This is a story based loosly around TLK,but it takes place when Tanabi is
king.It is just a short story,and this may or may not be how it was. 
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----                         The Fire Inside
                       
                         Chapter 1:Exile

  A roar split the air,and a young cub flinched.He instinctivly started to
run away,but he decided he had better go.The lion cub quietly went into the
cave in which his father was waiting."Why did you call me,dad?"he asked
cautiously,for he knew his father did not think much of him.
  "Do not call me that!You are not my son!"Tanabi roared at the
cub.Kublia,that was his name,felt his eyes sting with tears,but he managed
to keep his composure.
  His father glared at him coldly."What?",he asked tearfully,"Why did you
call me?"    
  Tanabi suddenly and violently grabbed Kublia with a big paw,and growled
slightly at the squirming Kublia."You were the one that killed my best
friend T'lakawa,right?"
  Kublia shook his head."Don't lie to me,cub!"Tanabi snarled.
  "I didn't!"cried Kublia.
  "Liar!Well,since you are so guilty of murder,cub,I am therefore exiling
you from the Pride Rock Lion Pride,FOREVER!!!!!Now go,and never come
back,you hateful thing!"Tanabi snarled at him,and Kublia turned and
ran,never to come back.
                        *************************
  Kublia ran as hard as he could,until he felt as if his lungs were about to
burst.He slowed to a running walk,and looked around,trying to get his bearings.
"Why?"he asked himself,"Why did dad decide I did it?"He then fell to the
ground, crying."I don't care anymore!No one cares if I die!"
  He heard voices,and his curiosity roused him.He decided to see what they
were. "Come out;I demand you!"
  He was frightend greatly by the three animals that met him,for they were
cheetahs!!   
They were frightened,too,but the oldest said,"Please don't harm us;I see you
are a cub also,and we were just looking for food and water."
  Kublia sighed."It's ok.I'm solitary,exiled from my pride,for something I
don't *think* I did at all."Kublia sighed painfully at the end of his
sentence."And it just hurts SO much..."

                               Chapter 2:Cheetah Friends 

  The cheetahs and Kublia came to be good friends very quickly.He also
learned their names:Kishi,Blihi,and Shli'hi."Hey,"said Kublia,"can I stay
with you guys?Will your mom mind?" 
  The cheetahs bursted out laughing,and Blihi roared,"Hey,kid!We may be the
same age as you are,but we make our own rules,we HAVE no momma to boss US
around!"
  Kublia laughed,too,when he found his question now seemed kind of
dumb.Kishi quickly added,"But you ARE welcome to stay with us IF,"he
said,thumping his chest with a paw,"you're able to keep up with us!"
  "Dont worry,I'll do my share,thanks!"Kublia sighed in relief,knowing that
he now had someone to stay and hunt with.
  Shli'hi then mentioned they might want to get some sleep.He was the
oldest,   then Kishi,then Blihi.As they all fell asleep,Kublia looked at his
new friends fondly.He now knew that everything would be al-right,'cause he
had the best of friends,who would be with him,always.
  
                              ONE NIGHT:
 
  Kublia quietly snuck through the grass,tracking the prey.They were
supposed to bring home 2 animals to last them a while.Suddenly Bilhi gave a
loud whoop and took off."No!!"Kublia shouted,"It's too....never mind."Blihi
was already trotting back,a zebra in his jaws.
  "Your turn,they are slow tonight."Blihi said.Kublia copied him exactly,and
gave a whoop and took off.He came back with,surprisingly,a zebra in his
mouth."Hey!" he stated,zebra still in mouth,"et urks!'"
  "You're as fast as slow cheetahs,friend."Blihi said,amazed.
  Kublia threw back his head,now covered with a thick mane,and laughed."If
only father could see me now!"
  Blihi looked at him curiosly."What did you do that was so wrong,my friend?"
  Kublia blinked.He hadn't expected the Question so soon.He choked back
sobs,"Not now.It hurts too much to talk about..."

                            Chapter 3:The Final Chapter

  He looked up at the sky so Blihi couldn't see him cry.As he did,he saw a
star shining more brightly than usual."Kublia...."he heard a great lion's
voice,and, confused,looked at it.
  "Don't you recognize me?"the star pulsed everytime it spoke.Kublia shook
his head."No."
  "Well,I am your grandfather,King Simba!Dont worry,I'm here just to talk."a
form of a lion formed beside him.It smiled warmly at Kublia,and put its paw
on his shoulder.
  "What my son,Tanabi,did was wrong.Your'e not guilty,you should know that!"
Simba sighed."I got tricked like that by my evil Uncle Scar,once.Tanabi
thought you killed his wife,Kranga,for she died as you were born,and when
his friend died,he was looking for a reason to exile you.Do not be afraid,
everything will turn out alright.Tanabi turned out to be like my Uncle
Scar,for which I am terribly disappointed.Carry on the Circle,my
grandson".With that,Simba disappeared into the darkness of the night, and
the star returned to its normal brilliance.
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   Tanabi chuckled lightly to himself.He will surely die,he thought.He had
finally gotten rid of the hated cub.
   "Son...",Tanabi heard his father say.His father appeared dead straight in
front of him.Tanabi backed up sharply in fear,for his father had a stern
look on his face.
   "What you did was wrong!You know very well Kublia is not responsible.For
this,son,you shall have many enemies,including your own son.I can never love
you as much as my GRANDSON,Kublia,for this.You shall die a painful death.I
WILL make sure of that!" Simba growled,and for the second time returned to
the stars.
   Tanabi stood,shocked.Just my consience,he thought,not really believing
that.With a shrug,here returned to Pride Rock.
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   "You have been my loyal friends, but now I must go on.I talked to the
past kings last night and they said my future lies to the
South.Good-bye...," Kublia murmered to the sleeping cheetahs. "I will miss
you...".
   He was now full-grown, and he was as fast as a fast cheetah, and
extremely quick-minded,friendly and smart.He knew this was because of the
cheetahs, and leaving was hard to do,but where he was going,the cheetahs
couldn't follow.
   Leaving at night,he had decided,was the smartest thing,for the cheetahs
wouldn't question him.With a last look back,and sadness in his heart,he
whispered, "Good-bye Shli'hi,take care of your brothers.Kishi,lose that
ego.And Blihi...well,just be yourself,my friend.Thank you
all.Good-bye...remember me.." Kublia turned,and with tears escaping down his
face,trotted out toward the south.

                            END

  I may or may not write a second part to this.I have another story I may
send pretty soon,but it is VERY long and I will send it if I ever get around
to typing it because it's in a notebook.
    ---Tessa Mann