Remember Who You Are

Chapter 3: Guilty Feelings

Kiara ran until she could no longer get air into her lungs. After catching her breath the Princess began to sob bitterly. After crying for a few minutes she heard someone call her name. Wiping away the tears Kiara saw Tiifu and Zuri standing before her, both lioness cubs looking at her with concern. "Kiara are you alright?" Tiifu asked, laying beside her friend and nuzzling her.

"This is all my fault," Kiara sniffled. "I'm the reason Kion got hurt."

"Kiara you didn't mean for him to get hurt," Tiifu pointed out.

"I was so mad at him," Kiara whispered, hanging her head in shame. "I told him I hate him and I wish he was dead. That was the last thing he heard me say before he...he..." Kiara broke down sobbing once again. Tiifu and Zuri pulled their friend close and comforted her the best they could.

"Kion slipped," Zuri said after holding Kiara for a few minutes. "I mean yeah he probably wouldn't have slipped if you guys hadn't been fighting. But it was an accident. It's not like you pushed him or nothin'."

"No Zuri you don't understand," Kiara began. "I.." But Kiara stopped when a voice in her head cried out, "Don't tell them you fool! If they find out that you pushed Kion your parents will never forgive you!"

"What is it Kiara?" Zuri asked when Kiara didn't continue.

"I.." Kiara stammered, trying to come up with a good lie. "I'm just feeling so guilty. I'm worried Kion might not come out of this."

"Kion's going to be alright," Tiifu said, trying to sound as convincing as possible. "You'll see he'll wake up and everything will be alright."

"I hope you're right Tiif," Kiara said softly. Just then Zazu came flying towards the three cubs.

"Ah Princess there you are," the horn bill said. "Your parents sent me to fetch you right away. They were quite worried to find out you had run off."

"Great now I worried my parents too," Kiara muttered. Then in a much louder voice she said, "I'm coming Zazu." With that the three cubs headed back to Pride Rock to check on Kion

A few minutes later the cubs were back at Pride Rock and were greeted by a concerned looking Simba and Nala. "Kiara thank goodness!" Nala said, running over to her daughter and nuzzling her. "We were so worried. The other lionesses told us you ran out down Pride Rock crying."

"I'm ok Mom," Kiara said, feeling even more guilty about what she had done. "Really I am. I was just upset. You know about Kion's accident and all."

"Well we're just glad you're back honey," Simba said, giving his daughter a nuzzle.

"How's Kion doing?'" Kiara asked, her voice breaking slightly.

"Oh honey your brother will be alright," Nala said, once again giving her daughter a comforting nuzzle.

"Would you like to sit with him?" Simba asked. Kiara nodded and Simba smiled and together the family went inside the cave to sit with Kion

When the Royal family entered the cave they saw Kion's Guard sitting beside their fallen friend. "Sorry," Beshte said, getting to his feet. "We can leave if you want us to."