No Crush: Part 1

By Doverstar

{Chapter 1}

CHAPTER 1

Sun filtered across the savannah, hitting the peak of Pride Rock, turning the clay-like boulders to brownish-gold, symbolically the color of a lion.

Just inside the largest cave of Pride Rock, about 20 dozing lionesses and four or five males (for that's the cutsom in real lion prides) were splayed out, sound asleep. The Pride had had a long day yesterday of hunting and making sure the cubs were safe as they played and being certain that no hyenas had trayed into the Pride Lands.

A golden cub with brown-bottomed ears and a brown tail tip, with a messy tuft of little hair on his head scrambled through the lions and cubs as he slammed into the side of a large male lion--Mufasa, leader of the Pride.

"Dad! Wake up! C'mon, Dad!" the prince of the Pride nudged his father.

Mufasa raised his head. "Is it sunrise already?" he rumbled in his deep voice.

"Yeah, and you said you'd take me to the top of Pride Rock again." The golden cub gave Mufasa a look of irritation.

"Go on out and I'll catch up with you then," Mufasa murmured sleepily, tucking his nose under one paw.

The Golden prince-cub bounded playfully out of the cave, tail curling over his back, a grin spreading his muzzle.

In the far corner of the cave, a lone white female cub, about the prince's age, opened her sky-blue eyes drowsily. "Uh?" she yawned, stretching. She had no mother or father to curl up next to as the other cubs in the cave did, but they all pressed around her to make her feel welcome anyway.

She stood up and looked to the entrance of the cave, careful not to wake anyone else up.

she saw the silhouette of the golden-furred prince cub out by the entrance, the sun making his form black-brown so that he was only a shadow in the morning sunrise.

The white cub scrambled out of the cave, yawning again as she stopped a few feet behind the prince.

"Simba?" she blinked.

Simba turned his head. "Hey, Nadra!"

Nadra smiled sleepily. She blinked a few times more, trying to wake up. "Whatcha doing?"

"Dad's gonna show me the whole kingdom."

"Again?"

Simba lifted his head. "Yep. And I'm gonna rule it all!"

"Tell me something I don't know," Nadra teased, coming up beside him. "Why so early?"

Simba shrugged. "Dad should be here any minute."

"Hmm." Nadra yawned again.

A flutter of wings caused the cubs' ears to perk up and their heads to turn.

Simba rolled his shoulders. "Look!"

Nadra opened her mouth a little to the shape of an O, looking where he gestured, then closed it and smiled.

"Banana-Beak's up early," Simba whispered hoarsely.

"Sshh, he'll hear us!" Nadra agreed.

Sure enough, Zazu, the King's advisor, a blue hornbill, was flying in circles a few feet off, trying to find somewhere to land on the boulders of Pride Rock.

"Check this out," Simba exclaimed in a whisper to Nadra, turning and crouching, beginning to prowl toward where Zazu circled near to the ground.

Nadra sat down, smiling still. Simba was so brave! Most cubs wouldn't dare play a prank on the King's trusted advisor, even if he was a little hornbill with enough attitude to fill a hippo. They were too scared of Mufasa's rebukes. But Simba was different. She guessed it was because he was the prince, future king, yada yada yada, like he had told all the cubs before. But she was the one who listened to it every time he bragged, captivated by the thought of the rambunctious young troublemaker becoming a strong, handsome lion King, even braver than he was now! Lately her feelings for him, developing from a good friend since the two cubs were both infants, to something more, had troubled her. She was the only white lion in the Pride; even Queen Sarabi's pale color didn't match her cloud-white fur. Mufasa and some of the other lionesses had found her in the tall grass at the base of the Pride Rock when she was a baby lion cub, almost starved from food deprivation for a whole two days, orphaned and rarely-bred. But Mufasa, the strong, caring leader he was, took her into the cave and treated her as he would any other lost orphaned lion cub. He gave her a home, and though she didn't have adopted parents here, the Pride was raising her with all the love and affection they could bestow. Some cubs, like Malka and sometimes even young Mheetu, and especially Tojo, teased her nowadays. But not Simba. Mufasa had ordered when he'd found her that as soon as his infant son was a strong little cub, he would begin playing with Nadra, making her feel like she belonged, never leaving her side until she could stand confidently on her own four paws. Now he did it without thinking, and they had become close friends.

