Kobee had been walking for days on end when he had first spotted Pride Rock. His mouth was dry and his drooping eyes were sagging as he tried to shake some liveliness into his body. He spotted the large boulder where he had once been born and he slowed his walk to a careful trot, something about this place made him feel uneasy. He tried his hardest to psyche himself into seeing his mother again, if she was still alive that was. But with no face to go with the name it was unlikely he would even find her. With a heavy mind he padded toward the rock, and without warning he almost collided with a lioness that he had not earlier seen.
“Oh, sorry ma’am, I wasn’t watching where I was going.” Kobee looked into the lioness eyes, they looked aged but her body was still young and she offered him a polite smile. Her eyes widening in an uncomfortable manner and Kobee shifted his weight from one paw to the other. “Er, yes, anyways… I was wondering if you could tell me if there is a lioness around here by the name of Nala, I think it is?”
The lioness put her face to the ground, she sighed lightly before turning her gaze back to Kobee.
“Kobee, it’s me.” She announced, her tone was a mixture of excitement and nerves, and as she spoke Kobee’s ears pricked forward. His eyes bulged at the mention of his name and he took a step backward.
“Excuse me?”
“I am your mother, Nala.” Her reply was softer this time and she stepped forward, disallowing him from distancing himself from her. He chuckled nervously and then bit down on his lip, unsure of what to say next. The lioness in front of him was his mother, someone who he had not seen since he was a newborn. He gulped down the lump that had formed in his throat and then let out an inaudible growl of overwhelmed confusion. “It’s been so long…”
“Kima, my father has passed on. So I have been in search for you ever since.” Kobee didn’t know what to say, so he blurted that out and hoped she would understand enough. He wasn’t one who had a way with words and often preferred the sound of someone else’s voice over his own.
“You are always welcome here, son.” Nala smiled widely and then thrust herself forward, she looked ecstatic and Kobee winced as she stood on her hind legs and examined his body with her paws. He let out a fake laugh and then cleared his throat, as if to say ‘that’s enough’. “Look at this mane, and your eyes, you have your fathers eyes… bless his soul… Oh and your nose, I remember, we have the same nose. Oh this is just so wonderful, you are welcome to stay with us for as long as you desire. This is your home.”
She pulled away and he shook himself off, slightly stunned by the sudden touch of her paws. Kobee wasn’t home; he wasn’t home unless he was with Kima. But Nala seemed happy to see him and he knew that he wanted a change in lifestyle. So for now, this would have to do.
Original image and character design (c) Disney
Nala (c) Disney
Kobee (c) Me
Render (c) Me