daughter a wink as she happily returned their licks and purrs, and Kiara waited as her mother dealt with her occasionally obnoxious children. 

She had news to speak of, and she