"Aaaaaaugh!" Zazu cried out suddenly.

Nadra bit her lip and smothered cubified laughter.

Simba hung to Zazu's tail with an iron grip on his jaws. He lifted his front paws off the ground, stretching up as Zazu flapped frantically, trying to get free without crashing to the too-near ground of Pride Rock.

Zazu leaned down, eyebrows lowered, and pecked Simba twice on the head. "Young brute!" he insulted in his British accent. "Why, you--"

Simba twirled his head in a circle and launched Zazu against another boulder. Zazu lay there, winded but unharmed.

Simba trotted gallantly back to Nadra's side, sitting with her and laughing his ears off.

"Good morning, Zazu." Mufasa suddenly appeared. He turned and nodded to his son. "Simba."

Simba's ears lowered.

"Busted," Nadra whispered to him out of the corner of her mouth.

"Impeccable timing, Your Majesty," Zazu doted with a weak voice as he flapped awkwardly, dusty and dirty from his scuffle with Simba, and perched on a rock.

"Simba..." Mufasa stood over his son. 

Zazu folded his arms--or wings--and smirked at Simba knowingly--if hornbill's could smirk; you see, they don't really have mouths either, just colorful beaks.

Simba crouched, looking sideways, not meeting his father's eyes.

Nadra tensed.

Zazu sneered, waiting for Mufasa's punishment on his son.

Mufasa continued:

"Good technique, son. Next time, pounce, don't just go for the tail feathers." Mufasa let out a hearty lion's laugh.

Simba jerked up his head, mouth open wide in a huge smile, ears flicking straight up in surprise and pride. Nadra did the same, grinning at him.

Zazu opened his eyes wide, jaw dropping (if he had a jaw, that is) and swung his head around to stare gawkingly at Mufasa, shocked.

Nadra smiled. Other cubs would recieve scorn and punishment. Other cubs would slink away, ashamed. Other cubs would dread Mufasa's sharp rebukes. Other cubs would have shrank under Zazu's open glare. Other cubs' fur would run hot with embarassment. Other cubs would never try it again.

Simba wasn't other cubs.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

 

Nadra lay in the grass, feeling the hot wind breeze through her white fur as she watched a butterfly flutter by, its uniquely colored wings dazzling in the sunlight. The sun was already high in the sky--it was past lunchtime.

"Rrggha!"

A pair of paws slammed into her, and she wrestled with her attacker for a few moments, seeds from the tall savannah grass peppering her white coat.

She shoved the cub off. "Simba!"

"I'm back!" Simba cackled mischeviously. "Hahahh, gotcha again!" 

"Whatever." Nadra smiled, flicking her tail, heartbeat quickening rapidly as she looked at his glimmering red eyes. "What do you wanna do now?"

Simba's eyes flickered. "Hey, we could go t'the watering hole."

"Nahh," Nadra shook her head, wide ears twitching. "Let's--"

A rolling ball of tan fur collided with Simba. Simba huffed, and the attacker pushed down on his chest with her front paws, smiling coyly into his face.

"Pinned ya!" she cried teasingly. It was a tan lioness cub, with pretty green eyes and a smooth tail-tip.

"Agh, lemme up!" Simba protested, pushing her off.

Nadra leaned away, still sitting down, one paw raised off the ground. Nala. Just great. The daughter of Sarafina, one of the prettiest lionesses in the Pride, and Simba's best friend. At least, she said she was. He never said so, but then again, whenever she said it, he never protested or spoke up against it. Nadra tried not to sigh as she allowed herself the satisfaction of an eye roll.

"So, Simba, the watering hole?" Nadra cleared her throat as Simba and Nala continued scuffling.

Simba was on the ground again, on his back, one paw pushing at Nala's cheek, as she stood practically on top of him. One eye of Simba's was squinted with effort, grunting as he locked eyes with Nadra and answered in a tight voice, "Naaghhh--I'm kinda--oof--busy!"

