Another great story by guestsurprise. :)

The Lion King belongs to Disney.

The Claw And The Pride

Vitani watched as Kovu and Kiara were now mates and the entire ceremony was just beginning. But she still felt like deep down she could never belong. She was the daughter of one of the most lethal and terrible lionesses to grace the Savannah…Zira.

"I will never belong here," the young lioness said to herself.

"Vitani?" A voice asked. She turned and saw Nala approaching her. "Is everything alright?"

"Yes, Your Highness," she said, now turning away. Noticing that Vitani still felt very uncomfortable with them, Nala approached a bit more.

"Vitani? You know that the past is behind us." Nala said gently, now trying to get the younger lioness to look at her.

"No, Nala. It will never be over. Don't you see that we will never belong," Vitani said, now pointing a paw at Kovu and the others. "We may be the same to the extent, but I will never belong here. I don't even look like you all!"

For it was true. Vitani had rougher fur, sharper claws, and a more dangerous appearance rather than smoother and more graceful female lionesses of the Pridelands.

"Vitani…that means nothing! You are fine just the way you are," Nala insisted. At that moment, Simba walked in and noticed that Vitani was not joining in many of the festivities.

"Vitani? Is everything alright?" The king asked gently. Seeing Simba, she turned and looked at him and bowed her head down.

"Yes, Your Highness," she said, trying to be respectful. Simba smirked and walked over to her, nudging her head with his nose.

"Vitani…we are a family now. You may refer to me as Simba." He said gently.

She gave a small smile and felt he and Nala rub against her affectionately. She tried to do the same, but she noticed a few other lionesses giving her a nasty look and she quickly stopped.

"Vitani?" Nala asked, now noticing the change in body language.

"What's the matter?" Simba asked, noticing the same thing.

"I…need to step out a moment. Please excuse me." She said, now darting out fast. Nala was going to follow, but Simba stopped her.

"Give her time. This is all so new for her." He said gently.

"But Simba…," Nala pleaded.

"I know you are trying to accept her, but it will take a bit for Vitani to accept the changes for herself," Simba added, now seeing Vitani running off into the distance.

As Vitani kept running, she paused as she stopped in the same watering hole where Simba used to play with Nala when they were cubs. She then looked up into the sky and let out a defeated sigh.

"I'm alone now." She said sadly. Kovu had a mate and Zira and Nuka were dead. She had no other family. Her father was a random lion that came through their pride years ago and Scar did not allow him to stay. That was all anyone knew about him. But as Vitani looked to the sky, it was almost as if she could see a figure of a lion smiling back at her. Shocked, she squinted and the face appeared more lion-like and gave her a kingly smile.

"That is Mufasa, Simba's father and the former king of the Pridelands." A voice said. Vitani turned and saw Rafiki, the baboon, standing beside her. "He must see something special in you to make an appearance such as this."

"Me? No…maybe Kovu," Vitani said. "I'm not special. I'm just…an outsider."

And with those words, they heard a crack of thunder that made Vitani jump and Rafiki laugh! "He did not like that comment you made," the baboon chuckled.

"But it's true! I'm not a part of the Pridelands. If anything, I was taught one thing…to live by the claw. Those that live by the claw, die by the claw." Vitani said, now unsheathing her claws more and holding her front paws up.

"Young one." Rafiki said, now gently placing her paws back on the ground. "You are not what you think you are. You are special and you are kind, Vitani."

Vitani hung her head. She didn't think she was any of those nice things at all. Soon, it would be time for the lionesses to be chosen by lions for mates when the lions came through. Simba sometimes allowed his friends, who were passing through, to mate with his lionesses just like his father did; that is how Nala and Simba were not related before.

"You need to head back to Pride Rock. Everyone is still celebrating your brother's mating ceremony." Rafiki said.

"I need to head back to the Outlands. I have heard of Hyenas using the Outlands to try and get to the Pridelands." Vitani said.

"Alone? You were going to head there alone?" Rafiki said in concern. Vitani nodded.

"If I don't make sure that they stay back, it will be a problem," she said, now standing and about to head back to the Outlands.

"I don't think that will be a good idea," Rafiki said gently. As Vitani looked at him, she noticed Simba approaching as well. He was running at a pretty good speed too. After a few moments, he stopped in front of her.

"Are you alright? I have been looking all over for you! We have guests that have just arrived." Simba smiled.

"Oh I don't know about…HEY!" She gasped as he gently got her tail in his teeth and began pulling her.

"Come on…we need you," Simba chuckled, now pulling her more and heading back. Vitani tried to dig her claws into the ground, but the large king pulled her more to where she was on his back. She then pouted as he smirked at her over his shoulder.

"Now will you come or do I need to carry you like I used to do to my cubs?" he chuckled.

"Okay, okay!" Vitani said, now getting down on her own paws. Simba nodded and then motioned for her to follow him back. As she did, she and Simba smiled at Rafiki who scampered back up his tree. As they arrived back to Pride Rock, Vitani watched as Simba motioned to the distance.

"Look Vitani. Mheetu, Nala's brother, has a son that is coming to visit. His name is Kamau. And he will be coming through this area for a few moons." Simba said. Vitani noticed that a young lion was coming and he had a pride with him. It didn't take him long to arrive at Pride Rock and kneel before Simba.

"Hello, Simba," Kamau greeted, now feeling Nala and Simba greet him affectionately.

"Hello, young one. My, you've grown!" Nala grinned happily. For Kamau was tawny like Nala with striking green eyes and a brown mane. He had claws that stuck out like Scar's did, but his facial features were similar to Simba!

"Thanks, Aunt Nala. I have missed you all. I am glad we made it all in time to see Kiara's mating ceremony," Kamau said, now walking forward and headbutting Kiara and Kovu in a greeting fashion. But he paused as he noticed a cream colored lioness sitting back and trying to blend in to the back. Not sure who she was, he walked forward. "Greetings. I am Kamau…and who might you be?"

"I am Vitani, Kovu's sister." She replied.

"Nice to meet you." Kamau greeted, now turning and seeing everyone heading outside to roar in triumph for the mating ceremony. Vitani smiled as she watched her brother nuzzle his new mate…things just continued to get better and better. Soon, her roar joined the others as they began to ring through the sky. Her eyes even widened as she saw the same face in the clouds joining in the roar! The Pridelands truly were the lands of magic!

Later that night…

Vitani looked at the sky and noticed that it was beginning to rain. She hung her head because the rain reminded her of what happened that fateful night when the Outsiders and Priderlanders had their fight! But as she continued to look into the distance, she felt a gentle paw touch her back. She turned and saw a lioness from her old pride and she looked horrified.

"Vitani…you must come with me…," she said in a horrified tone.

"What? What's wrong?!" She gasped.

"It's Zira…she's…she's still alive, but not for much longer," the lioness said, her eyes wide in horror. Vitani's eyes opened in horror and she gasped in shock. Zira was….alive?!

guestsurprise's words: The story has begun! What do you think?! :)

To guestsurprise: Whoa! I'm already eager to see what happens next. :)

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GoldGuardian2418