I lay there, on my back, staring up at the sky. I can’t stand this. I miss Kion so much but I can’t go back to him. He will just laugh at me again anyway. What am I going to do...? I can’t just stay here forever. Why can’t he just be nice to me?!

The tears start coming again. I can't help it. Why did I want him back so badly? Why did I still love him so deeply? I am so angry with myself. Why am I like this? After the way he treated me, I should never want to see him again; yet I long to run back. I sighed. I guess I should go get something to eat...

“Hey Kovu.”

I almost jump out of my fur. I tumble over myself like an idiot before stumbling back to my feet. I look over and there he is, just standing there at the edge of the clearing.

“Kion! What are you doing here?”

“Kovu, please,” He says, starting to walk towards me, “I’m so sorry for everything. I have been so horrible lately.”

“You treated me like a pile of hippo shit!”

“You’re right, Kovu, I did, and I know that no apology is ever going to be enough...”

“You’re right about that!”

Why did I say that? The devastated look on his face makes me feel so low, it breaks my heart. I mean...he is trying to be nice. But does that really make up for what he did?

I sigh, “I’m sorry Kion. I didn’t mean that, but how could you hurt me like that?”

“I know, Kovu, but the venom...no, that’s just an excuse. I need to be a changed lion. Kovu, I lost control. I shouldn’t have, I should have put you first just like you did for me. I am so sorry.”

“You laughed. I told you that I loved you, and you laughed at me.”

“I did, and I don’t know that I will ever forgive myself for that. Kovu, I don’t know if I love you or not. I feel so confused right now. I want you to be my best friend, for the rest of our lives. But I don’t know if I want to be mates yet. Please give me some time to think about it?”

“Are you saying...?”

“Yes, Kovu, I am beginning to think I love you, but I don’t know. I know you probably don’t love me anymore. You probably don’t even like me. But I hope you will, at least, give us a chance to try this and work things out. Just give me some time. Please.”

I am dumbfounded. Of all the scenarios that went through my head of being reunited with Kion, none of them went like this. I don’t know what to think. My heart soars at those words, it must have been up in the sky with the kings of the past. But, after all he did, can I really just take him back?

“Kovu, I really need you.”

I break out of my thoughts, and look over at him. That’s when I notice it: his rock-hard little cock.

“Oh, is that what you need me for?” I say, pointing to his erection.

He looks down and sees what I am gesturing towards, “NO! Kovu, please, you have to believe me, I can’t help that. No, I need you with me... I mean I need you as my friend, at the very least.”

“So, you don’t just want a fuck buddy for the rest of your trip? Is that it?!”

“No Kovu. I’ll admit, it has been very hard without you. It’s taken me to some low places. But even if you don’t help me with my lust for the rest of the trip, even if you never mate with me again, I still want you in my life. I still want you to be my friend.”

“If I am still going to be your friend, never mind anything more, there are going to have to be some changes.”

Am I being too harsh with him? Am I being the ass now? He clearly is trying. I don’t want to push him away. But I don’t want to end up hurt again either.

“Yes, of course, Kovu. I promise you things will change. I promise I will change.”

“Well, then you will have to agree to a few ground rules. First, if you want to mate... you ask, and if I say no... you accept that. Second, if we do mate, I want to enjoy it too. You have to take your time like you used to and care about my enjoyment as well as yours. Third, you have to help with the hunting and other chores.”

As I watch Kion, I see him get angry. I think, ‘Here we go again.’ But then he stops himself. I see him close his eyes, and take a few deep breaths before he speaks.

“You’re right, Kovu, about all of it, and I swear I will do all of those things. More than that, I want you to hold me to that promise. I don’t want to treat you like I have ever again.”

I sigh, it looked like he really meant all that. He really is trying to be better. Still, can I trust Kion to stay that way?

“Are you serious about this? You're not just going to go back to using me tomorrow?”
Tears come to his eyes, and flow down into his cheek fur.
“Yes, Kovu, I am serious. Please take me back. I can’t do this without you. And I don’t mean without you taking care of my urges. I mean...I can’t do this alone, and the only lion I would ever want by my side is you.”

I don’t respond, I just walk up to him and nuzzle his cheek gently.

“Okay, Kion,” I finally whisper into his ear, “I forgive you.”

He collapses onto his belly and begins to cry, “Thank you, Kovu,” is all he can get out between sobs.

I cuddle with him and let my own tears flow. I have a lot of emotions flowing through me right now: worry, anger, pain, sadness, but most of all, above all others, is happiness. I have my friend back, and maybe much more...

