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{{Character infobox
|image = [[File:Sad Malka.png|300px]]
|gender = Male
|species = [[Lions|Lion]]
|hair color = Black, brown, and tan
|eye color = Black
|distinguishing features = Tufts of mane on head and ears
|also known as = Little one <small>(by his [[Malka's mother|mother]])</small>
|status = Living
|residence = [[Pride Lands]] <small>(briefly)</small>
|affiliations = {{*}} [[Pride Landers]] <small>(briefly)</small><br />{{*}} [[Ruler of Pride Rock|Pride Lands monarchy]] <small>(briefly)</small><br />{{*}} [[Simba's pride]] <small>(briefly)</small>
|titles = Prince of Pride Rock <small>(briefly)</small>
|family = [[Malka's mother|Unnamed mother]]<br />[[Mufasa]] <small>(adoptive father; briefly)</small><br />[[Sarabi]] <small>(adoptive mother; briefly)</small><br />[[Simba]] <small>(adoptive brother; briefly)</small>
|allies = [[Malka's mother]], [[Mufasa]], [[Nala]], [[Sarabi]], [[Simba]]
}}
{{Quote|Everyone thinks I'm clever and brave, but I always get lost.|Malka|Simba's New Brother}}
'''Malka''' is a male [[Lions|lion]]. He is the friend and brief adoptive brother of [[Simba]].

When Malka lost his pride, he wandered into the [[Pride Lands]]. In a show of feigned bravery, he scared off some [[hyenas]], which earned the approval of the [[Ruler of Pride Rock|king]], [[Mufasa]], who welcomed him into the [[Simba's pride|pride]]. Mufasa's son, Simba, was jealous of Malka and attempted to strand him in a gorge. However, when Malka cried out for help and admitted that he was truly a coward, Simba took pity on him and helped lead him back to the pride.

On the way back, the hyenas attacked the cubs, but Malka devised a plan for the cubs to hide under a tree root. The two then returned home safely, and Malka was reunited with his [[Malka's mother|mother]].

==Biography==
===Early life===
Malka was born to an unnamed lioness. The two lived with their pride beyond the borders of the Pride Lands. On several occasions, Malka would wander off and get lost from his pride. One of his encounters resulted in him wandering into the Pride Lands.<ref name="SNB">{{Cite comic|Simba's New Brother}}</ref>

===Lost in the Pride Lands===
{{Dialogue3|Mufasa|In the meantime, he is welcome to stay with our pride. Will you keep an eye on him, Simba?|Simba|B-b-but what if we never find his pride?|Mufasa|Well, then he'll stay with us forever.|Sarabi|And you will have a new brother!|Mufasa, [[Sarabi]], and Simba on Malka|Simba's New Brother}}
Simba and [[Nala]] were play-fighting near [[Pride Rock]] when Malka approached them. A lioness sitting nearby asked her companion if she had ever seen Malka before, but the other lioness denied this and assumed that the cub had lost his pride. As Malka drew nearer, he was impressed by Nala's skills and the fact that "a girl lion" could knock Simba over. He told Simba that he did not even stand a chance against her. Simba stiffly replied that he had only been playing-fighting with Nala, and Malka complimented Nala on her "beautiful name." He then introduced himself and asked if he could play with her. Simba was disgusted and called Malka a "slimeball" behind his back.

[[File:Malkahyenas.png|thumb|left|250px|Malka scares off two hyenas.]]

As they were about to play, Malka spotted two hyenas stealing food from the lionesses. He rushed at them, growling, and alerted the two lionesses sitting nearby. The lionesses praised him for his bravery and chased away the hyenas. Mufasa was impressed with Malka's behavior, but Simba protested that he had just saved a couple of half-eaten bones. [[Sarabi]] came up to Mufasa and told him the cub's name. She then reported that Malka had told her how he had lost his pride and that he had been searching for them for days. Mufasa told [[Zazu]] to keep a lookout for the cub's pride. He then announced that, in the meantime, Malka was welcome to stay with their pride. He asked Simba to keep an eye on him, and Simba asked what would happen if they never found his pride. Mufasa replied that Malka would stay forever, and Sarabi added that Simba would have a new brother.

