It's the last chapter! Not a very good ending IMO. Reviews?

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They were shoulder to shoulder as they ran in the direction of the noise, united in parental instinct. A commotion of barks and yelps quickened their run, and they homed in on a gang of wild dogs who were circling a stunted baobab.

Simba drew in his breath as he saw the small shape of a lion cub clinging in the lower branches, inches above the highest leaps of the dogs. But before he could move Zira cried "Vitani!" and sprang into the middle of the pack.

Strong as she was, and fierce with mother-love, there were too many for her. Zira sank down under the weight of the hairy dog-bodies, invisible to Simba save for an occasional glimpse of a flailing paw.

Nuka came limping up, shaking his head and pawing at the thorns peppering his rear. His eyes widened as he took in the scene.

"Tani?" Crouching submissively, he turned to Simba. "She's my sister, Mister. Do something - please?"

Simba's roar shook the earth. He was ashamed, now, that he had hesitated for even a moment. A cub, a lion cub, was in mortal danger! His heavy forefeet scooped dog after dog off its paws, and if any tried to return to the attack it was clouted hard enough to change its mind. Zira, freed, lifted her head feebly to growl, whether at Simba or the wild dogs no one could guess.

When the pack was scattered - some howling away across the plain, some lying wounded in the dust - Simba looked up at the frightened cub who stared at him with huge yellow eyes. She was much the same age as his daughter, though lean and hard-looking beyond her months.

"You're safe now. Come on down," he told her. But she still clung to the branch, too shocked to move, so Simba stood on his hindlegs and gripped her scruff, lifting her to the ground.

Zira rose shakily to her feet.

"You've got my daughter. What are you going to do? Kill her?" Her old self was coming back. "It wouldn't matter to me. She's not the important cub."

"Mother!" said Vitani and Nuka together. Simba huffed. "Every living creature is important, and each has its part to play. If you realised that, Zira, perhaps your home wouldn't be such a bad place."

Vitani had realised who the big lion must be and was trembling harder than ever. The king bent and licked her between the ears.
"Don't be scared," he said. "You're not my enemy - yet."

This was too much for the cub, who ran to Zira with her tail between her legs. But she pushed her daughter away with a small cuff.

"Where's your brother?"

Vitani looked at Zira and Simba, and seemed to shrink. She hung her head.

"Speak up, cub!" A horrible suspicion was dawning on Simba. Vitani looked up at him and gulped.

"I...Kovu..."

Nuka nudged his sister. "Spill it, termite!" he whispered, not unkindly. She took a deep breath.

"Kovu and Kiara are at the Elephant Graveyard. I dared them to spend the night there. I was following Mother to see them get in trouble and the dogs chased me. It's my fault."

Simba shivered as if a chill wind had touched him. "The Elephant Graveyard?"
Nuka whistled. "Hyaenas!"
"Vultures!" gasped Zira.
"Ghosts!" mewed poor Vitani.

"Nuka, take Vitani home." Zira briefly licked a scratch on her leg. "I'm going to get Kovu!" She gathered her legs under her and streaked away.

"She thought I'd kill Vitani...Kiara! If Zira gets there first..." Simba had started running before his brain had processed the thought.

Muscles straining, Simba plunged along the track that led deeper into the Outlands. Plants grew scarce, and before long only a few tufts of scrubby grass broke through the dry crust of soil.

He soon overtook the lioness, who had come off badly in the scrap with the wild dogs. But as the shadow of the graveyard fell on him a chill ran along his back and stopped him dead. The place was smaller than he remembered - of course, he had been smaller then - but had lost none of its terror. Faced with the echoing blackness of the cavern, he could only stand trembling. When he was in danger his own father had entered without a moment's thought. Now he was unable to stir although his daughter was in there, in who knew what trouble.

"Is there a problem, Simba?" Zira had caught up and was looking at him curiously, malice in her eyes.

"No. No problem." he grunted, trying to persuade his unwilling paws to cross the threshold.

"Afraid of the dark?"

"No!"

Zira understood now. Scar, her mate, had told her how he had tricked the young Simba into going to the Elephant Graveyard in the hope that he would be killed by the hyaenas. Poor little cub...and yet. The big male's obvious fear made her feel superior. What a pathetic king, afraid of a heap of bones! Well, she could turn the situation to her advantage. Perhaps grab Kiara before Simba could pull himself together. The great king would have no heir.

Then something in Zira stirred. Was it - gratitude? Yes. There was a core of goodness in the lioness, long suppressed, which tonight's tumultuous events had brought to the fore. Simba had saved her daughter. She would spare his, for now.

She lifted a paw as if to pat his shoulder, then lowered it.

"Let's go get our cubs," she said.

