Why Can't We Be Friends

Completely lost in my thoughts, I didn't realize I was being watched, or that someone was approaching. Staring off of Pride Rock, I was caught off guard when the young lioness appeared from the grasses below. My head turned quickly when she spoke up and I looked down to see her stepping into sight. I quickly faked a smile and turned to walk down towards her, off of the rocky cliff face and down to grassy earth below. "Oh, hello," I said, stopping near her. When she asked what I was doing, I glanced back up at Pride Rock and felt somewhat embarrassed. "I...I was just worrying... It's silly of me, I suppose..." I looked back at the other lioness and tried to place her. There were many new lions here in the Pridelands now, and I was still trying to keep them all straight. I wondered if we'd met yet. It was no surprise that she knew who I was, but I felt badly about not knowing who she was.

The sight of her faded coloring, the sign of an Outsider, made me glad for my decisions. It had saddened me, the conditions of their previous lifestyle. But I was happy that I was able to invite them to my home, even if a few remained stubborn in their ways and stayed behind. I wondered if we would ever be one Pride, all together as one, and I worried that Vitani's going back would only make that more difficult, and put a greater rift between the prides.

This lioness, however, seemed to have no prejudices against me. And for that, I was thankful. "I apologize, I feel silly for asking, but tell me your name?" I hoped I didn't offend her, but I still couldn't recall meeting her. Maybe after I talked with her a little while, I would remember. Or maybe even her name would click with me.

CHICHA . 321 WORDS

Chicha. She was new here. "Oh! Well, you are more than welcome to make yourself at home here in the Pridelands. It's a pleasure to meet you, Chicha." I smiled at her, welcoming. Chichas's behavior seemed to be that of uneasiness, or uncertainty. I wondered if she was uncomfortable because she was here in the Pridelands, or because she was in the presence of the queen. If she knew how much I hadn't wanted to be queen, she probably wouldn't feel that way. However, being in the position that I was, I felt comfortable in my new role. I didn't like to admit it to him, but Dad had prepared me well for this, and I was content. happy even, with the good I'd done so far.

Chicha motioned in a direction and made a comment about a hunt this morning. "Really? That's a good sign. The Pridelands seem to be healthy." If there was plentiful game for hunting, we'd be able to feed all of the new lions as well. I had briefly considered the possibility that the Outsiders would leave little food for the Pridelanders, but I had to remind myself that we were one pride now, and we would learn to work together. We had to.

When the lioness's gaze lingered in the direction of the watering hole, I wondered if she was thirsty. I glanced that way and then back at her. "Walk with me?" I asked her, nodding my head in that direction, and smiling. It would be good for me to move around, though I needed to remember to not overdo it. The cubs moved around in my belly, kicking, as I thought about it, as if to say, "Yeah, don't forget about us! Take it easy."

K I A R A

It was no surprise that the young lioness did not miss her old home. For as long as I'd been alive, the Outsiders had lived in what some called the Shadowlands, a dark place with scarce food and scarcer water. There was no grass, nothing beautiful or comforting in all the land. My home, however, was a gorgeous sight. No, it wasn't surprising at all that Chicha would come here, looking to escape her past. And if I believed anything to be true, it was that we could put the past behind us. I wasn't sure what she believed about Scar, but I didn't feel like bringing that up. If she respected my rule, and Kovu's, we wouldn't have a problem. If she didn't, well we'd have to figure something out. I would not banish her to the Outlands again. She seemed happy here, however, and seemed kind to me.

We wandered towards the source of water in quiet company, our legs brushing a thick growth of green grass. It reminded me of hunting, stalking low across the ground. I was too pregnant to hunt now, and the other lionesses took care of it most of the time, but I did miss it sometimes. It was instinct. And it reminded me of my first hunt, when Kovu and I had been brought back together. Not all of that story was warm and fuzzy, but it ended as such.

