It had been a few years since both lions sat under the stars and confessed their past to the other. The reason why they found themselves at the Oasis, alone with guilt weighing heavily on them. That night was the start of their beautiful friendship.

The animals of the Oasis quickly realized that where one lion was, the other wasn't far behind. When one lion was alone, it usually meant the other was about to cause trouble... or was in trouble.

Kamaria had grown into an early teenage body, muscles defining her limbs. Her fur stayed the same shade of white but her eyes seemed to have a sparkle in them whenever Simba was around. The animals had never seen the lioness so happy until Simba came around.

Simba wasn't much different from Kamaria in growth. Only difference is Simba had an inch or two over Kamaria, something he held over her head constantly. He also was starting to grow a mane, the fur bunching around his head and neck.

"Simba! Are you ready to go?" Kamaria called from in front of Simba. The two had just ate with the rest of the animals before deciding to go to the waterfall.

"Yea! I'm coming!" Simba replied, racing after the laughing lioness. Both loved the waterfall, the beauty of it never failing to amaze them.

"I'm going to beat you!" Kamaria yelled back, a smile on her face as she saw the waterfall came into view.

Hearing Simba's step disappear behind her, Kamaria looked back to see Simba gone. Feeling her heart drop, she quickly stopped to look for the lion, the waterfall forgotten behind her.

"Simba? Simba! Where are you?" Worry gnawed at her insides at Simba's lack of response.

"Beating you!" A rustle was heard from behind her, near the waterfall. Turning around to face the waterfall, Kamaria saw Simba standing there, a sly smirk on his face.

"You cheated!" Kamaria said in disbelief. She never was taught how to track or to hide like Simba was. He had an unfair advantage over her.

"You didn't say I couldn't." Simba said back, a smile on his face as he waited on the edge of the waterfall for the lioness.

"It's implied!" Kamaria yelled, racing to the lion. Once she was close enough Kamaria pounced on Simba, pushing him and herself into the awaiting water below.

The water bubbled around her as she kicked up. Breaking the surface, Kamaria looked to where Simba fell. Bubbles reached the surface before Simba popped out, fur drenched and eyes gleeful.

"You pushed me!" Simba laughed, a smile on his face.

"You didn't say I couldn't!" Kamaria repeated his earlier words, a laugh escaping her. Simba sent a playful glare before both lions swam to the side of the pool. Taking deep breaths of air, both laid down on the sandy ground, smiles on their faces.

"Do you ever think about leaving?" Kamaria suddenly asked. Simba looked over to her with a confused look.

"No? Why would I. This place is paradise." Kamaria found herself nodding in agreement that this place was perfect.

"But, you aren't around others lions like you. I mean, you can't even eat like a lion anymore." Simba seemed to debate her words in his head before responding.

"No, but you're here with me. And I don't mind eating the bugs. Someone once told me that it's just food, and to eat it." Kamaria smiled as she remembered what was said long ago to a much smaller lion.

"I'm glad you remember that. They are quite tasty." Simba grinned and stood up, shaking his fur as he went.

"Simba!" Kamaria yelled as water droplets flew into her face.

"Oh, sorry." Simba said sheepishly, heading over to help her. Kamaria sent a playful glare as he used his head to nudge the lioness up.

"I think we should race to the..." Kamaria heard a small chirp next to them as she stopped listening to Simba. Looking to the noise, Kamaria felt her eyes soften at the shaking baby bird on the ground. It was wet, probably from Simba shaking his coat out.

Looking to the trees above them, Kamaria managed to spot the nest not too far above her. It was on one of the lower branches, Kamaria could easily reach it if she stood on the rocks.

Bending down next to the baby bird, Kamaria tried to speak as softly as she could. She didn't want to scare the baby bird away.

"I'm not going to hurt you. I'd like to help you get back into your nest, if you'd let me." The baby bird continued to shiver before eventually nodding in agreement.

Kamaria smiled in reassurance before placing her head to the ground. The baby bird, nervous to be so close to the lions mouth, quickly hopped up to her snout before hopping to the top of her head.

Kamaria, slowly and carefully, climbed up onto some rocks. Placing her paws on the tree before her, Kamaria reached as far as her legs would allow. Then she reached as high as she could with her neck to the nest above.

Feeling the bird hopping on her head, she felt as the bird jumped off. Looking up to the nest, she could see the bird cozying up to its siblings. The birds chirped happily at seeing their sibling back home.

Kamaria felt a smile on her face at the family being reunited, something she could only wish for.

"Kamaria?" Simba's voice surprised her. She had forgotten he was with her. Looking down, she would see Simba looking up to her in confusion. Smiling sheepishly, she leapt down from the rocks back to the ground.

"Sorry, a baby bird fell from its nest." Simba laughed as both started to walk away from the waterfall pool.

"Only you would go out of their way to help it back home." Simba said with a knowing smile.

"Yes well, I couldn't let it die." Simba shook his head as both lions headed home.

"Its mother would have come to help." Simba said simply.

"Well I was there to help already. It doesn't take much to help others." Kamaria said back, looking to Simba.

"Even if it's a predator helping prey?" Kamaria simply huffed at Simba's pestering questions.

"What's that thing you mention sometimes? The circle or whatever?" Simba laughed before saying it was called the circle of life.

"Right, that, well I just helped that bird continue its circle of life. Or, extended it anyways." Simba nodded in agreement as both finally reached their home. Pumbaa coming out to greet them.

"What up?" Pumbaa slurred, his hooves crossed.

"Did you take those mushrooms again? I told you to stay inside when you take those!" Kamaria scolded. Simba just looked confused, what mushrooms?

"I heard you two come back. Wanted to say hey." Kamaria rolled her eyes before nudging the warthog back into their home. Which wasn't really a home as it was just a giant branch covered with leaves over a mossy flat rock.

"What mushrooms?" Simba questioned following the lioness inside.

"Oh these stupid—"

"Only the best things ever!" Pumbaa interrupted Kamaria, smiling as his eyes failed to focus on Simba.

"The mushrooms make him delirious. He can't focus and his brains function less than normal... Normal for him, anyways." Kamaria said, adding that last bit as Pumbaa had a weird way of thinking compared to others.

"Oh. Sounds fun! Can I try?" Simba asked excitedly.

"No!"

"Yea!" Pumbaa said in unison with Kamaria denying Simba. Kamaria felt her eyes were going to roll out of her head with how many times she rolled them in this conversation.

"Where's uncle Timon?" Pumbaa replied with a simple 'eating' before he passed out on the ground.

"Are you sure I can't eat any? They look really good."

"No!"