Dave Morris wrote:
> See things from the other side of the coin...

Coins have three sides you know....

        "Who's he with tonight?"
        Nala lay by the promontory's edge, her mother licking her neck with
long sweeping upward strokes. "Vitani Mother."
        "Do you think they'll... you know...."
        "Mother! How could you think like that?"
        "Nala, I always think like that. Doesn't she remind you of Scar?"
        Nala pulled her head away from her mother, holding it just out of
reach.
        "Even the thought of what that Kovu might be doing with my daughter
frightens me."
        "But he's not even Scar's son!"
        "So he says, but he sure looks like it. I guess you can't chose who
your cubs are atracted to, nor your mate too if it come to that."
        "Now then, I know you think I never approved of Simba but you've got
to let your cubs live their own lives, you can't hold on to them for ever.
Look what happened when Simba couldn't let go of Kiara."
        "Yeah, she ended up falling for Kovu! If he ever lets her, or her
cubs down he have me to answer to."
        For a brief moment Nala had forgotten about Simba and Vitani. The
dam in reality broke and the thoughts that plagued her came flooding back,
'He'd better have her in cub, or he'll have me to answer to. He needs to
give the pride a future - fresh blood. That's what he's supposed to do after
all, just as long as it's by my side that he sleeps. Am I a fool to love him
so much? Are the others who talk in whispers behind my back right? Can we
trust these Outlanders? Will they ever trust me? Being one is so much more
than well meant words. Being one is *being* one. One family, one pride.
Vitani is now a real part of the pride. She'd better be or Simba really
isn't the king I know he is, the king I know is inside.'
        "Nala, what's so funny?"
        Nala looked round, disorientated and confused. Had she been
laughing?
        "Come on tell me, I am your mother...."
        "I'm... sorry mother, I..." Nala searched her mind. In it she found
what Sarafina was looking for. "Oh, insi...." Her embarrassment was short
lived, cut off in its private prime by a call from the below. She got up and
smiled at her mother knowingly and in a few strides leapt away to join her
returning mate as the dawn's first light heralded the promise of new life in
the Pride Lands. Through the glare of the dawn sun Sarafina could just hear
Simba's voice over the tumult of birdsong and wildebeest calls:
        "Hey, Nala... I'm home."

Chris Boyce.