Remember Who You Are

Chapter 12: Painful Memories

A few minutes later the trio of young animals had arrived at Pride Rock where they were meet by a worried looking Simba, Nala and Kiara. "Oh Kion where have you been!" Nala cried out, running over to her son and nuzzling him.

"I'm sorry I worried you Mom," Kion said, feeling guilty that he had worried his mother.

"Kion why the heck did you run off like that?" Kiara demanded. "I mean you think you'd of learned your lesson the last time you wondered off."

"Jeeze Kiara I'm sorry ok?" Kion said, rolling his amber eyes. "I had to get away from Zuri. She was getting on my nerves and making me feel bad."

"Yeah I taught her a good lesson on that," Kiara said with a slight laugh. "I don't think she'll be doing that again." Just then a battered looking Zuri came into the cave, followed closely by her mother, Baridi. Baridi was a pale coated lioness with blue eyes. Zuri glared at Kiara and Kion as she walked by and opened her mouth to speak. But Baridi quickly stopped her.

"Zuri you come with me right now," she said sternly. "You are grounded young lioness and there will be no talking to your friends. Understood?"

"Yes Mom," Zuri muttered. Then she thought, "I'll get you for this Kion. I promise you that." With that Zuri went with her mother to their spot on the other side of the cave. Zuri was glaring at the golden cub the entire time, thinking about ways she could get him back.

"Kion where were you exactly?" Kiara asked, giving her brother a look.

"Sheesh since when do I have to answer to you?" Kion asked with annoyance. "You're not my parent Kiara."

"No but I am," Simba said, causing his children to look over at him. "And I would like an answer. Where were you Kion?"

"Oh I was around," Kion said, not making eye contact. "You know I took a walk near that big area of water by that grassy area."

"That's Big Springs," Beshte chimed in, having come in the cave along with Ono moments before. "That's where we hippos live."

"Yeah that place," Kion said with a nod. "I was talking with some squirrels and they shared their food with me. They're pretty nice."

"Chindi shared her food?" Simba said with surprise. "That's odd. Usually squirrels are very protective of their food."

"Well she shared with me," Kion said with a shrug.

"And you enjoyed eating nuts and berries?" Simba asked. "That's strange because as I recall you don't like nuts and berries."

"Well I do now!" Kion declared, getting a little angry. "Sheesh what's with the million questions? Its like you think I'm lying on something?" Then his expression changed from anger to worry. "Do you think I'm lying?" Kion looked at Simba when he said this.

"No of course not," Simba said with a smile. "I know you'd never lie to me Kion."

"Thanks Simba," Kion said with a smile.

"Well at least you didn't run into Janja again," Bunga said with a laugh, trying to lighten the mood.

"Yeah," Kion said softly. "Good thing. So am I in trouble?" Kion looked at his parents when he said this part.