A/N: Heri (top) and one of Kizza's eldest brothers Ranako (bottom).

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Heri

"How do you feel now, my precious flower?"

"Better! Maybe that was all I needed is some exercise. I've been inside the cavern a lot lately now...I should force myself to come outside more and enjoy the fresh air."

Auni and I are taking morning walks around the Pride Lands. She did not want any of the breakfast that the hunting party had brought home, which was zebra. Auni loves zebra which surprises me! But Auni I notice is becoming more picky on what she wants to eat nowadays as time passes. It is all a part of her pregnancy.

"Yeah you should, Auni. I understand that you are just trying to make sure that you and our unborn baby is safe. But this is the Pride Lands for crying out loud! We are living in a beautiful, safe enough environment. Nothing will harm us. You know the hyenas are currently living in the Free Lands way out on the other side of the Savanna. So we're good! Everything is okay, I promise. Even though I have missed out majority growing up here into an adult, the Pride Lands still looks the same. Nothing has changed since my absence. My parents have done an amazing job taking care of my grandparents lands, Simba and Nala." I explained, after rubbing my black nose against her right cheek.

She smiles, softly purring. "Okay, you're right Heri. I do trust your words! And yes, Queen Kiara and King Kovu are very excellent rulers. I do hope that we both continue following their paths and one day become an exact copy of them."

"Yep, only time will tell..."

"I am very positive that we will Heri. Even your mother thinks so! Every time when we end my Queen lessons, she always give back great feedback on how I've been doing lately and the same thing about you. Your father tells your mother great feedback as well each night she says."

I look at her shocked and amazed. "Really?"

Auni nodded as we continue our walk closely side by side. "Yes, I am not lying on this."

"Well, what did my father tell my mother? I trust it is all good feedback!"

"Haha, it is babe relax!"

I slightly chuckle. "Heh, sorry..."

Auni shakes her head with laughter and playfully rolled her chestnut color eyes. "Okay so, Queen Kiara told me that your father thinks you are doing a fantastic job so far on your King lessons and training. Already King Kovu can see you as very brave, serious, caring about becoming King later on, confident, courageous, very intelligent, and lastly independent lion."

I smile widely feeling appreciative and honored. "Wow, he really thinks that?"

"Yes! Your father sees so much potential in you, Heri. He believes that you will do a nice job at ruling; after he decides to step down from the throne of course."

"Right. But I already spoken privately to my father about that. There is no rush for the throne yet. My father can step down whenever he wants and ready. In the meantime, you and I can continue learning more about royalty and it's kingdom. Also, focusing more on our future little one that is inside you. That is our most important concern right now. Am I not Correct?"

Auni nod her head once more. She smiles gentle and nuzzles me warmly.  "Yes Heri, I do agree on everything that you had just explained. You are correct! We should continue taking our time and just relax our furs a bit. We still have a lot of adjusting to encounter in this new life that we are about to enter in real soon. We're now engaged, expecting to have a baby, and are going to become the next King and Queen right after your parents. The newest generation of the circle of life will depend on us. Our baby's future and everyone else's is in our paws!"

I nod, "Yes love, I am all aware of that. Like you've just told me before, we will be fine! If we ever need guidance or confused on something, we can always rely on my parents or the Great Kings above us for any assistance."

"Mhm..."

We continue walking but now with silence. So many thoughts are running through our minds right now. Although it is a lot to adjust and process everything inside of our heads about being a King and Queen, Auni and I will still be okay. No one is perfect, life is full of mistakes. You will just have to quickly learn from it and know in the future to not do it again. That's all! I am sure my parents and grandparents both have all made mistakes while ruling. All it did in the end is make them stronger, wiser, and great leaders.

In years to come, Auni and I will destined to be just like them.

"Hey, what's that smell?" Auni asks randomly, breaking me away from my quiet thoughts.

She stops walking and so do I.

"What smell, Auni?" I question.

The cool late morning winds kick in. It blows amongst our furry bodies and had brushed an unfamiliar scent underneath my black nose.

I raise a brow looking puzzled as I try to figure out this strange scent. "Hmmm, I don't know what it is. It's definitely something new and may not belong here in the Pride Lands. I should go check it out and see what it might be."

"I'll come with you!"

