A/N: Hello and welcome to this little rambling of my mind. 83
This story has been in the works now for several years, something that's just been itching at the back of my mind. I'm so very happy to finally have it starting up. I hope you all enjoy it as much as I have planning it and typing it up.
Disclaimer: The Lion King and all of it's characters are copyrighted to Disney. I sadly own nothing but my OC's and would very much appreciate you asking before you use any of them. Thanks. 83
Chapter 1: Journey's End and New Beginnings
The African savannah glowed silver in the early hours of dawn. Fog swirled and rose from the ground in clouds casting more shadows across the land. Animals of the day began to stir, as the creatures of the night began to retreat to their burrows.
Slowly the orange circle began its daily accent into the sky. Washing the silver away from the lands, and chasing away the dark shadows. The fog began to lift higher into the air as the sun rose, revealing the beauty of the surrounding plains and the mountains in the distance.
One feature of the savannah quickly came into view as the warm sun rays touch it, a great rock formation that seemed to dominate the surrounding plains. Pride Rock, its rocky face glowing with the warmth from the light that was slowly growing as the sun slipped further into the sky.
It was this site that a lone figure watched from his vantage point on a grassy knoll behind the great rock.
The male lion watched the sun rise with great interest, his whiskers twitching and tail flicking gently behind him as he eyed the great rock. He was clearly lost deep in thought or perhaps memories.
The lion appeared to be around Simba's age, just beginning to exit his prime. He was a little on the short side, with a broad build and sleek muscles which were hidden under a slightly shaggy pelt. His pelt was of that of the palest tan with a slight olivey tinge to it, his dark mocha brown mane hung wildly around his shoulders and flipped into his eyes. Paler cream markings adorned his eyes, muzzle, and under belly while his front paws where the same color up to his ankles and then faded into the rest of his pelt.
The most distinctive features of this male where the 5 long scars that ran down the right side of his face, and the missing half of his right ear. The scars ran down the side of his face and over his eye all the way to his dark brown nose. Eyes as dark as midnight peered out from behind the scars and bangs as he watched the sunrise on the horizon.
Denari is this male's name, a male seemingly lost in his thoughts and memories at the moment.
A noise from behind makes what remains of his right ear flick backwards, though his eyes never leave the scene before him.
Another figure slowly ascended the hill to sit beside Denari, this one a female lioness. She glanced at the older male before setting beside him and taking in the site before her.
Her age seems to be a bit older then either Kiara or Vitani, her build is slender and lithe toned muscles flex beneath her fur. Her pelt is a very distinctive shade of rusty tan, giving her an almost pinkish tint to her fur. Her muzzle, eyes, underbelly, and toes are all a pale grayish tan color, while her dark pink nose shows the angularness of an outlander. Bright sea green-blue eyes stare out from thick eyelashes as she watches the sunset.
"So…these are the Pride Lands?" The female asked softly finally breaking the silence as she broke her gaze from the sunrise to look at Denari.
"Yes," He answered at length his voice soft and clearly over taken with emotion.
The lioness only noded her head, eyes filling with worry as she looks at him. Noticing the change in her body language Denari slowly turned his head breaking away from the sunrise. A soft smile spreading across his muzzle as he does.
"Don't worry Azami, I'm alright…a sentimental old fool like myself has a right to be every once in a while," He says chuckling a little the emotion in his voice leaving quickly as he smiled.
The worry Azami's eyes remained but she quickly gave him a small tentative nod.
"I suppose…." She said her tail flicking as she shook her head a little and looked back out at the lands.
"They truly are beautiful," She said quietly in awe as she looked at the lush, sun kissed Savannah.
Denari continued watching her for a moment before turning and looking back out at the lands and nodding his head. A moment's silence is spent between the two before Denari broke it by slowly getting to his paws.
"Well the day isn't getting any younger, I believe it is time we finished our journey," He said softly his dark eyes shining brightly as he looks at Azami. Who turns her head and smiled before nodding.
"Alright Papa, I'll go wake Dakurai," She said before getting to her own paws and slowly padding away. Denari watched his daughter go, a soft smile on his muzzle as he did. A warm soft breeze blows through his mane causing him to turn his head and look back at the Pride Lands.
"Just a little further and this will finally all be over," He said quietly his dark eyes flashing a little in the early morning light before he turned and began to head in the direction of his daughter.
Warm morning light shown down on Pride Rock, welcoming it's inhabits to the new day.
A young lioness strolled out from the darkness of the main den, stretching luxuriously as she did so. Her apricot colored pelt glistened in the morning light, her amber brown eyes shone with life and beauty as she made her way over to the tip of the great rock.
Kiara smiled happily as she gazed out at the kingdom, all was right in her world for the moment. It had been 6 months since the joining of the Outlanders and Pridelanders and since then peace had prevailed over the lands. She and Kovu had made the joint decision to wait to take control of the kingdom from her parents. Kovu was still learning all he could from her father on how to be a good king. It made Kiara happy to finally see her mate and father finally bonding.
She smiled softly closing her eyes as the warm embrace of her grandfather's wind swirls around her. She inhales deeply before looking out across the plains.
A gentle clearing of a throat made the young Princess turn her head and smile at the older lioness that was stepping out of the den. Her beautiful blue eyes dancing in the early morning light as they met those of her daughters.
"Good morning dear, sleep well?" Nala asked quietly giving her daughter a smile as she came to stand beside her.
"Mhmmm;" Kiara said with a small nod of her head, her bright red eyes dancing a little as she turned her head back out to the lands.
Nala only chuckled to herself as she gazed at her daughter. She was so much like her father in both looks and attitude. It made the older lioness marvel sometimes. She smiled softly as she watched Kiara for a few more seconds, it suddenly striking her how much her daughter had grown over the years. She was truly becoming a fine young lioness and future queen.
