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She's as familiar with the feeling of being thrown onto her back as she is with her own tail -- but this is something completely new.

As soon as her back hits the ground, Vitani gasps, eyes springing open, registering her surroundings one element at a time. First, the pink sky. Then, the dust floating up into the air. Then, a paw pressed to her chest. Then, at last, Kiara's triumphant face.

"Pinned ya!" the princess laughs. "Aw, man, you should see you face right now!"

As she boasts on and on, Vitani can only stare up at her in bewilderment.

No one's ever overpowered her so easily like that, even in play-fighting. Not Kovu, not Imara -- hell, not even her mother. Bitten, maybe. Swiped at and scratched, of course. Kicked in her gut with claws out, abso-fucking-lutely.

Never has she had all power stripped away in just one circular motion, in such short time.

And it was done by Kiara.

Kiara.

Pretty little pampered princess Kiara. A daddy's girl. A goofball.

Kiara with her big eyes, the color of the Outland sky; her jutting chin; her big, stupid, fantastic grin; her dumb, gargantuan muscles.

Kiara intercepting her, accepting the fall onto her own back if only to push Vitani upward to gain the advantage easily.

Kiara pinning her down with just a light paw now, out of breath and bragging about her victory, her fur dusty and tousled.

Kiara, Kiara, Kiara.

Vitani blinks. Oh.

"--used it on my dad all the time, it's practically her signature move!" Kiara hasn't caught wind of her internal dilemma. "You should've seen Kovu's face when I--"

Kiara. Her brother's girlfriend.

Vitani's stomach squirms uncomfortably.

"--right? Vitani?"

"HUH?" Vitani gasps, pulled back to attention to find Kiara looking at her with concern in those big eyes. "Wh-What?"

"I asked if you're alright."

"Oh. Um. Yes. Yeah. I'm, uh -- I'm cool."

Kiara quirks a brow at her and looks at her amused. Regrettably, oh God, so regrettably (STOP THAT, Vitani screams at herself), she moves off of her.

"You must be really tired after today. C'mon, I think Mom's hunting party just got back." She looks off towards Pride Rock, smiling, and is already turning towards it to seek out her mother's figure. "I think I'll go meet her there. They may need help portioning." Out of the corner of her eye, Kiara grins at Vitani. "Meet you there? As the victor of our fight, I demand you sit next to me at supper."

For the first time in her life, Vitani forgets to breathe.