Kopa

"Kopa, where have you been?!!"

"Yeah we've been starving since last night!"

I roll my eyes. I finish dragging a half eaten zebra carcass to my two best friends Chris and Kam. They both run up with excitement.

I lay down the food and watch them stuff their hungry faces. "Sorry, I had to wait on the lionesses. They didn't hunt last night for what ever reason."

Within minutes, all the meat from the left over zebra is now nothing but bones and scraps.

"Man that was so good!" Said Kam.

Chris falls on his back and rubs his belly in circles. "I'm so full!"

"Good. Now I can return back to what I was doing." I say, getting up and leaving.

Chris raise a brow. "What were you doing, Kopa?"

"I was with someone."

"Let me guess the King?" Kam asks, rolling his eyes.

"No."

"Then who?"

I roll my eyes again. "None of you guys business! Now, stay out of trouble. I'll be back later with your lunch if the lionesses decide to hunt again."

They both nod their heads. I continue walking back to Pride Rock.

I hope Vitani is still there...

I walk up Pride Rock and there standing at the edge I see Vitani staring at the kingdom's beautiful wide open view. I walk up beside her with a smile.

"Hey! I see you've waited." I said.

She didn't look at me. She continues to stare at the kingdom. "Actually I was about to go hunt. I didn't eat what the lionesses and I brought for the pride. I got tired of zebra!"

"Oh. I didn't eat it either."

"Why not? I could of sworn I saw you carry half of the carcass earlier.."

I wonder my eyes. "Oh, I-I did yes. Yup that was me!"

Vitani took her eyes off the kingdom and met them with my own. She laughs, "So you did eat it Kopa?"

"I mean no, I didn't eat the zebra. I gave it to uh..." I try to think of a quick lie. "I gave it to the cubs here! They need it more than me."

"I see. That was thoughtful of you.."

I chuckle. "Yeah."

I wipe my forehead. Phew!

"I saw a herd of antelopes walk pass here not too long ago. I better get going before they leave." She said, rushing down Pride Rock.

"Hey, wait for me! We can hunt together!!" I yell, running after her.

We both run through the tall grassy plains. Vitani came to a sudden stop causing me to crash into her.

"Ah!!" She yelled.

I fall on my side. "Ouch!"

"Kopa!"

"Hehe...sorry about that."

"Ssssh, get down!"

Vitani crouch low to ground. I quickly do the same. Prey must be close by...

"What do you see?" I whisper, trying to look between the tall grass.

"Female antelope with a calf. They're not close with the herd. Easy target!" She smiles, licking her lips.

"Awwwww, why you pick that one? The calf will lose its mother!"

"I'm sorry but I got to eat! It's the circle of life. Do you want to starve or not?"

"No...and your right. So how are we going to bring her down together?"

"I go left, you go right blocking her. I make the kill!" She growls, eyeing the prey.

I nod. "Okay!"

3...2...1.

Vitani pounce into the air with a loud roar. The antelope herd began leaping off a different direction from the mother antelope and her calf.

Odd...

I sprint off towards the mother antelope first. She was eating grass while her calf was suckling milk. She did not notice me at first. I roar scaring them both away.

"That's it Kopa, now trap her!" Vitani shouts behind me.

I nod and jump right in front of the mother antelope causing us both to crash. We roll down a steep hill. I did not attend for that part to happen 😅. Once we made it to the bottom, I got up shaking my head. I felt sorta dizzy from all that rolling.

The mother antelope quickly stand back up on her hooves and was about to make a run for it, but Vitani came out of no where and tackle her roughly down. I turn my head away as she made the kill. The smell of fresh blood filled the air.

"Late breakfast is now served." Vitani smirks.

We both began to eat our prize. Tearing meat with our sharp teeth and claws, our muzzles covered in red blood. After eating we decided to lay back and chill until our bellies are fully digested.

I spot the mother antelope's calf. He or she was running around. Poor thing is probably looking for its mother. My ears twitch. I heard a call. I look to my right and see its herd. The calf ran over to them. Maybe someone will look after it. At least it's safe for now from any predators.

"Kopa, can I ask you a question?" Vitani asks, interrupting my thoughts.

I nod at her and smile. "Yeah, sure. Shoot!"

"You never did explained to me where you had came from. What made you come to the Pride Lands and join Pride Rock?"

My smile faded to a sad expression. My past...

"Kopa?"

"Yes?"

Vitani must of notice my sad look. She sat up some and placed her small paw on my larger one. "It's okay, you don't have to tell me. I understand if it's bad."

"I never told anyone..."

She sat all the up and scooted closer to me. I lower my ears.

"You'll be the first I share."

"Kopa-"

I shake my head and smile. "No, it's okay. You're the only friend I made here Vitani so I trust you."

Vitani looks unsure but nodded her head anyway. "Okay.."

"My story starts off when I was cub. I was with my old best friend Tambo. He was older than me, a teenager at the time. But he was always fun to hang around with. His mother and my mother were close. I asked my mother if Tambo and I could go play in the jungle. My pride lived close by the jungle I would often play there. She said Tambo had to be with me. So of course Tambo and I went. I wanted to show him what I had found the other day. It was a special cave."

