simba looked to Malaika and shook his head, indicating to just start moving.

"Don't worry, I'll keep up. If I'm on your back it'll just slow you down trying to carry and balance us both. I'll be fine, let's just go."

simba wasn't trying to be a martyr or anything, it was just that he'd had been in many circumstances before and knew he could handle himself if it came down to it.