"Help me hold 'im down, Nadra!" Nala cried, giggling.

Nadra did sigh then, but she was glad Nala included her in the game. She knew Nala never meant to steal Simba's attention, but it never failed. Simba probably had no idea how she felt anyway.

With a growl, Nadra playfully assisted Nala in holding Simba down.

"Wait, I've got an idea!" Nadra giggled. She dissapeared into the long grass, then reappeared holding a feather--actually, it looked like one of Zazu's.

Nala paused in her struggling to hold Simba down. "Hey, where'd you get that?"

"Nnghh,--" Simba grunted, pausing for a mischevious grin, "--Bannana Beak must be molting."

Nadra laughed, then padded over, feather still in her mouth, and began to tickle Simba's side with the blue hornbill feather.

"Aaaghh, no, no, aaaaaaughh-hahahahaha!" Simba laughed hysterically, pleading with them to quit when he got the breath to do so.

Nala laughed along, struggling to keep the squirming Simba still.

The grass around them rustled. Two male cubs trotted into the open.

"Hey, watcha doin'?" It was Malka, and he spoke first, standing in front of Simba and looking down over his head, grinning into his golden face.

"Hahaha--I'm---phahaha, no, stop, aagh, quit it, Nadra!--haha--I'm tryin'--naaaagh, get off, stop, hahaha, noo!--I'm---ppfft, no, hah, stop!" Simba quelled his laughter, eyes moist with the effort, and finally got fed up with trying to answer Malka directly. He said, voice strained with the effort of trying not to laugh, "Can I get a little help here?" he growled.

The other male cub, younger than the rest, was Mheetu, Nala's younger brother. "Okay!" he squeaked, and hurled himself at Nadra, who still held the feather.

Nadra rolled over and over in the dust with the younger cub, squishing him to the ground. The feather spun out of her mouth and twirled, floating in the air.

"Ih-hey!" She gasped, darting for the feather.

Simba finally shoved Nala off, and then pounced on Nadra.
 

He pushed her head down--not enough to hurt--and she kicked him off. He sprang back on top of her chest, pinning her there.

"Not bad--" Nadra growled playfully up at him as they scuffled in the dirt, Malka and Mheetu and Nala watching, "--for a little-haired prince!"

She kicked with her hind legs, sending him skidding into the grass.

Nadra got up, crouching, tail lashing back and forth, waiting for the golden lion cub to emerge from the tall grass, but he didn't come.

"Simba?" she padded closer.

"Hah!" Simba collided with her, paws first, and slammed her to the ground, smirking down at her. "No problem," he said, turning away with a satisfied look of triumph.

"Alright, Simba!"

"That was awesome!"

The three other cubs cheered the young prince on.

Nadra got up, shaking the dust from her white pelt.

Simba sat down next to her. "You okay?"

She shoved him with a paw, smiling, "Show off."

A roar sounded in the distance, from Pride Rock.

"That's Sarabi!" Mheetu cried.

Simba glanced at Nadra. "Looks like the watering hole'll hafta wait." He began walking through the tall grass.

Nala followed. "The watering hole?"

"Yeah. Nadra wanted to go."

"What's so great about the watering hole?" Nala wanted to know.

Mheetu and Malka followed them, the two young male cubs side-by-side as they walked away. Nadra was left alone, hearing Nala and Simba chuckling as their voices trailed off. Why can't he be like that with me? Why can't Nala get her own friend? Simba's been mine since we were little! She needs to keep her pretty little paws off of him!

Even then she knew those thoughts were selfish. A lioness cub from the Pride Lands would've been taught better than that. She slowly trailed after the other cubs. If there were other lions like me, I wouldn't feel so alone. Simba doesn't treat me like he does Nala anyway. And he doesn't stick out like a hyena on Pride Rock. If I had someone like me, I wouldn't need him.  But she knew she would. She liked him too much to just ditch him, Nala or no Nala. Still, she thought bitterly, I wish he'd pay more attention. I've been dropping hints like crazy for over a week. That was, after all, when she'd first noticed it. She'd started thinking about whether her staineless pelt got dirty if he was around, and began digging her claws into the ground to keep from grinning out-and-out when she saw him. She was helplessly crushing, and Simba could've cared less! Plus there was Nala. She blended with the Pride easily, and she was fun and pretty. Not like Nadra. Nadra was an outcast.