Simba was disgusted and inwardly resented Malka for sharing his position as prince. As he had these thoughts, Malka approached him and told him that Nala had left with [[Sarafina]]. He then asked Simba if he wanted to play with him. Simba, wanting to get rid of Malka, decided to take him to his favorite hiding place. As they ran off, Malka told Simba that Mufasa would not regret taking him in and that the king now had two brave lion sons. Simba thought to himself that it hopefully would not last for long.

As they ventured deeper into the gorge, Malka asked Simba how they would find their way back. Simba told him that it would not be a problem and thought to himself, "At least not for me!" He then told Malka that they were going to play hide-and-seek. He instructed Malka to count while he hid. Malka hesitantly agreed to this. As Simba ran away, he laughed at Malka, convinced that he would never find his pride now. But then Malka cried out after Simba, begging him to come back. At last, Simba complied, afraid that Malka could really be in trouble. But when he reached Malka, the cub was in no danger. Simba asked why he was crying, and Malka admitted that he was scared. Simba asked him what he was scared of, and Malka admitted that everyone thought he was brave and clever, but he was really always getting lost. He told Simba that he had lost his pride so many times and was always frightened of being alone. Then he had grown afraid that he had lost Simba too.

[[File:Malkaalone.png|thumb|250px|Simba leaves Malka on his own.]]

Simba told Malka that he would never leave him, as he had promised to look after him. Malka was moved by how nice Simba was but admitted that he missed his mother. Simba understood and decided to lead Malka back to Pride Rock to see if Mufasa had news about Malka's pride. The two cubs started walking back to Pride Rock. On the way, Malka expressed his relief that Simba now knew the truth. Simba was kind about it and told Malka that he had been brave to scare off those hyenas. Just as the words were out of his mouth, Simba spotted the hyenas approaching them from behind. The hyenas gave chase, eager now that the cubs were no longer defended by Mufasa and his pride. But Malka formulated a plan and led Simba under a tree root. The hyenas could not fit through the small opening, and the cubs got away.

Upon reaching Pride Rock, Simba saw that Zazu had brought a visitor. Malka immediately recognized the strange lioness as his mother. The two reunited, and his mother asked him how many times she had told him not to run off on his own. Meanwhile, Zazu explained to Mufasa that Malka's pride lived on the other side of the mountains, not far from Pride Rock. Nala, who had joined the group, told Malka that it had been nice meeting him. Simba then invited Malka to come back and visit again. Malka accepted their offer but suggested that Zazu come pick him up next time so he would not get lost.<ref name="SNB" />

==Physical appearance==
Malka is a small lion cub. His main pelt is tan, while his muzzle, paws, and underbelly are cream. He has tufts of black fur on his head and the tips of his ears.<ref name="SNB" />

==Personality and traits==
{{Quote|I have lost my pride so many times, and every time, I get scared. Then I thought I'd lost you as well!|Malka to Simba|Simba's New Brother}}
Malka is a fun-loving and curious cub. Though he pretends to be brave, he often gets scared and lost. He is outgoing and makes lots of friends, as seen when he charmed Nala. He is a bit of a show-off and will fake bravery in order to receive praise. This often leads to him being boastful and haughty. However, he revealed to Simba that he only pretends to be brave and is actually prone to getting lost. After Simba accepted Malka for who he was, Malka showed more confidence in himself.<ref name="SNB" />

==Appearances==
* ''[[Simba's New Brother]]''

==Trivia==
* It is implied that Malka has a crush on [[Nala]], for he compliments her "beautiful" name and makes [[Simba]] jealous.<ref name="SNB" />

==References==
{{Reflist}}
[[Category:Characters]]
[[Category:Lions]]
[[Category:Males]]