Chapter 5

(Matt's pov)

It was early in the morning when Vitani starts nibbling on my ear.

"Wake up."

"Ten more minutes..." I mumbled.

"Ugh...I swear you're like Nuka. Always being sleepy in the morning."

She finally stops nibbling my ear but bites my hand and it made me wake up.

"Finally... you woke up."

"Don't do that again."

She sticks her tongue at me and we walked go the outlands.

"So tell me...who was that cub I saw? Kovu, was it? Who is he?"

"All you need to know is that he's my little brother."

"Okay. No need for you to snap at me."

Once we got there, the place was nothing but a wasteland. Wow...that has to be the worse punishment I have ever seen.

"Whoa...you weren't kidding your home was nothing when you said your home was terrible."

"Is that suppose to be sympathy of our pain?"

I looked at her and growled at her.

"Stop being all high and mighty. I was serious when I said you didn't deserve this kind of punishment. If you keep acting like that, then I've lost all hope on you."

She looked completely sorry. She seems to know that I wasn't lying.

"Vitani! Vitani!? Where are you?!"

"Mother!"

Oh boy...Zira was out of her cave and she looked like what mother should do: panic for a missing cub. That's never a good sign because for all I know she might think I kidnapped Vitani. I would never stoop to that kind of low.

"Stick with me. I'll do the talking."

"Whatever you say."

I followed Vitani to Zira and I was nervous as hell. Not because of the lionesses staring at me. It's because of Zira. The moment she saw me, I thought she was going to kill me.

"Vitani! There you are!" Zira said as she rushed towards Vitani.

"Mother, I'm fine. Nothing bad happened to me."

Zira glares at me but Vitani managed to convince her that I didn't hurt her or kidnap her. Then all of a sudden...Zira had this very unsettling devilish grin. It pretty much tells me "What plans do I have in store for you?".

"I'm so terribly sorry for my behavior. I've lost someone dear to me and I can't always control my emotions."

"You have my sincere sympathy." I said with sincere in my voice.

This caught Zira off guard and looked shocked. Was she expecting me to laugh about her love's death? I'm not like that at all. That would be cruel.

"I know you lost someone you love and that lion did something probably terrible but he did not deserve death."

This made other lionesses talking to each other of disbelief.

"You're the first human being who sympathize my pain. You're not like Nicholas that's for certain and I thank you for that."

"Vitani told me you had issues of food and water shortage."

"Yes. That is true. This place...oh...how I hate this place. We scavenge for food and water as many of us die."

I clenched my fist in anger when I heard that. Why, Grandpa? How could you just let these outsiders die like that?

"I see...I never thought my Grandpa would be so cruel."

"Indeed..."

We talked about me helping the outsiders and convinced Zira that I didn't want to get involved with the Pridelanders. I only want to help them live. That's all. Vitani would have to accompany me that I made sure I didn't get harms way. Wow...I didn't think Vitani liked me that much. Sarcasm...get used to it.

What concerns me is Kovu. If Zira was not around, I have to keep an eye on him with Vitani and the idiot older brother, Nuka. As I said, that's a if.

It's a good thing I was prepared for hunting. I had my curving knife and a fishing net for fishing. As for gathering water, I only had several water canteens and bowls. This maybe troubling since they weren't much lionesses that could get some water.

Well...might as get used to it now. Now I know how a Zookeeper feels when they take care of lions...but before I went hunting, I said this to Zira?

"Is revenge worth it?"

I didn't let Zira talk and sighed. I didn't want to have a blown out argument with her and she frowns at me.

"Just...think about it, okay?"

Zira looked confused. This was probably the first time she talked about revenge. Let's hope she thought about it more carefully.

(Nicholas' pov)

Everybody deserves a second chance!

This isn't like you!

That conversation with Matt bothers me alot. Have I really change? *sigh* I don't know what I've become.

I went to Pride rock to meet with Simba and Kiara.

"Uncle Nicholas!" Kiara shouted as she rushed towards me.

I quickly picked her up and she starts giggling as she starts licking my face.

"Hey. How's my little princess?"

"When are you going stop calling me little?"

"Well when you become like your father's age, then maybe I'll call you, little queen."

She pouts and I chuckled.

"I'm kidding. Have you seen your father?"

"He's sleeping right now. Hey! While we wait for dad to wake up, let's play games together."

Wow...he must be a heavy sleeper. Must be his duty as king must've tired him out.

"That's not a bad idea, Kiara."

I told Zazu to let Simba know that I'm with Kiara if he wakes up. Me and Kiara went somewhere of the Pride lands where we had a good amount of space where we don't startle any animals when we are playing. Perhaps some play time with Kiara can calm me down.