The morning was now upon the group. After Mufasa and Malika had their moment of confessing their feelings, both headed back to their family and friends. They found out Taka was gone, Sarabi, Rafiki and Zazu had no idea where the lion went.

They all laid under the rock overhang as they waited for Taka to come back. They wouldn't continue to Milele without him.

"Taka! Where have you been?" Mufasa yelled in worry. Malika turned her head to look at the lion, worry etched on her face. She was scared he may have gotten lost or injured during the night.

"Where do you think he was?" Sarabi whispered to her sister. Malika focused on her sister as the two brothers talked about Taka's whereabouts.

"I don't know. I'm just glad he is okay. We are so close to Milele, I wouldn't want to continue the journey without him. Especially since he brought you back to me." Sarabi let out a scoff.

"Don't you mean because he brought Mufasa to you?" Malika felt her face heat up.

"That is the last time I tell you anything. I told you about last night because you asked. I will stop telling you these things if all you are going to do is tease me for it." Sarabi laughed before nudging her sister's head.

"I'm proud you and Mufasa finally said something to each other. Even if you two cuddling last night was horrid to see." Sarabi fake gaged. Malika tried to hide her smile and playfully shoved her younger sister over.

"No one asked you to look." Malika bashfully said. Sarabi only laughed harder.

"Are you ready to go?" Mufasa spoke up, stopping the two lionesses' conversation. Mufasa approached Malika and gently nuzzled the side of her face. Malika felt a smile form on her face.

"Yes, we are. Is Taka okay?" Malika murmured. Mufasa looked down for a moment, worrying Malika before looking at her again.

"He will be one day." Mufasa wanted to add 'I hope' but felt that would unease the others. Malika nodded her head in understanding before all turned to leave the shelter and continue their journey.

None of them noticed the scars Taka scratched into the rocks as they left.

———

"What do you think Milele will be like?" Malika asked Mufasa as both walked down the mountain side together. Sarabi was ahead of them with Rafiki while Taka took the rear. Zazu was somewhere flying ahead and occasionally hiding their tracks with snow.

"I don't know. But I know I'll enjoy it." Malika felt her face pull together at his words.

"How do you know that?" Mufasa sent a smirk her way before gently bumping her side.

"Because you'll be there with me. If I have you by my side, then nothing can be that bad." Malika felt her face soften as she rubbed her head against Mufasa's.

"I think I can weather the toughest storms as long as I have you with me." Mufasa had a wide smile on his face as the pair continued forward, both enjoying the other's company.

"Look! We made it!" Zazu said from above.

"Haha! I told you we would!" Rafiki laughed as he pointed a finger at Sarabi. She chuckled before pushing Rafiki's hand away. Mufasa and Malika turned to each other before rushing the rest of the way down the mountain, laughing as they went.

Once they reached the bottom they both stopped in their tracks at what they saw.

It was green everywhere, the waters sparkled and the sky was the bluest they had ever seen. Everything was beautiful and exactly as they imaged Milele to be.

"Malika! Come on!" Sarabi laughed as she played in a large pond. The water was shallow but deep enough to reach the middle of their legs.

Everyone laughed as they joined Sarabi in the water. Mufasa splashing water towards his brother and his brother running away. Sarabi and Malika laughed as they observed the world around them, beautiful and clean.

The lionesses planned to join the brothers in their playful water fight when Malika heard Rafiki start yelling. She turned in his direction to see him running towards a tree. It was tall, its branches reaching out in every direction to form a dome of leaves to cover the tree top. Mufasa and Malika were quick to follow the mandrill as Sarabi and Taka were still enjoying the water.

"This is your tree Rafiki? From your vision?" Malika asked politely, looking to said monkey.

"Yes, my brother stood right there." Rafiki stood on the roots of the tree, gesturing to an empty spot. Mufasa felt confused, as no other animal was by the tree expect the three. Moving to where Rafiki gestured, Mufasa looked around for his lost brother.

"Rafiki, I don't see your brother here." Mufasa said sadly. They reached Milele but Rafiki still didn't have his brother.

"My brother is long lost, Mufasa. I will never get him back. But the brother I saw in my vision, it was someone gained through travel and bond. It was you, Mufasa." Mufasa's eyes widen at Rafiki's declaration. Malika could only feel stupid as she recalled what Rafiki said back when the first met.

He said he was going to Milele to find his brother while looking to Mufasa. The others took it as finding his biological brother, not the brother he would gain in Mufasa as they traveled together.

"Me? Why?" Mufasa questioned. He was honored to be seen as a brother by Rafiki but why would Rafiki want to be his? He was nothing but a stray. Malika felt a breath on her side, turning she saw Sarabi and Taka had finally joined them. Taka seemed to have heard what Rafiki said, a hurt look was on his face.

"Mufasa?" A new voice cut into the conversation, promptly stopping Rafiki from answering Mufasa's question.

"How do you know my name?" Mufasa asked the tall giraffe in front of them.

"We have heard about you from others. You and your friends cannot stay here. We know the outsiders are following you." Mufasa jumped on one of the jutted out roots to address the giraffe and other listening animals.

"I promise you the outsiders will not find us. My friends and I do not wish to bring any of you any harm. We lost them in the mountains. We are all safe." Mufasa tried to reason with the other animals. Malika nodded her head in agreement with Mufasa. Zazu told them about the outsiders being lost in the mountains, their tracks and scent hidden. With no way to follow them, the outsiders were stuck in the mountains.

Unfortunately, life never worked out the way it should.

A roar was heard from the top of a large rock. Everyone turned to look at the source of the noise, only to gasp in shock and fear. The outsiders stood atop the rock, smirks on all their faces as they glared down at Mufasa.

"Hello again." Kiros spoke, an evil grin on his face as he stared down at Mufasa.

"No." Malika whispered, eyes wide as she looked towards Kiros.

"We have to do something. Kiros will destroy Milele." Mufasa nodded in agreement to Malika's spoken words.

Turning to Rafiki, Mufasa asked, "when I give the signal, can you rally the others?" Rafiki nodded before hurrying off to the animals around them.

Sarabi nudged Malika to gain her attention. "There are other lionesses here, I saw them run over the hill." Malika nodded in understanding before turning to Mufasa.

"Mufasa, Sarabi and I will be back." Mufasa turned to look at Malika worriedly.

"Where are you going?" Malika sent a smile as she and Sarabi started off towards the lionesses.

"To ask questions first!" Mufasa watched as his Malika ran from him, a smile on his face. She was willing to fight for him, just as he was for her.