"A cave?"

"Yes, not just a regular one. It had human drawings!"

"Oooooo."

I chuckle. "Yes. They were all over the cave walls. Some were colorful and some had a small story to tell. One showed a man riding on a elephant. The other a man holding a cheetah. Then there was one Tambo had pointed out. It showed a man killing a lion."

Vitani gasped.

I frowned. "Hunters is what they are. We have a lot of those around my pride. They took so much of everything. We barely had our own privacy and mother planned on moving us too. She just didn't know where though. Anyway, I told Tambo lets play tag. He was it and had to chase me. Apparently I was running so fast and was having so much fun that I didn't see what was below me. One of my paws got caught in a hunter's trap!"

"Oh no!"

"I was dangled upside down from a tree. Tambo panicked and left me to go get help instead of trying to get me down first leaving me alone. While he was gone, a hunter came."

Vitani gasp again. "No way! What they do to you?"

"They stuck me with a needle even when I tried to fight my way free. Then it was instant black out. I woke up the next day inside of a small cage. Next to me was a small tiger family. A tigress and her two cubs. They were on their way to a new home. She was telling me about where they were taking me. I was taken to some kind of animal reserve place where animals are taken care of by humans and protected. I lived there my whole cub hood and teenage life. When I got adult hood I figured it was time for me to plan an escape."

"Wow, I don't think I would've of survived!"

I laugh. "I didn't either. I thought I was going to be alone but I wasn't. I made two friends there. Both are lions! They're names are Kam and Chris.
They taught me about the place and the humans there. The humans were very friendly. They bathe me, gave me water and good food."

"If they treated you so nice then why you left?" She asked.

"I needed freedom. It was nothing compared to the wild. I couldn't take being locked up inside a pen my whole life. I needed fresh air and room to run around in! So we made a plan and escaped. We've been traveling for a good few weeks. I've been through hot deserts and cold rains coming to the Pride Lands. It was a long journey. I figured I could start a new chapter here. This place is perfect to start a pride!" I say smiling.

Vitani looks over to the side. "Yeah, I guess."

"Why say it like that?"

"What do you mean?"

I laugh. "Well, you sound all depressed when you said it."

She swish her tail side to side while looking down at her front paws. "It's just I don't think I belong here..."

"Why?"

"I don't know. It just doesn't feel right to me. Yeah, my brother likes it here. Everything worked out perfectly for him of course. He got the girl he always wanted, he's engaged, about to be a father soon. Like ugh!"

"Don't worry Vitani, you'll be lucky and find someone one day."

She turns her body away from me. "It's not just that Kopa!"

I look confused. "Then what is? What's wrong??"

"It's nothing...just go back home. I'll meet you there later."

"No. You're going to tell me what's wrong. I told you my story, now tell me yours."

I refuse to go back home. Something is hurting Vitani and I'm gonna find out what right now. I walk up and sit in front of her where I can see her face.

She rolled her electric blue eyes. "Fine. Only because you told me your past! You must not tell anyone here this. Keep it between me and you. Okay?"

"Okay."

I nod. She sigh looking up at the afternoon sky. "I wasn't from the Pride Lands either."

I look shocked. "What?"

"I was from the Out Lands. Back then, outsiders and pride landers did NOT get along. They hated each other."

"Wow. What made them call it a quits?"

"My brother Kovu and the King's daughter Kiara. Their love brought the prides together as won. Funny? I know."

I chuckle. "Wait, wait. I'm not understanding-"

"My deceased mother had strong hate against the King. She wanted him dead so badly."

"Why?"

"Because she believed and swore that he killed her mate Scar."

I nod finally understanding the story. "Ooooh. I see now like revenge basically?"

She nodded. "Yeah. Kovu was taught to kill Simba to avenge her and Scar but of course as you know that didn't fall into plan. Mother was furious! She called him a traitor and he was kicked out of the pride. It was just me and my other brother Nuka who also now deceased. He was killed by a pile of logs. Some say it was Simba and others couldn't see what really happened. So I was just left alone on my mother's side. She wanted me to help kill so I did."

"Bad Vitani!"

"Hey, I didn't have a choice. Mother was so mean and abusive toward Nuka I didn't know if she'd do the same to me too! I had to keep myself safe. Before mother's death she wanted me to attack Simba. I told her no. Everyone was stunned that I would disobey her orders. I was the first to do so. She threaten to kill me since I wouldn't do the job."

I frown. "Now what kind of mother is that?!"

"Mother died falling off a cliff into a river. The river had strong waves. So she drowned..."

"Oh, Vitani I am so sorry..."

She gave me a weak smile. "It's okay, that was a long time ago. Months ago!"

"I know, but still." I say.

"I just feel bad."

"For what?"

"She wouldn't of died if I just did what she told me to do!"

Vitani started crying.

I shake my head and hug her. "Don't blame it on yourself. You are not responsible for your mother's death. I'm sorry but she had what was coming for her. Someone who has that much hatred doesn't really belong anymore. It's okay!"

Vitani sobbed on my shoulder.

Man, she's really hurt by this...

This is a whole different side of  Vitani I never knew about...

She may look tough but really she's broken inside...

Poor Tani... 😔