"No, you go back home to Pride Rock Auni. I can do this on my own! This could be dangerous and I don't want anything to harm you or our unborn baby. That'll be the death of me!"

"I'm sure it's nothing too serious for me to go back home, Heri. If it was, Kion and his team would have been on the alert. I think they're still out on patrol anyway." Auni replied. "Let's just continue our walk and hope that it's nothing bad." She suggested.

I look unsure and pace myself around a little. "I don't know Auni. I think I should go solve this one. As future King, this is my chance to show our pride again that I am determined, loyal, and brave. What if my Uncle Kion didn't come across this strange scent? He could be back at Pride Rock now while this is going on!"

"You do have a point there...but what about me? I'm your future Queen! I should be able to tag along too. Sometimes a King does have his Queen at his side while handling situations, no matter if it is too dangerous or not. A Queen will literally risk her life just keep her King, pride members, and Kingdom safe. A King expects his Queen to be there always supportive and that is what i am trying to do with you now. We could use each other's smart instincts and help Heri! Just please let me come. I promise to stay out of the way and hide if it does become way too dangerous for me and our future baby."

"Alright, fine. You can come Auni! Just please stay very close at my side."

She nods, "I will, I promise!"

We nuzzle softly once more, before turning around and following the direction of this strange scent that had successfully caught our attention. The scent has taken us to a far distance away from Pride Rock. I look over my shoulder behind me seeing how far Pride Rock is now. I can hardly see the huge rock formation.

"It seems like we're heading close to our border territory line. In other words meaning the entrance/exit of the Pride Lands." I said, noticing.

"I have never been this far off from Pride Rock before, wow..." Auni says. She looks around curiously.

"I have of course many times as you know from my past..."

Auni does not say anything but nod her head in silence.

"The scent has grown stronger now that we have arrived here. Something is close nearby. Stay very close to me Auni now." I order, while standing in front of her like a protective shield.

I release a low growl while scanning my emerald green eyes around for any bad signs. I suddenly hear laughter. Not a hyena laugh, but a random laugh from someone else that I do not recognize.

I scan my eyes around again but still do not see anyone.

"Come out, whoever you are. Don't be a coward! You were brave enough to enter this land, now be brave enough to show yourself." I said, out loud.

Stepping out from behind a huge rock reveals an adult male lion who is perhaps around Auni and I's age. I feel Auni pressing her body very close up against my own. She got tensed after seeing the male. Male lions from outside prides can be extremely dangerous to a lioness, especially if she is pregnant by a different male that's not him. He can become jealous and try to attack to win her over. But today, I don't think that was what this male lion's attentions are. He is here for something else and I want to know what that is.

"Relax, I don't want your mate." The lion said, with a grin. He stands directly across keeping a good distance away from us.

"Then what do you want? Why are you here? This is the starting point of my parents land. I can easily smell that your not from the Pride Lands."  I said, ending my sentence with a much louder growl this time.

"Heh, smart lion you are right. I am not from here. I wish was though...this is way better than back home."

"Where are you from?"

"I am from the Rough Lands!"

Auni looks puzzled. "The Rough Lands? It sounds very far! I have never heard of a place called that before. Where is it close by?"

"It is next door to the Rain Lands and a few minutes away from the Mist Lands." The lion shortly explains.

"My parents have taken trips to the Mist Lands many times before I've heard. That land isn't far from us at all. Now, the Rough Lands I am not familiar with." I replied, sounding driven in.

"Well, the name is kind of obvious. It is a land that doesn't have enough food or water. It's hard to survive out there. It's survival of the fittest!"

"That reminds me of a place called the Out Lands..."

"The Out Lands have more than what we do now. Over the years thanks to the more raining seasons, they have gained plenty of water which of course have driven prey." Said the Lion. "Every since the hyenas have abandoned the Out Lands, other animals now live there slowly flourishing everything back on what use to look many, many, many years ago. The hyenas and some insane lioness who use to live there, did not take good care of it. It had become a dusty, wasteland under their wing. Now, the grasses and trees are beginning to grow back giving some life again."

Wow, I am completely mind blown right now. I had no idea the Out Lands was actually a nice living place back then many, many, many years ago. I thought it was just a dusty, old wasteland that no one wanted that homeless or unwelcome lions and lionesses could roam in, including hyenas. Now, it is slowly starting to become another nice land to live in like the Pride Lands. Well of course nothing will ever be like my parents Kingdom, but still!

