It had been a few days since they apologized to each other. Everyone could see how strained their relationship was now. While both held no grudge against the other, they hated themselves for what they said. They were worried they would hurt the other again, something they both desperately wanted to avoid.

Kamaria was wondering around at night when something caught her eye. Taking a step back, she looked down a hill to see Simba sitting next to the waterfall pool.

Not long ago they were laughing together as they swam around in delight. They had swam together since then.

Kamaria was debating if she should join him or not. This conversation could either help their relationship or destroy it. Their relationship was fragile right now, she was worried she may break it.

"Kamaria?" Said lioness turned to see Simba staring at her curiously. Kamaria wanted to sink into the ground at being caught. She was standing there and staring at him like an idiot, plains save her.

"Sorry, I was about to come down and talk with you." Not necessarily a lie, she was thinking about it. Simba just unknowingly made the decision for her.

"Oh. Okay." Simba turned back to looking at the water. Kamaria walked down and sat next to him, staring at the glow worms as they glimmered in the water. It was beautiful, Simba and her had come a few times for nightly swims when they got bored and didn't want to sleep.

"So... how are you?" Kamaria wanted to drown herself as embarrassment flooded through her. That's how she started the conversation? Plains help her.

Simba felt a smile break out at her embarrassment, he found it cute.

"Good. Just thinking."

"About what?" Simba turned to look at Kamaria, wondering when he could have his best friend back.

"You. Us. How sorry I am." Kamaria sent Simba a look, she told him she wasn't mad at him. Yet, he still was thinking about it.

"Simba, I'm not—"

"Mad, I know. But I'm mad at myself. I said some awful things to you, things you confided in me and I threw it in your face. I broke your trust and I don't know what to do to get it back. You were right, I'm extremely lucky and I took it for granted. I don't know if I can forgive myself." Kamaria's heart sputtered to a stop. He was mad at himself because he thought he broke her trust?

"What you said hurt, I'll admit. But I didn't handle the situation like I should have. I just want us to be like what we once were. The past few days have been so boring without my best friend. You never lost my trust Simba, I would still put my life in your hands." Simba instantly shook his head in disagreement.

"No, that's a terrible idea! You know about my past, what I did."

"Yet I trust no one more than you. You feel bad about what happened to your father. A killer wouldn't be sorry about what happened. A bad friend wouldn't care if they hurt their friends or not. That is the reason why I don't hold anything against you. Don't forget, I also lashed out at you." Kamaria spoke softly to Simba. Simba could only stare back at her and wonder how he got so lucky.

How did he manage to befriend someone so kind, selfless and understanding? He was still trying to navigate life and Kamaria seemed like she already knew everything. He admired Kamaria in every way.

"I..." Kamaria just smiled at his loss for words. She realized throughout this conversation that the only thing stopping their relationship from being what it once was, was themselves.

"I forgive you and while I hate that I yelled at you when I was the one who pushed you too far, I want to move past it. I want the friendship we once had. I'm sorry for what I did but I'm willing to forgive myself if you can forgive me. Do you forgive me?" Simba could only nod. Kamaria felt her smile grow, feeling a weight lift from her chest.

"Tell me something."

"What?" Simba questioned. Kamaria just looked to him expectantly.

"Um, my father once told me about how the circle of life needed to be protected. Not everyone agrees with the idea and we were always meant to fight for it... together." Kamaria nodded as she stared forward. Simba continued to look at her side profile.

"You've mentioned the circle before. To be honest, I'm still a little confused about what it is." Kamaria confessed. He had mentioned it sometimes but never said what it was.

"It's this idea that when we die, we become the grass. The grass is then eaten by animals which are eaten by others and so on. It's a cycle so each animal has a part to play. In life and death." Kamaria looked to Simba in wonder. She had never thought of life like that. That even in death they all had a purpose.

"It's a very noble idea. Thank you for sharing it with me." Kamaria looked at Simba. The world seemed to disappear around them as Kamaria could only focus on him. He was beautiful, the wind blowing through his mane, the stars making his eye shine more than usual.

Little did Kamaria know, Simba couldn't look away from her either.

The glow worms illuminated her face, making her look ethereal. The stars shone behind her, making it seem like she was a star lost to the heavens above.

Simba couldn't look away from her, not even when the stars started to fall behind her, turning the black sky into a dark blue. Neither stopped their looking, too entrapped in the other.

It wasn't until a leaf fell on Kamaria's face that their eye contact broke. Both instantly warmed as they realized they'd been staring for far longer than they should have.

"We uh, we should go back." Kamaria stuttered, refusing to look at Simba again, scared she wouldn't be able to look away.

"Uh, yea. Yea, that sounds good." Simba muttered back, still wondering how someone like Kamaria could ever be friends with someone like him.