*****

For the first time since we started this journey, I feel good. My heart feels light, and I have no problem controlling my anger.
That night, I hunt with Kovu. We share each other’s food, and we sleep, curled up together, under the stars. The next morning, we wake up and start off again. It is a little awkward at first. Neither of us say anything to each other for a while.

Finally, Kovu breaks the silence, “Ahem, so Kion, what’s next? Elephants? Gorillas? Horses?”

I laugh, “I hope not! I’m not my mother, Kovu!”

We both stop and laugh so hard we roll around on the ground kicking up dust everywhere.

When we finally are able to control ourselves, I take a deep breath and say, “Oh, thank you, Kovu. I really needed that.”

“I think we both did.”

Before I know what hit me, Kovu runs up and taps me on the shoulder with his paw, “Tag! You’re it!”

He runs off down the trail and I run right behind him. After a few strides, I am able to catch up enough to tag him on the rump before bounding off again. We go back and forth a few times running up and off the trail, laughing and just enjoying ourselves. As we both get tired, and Kovu is “It,” he catches up and tackles me straight onto the ground. We wrestle around for a few minutes before collapsing next to each other, out of breath and yet giggling.

*****

It is like Kion is a whole new lion! He didn’t ask me once to take care of his urges, although I knew he needed it. As I lay there, all I can think of is how much fun we’ve been having today! After we both catch our breaths, we get up and continue on.

It is easier to talk this time, “You’re getting slow, Kion. Those big, cum-filled balls must be hard to drag around!”

I see he wanted to snap at me for a few seconds, but he is able to calm himself down quickly and smiles, “No, it’s my big cock. You wouldn’t understand, of course.”

We both laugh as we continue on.

*****

Once the ice is broken, it is like we were back in the Pridelands. We joke, play games, and just talk. There are a couple of times Kovu gets ahead of me, and with his tail all over the place, I see his little balls and tight, warm tailhole. It is so hard to control myself in these moments. I look away, take deep breaths, and sometimes just get ahead of him for a little bit to calm down.

“What’s wrong Kion? You keep falling behind and racing ahead, if you need a break, I can hear a stream nearby we can rest at.”

“Oh, uh, no, no let’s keep going. Unless you need a break of course!”

“Oh, so you're just falling behind to sneak peaks at my cute butt then?”

“What?! No! I just uh...”

Kovu burst out laughing, “It’s okay, Kion, you can look all you want.” He says seductively before turning around and wiggling his butt at me.

It takes every inch of self-control I have to not just pounce and take him right there. After a minute, he turns back around, I think expecting me to be laughing, but he can tell by the way I am digging my claws in the dirt and how tense my body is that I am just fighting to control myself.

“Oh, I’m sorry Kion. I didn’t mean to...”

“No! No. It’s okay Kovu. I’m okay. I know you were just joking, it’s just hard right now.”

“I know, I should have thought of that. How about you stay ahead of me so I am not teasing you, and I get to look at your cute butt for a while?”

I chuckle, “That sounds good to me, Kovu.” I say as I wiggle my butt at him and bound on ahead.

*****
That night after we have both hunted and eaten, we lay down together under the stars. I look over and sure enough Kion’s ever present erection is still there. As much as the memories still hurt, I know that I need to work with Kion to make things better, not against him.

“Do you need some help with that?” I ask him, motioning with my head and eyes towards his erection.

“Oh no! I mean, yeah, but I don’t want you to do it if you're not ready or anything.”

His body stiffening up, and the look on his face tells me how hard it is for him to say that. How much effort he is putting in to not just jump at the offer, and to put me first.

“It’s okay, Kion, I want to help. We both have to work to improve things between us. It isn’t going to work if I work against you, or make you do it all yourself.”

He looks so troubled. I know how conflicted he must be about this, so I decide to help things along. I turn around so I am facing the opposite direction of him lying on my side, and take his cock into my muzzle. Kion comes almost immediately. I know he isn’t done yet though. so I keep going...

*****

Oh, King’s Above! I didn’t realize how badly I needed that! I have been focusing entirely on Kovu, I didn’t even think about my own needs. I guess that is what I should have been doing all along.

I look over and see his little balls, and his erect cock stick out from under them. I only hesitate a moment, before I gently burrow my head between his legs and take his cock into my muzzle. I start to slowly bob my head and lick along his length. I ignore my own pleasure, for once, and focus solely on him. I take my time, and really give him all I have. I use one of my paws to play with his balls as I suck, rolling each around in their velvety home, gently rubbing and massaging them.

When I can’t think of anything else to do, I stick a paw toe in my muzzle next to Kovu’s length and get it nice and wet. I move back up and, slowly and carefully, start making my way inside him. I can hear his moans around my cock so I know I am doing something right. Gently, I work more and more of it in until I feel his little pleasure spot. When I do, I start to massage and milk him for everything he has.

