It was a day or two before Amara was well enough to travel. Zira had come to visit her a couple times to make sure she was alright, but she spent most of her time with that other friend of hers. Of course that only nourished Xolo's annoyance. Amara and Xolo decided not to tell Zira about their new relationship, if they had, she would never have shut up about it.

The day to leave and start searching for Simba finally arrived. Xolo had told Zira he was going to guide Amara back to the pridelands, which, in a way, was true. Xolo had offered that they check there first.

"But won't they try to chase you off if we get caught?" Amara asked worriedly,

"Not with Scar as the king, I'm sure." Xolo replied, a sense of amusement ticking his voice, "All he cares about is rubbing his butt on the throne!"

Amara giggled. Xolo licked her cheek.

"Are you ready?" He asked. Amara nodded, of course she was ready to find her brother.

------

When they got to the pridelands, Amara found that the grass was now yellow. It must not have rained there for a few days. She looked up at the sky. It was a beautiful shade of blue, but there were no clouds to be seen. The sun shone down on them warmly, making Amara's back warm and toasty. She was tempted to lie down and bask in the sunlight, but they had to find Simba.

"I hope he's here," Amara whispered as her icy blue gaze fixed on landscape ahead of her.

"Me too, I just want to grab Simba and get out of here," Xolo announced as a tumble weed rolled in front of them.

Amara nodded and she and Xolo stepped into the pride lands, their search for Simba had begun. It wasn't long before they heard crying in the distance.

"That sounds like Zazu!" Amara gasped and rushed toward the pitiful noise, followed by a very confused Xolo.

"Zazu?" Amara whispered after they had found where he was hiding, pawing at the helpless looking bird.

"Princess Amara?" Zazu asked, looking up at the young lioness with a tearful expression.

"Have you seen Simba?" Amara asked the bird hopefully.

"I was unconcious when Mufasa was killed, but I woke up just in time to see Scar banning Simba from the pride lands," Zazu explained, making jesters with his deep blue and white wings. "I was about to tell everyone what happened but then the hyenas went after me. Scar led the entire pride to believe that you and Simba had died alongside Mufasa." Then Zazu looked over Amara's shoulder and narrowed his eyes.

"Who's that?" He asked, pointing with his blue and white wing at Xolo.

"It's ok, he's a friend of mi-" Just then a hyena sprang up and grasped Zazu in its jaws.

"Nice work,Banzai." Another hyena congratulated the first as it appeared beside him.

"Thanks Shenzi." Banzai said proudly, his voice muffle dwith a mouthful of bird. Then a third, crazy looking hyena appeared. Amara assumed he must be Ed. It was then that the three hyenas noticed Amara and Xolo.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't the Princess Amara and her boyfriend," Shenzi said mockingly, "Banzai, take the bird to King Scar, Ed And I will take care of these two."