"That's twice now, you know." Taka said to Mufasa.

"What is?" Mufasa questioned back, continuing to walk away from the river. The sun was down now, the stars out and shining down on them brightly.

"That I've saved you from a crocodile." Mufasa sent a playful look to his brother.

"If I remember correctly, Sade jumped in to save me from the crocodile as a cub. Not to mention you pushed us into the water that had the crocodile in it." Taka shrugged his shoulders as Sade let out a soft chuckle.

"I agree with Mufasa, Taka. Even when you grabbed him, Eshe pulled you both up and away." Taka sent a playful look to Sade before he lightly pushed her with his paw.

Sade laughed at Taka's antics. Her laughter cut short when Mufasa tensed next to her.

"What's wrong?" Sade questioned to Mufasa.

"Is it them? Is it the outsiders?" Taka questioned as he stayed near Sade. Mufasa quietly stalked forward to the tall grass.

"No, she's right there." Sade felt her face scrunch together, she? Who's this she?

Twigs began to snap around the trio as the she ran around them.

"There's no place to run, we have your scent." Mufasa declared. Taka peeled away from Mufasa as he went a different way. Sade found herself hearing the female in a different direction from the way the males were going. Making a decision to follow it herself, Sade spilt from Mufasa's side.

Sade could tell the female was a strong hunter. She stayed downwind while following them and continued to silently move around the group.

"Me? I've been tracking you three all night." Sade had to give the girl props, not many could escape Sade's ears. It was what Eshe so often complimented her on. Mufasa also was a wonderful hunter, but Eshe never told Sade his secret.

"That's not possible." Mufasa said back.

"Then why have I managed to circle you three times in this jungle while you three were chasing each other's tails?" Sade felt a smirk on her lips at the females comment.

A moment passed before Sade heard the tall grass crunch under the paws of a lion. She wondered who made that sound as the female was on the opposing side.

"Ah ha." Mufasa yelled out as he leapt from the grass. After seeing that he didn't find the female, his voice slowly tapered off.

Taka stood in front of him, a surprised look present. "Well that's embarrassing."

"I'll say." Sade said as she left the tall grass to join the two brothers. The female was directly in front of them if Sade's ears heard right. She could hear the soft crunch of the grass as the lioness stalked towards them.

"Yeah well, I uh, meant to do that." Mufasa said back, embarrassed. Sade rolled her eyes at Mufasa before looking to the lioness.

Seeing she was found out, the lioness poked her head out from the tall grass. Slowly showing herself to the three lions. She had a coat of gold and eyes the color of hazel. She was a beautiful lion, one Sade couldn't help but feel a pang of jealous for.

"Still think I'm afraid?" Taka and Mufasa turned to the voice, finally noticed the lioness in front of them.

"Why are you following us?" Sade asked the lioness.

"I was hoping to find my pride." The lioness said back, slowly moving away from the trio.

"What happened?" Mufasa asked, starting to walk behind her.

"The outsiders happened. A few of us got away but you three are the only other lions I've seen." Sade felt her heart go out to the female. She and the males knew how she felt.

"You three better keep moving." The lioness said again, wanting to be left alone.

"Wait." Taka said as he approached the lone lioness. "My name is Taka, this is my brother Mufasa. That's Sade next to him." Sade dipped her head in introduction.

"Come with us, we can help you."

"I don't need your help." The lioness barely let Taka breath before she was off again.

"But you don't have anyone." Taka said back. Sade felt her face flush at Taka's words. Not the right thing to say, Taka.

"She does indeed have someone, thank you very much!" A hornbill came flying down to the ground. He had blue wing and back feathers with white feathers covering his chest. The bright orange beak really added to the birds color scheme.

"That's Zazu, don't eat him." The lioness sternly said to a hungry looking Taka. Sade quickly approached Taka to hopefully help diffuse the tension.

"You heard her, do not eat me. As a recent addition to the kings royal guard, I must kindly ask you three to move on." Sade felt her brows raise at Zazu being in the kings guard.

"Wow, really? Smart honestly. You can see from the sky, lot more ground covered." Sade said off handedly. Having a bird to watch from above for danger was incredibly smart. They could see almost everything from up there.

"Your king hired a bird to protect you?"

'Oh my plains Taka, please stop talking.' Sade thought to herself. Taka was digging them into a hole, one Sade wasn't sure she would be able to get them out of.

"How high can you fly? Look I needed a scout, Zazu was the last option."

"Well, next to last. Between Albert the Iguana and I, his majesty decided on the underlying with wings and this I became the lead scout for the princess. It's my third day going swimmingly if I do say so myself. Sarabi, what do you say?" The lioness' name was Sarabi, a pretty name for a pretty lion.

"How far do you think you'll get with a bird?" Tala questioned.

"How far do you three think you'll get stumbling around each other? The only one with any sense is her." Sarabi nodded towards Sade. Sade smiled at the recognition.

"Far enough to get to Milele." Mufasa said, now joining the conversation.

"Milele doesn't exist." Sarabi said back doubtfully.

"It's not a myth." Mufasa and Sade said back. Both looked to the other before Sade looked away in embarrassment.

"The circle of life and fairy tale herds. You're chasing after something that doesn't exist." Sarabi said pessimistically.

"I don't know if Milele exists but right now it's the only hope we have." Mufasa said back.

"We don't need hope, we need food." Sarabi wasn't wrong, Sade thought. Her stomach was rumbling as they spoke.

"There's trouble in the trees!" Zazu said as the branches above them shook. Howling noises could be heard from the trees by those below.

"Come on Sarabi, looks like there's dinner headed our way." Taka said as he passed the lioness. Mufasa and Sade looked to each other before following the lion.

"Sarabi, if I may. He makes a valid point, your highness, but on the other hand he is a starving lion who wants to eat me. So I am slightly torn." Zazu said as he flew to the ground, standing in front of the princess.

Sarabi debated for a moment before rushing to catch up to the other three lions. Sarabi reached Sade and walked by her as they headed towards the noise.