The adult lions stood blinking in the cavern, eyes adjusting to the deeper darkness. Zira was first to spot the cubs and bounded towards them, alert for any danger. She stopped dead, and Simba, fearing the worst, quickly joined her.

They stood looking at their children. Kiara and Kovu were curled in a ball together like brother and sister, paws wrapped around each other. Kiara's face was upturned and wore a blissful expression. Kovu's head was so far under his friend's flank it was invisible. Their tails were woven together like vines.

Zira cleared her throat. "Kovu will be severely punished, of course."
"So will the Princess." Simba promised grimly. Their eyes met - two relieved parents. Zira shifted her paws.
"I'm prepared to forget that you violated my territory, Simba. Just this once," she announced grudgingly. Simba gave an indignant snort, then inclined his head gravely.
"I think it's best we forget this whole incident." he said. The lioness nodded. They parted, glancing shiftily at each other, and began disentangling their cubs.

Zira grabbed her son roughly by the neck, and he woke with a squeal. But Simba lifted Kiara so gently that she didn't wake all the way back to Pride Rock.

* * * * *

Kiara awoke to bright sunlight streaming into the sleeping-den she shared with her parents and the rest of the pride. She yawned and stretched out as was her habit, then realised that this was not where she should have woken up. What had happened? Where was Kovu? She rushed outside.

"Ah, you're awake." Nala, her mother, greeted the cub. Kiara swallowed.
"Um, yes, Mom."
"Sit down, sweetheart." With a sinking feeling in her stomach, she obeyed.
"Your father and I are very disappointed, Kiara." Nala began.
"I know. I'm sorry."
"I don't think you realise how worried we were. We didn't know where you were. Anything could have happened. Daddy was beside himself. It was he who brought you back. He went deep into Outlander territory looking for you - he could have been set upon and killed at any moment, you know that. Whatever made you do it?"
"It - was a dare..." she mumbled, looking at the ground.
"Kiara, listen closely. You should never take dares. They're silly and dangerous. If you finish one, there'll be another more difficult one ahead of you. It never stops until someone has the courage to say 'No, that's stupid'. Got it?"

Kiara nodded. It made sense the way her mother told it, but it would be a lot harder in practice to refuse Vitani. Nala, looking at her, raised an eyebrow.
"And I don't think Vitani will be setting any more dares for a while, so you needn't worry about her."

Kiara's jaw dropped. Her mother knew about Vitani and Kovu? Nala continued as if she hadn't noticed her daughter's astonishment.
"Another thing. I never want to hear of your playing with those Outlands cubs again."
"But Mom..." Kiara burst out, then stopped. She had just admitted her guilt. Simba had warned her time and time again about the Outlanders, and she had disobeyed him.
"Do you understand, Kiara? I never want to hear of it again!" And one sparkling green eye closed in an unmistakable wink.

Now Kiara recognised the mischievous girl cub who had been with the young Simba in her dream. More astounded than ever, she gave a huge grin and nodded vigorously.
"You got it, Mom!"
"Good girl. Your father wants you." She indicated her husband, who was sitting alone at the tip of Pride Rock with his back to them, and lowered her head to whisper in her daughter's ear.
"Go and take it. You know Daddy's roar is worse than his bite."

Kiara walked slowly towards her father. She knew she was to be punished, and she was prepared. Simba turned at her approach, his eyes filled with sorrow and anger. Kiara couldn't bear to see him like this. Now she realised what he had been through in his own cubhood, and that he had come to a place he feared to rescue her. She wondered what Mufasa's punishment had been for his cub's disobedience.

She ran the rest of the way. "Daddy - oh daddy, I'm sorry! I love you so much!" Kiara pressed herself against his warm chest and nuzzled in. She wasn't trying to delay the scolding that was coming her way; she felt she just had to tell him.

Simba too knew that he must be strict with his daughter and mete out a smack or a grounding, or both. That was the way his father had raised him, and it had in no way diminished his love for Mufasa. Yes, there would be a punishment. But for now he folded Kiara to him and purred his love and gratitude.

* * * * *

"But you didn't spend the whole night there! Mother came and grabbed you!"

The three cubs were lounging in the shade, having spent an exhausting hour trying unsuccessfully to trap a rat down by the river.

"We won, Vitani!" Kovu growled. "We were brave and you got caught by wild dogs. So there!"

"Didja see any ghosts?" Vitani asked, irrepressible even after her experience. Kovu shook his head. "Naw, silly. There's no such thing. Anyway, now we get to dare you something!"

"No. That's enough dares." Kiara said, so firmly that they both looked at her in surprise. "Let's just play a game, hmm?"

Before, Vitani would have said 'Huh! Girly games!'. But now she smiled gratefully at Kiara.

"OK. You choose!"