"It's Kiara's first hunt!"

"You'll do amazing princess!"

"You got this!"

Kiara smiled as she walked through the supportive lionesses. Each offering words of encouragement and smiles to the nervous princess. Kamaria smiled to her daughter as she sat with Simba.

Kiara walked up to the pair, a nervous look that shifted into one of determination. Holding her head high she looked to her father. Simba seemed caught off guard at the look in the young lioness' eyes.

"You have to let me do this alone dad. I can do it." Simba seemed nervous for a moment before nodding in agreement. Kamaria sent a smile to her mate before smiling to her daughter.

"You got this. Nala taught you everything she knows. Follow her teachings and you'll be back before mid day." Kiara smiled as her mother passed her, rubbing her head with her own.

Kamaria was already waiting on top of pride rocks ledge when Simba asked Pumbaa and Timon to follow Kiara. Simba trusted Kiara but worried for her safety after Kion's incident. Simba tried to steel his nerves as he approached his mate, hoping she wouldn't figure out what he did.

"You sent them after her didn't you?" Simba froze as Kamaria spoke without even turning to him. Letting out a sigh of defeat he approached her side before sitting next to her.

"I'm just worried about her. After Kion—"

"Kiara is not Kion. He has a dangerous job here protecting the lands. She asked to do this alone and you took that away from her. I hope you know she'll be mad when she finds out. I understand you worry, as do I, but Kiara needs to have freedom too." Kamaria said, finally turning to Simba as he looked down in shame.

"I know. I'm sorry." Kamaria sighed as she understood why Simba sent Pumbaa and Timon after Kiara. Worry and unease can make a father do many things, good or bad.

"It's not me you need to apologize too." Kamaria said as she left Simba on the rock. She headed back into pride rock, smiling as Nala and the others greeted her.

———

It had been a while since Kiara left. Kamaria was lying down, soaking up the sun when Zazu came flying.

"Your majesties! Fire in the pride lands!" Kamaria instantly stood to attention. Simba ran to the edge of pride rock looking out to the fire.

"Kiara's over there! Find her Zazu!" Simba yelled worriedly. Kamaria found herself wondering why her children were always in danger. Definitely something they take after from their father.

Simba raced from pride rock, Kamaria and the other lionesses not far behind.

Seeing the smoke coming closer and closer Kamaria pushed her to run faster. Kiara could be anywhere in that fire, she could be hurt or worse.

Nearing the fire Kamaria heard Simba let out a mighty roar. Feeling confused on why Simba let out a warning sound, Kamaria ran to him. Breaking through the tall grass Kamaria sees Simba, Kiara and another lion. He had brown fur with yellow amber eyes. He looked so familiar to Kamaria but she couldn't put her paw on where she'd seen him before.

"Kiara!" Kamaria exclaimed as she rushed up to her daughter. Kiara melted into her mother and Kamaria thanked the great lions for keeping her daughter safe. Kiara looked to her father and sent him a glare.

"You sent Pumbaa and Timon! What happened to letting me do it myself?" Simba snarled at Kiara's attitude toward him.

"You're lucky I did! They told me where you were!" Kamaria looked to Simba and saw Timon and Pumbaa next to him. They nodded in greeting as Pumbaa's hair smoked. They must have been looking for Kiara in the flames, resulting in the hair smoke.

"I was fine! Kovu saved me!" Kovu, that's who the lion was. No wonder he looked so familiar, he was just a larger version of the cub Kamaria had met once long ago.

"Um, your majesty." Zazu flew to the ground looking to the king. "Pride land law says you owe that lion a life debt. In accordance to your father's law. But we can change them!" Zazu informed Simba.

Simba seemed to debate the choice in his head until he saw Kamaria's face. She was sending him a look that said 'if you don't let him stay you can sleep outside' and Simba did not want that.

"I wait for your judgment, your majesty." Kovu said, his head bowed to the king of the pride lands. Simba sent a seething glare to the lion at being stuck between his father's law and his own desires to banish him.

"My father's law stands, he can stay. But I hold my judgement." Kamaria rolled her eyes at Simba's overprotectiveness. Kovu saved their daughter, couldn't Simba be a tad bit thankful? Kamaria knew she was.

Kova sent a small nod to the king, a hard look in his eyes. Yet Kamaria could see a tiny ounce of fear in there. To help ease the tension, Kamaria smiled to Kovu.

"Welcome to the pride lands Kovu. Thank you for saving Kiara." Kovu turned to the beautiful queen. He remembered seeing her as a cub and thinking she was the prettiest lioness he had seen next to Kiara.

"Thank you, your majesty." Kovu bent his head in respect. Kamaria laughed and gave a soft smile to the lion.

"No need for formalities. The only one who calls me that is Zazu. Kamaria is fine." Kovu felt a smile form on his face unknowingly as he nodded. The queen was extremely kind, a lot different from how his mother described her.

Zira said Kamaria was a ruthless killer. She helped Simba kill Scar and needed to be dealt with along with Simba.

"Let's go home." Kamaria said to the two young lions. Kiara nodded happily at her mother accepting Kovu so fast. It was nice to have one parent like Kovu.

The pride walked back home and entered Pride Rock to get some sleep. Kiara and Kamaria headed inside as they laughed and smiled. Kamaria was relieved Kovu had saved Kiara so she could have moments like these, she owed a life debt to the lion. Even if Simba didn't like it.

Hearing a growl behind them, Kamaria turned to see Simba deny entrance into Pride Rock to Kovu. Feeling annoyed with Simba, Kamaria approached the glaring lion.

"You really think if he was going to attack he would attack in our own home? With all of the lionesses present?" Simba sent his mate an annoyed look at her comment. It made sense, Kovu wouldn't make it far if he tried to attack him, or anyone else, here.

"He sleeps outside. He's lucky to even be here." Kamaria raised a brow. She admired Simba's protectiveness over his family but he let fear drive his decisions. It's why he valued Kamaria's opinion so much, she always tried to see the other perspective, offering up understanding rather than aggression.

Kamaria let the situation be, not wanting to push Simba too far on a matter he already made up his mind on. Both headed to bed that night, not realizing the true danger they were both in.