My Lion King Forum

It was a prison. A cave underground, being used to keep scores of cubs captive - tiger cubs, lion cubs, cheetah cubs... you name it, they were there. Little had anyone known that Zira hadn't died when she fell into the river, but had survived and had been kidnapping cubs from their families, in an effort to build a new pride and take over the Pridelands once and for all. The cubs were kept in drury and unpleasant conditions. They were fed little, watered little, and never saw the light except what little, blue-tinted rays managed to enter the cave. They were forced to fight constantly, in preparation for an epic battle against the Pridelanders and the Outlanders who had joined them.

One single cheetah cub, one night, managed to slip away. He was bold - he went right behind Zira's back, nearly stepping on her tail on his way out. The cubs were taught to fear Zira, and never to go near her. This way she could sit near the cave entrance and none of the cubs would go near it.

The cheetah cub, bruised, bloody and weak from Zira's cruel treatment, silently dashed out the hole and toward the tall silhouette of Priderock, as his little paws took him through the cold rainy night.

Hours later, as the sun was coming up, he collapsed behind priderock, near the hold Kiara had used to sneak away to go and find Kovu after his exile.

TLK characters

Kovu: NukaKun
Kiara: Kopa23
Simba: NukaKun
Nala: SillyDogTheGreat
Sarabi: Zuri
Zazu: SnowyCheetah750
Vitani: Kopa23
Zira: LilTiger

Cubs captured by Zira

cheetah cub/male - named Snow: SnowyCheetah
leopard cub/female - named Kami: LilTiger
tiger cub/female - named Lilly: LilTiger
lion cub/female - named Silly: SillyDogTheGreat
lion cub/female - named Rela: SillyDogTheGreat
tiger cub/female - named Zola: LionPrincess
lion cub/male - named Shwari: Kivuli
(more cubs added as people who join design them)

Simba yawned, Roaring slightly, and showing off his large, white teeth. He grinned. Another beautiful day to be alive. The sun was already showing her beautiful face. Simba yawned once more, then stepped out into the broad sunlight. Stepping around pride rock to get a better view, he looked down. There was something on the ground near the hole that Kiara had used all those nights ago to escape. Making his way around, Simba lightly prodded the 'thing' with his paw. It was a Cheetah cub. "H..Hey," Simba said softly. "Are you ok, little Cub?" He looked around, calling out, "Kovu! Come here, quickly!"

Kovu, already up and about, heard Simba from the water hole. He turned on his heels and quickly started his run towards pride rock. He was unsure of what was going on, but did not want to be left out of what ever it was. If Simba was calling him with that voice, it surely ment something was happening.

The cub stirred, his sleep interrupted. He then woke and stretched groggily. He turned and looked, and was in awe of the huge lion before him. "Uhm... hello..." he stuttered, shaking with fear.

Simba smiled. Good, the cub was not dead. Simba put one of his huge paws on the cub's head lightly. "Dear Cheetah," He said. "Tell me, Why are you sleeping here and not with your family?" He looked the cub over. Battered and bruised. He hoped that what he feared was not true, but was certain the cub would say what he thought he would. Simba leaned down, licking some of the blood off of the cub's side. "I'm here to help, little one," He said, attempting to reassure the cub.

The cub whimpered a little, very tender to the touch from his injuries. "I was taken away from my family. I've been with all sorts of other cubs... lions, tigers, leopards, and other cheetahs. There's one lioness who has been keeping us in a cave and not letting us out. We're being trained to fight Pridelanders... like you. I escaped when she wasn't looking."

Simba lightly set his paw down. His face fell, a look of worry instantly crossing his face. He lightly picked the cub up, setting it on his back. "Dear Cheetah," He said, concerned. "Was her name Zira? If so, Let me be the first to tell you, you are safe from her here. I will take care of you. If you so wish it that is."

"I don't know her name... whenever anyone asked they were killed in front of all of us as an example. But she sounds old and her voice is harsh. She's really mean. And... I'd love to be safe from her. But All my friends are still in the cave with her." the cub laid his head on Simba's back and sighed.

Simba's look diminished a bit. "Yes," He said. "That is Zira. Infact, If you want, you can stay in my care for a while. I'll nurse you back to health, and, one day, later, when your stronger again, I can take you into the Outlands. We, you, myself, and my Son in law, Kovu, can take your friends back by force. How would you like that? To cause that one lioness pain?"

"I would like nothing better than to free my friends. But, contrary to Zira's teachings, I'm not into revenge."

"Good, good." Simba said, smiling brightly at the cub, although he could not see it. "Dear Cub," He said. "That is just the kind of attitude I was hoping for. If you had wished to exact revenge, I may have set you down, leaving you here. You do not seek revenge, this is good. Revenge often leads to corruption. The best you can do, for now, is to rest. Regain your health, and, eventually, your friends will get out. I mean, you did. Diddent you?"