"She's upset, Simba. I don't think talking to her will help you." Kamaria could hear Timon talk behind her. Timon and Pumbaa were both home when she run in, tears flowing down her face. Both asked what was wrong but she didn't answer. Instead she went to the back of their home and faced the opposite direction.

"Especially because you didn't bring any grubs for her." Pumbaa added to Timon as they talked to Simba.

"I know, I know. But I need to apologize. I said some really mean things to her that I didn't mean." Kamaria felt her body curl tighter around itself. She had only thought of what Simba had said to her since she got home.

Kamaria knew what he said was right, she never had a pride to be apart of and her parents clearly didn't want her. Maybe she ran away because she knew how true his words were. Maybe she never fully accepted that her parents left her, not until Simba said it loud and clear.

"We know. It's okay and it's not true." Timon said as a soft pat pat followed. He must have been patting Simba's head in comfort.

"She told you?"

"Well no, but she would only be this upset if you told her you were our favorite. And we all know that's not true! Right Pumbaa?" Timon yelled so Kamaria could hear him clearly. Kamaria felt her eyes roll, everyone in the Oasis knew Simba was their favorite. He added to their chaos while Kamaria often dampened it. She just wanted to keep them safe from harm, something their chaos usually brought.

"Right! Kamaria was the first one to bring down the ant hill for us to eat from! She's always been my favorite." Pumbaa said before adding, "do you think she would go take the ant hill down now? I'm getting hungry." Timon sent a look to Kamaria, debating if she would.

"Not everything is about eating... but we will eat after this." Timon whispered to Pumbaa as he also was hungry. Pumbaa let out a quiet sound of joy at the prospect of food.

"What? No! That's not what I said, please can I talk to her?" Simba pleaded as Timon and Plumbaa continued to deny him. Getting tired of hearing them go back and forth Kamaria told her two friends to let Simba through and to go eat. Both seemed hesitant to leave but ultimately did when they got a reassuring look from Kamaria.

Simba slowly approached the lioness, not sure what to say.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have yelled at you like I did. It was unacceptable." Simba felt his eyes widen at Kamaria's apology. Why was she apologizing? He came here to apologize to her.

"What? No! I came to apologize to you! What I said was uncalled for and completely unreasonable." Kamaria turned to looked to Simba, a sad look on her face.

"It's true though. Everything you said about me being abandoned by my parents and being without a pride. All that's true." Simba shook his head as he walked to be right in front of Kamaria.

"But I had no right to say that to you in such a way. It's not your fault for any of it and I shouldn't have made it seem like it was." Simba looked to Kamaria, his heart heavy as he realized he may have just ruined the best friendship he had ever had.

"It's okay."

"No, it's not! Get mad at me! Yell, scream, hit me! Do something!" Simba roared.

"Why? It won't do anything, won't change anything." Simba felt frustrated as Kamaria just turned away from him.

"Because at least then I know you hate me as much as I hate myself." Simba spoke, exhausted with trying to get something out of Kamaria.

Kamaria was silent for a moment as she digested what Simba said. He clearly was beating himself up over their spat and Kamaria didn't want that.

"Simba, I don't hate you. You shouldn't hate yourself either. What you said was true and it's something I've always known. I shouldn't have gotten so upset about it and yelled back at you." Simba wanted to lay down and cry at Kamaria's confession.

She doesn't hate him for saying something so cruel to her? How could this female be so calm and understanding when he was a total mess?

"It was well deserved. And you're right, I should appreciate that I at least got to know my dad. That I had people who loved me." Simba looked down sadly as he thought about the love he had lost by leaving.

"Have." Simba felt his face pull together in confusion at her words.

"What do you me—" Kamaria was directly in front of him, looking into his eyes. She must have gotten up and moved when he wasn't looking.

"The animals here love you. Timon and Pumbaa love you." Simba looked to Kamaria expectingly.

"And do you? Love me, I mean." Simba felt his heart stop beating as he waited for Kamaria to answer.

"Of course I do. You're my best friend." Simba felt his heart drop at her words. He thought he would feel relieved at knowing she loved him, but instead his heart just hurt.

"Me too." Simba sent a weak smile back to Kamaria.

"I know." Simba could only nod as he looked around awkwardly.

"I'm not mad you know, you shouldn't be either." Simba sighed as his head dipped down in shame.

"I said terrible things to you, I can't forgive myself. You did nothing to deserve what I said." Kamaria shook her head, getting up to look Simba in the eyes.

"I pushed you, I shouldn't have done so. It wasn't fair to you, I know this. We both did and said things we regret. We both apologized, if we keep focusing on what we said in the past, we'll miss the future in front of us. Please Simba, just forget about it." Simba nodded but knew he would never forgive and never forget what he said to her.

"Okay, well how about some grub?" Kamaria smiled in agreement at Simba's suggestion.

"Let's go, I'm sure Timon and Pumbaa already found a good spot. Hopefully they haven't ate everything." Simba let out a little chuckle at those two not already eating everything.

"Doubt it, maybe we should break the ant hill and eat that without them."

"Ha! They'll come running. They have a sixth sense for food. Once, when I was younger, I found a log full of bugs and next thing I know, Timon and Pumbaa are there eating with me. They were at home, a good distance away from the log." Simba laughed at her story while Kamaria smiled.

She knew Simba would struggle to forgive himself and so would she. Kamaria wasn't innocent in what she had said either, the guilt of bringing up his family weighing heavily on her mind.

But, Kamaria hoped that the two would be able to get past this and come out stronger in the end.