"Problems?" came a purring, British growl with a hint of menace to it behind her.

She spun around. A large, brown, full-grown lion with a mane of black, curly fur was prowling along beside her. She hadn't noticed, so lost in thought.

"Scar--I didn't see you." Nadra stopped, feeling nervous. She always felt that way when he came about. He was the King's younger brother, and he gave her the shivers whenever he was in her presence.

"Evidently." Scar rumbled. "Problems?" he repeated, with a toothy, sneering grin that made Nadra's white fur stand on end.

"N-no."

Scar blinked slowly.

"Well...yes." Nadra sighed slowly. "I guess I'm jealous."

"Do tell," Scar continued walking, flicking his tail for her to follow him. She did, struggling to keep up as she trotted beside him. Fully-grown, his legs were longer than hers.

"It's Simba." Nadra answered eagerly. She had to tell someone, it was killing her! And Scar seemed ready to hear her problems.

"Oh, goody," Scar muttered dryly. "The young prince, my favorite nephew." He wasn't smiling. Nadra arched a brow, frowning up at him. "Do go on," he urged her, catching her eye.

"Um, okay. Well," she paused, trying to think of how to say it. "I really like him."

"Mmmm." Scar didn't look down at her, but kept on prowling along. She bounded forward twice to keep up, then walked along clamly.

"I mean, I really like him. Like, not as a friend anymore." Nadra murmured.

Scar's eyes widened for a heartbeat, then his eyelids lowered again, still not smiling. "Ah," he nodded. "And what of Nala?"

Nadra bristled. "What about her?"

"It seems my nephew fancies her over you." Scar pointed out.

"He does?" Nadra's ears flattened against her head, tail drooping. "Really?"

"Mmmm-hm, it would appear so." Scar brightened for a moment. "Do you know what we could do?"

"No." Nadra blinked, nervous. "What?"

"Well," Scar raised an eyebrow. "I've a plan to assist you in your emotional dilemma."

"Huh?"

"I can help." Scar rumbled.

"You can?" Nadra squealed. "How?"

"We shall stage a mere 'accident'." Scar purred.

"Like...like put on an act?" Nadra blinked twice.

"Precisely." Scar stopped, lounging on a flat rock now, flopping down his massive body as the afternoon sun hit his pelt.

"I-I really should be getting back to Pride Rock..." Nadra began. "Sarabi was calling us, and--"

"Not to worry," Scar interrupted, tail flicking back and forth. "I shall escort you home when we are finished planning." He rested his chin on a paw.

"So what's your idea?" Nadra asked, laying down in the grass below him, glancing up at him. In the dirt she used her claw, sketching Simba's head. It wasn't very good, but it kept her gaze away from Scar's weird yellow eyes and that menacing grin he had on his muzzle.

Scar leaned forward, still grinning toothily. "Listen carefully..."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"Hey, lemme up!" Simba growled.

Nala had him pinned again outside the cave where the Pride slept on Pride Rock, pushing his back agaist the flat red-rock.

"Pinned ya again." Nala smirked at him.

"Na-la! Get off!" Simba pushed her off of him, standing up and shaking his pelt. He looked around. "Hey, where's Nadra?"

"I thought she came with us. She wasn't at lunch," Nala commented. One ear twitched. She didn't seem to care.

Simba was overly protective of Nadra, that having been his job, to teach her the ropes of Mufasa's Pride as soon as he was old enough. Now she was missing--he'd never not known where she was. It worried him. Usually, nothing worried the care-free prince of the Pride. But this was different. He was responsible for Nadra, she was one of his closest friends; he'd watched out for her since they were infants.

"I'll go look for 'er," Simba announced, bunching his muscles to leap downward onto a rock that lowered towards the ground below.

"Wrong!" Zazu suddenly appeared directly in front of Simba's nose, wings flapping in flight, beak an inch away from the young cub's snout. "Your father has sighted hyenas in the Pride Lands," he went on, landing and folding his wings back against his sides. "No cub is to venture off of Pride Rock."

