All I Can Do Is Keep Breathing

 

 

Nala awoke to see the sun creeping into the den where the pride was sleeping. She wriggled out skilfully from underneath her mother’s paw and jumped and leaped across the still sleeping lionesses. She soon reached the fresh outside air and ran to the edge of Pride Rock to look out over the pridelands.

 

NALA – (Thinking) This must be what it feels like to be Queen. And all of this would be my land… my kingdom.

 

Then she remembered what Zazu had said yesterday about her and Simba being… well, she couldn’t remember the exact word, but she did remember the part where they were supposed to get married. Nala screwed up her nose in disapproval. Shaking the image form her mind, she sat down on the sun-kissed rock and got lost in her vivid imagination, and her green eyes sparkled with wonder as the young cub saw dreams play out inside her mind.

 

 

The warm, bright sunshine shone down on the pridelands as Nala, her mother and Sarabi lay under the shade of Pride Rock. Sarafina had her eyes closed as she listened to Sarabi fill the air with constant conversation. Getting restless, Nala began to bound after a bright butterfly that fluttered low to the ground.

 

SARABI - …he can’t help but think that something strange is going on. He knows that Scar’s not going to win “Brother of the Year” or anything, but… with all of the worrying that Mufasa’s doing, Scar’s gonna be the death of him if he’s not careful!

 

Sarabi and Sarafina chuckled and Nala pounced at the butterfly, but she stumbled and fell, landing in a heap on the floor. Sarafina rolled her now-open eyes and, giggling, Nala shook the grass from her back. When she looked up, Nala saw Scar a little way ahead, with her best friend bounding alongside him.

 

NALA – Simba! Hey, Simba! You wanna play?

 

Yet Simba was out of earshot and the cub continued to follow his uncle out of sight. Nala sighed and flopped to the floor beside her mother, and fell asleep listening to Sarabi talking about Simba and his father.

 

 

Nala woke up to the sound of Scar calling for the lionesses. With gentle persuasion from Sarafina, Nala followed her mother and the other lionesses outside to the edge of Pride Rock, where Scar stood waiting impatiently.

 

SCAR – Hurry up, hurry up! I don’t want to have to wait until I’m on my deathbed for my breakfast.

 

The lionesses assembled in front of Scar, and Nala stood defensively at the front of the group. She watched the King as he paced back and forth in front of her, and she noticed how his green eyes lacked the kindness that her own possessed.

 

SCAR – For the past 3 days you have been out hunting, and returned with nothing to show for it!

 

NALA – We’ve tried.

 

Scar turned to face Nala, and her eyes narrowed as she watched him approach her. He came close, so close that his nose was only an inch form hers.

 

SCAR – (Quietly) You know, you really shouldn’t speak to me like that. If you’d prefer, I can take you off the hunting party, and you can spend some time here, alone with me.

 

Scar smiled suggestively and Nala felt disgusted. She leant forward and whispered softly in his ear.

 

NALA – Over my dead body.

 

She took a step back and stared threateningly at Scar, her claws on show and her body close to the ground. He growled and turned his back to the lionesses. He looked over his kingdom, and the only life he saw were crowds of hyena’s standing below Pride Rock. With a look of disappointment and anger on his face, Scar closed his eyes.

 

SCAR – All of you, get out of here.

 

He quickly turned and bared his teeth.

 

SCAR – Go, now! Move!

 

Nala growled as she and the other lionesses passed Scar and descended down Pride Rock, their hearts full of anger and hatred towards their unwanted King.

 

 

The group walked across the barren land, with no sign of other life anywhere to be seen. Nala led the lionesses further across the dry ground, moving gracefully but with an edge of determination. She stopped when she realised how far they had come away from Pride Rock. Whichever way she turned her head, her home couldn’t be seen. Nala lowered her head and sighed.

 

NALA – It’s hopeless. Everything’s gone.

 

She looked up and saw the group gathered around her, their hope as dead as everything around them.

 

NALA – I have to leave. I have to find help.

 

SARAFINA – From where?

 

Nala looked up at the grey sky and sighed.

 

NALA – I don’t know yet.

 

SARABI – You’re right. You have to go.

