Sauria looked at the huge lion called Mufasa. "Can you swear, Sauria, to keep your friendship?" Mufasa said. His voice was rich and deep. It comforted Sauria. "I can." Her voice rang out, loud and clear. Mufasa smiled. "Good." he said.

                                                    ***

Two Years Later

Meer looked around. It was dusk. He had eaten and explored earlier that day, when the sun had barely risen and it was still cool. Then, at about noon, he had lain down and slept until it had begun to get cool again. He got up and stretched. He did not have a permanent home, he was a gypsy, constantly traveling. Last night, he had found a nice spot: a hollow tree. The opening was just big enough for him to fit in, and the space inside the tree was bigger than you would think. Also, it was well hidden. Meer had found this place by accident. He was chasing a bug, and ran straight into a bush. When he had poked his head out the other side of the bush, he saw a ravine with a tree and some bushes. He had explored, and decided this would be his place to stay. Today, he had found a water hole nearby. He jumped out of the ravine and scanned the plain. He saw the pride of lions that lived nearby rounding up an antelope. He sighed. He had always thought that because he was half cheeta meant he had to live alone. Then he was startled by a voice at his side. "What are you doing all alone?'' it said. Meer turned around. It was a dog. She was the color of the setting sun: fiery red. She had a faded, ragged, brown bandana tied around her neck. Though she seemed old, her movements were graceful. Meer watched as she slid down the ravine. There was some wild feirceness about her that Meer couldn't understand. "Well?" she rasped. "I asked you a question." Meer paused. "Who are you." he asked. The dog rolled her eyes. "My name is Sauria. Now answer me!" "Why should I? You're not the boss of me!" Meer answered hotly. Sauria laughed. It was more of a rasp. "You've got spirit, youngster." Sauria said, still laughing. "You should answer me because I could tear you to peices!" Meer didn't doubt her word. "Who are you?" he asked again. "I've already told you that." Sauria snapped. Meer rolled his eyes. "I meant-" But Sauria cut him off. "I know what you meant. I live with Mufasa's pride-" "With a lion pride? What is it like? What-" "Quit interrupting." Sauria growled. "As I was saying, I live with Mufasa's pride. I have an owner, but all he does is feed me. He lives here to study lions." Meer was fascinated. "Tell me about yourself." Sauria rasped. So Meer began. "I am half lion and half cheeta. I don't know who my father was. I do know who my mother was. Her name was Ira. She took care of me for about a month, then left. I have lived alone ever since." Sauria looked at him. "I will visit you later." She said.

Sauria padded away. She had something on her mind. She bounded up to Pride Rock. "What is it, Sauria?" Zazu snapped. "Do you have to come here right before Sarabi is going to have her son?" "Son?" Sauria gasped. "Yes, I do. Why isn't Rafiki here?" "He's on his way." Zazu said shortly. "I'm here now." a voice Sauria recognized as Rafiki's said. "Rafiki!" Sauria gasped. "I have to ask you something." Rafiki nodded. "What was Scar's cheeta mate named?'' Rafiki raised his eyebrows. "Ira. Why?" "I've found his son!" Sauria rasped. "How is he doing?" Rafiki asked. "Fine." Sauria answered. "His name is Meer." "Good." Rafiki looked anxious. "Scar must not know. Meer's life would be in danger." Sauria knew what he was reffering to. When Ira had refused to join the pride, just before she had Meer, Scar had left her, swearing to kill her son. Many animals in the pride lands thought Rafiki knew everything. They were wrong. Rafiki did not know, for example, that Scar had been standing in the shadows, listening to everything they had been saying.

One Year Later

Meer looked around. Everything was so barren. Scar, whom he had recently learned of, had been forced to be the leader of the Pride Lands. Simba had killed his father, Mufasa, and Scar had avenged his brother's death. Food was scarce, and hunger was a constant ache. Sauria was beside him. He had a feeling that she was hiding something from him. She looked at him and said, "I'm going hunting." Meer nodded. Sauria raced off. Then, Meer saw the king, Scar, walking up to him. Meer was confused. "I saw you in the company of that dog, Sauria. She was a friend of Simba's. I wouldn't advise befriending her." Meer was outraged. At the same time, he was confused. Why was the king telling him this? "I need someone to help me capture her. She is very dangerous." Scar went on. "She trusts you very well. I may even let you join the Pride if you help me." Meer looked at Scar. Join the Pride........"Deal." he said. "Good." Scar growled. "Somehow persuade her to be at Pride Rock at sunset tonight." Meer nodded.

Sauria looked around. Nothing in sight. She didn't want to reveal the truth about Meer's father to him. He would get angry and try to kill Scar. She knew Scar was strong, and he could easily beat Meer in a fight. She did not believe that Simba had killed Mufasa, nor that he was dead. She did not want to tell this to Meer, either. He wouldn't beleive her. She had been a friend of Simba's. He wouldn't like that, either. She decided hunting was useless, and turned to get back to Meer.

Meer waited for Sauria. It was almost sunset. He had decided to tell her that Sarabi had an important job for her. At that moment, Sauria ran up. "Sauria, Sauria!" he yowled. "Sarabi needs your help. Quick, to Pride Rock!" Without waiting for an answer, Sauria bounded of, Meer at her heels. They reached Pride Rock at exactly sunset. When Meer saw Sauria at the edge of Pride Rock, he knew he had come right on time. Sauria stopped and looked at Meer. "It was a trap. How could you-" She was cut off by a blow from Scar. She hit the rocks and fell, not moving. "I am your father, Meer. Sauria hated me. She wanted to kill you. I will be  right back." Meer was stunned. He was even more stunned when Sauria heaved herself off of the ground. His amazment quickly turned to anger. He pinned Sauria down. "You never told me." he growled. Sauria looked at him. She said, "You would have gone and fought Scar, and you would have lost." Meer knew she was right, but that didn't matter. He raised his claw to give her the death blow. "Like father, like son." Sauria said. "Scar is a murderer, too." Suddenly Meer understood. Scar was going to kill him, and the only one who respected him now was Sauria. She was the only one who stood in Scar's way. "Don't worry, apology accepted." said Sauria, reading his thoughts. She stood up. "Well, I guess it's two on two." Scar's mocking voice rang out. Beside him stood a heyena. "Two battle-scarred warriors against an untrained hybrid and an ancient dog." Then Scar and his heyena leaped at them.

Sauria fought with all of her strength. She managed to kill the heyena, and out of the corner of her eye she saw Scar knock Meer agianst the rock. He fell. Scar roared, missing the fact that she was still alive and ready to attack him. He bounded up the rock. She poked Meer with her nose.

Meer opened his eyes. Sauria was standing above him. Then, he and Sauria heard the roar of battling lions above them. They watched Scar falling down off of Pride Rock. He landed beside them. "Simba....came back.....I.....killed Mufasa....." he said, before laying down his head and dying. Then Meer and Sauria began to make their way up to the top of Pride Rock to greet the new king.