This line of thought made the older lioness's mind start to wonder, she let out a small inward sigh as her gaze went out towards the open plains of the savannah. A distant look coming to her eyes as she felt the warm breeze blow through her short fur. Much like her mate she could feel the presence of the great kings of the past in this breeze, as well as the other spirits that watched over her.
"Mom?" Came Kiara's voice as it broke through Nala's thoughts. The older lioness blinked before she turned her head towards her daughter and gave her a soft smile.
"Sorry, dear…got lost in my thoughts there for a second." She said with a soft chuckle and shake of her head.
Kiara only smiled at her mother, for a moment wondering where her thoughts had taken her but decided it best not to ask. She knew both her mother and father had those moment specially when the great Spirits spoke.
"Well, I guess I'd better go get the others ready…" Kiara says trailing off as she started to head back into the den to gather the rest of the lionesses for the hunting party.
Even though she was still in training to become queen and lead huntress this had become one of her daily duties. Something she would one day do as lead huntress.
"That's actually something I wanted to speak to you about, Kiara." Nala says as she turns away from the edge of Pride Rock to face her daughter.
Kiara stops from where she was standing and turned to face her mother, her ears perking in interest as she sits down her tail flicking idly as she does. Nala gives her daughter a small smile before letting out a bit of a sigh her gaze going beyond her daughter to the cave entrance to where the rest of the Pride was beginning to stir.
"I was thinking perhaps today I would lead the hunting party on my own." Nala says her eyes going back to her daughter. She wasn't surprised to see the flash of surprise and disappointment in Kiara's features as she spoke.
"It isn't anything to do with you, dear. You've been doing a wonderful job as second in command and are improving daily. It's just…I think there's another duty for you to perform today." Nala said quickly much to Kiara's obvious relief as she relaxed a little. Though a look of confusion replaced it just as quickly.
Nala sighes again as she motions with her head towards the den, her pale eyes showing worry as she does.
"I think one of our Pride Sisters needs you today more than the hunting party does." She said quietly looking to Kiara, whose brow furrowed in confusion as she followed her mother's gaze.
Her amber eyes filling with realization as she saw the lioness that had just walked into the early morning sun. Vitani stood, her vibrant blue eyes glowing in the sun her blond bangs gently blowing in the breeze. The last 6 months had been good to the Outlanders. Plenty of water, food, and shelter had done the entire group good. Vitani included, her lean build had filled out some and her dull tan had transformed into shining gold that would make most other lionesses envious.
But despite the seemingly good life that Vitani had now something still seemed to be bothering the young lioness. She remained silent most of the time, and despite attempts by many of the Pridelanders and former Outlanders to get her involved in the daily life of the pride she often opted to be alone. Often wondering around the lands or just finding a secluded place away from the others. Her behavior stumped them all even Kovu was at a loss at her behavior. And he had about as much luck as the others of figuring out where the issues where with her.
Kiara only nodded her head a little as she turned back to face her mother. Even though she wasn't sure of what success she'd have it was her duty as Princess and Future Queen to help her Pride Mates. Not to mention the fact that even though their conversations hadn't been to many or heavily worded she still considered Vitani a friend and sister.
Nala smiled at her daughter before she slowly got to her paws, Kiara following her actions a second later.
"Have a good hunt, and be careful." Kiara said as she gently bumped heads with Nala whom chuckled a little as she looks at her daughter.
"We'll be fine, now go before I get in trouble for being late." She says with a small chuckle as she watched her daughter flash her a grin over her shoulder and start to pad over to where Vitani was.
She lets out another soft sigh and smile as she glanced up to the sky again before heading into the den to round up the hunting party.
Vitani was in the middle of a stretch when she heard padding of paws coming towards her. Not looking up she continues with her stretch her back arching as she does.
"Good morning, Vitani!" Kiara says energetically as she came to a stop beside her sister in law a large grin on her muzzle.
"Yeah, good morning to you too." Vitani said in a slow drawl as she finished her stretching and righted herself to a standing position. She turned her head to look at the Apricot colored princess beside her sighing a little when she realized that the other lioness clearly wanted something else then just a morning greeting.
"You aren't here to just tell me good morning are you?" Vitani asked her voice more bored then angry or irritated as she arched a tall brow at Kiara who shook her head.
"I was thinking that we haven't really gotten to do anything together. You know girl stuff? So I was thinking maybe you and I could spend the day together?" Kiara said energetically her tail weaving about excitedly.
Vitani only looked at her under half lidded eyes, wondering slightly how Kiara could possibly have this much energy this early in the morning before she lets out a soft snort and shake of her head.
"Girl stuff, huh?" She asked quietly turning her head to look out at the sun that had risen higher in the sky.
Kiara's ears drooped a little at the silence between them, she could tell this would be just like all the other times she'd tried to involve the golden lioness in anything. She was surprised by what happened next.
"Sure, why not. Not like I've got anything else to do." Vitani said in a bored voice with a small shrug of her shoulders. A small smirk forming as she noticed how Kiara's face lit up with excitement at her agreement.
"Great! Why don't we head down to the watering hole for a drink? And then maybe we can find somewhere to just talk?" Kiara suggested as she started to head down the ramp that lead to the lands.
Vitani sighed a little as she followed the bouncy Princess down the ramp, she could already feel a headache coming on.
"Whatever you'd like, Princess." She says with a sigh as the started heading towards the watering hole.
Well that's it for Chapter one, things will start to pick up and make sense in the next couple of chapters I promise. 83
I hope you all enjoy, please read and review! 8D
Thankies. 83