Bambi was trying to concentrate on getting the water to Rafiki but his mind was elsewhere. If this didn’t work, he’d stay a lion and would still have Scar’s task hanging over his head. Physically, he knew he could do it and he could do it quickly but it felt as if he’d be leaving everything from his old life behind. Was he ready for that? Scar’s final words echoed “If I see you before that, you won’t have to worry about surviving anymore.” He had a deep suspicion of what that meant.

And then there’s what Simba said, was it possible to hunt respectfully? Simba. This benefitted him too. Bambi quickly snapped back to reality and just in time. Another lion was lying in wait to strike and facing right at him. Quickly, he set down the coconut but had no time for anything else. The lion pounced and pinned him to the ground. Bambi shut his eyes and prepared for the worst.

“Pinned you!” said a playful voice. Bambi opened his eyes and saw a lioness, who looked to be about the same size as him, staring down at him.

“Hi, I’m Nala,” she said.

“I’m Bambi,” replied Bambi, still slightly stunned, “C-can you get off me, please?”

Nala did so and Bambi got to his feet. “Bambi,” she pondered, “I know you. You’re Scar’s apprentice.” There was a hint of vex in her voice.

“He mentioned me? I didn’t think he knew my name.” He wasn’t paying attention to Nala so didn’t notice that her focus shifted to the coconut he had been carrying. She was batting at it with her paw.

“He was never meant to be king, you know,” she said as-matter-of-factly, “He only is because the previous king and the true heir…” She struggled to get her words out.

Bambi quickly realized what she was doing. “Hey!” he shouted and quickly dashed over to stop her. “I’m sorry but could please not do that. It’s kind of important.”

“Oh, what is it? Only the most precious water for your precious king?”

“No, not for that tyrant!” Nala was taken aback. “I can tell you don’t like him. I don’t really either.

“I never wanted to be an ‘apprentice’. He was the first one I saw since… And I thought maybe I could…” Bambi trailed off. “Anyway,” he said, shifting topics, “I have no desire to see him anytime soon.”

“I don’t blame you,” said Nala, her tone softening.

“Oh well. With any luck, I won’t have to worry about it soon.” He picked the coconut back up and turned to leave. Then he said under his breath, “And maybe help Simba too. Anyway,” he added, “It was nice too…”

“Stop,” interrupted Nala firmly. “What?”

“What?”

“What did you just say?”

“I won’t have to worry about it?” Bambi’s voice was muffled with the rope in his mouth.

“No not… Will you put that down?” Bambi did so. “No after that,” insisted Nala. “Who were you talking about?”

“You mean Simba?”

“Young lion? Golden Ochre fur?”

“That’s who I met,” answered Bambi, choosing his words carefully.

“He’s alive? All this time?! I don’t believe it! ImeanweallthoughthewasgoneThisisgreatWecankickthattyrantoutonceandforallandwecanhavefuntogetherlikeweusedto(maybewithoutthepartwherewealmostdied)butstillthisis greatHe’s alive…” Nala continued to gush. She was so happy that she completely forgot that Bambi was sitting right there, watching in bewilderment. At last, Nala snapped out of it. “Ahem, so you know him?” she asked.

“Yes…” he answered slowly, “I guess you do to?”

“We were best friends.” There was an awkward silence. “So, where is he now?” asked Nala.

“He’s… somewhere in the… oasis, I think its called?”

“You think?”

“Well, I know where it is.”

Nala thought for a moment. “Can I trust you?”

“Uh, yes,” replied Bambi, trying to sound sure.

“Do you think you could… take me to him?”

Bambi felt like he was put on the spot. Even if the gateway would appear, how could they find one deer in that whole forest? Would she even be convinced it was him? He was, however, sure about one thing; this lioness was sincere. “I can try,” he promised.

Immediately, Nala’s face brightened up. “Thank you!” she cried.

“You’re welcome.” Bambi suddenly remembered. “I still have something else to do right now. Is tomorrow alright?”

“Oh, sure, of course,” said Nala, still giddy, “First thing in the morning.”

“Sure.” Bambi picked the coconut back up and turned to leave once again. “I’ll see you then.”

“Have a good night.” With that, the two lions went their separate ways.

Nala didn’t realize it but she might have just saved Bambi’s life for Scar was lurking in the tall grass, unnoticed. He had tracked down his old protégé, keen to hunt him down but talk of Simba intrigued him.

“That little brat is still alive?! I have got to find better help,” he groaned. He quickly regained his composure. “Never mind. I’ve got more important things to deal with now.” And he slunk away.

***

Simba stood face-to-face with the lynx. Truth be told, Faline’s words about it made him nervous.

Then his cocky smile returned to his face. “What does she know?” he thought, “I can take care of myself.” Simba didn’t know if it was instincts or what else but something inside him made him think he could take it. After all, he used to be a feline himself. “Hi,” he said brightly.

The lynx said nothing. It looked dumbfounded.

“What are you staring at?” asked Simba teasingly. “You think I’m just a deer…?” He tried arch his back in a feline fashion. It didn’t quite work; he just couldn’t bend right. “…don’t you?” He tried to growl playfully but it came across as a deep hum.

The lynx didn’t react to what he was saying. Not a word, not chuckle, no response. All it did was flash its teeth.

Simba’s eyes widened. He didn’t expect it to be so intimidating. “But y-you see I…” The lynx prepared to lunge forward. Simba could tell that it wasn’t looking to play and no matter what he did, it wasn’t going to change what it was looking at. A deer.

In a flash, Simba dashed away just as the lynx lunged forward. Simba ran hard, dodging trees, rocks and other obstacles. Occasionally, he looked back to see if the lynx was pursuing him. He didn’t see it again, but he dared not stop. At last, he took shelter in a cluster of bushes. There he stayed, hardly daring to breathe, until he was sure he was safe.

When he was sure he slowly emerged from his hiding place. Suddenly he felt something bump his side.

“Simba?” came a voice.

“Whoa! Hey, hey, hey!” he exclaimed. In a conflict on instincts, he jumped away and turned to face whoever bumped him. It turned out to be Faline.

She stood there, looking concerned. “Thank goodness, you’re okay.”

“Oh, hi Faline,” he said, trying to save face, “Is…”

“The lynx is gone.”

“Oh, good.”

“Why would you try to go up to a lynx like that?” asked Faline unimpressed “You could’ve been killed! Do you know that?”

“I know, I know.  I… I thought I could handle him.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know. Something about it just seemed so familiar.” Simba paused. “And yet...” he added almost to himself.

“Familiar? What do you mean familiar?” Faline’s unimpressed demeanor turned to curiosity.

The young buck said nothing.

“Simba, you’re not telling me everything.”

Truth be told, Simba did want to tell her everything but where would he even start?

“It’s… complicated,” he said at last.

“Is that it?”

Simba shook his head. “Not really.”

Faline could tell that Simba was growing uncomfortable. “Well if you ever want to talk, I can listen.”

“Thank you,” Simba replied, “I’ll, uh, keep that it mind.”

Faline gave a friendly nod, wished him well and left Simba to his thoughts. “Wait,” he called. Faline stopped, she wasn’t expecting this. “Do you promise not to freak out?”

“I make no promises.”

“At least don’t laugh.”

“No laughing, but I have the right to stare.”

“Deal.” So Simba told her the whole story. Neither seemed to notice that the wind had picked up.