 

SARAFINA – No. You can’t leave us! What will we do? What will you do?

 

Sarafina laid down on the floor and tears ran down her cheeks. Nala went over and licked her mother’s face affectionately, just as Sarafina used to do to her daughter when she was young and upset. Just as she had done to Nala when Simba had died.

 

NALA – (Softly) I will be back. Soon. I promise.

 

Nala stood up straight and looked over at Sarabi, who smiled proudly.

 

SARABI – Be careful.

 

Nala ran over and hugged her. Nala’s eyes filled with tears and one splashed onto Sarabi’s fur.

 

SARABI – Follow your heart. That’s all you need do.

 

Nala pulled away and looked back at her mother, who was now on her feet.

 

NALA – Mom?

 

SARAFINA – Just don’t forget us, okay?
Nala chuckled and looked warmly at her mother and her pride.

 

NALA – I love you.

 

SARAFINA – I know you do.

 

Nala nodded and ran off into the distance, seeking hope and guidance, and wanting to find the pathway back to the way things used to be. Sarabi watched Nala disappear into the horizon, just as she had watched her son do the same all those years before.

 

 

Exhausted, Nala let her legs give way underneath her, and she lay down among the long yellow grass that surrounded her. Her breaths were short and fast, and the hot sun formed beads of sweat on her fur. Her reaction to the heat made her realise that it hadn’t been warm in the pridelands since Mufasa and Simba had died. Nala turned onto her side as thoughts of her friend filled her head.

 

NALA – (Thinking) Would we still be as close if he was still alive? Or would we have drifted apart…?

 

As she felt her eyes sting with tears Nala sat up and shook her head, trying to put the memories of Simba at the back of her mind. For the first time, Nala took a look at her surroundings. In front of her was a big, beautiful jungle… and a warthog. Instinct kicked in and Nala lowered herself to the ground and prepared to pounce. It was the first time for ages that she had seen any kind of life other than lion, lioness and hyena. Just as Nala was about to pounce, the grass rustled with her movement, and the warthog spotted her and spooked, screamed and ran. Although Nala found it quite comical, he hunger won over all other emotions and she roared and gave chase.

 

Her prey ran all through the jungle, over plants and around trees, and Nala sprinted after him. As she was chasing the warthog, Nala lost him among some plants. She stopped briefly, regaining her breath and cursing herself. Nala burst through the tall grass and spotted her prey struggling to get out from under a huge tree root, and being helped by a meerkat. Her mind wanted to stop and laugh, but her body pushed her forward. Nala ran at the helpless animal but stopped in her tracks as a young lion jumped out from behind the warthog and pounced on her. Nala shook him off and put up a vicious fight. Her heart pounded in her chest as she overcame the lion and pinned him to the floor, and adrenaline rushed through her. A look of shock registered on the lion’s face as Nala bared her teeth and growled.

 

LION – Nala?

 

Noticing a familiarity in his voice, Nala back off instantly, and looked at him cautiously.
LION – Is it really you?

 

NALA – Who are you?

 

LION – It’s me. Simba.

 

NALA – Simba?

 

Nala felt her heart jump and miss a beat. I couldn’t be… but a smile crept across her face as she recognised the beloved warmth and cheekiness in his eyes. The eyes se thought she would only ever see again in her dreams.

 

NALA – Whoa!

 

She could barely contain her excitement when she ran at him, and when his soft fur touched hers, she felt complete for the first time in years.

 

the pridelands since Mufasa and Simba had died. Nala turned onto her side as thoughts of her friend filled her head.

 

NALA – (Thinking) Would we still be as close if he was still alive? Or would we have drifted apart…?

 

As she felt her eyes sting with tears Nala sat up and shook her head, trying to put the memories of Simba at the back of her mind. For the first time, Nala took a look at her surroundings. In front of her was a big, beautiful jungle… and a warthog. Instinct kicked in and Nala lowered herself to the ground and prepared to pounce. It was the first time for ages that she had seen any kind of life other than lion, lioness and hyena. Just as Nala was about to pounce, the grass rustled with her movement, and the warthog spotted her and spooked, screamed and ran. Although Nala found it quite comical, he hunger won over all other emotions and she roared and gave chase.

 

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