Kovu’s pre flows into my muzzle, like a wild river after the snow melts. I realize that I must have kept him pent up for weeks with my selfishness. I feel bad, but it tastes so good. It is like drinking the first drops of water after a lost trek through the desert. I swallow every drop, careful to waste nothing.

*****

It takes everything I have not to blow my load after only a couple of minutes of Kion’s ministrations. It feels like heaven. It is hard to focus on him, but I do my best. Not that it takes much, all I do is bob my head a little and swallow three loads! I know I should return the favor; so, wetting my own paw toe, I gently inserted it into his tight little hole.

Almost immediately, another orgasm racks his body, and another load enters my stomach. I smile and slowly work my way deeper. Just as he does to me, I find his cum button, and begin to press. I can’t tell if what comes next is one long orgasm, or multiple orgasms, but the cum flows out of his cock like he is relieving himself. It is more than I have ever dealt with before, but somehow, I am able to swallow it all.

Through it all, he never stops paying attention to me. I don’t even know how. I wouldn’t have blamed him if he stops altogether! Going through that, I am shocked he isn’t a drooling mess. But the way he strokes my insides: the patterns, the changes! I can tell all of his focus is on me.

Finally, I can’t hold back any longer...

*****

When Kovu cums, it is like inhaling while underwater. Weeks’ worth of pent up seed flows into my muzzle. I struggle not to choke and spit it out. Thankfully, I don’t. I want it all. Every drop down my throat. I swallow over and over and over again. The taste is better than the finest zebra, it is like pure love flowing down and filling me up. I wish it never ends.

Sadly though, it does. The gush starts to taper off almost as quickly as it began. I suck and suck, hoping for more, but there is a finite supply. Eventually, all good things come to an end and this is no exception. After one last spurt, his cock grows still and starts to shrink.

*****

King’s Above, this is the best orgasm I have ever had in my life! I feel like, after that, my balls must be shriveled up like berries in the sun. Still, it is nothing compared to Kion’s! I don’t think an elephant cums this much! Finally, though, it ends after a few powerful squirts.

I roll over onto my back; between that and dinner, I am sure I must be as big as a hippo! I watch as Kion gets up and comes over to me, cuddling up close.

“I feel so good, and I don’t think I even came! I was so focused on you, and that felt better than all of the orgasms I have had on this trip!”

“Didn’t cum?! I must have swallowed an elephant's worth!”

“Really? Well, maybe mom finally has some competition!”

We both laugh, and I punch him playfully with my paw.

“That was amazing Kion, thank you. I really needed that, and it feels so good.”

“Any time, Kovu. Any time at all.”

Our eyes catch each other at that moment. It is like we are staring into each other’s souls. I don’t know who moved in, maybe we both did, but all of the sudden our lips are locked together in the most loving kiss. I feel Kion’s tongue probing my lips. I give way. His tongue meets mine and they dance like a bird attracting a mate. They slip together into Kion’s muzzle and then back into mine. We are both lost in the kiss, two bodies...made one.

Finally, needing a breath of fresh air, we reluctantly broke the kiss. We stare back into each other's eyes.

With a look of shame, Kion glances away, “I’m sorry, Kovu, that was selfish. I shouldn’t have done that.”

I bring him to face me again with my paw and kiss him.

“Please don’t apologize; I loved it.”

“You... you think you can ever love me again?” Kion says nervously.

“I never stopped.”

Tears come to his eyes as we once again lock lips.

*****
We spend the night curled up together, sleeping very soundly. The next morning, we wake up refreshed and quite happy. We work together, and hunt our breakfast. Both of us just take our time eating and relaxing. As we are finally about to head out, though, I notice the look on Kovu’s face. Something is definitely bothering him.

I go up to him, rubbing my head against his, and ask, “What’s wrong, Kovu? You look like you ate week-old gazelle.”

He sighs and looks up at me before saying, “Kion, I am glad we are going to be mates, but I think we need to have a talk about some things.”

“Yeah we should, I really have treated you badly.”

“No, not about that, I forgive you for that. But I need to talk to you about some of the things I have been feeling.”

“Like what?”

“Like... how bad it feels to see you casually mating with all those other animals.”

“Oh...but back in the Pridelands we both mated anything that moved! I mean, the only reason you are with us is because of how much you loved mating with my dad!”

“I know, and... I guess mating with family doesn’t really bother me... but all those random animals do.”

“Oh, I’m sorry... I really am. The only reason I did that was to heal though. I didn’t even really want to... well not until I got close and... it doesn’t matter. I promise never to do that again... unless I need to get rid of this damn venom.”

