A Lion's Tale 2

3

+2 months later+

I didn't know what to think of Ryder's behavior that night. But I soon forgot about it. Khali is doing great. He's walking, running, playing, and talking like any other cub. Though Ryder and I aren't together we hang out a lot. Which confuses Khali. So he often calls him "daddy". I correct him. But Ryder never does. He just goes along with it. Khali is oblivious of what happened to his real dad, and I will tell him but not until he is older. Maybe when he is one.

I love winter but I cant wait for the spring. I think I'm starting to like Ryder. All the other lioness' love him, but he always hangs out with me. and that makes them slightly annoyed, even the ones who have mates. Vatali, loves him a lot. But doesn't bother with fact he hangs with me.

Life couldn't be more perfect. Until it was turned completely upside down. In a good and bad way.

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I was sun bathing while Ryder played with Khali. Then we heard a lioness growl an alarm. Intruders!

"Ryder watch Khali." I said quickly. He agreed so I leapt from my rock to meet Nala, and Kiara. The boys were on a hunting trip, buy Ryder stayed behind to "Guard the pride" Which the lioness' knew that we did the guarding. Whether the boys were here or not. We got down and saw a pack of lions coming. All male. Not our boys. "We will be nice. They might just be passing through." Nala said, Kiara nodded nervously, due to the fact that she was pregnant. Much to Simba's dismay. I'm not really sure why she was out here anyway.

We waited for the lions to come all the way up. They slowly approached. But then I saw something that made my heart stop. The other females stared at me. "Get Vatali." I said simply. Soon enough she was there. "Tell me I'm not seeing things Vatali. Tell me this isn't some cruel joke." I motioned to the now closer lions. "Oh god." She said quietly. "What? What?" Nala and Kiara asked.

"Nuka." I said quietly then burst out running towards them. The males tensed. But then one pushed out from behind them. He smiled with his smug grin. And I tackled him. "I thought you dead." I said sobbing. "Well I'm here, I'm not dead. I thought I was too." I smiled. "Oh my god. Your really here!" I sobbed but was so happy at the same time. "Where's the baby?" Nuka asks slightly worried. "It was a boy. He's up at Pride Rock. I named him Khali." He laughed. "That's perfect." I smiled. "Come on Ill show you where he is." We ran, causing the others to run. I showed him where I had left Khali and Ryder... Oh no.. Ryder.

When we got there. Ryder was playing ball with him, they had found a perfectly round rock and had made a game with it. I saw Nuka stop short, and let out the most wicked snarl I had ever heard. Ryder whipped around and his eyes went wide. Nuka pounced and hit Ryder to the ground. "Don't ever go near him ever again" He snarled. The Khali piped up. Biting at Nuka's leg "Hey! Don't hurt my dad!" Nuka stopped. "What?" he asked his voice full of hurt. "He's my dad, even though mom says he's not. But if he's not my dad, then were is my dad?" Nuka face drops... I want to cry. "Khali, I've always told you Ryder wasn't your dad. I wasn't going to tell you about him until you were older... well because... because he was dead. Well I thought he was, but he was alive. He's here. We can be a family now."

He frowned. "So what happens, to da- Ryder. "

"He goes home." Nuka says sharply. Then the other lions came up and grabbed Ryder by the mane and held him close. "What's going on." I asked, now worried myself. "He's going home. He ran away, he is next in line to be head of the pride. While I stay here. I agreed to go on the hunt for Xzavier. Just until I found you." "Xzavier? You said your name was Ryder," Khali said in complete dismay. "I know little man, but I didn't want to go back. I wanted to stay here. With you Khali and your mom." "Did you know my dad was with your pride?" He asked. Ryder.. Well, Xzavier sighed. "Yes." I gasped. "stay away from me, and my pride. Stay away from my son." I picked up Khali and ran into the den, flying past Vatali and Simba. I curled up with Khali and cried.