Simba exchanged a glance with Nala, a large grin, mouth closed, sprading across his muzzle. His eyebrows lowered mischeviously. He turned ack to Zazu. "How many?"

Zazu closed his eyes in a know-it-all manner, strutting in a circle in front of the cubs, a feather-finger pointed upward, saying, "Oh, at least a dozen. They're all slobbering, mangy, stupid poachers, of course."

Simba smirked at him, eyelids lowered. "Well, when I'm king, I'll run 'em off easy."

"Yeah," Nala agreed, arching a brow at Zazu.

Zazu's eyes popped open and he whirled around to face them. "Have you any idea how dangerous those ruffians are?"

Simba's mouth opened, and he glanced at Nala again, confused. He turned his head back to blink at Zazu. "But y'just said they were slobbering-mangy-stupid poachers," he leaned his head down to look at the hornbill.

"Yes, well," Zazu staggered away from him, bottom of his eyes scrunched in ruffled embarrassment as he grumbled under his breath, turning his back on the cubs, "tell that to the birdie-boiler."

Simba snorted a short laugh. "Bannana Beak is scared!"

"I beg your pardon, I most certainly am not!" Zazu dusted his feathers. "I was merely pointing out--"

"Yeah, well," Simba strutted past Zazu. "I'm gonna find Nadra. Nala, wanna come?"

Nala began to go after him, but a roar from behind her made her freeze, ears flattening in dissapointment. "That was my Mom," she grumbled, turning to go back into the den. "Sorry, Simba. I gotta go."

Simba's ears drooped in frustration. "Fine, I'll go on my own."

"No, wait, you can't--" Zazu cried.

But Simba was already off.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"Naaaadra!" Simba called as he trotted through the grass. "Nadra? C'mon, Nadra, quit hiding!"

Suddenly Scar appeared, panting. "Where is your father?"

Simba arched a brow and frowned at him, confused. "Why?"

"There has been an accident. A cub is in danger!"

Simba felt excitement thrill through him. "He's busy--off with some hyenas or whatever. What's wrong?"

"The white cub--your friend--she is trapped in the gorge--we must warn Mufasa!"

Simba froze. "Nadra? You mean Nadra's in the gorge?"

"Yes, and I fear she will be picked off by predators--hyenas, of course." Scar's eyes were wide. "I wouldn't dream of sending you, my favorite nephew..."

"Yeah, sure," Sima grunted. "I'm your only nephew, Uncle Scar," he said.

"Precisely," Scar suddenly got a gleam in his eye.

"No problem," Simba growled smugly. He darted past Scar, who didn't budge but allowed himself a sly smile.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

This better work, Nadra thought, rolling onto her back in the only stretch of shade she could find, under a scrawny tree. The gorge was horribly hot. I don't get it. Having Simba save me would be great, but how will this drag his attention from Nala to me?
 

Suddenly rocks clattered onto the ground in front of her.

Simba was scrambling down the last boulders of the huge cliffs to get to her!

Nadra sat up and tried to look scared.

"Hang on, Nadra, I'll getcha out of here!"

"Yeah, sure," Nadra nodded vigorously. "How? Should we climb back up?"

"I dunno," Simba answered, scaling the cliffs again. "This way's too steep for climbing now. Let's find another place."

Suddenly the pebbles on the ground clattered again.

Nadra felt her ears droop. What was happening? This wasn't part of the plan--Scar had promised they'd both be safe here!

"Uh...Simba?" Nadra gulped.

Simba was still scaling the cliff. He turned at the sound of his name. Eyes widening, grin disappearing, he flinched. "S-Stampede!" he cried.

Turning, he ran and shoved Nadra forward with his nose. "Move, let's go!"

"Wh-wh-where?" Nadra stammered, trembling as she ran.

Thunderous hooves sounded above. A herd of wildebeasts were trampling toward them, looking sullenly frightened as they hurtled down the cliffs toward the two cubs.

"Oh no!" Nadra cried.

Simba winced.

Here they came...

TO BE CONTINUED IN NO CRUSH: PART 2!