The sun dipped low on the horizon, painting the Pride Lands in a warm, golden hue. It had been months since Kovu last saw Derek, his cubhood companion. As cubs, they had been inseparable, sharing dreams and secrets beneath the outland skies, bound by survival and the dusty savannah. But everything changed when Kovu met Kiara. At first, Derek was happy for him, but over time, it became clear their bond was slipping away. Kiara had become Kovu's world, and with Simba's acceptance, Kovu left the Outlands behind. Derek was forgotten, left in the shadow of a friendship that once meant everything. That evening, Derek walked through the dry, tall grass of the Pride Lands, the breeze carrying faint traces of smoke. He had come to find Kovu, to talk to him, to remind him of the bond they once shared—or perhaps to find closure. But as they moved further into the savannah, the air grew heavy, and the crackling roar of fire erupted around them. Flames surged through the grass, rising higher with each passing moment and trapping Derek in a ring of fire. Panic clawed at their chest as they searched for a way out, only to hear a desperate cry in the distance. It was Kiara—she was trapped, too.

Through the blaze, Kovu appeared on a nearby ridge, his amber eyes wide with horror. He spotted Derek first, his silhouette framed by the encroaching flames. For a fleeting moment, it seemed he might run to them, that the cub they once knew was still inside him. But then his gaze shifted to Kiara. After a moment of hesitation, he turned and darted toward her, leaving Derek behind to face the inferno alone. Struggling against the fire’s relentless assault, Derek managed to claw his way out, smoke burning his lungs and flames scorching his fur, barely surviving the ordeal. From the safety of Pride Rock, Kovu stood beside Kiara, gazing down at the fire as it continued to rage. Guilt twisted his stomach, his chest heavy with regret. He had saved Kiara, his mate, his future—but at what cost?