"Wow, that is very interesting to hear. But that still does not answer my very first question that I had asked you earlier." I said.

"What? I just clearly told you where I am from. I gave you a whole background when I really shouldn't have! I can risk lives back home." He said, irritated.

"No. I asked you, why are you here?" I repeated.

"For food. I am tired of living out there going weeks without any food or water. I am more desperate than the others and actually came all the way out here to just find a decent meal to eat and to return home with to share with my brothers and mother."

Auni looks sorrow. "Wow, that is so awful sir! I am sorry to hear that knowing you have a small family. Your risking your life out in other lions homes just to feed you and your family. I am touched by that!" She shifts her eyes to my own. "Heri, we have to do something."

I lean over and whisper to her. "We? Auni, how do we know if he is just making all of this up? What Lion would leave his family behind for food and not bring them along?"

"Maybe it is too far for the others to travel. Haven't you thought about that?"

I look down thinking about it. "You're right...but I don't know. He just seems untrustworthy to me. Something feels off and I don't want to bring any danger to our home and pride. My father would go ballistic and my mother would be so disappointed in me."

Auni slowly steps out from behind me and walked up to my left side closely. She places her paw on top of my own for a sign of comfort. "Babe, your parents will not be mad or upset. They will see how caring, respectful, and compassionate you are to other lions and creatures. Isn't that what all the circle of life is about under a delicate balance? We are not to judge any animal no matter the circumstances. I believe that this lion here is telling the truth. I mean look at him! His mane isn't promptly cleanse or groomed, and his fur is covered in mainly dirt and battle scars. Maybe we can get your parents to speak with him and come to an understanding. They could help, if given the chance to."

"Yeah...you are right my love. I am sorry, I have almost forgotten. Wow, you are starting to become so wise now with your words and actions. I see growth!" I say, smiling.

She smiles back without a word and then met her eyes back to the lion's, who just continued standing there staring back at us with an blank expression.

I met my eyes back at the lion too. I look very serious this time. "Alright. I will send my fiancé over now to our home to go locate my parents and bring them here to speak to you. If they feel that you need our help, then my parents will come to an understanding  and agreement together. They always work situations out. I am sure this one will not be hard at all. Just respect and answer anything they ask or tell you. Got it? If you don't, then you can forget about getting any food."

The lion nod his head with understanding. "Yes, I have your word Prince..."

"Thank you! I will stay here with you, while she leaves. Just to make sure there is not any funny business around."

The lion rolls his eyes with silence. I hug Auni and bump foreheads with her. I really don't want her to walk back alone, but then again I don't want to leave this lion here by himself either. Who knows what danger he can cause without being watched or supervised.

"Stay here, I will be back with your parents right away!" She said.

"Okay. Hurry!" I simply replied.

Auni turns around walking quickly back down a long path that leads to Pride Rock. I stayed back with the lion who's now looking up at the early afternoon skies.

I sat down. This could be a while so why not try to get to know the guy.

"So, what is your name?" I asked, randomly.

He snorts. "Really? You are trying to start a conversation with me?"

"Might as well. It may take her a while to return back with my parents."

"Fine." The Lion sits down too. "My name is, Ranako! Yours?"

I puff out my chest as the cool winds blow through my light peach-ish fur and dark brown mane. "I am Prince Heri, future King of this land!"

"Future King huh?"

"Yep!"

Ranako looks over to the side. "Hmmm..."

I cock my head to the side. "What?" I ask, while lifting a brow.

"Oh nothing, I just didn't expect to run into a royal that's all!" He laughed.

I did not respond to Ranako's
comment, but still shortly nodded my head. I scan my eyes up and down, perhaps checking him out more. He has light mahogany color fur, colorless paws, dark pink nose, a brunt umber mane, with light blue eyes. He has brown freckles on his muzzle. But he looks less muscular than I do, although we share the same age group. Maybe he is smaller in size because of him not eating enough food as he should. But we do also share the same height I've noticed. Both of us are handsome looking males, something I can fully agree on.

I just hope Auni and my parents can get here ASAP (as soon as possible!)...