Vitani's Point of View

"Goodnight, Vitani," Kiara said as she left my side.

"Night," I grunted.

The princess went inside to join her husband and to rest for the night. It was the same thing as every night, I would stay under the stars thinking until everyone had gone to bed. Then, on select nights, I would slip off to meet my mate.

I stood to me feet and peeked into the dark den. Inside, everyone was resting quietly. With the affirmation of everyone's snores, I took the path to the base of Priderock.

I lifted my violet eyes to the sight of the large rock backgrounded with the twinkling stars. I almost smiled at the sight, because I was actually living in the Pridelands like my mother, Zira, had promised.

With a swift gallop, I crossed the Pridelands and headed for the jungle border. That was our special meeting place, past the border and into the jungle were there was a nice waterfall and pond.

I reached the border and stood quietly, waiting for him to pick me up. My mate always insisted I wait at the border, as the jungle is dangerous at night. He forgets I used to live in the outlands. But I heed his suggestion, sometimes. And tonight I was feeling gracious, so I waited at the border for my mate.

I heard him emerge from the dark leaves. My violet eyes located his deep brown mane and his yellow fur.

"Hey, Kopa," I greeted him.

"Vitani!" My mate, Kopa, exclaimed.

We stepped towards each other and embraced for a moment. His innocent bronze eyes lingered on me as he took in my scent. It had been almost a month since we'd seen each other, for I couldn't afford to stay up late very night and visit him because I needed rest and sometimes I had to help the hunting party.

"It's good to see you, I was afraid you may have to call it off." Kopa said.

"Why would I do that?" I asked, tilting my head.

Sometimes Kopa says weird things, but it makes more sense because I know that he sneaks past the border and watches me sometimes as I rest or chat. I really miss him, and I wish that I could be with him more often.

"Because you've been working with the hunters more recently." He said, stepping back to the jungle.

I followed him and pondered this.

"Well that's only because I'm bored. There's no need to survive in the Pridelands so I just laze around most of the day. That gets boring." I replied, stepping over a log.

We passed a thick curtain of large leaves into an open clearing. It wasn't a huge clearing, but it had a waterfall and small pond with a creek flowing off into the trees. Behind the waterfall was a cave were Kopa slept every night. In one spot there were some sunning rocks, even though you can't really sun in the jungle.

Kopa walked gingerly over to the edge of the water. He sat on the banks and stared into his reflection, his bronze eyes gazing down in a thinking manner.

"What's on your mind?" I asked, sitting next to him and lifting my paw to clean it with my tongue.

"Well," he sighed, frowing. "I've made a decision."

"Okay. . .?" I prompted, not thinking much of it as I switched to cleaning my other paw.

"I'm leaving," he said.

"What?" He had gotten my attention.

"Please understand, I didn't plan it this way. But things have come up, and I. . .I have to leave."

"What things Kopa? What has come up that you have to rush out? Where will you go? H-how are planning on seeing me?" I blurted out my questions.

Kopa frowned harder. He lowered his eyes down and turned his face away.

"Wait!" I growled. "You're planning to leave me indefinitely, aren't you?"

"Vitani-"

"-don't 'Vitani' me!" I yelled, standing to my feet. "I demand to know why you are leaving!"

"Be-because I've been having dreams. . ." He whispered softly, closing his eyes and hanging his head.

"Kopa, you better tell me what's going on before I rip you to pieces!" I called, gritting my teeth.

"I've been having dreams. I think the Great Kings are telling me that if I don't leave, I'm going to cause something to happen and you'll die, and Kiara and Kovu will die, and my mother will die. . ." He trailed off, tears falling slowly from his eyes.

"Kopa," I said. "You're telling me that some imaginary kings are giving you dreams telling you to leave or I'll die? That's idiocracy!"

"They are not imaginary, and I know their telling the truth." Kopa replied, giving me a sharp glare, tears lingering in his eyes.

I hated to see him like that. I may be tough, but I love him. I could not believe that he was basing his life on dreams, though. Especially from dead kings who are dead!

I began, "Kopa-"

But he cut me off before I could say anything else.

"I'm leaving, end of discussion." He said in a way that stood my fur on end.

Kopa stood up and sprinted to his cave, jumped through the waterfall and disappeared.

"Oh no you aren't." I muttered to myself, turning on my heel and pawing my way quickly out of the jungle trees.

I galloped across the Pridelands, racing forward to reach Priderock as fast as I could. I hadn't been out long, so Kiara was probably just falling asleep. So I thundered up the rocks, climbing to the den and bursting in. I located Kiara beside my brother, Kovu. The two were sleeping soundly, snuggled close. I knew I'd probably wake both if I awoke Kiara, but Kopa was worth it.

I nudged Kiara's flank with my snout, watching as her eye slowly fluttered open and searched the darkness for her waker. She saw me and laid her head back down mumbling, "What, Vitani?"

"There's something you need to see," I said. "Kovu, too."

"Can it wait?" She asked, shutting her eyes and drifting back off.

"No." I stated.

Kiara groaned and stretched her legs, waking Kovu. The two of them looked overly tired, but I need them awake.

"It's kind of important!" I growled to them softly.

"Okay," Kiara muttered, lifting herself to her paws and turning her eyes to Kovu. "Come on, Vitani needs us."

Kovu licked his lips, opening his eyes and yawning widely. He stood up and said, "What is it?"

"This way!" I replied, stepping out of the den and prompting them to follow with my eyes.

That was the night Kopa was reunited with his family.