Simba stirred. He stood. “Dad. Dad! DAD!” He bumped his father, King Mufasa, awake. “Dad - come on!”

Mufasa opened his mouth, and yawned widly. “Simba....”

“Come on,” Simba pleaded. “I want to go to the water hole with Nala! You said I could go....”

“Your son’s awake,” Sarabi, the Queen grumbled. “He’ll pester us until afternoon.” Simba was still calling his father awake.

“While I’m asleep,” Mufasa growled,”He’s your son.”

Sarabi turned over. “Simba, what is it?”

“I want to take Nala to swim in the Water Hole!” Simba flounced around Sarabi. “Can I go?”

Mufasa yawned widely, again. “Alright. Come, let’s find Zazu.”

Simba shouted (yeah!) as he followed Mufasa from the cave.

R R R

“Hey, Nala,” Simba called.

“Hi, Simba!” Nala pounced, and the two cubs rolled about in the tall grass, before Nala flipped Simba over on his back. “Where are we going today?”

“Want to swim in the Water Hole?” Simba pushed his friend off.

“Sure,” Nala answered.

Zazu fluttered down beside Nala. “Come, now, you two. Let’s get going!” He lifted himself into the air, and flew in the direction of the Water Hole. Simba and Nala followed. When they arrived, Simba plunged straight into the water. Nala felt it to make sure that it was warm before leaping in after him.

“Hello, young cubs,” a mother giraffe said.

“Good Morning, Nessa,” the two cubs answered.

Nessa bowed her head. “Same to you, Zazu.”

“Good morning, Nessa. How is Tranoff?” Zazu gestured to the young giraffe, drinking from the water beside Nessa.

“She’s fine,” Nessa answered. “We must be going. Come, Tranoff!”

“Yes, mother,” Tranoff said, following her mother out of sight.

“Well,” Zazu began, “Mufasa will be pleased with the good reports. Don’t you agree, Simba?”

Simba splashed Nala. “Sure,” he answered, ducking from Nala’s paw.

Zazu shook his head - then squaked. “Look out! Simba, Nala, run!”

“What?” Simba looked behind himself, then whirled around at Nala’s gasp.

An animal, covered in mud, staggered forward, toward them. Simba approached the poor creature. “What happened to you?”

The small dog shrank away. He was an African Wild Dog pup, only the size of Simba and Nala.

“It’s okay,” Nala spoke,”We want to help you.”

“Get away! I told you!” Zazu flew at the pup, who coward, low to the ground.

“No!” Nala protected him from the Hornbill. “Zazu, he’s hurt. My mother could take care of him.”

“And mime,” Simba said. “They would never let an animal suffer.”

Zazu thought a moment. “Oh, alright. I suppose you must. But I’m not taking any credit for this! Oh, the misery I must endure! Mufasa won’t be happy about this report....”

As they began their return to Pride Rock, Simba and Nala found out some amazing facts from the young Wild Dog, Zamib. He had fled when a group of lionesses had attacked his pack, narrowly avoiding capture.

“I saw my mother get away, but no one else.”

“How terrible!” Nala exclaimed. “Surely they’re alright....”

“Where is he?” A lioness, followed by Mufasa appeared. It was Sarabi, and Simba’s father.

“Oh, my!” Sarabi checked Zamib over. “You poor creature!”

Zamib stood stock still, ears perked forward.”I’m alright. Really.”

The Pride allowed Zamib to stay in the den with them, agreeing that they would find his mother.

µµµ µµµ µµµ

A few days later, Simba, Nala and Zamib trotted toward the Water Hole.

“Want to go for a swim?” Simba asked.

Zamib was clean, now and was happily following his newfound friends. “Why do you go to the Water Hole so often?”

“It’s fun,” Simba answered. “And you get to meet lots of animals there. That’s how we met you.” Simba led the other two to the Water Hole, and plunged in. Zamib followed.

As a member of the dog family, he was a natural swimmer. The three friends swam for an hour, splashing each other, talking to the passerbys. When they finally lept from the pool, three lionesses came forward. Mufasa followed.

“Zamib,” Amtiki, a lioness began, “We have found your mother.”

Zamib stared. “Is she alright?”

“She is well,” Amtiki answered. “She is going to stay with us a day, with you.”

“Come, Simba. Nala, you, too.” Sarabi herded the cubs home, with Zamib happily barking, and bouncing in their wake.

When they reached Pride Rock, a large African Wild Dog flew at them, nearly bowling Simba over. He had to jump sideways to avoid her.

“Zamib! Oh, Zamib! You’re alive.” The dog covered her son with licks. “Keeta, Ronfa and Gazelle are alright. Only one of you was lost.”

Zamib hung his head. “Pitimo,” he said, sadly. “She was a good sister.”

“Yes, and you all still are good to each other. Now,” the she-dog turned to the waiting Pride. “How can I ever thank you for watching over my Zamib?”

“There’s no need,” Simba said, coming forward. “He was a great friend to us during his stay. You’re both welcome back again.”

“Thank you,” Zamib and his mother said.

After everyone said their good9byes, Zamib saved two special nuzzles for Simba and Nala. “I’ll be back soon. Thanks for everything.” Then, he joined his mother’s side. As the two dogs turned, Simba ran to the edge of Pride Rock, and watched the dark silhouette of his new friends disappeared over the sunset-tinted-hill.