“And if you do, that’s okay. I mean it isn’t okay, but I want you to get better....”

“But you don’t want me to run off mating with other animals all the time?”

“Yeah... I mean, I don’t mind if you keep mating with family... That’s different,  but...”

“I’m sorry Kovu. I guess I wasn’t paying very good attention to you. I didn’t realize how much I hurt you. From now on, though, you are always going to come first. I promise...”

I chuckle a little, and tell Kovu, “I wonder what dad will think of all this though. I think he expected me to mate with my sister.”

“I hope he is okay with it... But if he isn’t, will you be okay with that?”

“I will, Kovu. I will never give you up again. I promise. I don’t want to keep any more secrets from you, though, so I need to tell you about Trevor. When we were split up, I mated with a fox out of desperation. I was just struggling so much.”

“It’s okay, Kion, I understand. Thank you for telling me.”

“Thank you, Kovu. We should start going, but I want to keep talking too.”

Kovu kisses me, nods, and we start off down the dusty trail. The forest gradually starts to fade as we keep walking. Soon the shrubs and trees give way to the tallest grass I have ever seen. Even dad wouldn’t have been able to see over the tall, tan stalks. It is nice though, the sun keeps us warm but not hot, and there is a nice breeze that causes the strange grass to move like waves on a pond.

“So, uh, Kovu. I know this is an awkward question, but does this make us gay?”
Kovu laughed and looked back at me, “Honestly Kion I have no idea what this makes us. Does it matter?”

I chuckle, “I guess not.”

“I know some animals have to define things like that, but honestly I have never really thought about it. I am what I am, I guess.”

“Yeah, that kind of makes sense.”

“You have mated with males and females since your mom and dad taught you how. I don’t think that you deciding to mate with a male changes anything.”

“Yeah you’re right. I just worry what others will think.”

“I know. I do too. But one problem at a time. Let’s get you healed first. Besides, no matter what happens, we will always have each other.”

“You’re right. But I don’t want to lose my family, either.”

“I have a hard time believing that your dad will kick you out of the pride, or anything like that. Maybe we should talk to Rafiki first when we get back. I am sure he can help us out.”

“Yeah! That is a good idea. If anyone knows how to tell dad, it will be him.”

“So I have a question, if that’s okay?”

“Of course, Kovu.”

“What turned you around? What made you realize you loved me?”

I feel my face go red, and I turn away, embarrassed and ashamed. Suddenly, I feel his head lifting my muzzle up before he nuzzles me.

“It’s okay, Kion, you can tell me.”

I sigh, and face him, “I don’t really know. I talked to my Grandfather, and he told me a lot about love, but I still don’t know what it actually is. I know I never want to be without you by my side. I know that I don’t want to be mates with anyone else. I know I care about you. But I still feel like I am missing something.”

“Hmmmm... I think you are trying too hard to figure out what love is. It’s just... love. It’s kind of hard to define.”

“Yeah, but that’s my problem. I feel like love is just something you should know. Wouldn’t I just know if I am in love with you?”

“I was in love with you long before I knew about it. It took one of the female bears talking to me, and trying to mate with me, in order for me to realize. It may be that your condition is making it hard, too. It’s okay if you don’t know right now, Kion. You will figure it out.”

“It just feels weird, and dishonest, and like I am not really being your mate though.”

“It’s okay, Kion. It isn’t something that has to happen all at once. Just let it happen naturally. I will be right here with you, and we will work through it together.”

“Thank you, Kovu. I really appreciate that. I guess I have a lot to think about.”

“Yeah you do... too bad YOU’RE IT!” Kovu says before tapping me on the shoulder and running off as fast as he can.

It takes me a minute before I laugh, and run after him. We chase each other back and forth for what seems like hours, before we have to take a break. We’re both out of breath. I don’t think I have felt this good since we started the trip. Even the ‘healing sessions’ with the other animals haven’t made me feel this good, this in control. I am even able to fall behind and stare at Kovu’s butt without feeling the need to instantly pounce him; I still want to, of course, but I don’t need to.
I no longer feel the need to rush, either. We take more breaks; relax in some hot springs we found for hours, and stop to play games. To be honest, the next couple of days we don’t get very far with the journey, but we get miles of distance building our relationship.

“You know, Kovu, as much as I have enjoyed these last few days, I can’t wait to get back home to the Pridelands.”

“Miss daddy’s monster cock?”

I laugh, “I think I am good on monster cocks for a while, thank you.”
He laughs, “Yeah I bet. I know what you mean though. I have loved spending time alone just the two of us... connecting like we have been, but I miss our home and family too.”

“I think we are only a couple of days from the Tree at this point. Hopefully, whatever we have to do there won’t take too long.”