Chicha jumped into the air, jerking me from my thoughts, and my ears pricked forward as my attention settled on her. A parrot, barely in her grasp, was putting up quite a fight, and making a commotion doing so. Soon it was flying back through the air. Chicha gave me a look of apology and I chuckled, feeling somewhat sorry for her, and remembering the struggles I'd had with hunting. "Better luck next time," I told her. Perhaps animals that stuck to the ground would be easier prey for the lioness, I thought. If she really had made a kill this morning, she might make a good addition to the hunts.

We made our way to the water and I dipped my head to the edge and drank deeply, savoring the refreshment, and feeling somewhat rejuvenated after the short walk.

K I  A R A

Looking up from my drink, I watched the other lioness wander into the water. My ears swiveled forward, following her along with my eyes. Soon her attention was pulled away from refreshment, and Chicha began playing in the water. I smiled, thinking about how fun it looked. I hadn't gotten to play like that in so long. Of Kovu and I, I had always been the more adventurous one. Even when we were cubs. Of course, that had less to do with his personality and more to do with Zira's cruel training. I wondered if Kovu would still want to play like that after the cubs were born. I couldn't wait until I was done carrying them, and I could go leaping from rock to rock, and jumping into the watering hole. And in not to distant the future, I'd be able to do it with my cubs! I was determined to be a fun mom, even though I was equally determined to keep them out of the kind of trouble I got myself into in my younger days.

Before I noticed the zebras, I saw Chicha jump out of the water and disappear into the grass. Knowing she was there, I could follow her shape and track her stalking towards the herd. I looked over at the striped animals, and then back at Chicha and watched how quickly she moved across the ground. I thought for sure that she would get one, until an angry eagle showed up. I laughed and sat down as Chicha ran back towards me. My tail swished back and forth happily, amused by the playful lioness. I guessed she'd be good around the cubs when they were old enough to play, as well.

CHICHA . 289 WORDS

K I A R A

I watched with Chicha as the eagle flew away, and then my companion set off once more to stalk after the zebras. I continued to sit comfortably until she threw a look my way as if she needed help. I stood up, but then I looked back at my sides, wide as they were, and then looked back at Chicha with a helpless look. It wouldn't be good for me to go running around after the zebras, not in my condition. I resolved to try and help steer them in the right direction, and decided to go around the other way and scare them towards Chicha. But as I took my first steps around, the zebras were already taking off towards us. I slipped to the edge of the water and watched, ears pricked and eyes locked on the action, as Chicha launched into the hunt. She'd picked her target. The rest of the zebras were running past where I was, and I laid down in the tall grasses, my tail swishing back and forth as I waited for things to calm down.

There were clouds of dust forming around where I lay as the herd moved past. I lost sight of young Chicha and my curiosity piqued as I sat up and looked around for her. Had she caught her prey? My mind raced with possibilities. If she'd been hurt somehow in the stampede, I'd feel responsible. For a moment, I remembered the story of my grandfather, Mufasa, and I felt sick. I pushed that thought from my mind and coughed as the dust swirled around me. It was getting clearer, though, and I knew I'd spot her any second.

281 WORDS

I heard them before I saw them. At the sounds of a final tousle on the ground, my head whipped to the left. As the dust finally cleared, I could see the zebra fall, and Chicha stepped off of it. I smiled excitedly and stood straight. "Wow, Chicha, that was awesome!" I said, hurrying over as quickly as I could doing my pregnant shuffle. The smell of blood overwhelmed my sense as I approached them. The zebra was of decent size, and it was very impressive that she took it down alone. During my first hunt, I never could get close enough to take down something of this size. I wondered if Chicha had been on her own for a while, if she'd had a lot of practice hunting for herself.

She seemed out of breath. I laughed as I looked it over. "You're good," I told her. She had motioned for me to join her in eating, and I had to admit, just watching the action made me hungry. I could only imagine her hunger. Especially if she was new to the pridelands and hadn't had much food like this. I settled down beside the kill and breathed in the smell of the fresh meat. We would have to bring whatever was left back to Pride Rock. That was how things were done here. The lionesses hunted for everyone, save for small game they happened upon when they weren't on an official hunt. But I thought this might be a good chance to integrate Chicha into the huntresses. She would no doubt be a great addition to the Pridelands.